File photo: Nigerian Senate
The Senate on Tuesday suspended consideration of the highly anticipated State Police Bill and all other legislative business at its emergency plenary session to honour the memory of a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yaya Tongo, whose death cast a sombre mood over the National Assembly.
The upper chamber had reconvened from recess amid expectations that lawmakers would accelerate action on the proposed constitutional amendment seeking to establish state police across the federation, a measure widely seen as a major step in the ongoing effort to reform Nigeria’s security architecture.
However, proceedings were cut short after Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the death of Tongo, who represented the Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency of Gombe State in the House of Representatives.
Tongo passed away at Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja on June 12, 2026, following a brief illness.
