Legislature
Senate alters plenary time, indicts self over disregard for its standing rule
***As Lawan disagrees with Akpabio over alignment with Reps
The 10th Senate on Thursday acknowledged its greatest shortcoming of Commencing plenary behind schedule thereby trampling on its standing rule that stipulated 10am as the time for commencement of sitting.
The Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele had raised two motions at the commencement of plenary, on one hand he proposed amendments to the standing rules in respect to amendment of order 8(2) which has to do with sitting of the Senate as it is proposed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for the Senate to shift it from 10am to 11am
The leader also moved his second motion on Standing Committees
Amendment of order 96 inclusion of 58 which is to create the Senate Committee on Reparation and repatriation.
However, the second motion was stepped down as senators opted to debate on the issue of sitting time.
While lending his voice to the issue Senator Akpabio had indicated that the most urgent motion is to align the time of resumption with what obtains in the House of Represntatives.
He suggested that the motion should be separated and that the first one to be taken should be the time of sitting.
Immediate past President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan while making his contribution disagreed with Akpabio saying, “I don’t know the basis at the moment for which we want to shift our sitting from 10 to 11 and end at 3pm, for me, we have more energy, our eyes are clearer in the morning and one hour into the day, probably we would have lost some energy.
“If we work between 10am and 2pm, if we seat in the plenary between 10am and 2pm, our committees would do better. If we don’t have any reason except we have to synchronize with the house, I think we need to look at it again. But if we have other reasons that we must change that is fine. If it is just to synchronize the House may have their reasons for sitting at 11 and close by 3 but here I don’t see the reasons.
Responding Akpabio threw it back at Lawan that the idea of the Senate sitting by 11am started during his time as the Presidwnt of the 9th Senate especially during the period of the covid.
Explaining further, Lawan said it was as a result of the dreadful COVID-19 the time was tinkered with from 10am to 11am adding that they had to cut down on the number of days for plenary.
Akpabio retorted saying, “Our rules said 10am but we came to meet the tradition of 11am, the only thing that we changed was to add additional day because during that COVID-19 period we were sitting twice a week.
“I said no, since there is no more COVID we should sit three times in a week and we maintained what we saw, 11am but now we are.saying that we have not been able to justify the 11am sitting unless it reflects same on our rules.
“The Idea of 3pm in my view is not correct because it does not mean you must sit till 3pm. It simply means if we don’t have musc to do we can Close at 1pm or 2pm to enable our colleagues to go for committee sittings and other matters related to the proceedings of the Senate such as clearances and all that.
“The only aspect of it is to legalise it so that people dint have the impression that you are sitting at 11am while the rule says 10am.
The Senate Leader again said,
“I want to make a very passionate appeal to our colleagues, for me I believe the issue should go beyond trying to reconcile with the house of representatives, the logic is that a lot of times, distinguished senators have reasons to go to bed late and there is no point having in our rule book that our sitting time is 10 am, and everyday we sit at 11’o clock.
“Of course there are some distinguished senators who would be here 10 for 10 but there have been a lot of time where even you Mr. President at 11or 10:30 and we have to wait for some of our collegaues to come so that we could form a qorum , it is important that we work our talk.
“If our rule had said 10 am and we have not been able to seat 10am for 10am, I think what is most important is that if we say 11am, it should be 11’oclock.
“I think it makes sense that we amend our rules to read 11’o clock rather our rule book saying 10 am and we don’t seat until 11, for me this is the basic justification.
After going into into close session at the instance of Akpabio so that members of the public will not misunderstand them they return to support the motion which stipulates that plenary session will now commence at 11am.
Before now, according to the Senate Standing Rule, plenary starts at 10 a.m. on every legislative day.
Rule 8 (2) of the Senate Standing Rule (as amended) states: “On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, the Senate shall meet at 10:00 a.m. and unless previously adjourned shall sit until 2:00 p.m., unless before a substantive motion had been moved by the Leader of the Senate or a Senator acting in that capacity “that this Senate do now adjourn” and if such a motion be moved and if the question thereon has not previously been determined, at 2:00 p.m. the President of the Senate shall adjourn the Senate without question being put.”
However, because the senate president who presides over the sitting was in the habit of arriving late, the plenary had always begun much later. As a result of the tardiness, many Senate committees have had to postpone important meetings because the Senate plenary ended late in the evening.
The National Assembly has called for a comprehensive reassessment of Nigeria’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative following alarming reports of vehicle explosions attributed to uncertified conversions. Lawmakers are urging the Federal Government to prioritize rigorous adaptability tests to ensure the safety and suitability of the technology in Nigeria’s unique environment.
During the 2025 budget defense session of the Joint Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Petroleum (Upstream), and Gas, Senator Natasha Akpoti (PDP, Kogi Central) questioned the adequacy of research conducted before rolling out the CNG program.
