Senate

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Senate confirmed retired General Christopher Musa as Nigeria’s Minister of Defence on Wednesday. This appointment places the former Chief of Defence Staff at the head of the nation’s defence apparatus barely 40 days after his military retirement.

The confirmation followed a rigorous screening session where senators questioned the nominee on various security challenges facing the country.

The approval was ultimately secured through a voice vote.General Musa’s nomination moved swiftly through the executive and legislative branches.

President Bola Tinubu nominated him on Tuesday, with his name transmitted to the Senate for confirmation the same day.

By Uzair Adam

The Senate has mandated its joint committee on security to investigate the sudden withdrawal of military personnel from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, shortly before bandits attacked the school.

The committee is expected to report its findings within two weeks.

The upper chamber also tasked the joint committee to probe the circumstances surrounding the killing of Brig.-Gen. Musa Uba.

In addition, the Senate resolved to dissolve its standing committees on National Security and Intelligence, as well as the Air Force, with a view to reconstituting them.

The Senate leadership is also set to meet with President Bola Tinubu to brief him on the critical resolutions and views of the upper chamber.

These decisions followed a motion by Senate Deputy Leader Lola Ashiru titled, “Urgent Need to Address Escalating Insecurity in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger, Call for Immediate and Comprehensive Federal Intervention,” during Wednesday’s plenary.

Other resolutions included commending President Tinubu and security agencies for their rapid interventions and rescue of some kidnapped victims.

The Senate urged sustained coordinated operations until all abducted persons nationwide are rescued and perpetrators apprehended.

It also advised the federal government to strengthen local vigilance groups for swift responses to similar attacks and recommended a review of Nigeria’s firearm law to reflect current security challenges, similar to more than 175 countries where responsible citizens are permitted to own guns.

The Senate further resolved to pursue diplomatic engagement with the United States and other allied nations’ parliaments to strengthen intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism training to address Nigeria’s security challenges.

Members observed a one-minute silence in memory of the victims of recent attacks.In his contribution, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau highlighted the rise in insecurity across the country, linking it to international perceptions and the increased activities of terrorists.

“These heinous crimes show that those involved do not love our country. They move in convoys to commit atrocities. We should deploy technology to counter this menace,” he said.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele noted that many kidnapped persons from Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger have regained their freedom, emphasizing that government did not pay ransom but achieved successful rescues, a positive development amid ongoing security challenges.

By Aminu Babayo Shehu

The recent move by Senator Shehu Buba Umar, representing Bauchi South, to convert Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, from a University of Technology to a conventional university has stirred deep concern among stakeholders, alumni, and advocates of science and technology education. The bill, which has already passed second reading in the Senate, risks undoing decades of progress that ATBU has made in advancing technology-driven learning and innovation in Nigeria.

In an era when nations are competing through science, technology, and innovation, Nigeria cannot afford to take a step backwards. Around the world, technology is driving development, job creation, and national competitiveness. From Artificial Intelligence to Robotics, Biotechnology, and Cybersecurity, the future of work and industry is being reshaped by technology. It is therefore troubling that, instead of strengthening one of Nigeria’s most respected technology-based universities, the discussion is now about diluting its identity.

ATBU has earned its reputation as one of the country’s leading technological institutions. For decades, it has produced graduates who are not only competent but highly sought after in both the public and private sectors. Alumni of the university are excelling in software engineering, telecommunications, construction, fintech, and data science. Many are leading teams, building products, and contributing to the growth of major organisations across Nigeria and abroad.

In recent years, the university has made even more progressive strides. The Faculty of Computing, for instance, has expanded its curriculum beyond traditional Computer Science to include new, globally relevant courses such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Engineering, and Cyber Security. These additions are clear evidence that ATBU is aligning itself with international trends and preparing students for the realities of the modern digital economy.

Instead of seeking to convert ATBU into a conventional university, the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders should focus on strengthening its technological capacity and research base. There are better, more visionary ways to make the institution self-sustaining and impactful. Establishing Artificial Intelligence research laboratories, cybersecurity and digital forensics hubs, robotics and automation labs, and technology incubation centres would attract both local and international partnerships. Such facilities could become national assets for innovation, startups, and industrial research.

Globally, top universities have achieved great success by maintaining and deepening their technological focus. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States, Tsinghua University in China, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) are shining examples of institutions that have transformed their nations through technology-driven education and research. Nigeria should be learning from these models, not abandoning its own.

Turning ATBU into a conventional university would water down its focus and weaken the very foundation on which it was established. What Nigeria needs today are more institutions that specialise in applied sciences, engineering, and emerging technologies; not fewer.

