Senate dumps own rules, passes 46 bills in 10 mins
• To decide on constitution amendment today
• Imposes life imprisonment on rapists, others
SUDDENLY, the Nigerian Senate yesterday woke up from its slumber and did something that may earn it a place in the Guinness Book of Records.
The upper legislative chamber, in 10 minutes suspended its Standing Rule and passed 46 bills which had been pending before it for four years.
It equally announced it would at its sitting today, take a decision on the controversy that greeted the refusal by former President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the amendments made in the constitution.
The senators also imposed life imprisonment as sanction for rapists and other sex offenders in a new law tagged Sexual Offences Act which was passed yesterday.
The decision to adopt the 46 bills was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang who called on the Red Chamber to invoke Order 1 (b) of the Senate Standing Order to adopt a Special Procedure on the bills.
He explained that the bills had earlier been passed by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence, noting that by “mutual consent and legislative reciprocates, the House of Representatives is adopting same special procedure and passing such bills passed by the Senate and transmitted to her for concurrence.”
He, therefore, called for the suspension of Order 79 (1) of the Senate Standing Orders and deemed all the bills as having passed their First, Second and Third Readings. This led to a rowdy session as senators who objected to the procedure being used in passing the bills, protested.
Before putting the motion to voice vote, Senate President, David Mark expressed reservations about the process, saying: “My main problem is that we should be able to read through the bills and know what they are saying.” Although the motion was approved by voice vote, protests still continued.
Mark, in his efforts to douse the tension generated by the situation, appealed to his colleagues to adhere to the rules.
He declared that those opposed to the passage should present a substantive motion today when the votes and proceedings would be considered and passed. “I have ruled. If you disagree, come back with a substantive motion tomorrow,” he stated.
The bills passed are: “Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment) Act Amendment Bill, Office of the Nigerian Financial Ombudsman Bill, Institute of Chartered Trustees of Nigeria Bill, National Convict and Criminal Records Bill, Community Service Bill, People’s Bank of Nigeria Act (Repeal) Bill, Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry Act (Repeal) Bill, Federal Saving Bank Act (Repeal) Bill.
Others are: Loan (State Development) Act (Repeal) Bill, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Establishment) Bill, among others.
On the constitution amendment, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, informed senators that the legislative body would consider the outstanding amendment to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) at its session today during which it would also mark its valedictory session.
Following the advice by the Supreme Court that the Presidency and the National Assembly should settle their differences on the constitution politically, the two institutions reached a compromise on the key grey areas in the constitution amendment.
But neither the National Assembly nor the Presidency has taken any practical steps to translate the agreement into reality. Also yesterday, the Senate passed into law, the Sexual Offences Bill (SB. 279) which prescribed life imprisonment for sexual offences including rape, child sex tourism and people who deliberately infect others with HIV/AIDS.
Chairman of the Committee on Navy, Senator Chris Anyanwu, sponsored the bill which is expected to pass concurrence in the House of Representatives today.
Among others, the Bill also prescribes life imprisonment for gang rape, 10 years for incest, another 10 years imprisonment for child pornography or more and a fine of two million naira. For sexual crimes, offenders will go to jail for 14 years.
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6 Comments
A senate of shame. They never learn. GEJ got so much knocks for all his last minutes appointments and firing. Now they pass all the bills with just days to end the session. It does not change their poor rating or dismal performance. We hope the next senate session will contribute to the progress of the nation.
46 Bills in10 minutes WOW! A.A. Milne once said ‘’Organizing is what you do before you do something,so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up’’. All along it is that they did not have these Bills to passed or those Bills did not matter to them until now?This is really 007Bills. My name is James Bond.
They were only interested in what accrues to them. What a shame.
It seems the PDP are using the very last moment to right all the wrong some of them made while in Goodluck’s government, these bills would have help reduce the suffering of the people but they decided until late to play the politics of we we but now it most be last moment of glory. They should have passed these bills long ago, what a shame and waste of public money.
That is very good of cause but still have some bill insecurities, The shouldn’t be an advantage on every life imprisonment. There should not be a wrongfully accused. Emotionally, it will be unfair to imprison and be kept for days or months or even years. Apology will not forgive it. Security of both sides make a law indestructible and still divine
Prudence, justice and due diligence is important in
everything we do. Can this be said of hastily passed bill? I think we need to
put our political office holders in proper check before election and during
their tenures. What I found on this link will interest you, trust me: https://goo.gl/z42aVp
We will review and take appropriate action.