By Johnbosco Agbakwuru & Joseph Erunke
ABUJA — THE life span of the 7th Senate formally came to an end, yesterday, after a valedictory session that saw Senate President, David Mark, reeling out the various achievements recorded by the Red Chamber since June 6, 2011, when it was inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan.

But in the four years of its existence, the Senate passed 77 bills besides the 46 bills it jointly passed on Wednesday within 10 minutes, bringing the total number of bills passed within its four year term to 123.

The formality leading to the closure of the 7th Senate began around 11 am, with a procession led by the Senate President to the Senate Chamber before the commencement of consideration of the report of its Committee on Rules and Business, which captured all the status of bills, motions, confirmations and sundry legislative measures of the Senate from the June 6, 2011 to yesterday, June 4, 2015.

end of 7th Senate: Senate President David Mark (6th left); Deputy Senate Prresident Ike Ikweremadu (5th left) and other principal officers at the end of 7th Senate in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Nan

Deferment of debate on constitution amendment

Before the commencement of the valedictory session, the Senate announced the deferment of debate on the 1999 Constitution amendment, which it had earlier slated for treatment on its Order Paper, to “another legislative day,” even as it was preparing to end its session ahead of the inauguration of the 8th Senate, Tuesday.

Mark scores 7th Senate high

Delivering what he called “End of Assembly Speech” during the session that saw many past National Assembly leaders, like former Senate Presidents Joseph Wayas, Ahmed Ebute, Ken Nnamani, former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin among others, in attendance, Mark scored the 7th Senate high, saying it made remarkable achievements in its four-year life span.

Among the landmark achievements, as explained by the Senate President in his speech, were the Pension Reform Act 2014, National Health Act, Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act and the Terrorism (Prevention) Act.

He added that within the period the upper legislative chamber received parliamentary delegations from Gambia, Benin Republic and China while over 27 delegations from the Senate attended international conferences and seminars besides honouring invitations from the Parliaments of Czech Republic and China.

Some landmark bills passed

“Let me in all modesty say that the 7th Senate achieved some measure of success in the areas of the number of bills that were passed, motions moved, in our oversight functions and in our legislative duties. Some landmark bills passed by this Senate include but not limited to Pension Reform Act 2014, National Health Act, Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act and the Terrorism (Prevention) Act. The 7th Senate confirmed a total number of 429 persons between 2011 and 2015.

“In spite of the difficult political and economic climate within which we worked and despite our own internal challenges, we can end this Senate convinced that we represented our constituents and Nigerians with the most noble of intentions and to the best of our abilities.”

Political intrigues slowed down legislative activities

The Senate president regretted that political intrigues within the period, which saw defection of some lawmakers from one political party to the other, slowed down legislative activities.

He said: “I must confess that within the last four years, we matured politically. That was why when some Senators defected from one political party to the other, we still maintained one united Senate. Even though the political intrigues of the last four years sometimes slowed down important legislative business, they nevertheless enriched our democratic understanding and I consider them equally important to the democratic process.

The Senate President regretted that the “last four years have been defining for our country in many respects. The country was battered on all sides by security challenges that threatened the very existence of our society.

On Boko Haram

“The rise in insurgency and the ruthless mayhem unleashed on Nigerians by the Boko Haram sect resulted in the highest number of lives and property which our nation has lost in our recent history. What was most horrifying was not only their wanton destructions but their disregard for human lives particularly those of women and children.

“The abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls still remains a scar on our national psyche.

“There is no doubt that the Boko Haram crisis exposed serious cracks in our security system, challenged our unity, threatened our future and seriously dented our international image.

He recalled that the Senate considered and approved emergency rule “when we thought it was needed and declined request for extension when we thought that such an extension could not stem the tide of terrorism and insurgency in the affected states.”

Mark expressed happiness for the success recorded by the military in the fight against insurgency in the North-East, saying: “Happily, the Nigerian Armed Forces have made significant gains in the fight against insurgency.

“The security challenges we faced in the last four years were not restricted to terrorism but included political violence, extremism, communal conflicts, militancy in the Niger Delta, maritime insecurity and transnational crimes.

“In all these we gave maximum support to the government. We passed the Bill for an Act to amend the Terrorism (prevention) Act, 2012, and we approved a loan of $1 billion for the government to procure arms and equipment needed to tackle security challenges in the country.

On Ebola

On the outbreak of Ebola virus in the country, Mark commended Nigerians for the success recorded in the fight against the scourge, saying: “In July 2014, we faced a serious public health challenge with the outbreak of Ebola virus disease. In a swift reaction, a determined public in conjunction with the Ministry of Health nipped this potential epidemic in the bud.”

2015 polls

Mark said the success recorded in the 2015 general elections was due to the support of the National Assembly.

He said:“We have had a chequered history in our democratic journey. In the course of this, the legislature sought to improve our electoral system in several Acts of the National Assembly. Gladly, our efforts have helped to make our elections free, fair and credible. The year 2015 general elections is a testimony to this.

He expressed happiness that the Senate gave its support to the National Institute for Legislative Studies, NILS, saying the development made the institute make remarkable progress in such a short time with its influence extending to other African countries.

On PIB, National Conference

Mark, who listed the National Conference report and the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, among pending legislative items in the Senate, however, regretted that in spite of support given the National Conference by the National Assembly, former President Goodluck Jonathan sent the report of the conference late to the legislature.

He said: “We gave a nod to the clarion call for a national conference but the report unfortunately came very late. However, as much as we tried, we did not meet all the targets we set for ourselves. For instance we were not able to pass the PIB and our constitution amendment is stalled.”

Mark, however, said “whatever our achievements are, we are all well aware that we are yet to attain our goal,” insisting that the 7th Assembly has laid a solid foundation which the 8th Assembly can build upon.

“To those of my colleagues who are returning to the Senate, you have an excellent legislative knowledge to build upon. It is my hope that you carry to the new Assembly the same vigour and dedication and bring your rich experience to bear on the legislative process.

“To those of you my colleagues who are departing the Senate, I wish you success in your future endeavours. I urge you to remain our ambassadors.

“I desired and worked for a National Assembly that would have its own radio and television stations, a specialist hospital and relocation of the National Institute of Legislative Studies to its permanent site. These projects are ongoing.”

Earlier, in his valedictory speech, Senator Ndoma-Egba, PDP, Cross River Central, had said that within the same period, a total of 115 motions were considered with concomitant resolutions approved.

He said: “Despite the penchant of the executive not to comply with National Assembly resolutions, they nevertheless served as a moral compass of putting the executive in check.”

He further said that, as a responsive legislature, the review of the Constitution was paramount in the legislative agenda of the 7th National Assembly to address identifiable loopholes in the constitution, meets the yearnings of Nigerians by giving them a sense of ownership of their grund norm, strengthen the democracy and ensure the continued corporate existence of the country.

“However, as much as we tried to bequeath an acceptable constitution, we found ourselves in a legal quagmire induced by the executive, the entire process, efforts and resources needlessly dissipated.”