10th June, 2023
By Naomi Sharang
The 9th Senate had passed 500 Bills in four years, says the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
He said this in his remarks on Saturday during the valedictory session for the outgoing senators of the 9th Assembly.
“Today, I address you with mixed emotions. On the one hand, there is a sense of accomplishment for all that we have achieved together.
“My gratitude is to God Almighty for the privilege of serving the people of Nigeria and being a part of this revered legislative body, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he stated.
Lawan said that the senate accomplished some significant accomplishments over the last four years.
“In lawmaking, the 9th Senate introduced and successfully passed critical legislations that could reform and promote the economy, improve transparency in government processes.
“As of June 10, over 1,129 Bills were presented on the floor of the Senate, and over 500 were successfully passed.
“The President assented to 131 Bills; the highest of any Assembly in Nigeria’s history.
“In the last few days, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had assented to two Bills passed by the 9th National Assembly; the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) (No.37) Bill, 2023.”
“This extends the retirement age of high court judges and others, from 65 to 70 years. This was the first Bill to be signed by the President since taking the oath of office.
“Only yesterday (Friday), the 9th, he also assented to the Electricity Act 2023, which we had passed in July 2022. The new law replaces the Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act of 2005.”
He said that in the discharge of their representative functions, the 9th Senate aggregated and amplified the problems faced by constituents.
“Three hundred and sixty one motions were moved in the 9th Senate and 488 Resolutions were passed.
“Through these various motions and resolutions, we called the government’s attention to specific issues and sought their intervention.”
Lawan said that beyond the impressive numbers, however, the laws cut across the 11 priority areas of their Legislative Agenda.
Lawan further said that to curb the proliferation of illegal arms and weapons, “we passed the Bill for the Establishment of a National Commission for Coordination and Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.
“We passed other security-related laws, including the Police Act 2020, which introduced radical changes in the operations of the Nigerian Police Force and how they relate to the citizenry.”
Lawan, thereafter, appreciated his colleagues for voting him to be the President of the 9th Senate.
He said that it had been an honour and a privilege to serve as a member of the revered legislative body and to preside over its activities at a defining moment in the history of Nigeria.