South-East Legislators Dominate Bill Sponsorship in House of Representatives
Fresh parliamentary data from Nigeria's 10th National Assembly has revealed the lawmakers who sponsored the highest number of bills in the House of Representatives between June 2023 and June 2024. The comprehensive ranking, compiled from official parliamentary records, provides significant insight into legislative activity during the first full year of the current assembly.
Benjamin Kalu Leads with Unprecedented Bill Count
Topping the list with a remarkable legislative output is Benjamin Kalu, representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State. Kalu sponsored an impressive 85 bills during the review period, placing him far ahead of his colleagues in legislative initiative. This unprecedented tally establishes him as the most prolific bill sponsor in the House of Representatives for the 2023-2024 legislative year.
A legislative analyst familiar with the data commented, "The scale of Kalu's bill sponsorship is unprecedented within a single legislative year and reflects an aggressive legislative agenda that has set a new benchmark for parliamentary activity."
Complete Ranking of Top Bill Sponsors
The parliamentary records reveal the following top 10 lawmakers and their respective bill sponsorship counts:
- Benjamin Kalu (Abia, South-East) — 85 bills
- Saidu Abdullahi (Niger, North-Central) — 26 bills
- Francis Waive (Delta, South-South) — 24 bills
- Miriam Onuoha (Imo, South-East) — 23 bills
- Paschal Agbodike (Anambra, South-East) — 23 bills
- Manu Soro (Bauchi, North-East) — 23 bills
- Yusuf Gagdi (Plateau, North-Central) — 22 bills
- Oluwole Oke (Osun, South-West) — 21 bills
- Tajudeen Abbas (Kaduna, North-West) — 21 bills
- Paul Nnamchi (Enugu, South-East) — 19 bills
Regional Analysis Reveals South-East Dominance
A detailed analysis of the ranking demonstrates a significant regional pattern, with lawmakers from Nigeria's South-East geopolitical zone accounting for over 60 percent of all bills sponsored by the top 10 legislators nationwide. This remarkable concentration of legislative activity from one region has drawn attention from political observers and parliamentary monitoring groups.
According to a parliamentary monitoring organization, "The South-East's dominance on this list reflects a deliberate and strategic push by its lawmakers to shape national legislation through both volume and visibility. This represents a significant shift in legislative dynamics within the current assembly."
Understanding Legislative Initiative Versus Success
Experts and parliamentary analysts have emphasized an important distinction between bill sponsorship and legislative success. The ranking specifically measures legislative initiative rather than the eventual passage of proposed laws into actual legislation.
A senior legislative aide explained, "This ranking captures legislative initiative, not legislative success. Bills must still navigate the complex legislative process, including committee scrutiny, public hearings, concurrence by both chambers, and ultimately presidential assent before becoming law. High sponsorship numbers indicate activity, but not necessarily legislative achievement."
First Year Insights of 10th National Assembly
The data covers the inaugural legislative year of Nigeria's 10th National Assembly, providing valuable early insights into lawmaking patterns and regional participation. Parliamentary watchers note that these figures offer a preliminary understanding of how lawmakers are settling into their roles and establishing legislative priorities.
As the assembly continues its work, these sponsorship patterns may evolve, but the 2023-2024 data establishes a significant baseline for measuring legislative activity and regional representation in Nigeria's federal lawmaking process.
