The Senate on Wednesday approved the appointment of seven of the nominees of President Bola Tinubu as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The remaining three nominees were not present for screening. The nominees approved are Mr Etekamba Umoren (Akwa Ibom State), Mr Isha Ehimeakne (Edo State), Barrister Oluwatoyin Babalola (Ekiti State), Mr Abubakar Ahmed …

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Zack Adedeji as the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). Adedeji was confirmed following a majority decision by senators after he was screened during the plenary session on Tuesday. While being screening, Adedeji promised to improve the data mining capacity of the agency to make appropriate tax decisions. He attributed revenue …

The Senate says it will invite the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over the lack of funds to explore and develop new frontier acreages. The Senate through its Chairman, Committee on Gas, Jarigbe Jarigbe, made this known on Friday while briefing journalists after a closed-door session with the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), …

The Senate on Thursday urged President Bola Tinubu to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Committee for the Development of a Comprehensive Plan of Action against Flooding. The committee had recommended the establishment of a National Flood Management Council in Nigeria. The agency is expected to serve as a central body responsible for coordinating flood management activities nationwide. The Senate …

The Senate has justified the purchase of 360 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for its members. The upper legislative chamber was, however, silent on the cost of each vehicle but explained that members preferred the imported SUVs to locally manufactured ones. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to stop the lawmakers from …

The 10th session of the Senate said it is considering the consolidation of revenue collection into a single agency through a legislative action to curb duplication, tackle corruption and ensure seamless transactions by taxpayers. This was contained in a communiqué on Sunday at the end of the three-day retreat organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) …

Ahead of the 2027 elections, the Senate is set to amend the Electoral Act to allow for diaspora voting, at least for presidential elections, to enable citizens, especially those on essential service abroad, to vote. The Senate in a communiqué issued at the end of its retreat in Ikot Ikpene, Akwa-Ibom State, also resolved to make electronic transmission of results mandatory …

Senator Lola Ashiru, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Kwara South senatorial district, on Wednesday replaced the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi as Deputy Leader of the Senate. Until his appointment as minister, former Ebonyi State Governor, Umahi represented Ebonyi South in the red chamber from June to August, this year. Ashiru was the Deputy Whip …

The Senate has called on the executive arm of government to declare a state of emergency on drug abuse. The Red Chamber said drug abuse has become worrisome and urged the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu-led government to declare a state of emergency on narcotics. This followed a motion on the urgent need to address the menace of drug abuse sponsored …

The Senate has ordered a comprehensive probe into the activities of security forces and organised groups employing sophisticated techniques to steal crude oil in the country. This decision was prompted by a motion put forth during Tuesday’s plenary session by Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP, Delta North), who reeled out data on what Nigeria loses to pipeline vandalism and oil bunkering. …