Senate Calls Emergency Session Just Hours Before Nationwide Protest

Senate Calls Emergency Session Just Hours Before Nationwide Protest Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called an emergency session of the Senate for Wednesday to address “issues of national importance.” This urgent meeting is scheduled to take place at the red chamber on July 31, 2024, at 12 noon, just hours before a planned nationwide protest.

The Senate and House of Representatives had commenced their seven-week annual recess last Tuesday and were originally set to reconvene on September 17, 2024. However, Akpabio’s recent directive to convene an emergency plenary has disrupted this schedule.

The Senate President has emphasized that the session will focus on critical national matters. “Distinguished senators are requested to make all necessary arrangements to attend, as pressing issues will be discussed. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this interruption of the recess,” the notice read.

This emergency session comes on the heels of a nationwide protest planned by Nigerians to begin on August 1, 2024. The protest, branded as #EndBadGovernance, aims to address the widespread hunger and economic hardship exacerbated by President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Protesters are expected to demand accountability from both past and present leaders accused of mismanaging public funds.