AFTER a two-month recess that began on July 23, Nigeria’s bicameral National Assembly—comprising the Senate and House of Representatives—resumed plenary sessions today amid high expectations from citizens grappling with economic hardships, insecurity, and governance challenges.
The return to the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly Complex marks the kickoff of a pivotal legislative phase, with lawmakers facing a packed agenda that includes fiscal planning, constitutional reforms, and pressing national security concerns.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas have both emphasised collaboration with the executive to deliver on the 10th Assembly’s legislative roadmap, focusing on reforms that could shape Nigeria’s trajectory ahead of the 2026 budget cycle.
While the resumption was briefly postponed from September 23 to allow for constituency engagements and preparations around the October 1 Independence Day celebrations, today’s proceedings are set against a backdrop of internal tensions, including a divided staff protest over welfare issues and heightened security measures at the complex.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest issues lawmakers are expected to tackle in the coming weeks:
1. 2026 Budget Preparation and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF/FSP)
Why it matters:
With Nigeria’s economy strained by inflation, naira depreciation, and subsidy removals, the 2026 budget—expected to be presented by President Bola Tinubu in November—will be scrutinised for its focus on infrastructure, social welfare, and debt sustainability. Lawmakers must first approve the MTEF/FSP for 2026–2028, a fiscal blueprint that outlines borrowing limits, revenue projections, and expenditure priorities.
Key developments: A supplementary 2025 budget is anticipated before year-end to address urgent needs like security and flood relief. The House has scheduled a Citizens’ Townhall Meeting on the proposed budget to incorporate public input, amid criticisms of poor implementation in prior years. Constituency projects remain a flashpoint, with threats of boycotts over alleged underfunding in the 2024 and 2025 allocations.
2. Constitution Review Process
Why it matters: This ongoing effort, led by the Senate’s Committee on Constitution Review under Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, aims to address long-standing demands for restructuring, including state police, fiscal federalism, and electoral reforms. Public hearings across Nigeria’s zones, recently concluded in the South-West, have generated hundreds of memoranda, with debates expected to intensify.
Key developments: Senate President Akpabio has urged citizens to actively participate, highlighting the review’s role in strengthening democracy. Issues like devolving more powers to states and enhancing local government autonomy are likely to dominate early deliberations, potentially influencing the 2027 elections.
3. National Security and Insecurity
Why it matters: Escalating threats from banditry, insurgency in the Northeast, and farmer-herder clashes have fueled public outcry, with recent reports of alleged “systemic genocide against Christians” in parts of the North adding a religious dimension. Nigerians expect robust legislative oversight of the military and police.
Key developments: The Senate is slated for extensive debates on insecurity, including motions for emergency funding and intelligence reforms. This comes alongside broader calls for a state of emergency in high-risk zones and scrutiny of the service chiefs’ performance.
4. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension Saga
Why it matters: The Kogi Central senator’s six-month suspension, imposed on March 6, 2025, for alleged misconduct, has become a symbol of parliamentary accountability and electoral integrity. Her case, now before the Court of Appeal, tests the limits of legislative privileges versus judicial oversight.
Key developments: Akpoti-Uduaghan is expected to return to the Senate plenary today. With her office in Suite 2.05 of the Senate Wing unsealed on September 23, it will be interesting to see if she would tender the public apology demanded by the Senate.
5. Internal Assembly Challenges and Political Realignments
Why it matters: Beyond policy, the Assembly faces its own housekeeping issues, including a brewing staff crisis that has split the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) over poor welfare, unpaid allowances, and management neglect. A planned protest was averted after management warnings of disciplinary action.
Key developments: Security has been beefed up at the complex amid these tensions. Politically, whispers of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are rife, potentially altering chamber dynamics ahead of 2027. Additionally, academic unions like ASUU are mobilising for strikes, which could pressure lawmakers on education funding.
As plenary unfolds, analysts predict a mix of bipartisanship on economic bills and partisanship on security and constitutional matters. With the 2027 polls on the horizon, this session could redefine legislative priorities—or expose deepening divides. Nigerians, from market traders to civil society groups, are watching closely, demanding tangible outcomes amid daily struggles like soaring cooking gas prices (now up to N25,000 per household) and fuel scarcity.