The leadership of the Nigerian Senate has called for an emergency session to discuss 11 critical issues surrounding the planned nationwide protest set to begin on August 1, 2024.
This was announced through a short notice issued to all lawmakers on Monday morning, mandating that the 109 senators meet on Wednesday.
The notice reads: “An internal memorandum from the Senate Clerk has been issued regarding the matter: Dear Distinguished Senators, the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, has directed that an emergency plenary sitting of the Senate be convened as follows:
“Distinguished Senators are requested to make all necessary arrangements to attend as issues of national importance will be discussed. We regret all inconveniences that this interruption of the recess will cause,” the notice added.
The Nigerian National Assembly, comprising the Senate and House of Representatives, has cut short its annual recess to address the imminent protest.
Initially scheduled to reconvene on September 17, the lawmakers have returned to session to tackle these pressing issues.
Before embarking on their recess, the Senate made notable progress, including enacting the minimum wage law, approving a N6.2 trillion increase to the 2024 budget as requested by President Bola Tinubu, and passing amendments to the 2023 Finance Act, among other significant legislative actions.