It was Aboubakary Abdoulaye, the 1st Vice-President of the Senate, who signed the bureau’s order convening the November ordinary session on 23 October.
This is unusual, as it is usually Marcel Niat Njifenji, the President of the Senate, who initials this order. “The President is once again on medical evacuation abroad,” a parliamentary source informed.
The unavailability of the President of the Upper House of Parliament has sometimes impacted the functioning of this institution. During the March session, the process of renewing the Senate bureau was delayed by several days due to the absence of the outgoing President. According to sources within the House, the latter was recovering abroad and could therefore not be a candidate for reappointment to the rostrum.
The signing of the decree by the 1st Vice President aims to avoid a new dysfunction. Aboubakary Abdoulaye, appointed senator of the ruling RDPC, and powerful lamido of Rey Bouba (Northern region), has been the one leading the debates in the Senate for several years. Marcel Niat Njifenji, also appointed senator of the Western region, is content to chair the opening sessions.
It should be noted that the November session should be devoted primarily to the examination and adoption of the draft budget for the year 2025 presented by the executive. This session will be marked by the general policy speech delivered by the Prime Minister, followed by oral question sessions to members of the government. This speech, an expected moment of the November session, will take stock of the government’s actions during the year that is ending in terms of socio-economic and cultural policy, while setting out the broad outlines of the next budget year.
SBBC