Three senators in Anambra State have topped the list of Nigerian sitting senators, with the highest number of dumped bills.
The three senators are: Uche Ekwunife of Anambra Central, Stella Oduah of Anambra North and Ifeanyi Ubah of Anambra South. All three are also vying to return to the Senate.
A performance appraisal of the Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly, which was sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a copy of which was sighted showed that senators from Anambra State topped the list of lawmakers with the most stagnated bills since the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly on June 11, 2019.
Lawmakers as a matter of their legislative mandate sponsor private or executive bills and in a situation where the bill is popular, it could be co-sponsored with as many senators as are disposed to the bill.
The 9th Assembly’s lifespan will elapse on June 11, 2023 and a look at the ‘bills dumping index’ reveals a damning performance of all the Senators from the three Senatorial flanks of Anambra State in terms of bills they have sponsored, but which were abandoned midway.
The senators from Anambra State are: Stella Oduah (PDP) representing Anambra North Senatorial District; Uche Ekwunife (PDP) representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, while Ifeanyi Uba (YPP) represents Anambra South Senatorial District. Whereas, Senators Oduah and Uche Ekwunife are ranking Senators, Ifeanyi Uba is a first timer to the 9th Assembly of the Young Progressive Party (YPP).
As at the time of this special report, Senator Stella Oduah sponsored 39 bills out of which 29 scaled first reading; 5 scaled through second reading after the general principles were read, debated and were referred to the committees from where nothing has been heard about the said bills again. Also, 5 of the bills haven’t been mentioned at all.
Senator Uche Lilian Ekwunife, though a ranking senator with legislative experience, sponsored 29 bills while in the 9th National Assembly with 13 of those bills passed into law. 1 was assented and 10 of the bills dumped.
Senator Ifeanyi Uba, though a first timer, sponsored 20 bills in barely four years of his sojourn in the 9th National Assembly. 14 passed first reading with none passed into law, while 3 have moved into the relevant Committees and 3 of the bills are at an unknown stage.
This is however, with exception of bills they have co-sponsored with other Senators and their participation in legislative resolutions and motions.
Culled from dailypost.ng
