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  • Retired civil servants urge Senate to reject bill on National Assembly clerk appointment

    Retired civil servants urge Senate to reject bill on National Assembly clerk appointment

    A coalition of retired civil servants in Nigeria has urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to intervene and stop a proposed bill that seeks to restrict the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) to only individuals with prior service within the legislative chambers.

    The Coalition of Patriots (Retired Civil Servants) condemned the bill, calling it “discriminatory, unjust, and a ticking time bomb.”

    In a letter to Akpabio, the group warned that the proposed legislation would create “a chaotic and destructive precedent” within the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) by preventing highly qualified civil servants from ascending to the top position.

    They claimed that the bill violates labour laws, undermines morale among civil servants, and erodes public confidence in the fairness of the legislative process.

    “This bill is an open violation of Nigerian labour laws, international best practices, and the fundamental principles of justice,” the coalition stated.

    “It is an insult to the commitment and service of these individuals who were engaged under clear employment terms, only to be told that their legitimate career aspirations would now be permanently blocked through legislative fiat.”

    The coalition accused lawmakers of attempting to create an exclusive class within the National Assembly, where political loyalty would take precedence over competence and experience. 

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    They expressed fears that, if passed, the bill would turn the NASC into a structure where “loyalty to lawmakers, rather than competence, determines promotion.”

    “This is a deliberate ploy to sideline highly qualified and competent officers within the National Assembly Service Commission—individuals who have dedicated their years to building institutional capacity,” the statement added.

    The group further warned that the bill could “trigger an unprecedented crisis within the National Assembly Service Commission, leading to mass outcry, protest, and disillusionment among staff members.”

    “The National Assembly should be seen as a model for best governance practices. If this bill is passed, it will reinforce the belief that laws are made to serve a few privileged individuals,” the coalition said.

    “When workers realize that their chances of career growth have been sealed off unfairly, it breeds dissatisfaction, apathy, and a toxic work environment.”

    “Public service roles must be open to all qualified candidates. Excluding NASC staff from becoming CAN is an unreasonable restriction on their rights as civil servants.”

    They listed ten reasons the bill is unjust, arguing that it contradicts the NASC Act, negates the principle of meritocracy, and sets a dangerous precedent that could encourage other government agencies to adopt exclusionary policies. 

    They also stated that the bill erodes public confidence in the National Assembly as a fair and just institution.

    “No credible legislature operates in a manner that deliberately sidelines experienced public officers in their own service commission,” the coalition noted.

    “If this bill is allowed to pass, other government agencies and institutions may begin adopting similarly exclusionary policies, which would ultimately fragment Nigeria’s civil service into unjustly divided classes.”

    The group urged the Senate to step down the bill immediately and instead focus on strengthening institutional capacity through merit-based promotions. 

    They insisted that any attempt to block career progression for NASC staff would have damaging consequences on both the commission and the National Assembly as a whole.

    They called on Akpabio to use his position to ensure that fairness and transparency remain the guiding principles of the National Assembly.

    The letter was signed by Comrade Bango Tsokwa Thomas, Convener; Mr. Anthony Oziani, Coalition Secretary; and Alhaji Abdulrazak Muhammad, Director of Media and Strategy.

  • National Assembly amends items in 2025 budget

    National Assembly amends items in 2025 budget

    The National Assembly on Tuesday amended some items in the 2025 budget, revising figures in the N54.9 trillion budget passed on February 13, 2025.

    During plenary, both the Senate and the House of Representatives made corrections to the budget allocations for various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), with some figures increased and others reduced.

    Francis Waive (APC, Delta), Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, presented the motion for the rescission, explaining that errors were identified by the Joint Appropriation Committee in the initial figures.

    Waive clarified that while the overall budget figure of N54.99 trillion, the statutory transfer of N3.64 trillion, and N14.317 trillion remained unchanged, adjustments were made to the recurrent (non-debt) expenditure of N13.558 trillion and the capital budget of N23.439 trillion.

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    According to him, the National Assembly on February 13 inadvertently  passed N13.064 trillion for recurrent expenditure and N23.93 as capital budget.  

    According to the document, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Police Affairs, National Pension Commission, Universities Pensions, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (civilian pensions),  Pension Transition Arrangement Directorate and a few other agencies had their budget figures reduced in the document that was earlier passed.

    Also, he said that the Presidency, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Office of the National Security Adviser, Office to the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security, Works, Labour and Employment, Transportation, Innovation, Science and Technology, Education, Environment, Health and social Welfare among others had their budget estimate increased in the document earlier passed.

