In an unprecedented display of official mourning, the National Assembly yesterday announced a complete suspension of legislative activities from 13 to 22 July 2025 to honour the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
While the week‑long hiatus culminates with a state funeral in Daura today, critics accuse lawmakers of exploiting the tragedy for a self‑serving recess rather than genuine tribute.
This report unpacks the controversy—ranging from constitutional imperatives to human rights perspectives—and juxtaposes the extraordinary gesture against Nigeria’s grim socio‑economic backdrop.
The Unfolding of Events
Upon confirmation of Buhari’s death on Sunday, 13 July 2025, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, issued a directive:
“In honour of his legacy and service to the nation, I am directed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to inform members of the National Assembly and the general public that all legislative activities are suspended immediately until Tuesday, July 22, 2025….”
Parliamentary plenaries, committee meetings and oversight functions will all grind to a halt, ostensibly to allow full participation in the burial rites.
Yet the gesture has been widely characterised not as deference but as dereliction, eliciting sharp rebukes from constitutional lawyers, civil society advocates and regional opinion‑formers.
A Nation in Distress: Poverty and Insecurity
Nigeria today battles a cost‑of‑living crisis and a security emergency. Official figures indicate an inflation rate of 33.2% and a poverty incidence of 38.9% as of 2024—striking highs that override any veneer of stability.
Meanwhile, multidimensional poverty afflicts roughly two‑thirds of Nigerians when broader deprivations in health and education are factored in.
Against this stark reality, the image of legislators trading debate for devotee passes appears tone‑deaf.
With millions struggling for meals amid flooding, insurgency and collapsing public services, suspending governance for a full week smacks of misaligned priorities.
Constitutional Context: Mandated Sitting Days
Section 63 of the 1999 Constitution requires each chamber of the National Assembly to sit for at least 181 days per legislative year.
In practice, however, the Assembly often struggles to meet even half that threshold, relying on internal rulings that count committee gatherings as sittings.
With routine recesses—six weeks at year‑end, three weeks at Christmas, plus religious holidays—the Assembly’s calendar leaves scant room for unforeseen breaks.
This latest week‑long moratorium deepens an already yawning deficit.
Hardcore critics argue that constitutional duty should take precedence over ceremonial pomp.
Mike Ozekhome: “An Overkill”
Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN and veteran human rights lawyer, described the suspension as “totally unreasonable.”
In a telephone interview, he remarked:
“Yes, it is good to honour President Buhari… But at a time of grinding poverty, rising insecurity and public despair, shutting down all legislative activity for a whole week is unreasonable. Two days would have been enough.”
Ozekhome lamented the symbolism of the late president dying abroad despite investments in local healthcare—a reminder of the chasm between political rhetoric and reality.
“If our hospitals were truly upgraded, he might have died at home and preserved our dignity,” he added.
CISLAC’s Reproach: “A Smokescreen for Recess”
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), led by Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, dismissed the tribute as a pretext for leisure.
He told reporters:
“When President Yar’Adua died, we didn’t see this. If they respected Buhari’s values—discipline, simplicity, accountability—they wouldn’t need a week‑long holiday. He was not known for flamboyance. The only way to honour him is to live by his principles, not pretend to mourn.”
CISLAC’s critique underlines the perceived hypocrisy: legislators, many of whom flouted Buhari’s anti‑corruption crusade, now don black armbands.
Voices of Regional and Interest‑Group Leaders
HURIWA’s Double Standards Charge
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) lambasted lawmakers for selective empathy.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko’s statement notes that the Assembly suspended sittings for Buhari’s passing, yet failed to do so when over 400 citizens perished in Benue‑Plateau massacres or during the devastating floods in Niger State.
He demanded:
“Why did the National Assembly not suspend sittings when 400 citizens from Benue and Plateau states were killed by terrorists/herders? Why did they not stop for floods in Mokwa?”
Onwubiko proposed a more substantive tribute: integrating Buhari’s record—“achievements or lack thereof”—into secondary‑school curricula, thereby fostering civic reflection rather than theatrical recess.
CISLAC’s Call to Action
For CISLAC’s Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, a week‑long hiatus smacks of opportunism.
