The National Assembly Members, on Thursday, adjourned plenary until September 23, 2025, for its annual recess, effectively ensuring that embattled Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan will serve out the remainder of her six-month suspension without returning to the chamber.
The adjournment came just two days after the suspended senator from Kogi Central was barred from resuming legislative duties, despite a court ruling declaring her suspension unconstitutional.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, who was suspended on March 6, 2025, following a heated exchange during plenary over her refusal to change seats, had expected to resume after the expiration of her six-month suspension period on September 6.
However, with the Senate now on recess until September 23, she will not have the opportunity to rejoin plenary before that date, despite insisting on Tuesday that her suspension was both “fraudulent” and “contemptuous.”
Akpoti-Uduaghan told journalists, “Even the suspension ab initio was fraudulent; the document was faulty.
“I will have a meeting with my legal team so they can proceed to the appellate court to seek an interpretation of what just happened. I am a law-abiding citizen.”
She also accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of acting unilaterally, alleging he overstepped his authority in enforcing the suspension.
Announcing the recess, Akpabio said the adjournment aligns with the National Assembly legislative calendar, adding that the House of Representatives had already proceeded on its own break.
“We have started a new calendar that will take us to next year, June. And so it has fallen within this period for us to go on for a break to enable us to undertake major oversights,” he stated on the Senate floor.
While plenary sessions will be paused, the Senate President directed all standing committees to continue with their assignments, urging them to file reports promptly upon resumption.
Akpabio used the opportunity to mandate lawmakers to carry out oversight functions during the break.
“You are moving from plenary for the next few weeks, but you are not stopping your legislative functions. Members are expected to travel to Sokoto, everywhere, to observe the road repairs that are going on.
“By the time we resume, you are expected to bring your reports, committee by committee, for us to look into,” he said.
He highlighted the Diaspora Committee, Interior Committee, and Reparation Committee, among others, urging them to undertake visits to prisons and other field assignments during the break.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele lauded his colleagues for their contributions so far this legislative year.
“We thank all our colleagues for all they have done to ensure that the business of lawmaking on behalf of the government and people of Nigeria has progressed smoothly,” Bamidele said, before moving a motion to defer all outstanding matters to the next legislative day.
The motion was unanimously adopted by the chamber.
In a sombre tone, Akpabio announced the death of Professor Janet Plang, wife of Senator Diket Plang, and informed senators that arrangements had been made to attend her funeral in Plateau State.
He said arrangements had been made for senators to travel to Plateau State on Friday to attend the funeral, with a plane scheduled to depart from Abuja at 8:00 a.m.
