The House of Representatives has suspended further consideration of Senate-originated bills in protest against the Senate’s prolonged inaction on 146 bills transmitted from the House for concurrence.
During plenary on Wednesday, lawmakers expressed deep frustration over what they described as consistent neglect by the Senate, prompting a resolution to step down Senate-sponsored bills pending action on House-originated legislation. The decision followed a motion moved by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda and supported by several other lawmakers.
The tipping point came during deliberations on a Senate bill seeking to amend the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital Management Act to establish a facility in Obokun, Osun State, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele. In a symbolic move, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere stepped down another Senate bill aimed at establishing a Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences in Egbe, Kogi State.
Chinda, in a rare gesture of protest, reluctantly seconded the bill for second reading, noting, “We don’t get the same treatment at the Senate.” He later withdrew his support entirely, insisting the House should demand a formal dialogue with Senate leadership.
Other lawmakers echoed the concern. Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (Rivers) recalled that his bills had languished in the Senate since early 2024 and were never listed for concurrence, citing a similar experience during the 9th Assembly. Hon. Ahmed Jaha (Borno) recommended a reciprocal approach, proposing that the House refuse to consider Senate bills until mutual legislative respect is restored.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas confirmed the House had 146 bills awaiting Senate concurrence, including more than ten of his own. “Some of these have been there for over six months without a single response,” he lamented, describing the situation as troubling.
Ahmed Satome, Chairman of the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, suggested setting a statutory timeline for concurrence, after which bills could be assumed approved in the absence of Senate action.
Following further debate, the Speaker ruled in favour of Chinda’s revised position—to step down Senate bills and seek a resolution with the Red Chamber leadership. He urged calm but affirmed that unless concrete commitments were made by the Senate, the House would withhold concurrence on all future Senate bills.
The standoff highlights a growing institutional tension between Nigeria’s two legislative arms and signals potential delays in the legislative process unless both chambers reach a resolution on bill concurrence procedures.