“Nigeria’s bumpy roads and hot climate differ significantly from the smooth and cooler environments where this technology originated. Were these factors considered before introducing CNG?” Akpoti asked.
Her concerns come amid incidents of explosions in CNG-converted vehicles. The Minister of State for Gas, Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, attributed these accidents to uncertified conversions carried out by roadside technicians, emphasizing that certified centers adhere to strict safety standards.
Ekpo also assured lawmakers that the technology had been evaluated by a Presidential Committee on CNG and affirmed its long-term viability. “CNG has come to stay,” he stated.
The session also highlighted budgetary concerns, particularly the Ministry of Petroleum’s 2025 capital allocation of N903 million. Lawmakers criticized the sum as inadequate to address Nigeria’s pressing energy challenges.
“For a ministry driving Nigeria’s energy transition, this allocation raises concerns about commitment to infrastructure and innovation,” remarked Hon. Kafilat Ogbara.
As Nigeria seeks to diversify its energy mix, the National Assembly has stressed the need for enhanced safety measures, proper implementation, and increased funding to fully realize the potential of CNG while ensuring public safety and trust.
***Seeks Support for Loans as Budgetary Provisions Fall Short
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has voiced his deep frustration over the state of Nigeria’s road infrastructure, highlighting inadequate yearly budgetary allocations as a major barrier to progress.
Speaking during the 2025 budget defense session before the Senate Committee on Works in Abuja on Friday, Umahi described the financial constraints as overwhelming. “I’ve succeeded in most of my life’s engagements, but I feel frustrated fixing Nigerian roads with these meagre allocations,” he lamented.
Umahi disclosed that President Bola Tinubu inherited 2,064 road projects valued at N13 trillion, but rising costs have pushed the estimated expenditure to N18 trillion. He noted that the N827 billion allocated for road infrastructure in the 2025 budget is grossly insufficient to address the challenges.
“Roads are critical to economic growth and poverty reduction. They create jobs and drive economic activities. However, fixing these roads cannot be achieved with yearly budget provisions alone,” he explained.
The minister urged Nigerians to support the government’s borrowing initiatives, assuring that the funds would directly impact citizens’ lives by boosting economic activities and reducing hunger.
Senators on the committee, led by Senator Mpigi Barinaga, praised Umahi for his efficient management of scarce resources and supported his call for alternative funding mechanisms. They acknowledged the scale of the work required and admitted that the proposed budget falls far short of what is needed to resolve Nigeria’s road infrastructure crisis.
The session concluded with a shared resolve to explore additional funding options to tackle the nation’s road challenges effectively.
***Minister Lokpobiri Assures of Reforms, Apologizes for Lapses
The 2025 budget defense session for the petroleum sector took a contentious turn on Friday as the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum (Upstream, Midstream, Downstream, and Gas) erupted into disorder. Tensions flared over delays in budget documentation, with lawmakers decrying the Ministry of Petroleum Resources’ perceived lack of preparedness and respect for legislative protocols.
The meeting, chaired by Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, was already fraught with logistical challenges. The cramped committee room, bursting with lawmakers and ministry officials, became the backdrop for a fiery exchange that highlighted the strained relationship between the legislative and executive branches. Calls to relocate the session to a more accommodating venue went unheeded, adding to the frustration.
Before the session could proceed, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu raised a procedural objection, pointing out the absence of vital budget documents. “We cannot engage in a meaningful discussion without the necessary materials. This undermines the integrity of the process,” Nwogu asserted.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, faced sharp criticism for the disorganization. Hon. Ado Doguwa, Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee, accused the Ministry of fostering an adversarial relationship with the legislature. “Minister, we see you only once a year, and even then, the lack of collaboration is glaring. This is unacceptable,” Doguwa said, his frustration evident.
Lokpobiri, in an attempt to salvage the situation, apologized for the lapses. “Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members, I deeply regret this oversight. It was not intentional. The budget documents are being distributed as we speak,” he said. He assured lawmakers that the Ministry remained committed to supporting legislative oversight and improving future engagements.
However, Lokpobiri’s lighthearted remark that the documents were being delivered in “Ghana Must Go” bags—containing no money—elicited mixed reactions. While some lawmakers chuckled, others viewed it as a diversion from the seriousness of the issue.
Doguwa, accepting the apology, stressed the need for strict adherence to legislative guidelines. “While we appreciate the apology, the late submission of documents is a breach of procedure. This cannot continue. We demand accountability and timely cooperation moving forward,” he said.
The session ultimately ended in stalemate, with lawmakers insisting on postponing the meeting until all necessary documents had been reviewed. The debacle underscores the persistent challenges of executive-legislative coordination in Nigeria’s budgetary process, particularly in critical sectors like petroleum.
As the Joint Committee prepares to reconvene, stakeholders will be watching closely to see if the Ministry of Petroleum Resources can rebuild trust and ensure a smoother process in the future.
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