Senate Adopts Amendments to Restrict First-time Senators from Senate Leadership Roles and Establishes New Committees

By Iyojo Ameh

The Nigerian Senate has adopted a series of amendments to its standing rules, including a provision that restricts first-time senators from contesting for the positions of President of the Senate and Deputy President of the Senate.

This crucial amendment was introduced during a recent plenary session when Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the Leader of the Senate, proposed a motion to amend the standing rules in order to accommodate new standing committees.

The motion received widespread support from senators across various political affiliations and was seconded by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Simon Mwadkwon.

Alongside this significant change, the Senate made several other amendments aimed at restructuring and expanding its standing committees. These changes include:

Committee on Atomic and Nuclear Energy: The Senate established a new committee to oversee the Nigeria Nuclear Energy Regulatory Commission, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, and their annual budget estimates.

Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT): The existing committee was divided into two distinct standing committees, namely the Committee on FCT and the Committee on FCT Area Councils. The former will handle matters concerning the FCT, planning and development of the new Federal Capital Territory, and control of development within the Federal Capital Territory and its annual budget. The latter will oversee Area Council Mandate, Area Council Service Commission, Area Council Staff Pension Board, Auditor-General for the Area Council, and other agencies or departments under the FCT.

Committee on Sports: The Committee on Sports was also split into two separate standing committees, the Committee on Sports Development and the Committee on Youth and Community Engagements. The former will focus on the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, National Lottery Commission, National Institute for Sports, Nigeria Football Federation, Sport Arena Development, national and international sporting activities, sports administration, and annual budget estimates.

The latter will address matters related to the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, National Youth Service Corps, Citizens and Leadership Training Centre, Offices of the Senior Assistant to the President on Community Engagement in the six geo-political zones, youth movements’ activities and associations, and its annual budget estimates.

Committee on Solid Minerals, Steel Development, and Metallurgy: This committee was divided into two distinct committees: the Committee on Solid Mineral Development and the Committee on Mines and Steel Development. The former will oversee the Federal Ministry of Solid Mineral Development, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Mining Cadastre Office, Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists, Nigerian Metallurgical Training Institute, Solid Minerals Development Fund, Nigeria Institute of Mining and Geoscience, National Metallurgical Development Centre, exploration of minerals extraction and quarry, geological survey, minerals investigation, as well as explosives.

The latter committee will have jurisdiction over the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Aluminum Smelting Company of Nigeria, Ajaokuta Steel Development Company, National Iron Ore Mining Company, National Steel Raw Material Exploration Agency, and their budgets.

These amendments reflect a comprehensive restructuring of the Senate’s standing committees, aimed at improving governance and representation within the Nigerian Senate while also altering the criteria for eligibility for leadership positions.