The House of Representatives has taken a bold step by suspending all bills coming from the Senate, protesting what members described as the Senate’s repeated delay and disregard for over 140 House-originated bills awaiting action. The move, made during a heated session on Wednesday, highlights growing frustration over the lack of cooperation between Nigeria’s two legislative chambers.
The decision was reached after Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda raised a motion in response to yet another Senate bill seeking House concurrence. The bill in question aimed to amend the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital Management Act to establish a new hospital in Obokun, Osun State. Chinda, expressing his reluctance, said,
“We don’t get the same treatment at the Senate. Mr. Speaker, having said so, I will reluctantly second the motion for the second reading of this bill.”
The House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, also moved to step down another Senate bill that sought to establish a Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences in Egbe, Kogi State. These actions were not isolated but part of a broader protest, as lawmakers voiced their anger over the Senate’s failure to reciprocate the House’s legislative efforts.
Lawmakers Voice Frustration
Several lawmakers spoke out about the ongoing problem. Awaji-Iniombek Abiante from Rivers State highlighted that two of his bills, passed by the House as early as 2024, have not even been listed for Senate concurrence. He recalled a similar situation in the previous Assembly, where his bills were ignored throughout the entire session.
“Let it not look as if we are slowing down the progress of governance in this country. I would support for today that we should step down the consideration of this bill. We should step it down,” Abiante said.
Ahmed Jaha from Borno State echoed these concerns, stating,“I still maintain the position that the Senate does not, in most cases, consider concurrence from the House of Representatives. I do not know where the problem lies.” He suggested a firmer approach, proposing that the House Committee on Rules and Business should work directly with its Senate counterpart to establish a clear agreement.
“Let there be tit for tat because the House of Representatives is an institution that cannot be compromised with the Senate and vice versa. So this is my position,” Jaha insisted.
Speaker Abbas Calls for Action
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas described the situation as “worrisome,” revealing that, according to the Clerk, 146 House bills were currently sitting with the Senate, including more than ten sponsored by the Speaker himself. “Some are there for more than six months. No attention. We don’t know what is really happening,” Abbas lamented.
The Speaker tried to calm the chamber but ultimately sided with the lawmakers’ concerns. He said, “Let us just have the common ground on this issue that henceforth, unless we receive reasonable assurance from the Senate concerning the concurrence of our bills, we should not proceed further.”
A Legislative Standstill
The House’s decision to suspend all Senate bills marks a significant escalation in the ongoing standoff. Lawmakers argue that the legislative process is being undermined by the Senate’s lack of action. As Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Ahmed Satome, put it;
“We should even now step down all their bills pending a proper resolution. If a bill is commissioned, and so also to work, if possible, with our standing orders, we should be guided by a certain time and period that they must do the concurrence. If not, we assume that it has been accepted and passed. Maybe, if that is possible.”
The process for making laws in Nigeria requires that both chambers of the National Assembly pass a bill before it is sent to the President for assent. When one chamber fails to act, it can stall important legislation that affects governance and the lives of citizens.
Seeking Resolution
The Speaker gave Minority Leader Chinda the opportunity to review his earlier position. Chinda responded, “If I’m given the opportunity to review my position, you know that I would not want to support the second reading of the bill. I would therefore ask that we step it down, and then have a meeting with the leadership of the Senate to resolve this issue.”
This call for dialogue was echoed by other lawmakers, who stressed the need for both chambers to work together and respect each other’s legislative efforts. Many agreed that unless there is a clear commitment from the Senate to address the backlog of House bills, the House should continue to withhold support for Senate-originated legislation.
Implications for Governance
This legislative standoff could have wide-ranging effects. Many key bills that could improve healthcare, education, security, and infrastructure remain stuck in the Senate. The House’s decision to halt consideration of Senate bills is designed to send a strong message, but it also risks slowing down the passage of important laws.
As the National Assembly faces this internal crisis, Nigerians will be watching closely to see if both chambers can resolve their differences and get back to the business of lawmaking. For now, the House has made it clear that it will not be business as usual until the Senate shows greater respect for its legislative work.
Conclusion
The suspension of Senate bills by the House of Representatives is a rare and bold move aimed at forcing a resolution to a long-standing problem. Lawmakers are united in their demand for fairness and reciprocity, insisting that the Senate must act on the 146 House bills awaiting concurrence. As the two chambers prepare for talks, the hope is that cooperation will be restored and the legislative process will move forward for the benefit of all Nigerians.
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