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Tag: FG

  • BREAKING: FG declares public holidays for Eid-ul-Adha

    BREAKING: FG declares public holidays for Eid-ul-Adha

    The Federal Government has declared Friday June 6 and Monday June 9 as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Adha celebration.

    The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government. He congratulated all Muslim Ummah both at home and in the Diaspora on the occasion.

    He called on the Muslim Ummah to continue to imbibe the spirit of sacrifice and faith as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.

    Read Also: FG moves to curb illegal migration, economic desperation among youths

    The Minister in a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Magdalene Ajani, assured Nigerians, the   people-oriented reforms and initiatives carried out, in furtherance of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration, is to restore Nigeria on the path of progress.

    While wishing the Muslim Ummah a happy Eid-ul- Adha celebration, the Minister urged all Nigerians to join hands with the present administration in its efforts to restore the glory of Nigeria as a great nation.

  • FG inaugurates feeding programme for 20m out-of-school children, others

    FG inaugurates feeding programme for 20m out-of-school children, others

    The federal government has inaugurated the Alternate Education and Renewed Hope National Home Grown School Feeding Project to expand the scope of feeding by reaching 20 million out-of-school and informal children in 2026.

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, spoke about the plan during the launching of the programme on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Yilwatda said the programme was implemented by the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (RH-NHGSFP), in collaboration with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out of School Children Education and the National Identity Management Commission.

    The minister said the project was one of the flagship initiatives of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) in commemoration of President Bola Tinubu’s second-year anniversary, noting that the objective was to build a national framework for reintegrating out-of-school children into safe, structured, and nourishing learning environments.

    Speaking earlier, the National Programme Manager of the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (RH-NHGSFP), Princess (Dr) Aderemi Adebowale, said the programme underscores a renewed national resolve to reach Nigeria’s out-of-school children – those living in border communities, informal settlements, nomadic groups, and IDP camps – through an inclusive, community-led model of education that integrates identity management, feeding, and foundational learning.

    Adebowale said RH-NHGSFP, which currently provides daily school meals to over 10.2 million pupils in Primary 1-3 across the 774 local government areas, is proud to expand its scope under this initiative, with a target of reaching 20 million pupils by 2026.

    She said that the programme integrated children living in border communities and informal camps through an inclusive, community-led model of management, feeding, and foundational learning.

    “This historic event is being held in commemoration of two significant milestones. the second-year anniversary in office of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose leadership has championed social protection, inclusive education, and poverty reduction across Nigeria,” she said.

    Adebowale said that RH-NHGSFP was in charge of the tripartite feeding project being executed while the Almajiri commission was responsible for teaching, and NIMC would do the verification.

    Also speaking, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of the NSIPA, Dr Badamasi Lawal, said the project, which began as a school-based nutrition intervention, has matured into a policy instrument for inclusion, human capital growth, and socio-economic resilience.

    Read Also: FG describes INSPIRE project launch as beacon of STEM education in Nigeria

    He noted that the programme was designed to reduce the out-of-school children in Nigeria, improve enrolment and help transition from one level of primary education to another and to secondary school.

    Also speaking, the Technical Advisor to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion in the Office of the Vice President, Dr Nurudeen Zauro, said one of the president’s mandates is inclusiveness, and it is going all out to achieve that.

    He said Tinubu’s administration is committed to economic and financial inclusion, and the feeding project is about financial and economic inclusion, a project aligned with his renewed hope agenda.

  • Only $1.23bn external borrowing plan for 2025, says FG

    Only $1.23bn external borrowing plan for 2025, says FG

    The federal government has clarified that the external borrowing component of the 2025 budget, valued at $1.23 billion, has not yet been accessed and is scheduled for disbursement in the second half of the year.

    The Federal Ministry of Finance disclosed this position in a statement on Wednesday. This is in response to the formal request submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the National Assembly on May 27, 2025, seeking approval for the 2024–2026 External Borrowing Rolling Plan.

    According to the ministry, the Borrowing Rolling Plan should not be confused with actual borrowing for any given year.

    “The borrowing plan does not equate to actual borrowing for the period. The actual borrowing for each year is contained in the annual budget,” the statement read.

