Senate halts debate on new rule for suspending members

The senate has suspended debate on proposed amendments to its Standing Orders 2023 after lawmakers raised objections to sections of the changes, including a review of the criteria for suspending members.

The motion seeking the amendments was moved by Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader, who said the standing orders needed to be updated to reflect emerging national realities, new commissions created by law, and the need for clearer procedural guidance.

He noted that the rules underpin legislative business, committee structure and chamber operations, and therefore must evolve to improve oversight and representation.

He highlighted several areas requiring review, including harmonising committee mandates with the house of representatives, updating provisions on participation of senators-elect in the election of presiding officers, revising qualification and ranking criteria for leadership positions, and adjusting rules on sitting times.

Opeyemi also said the rules governing when presiding officers and nominees may drink water during plenary needed to be modernised.

A key part of the proposed changes sought to update the criteria for suspending senators, which the chamber said was necessary to strengthen internal discipline while ensuring procedural fairness.

The amendments also reflected the creation of new committees, including those on the north central, north-west, south-east, south-south and south-west development commissions, as well as committees on livestock development and on reparations and repatriations.

The senate leader said order 96 should be revised to clearly define the jurisdiction of these committees. Failure to update the standing orders, he warned, could weaken oversight across critical sectors.

During debate, Tahir Monguno, chief whip, said the proposed revisions aligned the chamber’s rules with current governance structures.

“This amendment is very clear and unambiguous. It speaks for us. It brings our rules in consonance with the realities with the creation of new committees,” he said.

But Danjuma Goje, senator representing Gombe central, asked that some items—specifically “1, 2, and 3”—be removed from the proposed amendments.

Abba Moro, minority leader, raised a point of order, urging caution and asking the chamber to “tarry a little bit”.

“The amendment I want to seek clarification on this rule (on suspending senators). I think we should tarry a little bit and wait,” he said.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio upheld Moro’s point of order, ruling that continuing the debate would amount to “an exercise in futility”.

He subsequently suspended further consideration of the proposed amendments.

The senate resolved that when the process resumes, it will sit as a committee of the whole to review the changes and later direct the clerk to reprint the standing orders once approved.