Lawmakers to look into LG accounts, pending bills, says Udom

Governance experts and civil society organisations have renewed calls for reform of the National Assembly’s legislative calendar following yet another adjournment of plenary by the Senate and House of Representatives.
 
They argue that clear timelines should be enforced to prevent frequent, unplanned adjournments.
Both chambers, which were due to resume on September 23, shifted their resumption by two weeks, citing ongoing committee work and consultations.
 
Meanwhile, at resumption, lawmakers are expected to consider key national issues, including the long-debated matter of local government autonomy. In a memo signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, lawmakers were directed to reconvene on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
 
The memo stated: “I am directed by the presiding officers of both Chambers of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to inform all members of the National Assembly and the general public that the resumption date of the National Assembly, earlier scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, 2025, is postponed till Tuesday, October 7, 2025.
   
“However, committee activities continue. All distinguished senators and honourable members are requested to take note of the new date and adjust their schedules accordingly. Any inconvenience caused by this rescheduling is deeply regretted.”
 
But for many observers, this latest extension only reinforces concerns about the legislature’s lack of sustained deliberations. Tolu Adeniran, policy expert, said, “The public needs to see evidence of productivity during recessions. Otherwise, all Nigerians see are empty chambers and rising allowances, and that damages trust in democracy.”
 
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani of the Citizens Rights Network described the decision as yet another let down.
 
“Security crises, economic reforms and oversight on budget implementation cannot wait. Each time lawmakers push resumption forward, citizens pay the price for that lost time,” he said.

SPECIAL Assistant on Media to the Senate President, Jackson Udom, while outlining areas that would top the agenda as plenary resumes, stated that lawmakers would also focus on the 2026 Appropriation Bill, electoral reforms, Constitution Review, security and economic growth.
  
“Part of what is expected when plenary resumes is that lawmakers will give legislative backing to the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy. This will ensure both administrative and financial independence for councils across the country,” Udom added.
 
He also noted that the 2026 Appropriation Bill to be submitted by President Bola Tinubu before the end of the year would be a priority for the Senate.