    It further explained that the rolling plan encompasses borrowing needs for both federal and state governments, covering several geopolitical zones. States expected to benefit from the plan include Abia, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, and Yobe.

    The finance ministry stressed that including projects in the borrowing plan does not imply an immediate or automatic increase in the nation’s debt burden. Given the rolling plan’s structure, funding is drawn in phases depending on project timelines.

    Many of the projects captured in the 2024–2026 plan have financing arrangements spread over five to seven years and are specifically tied to projects in strategic sectors. These include investments in national power grids and transmission lines, irrigation schemes to bolster food security, a nationwide fibre optic backbone, the acquisition of fighter jets to improve national security, and major rail and road infrastructure projects.

    A majority of the financing for these initiatives will be sourced from Nigeria’s development partners. These include the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), French Development Agency (AFD), European Investment Bank (EIB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), China EximBank, and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). These institutions offer concessional loans with favourable terms and long repayment tenures, providing a relatively low-cost way for Nigeria to fund its development goals.

    The rolling borrowing plan is an integral part of the country’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and is structured in line with both the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 and the Debt Management Office (DMO) Establishment Act of 2003.

    It serves as the medium-term external borrowing guide for the federal government as well as participating state governments, outlining the terms and implementation timelines of associated projects in five comprehensive appendices.

    Through this structured approach, the government aims to maintain fiscal discipline while ensuring adequate investment in critical sectors. The rolling plan also enables forward financial planning and prevents the inefficiencies and unpredictability of emergency or reactive borrowing practices.

    On the issue of Nigeria’s debt sustainability, the Ministry of Finance noted that the debt service-to-revenue ratio, which exceeded 90 percent in 2023, is already on a downward trend. This improvement follows major fiscal reforms, including the discontinuation of inflationary ways and means financing from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The government expects significant revenue growth from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), alongside increased remittances from Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) and key revenue-generating ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), aided by technology-driven monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. Legacy debts owed to the federal purse are also being recovered as part of the revenue enhancement drive.

    With macroeconomic conditions showing signs of stabilisation, the federal government said it is now focused on moving the economy towards a trajectory of accelerated and inclusive growth. Achieving this objective, it explained, requires sustained capital investment in transportation, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and other priority sectors of the economy.

    Read Also: FG inaugurates presidential committee to drive digital public infrastructure

    The ministry stated that the overarching goal is not to borrow indiscriminately but to ensure that loans are directed at projects with clear economic value and measurable impact.

    “Our debt strategy is therefore guided not solely by the size of our obligations, but by the utility, sustainability, and economic returns of the borrowing. Ensuring that all borrowed funds are efficiently utilised and directed toward growth-enhancing projects remains a top priority,” the statement said.

    The government reiterated its commitment to responsible borrowing, stating that all external loans will remain within the manageable thresholds outlined in the DMO’s Debt Sustainability Framework.

    In addition, the ministry said that Nigeria’s ongoing tax reform agenda and related revenue mobilisation initiatives will further strengthen public finances, reduce dependency on debt, and promote financial prudence.

    The federal government also reaffirmed its commitment to fiscal discipline, openness in financial transactions, and responsiveness to public concerns. It called for continued public engagement and strong legislative oversight as essential components of Nigeria’s long-term path to economic stability and national prosperity.

  • FG begins payment of N35,000 wage award arrears to federal workers

    FG begins payment of N35,000 wage award arrears to federal workers

    The federal government has commenced the payment of the long-awaited N35,000 wage award arrears to its employees, fulfilling a key part of its commitment to support workers amid prevailing economic challenges.

    This was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Bawa Mokwa.

    According to the statement, many federal government employees have already received the first tranche of the payment, while others who are yet to be credited will receive theirs shortly. 

    The arrears are being paid in five instalments of N35,000 each, amounting to a total of N175,000 per beneficiary.

    The OAGF also addressed reports circulating in some sections of the media suggesting that the N35,000 wage award had been excluded from the 2025 Budget. The Office clarified that at no point did the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Babatunde Ogunjimi, make such a claim.

    “There was no press briefing by the Accountant General on the matter of wage award,” the statement read. “Any report quoting him as excluding the N35,000 from the 2025 budget is entirely false.”

