The November session of Parliament has been convened. Unlike has been the case in the past when it was Niat Njifenji Marcel who did the convening, the decree of October 23 is signed by Aboubakary Abdoulaye, the 1st Vice-President of the Senate.
According to some online media, quoting a parliamentary source, this change of roles is due to the fact that “The President is once again undergoing medical evacuation abroad”.
The unavailability of the President of the Upper House of Parliament has sometimes impacted the functioning of this institution. During the last 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, he was recovering abroad and therefore could not be a candidate for his reappointment to the chair.
The signing of the decree by the 1st Vice-President aims to avoid another dysfunction. Aboubakary Abdoulaye, a nominated senator from the CPDM, the ruling party, and powerful lamido of Rey Bouba (Northern region), has been leading the debates in the Senate for several years. Marcel Niat Njifenji, also a nominated senator from the Western region, only presides over the opening sessions.
It should be noted that the November session is expected to be primarily dedicated to the examination and adoption of the 2025 budget proposal 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 government members. This speech, a highly anticipated moment of the November session, will review the government’s actions over the past year in socio-economic and cultural policy, while outlining the main lines of the next budget exercise.
