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  • Senate receives Tinubu’s proclamation letter on state of emergency

    Senate receives Tinubu’s proclamation letter on state of emergency

    ABUJA – PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has written the Senate a letter of proclamation on the six-month suspension he slammed on Governor Siminalaye Fubara of Rivers State.

    The letter was read at plenary by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

    The Senate Immediately went into a closed-door session

    The letter read, “I compliance with the provisions of Section 305, Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended. I hereby forward, for the Constitution of the Senate, copies of the official Gazette of the State of Emergency Proclamation 2025.

    “The main features of the proclamation are as follows:

    “A declaration of a State of Emergency in one State of the Federation, namely, River State.

    “The suspension from office of the Governor, his Deputy, and all members of the State House of Assembly.

    “An appointment of Vice-Admiral Iboete Iba, as the Administrator to administer the State something to any instruction or regulation as made from time to time be issued by me.

    “While I look forward to the expeditious Constitution of the Senate, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

    Akpabio after reading the letter said, “This letter is committed to the Committee of the entire Senate for Immediate passage.”

    Immediately after the letter, Senator Seriake Dickson, PDP, Bayelsa West raised a point of Order 133 that has to do with having a closed-door session over the proclamation letter.

    The day’s plenary session commenced at noon with the National Anthem and thereafter the prayer at 12.01 pm.

    The motion for the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday was adopted by Senator Barinada Mpigi, PDP, Rivers South East and seconded by Senator Idiat Adebute, APC, Lagos West.

  • Natasha suspended solely for unruly behaviour – Senate tells IPU

    Natasha suspended solely for unruly behaviour – Senate tells IPU

    The Nigerian Senate has replied to Senator Natasha-Akpoti-Uduaghan’s complaint to the United Nations Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU through a letter by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

    TodayPriceNG reported that Senator Natasha had taken her case before the global institution to prevail over what she described as an injustice meted on her.

    But reacting through a letter by the Senate which was read by the Chairperson of the House of Representatives committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Honorable Kafilat Ogbara, who is attending the event in an official capacity representing Nigeria.

    The Senate letter read in part, “Senator Natasha-Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended for gross misconduct and unruly behaviour and not as a result of allegation of sexual harassment or assault. The authority of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria firmly refutes the deliberate misinformation and false narrative being circulated by certain media organisations regarding the sixth months suspension of Senator Natsaha-Akpoti-Uduaghan.

    “Let it be unequivocally stated that Uduaghan was suspended solely for her persistent act of misconduct and disregard for the Senate Standing Orders.”

    The Nigerian Senate Representative called for a thorough investigation into the allegations raised by Senator Natasha against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

    She maintained that procedures and necessary actions under the Senate rules were observed before Senator Natasha’s suspension.

    Senator Natasha vowed to continue the fight against “injustice”. But in the wake of the suspension, Akpabio denied the accusations and maintained he has never assaulted women.

    Her altercation with the Senate president started on February 20, 2025, after her seat was changed during plenary.

    That is not the first time both individuals had issues. In July 2024, Akpabio had while trying to correct her for misconduct told her to follow the rules and that the Senate is not a nightclub where anybody can talk anyhow. The Akwa Ibom lawmaker, however, later apologised to her for the remark.

  • Cartoon: ‘Welcome to Nigerian SENate’

    Cartoon: ‘Welcome to Nigerian SENate’

     

    Cartoon: ‘Welcome to Nigerian SENate’
    Cartoon: ‘Welcome to Nigerian SENate’
  • Ezekwesili slams Senate for rejecting Akpoti’s harassment petition

    Ezekwesili slams Senate for rejecting Akpoti’s harassment petition

    A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has berated the Senate for dismissing the petition filed by the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

    TodayPriceNG Online reports that on February 20, Akpabio and Akpoti-Uduaghan engaged in a heated debate on the floor of the upper legislative chamber over a change in seating arrangements.

    Days later, during an interview on Arise News, Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that her troubles in the Senate began after she rejected sexual advances from Akpabio.

    She submitted a sexual harassment petition against Akpabio on the floor of the upper legislative chamber on Wednesday.

    However, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions rejected the petition, citing breaches of due process and Senate rules.

    In a post on her X page on Thursday, Ezekwesili said the Senate would be doing itself a disservice if it treated the allegation lightly.

    She added that the petition must be openly discussed in a public hearing that the accused does not preside over.

    “Our National Assembly, which comprises the Senate and House of Representatives, belongs to the Nigerian people and not to politicians of any stripe or status,” Ezekwesili said.

    “This is why the National Assembly is called a public institution. No individual or group can capture a public institution and use it for personal benefit or advantage.

    “Whenever a situation like the one involving Senators Natasha Akpoti and Akpabio arises, lawmakers must understand that the Nigerian public wants transparency and full disclosure.

    “Dismissing a serious accusation against the Senate President, as the senators irresponsibly did yesterday, is a democratic aberration. It cannot stand. Never.

