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Tag: Senate

Senate Steps In To End ASUU Strike, Sets Meeting With Education Minister And NUC

Senate Steps In To End ASUU Strike, Sets Meeting With Education Minister And NUC

Wale busari04 mins

The Senate has stepped into the ongoing standoff between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) as efforts intensify to end the current two-week warning strike. The Senate Committees on Labour, Tertiary Institutions, and TETFUND are set to meet with Education Minister Tunji Alausa and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, on Tuesday next week. This session will follow a committee meeting with ASUU leadership held today at the National Assembly. Speaking to journalists in Abuja after the closed-door meeting with ASUU, Senator Muntari Dandutse (APC, Katsina South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND, said the committees had carefully considered ASUU’s demands and are prepared to present them to the relevant authorities. He stated, “After meeting with ASUU’s national leadership on resolving the ongoing strike and preventing it from becoming indefinite, we agreed to convene a critical meeting with key government agencies, particularly the Minister of Education and the Executive Secretary of NUC, on Tuesday or Wednesday next week. “We have also decided to engage the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to halt any encroachment on the University of Abuja’s land.” Before the closed-door session, ASUU National President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, stressed that increased funding for universities by the Federal Government, in line with previous agreements, is crucial to ending the strike. He highlighted that sustainable investment in education is essential to preventing recurring industrial actions and improving the global ranking of Nigerian universities. The current two-week warning strike, he said, stems from unresolved issues dating back to 2011. “We engaged the Federal Government for eight years without tangible results. The Yayale Ahmed Committee report, submitted in December 2024, was largely ignored until this strike began,” Piwuna explained. On delayed funding, he revealed that although the National Assembly approved N150 billion for universities, only N50 billion has been released. He claimed the funds remain with the Ministry of Education, where the minister reportedly intends to distribute it among universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, despite separate budget allocations. Piwuna warned that the N150 billion approved specifically for universities must be used solely for that purpose.

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Senate Set To Screen Professor Joash Amupitan As INEC Chairman Thursday

Senate Confirms Professor Joash Amupitan as INEC Chairman

Wale busari01 mins

The Senate has officially confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Amupitan’s confirmation, which took place on Thursday, followed a rigorous screening session where he answered questions from senators over several hours. The queries focused on issues such as electoral reforms, electoral malpractices, and the independence of INEC. Following the confirmation, the Senate is now expected to formally notify President Bola Tinubu of Amupitan’s appointment. Prior to the confirmation, President Tinubu had written to the Senate urging lawmakers to expedite the process of approving Amupitan’s nomination.  

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Senate Set To Screen Professor Joash Amupitan As INEC Chairman Thursday

Senate To Screen Professor Joash Amupitan As INEC Chairman Thursday

Wale busari02 mins

The Senate is set to conduct the screening of Professor Joash Amupitan, President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, October 16, 2025. A circular released Wednesday by the Senate’s Director of Information, Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, confirmed that the screening will take place in the Senate Chamber of the National Assembly Complex. Members of the press and television stations have been asked to provide coverage of the event. The announcement comes less than 24 hours after Tinubu’s letter requesting Amupitan’s confirmation was read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The nominee’s appointment had been endorsed last week by the National Council of State, signaling a key transition at INEC following Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s ten-year tenure. In his letter to the Senate, Tinubu stated that the nomination was made in accordance with Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and urged lawmakers to give it prompt consideration. He described Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as “an apolitical figure of impeccable integrity.” Amupitan’s nomination has reignited debates over INEC’s independence and credibility in the wake of the 2023 general elections. While the presidency has highlighted his impartiality, opposition parties and civil society organizations have stressed the need for a transparent and thorough confirmation process. Thursday’s screening is expected to attract nationwide attention, as it could shape future electoral reforms and serve as an early test of the government’s commitment to credible elections ahead of 2027.  

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Senate Initially Hesitates to Second Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Motion on Nigerian Women in Libyan Prisons

Wale busari02 mins

Tension briefly surfaced at the National Assembly on Tuesday when senators hesitated to second a motion moved by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan over the alleged abuse of Nigerian women in Libyan detention centers. Representing Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Akpoti-Uduaghan called for urgent intervention to repatriate Nigerian women reportedly held in Libyan prisons. She claimed that some detainees were subjected to sexual exploitation by prison officials and, in some cases, forced to bear children while in custody. She urged the Senate to direct the Nigerian Immigration Service to work with Libyan authorities to ensure their safe return. After her presentation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio asked for a seconder—a required step for debate to begin—but initially, no senator rose to support the motion, leaving the chamber momentarily silent. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele eventually seconded the motion, allowing proceedings to continue. Akpoti-Uduaghan had just returned to the Senate earlier this month following a six-month suspension related to sexual assault allegations she made against Senate President Akpabio. Drama as Senators shun Natasha Akpoti's motion in Senate today pic.twitter.com/7PbY3tGW0B — Politics Nigeria (@PoliticsNGR) October 14, 2025

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Tinubu Requests Senate Approval For Joash Amupitan As INEC Chairman

Wale busari01 mins

President Bola Tinubu has sent a formal request to the Senate seeking confirmation of Joash Amupitan as the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The request, communicated in a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was read during Tuesday’s plenary session. Amupitan’s appointment was unanimously approved by the National Council of State on October 9. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, he will succeed Mahmood Yakubu, who completed his tenure at the commission. In the letter, Tinubu emphasized that the confirmation aligns with Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and expressed hope that the Senate would expedite the approval process. Following the reading of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the matter to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative consideration.  