    Waive said what was required of the Lawmakers was to effect the corrections identified in the document in the process of compilation by the Joint Committee, adding the rescission and passage will not in any way affect the main figure of N54.99.

  • National Assembly passes N54.99tr 2025 budget estimates

    National Assembly passes N54.99tr 2025 budget estimates

    The N54, 990, 165, 355, 396 proposed 2025 expenditure was yesterday passed by the National Assembly.

    The sum is N749.99 billion higher than N54.2 trillion estimates forwarded to both chambers of the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The estimates will now be presented to the President for assent.

    The Nation gathered that the newly created  Northcentral Development Commission and Southsouth   Development Commission, which hitherto were not accommodated in the budget, were allocated some funds.

    Also, the   Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had its budget increased by N100 billion from N40 billion. 

    Highlights of the N54,990,165,355,396 estimates include: N23,963,251,624,250  as   Capital Expenditure, N14,317,142,689,548.00, Debt Service;  N13,064,009,682,673,  Recurrent and Non-Debt Expenditure and N3,645,761,358,925, Statutory Transfers and Deficit to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 1.52 per cent.

    The passage of the budget followed the presentation, consideration and adoption of the recommendation of the joint Senate  and House of Representatives Committees on Appropriations.

    President  Tinubu    submitted  N49.7 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly for consideration and passage but later requested  that it be increased to N54.2 trillion

    He cited additional revenue of N4.2 trillion   available to the government as a reason.

    The report of the joint committees was presented by Chairman, the Senate Committee on Appropriation Solomon Adeola and his   House of Representatives counterpart,  Kabiru  Bichi, in both chambers.  

    According to the report, the joint committees of the Senate and  House of Representatives agreed on the figure after a series of meetings.

    In his presentation,  Adeola revealed that after a joint meeting with revenue-generating agencies, his committee realised the availability of additional revenue which it forwarded to the Executive for inclusion in the proposed budget.

    Abiola, who attributed the late presentation of the budget to changes in the leadership of the Budget Office, stated that with the passage of the Appropriation Bill, Nigeria would be running the capital component of its 2024 budget till June 30.

    Bichi  explained that as part of preparation for the budget defence by Ministries, Departments  and Agencies ( MDAs),  his committee held a one-day public hearing  to also receive inputs from Civil Society Organisations, captains of Industry; and development partners, among others

    He said: “While processing the bill, the Joint Committee on Appropriations met the President’s Economic Team which includes the Coordinating Minister of the Economy/Minister of Finance, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Minister of State, Finance, the Director General, Budget Office of the Federation, the Director General Debt Management Office and the Accountant General of the Federation, to further discuss the revenue projection and expenditure of the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

    “After the series of meetings held, the Committee on Finance, in conjunction with our Committee, sourced additional revenue from some revenue-generating agencies”.

    They include Government-Owned Enterprises (GOES)- Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), N1,823, 879, 970, 637 : N1,497,600,000,000 (Federal Government’s 52 per cent share of the increased in revenue from N22.1 trillion to N25.1 trillion after the deduction of cost of collection);  and   Nigerian Customs Service (NCS): N1,209,000,000,000 (Federal Government’s share of the increase in revenue from N6.5 trillion to N9 trillion after the deduction of cost of collection).

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    He further explained that “  N4,530,479,637 additional revenue realised from the above effort was communicated to the Executive, which applied for the funds to address critical challenges and advance the government’s development.”.

    Bichi added: “The recent action by the United States to suspend further intervention in the Nigerian Health sector through the provision of vaccines and drugs for malaria, Polio, HIV and Tuberculosis, using its agency, the  USAID,  will have adverse effects on Nigerians affected by such diseases.

    “On this note, the President proactively made a new provision of $200m, which is equivalent to N300b, in the Service Wide Votes to fill the gap created by the United States (US)   suspension of intervention to Nigerian Health sector, to proactively address the above-mentioned health challenges  which are currently being suffered by countries like Uganda and others.

    “Similarly, some critical agencies of government forwarded genuine requests to Mr President for additional funding..

    After thorough examination by the Joint Appropriations Committee, additional funds were provided to the agencies which include: the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC), National Judicial Council (NJC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Department of State Service (DSS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Armed Forces, among others.’’

    He said the budget size was increased to cater for some critical needs which include a N270 billion differential between the details of the budget and the bill;   $200 million or N300 billion for procurement of vaccines and drugs.

    Some government agencies, according to him,  were provided funds to take care of critical needs.

