New Senate rules shut out freshers

In spite of public criticisms, Senate yesterday through a unanimous voice vote amended its Standing Rules 97 (1)(f) to give vent to the issue of ranking of Senators to vie and contest for position of presiding officer and other principal offices as well as appointments as chairmen of committees in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

With the amendment, Senators-elect and out-going Governors Danjuma Goje of Gombe State and Bukola Saraki of Kwara have now been effectively prevented from aspiring to the position of presiding officers of the Senate. President of the Senate, David Mark declared that the House would not allow itself to be blackmailed by outsiders into withdrawing the amendment but would go ahead to enact rules to guide its conduct in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

Following the amendment, only ranking Senators would henceforth occupy privileged positions such as President of the Senate and the Deputy Senate President and appointments of Principal Officers of the Senate or any parliamentary delegation. Moving a motion for the amendment, Senate Majority Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin urged Senators to consider and approve the amendments by first inserting a new rule 3(2) to replace rule 97(1)(f) on ranking.

The new rules which specifically dealt on the election of President of the Senate, Deputy President of the Senate and appointment of principal officers and other officers of the Senate, state inter alia; “Nomination of Senators to serve as presiding officers and appointments of principal officers and other officers of the Senate or on any parliamentary delegations shall be in accordance with the ranking of Senators;

“(b) In determining ranking, the following order shall apply: (i) Senators returning based on number of times re-elected, (ii) Senators who had been members of the House of Representatives, (iii) Senators who have been members of a State House of Assembly or any other Legislative House; (iv) Senators elected as Senators for the first time.”