Senate Shifts Plenary to September 23 for Oversight and Budget Review

The Nigerian Senate has adjourned plenary until Tuesday, September 23, 2025, to allow lawmakers engage in oversight functions across key government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

The decision followed the adoption of a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), which was passed without objection during Thursday’s session. The motion, a routine procedure often used ahead of legislative recesses, came shortly after several items on the order paper were stepped down.

While moving the motion, Bamidele urged his colleagues to use the break productively, especially by carrying out their constitutionally assigned oversight responsibilities.

In his closing remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized that the recess was not intended for rest but for critical legislative work.

“The recess is not just a time for rest, it is a constitutional period set aside to enable us to perform our oversight functions,” Akpabio said.

“Each committee is hereby mandated to carry out comprehensive oversight of the ministries, departments, and agencies relevant to their mandates, and we expect detailed reports to be submitted to the plenary when we reconvene.”

Akpabio noted that these reports would form the basis for future debates, policy reviews, and decisions on budgetary allocations. He also reiterated the Senate’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and effective governance.

The timing of the recess aligns with preparations for the 2026 budget cycle. Although the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) have not yet been formally submitted to the Senate, insiders say lawmakers are expected to use this window to evaluate how well the 2025 budget has been implemented.

Legislative observers believe the break provides an opportunity for key committees—especially Appropriations and Finance—to assess capital project execution across sectors like education, infrastructure, health, and defense. Their findings are expected to guide the Senate’s input when the 2026 appropriation bill is eventually presented by the executive.

In the meantime, Akpabio informed the chamber that All Progressives Congress (APC) senators would attend the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa by 2:00 p.m. on Thursday.