    The chairman explained that the joint committees worked harmoniously with the   National Assembly leadership and the Executive in the processing of the budget.

    “This ensured maximum collaboration of the two arms in the utilisation of additional revenue projection, to improve the funding of some critical projects, which could not be adequately funded in the budget proposal earlier submitted by Mr. President, due to funding constraints,” Bichi said.

    Noting that the appropriation bill was presented late to the National Assembly, Bichi advised the  Executive to ensure that future presentations were done not later than three months before the end of every financial year.  

    Senator Musa hails  Tinubu, N’Assembly 

    Senate Committee on Finance Chairman   Sani Musa commended President  Tinubu and the National Assembly for the speedy passage of the budget.

    Musa, who spoke on the television, also shed light on the increase from   N49.7 trillion to N54.99 trillion.

    He said he was particularly enthralled that the President did not interfere with the budget passage.

    He said: “I want to commend His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) for bringing this budget and, more importantly, for allowing the National Assembly to look at it critically, assess it, and ensure that it is workable for this country.”

    Musa also  said he was happy  with the  National Assembly for ‘’reviewing the budget proposal within a limited time frame and ensuring a thorough assessment of revenue-generating agencies to optimise national resources.’’

    He explained that by engaging Government Owned-Enterprises (GOES), the joint committees were able to identify revenue leakages and gain insight into the potential for increased contributions to the consolidated revenue fund.

    “For instance, from the Nigerian Customs Service, we were able to identify an additional N1.2 trillion through better revenue collection and minimising leakages. Similarly, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) showed that we could save about N1.497 trillion by improving efficiency and leveraging technology in tax collection,” he said.

    Musa acknowledged the economic hardship in the country, saying that economic transformations take time.

    “If you look at the slope of every change in terms of inflation and GDP, you will never hear that GDP jumps from 10 to 30 overnight. It moves in bits. Economic recovery is gradual, but I can assure you that the Nigerian economy is not in bad shape,” he added.

    Musa alluded to Nigeria’s recent Eurobond issuance as evidence of investor confidence in the country’s economic outlook.

    “When we went to the market for a $2.2 billion Eurobond, the subscription was close to $9 billion. It was oversubscribed. That alone tells you that people have confidence in our economy,” he said.

    Wike: FCT achieved 90% 2024 budget performance

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has achieved 90 per cent of its N1.1 trillion 2024 budget.

    FCT Minister Nyesom Wike made this known after inspecting some on-going projects in the territory yesterday.

    The projects are the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, the road network and the ongoing renovation of the International Conference Centre (ICC).

    Others are the two interchanges at the Ahmadu Bello Way. One connects the  Wole Soyinka Way and another links the  Wole Soyinka Way with the Murtala Mohammed Expressway.

    Wike explained that all the projects were captured in the 2024 budget whose implementation had been extended to June 2025.

    He added that new projects were captured in the 2025 FCT proposed budget, which President Bola Tinubu would submit to the National Assembly for appropriation in due course.

    The minister, who expressed satisfaction with the spate of work, said the ICC would be completed and handed over in late April or early May.

    He also said that the contractor executing the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal would hand over the completed project in September.

    Wike said: “We have agreed with Gilmor, the contractor executing the two interchanges, that the project would be ready for inauguration to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of Tinubu’s administration.

    “The contractors are doing well, and we are equally up to date on our payment so as not to give them an excuse to default on the delivery dates.” 

  • Center demands probe into alleged corruption against lawmakers

    Center demands probe into alleged corruption against lawmakers

    The Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI) is alarmed by corruption allegations involving members of the National Assembly, particularly the claims that some legislators demanded bribes from Vice-Chancellors of universities in exchange for budget approvals.

    “These allegations, if proven true, represent a gross abuse of power, a betrayal of public trust, and a blatant violation of the oversight functions enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution,” according to a statement by Victor Agi, Head, Public Relations at CFTPI.

    The Centre condemned the alleged practices in the strongest terms, saying such actions, which are not only unethical but also inimical to national development, undermine the integrity of public institutions, perpetuate systemic corruption, and deprive Nigerians of quality education and infrastructure.

    “We call for an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into the serious allegations to ensure that those found culpable are held accountable. The National Assembly, as the people’s representatives, is constitutionally mandated to perform supervision that guarantees fiscal discipline and accountability.

    “When office holders exploit responsibilities for personal gain, they betray public trust and erode the foundation of democracy and governance. This latest development reflects a recurring pattern of abuse of power, as seen in previous scandals involving federal lawmakers. A history of legislative corruption further illustrates this trend,” said Agi.

