The Senate on Saturday announced that it would increase the number of Standing Committees. It however did not disclose the figure.

The Senate also said it would name the committees and their chairmen on Monday.

This was disclosed by the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, who at plenary after the conclusion of the day’s ministerial screening when he raised a point of order on the need to amend the Standing Orders of the Senate.

The amendment was to enable the Senate to expand the number of its Standing Committees.

According to Bamidele, the amendment of the rules is to accommodate issues that will make the orders dynamic to facilitate an effective legislative process.

He said despite the amendment, there were a number of issues that still require further amendments in response to emerging developments that would enhance rules or practice and procedures for legislative practice.

He added, “The amendment will ensure that the expansion facilitates the definition of the functions and jurisdictions of new committees. As a result, the consequential approval of the Senate is mandatory for the review of the renumbered Order 96 to accommodate the new committees.”

In his prayers, the Senate Leader urged the Senate to approve the proposed amendments.

The Senate went into a Committee of the Whole to consider the amendment.

The Senate had earlier screened five more nominees on Saturday.

The nominees are Dr Bosun Tijani (Ogun State); Lola Ade-John (Lagos), Dr Isiak Salako ( Ogun State), Tahir Mamman (Adamawa), and Uba Ahmed (Taraba).

The Senate then stepped down the screening of the last two nominees, Festus Keyamo (Delta State) and Mariya Mahmoud (Kano) till Monday.

The Senate then resolved into a closed-door session which was still on as of 8: 46pm. (Sunday PUNCH)

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