The Senate, through the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru, has reacted to the call by Governors of the 36 states on the National Assembly to suspend all activities on the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020.
In a post on his verified twitter handle @DrSRJ_ Basiru disclosed that the Governors were yet to formally communicate their request to the red chamber.
He, however, expressed his personal opinion that the Governors should discuss with their respective Senators, their concerns about the Bill, who will in turn take it up on the floor of the Senate during the second reading of the Bill.
Recall that there has been a widespread rejection of the two bills before the NASS seeking to amend the Infectious Diseases Bill.
Before the green chamber, is the “Control of Infection Diseases Bill 2020”, sponsored by the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, which has passed both first and second readings in the House of Representatives.
At the upper chamber, a similar Bill titled: “National Health Emergency Bill”, sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Communicable Diseases and Primary Healthcare, Sen. Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North) has also passed first reading.
However, the Governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), called for the immediate suspension of the bills during its 8th COVID-19 teleconference on Wednesday.
In a communiqué released after the conference, they expressed discomfort that they were not consulted by the National Assembly on the infectious diseases bill as the leaders of the anti-COVID efforts in their respective states.
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According to the communiqué, members of the NGF took the decision after being briefed by Sokoto State Governor and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal on the content of the bill and the implication of its passage into law.
They established a committee comprising the governors of Katsina (Aminu Masari), Sokoto (Tambuwal) and Plateau (Simon Lalong) to lead a consultative meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on the controversial bill.
In his reaction, the Senate spokesman said: “As to inquiry on what is the position of the Senate to the newspaper report on the call for suspension by Governors of the infectious disease bill.
“The Senate does not act on newspaper reports.
“When and if a communication is received by the Senate from appropriate channel, it will be considered democratically in accordance with the procedure of the Senate and a decision taken by majority as is expected in a democracy.
“So I cannot predict what will be the disposition of majority of the Senate to the “advice” of the Governors to.
“The Bill is yet to be read the Second time at which stage, by Senate Orders, the principles of the Bill will be discussed and a decision taken on whether the Bill should proceed for further legislative processes.
“Personally, I think the governors may engage the Senators in their respective states on whatever objections they have on the Bill so that it may be taken up on their behalf by the Senators from their states during the second reading.”
