News
Tinubu to present 2024 budget to NASS early November
President Bola Tinubu, will present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly in November for passage before the end of the year, information coming from the Senate is saying.
The Nation quotes chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Solomon Adeola, who gave the hint during an interaction with reporters, as saying that the NASS was expecting the federal government to present the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy (MTEF-FSP) next week for proper scrutiny.
Adeola who represents Ogun West Senatorial district, also revealed that his panel had invited the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, for a meeting on Wednesday next week.
He assured Nigerians that the federal lawmakers would try as much as possible to make sure that the 2024 budget comprises 55 percent capital expenditure, adding that the 10th Senate would maintain the January to December budget cycle, which the 9th National Assembly started.
He said: “I want you to take cognizance of the fact that there is a change of government prior to now and as of May 29, 2023, a new government is in place. I want you to take cognizance of the change of government on May 29. There is a teething problem because there is a change of government.
“The new administration has a new mantra that encapsulates its vision and there must be challenges. We will do a thorough job on the budget. Our job is to verify the budget to meet the expectations of the people. We will look into it thoroughly. We are expecting the MTEF next week and immediately we receive the document, the Committee on Finance will go into work and look into it.
“The Finance Minister and the Minister of Budget and Planning are working round the clock. I assure you that we won’t break the tradition, we will have the budget as at when due. We will keep to the tradition of the January to December budget cycle.
“It has to do with the nomination of the project to the budget document that will meet the yearnings and the needs of the people, I would not regard that as padding. It is still part of the government document we look into and it has an expectation. The budget is an estimate but implementation is another thing. So I don’t believe in budget padding.”
LP demands sack of Onyejeocha, Tinubu’s Minister (Headline)
Nothing short of the immediate booting out of Nkiruka Onyejeocha by President Bola Tinubu, will assuage the anger of the Labour Party (LP), over sundry infractions including sponsoring the crisis within its fold.
Vanguard, quotes Kennedy Ahanotu, National Youth Leader of the party as urging Tinubu to show the former member of the House of Representatives the exit door as Minister of State for Labour, for allegedly failing to concentrate on her job.
The party, while equally urging security agencies to invite her for questioning over her alleged role in the contrived crisis within its ranks, told reporters in Abuja, on Wednesday that her activities must be checked.
Ahanotu said: “We are therefore calling on the present government to relieve Onyejeocha of her ministerial role as she has lost focus, and she has refused to concentrate on the assignment given to her.
The party equally drew the attention of Nigerians to what it called an “unholy alliance” between Onyejeocha and some of its expelled members led by Chief Lamidi Apapa, whose purpose is to ensure that crisis is sustained perpetually in the party.
Another police officer dies in hotel room, one week after ACP’s death in his sleep (Headline)
Barely a week after the Bayelsa State Police Command, was thrown into mourning over the death of an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), its Plateau State counterpart is also facing the same experience, this time over that of a Superintendent of Police (SP).
Like Oluseye Odumbaku, the ACP, who was found dead in his house in Yenogoa, the Bayelsa State capital on October 18, , Nahun Gwadi Eli, was discovered lying on the floor beside his bed in a hotel room in Jos, the Plateau State capital after operatives broke in.
Reports say doctors have ruled out foul play in the death of the officer, who was said to be the Commander A/0 SWAT, Plateau State Command, adding that his men became worried after repeatedly calling his phone line, which repeatedly rang out without response.
After knocking severally on the doors of his hotel room, the operatives were said to have forced the door open, where they were confronted with the sight of the motionless body of the deceased police officer, reports say, adding that the death had been labeled, sudden and unnatural.
Reports on The Eagle Online, quotes a police officer as saying: “On 23rd of October, at about 5:30pm, information was received from A/0 SWAT Plateau State Command that they have not seen nor heard from their commander, SP Nahum Gwadi Eli. He didn’t report to duty and his phone was ringing, but no response.
“They decided to visit his hotel room, along old Airport Road, and when they got there, they knocked at the door and there was no response. They called the management of the hotel and forced the door open.
“He was found lying on the ground beside the bed. The family has been contacted and the scene of the crime was visited by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Anglo-Jos. A Police Medical doctor was called upon and photographs were taken. The body was removed to Plateau Specialist Hospital, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor. The corpse was deposited at the same hospital mortuary for autopsy. No foul play suspected yet.”
Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, seems to find merit in the damning verdict of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), accusing security agencies in Nigeria of complicity in the deluge of terrorist attacks in the country.
Jare Ajayi, National Secretary of the group, in agreeing with the position, posited on Wednesday: “This is because of the strong belief that the nature of terrorism bedeviling Nigeria would not be festering for this long without complicity from some powerful quarters.”
Though he acknowledged the determination of some patriotic operatives and government to stem the tide, he posited how difficult it was to believe that the activities of the terrorists would continue to thrive without active connivance.
Hear him: “With the vows by the President and top security officers, one has the feeling that the government is determined to end terrorism in Nigeria. When President Bola Tinubu appointed General Christopher Musa, (retd), as Minister of Defence, we had a lot of hope that within months, a total stop would be put to terrorism and banditry in the country.
“Unfortunately, there seems to be a spike, rather than reduction. The reason for this could be rooted in sabotage and complicity from within and from without. This tends to buttress the alarm raised by the US Commission.”
Stressing how the organisation been consistently calling the attention of authorities to areas that needed be looked into he maintained that these included politicians, who could be complicit in promoting the urgly situation.