    “What happened yesterday in the Senate chamber, where a Senate President presided over a grave matter involving him, was farcical and a blot on our democracy.

    “It is in the public interest that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition be urgently given the seriousness it deserves to uphold the institutional integrity of our Senate.”

    During the plenary on Thursday, the Kogi lawmaker resubmitted her petition against the Senate President.

    However, the Senate’s Ethics Committee recommended Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension for six months for engaging the Senate President in a heated debate over seating arrangements.

  • Senate sends Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to ethics panel after outburst

    Senate sends Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to ethics panel after outburst

    ABUJA- THE Senate has begun the probe of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) over her action last Thursday during plenary session.

    Consequently, the Senate on Monday pushed the matter to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions led by Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South).

    The committee has been charged to carry out a holistic investigation into the matter and report back in two weeks.

    Resolution of the Senate was sequel to its consideration and adoption of a report presented by the Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South).

    In his presentation, Adaramadu informed the Senate that the uproar during plenary on Thursday last week where Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan openly challenged the Senate President Godswill Akpabio over allocation of new seat to her had done grave damage to the image of the Senate.

    According to him, he has been going from one media house to another to explain the side of the red chamber on the issue saying that as the image maker of the Senate, it is difficult to mend an image that has been broken to pieces as a result of the posturing of Akpoti-Uduaghan over a simple matter like seat reallocation and committee chairmanship.

    Last Thursday, Akpoti-Uduaghan created a scene during plenary by refusing to accept a new seat allocated to her and openly defied Akpabio by reading a point of order despite having been ruled out of order.

    In their contributions, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central); Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP, Ondo South) and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South) among others, lamented over the conduct displayed by Akpoti-Uduaghan and recommended that the matter be referred to its appropriate organ for further investigation.

    According to them, her actions contravened relevant sections of the Senate Standing Orders which give the presiding office the power to allocate seats and equally maintain order and decorum within the chambers.

    They equally faulted her for taking a matter that happened within chambers and made a media issue for which the red chambers continue to receive negative publicity and image bashing.

    Senators voted to approve that the issue be referred the ethics committee for investigation and to report back to the Senate in two weeks.

    Details soon…

  • ICYMI: Senate Projects ₦100 Trillion Budget for 2026 Amid Revenue Challenges

    ICYMI: Senate Projects ₦100 Trillion Budget for 2026 Amid Revenue Challenges

    The Nigerian Senate has projected a staggering N100 trillion aggregate expenditure for the 2026 fiscal year. This ambitious figure was revealed by Senator Solomon Ademola, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, during a stakeholders’ interactive session on the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

    This revelation and projection towards the 2026 budget underscores the government’s ambitious plans for economic growth while acknowledging the significant hurdles in revenue generation.

    Ademola highlighted the ongoing efforts to free up government revenue currently held by organizations like the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPCL).

    He emphasized, “A lot of revenue has been held hostage by no other person than organizations like the NNPCL who still believe that there are still some elements of subsidy that are being treated as an operational expense in their documents.”

    The Senator acknowledged the current challenges in meeting budgetary targets, stating, “We found out that we projected revenue of certain amounts and at the end of the day we can’t meet the target. To bridge the gap, we have to go and borrow. So it will add more to the deficit you are seeing.”

    However, Ademola expressed optimism about the future, stating, “By next year when we are gathered here, we will start having a budget of a minimum of about 100 trillion naira.”

    This projection, while ambitious, reflects the government’s determination to address critical infrastructure needs and stimulate economic growth.

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized the importance of making the 2025 budget a “living document” that prioritizes the welfare of Nigerians. He urged all stakeholders to collaborate and ensure that every naira spent is invested wisely in the nation’s prosperity.

    “This is not an ordinary assembly, and this is not an ordinary moment,” Akpabio declared. “For we are not gathered here merely as legislators, public servants, or citizens, but as custodians of Nigeria’s destiny, stewards of its promise, and architects of its future.”

    The 2026 budget projection underscores the significant economic challenges facing Nigeria. While the government aims for ambitious growth, addressing revenue constraints and ensuring efficient resource allocation will be crucial to achieving these goals.

  • DSS clears ministerial nominees for Senate screening

    DSS clears ministerial nominees for Senate screening

    The Department of State Services (DSS) have cleared the ministerial nominees put forward for President Bola Tinubu.

    This means the Senate will now screen the nominees for confirmation.

    Meanwhile, Senator Lado in a statement on Monday has confirmed that ministerial nominees have commenced documentation ahead of their screening and confirmation by the Senate, which commences on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.

    The statement read, “He stated that the nominees were already submitting relevant documents as first in the series of procedures for the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees.

    “The nominees are expected to be screened and confirmed by the Senate in compliance with Section 147 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended).”

    Recall that President Tinubu had written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation
    of appointments of seven ministerial nominees announced in Abuja on Wednesday.