The Senate has amended its standing rules to make for the creation of nine new committees.

The amendment provides that senators contesting for the office of the Senate president and the deputy president must have served for at least one term.

The amendment followed the consideration and adoption of a motion at plenary on Tuesday.

The motion titled: “Amendment of the Standing Orders of the Senate Pursuant to Order 109 at the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 as Amended” was sponsored by Opeyemi Bamidele (APC -Ekiti).

Mr Bamidele, in his lead debate, said the Senate standing rule was earlier amended on August 5 to make provision for the creation of committees and other sundry amendments.

According to him, several issues require further amendments to create additional committees of the Senate.

He said this was in response to the emerging developments that would enhance rules of procedure for sound legislative practice.

Mr Bamidele said the developments had made it imperative to further amend the standing orders to create additional committees and reflect their functions and jurisdictions in the orders.

The newly created committees are Atomic and Nuclear Energy, which would oversee the Nigeria Nuclear Energy Regulatory Commission, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission and their annual budget estimates.

Others are committees on FCT and FCT Area Councils.

The Committee on FCT will oversee matters affecting the FCT, planning and development of the new Federal Capital Territory, control of development within the Federal Capital Territory, and its annual budgets.

The Committee on FCT Area Councils will oversee the Area Council Mandate, Area Council Service Commission, Area Council Staff Pension Board, Auditor-General for the Area Council and other agencies or departments under FCT.

The Committee on Sports was split into two standing committees: the Committee on Sports Development and the Committee on Youth and Community Engagements.

The Committee on Sports Development shall include the Federal Ministry of Sport Development, National Lottery Commission, National Institute for Sports, Nigeria Football Federation, Sports Arena Development, national and international sporting activities, sports administration and annual budget estimates.

The jurisdiction of the Committee on Youth and Community Engagements will include the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, National Youth Service Corps, Citizens and Leadership Training Centre, Offices of the Senior Assistants to the President on Community Engagement in the six geo-political zones, youth movements activities and associations and its annual budget estimates.

The Committee on Solid Minerals, Steel Development and Metallurgy was divided into the Committee on Solid Mineral Development and the Committee on Mines and Steel Development.

The Committee on Solid Mineral Development “shall oversee the Federal Ministry of Solid Mineral Development, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Mining Cadastre Office and Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientist, Nigerian Metallurgical Training Institute, Solid Minerals Development Fund, Nigeria Institute of Mining and Geoscience, National Metallurgical Development Centre, exploration of minerals extraction and quarry, geological survey and minerals investigation as well as explosives.

“While Committee on Mines and Steel Development shall oversee Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Aluminum Smelting Company of Nigeria, Ajaokuta Steel Development Company, National Iron Ore Mining Company, National Steel Raw Material Exploration Agency and their budgets.”

Others are the Committee on Tourism and Culture and Creative Economy.

Senate consequently directed the rules and business committee to reprint the senate standing orders with the new amendments.

(NAN)