This proposal, though perhaps well-intentioned, is ill-timed and misdirected. The challenges of the 21st century demand more innovation, not less. The future will belong to nations that invest in science, technology, and knowledge creation.

ATBU should remain what it was meant to be: a University of Technology dedicated to building Nigeria’s next generation of innovators, engineers, and researchers. To do otherwise would not just be a loss for Bauchi or Northern Nigeria, but for the entire country.

Aminu Babayo Shehu is a Software Engineer and alumnus of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. He writes from Kano via absheikhone@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam 

The Senate has confirmed Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The confirmation followed a three-hour screening session at the Senate Chamber on Thursday, during which lawmakers grilled the nominee of President Bola Tinubu on several issues regarding electoral integrity and independence.

After the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put the confirmation to a voice vote, and the “ayes” carried the day without any objection. Akpabio, thereafter, urged Amupitan to ensure that votes count under his leadership.

During the screening, Amupitan dismissed claims that he served as Legal Counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal or at the Supreme Court. 

He noted that the law reports of those proceedings were publicly available for anyone to verify.

The new INEC Chairman pledged to ensure credible elections where losers would freely congratulate winners, stressing that such outcomes would strengthen democracy and national development. 

He also vowed to prioritise logistics, safeguard election materials through technological innovations, and intensify voter education.

Amupitan entered the chamber at 12:50 p.m. after a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) was seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) to suspend Order 12 and admit him into the chamber.

Before the questioning session began, Akpabio informed his colleagues that Amupitan had been cleared by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police, confirming he had no criminal record.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier written to the Senate seeking Amupitan’s screening and confirmation as INEC Chairman in accordance with Section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

In his letter, Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite action on the confirmation process, attaching Amupitan’s curriculum vitae for consideration.

Akpabio subsequently referred the President’s request to the Committee of the Whole, which concluded the legislative process with the confirmation on Thursday.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

A coalition of over 1,000 lawyers has raised objections to President Bola Tinubu’s nomination of Professor Joash Amupitan as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to Vanguard newspaper, the lawyers conveyed their position in a letter dated October 10, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong.

The letter was signed by the group’s secretary, Jesse Williams Amuga.

The lawyers argued that Professor Amupitan is unfit for the position, alleging that he previously served as legal counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2023 presidential election petition at the Supreme Court.

They contended that such political involvement disqualifies him from heading an institution expected to remain neutral and independent.

“The Senate must not confirm Professor Amupitan. Instead, it should inform the President that his nominee fails to meet the constitutional requirements for impartiality,” the letter stated.

Citing a precedent, the group reminded the Senate of its 2021 decision to reject the nomination of Lauretta Onochie for the same position due to her ties with the APC.

“The Amupitan case mirrors that of Onochie,” Amuga emphasized.

Amuga, who represents the Association of Legal Defenders for Rule and Accountability in Politics (ALDRAP), noted that Nigeria has over 200,000 lawyers—more than half of whom have no political affiliations—arguing that the President could have selected any of them to avoid controversy.

The group also warned that it would challenge the nomination in court if the Senate proceeds with confirmation.

“If the Senate confirms Professor Joash Amupitan, our organization will take legal action to enforce the constitutional principle of non-partisanship in the appointment of the INEC Chairman,” Amuga declared.

However, further findings have shown that Professor Amupitan is not affiliated with the APC and was not among the lawyers who represented President Tinubu in the 2023 election case.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) has taken a firm stand against President Bola Tinubu’s $21 billion foreign loan request, refusing to endorse the deal despite its approval by the Senate.

The outspoken lawmaker, a known advocate for fiscal responsibility, criticized the lack of transparency in the loan agreement, demanding full disclosure of repayment terms and project allocations before any further borrowing.

“How can we approve such a massive loan without clear terms? This is fiscal recklessness,” Ningi declared during a press briefing.

“Nigerians deserve to know exactly how these funds will be used and how we intend to repay them.”

The rejection comes amid rising concerns over Nigeria’s ballooning debt profile, which has surpassed N121 trillion. Analysts warn that unchecked borrowing could plunge the nation deeper into economic instability.

The Presidency has yet to respond, but sources indicate Tinubu may seek alternative approval routes if Senate support wavers.

Opposition figures and civil society groups have rallied behind Ningi’s demand for accountability.

By Uzair Adam 

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed two interlocutory motions filed by Senate President Godswill Akpabio in the case challenging Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s six-month suspension. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan represents Kogi Central.

A three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Hamman Barka, unanimously struck out the motions after Akpabio’s legal team withdrew them. The court also awarded N100,000 in costs against the Appellant.

