#EndBadGovernance protests possibly on agenda as National Assembly holds emergency plenary on Wednesday

The National Assembly will hold an emergency plenary session on Wednesday to deliberate on issues of national importance.

The spokesman for the House of Representatives, Hon. Rotimi Akin, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

He said the session would focus on critical matters requiring immediate legislative attention.

Although the statement was silent on the issues to be deliberated by the lawmakers, there are insinuations that the session was convened as a last-minute effort to stave off the planned nationwide protests over hunger and other economic problems slated to hold on August 1.

The statement read: “The House of Representatives wishes to announce that, pursuant to the directive of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD., a plenary session has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 31, 2024.

“Honourable members have been duly summoned from their respective constituencies to attend this crucial session. This directive was communicated through an internal memorandum issued by the Clerk of the House, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, Esq., on Sunday.

“The House had commenced its annual recess on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. The Annual Recess provides Honourable Members with the opportunity to engage extensively with their constituencies, ensuring that the legislative process remains attuned to public input.

READ ALSO:National Assembly extends recess by one week, to resume January 30

“This period also allows for in-depth engagements at the grassroots, facilitating a deeper understanding of the constituents’ needs and priorities.”

“The forthcoming session will focus on critical matters requiring immediate legislative attention. Honourable Members are expected to make the necessary arrangements to ensure their presence.”

In a similar move, the Senate has also fixed an emergency plenary for the same day.

The Clerk of the Senate, Francis Akubueze, in a memo said matters of critical national importance would be discussed at the session.

The memo read: “The President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, has directed that an emergency plenary sitting of the Senate be convened.

“Distinguished Senators are requested to make all necessary arrangements to attend as issues of national importance will be discussed.

“We regret all the inconveniences this interruption of the recess will cause. Thanks for your usual understanding.”

Last Tuesday, both chambers of the National Assembly had adjourned plenary till September 17 as members headed for their annual recess, which was to last seven weeks.

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