The Senate on Tuesday passed the 2026 Appropriation Bill for second reading insisting that the budget size is N58.472 trillion, which is N292 billion higher than the N58.18 trillion presented by President Bola Tinubu last week. Speaking with journalists after plenary, Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, Solomon Olamilekan said the real budget size is what […]
The Senate, on Tuesday took on stakeholders in the nation’s education sector for wrongfully implementing policy that is capable of disrupting the educational system. The lawmakers frowned at a sudden implementation of a new curriculum and registration guideline issued by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC). It, therefore mandated its Committee on Basic and Secondary […]
Concerned about the public outcry by Nigerians over the rising cost of airfares introduced by domestic airlines in the country, the Senate on Tuesday summoned the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN and other key stakeholders in the sector for an urgent interface with a view to cushioning the effects on air […]
To achieve an effective war on illicit drugs in the country, the Senate on Monday demanded from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and other stakeholders a comprehensive redraft of the document seeking to amend the NDLEA Act 2004. According to the Senate, a rework of the amendment […]
The Senate has opened debate on a bill seeking to amend the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020 to grant the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) broader powers to designate and supervise non-bank financial institutions. The proposed amendment targets major fintech operators whose activities, lawmakers argue, now amount to critical national infrastructure. Tokunbo […]
President Bola Tinubu has commended the Senate for its “expedited confirmation” of General Christopher Musa (retd) as the new Minister of Defence. In a post on X on Thursday, the President praised the lawmakers for their prompt action, noting that Musa’s appointment comes at a “critical juncture” for the nation’s security. “Two days ago, I […]
The Senate Wednesday passed a bill to amend the Legal Practitioner Act, 2004 into second reading, proposing a two-year mandatory pupillage for all newly called to the Nigerian Bar as part of its reforms to regulate the country’s legal profession in line with modern realities. The upper chamber also agreed that the bill would restructure […]
A Nigerian citizen, Denge Josef Onoh, has petitioned the president of the senate, Godswill Akpabio, asking the upper chamber to stop the screening and confirmation of Reno Omokri, one of President Bola Tinubu’s 32 ambassadorial nominees. In the protest letter dated December 1, 2025, Onoh urged the senate to reject Omokri’s nomination, describing it as […]
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a new list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation. The nominations were made in line with Section 171 (1), (2)(c) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the list—containing three nominees—during plenary on Wednesday. The nominees are Kayode Are from […]
Senators on Wednesday described Nigeria’s escalating insecurity as “war-like”, warning that recent attacks — especially the abduction of schoolchildren in Kebbi — point to a dangerous collapse in protection for citizens. The alarm followed a motion by Lola Ashiru from Kwara South, who reported fresh kidnappings in Kwara and queried why security officers trained residents […]
To tackle the spike in security challenges across the country, the Senate at plenary Tuesday called for an urgent recruitment of at least 100, 000 men and officials into the military just as it set up an Ad – hoc committee to probe the fund expended so far on the Safe School Initiative . This […]
The newly appointed service chiefs have arrived at the National Assembly for screening by the Senate and House of Representatives. The Senate on Wednesday suspended consideration of a report on external borrowing to prioritise the confirmation of the military chiefs, citing the urgency of national security matters. Senators had begun debating the report when Tahir […]
The Senate Thursday through its Committee on Public Procurement, harped on the need to make the procurement process in the country more transparent and in strict compliance with laid down procedures. It posited that public procurement in Nigeria should be a model of transparency and efficiency towards ensuring value for money by making every naira […]
As members of the Electoral Matters Committees in both chambers of the National Assembly gather in Lagos to discuss electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Senate has proposed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should bear the burden of proof in election litigations. The lawmakers, meeting at a retreat, are reviewing […]
The Senate has stepped down the Electoral Act (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2025 after an extensive debate on its general principles, to allow for broader consultation and deeper scrutiny of its provisions. The proposed legislation seeks to repeal the Electoral Act 2022 and introduce a new legal framework aimed at delivering a stronger, more credible, […]
The Senate has directed Nigeria’s economic managers to submit a comprehensive performance report on the implementation of the 2024 budget and projections for the 2025 capital component within two weeks. The directive was issued by Mohammed Sani Musa, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, after a 90-minute closed-door session with Wale Edun, minister of […]
Presentation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly may be delayed as the nation’s economic managers struggle to account for the performance of the 2024 and 2025 budgets. This concern emerged on Thursday when the Senate Committee on Finance met with top economic managers led by the Minister of […]
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday secured a two-thirds majority in the Senate following the defection of Labour Party (LP) Senator Kelvin Chukwu (Enugu East) to its fold. The APC now controls 73 seats, leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 28, the Labour Party with four, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) […]
By Tunde Opalana A bill seeking an act to establish the Federal Oil and Gas Hospital in Benikrukru, Delta State on Tuesday passed for a second reading during Senate plenary. The bill seek to provide for comprehensive medical services for workers in the oil and gas industry as well as communities affected by the oil […]
By Tunde Opalana The Senate has initiated steps to toughen sanctions against any of its members guilty of indiscipline actions. It kick- started an amendment to the Senate in-house rules during Tuesday plenary. The latest move might not be unconnected with the face- off between the Senate and the suspended Senator Natasha Akoiti – Uduaghan […]