On July 15, 2026,the senate is reviewing a proposal to introduce a formal attendance and participation tracking system designed to monitor lawmakers’ engagement in plenary sessions and enhance overall legislative productivity.
The initiative, introduced during plenary by Senator Abdul Ningi, advocates for detailed record-keeping of senators’ attendance, debate contributions, and involvement in legislative business. Ningi emphasized that systematic tracking would foster greater dedication and encourage members to remain in the chamber throughout legislative proceedings.
The proposal gained swift support across the floor, with lawmakers suggesting that active participation be tied to formal rewards and career progression within the upper chamber.
Key elements of the proposed policy include:
Performance-Based Appointments: Senator Mohammed Monguno and the Senate Leader advocated using attendance and engagement records as key criteria for assigning committee leadership roles and internal responsibilities.
Official Recognition: Senators supported granting special commendations and official honours to high-performing members.
Endorsing the push for improved discipline, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau cited former lawmaker and First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as a benchmark for legislative commitment. Barau highlighted her record of punctuality and consistent attendance during her tenure in the National Assembly as an example for serving lawmakers to emulate.
The Senate is expected to continue deliberations on the framework as part of ongoing internal reforms aimed at strengthening institutional accountability and improving legislative outcome.