    The Office further stated that all outstanding arrears of the wage award would be settled in line with the government’s assurance to organised labour and public service employees.

    Read Also: Reps to investigate non-payment of presidential wage award to Nigerian pensioners

    The wage award was introduced by the Federal Government as part of palliative measures to cushion the impact of recent subsidy removal and associated economic reforms. It is intended to bridge the gap pending the conclusion of negotiations on a new minimum wage.

    The commencement of payment comes after months of anticipation and advocacy from labour unions, who had pressed for the full implementation of the government’s promise.

    The payment is expected to provide some relief to federal workers, many of whom have been grappling with inflationary pressures and rising cost of living.

    The OAGF urged patience from workers who have not yet received their arrears, assuring that the payroll system is actively processing all outstanding entitlements.

  • FG sues Senator Natasha over alleged defamation

    FG sues Senator Natasha over alleged defamation

    The federal government has filed a lawsuit against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central, over comments she allegedly made during a live television broadcast.

    The suit, marked CR/297/25, was filed before a Federal Capital Territory High Court on May 16, 2025, with Akpoti-Uduaghan listed as the sole defendant.

    According to the charge, the government accuses the senator of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person,” in reference to Section 391 of the Penal Code, Cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990. The alleged offence is said to be punishable under Section 392 of the same legal framework.

    Read Also: Akpabio petitions IGP over assassination allegation by Senator Natasha

    As contained in the charge sheet, the Federal Republic of Nigeria is named as the complainant, with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as the sole defendant in the matter.

    Details shortly…

  • Reps to FG: Regulate importation of foreign textiles to boost local production

    Reps to FG: Regulate importation of foreign textiles to boost local production

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday asked the federal government to put in place adequate regulatory measures for the importation of foreign textiles into the country to rejuvenate the production of local textile materials and boost the local economy.

    Adopting a motion by Garba Ibrahim Muhammad, the House also asked the government to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to provide necessary facilities, especially power supply, to local textile manufacturing companies to enhance quality outputs.

    In addition, the House said the Federal Ministries of Finance, Industry, Trade and Investment and other related agencies to encourage local textiles by providing soft loans and easy access to credit facilities through the Bank of Industry, while asking its committee on Industry and Commerce to conduct Public Hearing with relevant stakeholders in textile sector to review challenges of moribund textile sector.

    Moving the motion, Muhammad said the Nigerian textile industry, with over 180 mills in operation in the 1960s and 1980s, significantly impacted the manufacturing sector, employing nearly 450,000 people and generating 67% annual growth, making it the highest employer of labour.

    He said Nigeria possesses ample raw materials such as cotton and wool for textile production, which can boost local productivity and the economy. Revitalising the textile industry will create employment, reduce social issues, boost revenue, diversify the economy, and enhance socio-economic development in the country.

    Read Also: Southeast Reps Caucus demands outright cancellation of 2025 UTME

    He expressed concern over the significant decline in the textile industry over the last two decades, which has resulted in the layoff of thousands of workers from companies like Kaduna Textile, Kano Textile, Aba Textile, United Nigeria Textile, and First Spinners, among others.

    The lawmaker said the discovery of oil in Nigeria resulted in decreased cotton production, a crucial raw material for the textile industry, thereby significantly impacting the textile sector, adding that government policies such as higher taxation, expensive production costs, and trade restrictions

    Liberalisation has led to extensive importation of textile materials, which have hurt the production of local textiles.

  • FG approves upgrade of power supply in Oyo to fortify grid

    FG approves upgrade of power supply in Oyo to fortify grid

    The federal government approved two major energy projects in Oyo State aimed at fortifying the national grid and addressing persistent power challenges.

    The decisions, ratified during Monday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, include reviving and concessioning the decades-old Ikere Gorge Hydropower Plant and constructing a high-capacity new substation in Ibadan, signalling a push to modernize infrastructure and boost electricity access. 

    The Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu’s Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, disclosed this in a press statement yesterday.

    According to the press statement, the new substation to be located in Lalupon/Ejioku axis of Lagelu local government area will boost power supply to Iwo road, Monatan, Olodo and the adjoining areas in Ibadan.

