The Senate has distanced Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, from the controversial proposal seeking a ₦50,000 fine for people convicted of preaching, hawking or trading inside commercial vehicles.
The clarification follows widespread public outrage over the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, with many Nigerians accusing the lawmakers of sponsoring a measure they considered harsh amid the country’s economic challenges.
Speaking on the controversy, Adaramodu insisted neither he nor Bamidele introduced the proposal, stressing that the bill originated from the House of Representatives and should not be wrongly attributed to them.
Adaramodu explains how a bill becomes law
The senator explained that debates in the National Assembly should not be mistaken for the passage of a law.
Adaramodu said, “No, look, when things are brought into the floor of the Assembly, and it is debated, after debate, it does not translate to law automatically.”
He further noted that every bill must pass through several constitutional stages, including concurrence by both chambers, committee consideration, harmonisation where necessary, and presidential assent before it can become law.
According to him, resolutions reached during motions are merely advisory and do not carry the force of law.
Senate denies sponsoring controversial proposal
Addressing claims circulating on social media, Adaramodu dismissed suggestions that he and Bamidele were behind the proposal.
He said, “Even erroneously, some people are saying, because I saw it on social media, that it is the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Senator Yemi Adaramodu who proposed it. How?”
He added, “I find that baffling because I did not raise my hand, nor did the Senate Leader. The two of us didn’t propose any motion.”
The clarification comes as the proposed provision continues to generate nationwide debate, with religious groups, civil society organisations and many Nigerians questioning the inclusion of penalties for preaching, hawking and trading inside commercial vehicles despite the Senate’s insistence that the provision has existed in the FRSC Act since 2007.
