On Wednesday, the Senate dismissed efforts to prevent the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) from tracking federal constituency projects.
Additionally, senators raised serious concerns regarding the recent surge in Boko Haram attacks within Borno State.
This decision followed a contentious debate during the plenary session, sparked by a proposal from Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, aimed at prohibiting the anti-corruption agency from overseeing projects executed by contractors nationwide. Several senators opposed Kalu's motion, arguing that ICPC is fulfilling its statutory role.
Kalu claimed that the agency was overstepping its bounds and infringing upon the authority of the National Assembly's relevant committees.
In response, Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele strongly countered Kalu's arguments. He clarified that the commission possesses the legal authority to monitor projects for the sake of transparency and accountability.
Bamidele pointed out that many lawmakers, himself included, had seen their constituency projects monitored by the ICPC without any issues.
"Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, the ICPC is mandated to track projects. Even as the Senate Leader, my constituency projects are under surveillance by the agency.
"Numerous colleagues here are aware that their initiatives are likewise being monitored. There is no cause for concern as these projects are intended for the benefit of our constituents," he remarked.
Bamidele asserted that efforts to inhibit the commission's essential duties would compromise transparency in public fund management.
Furthermore, he raised procedural objections to Kalu's motion, claiming it was flawed as it lacked proper seconding and did not comply with the prescribed rules governing motions under Orders 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders.
He stated that due to the absence of a seconder and prior consent from the chamber before the motion's introduction, it could not be debated.
"Given that proper seconding was not executed and necessary consent was not obtained before its presentation, the motion is invalid," he said, suggesting that any valid concerns over ICPC’s tracking should be addressed administratively.
Deputy Senate President Barau, who initially oversaw the plenary before Senate President Akpabio's arrival, supported this stance, emphasizing that ICPC’s monitoring role ensures contractors execute projects funded with public resources effectively.
Ultimately, the Senate President ruled that the issue at hand should be dealt with administratively rather than through debate, effectively ending the move to halt ICPC's project oversight.
In a related matter, the upper chamber conveyed deep concerns regarding a renewed wave of attacks by insurgents targeting military installations and communities in Borno State.
The Senate observed a minute of silence in tribute to soldiers who lost their lives following a recent assault by suspected insurgents on a Nigerian Army base in the Kukawa Local Government Area of the state.
Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Monguno, moved the motion highlighting the attack, which occurred during the early hours of March 9, 2026, when insurgents launched a coordinated strike on the military base, leading to a fierce gunfight that lasted approximately 24 hours.
The lawmakers mourned the loss of Lieutenant-Colonel Umar Farouk, noted for his significant role in restoring civil authority in Kukawa after Boko Haram previously overran the town.
According to Monguno, the insurgents approached the military facility from multiple angles, engaging troops in intense confrontations, which resulted in casualties and the destruction of some military vehicles, alongside the reported looting of weapons.
He cautioned that this incident represented part of a troubling resurgence of insurgent activities in the North-east, despite ongoing counter-insurgency efforts under Operation Hadin Kai.
Furthermore, Monguno informed that another community in Kukawa, named Doro, had also faced attacks earlier that Wednesday, resulting in the death of an additional soldier.
The Senate commended the valor and sacrifice of the Nigerian armed forces, especially those involved in counter-insurgency operations, for their commitment to preserving the nation's territorial integrity.
Lawmakers urged the military to bolster efforts in intelligence gathering, surveillance, and operational strategies to consolidate the progress made in combating insurgency.
In support of the motion, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, representing Borno Central Senatorial District, characterized the renewed insurgent assaults as alarming and advocated for extraordinary measures to tackle the crisis.
He reported that various communities across Borno State had recently experienced attacks, resulting in both soldier and civilian fatalities.
Lawan noted incidents in areas such as Baga, Konduga, and additional communities, where commanding officers had been killed.
He commented that the scale and orchestration of these attacks indicate a distressing resurgence of insurgency in the region.
"It is in our enlightened self-interest to rally behind this motion and take decisive action to curb this renewed insurgency at its inception," he stated.
Consequently, the Senate resolved to honor the fallen soldiers with a minute of silence and urged the Nigerian armed forces to enhance their intelligence operations and capabilities to improve security in the North-east and throughout the country.
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