Abuja: The National Assembly will resume sitting on Tuesday, 7 October 2025, following a two-month annual recess that began on 23 July 2025. Nigerians are looking forward to a legislative session as lawmakers return to the chambers to address several pressing national issues that have unfolded in recent months.
According to Voice of Nigeria, insecurity, constitution amendment, supplementary budget, and the rift between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate are among the issues likely to dominate discussions. Lawmakers were initially expected to resume on 23 September 2025, but the date was extended to allow members to participate in activities marking the country’s Independence Day anniversary and other official engagements. During the recess, legislative work continued through several standing and ad-hoc committee hearings and stakeholder engagements on pending bills.
The National Assembly is set to focus on the Constitution Review, having conducted Zonal public hearings nationwide. Inputs were sought from Nigerians on amending the 1999 Constitution, with issues such as state creation, local government areas, state police, and constitutional roles for traditional rulers taking center stage. Lawmakers are expected to act on the final report for state assemblies’ adoption and ratification. The final draft requires agreement by a two-thirds majority (24 of the 36) state houses of Assembly and presidential assent to become effective. Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, indicated that the National Assembly aims to compile and transmit the report to state assemblies before the year’s end.
Fiscal policy will also be a key focus, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expected to send a supplementary budget for 2025 before the year’s end due to increasing expenditure needs. The National Assembly is also anticipated to advocate for the 2026 budget to be presented earlier than December to allow for proper scrutiny.
Insecurity remains a concern for the Legislature, with reported attacks in some areas resulting in casualties and displacements. This issue is expected to be a topic of deliberation among lawmakers.
The suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) is another matter likely to attract attention. The Senate acknowledged receiving notice from Natasha that she planned to resume on September 4, 2025, marking the end of her suspension. However, the Senate maintains that her suspension remains valid until the Court of Appeal rules on her case challenging the suspension. The controversy arose when Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central in the Senate, refused to occupy her new seat, citing infringement on her privileges as a lawmaker.
New security restrictions have been announced around the National Assembly complex, particularly the office of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio. A memo from retired Brigadier-General Etido Ekpo, dated October 2, stated that the corridor linking the White House lobby to the Senate President’s office is now reserved strictly for lawmakers. Aides and personal assistants will no longer have access to the passage, a decision taken to maintain a ‘secure and safe environment’ for legislative business. This restriction may prompt conversation among staff and legislative aides with routine duties requiring close access to principal officers.