ABUJA – The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, says the 10th senate had passed bills that were people-centred.
This, he said, was against contrary opinions that the upper chamber is a rubber stamp parliament.
Adaramodu spoke to newsmen in Abuja as the 10th senate marked its second anniversary.
He said he senate only approved bills that would have direct impact on citizens.
“We are not going to publish everything that was brought to the National Assembly. The ones that cannot scale through in most cases, will not and the ones that will scale through will.
“There is no way the executive will bring any bill which is for advancement of Nigeria and Nigerians, that will be rejected.”
He said the 10th senate had done very well and delivered its mandate as representatives of the people.
“You know that the legislature is for three-pronged functions; law making, oversight functions and advocacy for our constituents.
“So, when we talk about law making, at least in the past two years, we have sorted out nothing less than 800 bills.
“Some are in the third reading, some are in the second reading, some have just come through the first reading.
“Some bills had already been passed to the Presidency for assent and some had been assented to and they became laws,” he said.
Adaramodu, who represents Ekiti South, said the 10th senate had raised so many motions, adding that many of the motions and resolutions therefrom, had been sent to the executive.
“Some have been executed. Some are still under processes of maybe inviting stakeholders.
“We have dealt with so many public petitions and we have done a lot, lawmaking wise.
“And then when we talk about oversight function, we have done a lot, especially as it relates to security matters.
“We have invited security chiefs almost eight times to interrogate them, to ask questions, to give them suggestions and to ensure that they are never left alone.
“We have assisted the executive to ensure that minimum wage was raised by more than 100 per cent for Nigerian workers.”
The senator further said the upper chamber also ensured that the judiciary was not left alone, as it raised emoluments of judicial officers by almost 300 per cent..
Adaramodu said the upper chamber had done a lot in infrastructure via appropriation and supervising the executive in making sure that road constructions and rehabilitations were given adequate attention.
He listed the top priority road projects to
include the Badagry-Sokoto road, roads leading from Kaduna to Kano and the road leading from Abuja to Lokoja.
On his part, the Chairman, Committee on Senate Services, Sen. Sunday Karimi said the 10th senate has performed to expectations of the people who voted them into office.
“It’s been two years since the 10th senate was inaugurated. So far, so good, we have at least lived up to expectations.
“A lot of bills and motions that impact positively on our people had been passed into law.
“The government brought a request for increase in workers’ salaries , and we immediately passed it so that workers earnings will increase.
“Not just that, the student loan scheme, that will allow Nigerian students to take loans to finance their education became an act of parliament which enables Nigerian students to easily have access to loans.”
Karimi who represents Kogi West senatorial district, listed other achievements of the 10th senate to
include creation of regional development commissions.
“We created all these commissions, so that we can directly impact on our people.
“The commission bill was the baby of the national assembly, and is now an act of parliament.
“We also created a lot of developments across our senatorial districts like several universities and other higher institutions, and we have been doing this for years.
“I cannot stop counting; a lot has been done for the people. The recent tax reform bill is an instance.
“When the tax reform bill was brought by the President, you would think that Nigeria will collapse but we went into it and convinced our people.
“The bill will bring development and increase revenue of the three tiers of government,” he said.
Karimi faulted opinions that the 10th senate is a rubber stamp legislature.
“If you call it a rubber stamp senate, that’s a mistake, it’s an error. We are not out to fight this government, we are out to work with this government to impact positively on our people.
“Let me tell you, there are areas we disagree with the executive. We may not do it publicly for you to know.
Sometimes we go into closed-door sessions and iron out our disagreements.”(NAN)
