Kebbi stands as one of the states with the lowest number of bills and the slowest progression in the first year of the 10th National Assembly
The performance of lawmakers has often been perceived differently by Nigerians, with much focus on how well they fulfil their core duties of oversight, representation, and lawmaking. While some legislators excel in their oversight roles or in connecting with their constituencies, many fall short in the area of lawmaking, which is arguably their most visible function. This trend is particularly evident in Kebbi State, where, despite the introduction of bills, progress is hindered at the very beginning of the legislative process.
In one year of the 10th National Assembly, a comprehensive analysis by OrderPaper reveals that Kebbi’s legislators have made limited headway in terms of lawmaking. Out of the 1,650 bills sponsored by members of the Senate and House of Representatives, Kebbi State lawmakers have contributed a meagre 14 bills none of which have moved beyond the first reading stage.
ALSO READ: 10TH NASS REPORT CARD: 12 of 18 Katsina lawmakers sponsor no bill in one year
Of the three Kebbi senators, all second-term or more seasoned lawmakers, only 5 bills were sponsored collectively out of 475 Senate bills. However, these bills have not advanced beyond the introductory phase of the legislative process.
Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi, a ranking senator, sponsored just two bills, both of which stalled at first reading. Sen. Adamu Mohammed Aliero, a fourth-term senator with significant experience, sponsored only one bill, also stuck at the initial stage. While Senator Garba Maidoki, a first-term senator, similarly sponsored two bills, both meeting the same fate of progression.
These figures underscore a worrying trend, especially among long-serving senators, whose legislative experience has yet to translate into tangible progress.
The performance of Kebbi’s eight representatives in the House reflects the same stagnation. They collectively sponsored 9 bills out of 1,175 bills by the House, all stuck at the first reading stage:
Rep. Mansur Musa and Rep. Ibrahim Mohammed led with five and two bills, respectively, but none advanced. Rep. Rabiu Kamba and Rep. Kaoje Bello each introduced one bill, but both remain stalled at the introductory stage.
Notably, four of Kebbi’s representatives Rep. Sani Noma, Rep. Ibrahim Kabir, Rep. Garba Salisu, and Rep. Garba Uba, failed to sponsor a single bill within the first year of the 10th National Assembly.
The low number of bills and the fact that none have progressed highlights an alarming trend of legislative underperformance in Kebbi State. OrderPaper, a foremost parliamentary organization that bridges the gap between citizens and parliament has often reiterated that the performance of lawmakers should be judged not just by the number of bills they introduce, but by their ability to navigate these bills through the legislative process and enact meaningful laws that benefit their constituents.
STAR CHECK: Find out about all Kebbi 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
