The Nigerian Senate has dismissed claims that it is deliberately delaying bills passed by the House of Representatives, affirming its unwavering commitment to legislative harmony, cooperation, and national interest.
Speaking during Tuesday’s plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele jointly addressed concerns over alleged delays in concurring with over 140 House-passed bills. The duo emphasized that the red chamber remains diligent, not dismissive.
“It takes two hands to clap,” Akpabio said. “We have consistently attended to concurrence bills from the House and will continue to do so. There’s no contest here—only cooperation.”
Bamidele followed with specifics, disclosing that the Senate had processed six concurrence bills just last week, contrary to insinuations that House-passed legislation was being stalled.
“Let the record reflect: just last week, six bills from the House were duly concurred to by this chamber,” he said. “And today again, the first two items on our order paper are also concurrence bills.”
He explained that while the Senate respects legislative reciprocity, it cannot abandon its constitutional obligation to thoroughly review each piece of legislation.
“Reciprocity doesn’t mean abdication. Every bill—regardless of origin—deserves careful scrutiny. That’s how responsible lawmaking works.”
Bamidele also responded to suggestions that over 140 bills from the House were being ignored.
“We operate under the principle of legislative due diligence. We’re not in a competition with the House. We are working with them—and will continue to do so—with focus, fairness, and fidelity to the Constitution.”
The Senate Leader urged lawmakers and observers alike not to frame inter-chamber legislative activity in adversarial terms, warning against unnecessary theatrics that could erode public trust in the National Assembly.
“We must rise above theatrics and maintain the dignity of the legislature. Our shared duty is to Nigerians, not headlines.”
The remarks come amid growing speculation of friction between both chambers of the National Assembly. However, Tuesday’s plenary message was clear: legislative collaboration—not rivalry—remains the Senate’s guiding principle.