Tag: 10th NASS

H’Reps shut down plenary for one week, as unpaid contractors lay siege to NASS

Aminu Imam
H'Reps shut down NASS plenary

The House of Representatives yesterday suspended its plenary for one week after protesting indigenous contractors barricaded the entrance of the National Assembly over unpaid debts for projects executed under the 2024 and 2025 Budgets. The decision followed a ‘Motion of urgent national importance’, moved by Kabiru Maipalace (APC, Zamfara), who urged lawmakers to halt sittings until the Federal Government honours its commitment to clear verified debts owed to local contractors. Earlier in the day, hundreds of aggrieved contractors blocked the main gates of the complex, disrupting access and delaying the…

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National Assembly mulls creation of 55 States, 278 LGAs

Aminu Imam
NASS mulls states creation

The 10th National Assembly has begun reviewing 69 constitutional amendment bills, including proposals for 55 new states and 278 local councils. Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, made this known at the opening of a two-day joint retreat of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on the Review of the 1999 Constitution held in Lagos. Jibrin said the Legislature aims to submit the first amendments to state Assemblies before year-end. “It has been a long journey to bring the Senate and…

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NASS proposes Nov. 2026 for 2027 general elections

Aminu Imam
NASS proposes

Nigeria’s next presidential and governorship elections may be held in November 2026, following a proposal by the 10th National Assembly to move the polls six months earlier than usual. The draft amendment was unveiled yesterday, during a public hearing jointly organised by the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters in Abuja. The move, contained in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, seeks to ensure that all election petitions are concluded before the May 29, 2027, handover date. The draft amendment read, “Elections into the office of the President and…

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NASS postpones plenary resumption to October 7

Aminu Imam
NASS postpones plenary

The 10th National Assembly has postponed the resumption of plenary sessions by two weeks. Originally scheduled to resume on September 23, plenary will now commence on October 7. This was disclosed in a memo sent to all members of the National Assembly and signed by the Clerk, Kamoru Ogunlana. In the memo, Ogunlana requested all the Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members to take note of the new date and adjust their schedules accordingly. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has assured Nigerians of the speedy passage of the constitutional amendment bill.…

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Constitutional Review: Nigerians demand new deal, State Police, women’s seats, Electoral Reforms top agenda

Aminu Imam
Constitutional Review Nigerians demand

Nigerians on Monday stormed the National Assembly’s public hearing on the 1999 Constitution review, with fiery demands — from state and community-policing to creation of new states, electoral reforms, and reserved seats for women and persons with disabilities. Women’s groups, traditional rulers, civil society, and security agencies all pushed for inclusion, accountability, and stronger federalism. Heated protests broke out, as women demanded guaranteed seats in parliament, while traditional rulers insisted on formal recognition of their roles. The Constitutional review involves 87 amendment bills, with some key areas generating robust debate.…

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Protest rocks NASS, as civil servants, Minister clash

Aminu Imam
Protest rocks NASS

Scores of demonstrators yesterday marched from the National Assembly to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja, protesting against what they described as the harassment of the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim. The protesters, comprising human rights activists, civil society organisations and concerned citizens, carried placards and banners condemning last Wednesday’s action, insisting that “no civil servant has the right to challenge a minister.” Their demonstration followed an incident on September 10, when staff of the Federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs locked…

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ADC accuses NASS of mortgaging Nigeria’s future by endorsing Tinubu’s borrowing spree

Aminu Imam
ADC accuses NASS

The African Democratic Congress, (ADC), has accused the National Assembly of mortgaging Nigeria’s future by endorsing what it described as President Bola Tinubu’s “unchecked borrowing spree”. In a statement on Tuesday, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC criticised Speaker Tajudeen Abbas for retracting his earlier remarks on Nigeria’s debt profile. The party said Abbas’s initial admission that the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio had risen to 52% was a “rare moment of honesty” but added that his retraction showed “political cowardice and legislative complicity”. “The Speaker’s statement offered…

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NASS adopts June 12 as annual ‘Presidential Address Day’

Aminu Imam
NASS adopts June 12

The 10th National Assembly has formally adopted June 12 as the day for the President of Nigeria to address a joint session of the legislature. The decision was taken yesterday, June 12  during a special Democracy Day sitting at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, where Tinubu delivered a commemorative address to lawmakers. Presiding over the joint session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the formalisation of the date, following a Motion raised by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas. “Mr. President, in the eloquent speech by the Hon.…

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BudgIT uncovers ₦6.93tr worth of inserted projects in 2025 Budget

Aminu Imam
BudgIT uncovers

BudgIT has revealed that the 10th National Assembly inserted 11,122 projects worth ₦6.93 trillion into the 2025 federal budget, raising concerns over fiscal abuse and political manipulation.  According to the civic tech group many of the projects lack justification and divert funds from national priorities. Key flagged insertions include: 238 projects above ₦5 billion, 1,477 streetlight projects costing ₦393.29 billion, and ₦6.74 billion for traditional ruler “empowerment”. BudgIT urged President Tinubu to reform the budget process and align spending with the national development plan.

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Mandatory voting Bill violates constitutional rights, says Falana

Aminu Imam
Falana

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has criticised a proposed Bill seeking to make voting compulsory in Nigeria, describing it as a violation of citizens’ constitutional rights. The Bill, sponsored by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, proposes a 6-month jail term or a fine of ₦100,000 for eligible voters who fail to participate in elections. Abbas said the objective is to address low voter turnout, promote civic responsibility, and transform voting from a personal choice into a legal obligation. However, Falana, in a statement issued…

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