The Nigerian Senate has announced the reconstitution of several standing committees, saying it wants to strengthen oversight and sharpen its response to the country’s mounting security challenges.
The announcement was made during plenary on Tuesday by the Senate Selection Committee chaired by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who explained that the reshuffle was an effort to realign legislative priorities with the realities of national security.
Under the new arrangement, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi of Kebbi State has been appointed Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
Abdullahi, who previously chaired the Committee on National Planning, now takes over one of the most sensitive portfolios in the legislature at a time when Nigeria faces renewed threats from insurgency, banditry, and other forms of violent crime.
His appointment comes after Senator Shehu Buba of Bauchi State was removed from the position last week.
Other Changes and Reassignments
Buba has now been reassigned as Chairman of the Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry, a shift that underscores the Senate’s attempt to balance political considerations with functional oversight.
In another adjustment, Senator Mustafa Musa from Yobe State has been named Chairman of the Committee on National Planning, filling the vacancy left by Abdullahi’s redeployment.
Meanwhile, the Committee on Air Force has also undergone changes, with Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu of Enugu State, stepping in as Acting Chairman.
Ngwu had previously served as deputy chairman of the committee, and his elevation follows the indisposition of the former chairman, Senator Akwashiki.
Purpose of the Reshuffle
The leadership of the Senate has framed these changes as a deliberate strategy to strengthen its institutional capacity in the face of evolving national security threats.
By placing experienced lawmakers in key committees, the upper chamber hopes to improve its ability to scrutinize defense policies, monitor intelligence operations, and ensure accountability in the management of security resources.
The reshuffle reflects both the urgency of Nigeria’s security situation and the political will within the Senate to help.
With committees serving as the engine rooms of legislative oversight, the reconstitution is expected to influence how the chamber engages with the executive on matters of defense, intelligence, and internal security.
The move also signals the Senate’s recognition that national security is no longer a peripheral issue but one that demands constant legislative attention.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and rising instability in other regions, the effectiveness of these committees will be closely tested as events unfold.
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