Naomi Sharang
The Senate will constitute special and standing committees before the end of this month, this is according to the new Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
The senate leader said this while briefing newsmen after he emerged as the majority leader of the 10th Senate on Tuesday in Abuja.
Bamidele said that with the emergence of the majority and minority caucuses which make up the principal officers, they would hit the ground running.
According to him, “Before long, during July, we will have all the committees; special and standing committees properly constituted.
“For us, the next task is to ensure we hit the ground running so that from tomorrow, we can take steps that will show that we have a clear understanding of what is to be done.
“The first task ahead of us is to constitute special committees of the 10th Senate. Our rules make provision for six special committees.
“This is so that every senator can get busy based on their professional background and can properly fit into the sector where they can add value.
“We are ready to attend to correspondence from the executive. Through the committee of the whole of the house, we will commence with the confirmation hearing of the Service Chiefs and some other appointees who had been named by the President.”
He assured that as the new leadership had emerged, it would ensure that seriousness is attached to all legislative assignments.
“By the grace of God, we will be able to make a difference that will be positive and that will be worth the effort of all of you that worked with us in ensuring that the two presiding officers emerged in a manner that was not rancorous.
“But of course, the emergence of the remaining principal officers of the 10th Senate was not an issue that was meant to be decided on the floor.
“Rather, it was an issue which on the one hand as related to the All Progressives Party (APC) needed to be decided among the critical stakeholders of the party. This was what led to the emergence of the officers.
“On the other hand, concerning the minority parties, again it wasn’t entirely a party affair because it wasn’t a typical situation where you have one opposition party but rather six political parties were involved.
“Fifty of our colleagues were involved. So rather than it being a decision to be taken at the secretariat of political parties, it was more of a decision taken by members who were elected on the platform of the six minority parties.
“Thirty-eight of them under their signature decided as to who their leaders will be and of course, this was also communicated to their respective political parties and as democrats, all the presiding officers did was to follow suit because more than a single majority had decided.”
Bamidele added that it had been a no victor no vanquish situation adding that “we are happy eventually a leadership has emerged for the 10th Senate.”