Nigeria’s Senate has delayed its return from recess by two weeks, pushing plenary sessions to Oct. 7 instead of Sept. 23, according to an internal memo seen on Tuesday.
The notice, signed by Chinedu Akubueze, Chief of Staff to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, extended the chamber’s annual break that began on July 24. No official reason was given for the shift, though parliamentary sources said lawmakers wanted to remain off duty during Independence Day celebrations on Oct. 1.
“This is to respectfully inform Distinguished Senators that the resumption of plenary sitting of the Senate, earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 23rd September, 2025, has been shifted to Tuesday, 7th October, 2025,” Akubueze wrote, apologising for the short notice.
The extension has drawn scrutiny within the National Assembly, where critics say it will delay debates on pending motions, oversight inquiries into government spending and consideration of executive appointments.
Akpabio had defended the earlier July adjournment as “chamber reciprocity” to align with the House of Representatives calendar.
The latest adjustment means the 10th Senate will not resume legislative business until more than 10 weeks after it last sat.