The Senate will begin a busy legislative quarter after an eight-week annual vacation tomorrow.
Top of the agenda are the 2026 budget, constitution amendment and the Electoral Act.
Among such legislation is the ongoing alteration process of the 1999 Constitution.
The House of Representatives, last week, held its National Public Hearing on about 86 constitutional amendment bills.
The Senate is expected to conduct a similar process ahead of the presentation of the report of its Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review for consideration and passage.
All bills passed by both chambers after due voting would be sent to the state Houses of Assembly for further consideration and passage.
Two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly must concur with the National Assembly before any bill can stand.
Thereafter, all the bills passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives would be compiled by the National Assembly and transmitted to the President for assent.
Also, another critical legislation is the 2022 Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Both chambers have promised to prioritise the passage of some of the amendments being sought ahead of the 2027 general election.
While receiving the Head of European Union Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the 2023 general election, Mr Barry Andrews, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said the House would fast-track the passage of the amendments upon resumption.
‘Senate to avoid Akpoti-Uduaghan’s distraction’
The suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s office was unsealed on September 23 by the Sergeant-At-Arms.
She was accompanied to her office by a crowd of supporters.
Sources said the Senate has resolved to put the issue behind it and allow the matter to end.
According to a source, the Senate has decided to leave the issue and allow Akpoti-Uduaghan to return in order not to stir further controversy that may distract it from focusing on crucial tasks before it.
