Reps Accuse Senate Of Deliberately Stalling Legislative Processes

The House of Representatives has resolved to halt further consideration of bills originating from the Senate, citing persistent delays and lack of reciprocity from the upper chamber in processing House-passed legislation.

The lawmakers accused the Senate of deliberately stalling the legislative process by failing to act on more than 140 bills passed by the House including several sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.

The decision was reignited by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, who, during Tuesday’s plenary, observed that while the House regularly considers and passes bills from the Senate, the reverse has not been the case.

Speaker of the house, Dr Abbas Tajudeen confirmed the concern, revealing that at least 146 bills from the House were still awaiting Senate concurrence.

He said the lopsided legislative cooperation between both chambers was undermining the National Assembly’s efficiency and credibility.

“The House considers Senate bills regularly, but the reverse has not been the case,” Abbas said.

“We cannot continue to operate under this one-sided legislative relationship.”

The resolution followed a motion by House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere for the second reading of a Senate bill seeking to amend the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital Management Act and establish a Federal Orthopaedic Hospital in Obokun, Osun State.

But lawmakers pushed back, demanding that the bill be stepped down in protest.

Member from Rivers State, Awaji-Inombek Abiante said two of his bills passed by the House in early 2024 have remained untouched by the Senate, adding that the House should not continue prioritizing Senate bills while its own are ignored.

Supporting the stance, Ahmed Jaha from Borno State argued that the Senate’s consistent refusal to act on House bills was unacceptable.

He called on the Rules and Business Committee to liaise with its Senate counterpart to address the impasse.

“In most cases, the Senate has always refused to consider our bills,” Jaha said. “Stepping down their bills will send a strong signal that House legislation also deserves timely attention.”

Despite an attempt by Speaker Abbas to persuade members to proceed with the Senate bill’s second reading, lawmakers remained firm in their demand for equal legislative treatment.

“Unless we receive considerable assurance from the Senate, Abbas declared, “we will no longer consider their bills.”

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji