Eleven Plateau lawmakers rake 31 bills as the former governor of the state as well as ex-Reps deputy speaker, recorded zero bill
Aside from the functions of oversight and representation the most critical duty of the legislature and legislators is law-making which is required for the good governance and well-being of citizens.
While members of the 10th Senate and House of Representatives processed a total number of 1,650 bills within the first year, lawmakers representing Plateau state accounted for only 31 representing a mere 1.87 percent. Worse still, 97 percent of these bills are yet to scale through second reading while a mere 3 percent are awaiting consideration.
According to OrderPaper’s detailed analysis of bills processed between June 2023 and May 2024, the three senators representing the state account for only one (1) of the 475 bills sponsored in the Senate. The eight (8) representatives from the state account for 30 of the 1175 bills recorded in the green chamber.
Although, most of the lawmakers are newbies and came in through a controversial court decision which nullified the elections of their predecessors six months after the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, this might have affected their performance in one way or the other.
Sen. Simon Lalong, the immediate past governor of the state representing Plateau south, recorded zero bill. Despite his political experience of having governed the state for 8 years and the numerous challenges faced by the state in respect to persistent killings, illegal mining activities etc, he had yet to record a lawmkaing effort.
Also, Pam Mwadkon, senator representing Plateau north failed to sponsor a bill in one while Plang Satso representing Plateau central, although a newbie, raked just one (1) bill.
Meanwhile, in the House of Representatives, Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (a second term member) representing Kanke/Paskshin/Kanam federal constituency topped the chart with 22 bills with 18.1 percent awaiting consideration and 81.1 percent of bills awaiting second reading. Rep. David Asama representing Bassa/Jos north federal constituency accounts for 6 bills, and Rep. Lalu David representing Bokkos/Mangu account for 2 bills respectively. The duo are newbies.
Meanwhile Reps. Fom Chotom representing Barkin Ladi/Riyom, Ajang Alfred Iliya representing Jos south/east, Buluş Venman representing Lantang north/Lantang south, and Dafa’an Moenwur representing Making/Qua’an Pan/Shendam accounted for nil bill. The trio are all newbies.
The former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Ahmed Wase representing, Wase federal constiteuncy, also falls in the category of zero bill in the year under review.
STAR Check: Find out more about all Plateau lawmakers in the National Assembly here.
10th NASS REPORT CARD: Read up on the performance scorecard of other senators, members of the House on specialised categories here
