The House of Representatives on Thursday stepped down the consideration of outstanding clauses in the Electoral Act (amendment) bill, 2025 and three reports.The Electoral Act (Amendment) bill seeks to regulate the conduct of Federal, State and Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory elections and for related matters.
According to Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, who presided over the plenary, the decision became necessary because the report on the Electoral Act (Amendment) bill was not ready for circulation to Members.As contained in the Order Paper, Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Francis Waive was scheduled to move a motion for the ‘Re-committal of Clauses 3(3), 60(3), 62, 75, 77(4), 82, and 87(2(vi), 87(3v) of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025’, in pursuant to Order One, Rule 1(2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives.
Recall that the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed on Tuesday, 23rd December, 2025.
Also notes that the Provisions of Clauses 3(3), 60(3), 62, 75, 77(4), 82, and 87(2vi), 87(3v) require further amendment to prevent multiple registration in several political parties, forum shopping after primaries and provide penalties for defaulters;
The lawmakers also harped on the need to rescind the decision of the House on Clauses 3(3), 60(3), 62, 75, 77(4), 82, and 87(2vi), 87(3v) of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to improve Nigeria’s electoral process, ensuring credible, free, and fair elections in the country.
Following the Speaker’s observation, the House shelved plans to recommit the bill to the Committee of the Whole for reconsideration and passage through Third Reading.In the same vein, the House stepped down the consideration of a Bill for an Act to provide for establishment of the National Assembly Infrastructure and Property Agency to take over the operation, management, development, maintenance and preservation of the National Assembly Complex and all properties of the National Assembly anywhere in Nigeria and for related matters, gazetted for consideration at the Committee of the Whole.
Similarly, the House stepped down the consideration of the report of the Committee on Public Service Matters on a Bill for an Act to amend the National Assembly Service Pension Board Act, No. 62, 2023, to among other things, reconstitute the Membership of the Board, provide the template for payment of gratuity and establish a Fund for the scheme and for related matters.
Also the House stepped down the consideration the report of the Committee on Public Service Matters on a Bill for an Act to repeal the National Assembly Service Act (No. 63) 2014 and enact the National Assembly Service Act, 2025 to provide for a clear administrative structure for the National Assembly Service outlining the qualifications for the appointment of Clerks, Heads of Directorates of the National Assembly and the Secretary to the Commission; to enhance professionalism and accountability within the National Assembly’s administrative framework and for related matters.
He said: “This report is stepped down by the leave of the House because I was made to understand that the report is not ready for circulation to Members and all the others are there…
“I’ve been made to understand that both second order, on consideration of reports, which goes to third order, fourth order would not be possible because the reports are not ready.”
To this end, the House adjourned plenary activities by two weeks to enable the House to scrutinise the 2026 budget estimates and interface with all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
