Senate To Reward Punctual Lawmakers Who Stay Till End Of Plenary

The Nigerian Senate is considering introducing end-of-plenary attendance to identify lawmakers who remain in the chamber until adjournment, with the records to be used to recognise committed members and recommend them for national honours.

The proposal was raised on Tuesday by Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central, shortly before the upper legislative chamber adjourned.

Raising a point of order, Ningi urged the leadership to adopt a practice similar to that of the House of Representatives, where members present at the end of each sitting are recorded.

His words: “At every given time, to encourage members to stay till the end, you recall the House of Representatives had a convention that by the end of the sitting like this one, the House takes attendance of those who are seated.

“I call on the Senate to do the needful. I will encourage you, Mr. President, to also take attendance as it is now so that members that remain will be a reference point, and when the need arises, it will showcase that these members stay all through the proceedings.”

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele supported the proposal, saying attendance records would encourage lawmakers to participate actively in proceedings and remain until the day’s business is concluded.

“The essence of doing that is to ensure that distinguished lawmakers always, one, participate actively in the proceedings, and two, also see the need to wait to finish whatever we have in our order paper for the day,” Bamidele said.

He added that the records would also help the leadership identify deserving lawmakers whenever nominations for national honours are requested.

“For instance, when the leadership is called upon to submit the names of active lawmakers for national awards, records like that come in handy and are guided by such things,” he said.

Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin commended Ningi for raising the issue and said the leadership would reflect on the proposal.

He said: “I commend you for bringing forward this line of thinking for the senate to acknowledge and also to reflect. It’s a wonderful thing you have done today, and this will remind some of us who are either not punctual or who don’t sit throughout the sessions, so that they will think twice in doing that in the future.

“And this is well noted and the leadership will take appropriate reflection on this and will keep record. And when the time comes, we will compensate those who stay through the session.

“Of course, we have reason to support so many senators here, based on this reason that you adduced when we are called upon to give names for those to be considered for national honours.”