Senator Kaila Seeks Return to Senate, Picks APC Nomination Forms
By Raphael Ekpang
Senator Dr. Samaila Kaila, who represents Bauchi North in the 10th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has said his decision to seek another term is driven by the need for continuity, experience and stronger institutional capacity in the legislature.
Speaking with journalists on Monday, May 4, after picking his expression of interest and nomination forms, Kaila said lawmaking is a continuous process that requires institutional memory, training and experience.
He said frequent replacement of lawmakers weakens the quality of legislative work and does not serve the interests of either the National Assembly or the country.
“The legislature is a continuous process. It requires institutional memory and training at all levels. Any constituency that constantly changes its legislators without considering this is not doing any good to the nation,” he said.
According to him, the large number of first-time lawmakers in the current Senate affected the quality of legislative output.
“Almost 80 per cent of members of the 10th Senate were new. That naturally affects the quality of legislative work. We hope that in the next election, more experienced hands will emerge so that the legislature can become more qualitative and more responsive to the needs of the nation,” he added.
On constituency projects, the senator clarified that such projects are not strictly part of the legislative mandate but are implemented by the executive arm of government. He explained that lawmakers often use constituency projects to demonstrate government presence and impact in their communities.
“Constituency projects are executive functions. Legislators only leverage them to demonstrate visible impact. We have done quite a lot, and we believe that in the coming months more funds will be released to the executive to complete projects that have already started,” he said.
Kaila also stressed that senators serve the entire country and not only their individual constituencies.
“When you are a senator, you are a legislator for the nation, not just for your constituency. Many of the bills and motions we handle may not directly affect my constituency, but they have direct impact on the country as a whole,” he stated.
He cited his role as Deputy Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, noting that the committee has worked on several bills and legislative interventions aimed at improving healthcare delivery and the general well-being of Nigerians.
“We have passed several important legislations that may not directly affect my constituency alone, but they contribute to the nation’s health and well-being. That is what national service is about,” he said.