    The CFTPI spokesperson recalled when the former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, in 2016, exposed how the House of Representatives leadership allegedly padded the national budget with over ₦250 billion worth of projects, and said Jibrin’s suspension, instead of an investigation, illustrated the entrenched resistance to transparency.

    “Reports of legislators requesting bribes from heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in exchange for favorable evaluations or budget approvals are rampant. This corrupt practice weakens governance institutions and compromises service delivery to Nigerians. Some lawmakers have manipulated the budget and inserted projects awarded to associates or shell companies, ignoring essential infrastructure.

    “Constituency projects have been characterized by inflated costs, substandard execution, or non-execution; misappropriation has robbed citizens of the benefits meant for their communities. Despite the efforts of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) through its Constituency and Executive Project Tracking initiatives, frivolous constituency projects are found in budgets.

    “Furthermore, the National Assembly’s use of probe panels to investigate corruption has itself become a conduit for further corrupt practices. Over the years, a litany of grand corruption-related probes has been set up since 1999, only for most to be abandoned for unjustified reasons, raising questions about the true intentions behind such inquiries.

    “Inquiries often become avenues for political bargaining, cover-ups, or selective justice. The Center’s Probes Monitor portal provides comprehensive documentation of abandoned investigations, underscoring the urgent need for a functional and independent legislative oversight mechanism that prioritizes genuine accountability over vested interests,” CFTPI notes.

    The organisation demanded urgent reforms, including independent investigations and prosecutions by relevant anti-corruption agencies. “Strengthening institutional oversight is critical, and the executive, the judiciary, civil society groups and the media must play a more active role in ensuring that the National Assembly operates with transparency and integrity.”

    Stressing that the legislature is not above the law and must be held to the highest standards of accountability, the Center, led by Dr. Umar Yakubu, calls for the resubmission of the Whistleblower Protection Bill and encourages Nigerians to rise against legislative corruption by continually pushing for accountability from their representatives.

    “Past attempts to expose corruption in the National Assembly have been met with intimidation and victimization. Therefore, whistleblowers must be protected and incentivized to expose corruption without fear of retaliation. Constituents should monitor the activities of lawmakers, engage in public discourse, and reject leaders who abuse their positions,” the statement added.

  • Federal college teachers complain about lack of promotion

    Federal college teachers complain about lack of promotion

    Globally, teacher promotion is important since it can motivate them to perform better and deliver education more efficiently. Promotion can also improve the status and prestige of teachers, which can lead to better outcomes for students. It can also motivate teachers to perform better, which can lead to better outcomes for their pupils.

    Owing to these facts, many teachers at the Federal Government Colleges are complaining about dwindling prospects of promotion, it was learnt yesterday.

    Teachers have members of the National Assembly to probe the results of the recent promotion interviews.

    They wondered how a large number of teachers would fail the interview woefully.

    Of the 723 teachers who went for the promotion interview from Grade 14 to 15 recently, only 53 were promoted.

    Also, among 1,228 federal unity teachers seeking promotion to Grade 15 and 16, only 14 were successful.

    While 442 went for the positions of Director (Grade 17), only three were promoted.

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    Some of the teachers, who spoke with our correspondent in Lagos, appealed to the Federal Ministry of Education to create vacancies for career progression, adding that it would enhance performance.

    Since the federal ministry has a director of Basic Education, the aggrieved teachers urged the ministry to separate JSS1-3 from SS1-3.

    Lagos State and other states have separated the principals of junior from senior secondary school.

    Last year, teachers on Grade Level 15 and above could not write promotion examinations. The implication is that the number of teachers who will write this year may increase.

    Urging the ministry to consider the plight of deprived teachers, one of them said: “Stagnation in the ministry is contributing to depression, frustration and death of the citizens.

    “They should help the staff to look into this. Separating the schools will create more vacancies. We don’t even know when they will implement the Teachers salary Scale (TSS) introduced by former President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Following the low number of teachers during the examinations, most teachers The Nation interviewed urged the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, to look into the issue.

  • Appointment of National Assembly Clerk must be merit-based, transparent – Abbas

    Appointment of National Assembly Clerk must be merit-based, transparent – Abbas

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has said that appointment or Clerk of the National Assembly should be based on merit and career progression in the legislature. 

    The Speaker, who spoke when he recieved the outgoing Chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission disclosed that along with the Senate President, he was sponsoring a bill to amend the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) Act to ensure merit and transparency in the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly.

