The economic hardship rocking Nigeria has largely been blamed on some of the policies initiated by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
While many people blame this hardship solely on the president, others are convinced that the National Assembly should share in the blame.
The reason is not far-fetched.
You see, the National Assembly is saddled with the responsibility of reviewing and passing these policies, hence, the reason for this sentiment.
However, in the midst of all this chaos, there are many other bills awaiting approval by the National Assembly.
Indeed, the 10th National Assembly has enacted numerous bills since its official inauguration in June 2023.
Nevertheless, specific sensitive or contentious bills remain in limbo, pending public hearings and legislative approval.
The National Assembly And The WASSCE Age Contoversy
Meanwhile, the controversy that trailed the Federal Government’s proposal to impose an age limit of 18 years for students wishing to take the West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is still very fresh.
In fact, the National Assembly had to intervene to bring an end to the controversy.
This proposal, introduced by the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, elicited significant backlash from various stakeholders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and numerous civil society organizations (CSOs).
Also Read: WASSCE Age Limit: National Assembly Moves To Address Controversy
In light of the public dissent, the Senate announced its intention to conduct a public hearing when it is presented to the senators.
However, as we mentioned earlier, there are many other proposals awaiting the approval of the NA.
We can not say for sure if these bills will favour Nigerians or add to the already unbearable hardship.
In this article, we will explore the pertinent bills as federal lawmakers reconvene following their recess on September 17.
Below are the major bills before the 10th National Assembly as of this report’s filing:
- Bill on a six-year single term for presidents and governors
- Bills on parliamentary system
- Police Act Amendment Bill
- Ranches Commission Bill
- NIMC Act Repeal Bill
- Bill seeking special seats for female legislators
- Bill on diaspora voting
