As the Seventh Senate marks the end of its second legislative session this month, it has now been revealed that 227 of its bills have been stalled at the level of first reading since June 2011.
This is out of a total of 344 bills introduced in the Senate for the two years ending in June 2013.
An analysis of the Bill Progression Chart showed that 42 of the bills were read the first time in 2011; 122 in 2012; and 63 in the 2013 legislative year.
The chart also shows that a total of 31 bills were passed during the period, just as 36 of them had scaled second reading awaiting reports on them from the relevant committees. 35 bills had not received any mention in the Senate though they had been introduced, and 56 are due for second reading.
The chart also showed that 10 of the bills were withdrawn for possible reintroduction at a later date, and two were rejected by the Senate.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, speaking on the development, said a number of bills were still at the first reading level as a result of several factors.
“Sometimes the senators who introduced the bills may not be ready on time and that could affect the progress of bills,” Enang said, noting that the nature of the bill and other political considerations could also stagnate bills.
So how do we grade our senators? Do they deserve a pass mark, a fair grade or an ‘F’?
[Photo H/T: YNaija]