    The Clerk to the National Assembly, who heads the bureaucratic arm of the National Assembly, oversees the workforce and administration of the complex, among other responsibilities.

    The Speaker decried the controversies that usually surround the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly, adding that workers who have built their careers along the legislative line should head the bureaucracy of the federal parliament.

    The National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), led by the Chairman, Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi were in the Assembly to present their exit report to the Speaker

    Speaker Abbas said: “One persistent challenge facing the National Assembly Service has been the lack of a well-defined succession plan. The recurring crisis surrounding the appointment of the Clerk to the National Assembly and other key positions highlight the need for urgent reform. 

    “The absence of clarity in succession plan undermines the service’s stability and efficiency. As the legislative arm of government, the National Assembly cannot afford such disruptions.

    “To address this, I am pleased to inform you that the National Assembly, led by my counterpart in the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, GCON, along with myself, has initiated amendments to the NASC Act. These amendments aim to streamline the qualifications and processes for appointing key officers, thereby ensuring merit-based and transparent succession.

    “Furthermore, the amendments will provide new entrants into the Service with clear guidelines on career progression, eliminating controversies surrounding promotions and aligning the scheme of service with the broader vision of the Commission and the National Assembly.”

    He reaffirmed the steadfast commitment of the House to fostering a strong and collaborative partnership with the NASC.

    “As partners, we commit to fostering an efficient, productive, and professional National Assembly Service,” he said, adding that through collective efforts, the House would ensure that the National Assembly “continues to grow and develop to serve the evolving and complex needs (of the National Assembly) and the constituents we represent.”

    According to him, the presentation upholds a commendable tradition that has not only been sustained but also deepened the institutional development of the Commission over the past 25 years. He added that it emphasises the core values of accountability, transparency, and continuity, which are essential for effective governance.

    While acknowledging the vital role parliamentary service commissions play in developing and consolidating democracies, particularly in developing democracies, Abbas said the NASC has been a crucial pillar for the effective functioning of the National Assembly, facilitating its evolution into the dynamic institution it is today.

    “In contrast to the Federal Civil Service Commission and the Judicial Service Commission, which have long histories and greater resources, the NASC has faced significant challenges. Nevertheless, it has made impressive progress in enhancing the institutional capacity of the National Assembly, ensuring it meets its constitutional responsibilities.”

    He congratulated the outgoing chairman of the NASC, Engr. Ahmed Kadi Amshi and his team of Commissioners, while thanking them for their service to the National Assembly and Nigeria, the Speaker stated that over the past five years, their stewardship has advanced the Commission’s mission and vision and strengthened the institutional backbone of the legislative process.

    He noted that their efforts in upholding the Commission’s mandate as a cornerstone of democracy, while fostering professionalism within the National Assembly bureaucracy, are highly commendable.

    He said: “Over the last 25 years, the National Assembly has achieved significant milestones. The legislature has transformed into a formidable institution, contributing to national development through effective lawmaking, oversight, and representation. The remarkable growth of the various organs and agencies of the National Assembly highlights the importance of institutional development.

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    “However, we must not rest on our laurels. The journey to establish a strong, independent, and productive legislature requires continuous improvement, innovation, and a commitment to excellence.”

    The Speaker said the NASC must continue to focus on recruiting capable personnel with the requisite skill sets, enhancing the capacity of its workforce, and maintaining discipline within the Service.

    “Without these essential elements, no institution can thrive. A well-trained and disciplined bureaucracy forms the foundation of an effective legislature. The National Assembly Service must be primed to attract and retain the best talents while fostering a culture of professionalism and integrity,” he stated.

    Presenting a 13-page document to the Speaker, Amshi highlighted the challenges and successes of the NASC in the last five years.

    The chairman noted that the outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Magaji Tambuwal, would retire in five days’ time, while the outgoing NASC board would be working with the incoming Clerk to the National Assembly, Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana for only five days before the end of its tenure.

  • National Assembly postpones resumption till February 4

    National Assembly postpones resumption till February 4

    The National Assembly has postponed its resumption earlier, fixed for January 28 till February 4.

    The Clerks to the Senate and House of Representatives disclosed this in separate statements in Abuja.

    In an internal memo dated Friday 24th January 2025, and addressed to all Senators titled: ‘Change in Resumption Date,’ the Clerk to the Senate, Andrew Nwoba, said: “Please be informed that there is a change in the resumption date due to the ongoing budget defence.

    “It has been rescheduled from Tuesday, 28th January 2025, to  Tuesday, 4th February  2025, at 11:00 am. prompt.”

