The Nigerian Senate has dismissed allegations from the House of Representatives accusing it of persistently delaying the approval of legislative bills passed by the lower chamber.
The red chamber, during plenary on Tuesday, insisted it remains committed to working in harmony with the House and does not take any of its legislative initiatives lightly.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele both addressed the issue, refuting claims that the Senate had stalled the legislative process. They noted that six concurrence bills from the House were considered just last week.
“It takes two hands to clap,” Akpabio said. “We have been attending to the bills from the House of Representatives, and we will continue to work together in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.”
The response comes after the House of Representatives reportedly resolved to suspend further consideration of Senate-originated bills, citing what it described as a pattern of neglect toward over 140 bills it had passed many of them sponsored by House Speaker Hon. Abbas Tajudeen.
Speaking during Tuesday’s session, Senator Bamidele said two of the day’s scheduled items were concurrence bills from the House, highlighting ongoing collaboration.
“For the record, we have been doing what we are supposed to do. Only last week, the Senate concurred to six bills from the House,” Bamidele said. “While we respect the principle of reciprocity, that does not mean rubber-stamping everything. We have a duty to exercise due diligence in line with our constitutional responsibilities.”
He stressed that both chambers are guided by national interest and constitutional obligations and assured that the Senate would continue to treat bills from the House with the seriousness they deserve.
The remarks signal an attempt by Senate leadership to ease growing tensions between the two chambers and reinforce their commitment to legislative cooperation.