As the 10th National Assembly reaches the midterm of its tenure, the Nigerian Senate has taken stock of its legislative progress while reaffirming a strong commitment to vital national reforms—particularly in the areas of electoral processes, constitutional review, and justice delivery.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, shared insights into the Senate’s performance over the past two years. He recalled that the current Assembly was inaugurated on June 13, 2023, following the election of Senator Godswill Akpabio as President of the Senate and Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Their emergence also brought in Senator Barau I. Jubrin as Deputy Senate President and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu as Deputy Speaker.
Bamidele disclosed that between June 2023 and June 2025, no fewer than 983 bills were introduced, comprising both executive-sponsored and private member initiatives. Out of this number, 108 bills have successfully passed into law.
Highlighting the pace of work, he noted that 506 bills were introduced in the 2024/2025 session alone—an increase from 477 bills in the previous year. Significantly, the number of bills passed rose sharply from 25 to 83, representing a 232% boost in legislative output.
Additionally, 26 executive bills were considered in the latest session, doubling the figure from the prior year. Private members also increased their input, sponsoring 480 bills compared to 464 previously.
The Senate also made strides in other areas: 230 bills await second reading, up from 45 the previous year, and 80 petitions have been resolved—an improvement from 50. Meanwhile, the number of presidential appointments confirmed dropped from 215 to 116 over the two sessions.
Among the key legislations passed, Bamidele mentioned the: Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024; National Minimum Wage Amendment Act, 2024; Investments and Securities Act, 2025; National Social Investment Programmes Act, 2023; Regional Development Commission Establishment Acts, 2025; Tax Reform Bills, 2025.
The Student Loan Act, in particular, was praised for its impact in broadening access to tertiary education. According to Bamidele, over 1 million students applied through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, with 563,279 institutional loans already disbursed and 530,773 upkeep loans processed. He stressed that this success could only be achieved through strategic collaboration across institutions.
He also highlighted the Tax Reform Bills as a major accomplishment, noting that their passage underscored the Assembly’s resolve to address Nigeria’s fiscal bottlenecks.
The reforms are aimed at streamlining tax procedures, improving compliance, reducing bureaucracy, and enhancing investor confidence—all of which are essential for sustainable economic growth.
Looking ahead to the second half of its tenure, Bamidele said the Senate would give focused attention to electoral reform, constitutional amendments, and judicial system improvements. According to him, the goal is to make every vote count, ensure more inclusive political participation, and restore faith in the democratic process.
“When citizens are confident that their votes genuinely matter, it encourages greater participation and strengthens the legitimacy of our democracy,” he said.
“We’re also working to ensure justice is more transparent and accessible through judicial reforms. Several bills are already in motion—some focused on how judges are appointed, others addressing tenure and welfare.”
Senator Bamidele concluded by assuring Nigerians that the Senate remains committed to bold and people-centered legislation as it moves into the final half of its constitutional mandate.