The ruling, delivered on May 21 and made available to reporters on Wednesday, involved motions dated March 3 and March 25, 2025, identified as CV/395/M1/2025 and CV/395/M2/2025.

Akpabio was listed as the Appellant in the appeal, while the Respondents included Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuem, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions.

Akpabio’s lawyers had sought the appellate court’s permission to extend the time to appeal a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, delivered on March 10, 2025, in a suit involving Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan and others. 

They also asked for leave to file a notice of appeal against the ruling, citing mixed law and fact grounds.

Ultimately, the appellate court struck out both motions, upholding the objections raised and awarding costs against Akpabio.

By Uzair Adam

The Senate has begun legislative proceedings on a petition alleging the inclusion of non-indigenes as Bauchi indigenes in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) basic military training recruitment.

During Tuesday’s plenary, Senator Abdul Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central, presented a petition written by Governor Bala Mohammed, expressing concern over what he described as a deliberate misrepresentation in the recruitment process.

“This is to bring to the attention of the Senate a matter of grave concern on the inclusion of non-indigenes as indigenes of Bauchi State in the Nigerian Air Force basic military training course,” Mohammed stated in the petition.

He added, “It is imperative, Mr. President, to note that the interests of Bauchi State have been so shortchanged, so marginalised.”

After the petition was read, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred it to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions, as well as the Committee on Air Force, for a thorough investigation.

“The petition will be argued at the committee’s level,” Akpabio said, directing the committees to report back to the Senate within seven days.

By Uzair Adam

In response to the escalating security challenges across the country, the Nigerian Senate has resolved to convene a two-day National Security Summit in Abuja, bringing together key stakeholders from all levels of government and traditional institutions to chart a path toward improved national safety.

The summit, according to the Senate, will serve as a platform for generating actionable recommendations aimed at reforming Nigeria’s security architecture.

It is expected to influence policy direction, with the Senate urging the Federal Government to consider and implement proposals emerging from the discussions.

The decision to organize the summit followed a motion titled “Urgent Need for a National Security Summit,” presented during plenary by Senator Ibrahim Jimoh, who represents Ondo South and chairs the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs.

The motion was co-sponsored by Senators Zam Titus (Benue North-West), Peter Onyeka Nwebonyl (Ebonyi North), and Ngwu Osita (Enugu West).

While presenting the motion, Senator Jimoh linked the country’s worsening security issues to global instability, referencing the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, strained North-South relations, and economic tensions like the U.S. tariff war.

He noted how these global developments have intensified food insecurity and disrupted efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Jimoh also expressed deep concern about the persistent violence within Nigeria, highlighting the spread of banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping across both urban and rural areas.

He urged a strategic shift in Nigeria’s approach to combating insecurity, calling for enhanced intelligence gathering, increased military funding, and non-military solutions.

Citing historical political unrest in Nigeria, including the 1953 Kano riots and electoral crises of the 1980s, Jimoh stressed the importance of proactive measures as the country approaches another election cycle.

He reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to national peace and encouraged alignment with the administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”

The Senate emphasized that the upcoming summit would not be the first of its kind. Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan had also convened a similar initiative during the 9th Assembly, which laid groundwork for national security dialogue.

Lawan had pointed to the Senate’s role in guiding conversations toward sustainable solutions.

The new summit is anticipated to build on previous efforts and deliver comprehensive, practical strategies to restore peace and security across Nigeria.

By Uzair Adam 

Suspended senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP, Kogi Central) has alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio made inappropriate comments about her, including remarks about her waist.  

In an interview with the BBC, she claimed Akpabio would “squeeze my hands in a very suggestive way,” adding, “We women, we know what it means when a man squeezes our hands in a suggestive way.”  

Akpoti recounted an incident where she forgot to wear her ring and was confronted by Akpabio in the presence of other senators.  

“There was a time I forgot to wear my ring because I rushed to work, and there were about five senators there. 

“Akpabio said, ‘Oh Natasha, you are not wearing your ring… is this an invitation to treat?’” she said.  

She further alleged that Akpabio made another remark about her body, saying, “Natasha, your husband is really enjoying. It looks like you’d be able to make good movements with your waist.”  

According to Akpoti, other senators laughed at the comments, highlighting how such issues are often overlooked in Nigeria.  

“I just want a place where I would just work. I thought the worst was over, but I guess for a woman, it’s never really over, right?” she said.  

Akpoti was suspended by the Senate on March 6 for “gross misconduct and unruly behavior” following a confrontation with Akpabio over seating arrangements. 

The suspension came just a day after she submitted a petition accusing the Senate President of sexual harassment.  

However, the Senate has insisted that her suspension was unrelated to the petition.