This was disclosed in a statement issued by his media aide, Eseme Eyiboh titled ‘The Trials and Triumphs of a Resilient Nigeria’s 10th Senate’, Akpabio said the legislature’s insistence on enforcing its rules was not about silencing dissent but about preserving order and the sanctity of democratic institutions.

Akpabio’s comments followed disagreement with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), who recently returned from a six-month suspension.

Akpoti-Uduaghan has continued to contest her suspension from the Senate.

Akpabio said, “The Senate cannot and will not be held hostage by the disruptive instincts of any of its members.

“Democracy thrives only when its institutions are respected and its rules upheld.

“The discipline of parliamentary conduct is a universal marker of political civilisation.

The 10th Senate President further defended the right of the legislature to discipline its members when necessary, drawing parallels with other democracies where lawmakers face suspension or expulsion for violating parliamentary order.

“In the world’s most respected parliaments, members who flout rules face swift consequences. In the British House of Commons, suspension or expulsion is not rare when a member’s behaviour undermines parliamentary dignity. Nigeria’s Senate has every right to apply similar standards,” he noted.

He described the 10th Senate as “a chamber of resilience and balance,” adding that its leadership was determined to demonstrate that “freedom within order is the truest form of democracy.”

Read Also: Senate Issues Two-Week Ultimatum To Executive On Budget Implementation

He also emphasised that his leadership approach was one of firmness and inclusion, saying the upper chamber must remain a stabilising force in the face of rising populism and public cynicism.

Akpabio said, “Leadership of this sort does not seek applause; it seeks stability. By upholding its Standing Orders, the Senate has reclaimed its moral authority and demonstrated that rules, properly enforced, are not instruments of oppression but shields against institutional decay.”

Source: Channels

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This follows threats by members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) to embark on industrial action over unresolved welfare and constitutional grievances.

In a circular issued by the Secretary of Human Resources on behalf of the Clerk to the National Assembly, staff were urged to ignore calls for strike action, with assurances of safety and warnings against “unlawful picketing” or “work-to-rule.”

The management stressed that union membership is voluntary and urged dissatisfied staff to withdraw from PASAN in line with union rules. It also defended its administrative reforms and commitment to staff welfare since taking office.

However, a group identifying as “Concerned PASAN Members” accused management of harassing union members pushing for financial transparency. They alleged threats and suspensions aimed at silencing calls for audited accounts, budget presentations, and adherence to union constitutional provisions.

The group also criticised the recognition of ousted PASAN executives, describing it as a breach of due process. They demanded the implementation of the 40% consolidated peculiar allowance approved for federal workers, provision of vehicles and buses for staff, capacity-building training, and enforcement of the National Assembly Service Pension Board Act.

Read Also: Natasha arrives National Assembly, barred from entering the chamber

Beyond union matters, the workers raised issues of salary shortfalls, non-remittance of tax and pension deductions, and non-payment of allowances for rent, leave, hazard, and medicals.

As plenary resumes, the handling of these grievances may determine whether legislative business proceeds smoothly or faces disruption.

Source: Punch

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The Deputy Director of the Sergeant-at-Arms, Alabi Adedeji, unsealed the office, paving the way for the Kogi Central Senator to return to the Red Chamber when plenary resumes.

“To unseal Senator Natasha Akpoti’s office, I, Alabi Adedeji, Deputy Director, Sergeant-at-Arms, hereby unseal the office,” said the Sergeant-at-Arms before unlocking the door to the office, which had been under seal for six months.

Read Also: Natasha arrives National Assembly, barred from entering the chamber

Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan was suspended by the Senate for six months over alleged violations of its standing rules.

The suspension, recommended by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, also stripped her of aides, office privileges and salaries.

Source: Channels

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The statement reads “The National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria mourns the passing of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari,GCFR, former President and Commander- in-Chief of the armed forces, who died in London, United Kingdom.

In honour of his legacy and service to the nation, I am directed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to inform members of the National Assembly and the general public that all legislative activities is suspended immediately until Tuesday, 22 July 2025.”

All members of the National Assembly are urged to reschedule their engagements to enable full participation in the burial activities of the late President.

“On behalf of members and staff of the National Assembly, the leadership of both chambers extend heartfelt condolences to:
The government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The government and people of Katsina State;
His wife, children and entire Buhari family.
President Muhammadu Buhari will be remembered for his commitment to Nigeria’s unity and his integrity. May Almighty Allah grant his soul eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus”, the statement read.

The House of Representatives was scheduled to resume plenary activities after a one week break for the NASS open week.

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According to Musa, they intend to take on two of the bills each day and the Senate Committee on Finance will invite the general public, particularly some organisations, to a two-day public hearing on the tax reform bills- the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Fund Bill, the Nigerian Revenue Services Bill, the Nigerian Tax Administration Bill, and the Nigerian Tax Bills.

