Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called for an emergency meeting of the Senate, scheduled for Wednesday, July 31, 2024, just one day before the commencement of the planned nationwide protests against hunger and hardship.
A circular signed by the Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze, on Monday, indicated that the meeting was of “national importance.”
The circular, however, did not provide further details on the agenda for the emergency session.
The memo addressed to the Senators stated: “Dear Distinguished Senators, the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, has directed that an emergency plenary sitting of the Senate be convened as follows: Date: WEDNESDAY, JULY 31st, 2024; TIME: 12 NOON.
“Distinguished Senators are requested to make all necessary arrangements to attend as issues of national importance will be discussed. We regret all inconveniences that this interruption of the recess will cause. Thanks for your usual understanding.”
The call for an emergency meeting comes amid heightened tensions and preparations for the protests, which have gained significant traction on social media under the hashtag ‘#EndBadGovernance.’ These protests are set to occur from August 1 to 10, 2024.
The National Assembly had only recently commenced a seven-week recess, with plans to reconvene on September 17, 2024. The recess, announced after the plenary last Wednesday, was intended to be a yearly break for both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
As the nation braces for potential unrest, the Senate’s emergency meeting underscores the urgency and gravity of the situation, with the federal government seeking to address issues of national importance ahead of the planned demonstrations.