Tag: Senate

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Senate grills JAMB officials over charges, rural access

The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund on Wednesday met with officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), raising concerns over examination charges, system failures, and access to tertiary education, particularly for students in rural communities.

During the session, Senator Amos Yohanna (PDP/Adamawa North) faulted what he described as mounting financial burdens on students amid prevailing economic hardship.

Yohanna questioned the justification for the fees the board is charging candidates, noting that many families are struggling with poverty.

Lawmakers also highlighted recent technical challenges experienced by candidates while attempting to log into JAMB’s portal, asking the board to outline measures being taken to make the system more seamless and user-friendly for prospective students.

The Committee Chairman, Mohammed Dandutse (APC/Katsina South), urged JAMB to improve coordination within the tertiary admission process, underpinning that each year, students encounter difficulties securing admission into universities and other higher institutions due to a lack of synergy among stakeholders.

According to the committee chair, ensuring that revenue generated by the board is fully remitted to the Federation Account in line with government financial regulations to guarantee sustainability is paramount.

Other lawmakers drew attention to the plight of students in rural communities, noting that many lack adequate access to registration and examination facilities.

Lawmakers also queried the board over its increased budget allocation, reportedly rising to over a billion naira. They sought clarification on whether the increase was intended for staff recruitment and requested details of the proposed expenditure framework.

In response, JAMB officials disclosed that additional Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres would be established nationwide to ease access challenges, particularly for candidates in underserved areas.

The board also revealed that about one million candidates are expected to participate in the 2025 admission cycle, representing a significant increase in enrollment figures.

It also announced a proposed Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of ₦23.8 billion for the 2026 fiscal year. (Channels)

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Senate passes Electoral Act Amendment Bill

The Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026.

Before the passage, there was a rowdy session as the upper chamber resumed proceedings with a demand for division over Clause 60 raised by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC/Abia South).

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stated that he believed the demand had previously been withdrawn, but several opposition senators immediately objected to that claim.

Citing Order 52(6), the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, argued that it would be out of order to revisit any provision on which the Senate President had already ruled.

This submission sparked another uproar in the chamber, during which Senator Sunday Karimi had a brief face-off with Abaribe.

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, then reminded lawmakers that he had sponsored the motion for rescission, underscoring that decisions previously taken by the Senate are no longer valid.

He maintained that, consistent with his motion, Senator Abaribe’s demand was in line.

Akpabio further suggested that the call for division was merely an attempt by Senator Abaribe to publicly demonstrate his stance to Nigerians.

The senate president sustained the point of order, after which Abaribe rose in protest and was urged to formally move his motion.

Rising under Order 72(1), Abaribe called for a division on Clause 60(3), specifically concerning the provision that if electronic transmission of results fails, Form EC8A should not serve as the sole basis, calling for the removal of the proviso that allows for manual transmission of results in the event of network failure.

During the division, Akpabio directed senators who supported the caveat to stand.

He then asked those opposed to the caveat to rise.

Fifteen opposition senators stood in opposition.

However, when the votes were counted, the Senate President announced that 15 senators were not in support of the proviso, while 55 senators voted in support of it.

Earlier, proceedings in the Senate were momentarily stalled as lawmakers began clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following a motion to rescind the earlier amendment.

The motion to rescind the bill was formally seconded on Tuesday, paving the way for the upper chamber to dissolve into the committee of the whole for detailed reconsideration and reenactment of the proposed legislation.

During the session, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, reeled out the clauses one after the other for deliberation.

However, the process stalled when at clause 60, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC/Abia South), raised a point of order, drawing immediate attention on the floor.

Following the intervention, murmurs spread across the chamber as lawmakers began speaking in small groups and approaching the Senate President’s desk for consultations.

The session immediately moved into a closed door session. (Channels)

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Killings: Senate directs strengthening of joint security operation in Niger, Kwara

As part of measures to tackle insecurity in some parts of the country, the Senate has called for an upgrade of the joint security operation in Niger and Kwara states.

It mandated the Committees on Defence, Army, Air Force, Police Affairs, and National Security and Intelligence to conduct a joint assessment of the security situation in the North-Central region and report back within four weeks with clear recommendations.

This followed a motion sponsored by Sani Musa (APC/Niger East) in the wake of the brutal killing of over 50 people and the abduction of several women and children in Konkoso District, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

In his argument, Musa regretted that the North-Central region has increasingly witnessed organised attacks on rural communities, farmlands, and settlements, threatening food security and national stability.

The lawmakers thereafter further raised concern that the persistent pattern of attacks on remote communities indicated gaps in intelligence coordination and deepened the humanitarian crisis in the region.

