The National Assembly adjourned plenary for five weeks ahead of Eid Fitr and Easter celebrations
The House of Representatives and Senate on Thursday adjourned plenary for five weeks for Eid Fitr and Easter celebrations.
The House leader Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC Edo), who moved for the adjournment said the House will resume plenary session on April 29, 2025.
However, he noted the members will continue their oversight function at the committee level while plenary sessions are on hold.
Parliament Reports recalls that the 2025 budget in Nigeria was passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on February 13, 2025. President Bola Tinubu subsequently assented to the budget on February 28, 2025.
The total budget approved was ₦54.99 trillion, reflecting an increase from the initial proposal of ₦49.7 trillion due to additional revenues anticipated from various government agencies.
Significantly, in this period, the House on March 18, 2025, passed the tax reform bills after a third reading during a plenary session presided over by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen (APC Kaduna). The bills now await approval from the Senate before they can be sent to President Tinubu for his signature.
The tax reform bills were submitted to the National Assembly by President Tinubu in October 2024. These bills included the Nigeria Tax Bill, the Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill. The bills are expected to enhance Nigeria’s fiscal policies and improve revenue collection.
Also, the House of Representatives in this period, fast-tracked 117 constitutional amendment bills to second reading.
Speaking to journalists after the plenary, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu (APC Abia), expressed deep appreciation to journalists over their role in educating the public on the fundamentals of democracy.
Kalu reflected on his past role as a spokesperson, emphasising how essential it is for legislators to engage with the media.
He acknowledged the difficult task journalists face in making Nigerians understand the fulcrum of democracy, especially as the system is still evolving.
He said, “It is one of the most difficult jobs to do because Nigeria is not used to this arm of government,” he stated, recognising the press’s intentional efforts in educating the masses.
According to him, the media’s persistent push has led to greater public understanding of how democracy functions and its role in advancing the nation. “Your publications will not be forgotten,” Kalu said, praising journalists for their role in nation-building.
Speaking on Nigeria’s democratic journey, Kalu stated that while the nation is advancing, there is still much work to be done. “We are not static,” he said. “Once there is a movement, sometimes it will be fast, sometimes slow, but we are not static, and we keep moving until we get to our destination.”
ALSO READ: 2025 budget and the new regional development commissions
He also spoke on recent developments, including the establishment of development commissions across geopolitical zones, including the South South Development Commission (SSDC) and the South West Development Commission (SWDC), which recently received presidential assent.
Kalu praised President Tinubu for approving these commissions, especially in the south-east, where the said scars of war are still fresh. “Mr President did what no other president was bold enough to do,” he said, expressing gratitude on behalf of his people.
Speaking further on legislative matters, Kalu addressed the National Assembly’s role in the review of the constitution, emphasising the need for laws to evolve with society.
He urged the media to help the public understand that proposals are not laws and that misinformation should be avoided.
He also clarified the process of state creation and other parliamentary proposals, reassuring the public that such proposals are still under review and have not been enacted into law.
Kalu further expressed his gratitude to the media for their support and partnership, promising to always remain accessible.
