The Senate has dismissed alleged rift with the House of Representatives over legislative bills.
This is coming under the heels of the lower chamber’s allegation against the Senate.
According to report, a slight tension had brewed at the House of Representatives last week when members of the green chamber resolved to suspend further consideration of bills originating from the Senate, citing what it described as persistent delays in legislative concurrence bills forwarded to the red chamber.
Reacting to the allegation during the plenary on Tuesday, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, maintained that the upper chamber has been diligent in attending to bills forwarded by the House.
As against to House of Representatives’ claim that the Senate had failed to act on over 140 House-passed bills, including several sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, Akpabio disclosed that the Senate considered no fewer than six concurrence bills just last week.
The Senate President emphasized on the need for both chambers to work together for the interest of Nigerians.
“We cannot joke with concurrence bills from the House of Representatives, we are committed to working together in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. It takes two hands to clap.”
On his part, Bamidele, while presenting one of the bills from the House during plenary on Tuesday, explained that the Senate has remained consistent in processing concurrence bills in line with constitutional responsibilities.
“For the record, we have been doing what we are supposed to do. Only last week, the Senate concurred on six bills from the House of Representatives.
“We know we have the principle of reciprocity that governs our operations, but this does not necessarily mean garbage in, garbage out.
“We have the duty, as the foremost democratic institution in the country, to exercise due diligence on the bills.
“We will continue to consider concurrence bills from the House of Representatives in the same way they considered our bills.
“We will ensure that it is given attention in overriding public interest. I just want to say this for the record.” He said.
The red chamber’s leadership reiterated its commitment to a productive and cooperative relationship with the House of Representatives, stressing that legislative harmony is essential for national progress.
