The seventh assembly has passed 6 bills in 1 year
So far, the seventh National Assembly has passed six bills into law and introduced fifty three bills for first reading.
The seventh National Assembly, which is a year into its four-year tenure, was inaugurated on June 6 2011, with David Mark as the Senate President while Aminu Tambuwal was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Fifteen of the total bills introduced were executive bills, while the remaining 38 bills were members’ bills. 22 of the bills have passed through second readings and been referred to various committees for further legislative actions.
During the one year period, 14 resolutions were adopted through motions moved by members and some of the resolutions were on national security and violations of aviation regulations.
Among bills passed into law were the 2012 Appropriation Bill; Universities miscellaneous provisions pegging the retirement age of university professors at 70 years and the polytechnics and other tertiary institutions at 65 years; and Anti-Terrorism and anti-Same Sex Marriage bills.
Among bills presented before the Senate during the period are: bills to establish Nigeria in Diaspora commission; provision for maintenance of public safety and order through discouraging membership of criminal gang; amendment of the Investment and Securities Commission.
Also presented were a bill to ensure full integration of persons with disabilities into the society; a bill to provide for the assignment of portfolio to ministerial nominees appearing before the senate for confirmation.
Others are bills to establish national alternative dispute resolution regulatory commission; establish the chartered institute for certified secretaries; amend the Central Bank of Nigeria Act; provide for an Act to alter the provisions of the constitution.
Among motions debated were those on the nomination of the finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for President of the World Bank; deteriorating services by GSM providers and economic growth; worsening inequality in Nigeria and call for new approaches to poverty reduction.
