Category: Legislative

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has called for increased local production of arms and stricter financial monitoring to combat insecurity, terrorism and criminal activities across Nigeria. Speaking at the Nigeria People’s Strategic Conference and Defence Exhibition 2026 in Abuja on Saturday, Kalu urged stakeholders in the defence and financial sectors to play more active roles in strengthening the country’s security architecture. The conference, themed “Building a Modern Security Ecosystem: Integrating Private Sector Capacity into Nigeria’s National Security Architecture,” brought together participants from the…

The House of Representatives has summoned an emergency plenary sitting scheduled for Monday, 15 June 2026, to consider a bill seeking an extension of the capital component implementation period of the 2025 national budget. According to an official notice issued by the Acting Clerk of the House, Ibrahim Sidi, the emergency session is being convened pursuant to Order Five, Rule 2(2) of the Standing Orders of the House. The proposed legislation, titled the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) Act, 2025 (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2026, seeks to extend the deadline for…

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking the establishment of state police, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to reform its security architecture. The bill was approved with an overwhelming majority, as 289 lawmakers voted in favour, one voted against, while no member abstained. Attendance was verified at 290 members, meeting the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds quorum of the 360-member chamber. The legislation, which contains 18 clauses, amends Sections 214 to 216 and other relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).…

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts on Wednesday ordered the arrest of former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, over his failure to appear before lawmakers investigating alleged financial discrepancies amounting to ₦210 trillion in the company’s accounts between 2017 and 2023. The committee issued the directive during an investigative hearing into 19 audit queries raised against the NNPCL by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation. Kyari’s absence from the hearing drew sharp criticism from members of the committee, who…

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has expressed confidence that Nigeria is on the verge of establishing state police, assuring citizens that the legislative framework required to actualize the initiative is nearing completion. Speaking to parliamentary correspondents after Wednesday’s plenary session, Kalu disclosed that the House of Representatives would on Thursday vote on a constitutional amendment aimed at creating state police as part of efforts to address the country’s growing security challenges. The Deputy Speaker said the responsibility of securing lives and property rests not only…

Senator Abba Moro on Wednesday raised alarm over what he described as worsening attacks by suspected armed herders across communities in Benue South Senatorial District, informed the Senate that residents are living under siege and abandoned to their fate. Raising a matter of urgent public concern under Order 42 on the floor of the Senate, Moro cited the recent killing of a public health worker, Ojama Emie, who was reportedly ambushed, murdered and beheaded by suspected armed herders at Ugbobi Road Junction in Ikobi, Apa Local Government Area of Benue…

The House of Representatives has moved to end controversy surrounding eligibility for principal offices by formally defining “cognate legislative experience” as the completion of at least one full four-year term in the National Assembly, effectively ruling out first-term lawmakers from occupying key leadership positions, including those in the minority caucus. The resolution was adopted on Wednesday following the unanimous passage of a motion sponsored by the member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Hon. Babajimi Benson, titled “Need for a Precise Definition of Order Seven, Rule 15 of the…

The House of Representatives has summoned the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, alongside the country’s service chiefs to appear before lawmakers over the worsening security situation across Nigeria. The decision was taken during Tuesday’s plenary after the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Sulaiman Gumi, who represents the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency of Zamfara State. Lawmakers expressed serious concern over the continued rise in killings, kidnappings, bandit attacks, terrorism, and other violent crimes across the country, despite repeated assurances from security agencies and the Federal Government. According to the House,…

By Michael Agbaji     The Senate Committee on Police Affairs on Monday convened a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja to deliberate on key provisions of the proposed bill seeking to repeal and re-enact the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, 2019. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ahmed Abdulhamid Malam Mador, said the engagement followed observations made during a public hearing held on June 2, 2026, where stakeholders’ submissions underscored the need for further consultations and consensus-building on critical aspects of the legislation.   He explained that the proposed bill is…

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has denied reports claiming he promised to secure senatorial tickets for lawmakers who lost in the recent primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, the Senate President described the reports as misleading and a distortion of his remarks. According to the statement, Akpabio neither made nor authorised any promise guaranteeing tickets for senators affected by the outcome of the party primaries. The statement explained that…