THE Nigerian Senate has pushed back against claims by the House of Representatives that it has been stalling legislative efforts by neglecting to act on over 140 bills passed by the lower chamber.
At today’s plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele firmly dismissed the allegations, emphasizing the Senate’s commitment to due process and legislative responsibility.
Akpabio stated, “We cannot joke with concurrence bills from the House of Representatives. We are committed to working together in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. It takes two hands to clap.”
This response comes after the House of Representatives moved to suspend consideration of Senate-originated bills, citing persistent delays from the red chamber in providing concurrence.
Addressing the issue, Bamidele noted that the Senate had, just last week, processed six concurrence bills from the House.
He stressed that while mutual legislative cooperation is important, the Senate also has a constitutional duty to thoroughly scrutinize every proposal. “Reciprocity is important, but it’s not a case of garbage in, garbage out. Our role demands diligence,” he said.
The Senate leadership reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a collaborative and effective relationship with the House, asserting that inter-chamber harmony is vital for national development.