A week after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi
Gbajabiamila, sponsored a legislation entitled ‘National Health
Emergency Bill’, the Senate has commenced work on the controverisal
bill.
The Senate Bill is sponsored by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP,
Enugu-North). He is also the chairman of the Senate Committee on
Primary Health and Communicable Disease.
The Bill which passed first reading on the floor of the upper
legislative chamber on Tuesday was immediately opposed by a former
Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu (PDP,
Enugu-West).
Ekweremadu, referencing Order 41 of the Senate Standing Rule,
said the Bill is already generating controversies in the House of
Representatives. He insisted that as a senator, he has the
privilege of going through the Bill before it passes second
reading.
“I rely on Order 41 of the Senate Standing Rule. As a senator, I
am entitled to know the details of this Bill. We want to have
copies of the gazetted copies. There is controversy over the same
Bill in the House of Representatives.
“We don’t want to have the same issue here. We need to be guided
to avoid any backlash. I need to read it and prepare ahead of
time,” the former deputy senate president said.
Responding, President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan, presiding, said
copies will be given to members. He added that the second reading
will be taken next week, while senators go through it.
“The copies are ready and everybody will get a copy. We are not
taking the second reading immediately. That will be done next week.
So members will have the time to read the contents of the
Bill.”
A week after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi
Gbajabiamila, sponsored a legislation entitled ‘National Health
Emergency Bill’, the Senate has commenced work on the controverisal
bill.
The Senate Bill is sponsored by Senator Chukwuka Utazi (PDP,
Enugu-North). He is also the chairman of the Senate Committee on
Primary Health and Communicable Disease.
The Bill which passed first reading on the floor of the upper
legislative chamber on Tuesday was immediately opposed by a former
Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu (PDP,
Enugu-West).
Ekweremadu, referencing Order 41 of the Senate Standing Rule,
said the Bill is already generating controversies in the House of
Representatives. He insisted that as a senator, he has the
privilege of going through the Bill before it passes second
reading.
“I rely on Order 41 of the Senate Standing Rule. As a senator, I
am entitled to know the details of this Bill. We want to have
copies of the gazetted copies. There is controversy over the same
Bill in the House of Representatives.
“We don’t want to have the same issue here. We need to be guided
to avoid any backlash. I need to read it and prepare ahead of
time,” the former deputy senate president said.
Responding, President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan, presiding, said
copies will be given to members. He added that the second reading
will be taken next week, while senators go through it.
“The copies are ready and everybody will get a copy. We are not
taking the second reading immediately. That will be done next week.
So members will have the time to read the contents of the
Bill.”