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Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Reclaims Senate Seat After Six-Month Suspension

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Reclaims Senate Seat After Six-Month Suspension

Wale busari03 mins

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), resumed plenary at the National Assembly on Tuesday after completing her six-month suspension from the Senate. The lawmaker reclaimed her seat at 11:42 a.m., entering the chamber to a warm welcome from her colleagues and exchanging greetings with several senators. She was accompanied to the National Assembly by civil rights activist Aisha Yesufu, known for her role in the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, who was seen in the Senate gallery. Some of Akpoti-Uduaghan’s supporters, however, were not allowed entry. Her office — Suite 2.05 in the Senate Wing — was reopened earlier in the day by security officials led by the Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, marking the formal end of her suspension. Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended in March 2025 over alleged misconduct after protesting the reassignment of her seat by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. The suspension, which lasted six months, prevented her from taking part in any Senate proceedings. Although the suspension officially expired in September, her return was delayed by legal and administrative disputes. In July, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja declared the suspension “excessive and unconstitutional,” ordering her reinstatement on the grounds that her constituents had been denied representation. Despite the ruling, the Senate leadership maintained that she must complete the full suspension period, leading to exchanges between her legal counsel, Michael Jonathan Numa (SAN), and the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamorudeen Ogunlana. In a letter dated September 11, Numa demanded her immediate reinstatement, warning that continued defiance of the court order could lead to contempt proceedings. Ogunlana, however, responded that he lacked the authority to override Senate resolutions. Upon her return to the red chamber on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan reaffirmed her commitment to representing the people of Kogi Central, declaring that she owed “no apology” for standing by her convictions.  

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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Returns To Senate After Serving Six-Month Suspension

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Returns To Senate After Serving Six-Month Suspension

Wale busari03 mins

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, is set to return to the Senate chambers today (Tuesday) after completing her six-month suspension. Her lawyer, Victor Giwa, confirmed her resumption in an interview with The Punch, assuring that the lawmaker would join her colleagues for plenary sessions as the National Assembly reconvenes. The Senate had earlier shifted its resumption date from September 23 to October 7, 2025, extending its annual recess and delaying debates on several key national issues. Giwa warned the Senate against any attempt to block Akpoti-Uduaghan’s return, stressing that she had served her full suspension and was constitutionally entitled to resume her duties. “To me, our client should just go straight and resume on Tuesday. Anything else they say is just an opinion. As Femi Falana said, the Senate cannot become an institution that legalises illegality,” he said. He added that preventing her from resuming would amount to contradicting the Senate’s own decision and could lead to “total chaos” within the National Assembly. “She has served out the six months, so whatever is before the court now only concerns whether the suspension in March was lawful. It has nothing to do with her return. Denying her resumption would mean defying your own resolution and creating confusion in the legislature,” Giwa stated. Two weeks ago, Akpoti-Uduaghan described Senate President Godswill Akpabio as a “dictator” after she was allowed access to her office following the completion of her suspension. Her office, located in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing, was unsealed by the Deputy Director of the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, marking her official reinstatement ahead of today’s plenary.

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Senate Gives NNPCL 21 Days to Explain N210 Trillion in Unreconciled Funds

Senate Gives NNPCL 21 Days to Explain N210 Trillion in Unreconciled Funds

Fola Badmus03 mins

The Nigerian Senate has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to provide explanations for N210 trillion in unreconciled financial records flagged in its audited accounts. The directive was handed down to NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Bayo Ojulari, on Monday during a session with the Senate Committee on Public Accounts. Ojulari appeared before the committee after previously failing to honor four separate invitations. Committee Chairman Senator Ahmed Wadada (Nasarawa West) disclosed that the discrepancies were identified in 19 audit queries raised by the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation. The flagged figures span the years 2017 to 2023 and comprise N103 trillion in liabilities and N107 trillion in assets. “The committee has not said the N210 trillion was stolen or missing,” Wadada clarified. “This is part of our constitutional mandate to examine the audited accounts of public institutions.” Ojulari, who has been in office for just over 100 days, apologized for his earlier absences and asked for more time to review the complex financial queries. He initially requested a four-week extension, but the committee granted him three weeks. “I still need time to do further digging,” he said. “Your explanation now changes my perspective about the issues.” He is expected to submit written responses and appear again before the committee, along with other top officials of the NNPCL. Lawmakers emphasized the gravity of the matter, stressing the importance of transparency in the operations of the national oil company. “NNPCL is in possession of Nigeria’s economic prosperity. We must ensure transparency,” said Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central). Senator Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa North West) described the audit findings as “germane and critical,” while Senator Tony Nwoye (Anambra North) called for a fair hearing, noting that some of the discrepancies might be due to errors in the audit process.

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