Senate Resumes with Budget Focus, Flood Crisis, Other National Issues

The Nigerian Senate will resume legislative activities on Tuesday, September 24 after a two-month recess that began on July 23.

A major item on the agenda of the Upper Chamber is the 2025 appropriation Bill which is expected from the presidency in October.

The Senate, as part of its tradition, is expected to invite various heads of the federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to account for their budget performances before its standing committees.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, confirmed ahead of resumption that the Senate is ready to commence work on the 2025 budget and has already intensified oversight on the implementation of the 2024 budget to ensure that MDAs comply with provisions.

“We are ready to begin the processing of the 2025 Appropriation bill, because we know that by tradition, the budget will presented in the month of October. “As we speak Senator’s are going round in their oversight functions trying to look at the performance of the 2024 budget,” he said..

The Senate had expressed its commitment to maintaining the January to December budget implementation. 

Another key issue which the Senate has promised to take action on is the ongoing flooding in the country notably in Borno.

It was reported that the floods have displaced an estimated 300,000 people and claimed 37 lives, with over a million people affected overall. 

Heavy rainfall caused the collapse of the Alau Dam near Maiduguri, the worst flooding in 30 years. 

Additionally, about 11 other states are said to be at risk of severe flooding due to the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

Another high-priority task is the screening and confirmation of Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. 

She was sworn in by President Tinubu at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja on August 22, 2024, following the retirement of her predecessor, Olukayode Ariwoola.

Before the Senate embarked on its recess it approved the N6.2 trillion supplementary budget. 

The senate also approved the N70,000 minimum wage bill and amended the Finance Act to impose a 70% windfall tax on banks’ FX gains in a bid to shore up revenue for government.