Saraki seeks partnership with NBA for ease passage of bills

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki has directed that all
pending and prospective bills before the Senate be made available
to the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) for its input.

Saraki said that such partnership would only improve the quality
of such bills but engender easy passage of the proposed
legislations.

The Senate President pledged the cooperation of the Senate with
the NBA to ensure easy passage of bills before the upper
chamber.

A statement by Special Assistant to the Senate President on
Print Media, Chuks Okocha, said that Saraki spoke when the NBA
Legislative Advocacy Committee led by Paul Erokoro (SAN) paid him a
courtesy visit at the National Assembly.

It said that the NBA official visited Saraki to solicit that the
association be allowed to make its input to bills being considered
by the Senate before passage.

It quoted Saraki to have said that he was in complete agreement
with the NBA that their input is necessary before bills go for
public hearings.

Saraki said, “l agree with you entirely as part of
recommendations that we must have collaborations. I am surprised
that our bills are new to you and that you don’t have free access
to them. We have these bills on our website. You should be able to
access them.

“Going forward, I think that instead of you waiting for us, by
your experience, there are areas that require necessary input and I
think we should be able to collaborate closely.

“We’ve done this in the business sector where we set up a
working group with Nigeria Economic Summit Group and my office and
we’ve been able to work together in some business related
bills.

“Some of these bills require amendment, some are outdated, and
some are not inline with today’s practice. We have been able to
come out with a road map which we are following and the economic
sector is enjoying the efforts in the business communities and
infrastructure.

“We’ve passed the Railway Bill, Road Transport, Company and
Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and Secured Transaction bills. All these
are as a result of collaboration. If there are other areas that
need amendment or on general issues in the society, we want the NBA
to partner with us. We will be very happy to work closely with you.
All we can assure you is that it is our responsibility to pass
these relevant Bills.

“The society has changed drastically and the times have changed.
So, as we send these Bills to you, I think there should be some
initiative from your own part too and we assure you that there will
be prompt attention on our part to fast-track such bills”

It said that Chairman of the NBA Legislative Advocacy Committee
also demanded for a register of all pending bills before the Senate
to enable them conduct a research on the bills, stating that such
partnership would enable bills passed by the National Assembly to
stand the necessary legal test.

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki has directed that all
pending and prospective bills before the Senate be made available
to the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) for its input.

Saraki said that such partnership would only improve the quality
of such bills but engender easy passage of the proposed
legislations.

The Senate President pledged the cooperation of the Senate with
the NBA to ensure easy passage of bills before the upper
chamber.

A statement by Special Assistant to the Senate President on
Print Media, Chuks Okocha, said that Saraki spoke when the NBA
Legislative Advocacy Committee led by Paul Erokoro (SAN) paid him a
courtesy visit at the National Assembly.

It said that the NBA official visited Saraki to solicit that the
association be allowed to make its input to bills being considered
by the Senate before passage.

It quoted Saraki to have said that he was in complete agreement
with the NBA that their input is necessary before bills go for
public hearings.

Saraki said, “l agree with you entirely as part of
recommendations that we must have collaborations. I am surprised
that our bills are new to you and that you don’t have free access
to them. We have these bills on our website. You should be able to
access them.

“Going forward, I think that instead of you waiting for us, by
your experience, there are areas that require necessary input and I
think we should be able to collaborate closely.

“We’ve done this in the business sector where we set up a
working group with Nigeria Economic Summit Group and my office and
we’ve been able to work together in some business related
bills.

“Some of these bills require amendment, some are outdated, and
some are not inline with today’s practice. We have been able to
come out with a road map which we are following and the economic
sector is enjoying the efforts in the business communities and
infrastructure.

“We’ve passed the Railway Bill, Road Transport, Company and
Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and Secured Transaction bills. All these
are as a result of collaboration. If there are other areas that
need amendment or on general issues in the society, we want the NBA
to partner with us. We will be very happy to work closely with you.
All we can assure you is that it is our responsibility to pass
these relevant Bills.

“The society has changed drastically and the times have changed.
So, as we send these Bills to you, I think there should be some
initiative from your own part too and we assure you that there will
be prompt attention on our part to fast-track such bills”

It said that Chairman of the NBA Legislative Advocacy Committee
also demanded for a register of all pending bills before the Senate
to enable them conduct a research on the bills, stating that such
partnership would enable bills passed by the National Assembly to
stand the necessary legal test.