KEY POINTS
- Conflicting notices deepened confusion over plenary resumption.
- The Chief of Staff unusually signed the Senate notice.
- Nigeria national assembly committees will proceed despite plenary suspension.
Confusion surrounded the resumption of Nigeria’s National Assembly after a series of conflicting statements announced the postponement of plenary sessions, with different officials issuing notices within hours of each other.
The Clerk to the Nigeria National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, late Tuesday confirmed that lawmakers would reconvene on October 7 instead of September 23. His announcement came after two earlier notices from subordinates had already shifted the date, fueling speculation over communication lapses within the legislature.
Multiple officials issue conflicting notices
Earlier in the day, the Senate’s Chief of Staff, Chinedu Akubueze, and the House Clerk, Yahaya Danzaria, told lawmakers they would delay plenary for two weeks.
Questions over unusual communication process
Akubueze’s decision to sign the Senate notice instead of the Senate Clerk raised eyebrows, especially since the Senate had appointed Emmanuel Odo as Acting Clerk only days earlier.
Nigeria national assambly committees continue despite plenary delay
While plenary sessions are postponed, Ogunlana emphasized that committees will proceed with their activities as scheduled. Lawmakers had initially planned to resume Tuesday after their annual holiday.