The upper chamber, which observed a one-minute silence for victims of the attack, also urged the strengthening of joint security operations between Niger and Kwara States to dismantle cross-border terrorist networks.

Last Saturday, motorcycle-riding gunmen swept into three villages in a central region of Nigeria, shooting dead or cutting the throats of at least 46 people.

The violence again threw the spotlight on Nigeria’s efforts to contain security threats — efforts that have been strongly criticised by US President Donald Trump.

A security report seen by AFP said the attackers had used “41 motorcycles, each carrying two or three men”.

The three villages targeted by the gunmen are part of the Borgu in Niger State, on the border with Kwara State, where jihadists killed more than 160 people in an attack earlier this month.

The bloodiest attack happened in the village of Konkoso, where at least 38 people were shot dead or had their throats slit, the humanitarian source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Most of the homes in the village were burned down, and apart from those already counted as dead, “other bodies are being recovered,” the source said.

A resident of Konkoso told AFP the gunmen had first attacked the nearby village of Tungar Makeri before heading to his village.

A spokesman for the Niger State Police Command told AFP that six people had been killed in Tungan Makeri when the gunmen overran the village at around 6:00 am.

“Some houses were set on fire, and an as-yet undetermined number of people were abducted,” and officers were seeking information about the attacks on the other two villages, the police spokesman said.

The Konkoso resident said his nephew was among those killed in Konkoso.

“They burned a lot of houses and abducted four women,” he said.

“After Konkoso, they went to Pissa, where they set a police station on fire and killed one person.

“At the moment, many people are missing,” he said.

The border between Kwara and Niger states is home to the Kainji Forest, a known haven for bandits and jihadists.

Nigeria has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency in the northeast for over 16 years. (Channels)

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Akpabio mourns police escort killed by tanker

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has announced automatic employment for the two sons of his police rider, Deputy Superintendent of Police Hussani Ibrahim, who died in a motor accident on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on Sunday.

Akpabio made the announcement on Tuesday on the floor of the Senate while formally informing lawmakers of the officer’s death.

The late DSP Ibrahim, who served as the Senate President’s rider, according to a Premium Times report, was killed on Sunday when a petrol tanker rammed into Akpabio’s convoy.

The incident reportedly occurred in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, after the Senate President was picked up at the airport following his attendance at the chieftaincy conferment for Senator AbdulAzeez Yari and Seyi Tinubu in Oyo.

Speaking on the incident during plenary, Akpabio said, “We went to Oyo State for the installation of our colleague and the vehicles that came to pick me at the Ibadan airport… Unfortunately, my dispatch rider was run over by a tanker driver, and his head was shattered. We just buried him 15 minutes ago in Kogi State. He left two wives and four children.”

The Senate President appealed to heads of ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government to grant automatic employment to the children of the late rider.

He added that if no vacancies were available, he would personally ensure their employment.

“By the grace of God, I’m recommending two of his senior children for employment immediately in any parastatals that may wish to, otherwise I’ll employ them personally in any of my private concerns,” Akpabio added.

In a solemn address, Akpabio paid tribute to the deceased officer, describing him as a disciplined and dedicated professional whose life was defined by service.

Addressing the bereaved family, the Senate President said, “Your late father understood the value of work and service. He devoted himself to it. Unfortunately, instead of earning a laurel for the devotion, he earned death.

“But it is death that is not in vain. It is death that testifies to his legacy of service. May the Lord accept his soul.”

Akpabio also extended condolences to the family of the deceased, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Nigeria Police Force, describing Ibrahim as courageous and fearless.

“I commiserate with the family, the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force over the loss of this courageous, fearless, and daring officer.

“While I pray to God to accept his soul, may He in His infinite mercy grant the family and the Nigeria Police Force the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” he said.

The Senate President explained that the pledge of automatic employment for the late officer’s sons was a personal gesture aimed at honouring his sacrifice and years of dedicated service.

Shortly after the announcement, Kogi West senator, Sunday Karimi, raised a motion for personal explanation to formally present the incident to the Senate through a substantive motion.

While sympathising with the Senate President, Karimi said the late dispatch rider was due for retirement next year.

He added that Mr Hussaini, a native of Kogi State, had served in Akpabio’s convoy since 2023, when he assumed office as Senate President.

Also on Tuesday, the Senate paid tribute to Alhaji Ibrahim Tukur, who died recently.

Tukur was described as a committed and dedicated driver who served for 25 years under the senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Jibrin Echocho.

