The Nigerian Senate has tasked journalists with educating the public on their rules to avoid misconceptions about actions taken against any erring member during the Plenary Session.
For the avoidance of misconception on action taken against any erring senator during plenary sessions, the Senate, on Wednesday, tasked journalists to educate Nigerians on its standing rules.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South), gave the charge in his presentation at a one-day capacity-building workshop for members of the Senate Press Corps.
One of the rules Nigerians need to be educated on, according to him, is section 6(1) of the Senate standing rules, which empowers the President of the Senate to allocate and reallocate seats to Senators at any time necessary.
In reference to the genesis of the crisis between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, and the Senate in February this year, Senator Adaramodu said the refusal of any senator to obey the rules will always lead to avoidable crises.
“Journalists, like lawmakers, are supposed to know the standard rules together so that when somebody fails to observe the rules either in the Senate or House of Representatives, you let the public know in your reports.
“If you are supposed to sit on seat number 10 and you go and sit on seat number 13, you will not be recognised by the president, and if the affected person insists that he or she must be recognised, ‘katakata’ will surely come up.
“Also, seats allocated to Senators are not permanent; the reason why the President of the Senate, as mandated by provisions of rule 6(1), can reallocate seats of Senators.
“The National Assembly is not a banana republic where there are no laws. Our laws must be obeyed by us and understood by Nigerians, who are to be educated on them by those of you covering the Senate.
“In fact, parliamentary reporters like those of you covering the Senate are expected to be educated and knowledgeable like lawmakers themselves and even more knowledgeable,” Senator Adaramodu said.
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday, March 6, 2025, suspended Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months over alleged misconduct and refusal to comply with the chamber’s sitting arrangement during the plenary session on 20 February.
Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio announced the suspension of the Kogi Senator after it was supported by a majority of the lawmakers during the plenary.
The controversy began when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan refused to occupy her new seat because it was done without her consent, and she believes the action violated her privileges.