Saddened and outraged by the continued killings across the country, the Nigerian Senate says it has had enough.
On Tuesday, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the Senate’s spokesperson, addressed the press with a heavy heart, condemning the latest massacre in Yelwata, Benue State, where over 100 people reportedly lost their lives.
His message was loud and clear: the Senate is no longer willing to be silent while Nigerians are killed.
“From Plateau to Benue to Zamfara, we keep burying our people. The Senate is heartbroken. We are angry. We are tired of writing condolence letters,” he said. “We are tired of mourning. The time has come to act.”
According to Adaramodu, a delegation of senators will be visiting Benue State on Wednesday to condole with affected families and see the situation for themselves.
“Tomorrow’s (today’s) visit to Benue will signal that the government is serious, both the legislature and the executive. This is not business as usual,” he stated.
He described the Yelwata incident as “very unfortunate” and said the Senate is determined to push for more proactive solutions.
One of those steps, he explained, is a National Security Summit in the works, one that would bring together not only military leaders but also traditional rulers, civil society groups, the media, youth, and women leaders.
“Security must become local again. The locals know the terrain, they know the threats. We are working with the executive to bring everyone to the table — not just the military, but the people themselves,” he said.
Responding to concerns about funding, Adaramodu stressed that the National Assembly had already approved the necessary financial support for security efforts and was not delaying the process.
“There is no confusion. There is no delay. The Senate and the House have signed, and the bills are now with the President,” he clarified.
There have also been questions about the Senate’s recent handling of emergency decisions, especially regarding security matters. Adaramodu said the process followed all rules.
“People keep questioning what they don’t understand. Emergency decisions like these are discussed in closed sessions. Once a consensus is reached, it is affirmed in plenary. That’s the rule,” he explained.
He further noted that at the time of electing presiding officers, Standing Orders had not yet been formally adopted, so a different process was used.
On the issue of Senate productivity, Adaramodu dismissed the notion that lawmakers spend most of their time on recess.
“We sit more than required. Our work is not limited to plenary. We work in committees, conduct investigations and provide oversight. Even during breaks, work continues,” he said.
Not all investigations, he added, end up in the news. “When we probe, it’s to drive change. For instance, a medicine probe we initiated prompted action even before the process was completed. If the outcome is achieved, we move on,” he noted.
He revealed that the Senate has uncovered financial irregularities from previous administrations, including hidden debts, which are now being addressed by the current government.
“Some offences happened under the last government. But the new administration is fixing them. That’s why we don’t need to dramatise it again,” he said.
Adaramodu also pointed to the recent restoration of a disputed five per cent allocation as a win for legislative intervention.
But beyond the facts and figures, it was the emotion behind Tuesday’s briefing that struck a chord.
“Our people can no longer sleep. Mothers are burying children. Entire communities are vanishing. This must not be normal. It will not be normal. The Senate will not watch it happen again,” he declared.
Veteran journalist and recipient of A.B.C Yola, Reporter of the Year Award (1997), Hassan Umar Shallpella, works with WAP as a Regional Correspondence. He was trained at Institute of Mass Communication and Technology Jos and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Training School Lagos.He was a News desk Editor and a Correspondent at the Punch newspaper and till 2019, was the Deputy Editor ofThe Scope newspaper.
Latest posts by Hassan Umar Shallpella (Regional Correspondent) (see all)
- FG holds special FEC session in Buhari’s honour - July 18, 2025
- JAMB Discovers 9,460 Illegal Admissions In 20 Tertiary Institutions - July 18, 2025
- NSCDC Trains 250 Personnel In Sign Language - July 18, 2025
previous
Court Grants Ex-CBN Governor Emefiele ₦2bn Bail
next