The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to suspend consideration of all Senate-originated bills awaiting concurrence, protesting what lawmakers described as the Senate’s consistent disregard for over 140 House-passed bills still pending Senate action.
The resolution came during a heated plenary session in which two bills sponsored by Senate Leader Bamidele Opeyemi were stepped down.
This followed a motion by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, in response to a Senate bill seeking to amend the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital Management Act to establish the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Obokun, Osun State.
House Leader Julius Ihonvbere had earlier moved to consider another Senate-sponsored bill, seeking to establish the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Egbe, Kogi State. However, tensions rose when Chinda, representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, Rivers State, was asked to second the motion for second reading.
Chinda criticized the Senate’s uncooperative stance on bills transmitted by the House for concurrence. “I reluctantly support the motion for second reading. We don’t get the same treatment at the Senate. Mr. Speaker, having said so, I will reluctantly second the motion,” he stated.
Backing Chinda’s position, Rep. Ahmed Jaha from Borno also expressed displeasure at the Senate’s longstanding reluctance to act on House-transmitted legislation. “It’s a pattern of neglect that has gone on for years. Our bills are often left unattended, and it undermines the legislative process,” Jaha said.
Echoing similar frustrations, Rivers lawmaker Awaji-Inombek Abiante added, “Mr. Speaker, I have two bills that have been with the Senate since early 2024, and they’ve yet to be listed for concurrence”.
The Speaker later appealed for calm but aligned with the lawmakers’ concerns,