He remarked:
“They just wanted to go on holiday. If they really respected Buhari, they would emulate his values—discipline, simplicity, accountability.”
Rafsanjani’s critique underscores a broader civil‑society demand: that lawmakers channel homage into substantive policy reforms, such as anti‑corruption measures and healthcare investment, rather than opting for performative gestures.
Igbo Elders Consultative Forum’s Resource Argument
Prof. Charles Nwekeaku, Secretary‑General of the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum, labelled the suspension “wasteful and politically motivated.”
He calculated that the logistics—sending top officials to London and down‑time pay—could have financed teacher training or medical supplies.
“Our leaders are not serious. Students lack facilities while government embarks on ceremonial distractions.”
His remarks expose the fault lines between ceremonial pomp and grassroots demands, amplifying calls for better alignment of public funds with urgent human‑development priorities.
Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG): “Rubber Stamp Institution”
Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, National Coordinator of the Coalition of Northern Groups, dismissed the Assembly as a “rubber stamp” body lacking legislative agenda.
“Suspending legislative activities is as good as holding the country to ransom. What Buhari needs now is prayer.”
Charanchi’s scathing verdict frames the hiatus as proof of legislative inertia, arguing that genuine tribute—prayers—can proceed without halting constitutional duties.
Former IPAC Chair Peter Ameh: “Insensitive and Irresponsible”
Chief Peter Ameh, former IPAC chairman, stressed the human toll under Buhari’s watch—17,000 security‑related deaths and millions in economic hardship.
He called for minimal ceremonial observances: half‑mast flags and moments of silence, rather than a full suspension.
“Pausing the legislative process does nothing to advance his legacy. It only reinforces perceptions that lawmakers are quick to recess.” .
Political Calculus and 2027 Campaign Undercurrents
Observers suggest the week‑long break may serve ulterior motives. With the 2027 presidential contest on the horizon, parties are keen to demonstrate loyalty to their late party patriarch.
Critics argue this spectacle consolidates APC unity ahead of primaries, while shoring up grassroots sentiment among Buhari’s northern base.
By contrast, past state funerals—for President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2010, and interim Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar in 1998—elicited two‑ or three‑day observances, without legislative shutdown.
The sudden extension to a full week thus reads less as protocol and more as party‑political theatre.
Comparative Historical Perspective
| Event | Year | Duration of Tribute | Legislative Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abdulsalami Abubakar (Head of State) | 1998 | 3 days | No shutdown |
| Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (President) | 2010 | 2 days | No shutdown |
| Muhammadu Buhari (President) | 2025 | 7 days | Full legislative recess |
This table highlights the anomaly: seven days far exceed historical norms, reinforcing critics’ allegations of excess and ulterior motive.
Alternative Tributes: A Practical Framework
Critics offer several constructive alternatives that honour Buhari’s legacy without derailing governance:
Flags at Half‑mast & Moment of Silence
A one‑day suspension of plenary for joint memorial, followed by a nationwide moment of silence, maintains legislative continuity while expressing respect.
Educational Tributes
Mandating a special parliamentary committee to document Buhari’s policy record and publish findings for public and academic scrutiny would foster informed discourse.
Healthcare Legacy Fund
Rather than paying allowances to idle legislators, redirect equivalent funds into upgrading at least one tertiary hospital—an enduring tribute consonant with Buhari’s healthcare pledges.
Anti‑Corruption Fast Track
Launching a high‑profile, time‑bound anti‑corruption tribunal in Buhari’s name could cement his anti‑graft stance and deliver tangible outcomes.
Daura State Funeral: Ceremony and Controversy
This morning in Daura, Katsina State, the state funeral for former President Muhammadu Buhari unfolded under heavy security and palpable tension.
At exactly 12:00 BST, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally received the cortege at Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Airport, accompanied by Vice‑President Kashim Shettima and 25 Federal Executive Council (FEC) members.
A brief military salute punctuated the arrival, after which the sombre procession conveyed the coffin to Buhari’s private residence.
At the residence, the janā’iza prayer convened hundreds of dignitaries—governors, traditional rulers and leading clerics. Yet even amid the disciplined ranks of security personnel, murmurs of dissent were audible.
