The Nigerian Senate has expanded the membership of its Conference Committee on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill from nine to twelve members in a move aimed at harmonising differences between the versions passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The committee is mandated to reconcile areas of disagreement in the bill and produce a harmonised version for transmission to the President for assent.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong, will head the Senate’s delegation to the Conference Committee.
Other members include Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, Chairman Senate Committee on Judiciary, Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire, Senator Adamu Aliero (North-West), Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (South-East), Senator Abba Moro (North-Central), Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (South-South), Senator Aminu Abbas (North-East), and Senator Tokunbo Abiru (South-West).
The newly added members are Senator Isa Jibrin (North-Central), Senator Ipalibo Banigo (Rivers State), and Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi(South East)
The expansion brings the Senate’s representation in line with that of the House of Representatives, which also appointed twelve members.
In total, the Conference Committee now comprises 24 lawmakers from both chambers.
The committee is expected to work with urgency alongside itsHouse counterpart and submit its report within one week, paving the way for possible presidential assent before the end of February.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
