The Nigerian Senate has found itself embroiled in confusion over the number of bills passed in the past two years, following contradictory statements by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.
During a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, marking the 2025 Democracy Day, Akpabio stated that 96 out of 844 bills had been passed since the 10th Senate was inaugurated in June 2023. However, Bamidele, in a statement released on Sunday, claimed that 108 out of 983 bills had been passed during the same period.
The conflicting figures have left many questioning the accuracy of the Senate’s reported achievements. While Akpabio referred to the introduction of 844 bills, Bamidele highlighted a slightly higher number—983 bills—introduced by the Senate during the 2023–2025 legislative period.
Bamidele, a senior lawyer and life bencher of the Nigerian Bar Association, provided a breakdown of the legislative activities in his statement, showing a significant increase in bills passed in the 2024/2025 legislative year compared to the previous one. He highlighted that 506 bills were introduced in 2024/2025, compared to 477 in 2023/2024, representing a 6.07% increase. Furthermore, 83 bills were fully passed into law in the 2024/2025 year, a 232% increase from the 25 bills passed the previous year.
Key Bills Passed by the Senate
Among the notable bills passed by the Senate were the National Social Investment Programmes Act, 2023; Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024; National Minimum Wage Amendment Act, 2024; Investments and Securities Act, 2025; Regional Development Commission (Establishment) Acts, 2025; and the Tax Reform Bills, 2025.
Bamidele particularly emphasized the significance of the Student Loan Act, which aims to increase access to tertiary education, reduce dropout rates, and ease financial barriers for students. He also pointed to the Tax Reform Bills as a crucial legislative effort to address Nigeria’s fiscal challenges, restructure the tax system, and boost investor confidence.
Transparency and Accountability Concerns
The confusion between Akpabio and Bamidele underscores concerns about transparency and record-keeping within the Senate. As lawmakers responsible for the country’s peace, order, and governance, the Senate’s leadership is expected to present accurate and consistent records of its activities.
The discrepancy in the reported figures raises questions about the Senate’s internal communications and its ability to provide the public with reliable data regarding legislative performance. Despite the differing accounts, both leaders emphasized the Senate’s commitment to improving governance and transparency.
Looking Forward: Legislative Focus
As the Senate enters its second legislative year, Bamidele assured the public that electoral reforms, judicial reforms, and constitutional reviews would be key priorities. He emphasized the importance of creating a more transparent and efficient electoral process, noting that reforms in the judiciary would help ensure that justice is delivered in a timely and transparent manner.
Bamidele also mentioned that the Senate was considering various bills aimed at reforming how judges and judicial officers are appointed, their length of service, and their welfare.
Conclusion
The conflicting statements regarding the number of bills passed by the Senate in the past two years have left many Nigerians perplexed, raising concerns about the accuracy and transparency of legislative records. As the Senate continues its work, the public will be watching closely to see if it can resolve these discrepancies and focus on critical reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and governance.