Lawmakers Reverses Self, Admits Governors, Others , Into Chamber for State Police Debate

The Senate on Wednesday reversed its earlier decision after senators initially rejected a motion to allow Governors and other senior government officials into the chamber during consideration of the state police bill.

The motion was first put to a voice vote but was rejected by the majority of lawmakers.

Under parliamentary practice, only senators are ordinarily allowed on the floor of the chamber, while visitors and non-members observe proceedings from the gallery.

The development briefly delayed proceedings, as the invited governors and other senior officials were already waiting at the entrance to the chamber.

In a bid to resolve the situation, President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio appealed to his colleagues to revisit the matter, stressing the importance of allowing key stakeholders to witness deliberations on the proposed state police framework.

Akpabio reminded senators that whatever decision the Senate takes on the constitutional amendment would still require the approval of State Houses of Assembly, making it necessary for governors and other stakeholders to follow the proceedings closely.

He also noted that the bill under consideration is an Executive Bill and that many of those invited into the chamber were members of the Executive arm of government.

Following his appeal, the Senate Leader moved the motion again, seeking the suspension of Order 12 of the Senate Rules on Floor Privileges to admit the visitors as strangers into the chamber.

Those eventually admitted included the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila , the governors of Kaduna, Ogun and Ondo states, state attorneys-general, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Planning and Research, and the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, among other stakeholders.

Supporting the motion, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin commended Akpabio for his leadership and foresight, saying the move would promote inclusiveness and unity in the consideration of the state police proposal.

After the motion was reconsidered, the Senate approved the request, and the Governors and other invited officials were subsequently allowed into the chamber to witness the proceedings.