Citing the recent comments by Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, who pointed in the same direction, Ajayi stated that no matter how unpalatable the position of the US body could be: “It is very important not to dismiss it but to use it a beacon with which to comb all areas.”
“Many people doubted us. Some dismissed us. Others predicted confusion, division, and even outright collapse. But you stood firm. You kept faith with the ADC. And today, because of your commitment, our party stands taller, stronger, and more united.”
With these words, David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday’s night showered praises on members for conducting what he considered a flawless presidential primary election to choose its candidate for the 2027 election.
Mark, Senate President from 2007 to 2015, his audience at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, that by the outcome, the party had demonstrated that democracy and political competition could still thrive in Nigeria without crisis or division.
Regardless of the rejection of the result of the exercise by Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), who contested in the exercise, the former Chairman of the National Assembly, was still upbeat about its outcome.
Atiku Abubakar, Vice President between 1999 and 2007, had emerged winner of the process that took place across Nigeria from Monday till Wednesday, when the result was eventually announced.
The declared result showed that the former VP who would be running for the nation’s number one job for a record seven times came tops with Atiku 1,846,370, to Amaechi’s 504,117 and Hayat-Deen’s 177,120. Total votes cast in the election: 2,546,457 in the 3,113,599 tally.
Mark, who officially presented the ADC flag to Atiku as the party’s presidential standard-bearer, was emphatic that the exercise was not merely about producing a presidential candidate but about proving that internal democracy could still function effectively in the country.
Hear him: “Today is not just about announcing a presidential candidate. Today is also about proving a point to Nigeria and to Nigerians. It is about proving that democracy can still work.
“Proving that political competition does not have to become political warfare. That a party can organise itself around principles instead of personalities. This event has shown that in a season of deep national anxiety, a bright future is still possible.”
Stressing that had doubted the party’s ability to conduct a peaceful and credible primary, with some predicting division and collapse within the ADC, he praised members of the Presidential Screening Committee and Presidential Primary Election Committee for what he described as their professionalism and commitment to fairness despite pressure surrounding the exercise.
“In the face of enormous pressure, logistical complexity, and intense national attention, they carried out their responsibilities with courage, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to fairness and transparency. The conduct of the primary has strengthened confidence in the party and its democratic process.
“Their work has strengthened the credibility of this exercise and reinforced the confidence of our members and the Nigerian people in the integrity of the African Democratic Congress.
“It is important to mention that we are the only political party to have three strong aspirants contest for the presidential ticket. This alone makes the ADC unique in its deep commitment to democracy and democratic practices.
“By subjecting themselves to this process, they did not merely contest an election. They strengthened democracy. And despite efforts in some quarters to create uncertainty and tension, they remained committed to this process and to the ideals of this party,” he added.
For Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti, the first female Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), it was another day of glory, as Alex Otti, Governor of Abia laid out another red carpet for her in lieu of her starling performance in the 2023 governorship election in the state.
The university don, was the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who was nationally recognised for standing her ground against forces that reportedly tried to skew the process, leading to the emergence of Otti as governor.
Since then, she had received several recognitions including from the governor and other bodies, including her own students at FUTO, who gave her a heroic welcome upon the conclusion of her INEC task – the first and only one to be so accorded in Nigeria.
Wednesday’s recognition came through the naming of the newly inaugurated Umuahia Central Bus Terminal, a multimodal transport facility in the state capital after her, by the governor, who said it was in recognition of her role in that exercise.
Otti, who stressed that the decision was informed by her act of courage, integrity and commitment to truth, said: “This terminal has been named after Professor Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti, the courageous INEC returning officer who demonstrated unflinching integrity in the discharge of her duties during a high-stakes election assignment here in Abia.”
The governor, while stating that the honour was not limited to don alone but symbolised all individuals who resisted electoral manipulation added: “In 2023, through her courageous disposition of standing firmly by the truth… she reminded us that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results by simply saying no.
“So she’s just a representative of all of you—INEC staff who never bent, party officials who didn’t give in, security agencies… people who said no to intimidation.”
Stressing that the state had moved beyond basic infrastructure delivery to building an integrated transport system, he said: “The days of playing small is over. We shall no longer confine ourselves to the margins.”
He explained that the terminal was designed to accommodate over 340 buses and would improve accessibility, safety and efficiency in urban transport operations, adding that it would be supported by electric bus services, with 20 already in operation, while additional units are expected in phases.
“Services will keep improving as more buses are delivered… and you can tell with accuracy when a particular bus will arrive and depart,” he said.
He urged residents to protect the facility and support government efforts by maintaining order and paying taxes, warning against vandalism, waste disposal violations and other practices that could undermine the project, stressing that offenders would face sanctions.
-
News4 weeks agoBREAKING: Makinde, Turaki, lose! *S’Court affirms Wike’s PDP leadership
-
News2 weeks agoTinubu to African leaders: Copy Nigeria, produce your way out of poverty
-
News1 week agoBREAKING: US-Nigeria troops slaughter 175 ISWAP fighters
-
Features4 weeks agoJim Nwobodo: The Sun shines, thrills, at ‘The Vanguard Awards’
-
Columns1 week agoDear General Gowon: That apology you’re running from is your nemesis
-
News2 weeks agoWhy we pegged presidential ticket forms at N60million – NDC
-
News3 weeks agoBREAKING! Coast brightens for Obi, as NDC zones presidency to South
-
News2 weeks agoGowon on civil war: My book is to put records straight, remove falsehood