The ‘Heartbeat of the Nation’ has twelve lawmakers in the National Assembly in accordance with extant laws of the country, comprising nine members of the House of Representatives and three statutory Senators.
Ahead of the February 25, 2023, National Assembly elections in Edo state, we dive into lawmakers’ performance. From the bills chart, Rep Sergius Ogun leads the Edo bills tally with 34 Bills to his credit
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SCORECARD
Sergius Oseasochie Ogun
The lawmaker representing Esan North East and South East Federal Constituency is a ranking member of the Chamber and a vibrant member of the Minority Caucus.
In the period under review (2019 – 2022), he stands tall and shoulder above many of his legislator-colleagues, sponsoring a total of 34 bills, including legislation seeking to establish the Federal Medical Centre, Uromi Edo State (Establishment) Bill, 2021
Others include Public Officers International Medical Treatment Trips (Regulation) Bill, International Studies Regulations Bill, Age Discrimination (Eradication) Bill, Plastic Bags (Prohibition) Bill, Births, Deaths, Etc. (Compulsory Registration) Act (Amendment) Bill, Currency Offences Act (Amendment) Bill, and the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act (Amendment) Bill, amongst others.
Having lost the ticket of his party to contest the 2023 National Assembly Elections in May 2022, he joins the long list of legislators who wouldn’t be returning to the Green Chamber.
Johnson Egwakhide Oghuma
Representing Etsako East/West/Central Federal Constituency, he trails Rep. Ogun with 11 bills in his kitty, including that seeking to establish the Federal University of Technology, Auchi Bill (2019) which has been passed by the House and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence.
Some other bills sponsored by the lawmaker include The National Forestry Trust Fund, currently awaiting second reading, the National Library Act (Amendment) Bill (2019), Pension Reform Act (Amendment) Bill (2019) and the National Park Service Bill (2019), amongst others.
A highly respected member of the House, Rep. Oghuma chairs the House Committee on Environment.
Julius Ihonvbere
A former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and a university don, the lawmaker representing Owan East/Owan West Federal Constituency has sponsored seven bills in the period under review.
Bills sponsored by the lawmaker include Federal University of Sports, Afuze, which has been passed by the House and transmitted to the Senate for concurrence. Others are the Mandatory Inclusion of Teaching of Breast and Cervical Cancers into Senior Secondary Schools Curriculum in Nigeria Bill (2022) and Mandatory Inclusion of teaching of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence into Secondary Schools Curriculum in Nigeria Bill.
Joe Edionwele
The lawmaker representing Esan Central/ Esan West/Igueben has five bills in his kitty, including that seeking to amend the legal framework of the Medical Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), currently awaiting second reading.
Omeregie Ogbeide-Ihama
A staunch member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) representing Oredo Federal Constituency, the two-term lawmaker has sponsored four bills in the period under review.
Dennis Idahosa
The lawmaker representing Ovia North East and Ovia South West Federal Constituency is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In the period under review, he has been able to sponsor two bills.
Peter Akpatason
A Principal Officer in the Ninth House of Representatives, the Akoko-Edo legislator, has also sponsored two bills in the current legislative dispensation.
Bills sponsored by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House include the legislation to establish the Federal University of Agriculture, Akoko Edo, Edo State.
Patrick Aisiowerien
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Orhionmwon/Uhumwonde Federal Constituency, Aisiowerien is the only lawmaker from the State yet to make a showing on the Bills Chart.
Jude Ise-Idehen
Representing Egor/Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency, Ise-Idehen, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).is one of the lawmakers who passed on in the Ninth National Assembly.
Until his death in July 2022, he had sponsored three bills which are the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria Act (Amendment) Bill (2019), Federal University of Agriculture, Oregbeni, Ikpoba-Okha, Edo State and National Agency for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (Establishment) Bill, 2020.
READ ALSO: Rep Monguno leads Borno Bills Chart with 53 Bills | National Assembly Scorecard
SENATE’S SCORECARD
Senator Francis Alimkhena
The Edo North Senator so far sponsored nine bills in the period under review, including that seeking to establish the City University of Technology, Auchi, which has been passed.
A second-term member of the legislative chamber, he was first elected to parliament on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he served as Senate Chief Whip before his defection to the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).earlier in the year.
In the February 25, 2023 National Assembly Elections, he would be squared up against a former national chairman of the APC and two-time governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole.
Senator Mathew Urhoghide
Considered a highly influential member of the Ninth Senate, where he represents Edo South Senatorial District, he also chairs the Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC).
In the last three years, the second-term Senator has six bills to his credit, including a bill seeking the establishment of a Federal University of Education in Abudu, Edo State, which has since passed first reading.
Having lost the ticket of his party to contest the 2023 National Assembly Elections in May 2022, he joins the long list of legislators who wouldn’t be returning to the Red Chamber.
Senator Clifford Ordia
The Edo Central Senator is a member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and a ranking member of the National Assembly.
He has, in the period under review, sponsored four bills. Among these bills include a legislation seeking to establish a legal framework to tackle Open Defecation, which has passed its first reading.
READ ALSO: 9 Gombe lawmakers sponsor at least two bills each | National Assembly Scorecard
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.
One comment
Aladeokomo Babatunde Sunday
January 4, 2023 at 10:42 am
I sincerely impressed at the performance of the Edo state federal legislators. In terms of the richness, diversity and likely impacts of the bill sponsored they have collectively done well compared to their counterparts in other states.
Nevertheless, many of the legislators had on their bill cart legislation seeking to establish institution. This is not the best way out infact the senator representing Edo North and the honourable representing Etsako west are both seeking establishments of different Federal Universities in Auchi community alone. This is absurd. Akoko-edo, Ikpoba Oha, Owan west/Central, Esan among others are also sponsoring bills to establish schools. The cost implication of this kind of bill if passed into law will be far higher than it’s benefit and so the principal officers of the 10th National Assembly should work towards moderating establishments bills to meet present realities and needs of the country.
Moreso, the performing legislators like Rep. Sergius Ogun who will not be returning into the chamber is a big lose to legislation in the coming legislative year.
Lastly, it’s quite unfortunate for a lawmaker to spend 4years in the chamber without one bill to his credit. For me as a citizen it’s unacceptable.