BY CAROLINE AMEH
ABUJA — The Nigerian Senate has reaffirmed its commitment to a diligent and independent review of concurrence bills transmitted from the House of Representatives, stressing that cooperation between both chambers must not come at the cost of legislative scrutiny and institutional integrity.
Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, stated that while the Senate is committed to working harmoniously with the House of Representatives, it will not operate on a “rubber-stamp” basis when it comes to concurrence bills.
“Reciprocity does not mean ‘garbage in, garbage out.’ Every bill forwarded from the House will be thoroughly reviewed in line with our legislative responsibilities,” Bamidele said.
He emphasised that the Senate’s role in the legislative process involves careful consideration of each proposal to ensure it aligns with national interest and the constitutional mandate of the upper chamber.
According to him, just last week, the Senate concurred with six bills transmitted from the House of Representatives, reinforcing its openness to meaningful collaboration.
Echoing his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, lauded the progress made through improved inter-chamber cooperation and affirmed that beyond the six bills already acted upon, at least two more concurrent bills were scheduled for consideration during the current week.
“We are committed to responsible, collaborative lawmaking that serves national interest,” Akpabio stated.
The Senate leadership’s assurance comes amid growing public interest in how both chambers of the National Assembly harmonise legislative decisions.
