Tag: Senate

Senate to hold Regional Security Dialogues with Stakeholders, Victims of Violence … Says Infrastructure Development meaningless without Peace

Lukman Laleye Babalola

In a decisive move to address Nigeria’s growing insecurity, the Senate has announced plans to hold consultative meetings with key stakeholders and victims of armed violence across the country’s six geo-political zones.   The initiative, aimed at identifying the root causes of insecurity and recommending practical solutions, was disclosed by the Senate Leader and Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on National Security Summit, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, during the committee’s inaugural meeting held Wednesday at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.   Bamidele stressed that meaningful development is unattainable without peace,…

Senate begins Nationwide Constitution Review Hearings July 4–5

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution is set to commence a two-day zonal public hearing across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of ongoing efforts to amend the nation’s constitution. The hearings, scheduled for July 4 and 5, 2025, will hold simultaneously in Lagos (South West), Enugu (South East), Ikot Ekpene (South South), Jos (North Central), Maiduguri (North East), and Kano (North West). Chairman of the committee and Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, said the exercise is aimed at gathering the views…

Senate Screens Nwuche, Usoro Akpabio, Others for South South Development Commission Leadership

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Senate on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, screened key nominees for the leadership of the newly established South South Development Commission (SSDC), with Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche (Rivers State) nominated as Chairman and Usoro Offiong Akpabio (Akwa Ibom State) as Managing Director.   Also screened were nominees for Executive Director positions: Marcus Nie Eji (Projects – Rivers State) Aganaba Preye Steven (Social & Human Capital Development – Bayelsa State) Dr. Timi Alari Ayibatonye (Corporate Services – Delta State) Joseph Ugheoke (Commercial & Environmental Development – Edo State) Amb. Sony Abang…

Rivers officials withholding financial records, Sole Administrator tells Senate …. Senate insists emergency rule not a substitute for democracy

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac, Abuja   The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), has disclosed that some officials of the state government are concealing critical financial records, making it difficult to account fully for expenditures incurred in the first quarter of 2025. Ibas made the revelation on Thursday while defending the 2025 Rivers State Appropriation Bill before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Oversight of Emergency Rule in Rivers State at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.   He admitted that the N1.4 trillion budget “may not be…

Senate passes bill to establish FMC Gembu, …. It’s a breakthrough for Healthcare in Taraba – Senator Manu

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Senate has passed the Federal Medical Centres Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, paving the way for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Gembu, Taraba State. The Bill, passed on Wednesday, was sponsored by Senator Haruna Manu, representing Taraba Central Senatorial District. It seeks to amend the Federal Medical Centres Act, 2022, to include the establishment of additional federal medical facilities, with Gembu being one of the proposed locations. Describing the passage as a legislative breakthrough, Senator Manu commended his colleagues for supporting a vision that would…

Senate threatens arrest of NNPCL External Auditors over failure to appear

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Senate has threatened to issue arrest warrants against the external auditors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) following their failure to appear before the Senate Public Accounts Committee to address concerns over the company’s financial statements from 2017 to 2023.   All four auditing firms SIAO, VWC, Muktali Dangana & Co., and Ahmed Zakaria & Co. failed to honour the committee’s summons. Instead, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) appeared on their behalf, claiming to have been delegated to represent them.   However, the committee rejected…

Senate passes key Tax Reform bills, repeals FIRS Act

Emporium Reporters

The Nigerian Senate has passed two of the four tax reform bills initiated by President Bola Tinubu, marking a significant step in the administration’s efforts to overhaul the country’s revenue system.   The approved bills are the Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Bill and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill. Their passage followed the adoption of a report presented by the ad hoc committee on tax reforms, chaired by Senator Sani Musa (Niger East), which addressed public concerns and controversies surrounding the reforms.   The Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Bill repeals…

Senate, NAHCON strengthen partnership for seamless 2025 Hajj Operations

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac, Abuja   In preparation for the 2025 Hajj exercise, the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs has pledged close collaboration with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to ensure a smooth and hitch-free pilgrimage for Nigerian Muslims.   The commitment was made on Tuesday during a closed-door meeting held at the National Assembly complex in Abuja between members of the Committee and the leadership of NAHCON. The meeting, which lasted over three hours, was aimed at reviewing the Commission’s readiness and addressing all logistical and operational concerns…

Senate approves restoration of Aniocha North II State Constituency, directs INEC to Act

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac,Abuja   The Senate has approved the restoration of Aniocha North II State Constituency in Delta State, in compliance with the Supreme Court judgment in suit SC/129/2019.   It also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to implement the ruling by ensuring the constituency take effect in the next Delta State House of Assembly election after the current legislative term, in line with Section 115 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).   Additionally, the Senate instructed its Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, as well…

OF AKPABIO, NATASHA, AND SENATE’S “CIRCUS SHOW” BY Bolaji Afolabi

Emporium Reporters

Many years back as teenagers in Kaduna, which by the way was the political capital of the (then) Northern region, the writer and group of friends, school mates, and play-mates had pleasant taste of access to modernity. Even as children of middle-class parents who were either civil servants, or in the semi, and informal sectors, basic necessities were readily available and accessible; not what is prevalent today. We spent hours playing street football, and devoting quality time on the tracks, and indoor sports hall of the magnificent Ahmadu Bello stadium,…