The Senate observed a minute’s silence in honour of both deceased individuals and offered prayers for the repose of their souls. (Punch)

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Natasha shares Christmas rice, others in five Kogi LGs

The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has distributed more than 2,000 bags of rice and other relief items to constituents across the five local government areas in the district as part of her Christmas outreach.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by her Special Adviser on Media, Mike Idoko.

The distribution, which was carried out simultaneously in Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okene, Okehi, and Ogori-Magongo Local Government Areas, aimed to cushion the impact of rising food prices and ensure that families celebrate the festive season with dignity.

Speaking during the outreach, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the initiative was driven by compassion and her conviction that leadership must translate into tangible benefits for the people.

“Christmas is a season of love, sacrifice, and shared joy. At a time when many households are struggling with the cost of living, it is important that we stand with our people in practical ways.

“This rice distribution is to ensure that families across Kogi Central can celebrate without hardship,” the senator said.

The distribution of the 25kg bags of rice cut across community groups, women’s associations, youth organisations, religious bodies, the elderly, and other vulnerable residents across the senatorial district.

Community leaders who supervised the exercise described the intervention as one of the largest Christmas rice distributions ever witnessed in the area.

“This is not symbolic support; it is real and far-reaching. The quantity and reach of this rice distribution show genuine concern for the grassroots,” a traditional leader in Okene noted.

The Christmas outreach adds to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s growing record of constituency interventions, including programmes in healthcare delivery, educational support, solar-powered infrastructure, water projects, as well as initiatives for women’s and youth empowerment across Kogi Central.

Addressing beneficiaries in Okehi, the senator reaffirmed her commitment to service-driven representation.

“My responsibility goes beyond the Senate chamber. Representation means being present, listening to the people, and responding with action that improves daily life,” she stated.

Beneficiaries expressed gratitude and offered prayers for the senator, describing the gesture as timely, compassionate, and reflective of people-centred leadership.

The development comes barely one week after Senate President Godswill Akpabio approached the Supreme Court over the legal battle arising from the suspension of the Kogi Central senator.

The move was confirmed in court documents dated December 1, 2025, made available to our correspondent on Sunday.

This followed a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which struck out the Federal Government’s brief of argument in the appeal linked to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.

The appellate court held that the brief was incompetent, having failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of the Court of Appeal Rules on formatting and procedure. (Punch)

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Attempted Coup: Senate approves troops deployment to Benin Republic

The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin in support of efforts to restore peace and stability following last weekend’s attempted coup.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced this on Tuesday during plenary after lawmakers considered the request in the Committee of the Whole in line with section 5, Part 11 of the Constitution.

The Senators unanimously voted in favour of the deployment, giving legislative backing for the regional security intervention.

Akpabio described the decision as a step in the right direction, noting that instability in any neighboring state poses a threat to the entire region.

“An injury to one is an injury to all,” the lawmaker said.

He underscored that it is Nigeria’s responsibility to support its Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) partner.

The Senate’s consent letter will be transmitted to President Tinubu immediately.

Tinubu had written to the Senate, seeking their approval for the deployment of troops to the Benin Republic. He said that Nigeria has a historical responsibility to support Benin under the existing Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) security frameworks.

According to the President, the crisis demands “urgent external intervention” to help restore stability and prevent further breakdown of order.

Benin Republic’s attempted coup occurred on Sunday, when some military personnel announced the removal of President Patrice Talon. (Channels)

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Tinubu sends list of three ambassadorial nominees to Senate for confirmation

President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of three non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

The nominees are Kayode Aare (Ogun State), Aminu Dalhatu (Jigawa State), and Ayodele Oke (Oyo State).

The letter was read during plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Akpabio has, therefore, directed the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to review the nominations and report back to the chamber within one week.

This is the first list of ambassadorial nominees sent to the Senate by Tinubu since he became the President on May 29, 2023.

There had been calls on the President to appoint ambassadors and high commissioners for foreign missions.

Concerns over the non-appointment of ambassors were reignited in the wake of the threat by

A former Nigerian External Affairs Minister, Bolaji Akinyemi, had argued that, despite internet access to information, diplomacy still required personal ambassadorial contact.

“I believe credible appointments should be made to the vacant ambassadorial posts. We need to fill them,” Akinyemi said during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today in September. (Channels)

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Tinubu swears in Amupitan as new INEC chair

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Amupitan took the oath of office at 1:50 pm at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Tinubu charged Amuputan to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s elections and electoral process, as well as strengthen the institutional capacity of INEC.

“As the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, your nomination to the important role and the subsequent confirmation by the Senate is a testament to your capacity and the confidence reposed in you by both the executive and the legislative arm of government.