Read Also: Senate passes N54.99trn 2025 budget

Musa said his committee had invited many heads of agencies such as the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy and the Minister of Trade and Investment, as well as the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Minister of Petroleum, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and the Statistician General of Nigeria, who heads the National Bureau of Statistics.

Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, named a Special Committee led by the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Abiodun Faleke, to conduct a public hearing on the tax reform bills following their passage for a second reading last week.

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At the three-hour town hall conversation on the tax reform bills, prominent Nigerians like former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the Chief Executive Officer of Global Investments and Trade Company, Baba Yusuf, the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform, Taiwo Oyedele, asserted that the time for the reform is now.

Governor Abdullahi Sule, who made his contribution at the end of the programme said the Governors wouldn’t have taken the position they took for withdrawal of the bills from the National Assembly a few weeks ago if the Town Hall had taken place earlier.

He specifically told Nigerians that had clarifications made by Taiwo Oyedele on the new formula for distribution of Value Added Tax, VAT, among the three tiers of government, known to governors a few weeks back, reservations expressed about the reform, wouldn’t have arisen.

Read Also: President Tinubu In South Africa for Nigeria-South Africa BNC

Oyedele had in his earlier clarification on some misconceived provisions of the reform bills, explained that the proposed tax reform aimed at shared prosperity for all Nigerians by exempting the vulnerable or the poor from personal income tax and shifting that to those who are gainfully employed, earning up to N1.5 million annually.

According to him, the proposed reform will address the most contentious issue of VAT distribution with a new formula driven by equity and shared prosperity, explaining that the current formula for sharing VAT among states is based on 20% derivation, 50% equality and 30% population.

According to Oyedele, the tax reform proposes a different model of derivation which will attribute VAT to the place of supply and consumption rather than the current model which attributes VAT to the state where it is remitted thereby favouring states with company headquarters.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform further stated that the derivation under the new model will account for 60% of VAT distribution for better equity and to discourage any state from seeking to administer VAT as a state tax, which will not only result in much lower revenue for all tiers of government but will impose a higher burden on businesses.

He also debunked the insinuation that some provisions of the tax reform bills are aimed at settling public agencies like the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, posited at the Town Hall Conversation that the proposed tax reform would fetch the Northern part of the country $250 billion in years to come, from livestock and exploration of mineral resources.

He said he had read through the four bills and discovered that they are well intended for the economic revival of the country and wealth creation for Nigerians.

Dogara admonished Northern leaders, particularly, Governors, not to wear a cap of regionalism or religiosity at this time but that of leadership.

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This was proposed during an interactive session with Judiciary and political parties led by the Chairman, the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters,  Sharafadeen Alli on the National Assembly Review and amendment of the Electoral Act 2022.

According to them, the salaries of legislators should be reduced by 30 per cent while that of the executives be reduced by 40 per cent to cut costs.

During the session, political parties also proposed that all elections – presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and State Houses of Assembly be conducted in a single day, asserting that the current staggered system of elections is not cost-effective.

They also proposed the continuous voter registration link to the National Identity Number ,NIN, for added security and to save costs during the voter’s registration.

Among the 35 proposals presented by the IPAC Chair during the 3-day retreat, the registered political parties also maintain that the appointment of the Independent National Electoral Commission chairman should no longer be the responsibility of the executive rather it should be advertised to interested parties.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the joint committee has promised to interact with INEC and Nigerians across the board, for robust feedback to minimise disruptions and ensure rancour and hitch-free elections in the future.

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“In view of public commentary concerning the President delivering a speech before a Joint Sitting of the National Assembly tomorrow, May 29, 2024, it is important to state that this information is false and unauthorized as the Office of the President was not involved in the planning of the event,” Ngelale said in a Tuesday evening statement.

This is contrary to earlier statements by the spokesperson of the Senate Yemi Adaramodu and his House of Representatives counterpart Akin Rotimi (Jr) as well as the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga.

The spokesmen in a Tuesday morning joint statement said Tinubu will deliver a speech to a joint session of the National Assembly.

“The National Assembly will hold a Joint Sitting this week to commemorate 25 years of unbroken democracy and legislative practice in Nigeria,” the statement read.

“This significant milestone will be marked by a series of events scheduled to begin at 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in the Green Chamber, House of Representatives Building, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.”

Also, the National Assembly Clerk Sani Tambawal confirmed the event in a statement, saying President Tinubu will address the lawmakers on the state of the nation and commission the NASS Library.

“This is to inform Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members that as part of the event to commemorate 25 years of unbroken democracy and Legislature in Nigeria, there will be a joint sitting of both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Wednesday 29 May 2024,” he said.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, will address the joint sitting on State of the Nation and also commission the National Assembly Library. Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members are expected to be seated by 9 am.”

Onanuga also corroborated the lawmakers, saying “the President will address a joint session of the National Assembly, which has lined up a programme to commemorate 25 years of the nation’s democratic journey at both the executive and legislative levels.

“President Tinubu’s speech will dwell on the achievements of his administration and Nigeria’s democracy since the military ceded power in 1999.”

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