The Senate on Thursday, 15th December 2016 adjourned plenary to January 10th 2017 for Christmas and New Year celebrations. Prior to the adjournment, Senate President, Bukola Saraki (APC:Kwara) used the platform to commend colleagues for their achievements in the past three months, noting that the 11 economic recovery bills highlighted by the Senate to aid Nigeria’s quick exit from recession have all been read for the second time and undergone public hearing. Some of the bills highlighted include: Procurement Act (Amendment) Bill, Electronic Transactions Bill, Railway Bill, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Amendment) Bill and the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme Bill.
Elaborating on some of the Senate’s achievements, he stated that 64 bills had been read for the second time and 18 bills passed since the resumption of its session in September. In addition, he mentioned that the achievements of the Senate in the last three months surpassed its performance from May 2015 to September 2016 as it passed only 14 bills within the period. He also promised that on resumption, the Senate would fast track the 2017 budget and pass it in the earliest possible time.
Sen. Saraki also congratulated the newly sworn in Senators from Rivers State who include: Sen. George Thompson Sekibo (PDP:Rivers East), Sen. Magnus Abe (APC:Rivers South East) and Sen. Osinachukwu Ideozu (PDP:Rivers West). He also pointed to the fact that their presence was as a result of a resolution in November 2016 calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct elections in Rivers State to ensure representation of law makers in the Senate, House of Representatives and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
