By Saminu Ibrahim
The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan has said the Nigerian Senate is closer to the end in passing important bills still before the Senate.
He stated that Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, and the Constitution Amendment Bill will be pass before the Senate proceed on its annual recess.
Speaking at a media briefing to mark second anniversary of the 9th senate on Friday, Lawan noted that it is a mark of excellent effort that the ninth senate is soon ready to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) after twenty years of failed attempts.
“This should happen this June, and it should increase Accountability, probity, efficiency, equity and justice in that vital sector of our economy.
“We have a goal to deliberate on the report of the Committee on the Amendment of the 1999 Constitution in July before we proceed on our yearly recess, as well” Lawan said.
He explained that 742 bills were introduced into the ninth senate in the last two years, saying out of which 58 have been passed, while 355 bills have sailed through first reading.
He added that 175 bills have also gone through second reading and are before relevant committees for further legislative actions.
According to Lawan “the House of Representatives has referred 11 bills for concurrence and have all been passed. These are outstanding records considering emergencies, like the Covid-19 pandemic that we confronted” he said.
The President of the Senate emphasised that the determination of the senate to pass the PIB bill is additionally “in line with our resolve to be a result-oriented parliament, where our activities are hallmarked by quality, timeliness, and actions that are focused on the people”.
He said the efforts of the senate on the Electoral Bill are also noteworthy, saying the bill should not just improve the nations electoral governance system, but will strengthen our democracy, that we have all built since 1999.
“The 2023 general elections will be the seventh in our electoral cycle since the dawn of democracy. The onus is now on us to consolidate it, partly through the bill, given the important innovations embedded in it. We will finish work on it before our annual recess”.
