The National Assembly went on a two-week recess on June 5 to mark the end of the third session of the Seventh Assembly.

The Senate and the House of Representatives have completed three of the four legislative sessions of the assembly and as at the close of legislative business on June 5 2014, a total of 187 bills were introduced from June 2013. Out of the 187 bills, nine are executive bills while the remaining are members bills.

A total of 12 bills have been passed by the Senate, some of which are the Pension Reform Bill and the National Health Bill.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, said that the Pension Reform Bill reflected the sensitivity of the Senate towards the plight of pensioners and workers.

He said that the bill would help in regulating the administration of uniform contributing contributory pension scheme in both the public and private sector.

The Senate also passed the bill on the Discrimination against persons with Disability and Prohibition Bill.

The chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment, Senator Aloysius Etok, explained what Nigerians are to expect from the newly passed Pension Reform Bill.

Senate Inspects Aviation Ministry

A lot has been happening in the aviation sector. The President, Goodluck Jonathan, removed some key heads of Aviation Ministry and Parastatals and replaced them with new people and the ministry is still continuing with the remodeling of some airports.

The Senate Committee on Aviation as part of its oversight functions, went on an inspection tour of some aviation parastatals and facilities.

Within the third week of June, the committee inspected aviation parastatals.

Part of the agencies the committee visited was the Nigeria Metrological Agency and they inspected some of the agency’s facilities.

For the chairman of the Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma, said that the inspection exercise was necessary to transform the Nigerian Aviation Industry.

The committee then proceeded to inspect the ongoing new Abuja Airport terminal.

Committee members wondered if the terminal could carter for aircrafts like the 8380 which they said would add an additional value to the country

The chairman also re-emphasised that no aviation project had been suspended, promising that the committee will see that the projects are completed which will give Nigerians value for their money

Nigerians will have to wait for the completion of these projects and see what will become of the aviation industry in the country.