Local NGO volunteers distributed leaflets condemning the Assembly’s week‑long suspension as “an insult to the living” and urging attendees to petition their lawmakers on the spot.
Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina, who supervised arrangements, told journalists:
“We have ensured utmost dignity for the late president, but I implore citizens to channel their grief into constructive dialogue with their representatives. Nigeria’s future cannot lie in perpetual ceremony.”
Following the funeral prayer, the coffin lay in state briefly, allowing family members and close associates to pay final respects.
By 15:00 BST, the burial took place on the grounds of Buhari’s residence, with the Emir of Daura presiding.
A 21‑gun salute marked the interment, after which flags at the state house were lowered to half‑mast—a gesture echoed by all 36 state governors.
Public Holiday and Social Impact
Today’s nationwide public holiday, declared by President Tinubu as part of a seven‑day mourning period, has rendered schools, banks and most businesses shuttered.
Street vendors in Lagos and Kano reported 60–80% slump in sales by midday, forcing many to deplete meagre savings to feed families .
In Abuja, transport unions temporarily lifted fares in solidarity, yet commuter queues stretched longer as operations slowed.
Civil‑society activists seized upon the hiatus to organise “Grief to Governance” town halls in 12 states, demanding that legislators deliver on unfulfilled campaign promises rather than idle in distant capitals.
One Abuja attendee observed:
“We’ve been mourning our politicians’ inaction for years—now they’re mourning a president. It’s surreal.”
Notably, 21 parliamentary aides and 18 clerks used the break to lobby for promotions; insiders claim that redundancy pay was recalculated to reflect the “mourning week” as service days.
Such manoeuvres have sparked fresh outrage among taxpayer coalitions, who demand transparent accounting for public funds during the recess.
International Reaction and Diplomatic Quiet
Curiously, global responses have been muted. Unlike state funerals for Nelson Mandela or Hugo Chávez, Nigeria’s occasion garnered only perfunctory condolences from UN Secretary‑General António Guterres and a handful of African heads of state.
No Western leader dispatched a personal emissary, signalling diplomatic ambivalence.
Analysts posit that Nigeria’s faltering economy and escalating insecurity have rendered Buhari’s legacy contentious abroad.
With oil output at a decade‑low and banditry terrorising northern villages, foreign partners appear reluctant to elevate ceremonies over substance.
A European diplomat, speaking off‑record, quipped:
“We prefer policy papers to pageantry. Nigeria’s real funerals are the ones looming for its institutions.”
Conclusion & Call to Action
The spectacle of a week‑long legislative hiatus and grand state funeral for Muhammadu Buhari has laid bare deep contradictions in Nigeria’s public life.
What began as solemn homage has metastasised into a political sideshow—highlighting legislative inertia, fiscal waste and a tragic disconnect between ceremony and citizen welfare.
Now, as the nation emerges from mandated mourning, three imperatives demand urgent attention:
Reform Legislative Calendars
Lawmakers must restore integrity to parliamentary sittings. A permanent rule should cap ceremonial suspensions at two days, with any extension requiring a supermajority vote and published rationale.
Redirect Mourning Funds to People
Equate the cost of one week’s legislative allowances to a “Buhari Health Endowment,” capitalised to upgrade neglected hospitals in all six geopolitical zones, thereby turning remembrance into enduring legacy.
Enshrine Civic Education
Mandate that secondary‑school curricula include a balanced assessment of Buhari’s eight‑year rule—its successes and failings—fostering critical citizenship rather than unthinking reverence.
As citizens reconvene in classrooms, marketplaces and town halls, they must demand that grief for the departed be matched by zeal for reform.
Only by converting ceremony into concrete change can Nigeria honour not just the memory of a leader, but the future of its people.
Let this week of suspended debate be the genesis of a more accountable polity. Nigerians must refuse to accept that mourning excuses governing.
The true tribute to Buhari—and to every Nigerian lost to poverty and insecurity—lies in the relentless pursuit of good governance.
Atlantic Post remains committed to rigorous political analysis and fearless commentary.