    The House of Representatives also announced the postponement of its resumption in a statement by its Spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi, Jr., titled: ‘House of Representatives Postpones Resumption of Plenary to Tuesday, February 4, 2025.’

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    The statement reads in part:

    “The House of Representatives has announced the postponement of its plenary resumption, previously scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, 2025. The new date for resumption is now set for Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

    “This development was communicated to Honourable Members through an internal memorandum issued by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, Esq., on the directive of the House Leadership.

    “The postponement is necessary to allow Committees sufficient time to conclude ongoing budget engagements and defences with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

    “This measure ensures a thorough and comprehensive approach to legislative responsibilities.

    “The House remains committed to fulfilling its legislative mandate for the benefit of Nigerians and appreciates the understanding of all stakeholders.”

  • National Assembly postpones resumption

    National Assembly postpones resumption

    The National Assembly has postponed its resumption fixed for January 28 till February 4.

    The Clerks to the Senate and House of Representatives disclosed this in separate statements in Abuja. 

    An internal memo dated Friday 24th January, 2025 addressed to all Senators titled: “Change in resumption date” the Clerk to the Senate, Andrew Nwoba, reads: “Please be informed that there is a change in the resumption date due to the ongoing budget defence. 

    “It has been rescheduled from Tuesday, 28th January 2025, to  Tuesday, 4th February  2025, at 11:00 am. prompt.”

    The House of Representatives also announced the postponement of its resumption in a statement by its Spokesman, Rep. Akin Rotimi, Jr., titled: “House of Representatives Postpones Resumption of Plenary to Tuesday, February 4, 2025”

    The statement reads in part: 

    The House of Representatives has announced the postponement of its plenary resumption, previously scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, 2025. The new date for resumption is now set for Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

    “This development was communicated to Honourable Members through an internal memorandum issued by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, Esq., on the directive of the House Leadership.

    “The postponement is necessary to allow Committees sufficient time to conclude ongoing budget engagements and defences with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). 

    “This measure ensures a thorough and comprehensive approach to legislative responsibilities.

    “The House remains committed to fulfilling its legislative mandate for the benefit of Nigerians and appreciates the understanding of all stakeholders.

  • National Assembly queries ministry over ‘N2b youth training project’

    National Assembly queries ministry over ‘N2b youth training project’

    • Technical Audit on Ajaokuta Steel firm to begin next month, says minister

    The joint National Assembly Committee on Steel Development yesterday reprimanded the Ministry of Steel Development for allegedly usurping projects meant for statutory agencies under it.

    It directed that the action be reversed in this year’s fiscal year.

    Amid the drama, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, assured the committee that the long-awaited technical audit on the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited would begin next month.

    The panel also queried the ministry over N2 billion said to have been set aside for a boot camp to train youths in metal works but captured differently in the 2024 budget.

    During the 2024 budget appraisal session, the committee’s Co-chairman Zainab Gimba, had asked Abubakar to explain why a 2024 project, titled: Youth Boot Camp Training, in an advertisement calling for applications from eligible Nigerians was captured differently in the 2024 budget line as “technical support for SMEs for training around foundry production in three geopolitical zones”.

    Gimba wondered why a training project captured as technical support for SMEs was advertised by the ministry as training boot camp for 700 youths.

    The committee’s Vice Chairman Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan said the action, if not urgently corrected, could land the minister in the net of anti-graft agencies as it could be misconstrued as an act of misappropriation.

    Akpoti-Uduaghan said: “Let me note this now. This is already a public record. If anyone here has access to this information, which I’m sure they do, and decides to write a petition to the EFCC, you and your team could be arrested for this.

    “I hope you understand, because what this means is that you are carrying out an exercise that is not contained in the budget, and that leads to misappropriation of funds…”

    Also, Gimba said: “Please, we are asking you to do that now. Let me just clarify. As a rider to what you are saying, let me tell you, Honourable Minister, that before we came into this meeting, I spoke with the Permanent Secretary, telling him that this thing is not correct; let’s correct it because no human being is perfect. We cannot all be perfect.

    “Maybe in the procedure, there are things that are not done. We are not here in the National Assembly to wait for you to make mistakes and then we say you have done something wrong. But it is in the procedure. If I want, I can keep quiet. After doing the whole thing, executing it, I can say you are wrong and then you cannot reverse it…”

    The chairman of the joint committee, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, noted that since the minister claimed that the execution of the project had reached an advanced procurement stage, the ministry should collaborate with one of its agency, the Metallurgical Training Institute in Onitsha, Anambra State, to execute it.

