Di 10th Senate don reach three years of im four-year tenure, but di work wey senators don do for bill sponsorship no balance at all. According to di Senate Bills Progression Chart from June 2023 to April 2026, few lawmakers dey carry di heavy load of legislative work, while many oda senators get very small output. Dis raise question about how well di upper chamber dey represent Nigerians and do dia job.
Di chart wey THISDAY get show say Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, wey represent Ekiti Central, don sponsor about 70 bills. Im dey follow by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, wey get 46 bills. Mohammed Sani Musa don sponsor more dan 20 bills. Dis three senators dey among di most active for di chamber. Odas like Olamilekan Adeola, Tokunbo Abiru, Orji Uzor Kalu, Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Ned Nwoko, Osita Ngwu, Sunday Karimi, Shehu Lawan Kaka, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Mustapha Saliu, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Umar Sadiq Suleiman, Aliyu Wadada, and Abdul Ningi also make visible contributions.
But for di oda side, plenty senators get only one or two bills for di whole period. Dem dey focus on constituency-specific institutions like universities, colleges of education, or amendments to existing laws like EFCC Act or NYSC Act. Dis disparity don make people talk about performance evaluation for National Assembly.
Di Senate don pass over 100 bills since June 2023, according to di Senate Bills Dashboard. 38 bills dey wait for third reading, and 453 don pass second reading. Di most controversial bills na di Electoral Act Amendment Bill and di Tax Reforms Bill. Di Electoral Act Amendment Bill don cause plenty debate about electronic transmission of results, BVAS, and IReV. Di Tax Reforms Bill, wey President Bola Tinubu sign, aim to simplify tax administration and reduce multiple taxation. But some northern governors and lawmakers raise concerns about VAT distribution and revenue sharing.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele tell journalists say di Senate don work well with executive arm to stabilize economy. But critics argue say di collaboration no produce meaningful impact for citizens. Professor Hassan Saliu, National President of Nigerian Political Science Association, say di real question na wetin di collaboration dey produce for people. Im warn say di ruling party don take advantage of im numerical strength to shape electoral framework, and we need to be vigilant for 2027 elections.
Di Senate also consider constitutional amendments about state police, local government autonomy, and devolution of powers. Dem pass bills to establish regional development commissions, but critics fear duplication of functions and pressure on public finances.
As attention shift to 2027 election cycle, legislative performance go become important factor for public assessment. Constituents, civil society, and policy analysts dey watch bill sponsorship and participation for debates. Di Senate Bills Progression Chart show say while all senators get equal power to propose legislation, di practical exercise of dat power vary plenty. Di challenge for many lawmakers na to show sustained engagement for legislative process.