“The significant achievement marked the beginning of a challenging yet rewarding journey, and I trust that you will approach your responsibilities with the highest level of integrity, dedication and patriotism.

“Our democracy has come a long way. In 25 years, we have consolidated and strengthened our democratic institutions, particularly our electoral system, through innovation and reforms. We have learned a great deal along the way and have improved significantly from where we were many years ago.

“We must now remain committed to the principles that underpin democracy in a complex, multifaceted society,” the President said.

“The electoral process is a vital part of a democracy, safeguarding the people’s exclusive right to choose their leaders and shape their future. To ensure that our democracy continues to flourish, the integrity of our electoral system must be beyond reproach. It is important that our elections are free, fair and credible.

“We must consistently improve our electoral process, addressing the challenges of yesterday and innovating for today and tomorrow. To maintain public trust in elections, electoral integrity must be protected. All aspects of the process, from registration to campaigning, immediate access, voting and counting should be transparent, non-violent and credible.

“No electoral system is flawless, but since elections are vital to a nation’s future, it is essential to continually strengthen electoral institutions, ensuring they are robust, resilient and safeguarded against official setbacks.

“I therefore charge you, Professor, as you take on this important assignment to protect the integrity of our elections and electoral process and strengthen the institutional capacity of INEC,” Tinubu added.

Amupitan arrived at the State House on Thursday morning, dressed in a white ‘agbada’ paired with a gold cap, exchanging greetings with onlookers ahead of the ceremony to formalise his assumption of office as the head of the nation’s electoral umpire.

Amupitan’s swearing in by the President comes a week after the Senate confirmed his appointment as INEC Chairman following a rigorous screening session on October 16. (Punch)

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Tinubu condoles with Abba Moro over son, grandson’s death

President Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences to the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, following the tragic deaths of his son, Victor Moro, and grandson, Abba Moro Jr.

In a Tuesday statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the President described the losses as heartbreaking and urged the family to find comfort in the short but meaningful lives of the departed.

Tinubu commiserated with the Senator’s family, friends, and associates, particularly those from the Benue South Senatorial District, which Moro represents in the National Assembly.

“The President urges the family to find solace in the impactful lives of the children, whose time on earth, though short, is truly a blessing to the many lives they touched and those who came in contact with them,” the statement read in part.

He prayed for divine strength and consolation for the bereaved family, asking God Almighty to “receive the souls of the departed children and comfort the family.”

Senator Moro, a former Minister of Interior, has represented Benue South since 2019 and currently leads the opposition caucus in the 10th Senate.

Moro’s son died in a car crash on the Mararaba axis of Nasarawa State soon after returning from studies abroad.

Multiple outlets said the accident happened a day after the family buried the senator’s grandson, Abba Moro Jr.

The grandson’s death reportedly occurred earlier and he was laid to rest shortly before the crash that killed Victor; however, the cause of the child’s death has not been publicly disclosed. (Punch)

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Senate confirms Amupitan as INEC chairman

The Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The Red Chamber confirmed Amupitan after a voice vote conducted by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and after undergoing screening and answering questions posed by the lawmakers.

Amupitan had earlier arrived at the National Assembly complex earlier, exchanged pleasantries with Senators.

He was accompanied to the chamber by the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, and other dignitaries.

At about 12:50 p.m., the nominee was ushered into the Senate chamber by the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Abubakar Lado, and was already seated ahead of the commencement of the exercise.

Amupitan was allowed into the hallowed chamber after the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), moved that Order 12 be set aside to allow visitors into the chamber, and he was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South).

Senate President Godswill Akpabio welcomed Amupitan, his family members, and well-wishers to the Red Chamber, commending them for their presence.

Before introducing himself to the Senators for the question and answer session to take off, Akpabio disclosed to his colleagues that the nominee had been cleared by the office of the National Security Adviser after vetting.

According to Akpabio, the office of the Department of State Services had also cleared him.

The Senate President also said that the Office of the Inspector-General of Police, having done a fingerprint search on him, cleared him and said that he had no criminal records with the police.

The screening exercise commenced at about 12:55 p.m. following Akpabio’s opening remarks, during which he outlined the procedures to be followed by the lawmakers in considering the nominee’s credentials.

The screening session focused on Amupitan’s vision for credible elections, his plans for institutional reforms within INEC, and measures to deepen the use of technology in Nigeria’s electoral process.

Following his confirmation by the Senate, Amupitan will oversee preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and lay the groundwork for the 2027 general elections.

PUNCH Online earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu had nominated Amupitan, a Professor of Law from the University of Jos, to succeed Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. (Punch)