As the Nigerian Senate resumes plenary on Thursday for another legislative session after its 7-weeks annual recess, there are serious concern over whether the lawmakers are actually meeting up with their required legislative sitting period as stipulated by the National Assembly legislative calendar for both chambers of the apex legislature.
This concern arose as a result of the alleged short and long term frequent recess often embarked upon by the Senate. Reports from the various senatorial districts reveal that most constituents, stakeholders, and the general electorates are already expressing worry that the frequent vacations by the senate especially in recent times, are beginning to affect the quality and volume of their lawmaking business. Thus, raising serious questions as to whether the legislators of the upper chamber of the National Assembly are even meeting up with their requisite legislative sitting periods as required by law.
Findings by Sunday Independent as the close of the week on Saturday afternoon, reveal that of the 103 days that the senate was to conduct plenary business between Thursday May 2, 2013 to Thursday December 19, 2013 according to its remaining legislative calendar, the lawmakers have actually sat for 48 sitting days between May 2, 2013 and Thursday July 25, 2013 when it went on annual recess. In between, this period, the senate had an earlier break which lasted between Friday June 7, 2013 to Monday June 24, 2013.
Following its 7-weeks annual vacation which commenced on Friday July 26, 2013 terminating on Monday September 30, 2013, the senators, according to the legislative calendar, has a total of 62 days beginning from Thursday September 17, 2013 to Thursday December 19, 2013, to round off its sittings for the legislative year 2013. In between this period also, the lawmakers had another 7 days short break on Thursday October 1, 2013 being a National day public holiday, and another 6 days break starting from Friday October 11, 2013 to Friday October 18, 2013 which is for the Eidel-Fitri Muslim festival. The Lawmakers, according to the calendar, are expected to embark on the Christmas and New Year break between Friday December 20, 2013 and resume on Thursday January 14, 2014.
However, with the outstanding volume of legislative work such as numerous oversight jobs and parliamentary deliberations on the Constitution Amendment Bill 2013, the controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the Electoral Act (Amendments) Bill 2013, the Appropriation Bill 2014, the Nigerian Communication Commission Appropriation Bill 2013, the Nigerian Police Reform Trust Fund Appropriation Bill 2013, the Universal Service Provision Fund Appropriation Bill 2013 and the Niger Development Commission (NDDC) Appropriation Bill 2013 among several reports and adhoc committee reports, it is expected that the senators would cut down on their frequent breaks and holidays and do more legislative works.
Source: Daily Independent