    Originally launched in 1979 under the military regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and operationalised in 1980 during President Shehu Shagari’s tenure, the Ikere Gorge Hydropower Plant will now undergo a significant upgrade. Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu revealed that the facility’s capacity will expand from 6mw to 20mw under a 30-year public-private partnership (PPP) concession.

    The project, initially stalled due to a preferred bidder’s failure to finalise terms, was re-concessioned to a reserve contractor, Messrs Quaint Power and Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, after the original offer lapsed. Adelabu emphasized that the revitalised plant will prioritise energy access for Oyo’s Oke Ogun communities, with an upwardly revised concession fee ensuring long-term viability. 

    Meanwhile, the government also approved the construction of a 2 x 60 mva, 132/33KV substation in Lalupon/Ejioku in Lagelu local government area of the State, to alleviate pressure on the grid and improve energy supply. The substation, part of the Siemens-backed Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), is to be funded directly by the Federal Ministry of Power and aims to resolve frequent outages and grid instability plaguing the state capital.

    Read Also: Student loan: Allow students with loan applications to sit for exams, FG tells heads of tertiary institutions

     Adelabu noted that the infrastructure will serve as a backbone for strategic investments, enhance service delivery, and align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for sustainable energy. The project includes upgrades to the 60-year-old 330KV Ayede substation and the construction of a new Asejire 330KV substation, further stabilising the grid for over 5 million residents.  Completion is estimated at 24 months.

    Both initiatives are expected to catalyse socio-economic growth by improving power reliability for households, small businesses, industry, educational and health institutions.

    Adelabu underscored their role in resolving decades-old infrastructure gaps, stating, “These interventions will directly uplift livelihoods, attract industries, and position Oyo State as a model for Nigeria’s energy transition.” The approvals mark a critical milestone in federal efforts to tackle grid vulnerabilities, with stakeholders anticipating ripple effects on national productivity.

  • Declare state of emergency on Bompai, Sharada, Challawa industrial estates, Reps tell FG

    Declare state of emergency on Bompai, Sharada, Challawa industrial estates, Reps tell FG

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the states of Bompai, Sharada, and Chalawa Industrial estates in Kano State and others by collaborating with relevant agencies to establish a credit scheme to support the revitalisation of the ailing industries in the estates.

    In a resolution following a motion by Hassan Shehu Hussain (NNPP, Kano), the House urged the government to withdraw incentives that favour the importation of products that can be manufactured locally to reduce unnecessary competition and protect the domestic market, thereby allowing indigenous industries and manufacturers to thrive.

    The House asked the Federal Ministries of Trade, Industry and Investment, Works, and Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) to collaborate with the government of Kano State to address the challenges of multiple taxation, poor road networks, and inadequate energy supply faced by the industrial estates.

    Moving the motion, Hussain said the historic economic growth and industrial activities in Kano and other parts of Northern Nigeria have been partly due to the contribution of industrial activities at Bompai, Sharada, and Chalawa industrial estates, Kano, with an estimated 1000 manufacturing industries.

    According to him, the estates host a wide range of industries, including textiles, Motor Vehicle Assembly, food and beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, steelworks, tanneries, packaging, agro-sacks, and plastics; recognises that the estates previously employed an estimated one million, five hundred thousand (1.5) skilled and unskilled workers, thereby supporting the livelihoods of numerous households.

    He said the three industrial estates play a crucial role in catalyzing economic activities in Northern Nigeria and neighboring countries such as Niger, Chad, Cameroon, and Mali, reaffirming Kano’s position as an economic hub for the region.

    He said further that the estates contribute significant revenue to Kano State and the Federal Government of Nigeria, in addition to bolstering the country’s industrial capacity and Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Read Also: Reps to investigate irregular remittances to RMRDC

    He said report by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) that there has been a consistent decline in industrial and manufacturing activities in the estates since 2014, thereby diminishing Kano’s standing as one of Nigeria’s industrial hubs.

    He expressed concerned that the estates are now reduced to mere warehouses, rented out for storage, rather than being active production centers, adding that the decline can be attributed to a lack of basic infrastructure, such as a reliable power and water supplies, railway collapse, poor road conditions, multiple taxation, and the long distance between Kano and the nation’s seaports.

