The 10th Senate of Nigeria marked its first anniversary on June 13, 2024. During its first year, various significant events and decisions have shaped the course of its legislative work. From leadership elections to the screening of ministers, to controversies surrounding the national budget and the reintroduction of the National Anthem, the Senate has seen both progress and challenges. Here’s a detailed look at the events that have defined this period.
The Build-up to the 10th Senate and Its Inauguration
As with previous Senates from the 4th to the 9th (from 1999 to 2023), the election of Senate leadership was a significant event in the run-up to the inauguration of the 10th Senate. The inauguration took place on June 13, 2023, where two key figures, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio (APC, Akwa Ibom NorthWest) and Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), emerged as President and Deputy President of the Senate, respectively.
The election of these leaders was closely contested, especially that of Akpabio, who won with 63 votes to 46 against his challenger, Senator Abdulaziz Yari (APC, Zamfara West). On the other hand, the position of Deputy President was uncontested as no other nominations were received.
In his inaugural speech, Akpabio declared that his leadership would be “servant leadership” focused on the well-being of Nigerians. He emphasized the Senate’s role in shaping laws, providing oversight of the executive, and addressing the challenges facing Nigeria, both domestically and globally. Akpabio’s speech reflected a commitment to ensuring the Senate would be responsive to the needs of the people and work towards a prosperous and inclusive nation.
Election of Principal Officers
On July 4, 2023, the Senate formally appointed its principal officers. These appointments followed recommendations from both the majority and minority caucuses of the Senate. The All Progressives Congress (APC) forwarded the names of Senators Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) as Leader, Dave Umahi (Ebonyi South) as Deputy Leader, Ali Ndume (Borno South) as Chief Whip, and Oyelola Ashiru (Kwara South) as Deputy Whip.
From the minority caucus, the Senate confirmed Senator Simon Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau North) as Minority Leader, Senator Oyewumi Olalere (PDP, Osun West) as Deputy Minority Leader, Darlington Nwakocha (LP, Anambra Central) as Minority Whip, and Rufai Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central) as Deputy Minority Whip.
Ministerial Screening and Confirmation
One of the significant tasks of the Senate in its first year was the screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu. The Senate undertook this task diligently, even holding sessions on weekends to ensure a swift confirmation process. Out of the 48 nominees presented, 45 were confirmed, while three nominees—Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Stella Okotete (Delta), and Abubakar Danladi (Taraba)—were rejected.
The rejections of these nominees led to further nominations by President Tinubu, which the Senate reviewed and confirmed in October 2023, including two new appointments for the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. Alongside these ministerial nominations, the Senate also confirmed other key presidential appointments, such as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Olayemi Cardoso.
Committee Appointments and Changes in Leadership
In the months following the Senate’s inauguration, the composition of its standing committees became another important aspect of its legislative work. On August 7, 2023, Senate President Akpabio announced the chairmanship of 74 standing committees, a significant increase from the previous number of 63.
However, changes in the Senate leadership occurred after the resolution of electoral disputes. By November 2023, the conclusion of these disputes saw adjustments in the leadership of the Senate, including the replacement of Senator Dave Umahi (Ebonyi South) as Deputy Leader with Senator Lola Ashiru (APC, Kwara South) after Umahi accepted a ministerial position. Additionally, Senator Onyeakachi Nwaebonyi (APC, Ebonyi North) replaced him as the new Deputy Majority Whip.
In the opposition ranks, Senator Simon Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau North) was replaced as Minority Leader by Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), while Senator Darlington Nwakocha (LP, Abia Central) was replaced by Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West).
The 2024 Appropriation Bill and Budget Padding Allegations
Another key moment in the 10th Senate’s first year was its consideration of the 2024 Appropriation Bill, which President Bola Tinubu presented to the National Assembly on November 29, 2023. The proposed budget initially stood at N25 trillion, but after thorough review, the Senate and House of Representatives increased the figure to N28.7 trillion. This increase led to public accusations of “budget padding,” a practice where extra, often untraceable, projects are added to inflate the budget.
The allegations of budget padding gained traction in early 2024, particularly after Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) alleged in an interview that certain projects, worth the additional N3.7 trillion added to the budget, could not be traced.
On March 12, 2024, the Senate responded to the allegations, suspending Senator Ningi for three months due to lack of evidence to support his claims. Ningi’s suspension was a subject of controversy, but after 75 days, he was reinstated following a plea from the minority caucus.
Reintroduction of the National Anthem
In an unexpected move, one of the most controversial actions taken by the Senate in its first year was the reintroduction of the old National Anthem. On May 23, 2024, a bill to replace the current anthem with the old version was swiftly passed through both chambers of the National Assembly.
The legislation progressed so quickly that it raised suspicions that it had been pushed through in response to the interests of the executive. The bill was debated, passed, and sent to President Tinubu for assent within just a few days. The President signed the bill into law on May 28, 2024, and the new anthem was officially adopted at a joint session on May 29, 2024. This marked the return of the anthem that had been discarded by the military regime of Olusegun Obasanjo 46 years earlier.
The first year of the 10th Senate has been marked by significant events, with both progress and challenges. Under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate has worked closely with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, leading to perceptions of it being a “rubber stamp” legislature, particularly after the swift approval of various executive proposals, including the reintroduction of the National Anthem.
Despite criticisms, the Senate has also demonstrated its power in various areas, including ministerial screening, committee appointments, and the consideration of the national budget. Moving forward, the 10th Senate has three more years to refine its approach to governance. Whether it will continue to work in close collaboration with the executive or shift toward more constructive engagement for good governance remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain—the decisions made during its first year will continue to shape its legacy in the years to come.
