Reps Pass 10 Bills In 6 Months

In a stock-taking exercise for the seventh assembly, the chairman of the Business and Rules committee, Hon Sam Tsokwa yesterday said the House passed 10 bills in six months.
 

This is just as the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has assured staff of the House that it will engage the management of the National Assembly with the view to ensure that they have their own residential houses through a housing scheme.
 

In a press briefing, Tsokwa said 127 bills were introduced within the six months period along with  seven constitution bills while 78 bills are awaiting second reading.
 

He continued that 33 bills were referred to committees, eight awaiting consideration in the committee of the whole while one was negatived.
 

A breakdown of the passed bills include Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria Amendment Act, Office of the Nigerian Ombudsman Bill, Transfer of Convicted Offenders Bill, State of the Nation Address Bill, Universities Miscellaneous Provisions amendment Act and Harmonised Retirement Age of Staff of Polytechnics and colleges of Education Bill.
 

Others are NDDC statutory Appropriation Bill, 2011 and Appropriation Act (2nd amendment) bill, 2011, Nigeria International Financial Centre Establishment Bill and Dispute Resolution Regulatory Commission.
 

The chairman also added that 137 motions were considered within the period out of which 35 resolutions were passed, 92 referred to standing and ad-hoc committees, 6 negatived, 3 deferred and 1 withdrawn.
 

Meanwhile, Tambuwal has commended staff of House of Representatives for their commitment to duty, integrity and values of service, stressing that since assumption of office as speaker there has not being  any complaint  against  any member  of staff from any quarter.
 

Speaking as a guest of honour during the  end of year party organised by the staff of the House of Representatives, the Speaker pointed out that, he will “touch base with what my younger brother requested us to do in collaboration with the management staff of the House in ensuring that all of you as much as possible before you  finish service will have a roof over your heads that you can call your personal home.”