Bus preaching fine: Senate clears Bamidele, Adaramodu
August 5, 2026 4:46 am
File Photo: Nigerian Senate
The Senate has dismissed reports linking the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, to the controversial proposal prescribing penalties for preaching, hawking and trading inside commercial vehicles, insisting neither lawmaker sponsored or introduced the measure.
In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Adaramodu clarified the Senate’s position amid sustained public debate over the Federal Road Safety Corps (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which has sparked criticism from religious groups, civil society organisations, opposition parties and members of the public.
The controversy followed the Senate’s passage of the amendment bill, which retains a provision prescribing a N50,000 fine for anyone convicted of hawking, trading or preaching inside commercial vehicles.
The legislation, part of a broader review of the FRSC Act aimed at strengthening road safety enforcement and reducing road crashes, has drawn widespread criticism, with many Nigerians describing the provision as insensitive in the face of worsening economic hardship and rising unemployment.
Responding to the backlash, the Senate had earlier clarified that the contentious provision was not a fresh attempt to outlaw street evangelism or religious activities but a long-standing section of the FRSC Act that has remained in force since 2007.
The Senate also explained that the amendment bill originated from the House of Representatives and was not sponsored by Bamidele.
Speaking with our correspondent, Adaramodu cautioned against the widespread misconception that every debate or motion in the National Assembly automatically becomes law.
He 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.
“There are times some people often mistake motions for law. Even when motions are brought and then debated, some will just say it has been passed.
“If any proposed legislation comes in as a bill, either as a public or personal bill to any of the two chambers, it goes to the other chamber for another debate, which we call concurrence.
“This is because you don’t just concur without debating. The only thing is that it’s only one arm or one chamber that will do public hearing.
“So if there is any bill that goes to a committee, it will ensure that it’s subjected to public hearing. After that, it will be brought back to the chamber in question, whether it is the green or red chamber.
“Subsequently, it will be sent back to the Committee of the Whole, which will commence another line of debate again.”
Adaramodu explained that after a bill is considered by the Committee of the Whole, it may either be adopted or rejected.
If adopted, it is transmitted to the other chamber of the National Assembly for concurrence, where it undergoes another round of debate before any differences are harmonised at a joint conference committee.
He added that once both the Senate and the House of Representatives agree on the final version, the bill is transmitted to the executive for further scrutiny by the Federal Ministry of Justice and other relevant ministries before it is presented for presidential assent.
According to him, only after completing these constitutional and legislative stages can a proposal become law.
The senator cautioned Nigerians against assuming that every debate or contribution by lawmakers automatically translates into legislation, stressing that discussions on the floor of the National Assembly do not amount to the passage of a law.
He said, “So it is until then that we can now say that a law is made or not.
“Therefore, it’s not that whenever a senator or House of Representatives member raises his or her hand in the chamber to discuss something, people will just go to town and say that the Senate or Reps have passed a law.”
Adaramodu also faulted claims circulating on social media 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?
“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.
“Notwithstanding, we are in the Senate together and take responsibility for anything that comes up. So what I’m saying basically is that a motion or debate in the House of Representatives or Senate does not translate to a law.
“Even when resolutions are taken during a motion, it is advisory. It is only the bill that can go into law. And before that can be done, it will go through so many tests, platforms and stages before it can become law.”
The PUNCH journalist, Adebayo, has over 20 years of experience covering politics, health, metro, entertainment and properties
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