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    He suggested that similar projects in this year’s budget of the ministry be returned to the appropriate agencies for execution.

    Audu promised to abide by the directive of the joint panel.

    Confirming that the technical audit on the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited would begin in February, the minister affirmed that the technical audit would pave the way for the rehabilitation, completion, and operation of the steel plant and the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) in Kogi State.

    The Federal Government had signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the original firm that built the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, Messrs, Tyazhpromexport (TPE), and members of its consortium, Messrs Novostal M and Proforce Manufacturing Limited, for the technical audit since last September.

    Akpoti-Uduaghan asked the minister to give a definite date for the commencement of the technical audit.

    She said: “Honourable Minister, can I ask a question, please? When was the MoU entered into? Which month? Can you tell us the month that the MoU on Ajaokuta was entered?”

    Responding, Audu said the document was signed last September.

    Akpoti-Uduaghan wondered why the ministry had not done anything, four months after the MoU was signed.

    She said: “We are now approaching the end of January. When will the technical audit start? This is because I believe we should tackle that project wholesomely. We need to start with a technical audit so that the buildup of repairs will commence immediately.

    “Can you tell us when we would expect the Russians with their partners to commence the technical audit because time is going?”

    Responding, Audu said: “I had a conversation with the Permanent Secretary this morning (Wednesday) on the commencement date.”

    The minister directed the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chris Osa-Isokpunwu, to brief the committee on the commencement of the technical audit.

    Osa-Isokpunwu said: “Immediately after the signing of the MoU, the ministry commenced the procurement process for the technical and financial audit.

    “Advertisements were made; time was given. The stage we are now is the preparation to present it to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.

    “Once that presentation is made and the Federal Executive Council approves the project, then the technical audit will start.”

    Apparently not pleased with the permanent secretary’s explanation, Akpoti-Uduaghan demanded a definite date the proposed technical audit would start.

    She said: “The Federal Executive Council sits every week. Are you guaranteeing Nigerians that at the next Federal Executive Council, the technical audit proposal will be approved?”

    Osa-Isokpunwu said: “What I would say at this point is that as soon as we get the ‘No Objection’ to proceed to the Federal Executive Council by the Bureau of Public Procurement, we will take the memorandum to the Federal Executive Council.

    “That will be based on the availability of slots for the presentation of memos at FEC. I do not run the secretariat of FEC.

    “However, once the Bureau of Public Procurement issues us the certificate of no objection, within 48 hours after, the honourable minister will transmit the memo to the Secretariat of FEC.”

  • National Assembly accuses minister of lopsided project implementation

    National Assembly accuses minister of lopsided project implementation

    • ‘70% of projects located in one state’
    • Why we okayed tariff increase for telcos, by Tijani
    • Alausa: Govt partners governors on out-of-school children menace
    • Fed Govt confident budget plans will boost economic growth

    Members of the Senate and House of Representatives joint Committee on Regional Development yesterday accused Regional Development Minister Abubakar Momoh of disregarding the principles of federal character in the distribution of projects under the defunct Ministry for Niger Delta Development.

    The lawmakers alleged that 70 per cent of the ministry’s projects for 2024 were domiciled in Edo State.

    They wondered why it so happened when the ministry was set up to take care of the interest of the entire Niger Delta region.

    One of the members, Chinedu Ogar (APC, Ebonyi), who echoed the view of some other members, said: “Honorable Minister, I am happy that you are a product of the National Assembly. My constituents are not happy with your budget because it negates the constitutional principle of Federal Character. About 70 per cent of your projects are located in Edo State. Why?”

    The committee did not allow Momoh to respond to the question on camera. The lawmakers asked reporters to leave the hearing room for them to go into an executive session.

    While presenting the 2024 budget performance, the minister had told the joint committee members that out of the N20 billion allocated to the ministry last year for capital budget, N2 billion was provided for zonal intervention.

    Momoh said: “The 2024 budget of the ministry was a budget for the Ministry for Niger Delta Development. Accordingly, the sum of N20.16 billion was allocated for capital expenditure; N1.127 billion was for overhead, and N2.01 billion for personnel.

    “It is important to note that out of the N20 billion allocated for capital expenditure, the ministry’s envelope was about N18 billion while about N2 billion was provision to the Leader of the House for his zonal intervention projects.

    “For the releases so far, only N1.8 billion has been released for capital; overhead is N1.1 billion, while in respect to personnel, all the workers have been paid. The performance in relation to the releases is 100 per cent.”

