To get to the bills with impact, value, and progression, the volume of such bills must first be determined. Hence, this scorecard of the Top 10 Senators by Bills Sponsorship (Volume) highlights the parliamentarians with the highest bills tally in three years of the 9th Senate.
“The bill sponsorship pattern of the Senators in the 9th Assembly against the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Assemblies indicates an increase in the number of bills sponsored.”
READ ALSO: These 10 Reps sponsored 22.2% of total House bills | National Assembly Scorecard
Bills sponsorship, being the starting point of lawmaking, has been a significant aspect of legislative activities in the National Assembly. To ascertain the other key components of bills sponsored, the volume of the bills needs to be first analysed. Then it can be further broken into impact, value, progression and other categories.
Hence, a quick comparative analysis shows that the bill sponsorship pattern of the Senators in the 9th Assembly against the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Assemblies indicates an increase in the number of bills sponsored. For instance, records show that while the 8th Senate had a total of 815 in four years, the 9th Assembly senate recorded more in three years at 1,009 bills.
Therefore, lawmakers who have sponsored most of these bills are captured in the Top 10 Senators by Bills Sponsorship (Volume) broken down below:
Stella Oduah Adaeze (PDP, Anambra-North)
In the third session, the Anambra lawmaker and former Minister of Aviation maintain the top spot on the bills by volume scorecard. Previously with 35 bills on the midterm scorecard, she moved to 39 bills in three years.
Interestingly, the lawmaker was also on the stagnated bills chart at midterm; a lot stayed the same at the end of the third session. Being that 29 of her bills are still at the first reading stage.
Stella Oduah, who is gunning for a third term, sponsored bills on the protection of children from sexual offences, establishment bills, renewable energy, and marriage act amendment and constitution alteration, among others.
Mohammed Sani Musa (APC, Niger East)
This newbie, who is also on the bills progression chart, appears on the volume scorecard with a tally of 38 bills in three years. This is 12 bills up from the 26 he sponsored at midterm. Some of his bills include establishment bills for a Teaching Hospital Development Fund, an Orthopaedic Hospital, and two universities. The first-term Senator will seek a second term in the 2023 National Assembly elections.
Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna Central)
Another first-time Senator on the list and top scorer on the bills productivity scorecard takes the third spot with 31 bills in three years. Similarly, the lawmaker contesting for the Kaduna Gubernatorial seat in 2023 was on the bills by volume list with 21 bills at midterm.
Worthy of note among his bills are the two that have received Presidential assent: the Banks and Other Financial Institution Act (BOFIA) and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria Act. Other bills include an amendment to the Firearms Act and the establishment of a College of Education in Giwa, Kaduna and a Medical Centre in Rigassa, Kaduna, among others.
READ ALSO: North West lawmakers sponsored 436 bills in three years | National Assembly Scorecard
Ekwunife Lilian Uche (PDP, Anambra-Central):
The female lawmaker equally was on the midterm bills by volume scorecard with 23 bills. However, at the end of the third session, her tally has gone up to 29 bills. But on the flip side, 23 of these bills are yet to move beyond the first reading stage. However, one of her bills has been passed for concurrence, this being the public procurement Act 2007 (amendment) bill.
Haven contested twice for the governorship in her state and lost; the ranking member first came into the National Assembly as a Rep member in 2007 and 20011. She then moved to the Senate in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019. Ekwunife will likewise seek another re-election into the 10th Senate on the 25th of February 2023 during the National Assembly elections.
Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North):
The ex-governor and Chief Whip of the Senate was previously not on the bills by volume chart at midterm but did an interesting climb at the end of the third session. While he sponsored just four bills at midterm, he sponsored 21 new bills in the past year, bringing his tally in three years to 25 bills.
His bills cover sectors such as agriculture, law and order, local content, education, and the environment. Also, the first-time Senator will be contesting to return to the Senate for a second time in the 2023 National Assembly elections.
Ovie Augustine Omo-Agege (APC, Delta-Central)
The second-term lawmaker and Deputy President of the Senate has a bills tally of 25 bills in three years. With 20 bills at midterm, his tally increased by five bills. His bills include university establishment, sexual harassment, Electoral Act and Constitution amendment.
Interestingly, the Deputy President of the Senate and Speakers of the State Houses of Assembly had recently traded blame over the progression of the Constitution amendment, but this has finally been received by the Senate and set to be transmitted for assent. The lawmaker who had previously run for Governor in 2007 is the 2023 Delta gubernatorial candidate of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
READ ALSO: South East Senators sponsored 19.7% of total Senate bills | National Assembly Scorecard
Sadiq Suleiman Umar (APC, Kwara North)
The fourth newbie Senator on the list sponsored 25 bills in three years. As of midterm, he had a tally of 11 bills; therefore, he has sponsored 14 new bills in the past year. These include the payment system bills, HYPADEC act amendment, and establishment bills.
The pharmacist turned politician and author of the book “How I became a Senator in 30 days” is seeking a second term in the 2023 National Assembly elections.
Ibikunle Amosun (APC, Ogun Central)
The second ex-governor on the bills by volume scorecard has a tally of 24 bills. Sponsoring 15 bills at midterm, Amosun added nine to his tally in the last year. Also appearing on the bills progressive chart for the third session, his bills cover the establishment of a Science-based University, an amendment to the 2003 Child Rights Act, and the Nationwide Toll Bill.
In addition, he attempted to secure the Presidential ticket of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), but lost. Hence, he joins the list of lawmakers who will not return to the 10th National Assembly. Other of his bills are private and public sector bills on insurance, mortgage, student financial scheme, electric waste, environment, and security.
Michael .O. Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central)
First coming into the National Assembly in the 7th House of Representatives, the lawmaker also ran for the Office of Governor in Ekiti State in 2014 but lost to former Governor Ayodele Fayose. In the last three years, he has sponsored 23 bills, six more from his tally of 17 at midterm.
His bills cover law and order, the Federal College of Agriculture and Tropical Studies establishment, Efon Alaye, and several Constitution amendments. The lawmaker seeking a third term in the Senate won his Constituency APC ticket for the 2023 National Assembly elections unopposed.
READ ALSO: Senator Amosun tops 88 others in South West Bills Chart | National Assembly Scorecard
Gershom Henry Bassey (PDP, Cross River-South)
The two-time Senator sponsored 22 bills at the end of the third session of the 9th Assembly. This is five bills up from his 19 at midterm. His bills cover oil and gas, Fiscal Responsibility Act amendment, agriculture, law and order.
Unfortunately, the lawmaker will not return to the Senate in the 10th Assembly haven lost the PDP Governorship primaries for Cross River.
Editor’s Note: OrderPaper’s appraisal of lawmakers in the core areas of lawmaking is without prejudice to the lawmaker’s performance in the areas of oversight and representation.
