Reps reject second reading of senate bill in tit for tat row

The house of representatives has decline a second reading of a bill seeking to establish the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital in Obokun, Osun state.

The senate bill, which was listed on the Order Paper for second reading, was rejected during Wednesday’s plenary after several lawmakers argued that the upper legislative chamber rarely considers bills originating from the house.

THE REJECTION

As a tradition of the house, Julius Ihonvbere, the majority leader, moved a motion for the second reading of the bill after it was called up by Tajudeen Abass, the speaker.

Abbas then invited Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader, to second the motion, to which he did, but with reservations.

Chinda noted that numerous bills of the house are currently languishing in the senate without consideration.

“I will reluctantly second the motion for the second reading of this bill,” he said.

The dispute over the senate’s failure to consider house bills dates back to the ninth assembly.

Lawmakers have consistently raised concerns that bills emanating from the house are rarely given attention by the upper chamber.

Awaji-Inombek Abiante, a lawmaker from Rivers state, said two of his bills have been in the senate since 2024.

“Mr speaker, till now, they have not been listed for concurrence. The same thing happened to my bills in the 9th assembly, where throughout that assembly, the senate did not consider the bills that were passed from the house and sponsored by me,” he said.

“I do not know how we will continue with this kind of relationship, Mr speaker. Well, let it not look as if we are slowing down the progress of governance in this country.

“We should step down the consideration of this bill. And probably, you will find out from them what the problems and the challenges are and why they do not consider bills coming from the house of representatives. If the reasons are not cogent enough, we should reciprocate.”

Also speaking, Ahmed Jaha, a lawmaker from Borno state, said the senate do not consider bills from the house “in most cases”.

He suggested that the house committee on rules and business and that of the senate should sign a deal to ensure they consider bills from both chambers.

At this point, Abbas interjected him, noting that similar arrangement had failed in the past.

“The clerk told that we have 146 bills that are with the senate. And I, as a person, have more than 10 bills. Some have been there for more than six months. We don’t know what is really happening,” Abbas said.

Other lawmakers who spoke on the matter also called for the bill to be thrown out.

Consequently, Abbas asked Chinda if he was willing to withdraw his secondment of the motion — a request he accepted.