By Peter Omopo
Abuja | July 2, 2025 — The House of Representatives on Wednesday took a decisive step to suspend all bills transmitted from the Senate, citing persistent neglect of over 140 bills originating from the House that remain pending before the Red Chamber.
The resolution followed a motion raised by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, who expressed frustration during plenary over the Senate’s apparent reluctance to act on House-proposed legislation.
Lawmakers voiced their dissatisfaction during debate on a bill sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele seeking to amend the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital Management Act to establish a Federal Orthopaedic Hospital in Obokun, Osun State. The House also stepped down another Senate-originated bill proposing the establishment of the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Egbe, Kogi State.
Chinda, while reluctantly seconding the motion for second reading, decried the one-sided nature of the legislative process between both chambers. “We don’t get the same treatment at the Senate,” he said. “Mr Speaker, having said so, I will reluctantly second the motion for the second reading of this bill.”
Other lawmakers echoed Chinda’s sentiments. Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (Rivers) revealed that two of his bills, transmitted to the Senate as far back as 2024, remain untouched. “Throughout the 9th Assembly, my bills were ignored by the Senate,” he said. “We cannot continue like this.”
Hon. Ahmed Jaha (Borno) also condemned what he described as the Senate’s “deliberate stalling” of House bills, calling for reciprocal action if no justification is provided.
House Leader Julius Ihonvbere moved the motion to formally step down consideration of the affected Senate bills, emphasizing that while the House remains committed to governance and cooperation, fairness and legislative parity must be maintained.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen did not immediately comment on the resolution but was seen nodding in agreement as members voiced their grievances.
The House urged leadership to engage the Senate to address the legislative imbalance and warned that future cooperation may be contingent on reciprocal action.