    He stressed the impact that the decline in manufacturing activities in the estates is having on Kano, particularly in relation to the rising unemployment among the youth and the increasing instances of despair, thereby contributing to insecurity within the state and the surrounding region.

    He said the social and economic effects of this industrial decline are further exacerbated by the current economic challenges due to the removal of fuel subsidies and  that these conditions together represent a potential crisis that, if unaddressed, could be exploited by malicious actors to incite social unrest and tension in Kano and the country in general. 

  • Resource control: FG not fair to Lagos state, says expert

    Resource control: FG not fair to Lagos state, says expert

    An international business and management expert, Moruf Oladimeji, has said that the federal government has not been fair to Lagos State regarding the quantum of revenue generated from the state into the Value Added Tax (VAT) pool and what it receives in return, stating that this is unfair and not commensurate.

    Highlighting the peculiar status of Lagos as the sixth largest megacity globally and the largest in Africa, according to the United Nations, with over 22 million people as of 2024, Oladimeji pointed out that the state significantly contributes to the nation’s economic growth, citing the projected N2.75 trillion to the VAT pool in 2024, which accounts for 54% to 56% of total contributions and surpasses the cumulative contribution of the other 35 states and Abuja.

    He, however, lamented that despite these huge contributions, the federal government fell short of expectations and ironically allocated N460 billion to Lagos as VAT share, representing about 26.78% of its revenue generated as of 2024.

    Oladimeji, who is a professor of International business and management, stated this yesterday while delivering the 123rd inaugural lecture of Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, Ago-Iwoye, titled ‘International Business and Management: Debunking Myths and Unveiling Truths In the Nigerian Context.’

    He expressed the hope that with the current tax reforms initiated by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government, there would be a provision to address the unfair and non-commensurate VAT share allocation to Lagos State.

    He noted that the debate on resource control has persisted, dating back to the pre-independence era, stressing that if resource control were to be fairly implemented, it would enable States within the federation to achieve self-sustainability and rely minimally or not on federal allocations.

    Read Also: FG to close Ijora-Marine Bridge in Lagos for 21 days

    However, as part of his recommendations, he urged Nigerians, particularly young entrepreneurs, to launch into export business, leveraging the newly established Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, saying the idea that exporting requires significant capital investment is a myth and not a fact.

    The professor revealed that aside from the profitability and numerous export opportunities that require minimal capital for those who may not have substantial funds to invest in large quantities, he said it is feasible to begin export business with as little as N1,000,000.00 and still achieve profitability.

    He said, “Many people hold the belief that finding international buyers for Nigerian goods is difficult due to the misconception that there is minimal interest in our products overseas. This is far from accurate, as numerous global buyers are keen to acquire Nigerian goods.

    “Products such as traditional medicine and palm oil are well-received worldwide. The main obstacle lies in the insufficient marketing of these items. Insights from credible sources who have travelled extensively revealed that many consumers favour Nigerian products because they are often more affordable than local options.”

  • FG to close Ijora-Marine Bridge in Lagos for 21 days

    FG to close Ijora-Marine Bridge in Lagos for 21 days

    The Federal Government has announced temporary closure of the Ijora-Marine Bridge in Lagos State, from May 18, to carry out urgent repairs that will last for 21 days.

    The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, said in a statement on Tuesday that the closure would begin at 7.00 a.m. on Sunday (May 18).

    She said that some sections of the bridge would be completely closed, while others would experience partial closure during the period.

    Kesha said that the repairs would involve lifting the bridge deck to replace worn-out bearings and carrying out other critical maintenance work.

    According to her,  the aim is to make the bridge safer and more comfortable for motorists and pedestrians.

    Read Also: FG woos global investors, showcases Nigeria as Africa’s investment frontier

    Kesha said: “We understand the inconvenience this may cause, but this is a necessary step to keep the bridge in good condition and  ensure safety of all road users.”

    She added that traffic diversion had been carefully arranged and traffic officials would be on ground to guide motorists and ensure smooth flow of traffic.

    She also appealed to residents, commuters and business owners in the area to plan their movements ahead and give cooperation  during the period.

    “Safety signs and traffic management tools will be put in place to minimise disruption.

    “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and thank members of the public for their patience,” she added.

    (NAN)