By Praise Afolabi
The Senate has reaffirmed that its operations are guided strictly by rules and procedures, dismissing suggestions that the upper chamber operates arbitrarily.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, made the remarks in Abuja during a one-day capacity-building workshop for journalists covering parliamentary proceedings.
Addressing the recent controversy involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, Adaramodu declared: “The National Assembly is not a banana republic. We operate under rules that must be obeyed. It’s important that Nigerians understand this, and you, the journalists covering the Senate, have a key role to play.”
He urged reporters to help educate the public on the Senate’s standing rules, particularly when disciplinary measures or procedural disputes arise during plenary.
Adaramodu explained that one of the most misunderstood provisions is Section 6(1) of the Senate Standing Rules, which empowers the Senate President to allocate or reassign seats to senators as required. He stressed that any senator who disregards seat assignments risks being ignored during sessions.
“If a senator is assigned seat number 10 and chooses to sit on seat number 13, that senator will not be recognised by the Senate President. If the person insists on being recognised, trouble will certainly ensue,” he warned.
The Senate spokesman added that seat assignments are not permanent and can be altered at the discretion of the presiding officer. He maintained that strict adherence to rules is critical for sustaining order, discipline, and credibility in the National Assembly.
Adaramodu further charged journalists to deepen their knowledge of legislative procedures so they can accurately inform Nigerians. “When a senator fails to observe these rules, it is your duty to explain the situation clearly to the public,” he said.
The workshop was part of ongoing efforts to enhance the capacity of journalists reporting from the National Assembly and to ensure more informed coverage of parliamentary affairs.
