Nearly a year after their inauguration, 24 out of the 109 senators have not sponsored any bills in the National Assembly’s upper chamber. In contrast, the remaining 85 senators have each sponsored at least one bill.
The 10th Senate, inaugurated on June 13, 2023, marks its first anniversary this Thursday. A review of the senators’ activities reveals that between July 13, 2023, and March 2024, a total of 279 bills were sponsored.
Legislation is one of the key responsibilities of lawmakers.
The Senate consists of 109 members, including 14 former governors, two of whom, Senators David Umahi (APC, Ebonyi South) and Ibrahim Geidam (APC, Yobe East), were appointed Ministers by President Bola Tinubu.
The number of former governors increased when former Plateau State governor, Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), was sworn in as a senator in December 2023, replacing Senator Napoleon Bali (PDP, Plateau South) following an Appeal Court judgment. Senators Ani, Dachungyang, and Mustapha were also inaugurated late, replacing Umahi, former Minority Leader Mwadkwon Simon Davou, and Geidam, respectively.
Former Governors in the Senate
Currently, 13 former governors serve in the 10th Senate. Among them, nine have sponsored bills:
– Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North): 5 bills
– Senate President Godswill Akpabio (APC, Akwa Ibom North West): 2 bills
– Gbenga Daniel (APC, Ogun East): 4 bills
– Ibrahim Dankwambo (PDP, Gombe North): 3 bills
– Aminu Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto South): 1 bill
– Sani Bello (APC, Niger North): 3 bills
– Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central): 2 bills
– Aliyu Wammako (APC, Sokoto North): 2 bills
– Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central): 1 bill
The four former governors who have not sponsored any bills are Senators Adams Oshiomhole, Henry Seriake Dickson, Simon Lalong, and Abdulaziz Yari. Before leaving, Senator Umahi sponsored one bill, while Senator Geidam did not sponsor any.
Non-Contributing Senators
The 24 senators, aside from the four former governors, who have not sponsored any bills are:
– Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North)
– Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central)
– Oluwole Fasuyi Cyril (APC, Ekiti North)
– Titus Tartenger Zam (APC, Benue North-West)
– Peter Jiya (PDP, Niger South)
– Adegbonmire Adeniyi Ayodele (APC, Ondo Central)
– Oyewumi Kamorudeen Olalere (PDP, Osun West)
– Anthony Ani (APC, Ebonyi South)
– Imasuen Neda Bernards (LP, Edo South)
– Okechukwu Ezea (LP, Enugu North)
– Chukwu Chizoba (LP, Enugu East)
– Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central)
– Khabeeb Mustapha (PDP, Jigawa South West)
– Kaila Samaila Dahuwa (PDP, Bauchi North)
– Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central)
– Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (APC, Katsina Central)
– Mohammed Dandutse Muntari (APC, Katsina South)
– Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South)
– Pam Dachungyang (ADP, Plateau North)
– Onyesoh Allwell Heacho (PDP, Rivers East)
– Ibrahim Lamido (APC, Sokoto East)
– Manu Haruna (PDP, Taraba Central)
– Musa Mustapha (APC, Yobe East)
Active Bill Sponsors
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) leads with 23 bills, most from the Executive Arm, followed by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North) with 17 bills. Other notable sponsors include:
– Sani Musa (APC, Niger East): 8 bills
– Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West): 7 bills
– Partrick Ndubueze (APC, Imo North): 7 bills
– Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara Central): 7 bills
– Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West): 6 bills
– Adetokunboh Abiru (APC, Lagos East): 6 bills
– Tony Nwoye (LP, Anambra North): 6 bills
– Kaka Shehu Lawan (APC, Borno Central): 6 bills
Senators with Three Bills
– Emmanuel Udende Menga (APC, Benue North East)
– Isa Jibrin (APC, Kogi East)
– Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (PDP, Cross River North)
– Ned Munir Nwoko (PDP, Delta North)
– Alli Sharafadeen Abiodun (APC, Oyo South)
– Jonathan Williams Eteng (APC, Cross River Central)
– Yisa Ahiru Oyelola (APC, Kwara South)
– Onyewuchi Ezenwa Francis (LP, Imo East)
– Buhari Abdulfatai (APC, Oyo North)
– Etim Bassey Aniekan (PDP, Akwa Ibom North East)
– Siyako Yaro Anthony (PDP, Gombe South)
– Katung Sunday Marshall (PDP, Kaduna South)
Senators with Two Bills
– Olubiyi Fadeyi Oluwole (PDP, Osun Central)
– Eze Kenneth Emeka (APC, Ebonyi Central)
– Usman Lawal Adamu (PDP, Kaduna Central)
– Olajide Ipinsagba Emmanuel (APC, Ondo North)
– Nwebonyi Onyeka Peter (APC, Ebonyi North)
– Ifeanyi Ubah (APC, Anambra South)
– Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North)
– Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi (PDP, Osun East)
– Nasiru Sani Zango (APC, Katsina North)
– Suleiman Kawu (NNPP, Kano South)
– Adebule Idiat Oluranti (APC, Lagos West)
– Akobundu Austin (PDP, Abia Central)
– Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central)
Senators with One Bill
– Satso Plang Diket (APC, Plateau Central)
– Garba Musa (PDP, Kebbi South)
– Akintunde Yunus Abiodun (APC, Oyo Central)
– Ishaku Elisha Abbo (APC, Adamawa North)
– Ohere Abubakar Sadiku (APC, Kogi Central)
– Darlington Nwokocha (LP, Abia Central) (sponsored before being sacked by the Court)
– Bilbis Aliyu Ikra (PDP, Zamfara Central)
– Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West)
– David Jimkuka (APC, Taraba South)
– Okpebolo Monday (APC, Edo Central)
– Salisu Shuaib Afolabi (APC, Ogun North)
– Adaramodu Adeyemi Raphael (APC, Ekiti South)
– Akwashiki Godiya (SDP, Nasarawa North)
– Dafinone Edeh (APC, Delta Central)
– Yaroe Binos Dauda (PDP, Adamawa South)
– Abdulhamid Mallam Madori (APC, Jigawa North East)
– Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT)
– Izunaso Osita Bonaventure (APC, Imo North)
– Benson Agadaga (PDP, Bayelsa East)
– Isa Shuaibu Lau (PDP, Taraba North)
– Ekong Sampson (PDP, Akwa-Ibom South)
Legislative Focus
The bills sponsored address a wide range of issues including defense, education, healthcare, infrastructure, and economic development. For instance, Bamidele’s bills cover areas like defense industries and fire service regulations, while Barau Jibrin’s bills include topics such as cyber crimes and development planning.
This diverse legislative activity highlights the varying priorities and focus areas of the different senators, contributing to the overall legislative agenda of the National Assembly.
Source : Vanguard Newspaper