    Momoh explained that the 2024 budgetary allocation of N23.336 billion to the Ministry was considered meager, considering the yearnings and aspirations of the region.

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Olajide Ipinsagba, said the transformation of the former Ministry of Niger Delta Development into the Ministry of Regional Development was a landmark decision that reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable national development.

    Also, the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has said the Federal Government is partnering governors to tackle the menace of out-of-school children in the country.

    Alausa said this during the 2025 budget defence session organised by the joint Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund and Education yesterday in Abuja.

    The minister said the ministry had met with the governors and all the 36 education commissioners, including that of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to find lasting solution to the challenge.

    He said: “We’re working together on this. So, it now has to be a collaborative effort on what we have to do. The number of the out-of-school-children is mind-boggling and disturbing. It is not in just one geopolitical region; it is everywhere.

    “We need to confront it, else we will be consumed by it. We have to engage with our governors. We have held meetings with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) on how to collaborate on this.

    “We are also working with all the 36 commissioners for education, including that of the FCT.”

    Read Also: National Assembly joint finance committee probe N4tr revenue shortfall due to waivers

    Alausa regretted that the Almajiri schools built during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan were abandoned. The minister called for their revival.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Regional Development, Eugene Okechukwu, asked the ministry to ensure an equitable distribution of projects among the various states and regions.

    Also, Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Bosun Tijani yesterday said the Federal Government approved the recent increase in the tariff of telecommunication companies by 50 per cent.

    He attributed the approval to rising operational cost and inflation.

    The minister, who spoke when he appeared before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Communications, also said the government was planning to invest about N6 billion to deploy 90,000 kilometres of fiber optic cable to expand the country’s capacity from 35,000 kilometres to 125,000 kilometres.

    Tijani said the tariff increase was in tandem with broader economic patterns, where tariffs lead to higher consumer prices as a result of additional costs on imported goods.

    The minister explained that tariffs act as a sales tax, causing a one-off price increase rather than sustained inflation.

    According to him, the planned deployment of more fibre optic cable is an initiative aimed at fostering growth in critical communication sectors in the country.

    He said: “Outside of South Africa and maybe Egypt, perhaps Tunisia, a lot of countries have a serious deficit in cable. This is going to become a big business.

    “We want Nigerian companies not only to lay in Nigeria but become companies that will provide these services for neighboring countries as well.

    “We want our people to become the employees that will go out and do this work. We’ve seen more companies, like those in South Africa, being off the back of global business. They can now create security but not only have to.

    “So, this is something we focus on. On security, we’ve seen a problem. You cannot secure a society if you don’t have strong communications.

    “What most people don’t pay attention to is that historically, we’ve left investment of telecommunications infrastructure to private companies and these private companies will only go to where they can make money. In fact, they use a data set, which is called night-time satellite data, which will look down on the economy at night.

    “They will see where light exists, and that’s where they will put their money. It’s because those lights, for them, indicate economic activities.”

    Also, the Federal Government has expressed confidence that strategic resource allocation and prudent financial management will drive Nigeria’s development priorities and strengthen economic prosperity.

    The Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, gave the government’s assurance during the ministry’s 2025 budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance yesterday in Abuja.

    Uzoka-Anite noted that the 2025 budget aligned with national priorities, focusing on critical areas, such as economic development, infrastructure enhancement, and sustainable fiscal practices.

    The minister reiterated the ministry’s commitment to fostering economic growth and stability in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

    Representing the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, Dr. Uzoka-Anite outlined the ministry’s pivotal role in shaping fiscal policies to achieve the government’s objectives.

    She affirmed that the proposed budget reflected a deliberate effort to build a resilient and thriving economy for the benefit of all Nigerians.

    Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, and key directors, Dr. Uzoka-Anite assured the committee that the ministry would continue to prioritise policy implementation aimed at improving the lives of millions of citizens.

    In her presentation, Mrs. Jafiya provided an overview of the ministry’s 2024 budget performance, noting that the funds were largely allocated to overheads, personnel expenses, and limited capital projects.

    She explained that the proposed 2025 budget incorporated provisions for addressing the ministry’s pressing needs, including upgrades to its headquarters to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery.

    “The additional resources in the 2025 budget will support essential upgrades to the Ministry’s infrastructure, ensuring a conducive working environment that improves efficiency,” Mrs. Jafiya explained.

    Following the ministry’s presentation, the Committee’s Chairman, James Faleke, hailed the team for their detailed submissions.

    He assured them that the committee would review the proposal thoroughly and communicate its decisions in due course.