Of the 153 bills sponsored by Lagos lawmakers, only 7 have been passed so far while 7 Rep members had no bill to their names in the first year of the 10th National Assembly
In the first year of the 10th National Assembly (June 2023 to May 2024), the 27 lawmakers from Lagos State made significant contributions to the legislative process. Their performance in terms of bill sponsorship was notably higher compared to their counterparts from other states, indicating a more focused approach toward their core duty of lawmaking. Out of the total 1,650 bills sponsored by both chambers of the National Assembly, Lagos lawmakers accounted for 155, with the three senators contributing 26 bills in the Senate (5.47 percent of the senate’s 475 bills) while the representatives contributed 129 bills (10.98 percent of the House’s 1,175 bills).
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However, while the volume of bills is commendable, progress in passing these bills has been slow. Of the 155 bills sponsored by Lagos lawmakers, only 7 have been passed so far while 7 members in the House had no bill to their names.
A deeper look into the statistics by OrderPaper reveals some interesting trends, particularly in the inclusion of youth and women in decision-making roles. The ongoing call for more youth and women participation in governance is gaining ground in the Lagos legislative contingent. Rep. Whingan Oluseun, one of the top ten young bill sponsors in the House of Representatives, introduced 19 bills. However, all his bills are still awaiting second reading, reflecting the challenges younger lawmakers may face in advancing their legislative agendas.
In terms of female representation, Sen. Idiat Adebule and Rep. Ogbara Kafilat, the only two women among the Lagos contingent, have also contributed their share of legislative work. Adebule sponsored four bills while Ogbara sponsored five. However, progress has been slow for both: all of Adebule’s bills are awaiting second reading, while 80 percent of Ogbara’s are stuck at the second reading stage, with the remainder awaiting reports. This highlights the need for more concerted efforts to push through the legislative hurdles that female lawmakers face.
Several lawmakers from Lagos showed remarkable activity in bill sponsorship, contributing significantly to the state’s high legislative tally: Rep. Benson Babajimi sponsored 18 bills. Rep. Hammed Waheed and Rep. Alli Taofeek, each sponsored 9 bills. Rep. Balogun Olusegun sponsored 2 bills. Some of these have already been passed, while others remain at various stages of the legislative process.
Other lawmakers with notable bill sponsorship numbers include Rep. Kuye Ademorin and Rep. Okunlola Lanre, who each sponsored 15 bills, while Rep. Jesse Onuakalusi (8 bills), Rep. Raji Olawale (6 bills), and Rep. Fayinka Oluwatoyin (4 bills) and others contributed to the tally. Most of these bills are awaiting second reading or awaiting reports.
On the flip side, seven Lagos lawmakers failed to sponsor any bill in their first year, raising concerns about their legislative engagement. Rep. Ayuba Adele, Rep. Olawande George, Rep. Thaddeus Attah, Rep. Olabinjo Adeyemi, Rep. Akiolu Kayode, Rep. Oluwaseyi Sowumi, and Rep. Dawodu Ayinla have yet to make any legislative contributions through bill sponsorship considering the active participation of their colleagues.
In the Senate, Lagos senators face similar challenges with bill progression. Despite their efforts in sponsoring 26 bills, none of them have been passed. Senator Mukhail Abiru, a second-term senator, sponsored 12 bills, but 83 percent of them are still awaiting second reading, while the remaining are at the committee stage. First-term senator, Wasiu Sanni sponsored 10 bills, of which 90 percent are also stuck at the second reading stage.
STAR CHECK: Find out about all Lagos state lawmakers in the National Assembly here
10th NASS Report Card: Read up on the performance scorecards of other senators, members of the House and specialised categories here
