Senate amends standing order rules

Senate amends standing order rules
Obiora Ani, Abuja

The Nigerian Senate has unanimously amended its Standing Orders 2007 to ensure that only ranking or experienced senators head the senate and its committees.

In their separate contributions on the motion for the amendment at plenary on Wednesday, the lawmakers agreed that ranking in the senate would strengthen the democratic institution.

Passing the motion, Senate President David Mark, said ranking exists all over the world and Nigeria should not be an exception.

The amendment of the senate Standing Orders generated tension as it tends to remove new senators from the headship of relevant committees of the senate.

The standing rules

The Order 97, Rule 1F of the senate Standing Rules states that “nomination of senators to serve as principal officers and chairmen of committees or any parliamentary delegation shall be in accordance with the ranking of senators in which previously elected senators into the senate are granted precedence.”

The amendment gives the Senate president, who is seeking to return as the president of the Senate's 7th Session, which will begin from 29 May, an advantage over other elected senators seeking for the Senate presidency.

Qasim