Tag: tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated his longtime friend and political associate, Prof. Segun Gbadegesin, on the occasion of his 80th birthday, describing the renowned philosopher as a fearless democrat whose life of scholarship and activism has left an enduring mark on Nigeria’s democracy and educational development.

In a statement issued on Friday by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, to mark the milestone birthday on December 20, the President rejoiced with the octogenarian scholar, noting that Prof. Gbadegesin devoted his knowledge, wisdom and intellect to national service, with a resonating impact on democracy, good governance and academic excellence.

President Tinubu recalled the courage, brilliance and clarity of purpose that defined Gbadegesin’s role as a US-based democratic activist during the struggle to return Nigeria to civil rule in the 1990s, including the campaign for the recognition of the winner of the June 12 presidential election.

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He acknowledged that the philosopher’s commitment to democratic ideals sometimes put his life on the line, underscoring his steadfast loyalty to the cause of freedom and justice.

The President also highlighted Gbadegesin’s contributions to Nigeria’s educational development through decades of research, insightful articles, book authorship, teaching and counselling, which, he said, have produced a strong legacy of discipline, focus and resourcefulness among students and colleagues alike.

“As Gbadegesin turns an octogenarian, the President believes his influence in academia, governance and democratic institutions will continue to expand, particularly in politics, philosophy and economics, where he remains an authority,” the statement said.

President Tinubu joined members of Gbadegesin’s family, friends and associates in celebrating the milestone, which he said is coloured by memories of loyalty, service and patriotism.

He prayed that Almighty God would bless the eminent professor with good health, renewed strength and greater wisdom to continue serving the nation he loves.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated veteran broadcaster, Chief Bisi Olatilo, on his 72nd birthday, describing him as a media icon whose work continues to enrich Nigeria’s cultural life and national development.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Friday to mark Olatilo’s birthday on December 20, the President extolled the broadcaster, polyglot and founder of Biscon Communications for his pioneering role in broadcast journalism and his enduring commitment to professionalism in the media industry.

President Tinubu noted that Olatilo, who still anchors the popular Bisi Olatilo Show, has become an institution and a widely respected voice in Nigeria’s celebrity and cultural media space.

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“Otunba Bisi, at 72, you have become an institution and a widely respected voice in Nigeria’s celebrity media circle, primarily through the Bisi Olatilo Show, which has transformed into a must-see item in social circles and a veritable source of enlightenment and mentorship,” the President said.

He further described the celebrant as more than a broadcaster, highlighting his contributions to the conservation and promotion of Nigerian arts and culture, which he said underscore Olatilo’s belief in national unity and socio-economic development.

“You are more than a broadcaster. Your role in the conservation and promotion of Nigerian arts and culture stands you tall as a true believer in the unity and socio-economic development of our dear nation. You are a true master of your trade,” President Tinubu added.

The President wished the respected media practitioner good health, renewed strength and many more years of fulfilment, as he continues to deploy his wealth of experience in advancing Nigeria’s media industry.

• …Orders MDAs to meet revenue targets

• …‘We’ll spend with purpose, manage debt with discipline’

• …Defence, infrastructure, education take priority

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday presented a ₦58.37 trillion 2026 national budget to a joint session of the National Assembly, pledging strict and disciplined implementation, stronger revenue mobilisation, and an uncompromising fight against wasteful spending.

Presenting the Appropriation Bill, the President declared that the era of budget indiscipline was over, stressing that every naira spent must deliver measurable public value.

He described the proposal as a decisive break from wasteful governance, vowing that his administration would spend with purpose, manage debt with discipline, and enforce tougher public finance management.

The 2026 budget is anchored on projected revenue of ₦34.33 trillion, with a deficit of ₦23.85 trillion, representing about 4.28 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.

President Tinubu directed all ministries, departments, and agencies to meet their revenue targets, warning that failure to do so would attract sanctions.

In one of the strongest reform messages of his address, the President said the days of weak remittances and fiscal indiscipline were over, noting that government spending would henceforth be driven by outcomes rather than sentiment.

“We will continue to reduce waste, strengthen growth, and ensure that every naira spent delivers measurable public value,” he told lawmakers.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to value-for-money spending, tighter procurement controls, and improved monitoring of capital projects, adding that recurrent expenditure would be tightly controlled while borrowing would be limited to growth-enhancing projects.

Defence and security received the highest allocation of ₦5.41 trillion, with the President describing national security as the foundation of development and stressing increased investment in technology-driven surveillance and intelligence.

“We will invest in security to secure lives, livelihoods, and the future of Nigeria,” he said.

Highlighting a strong push for infrastructure and human capital development, President Tinubu said infrastructure spending has been scaled up by 3.5 times, targeting roads, rail, power, and ports. Education was allocated ₦3.62 trillion, while health and social services received ₦2.48 trillion to deepen investment in human capital.

The President also outlined ongoing reforms in the oil and foreign exchange sectors, noting that the budget assumptions are based on improved crude oil production and a more stable exchange rate.

Citing gains already recorded, Tinubu pointed to the rollout of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, which he said has impacted over 700,000 students, alongside healthcare reforms and expanded social programmes, as evidence that his administration’s reforms are yielding results.

• …applauds latest appointments of Eyesan, Mohammed

Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) on Friday hailed President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing reforms in the oil and gas sector.

The group also hailed the president’s decision to appoint Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as CEO of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of the Nigeria Mid-Stream and Downstream Regulatory Authority.

PANDEF National Chairman, Godknows Igali, said with the ongoing reforms and latest appointments, “Mr. President is set to take the Nigerian oil and gas sector on a quantum leap into the future.”

He therefore urged the president to make the reforms a holistic one so as to ensure that the sector plays its paramount role in the country’s economic development.

He said, “We, the people of the Niger Delta, are greatly impressed with these changes, and hope that the holistic reforms will be sustained. This is the only way to ensure that the oil and gas industry continues to play the paramount role that it has been doing for the common economic interest of all Nigerians and places Nigeria as a dominant player in the global energy architecture.”

Igali also listed other expectations from the region to include expanding the environmental cleanup beyond the Ogoni to other oil-producing communities.

The group also urged the government to promote the building of modular refineries in the Niger Delta.

He said, “Furthermore, we look forward to sustained efforts of the Federal Government in putting in place a robust programme for the environmental remediation of the Niger Delta. The Federal Government must go beyond the Ogoni Clean-up to ensure that there is a budgetary provision on an annual basis to clean up the damaged environments of the Niger Delta in a sustained manner.

“These changes present another opportunity to call on the Federal Government to put in place a robust programme to promote the building of modular refineries in the Niger Delta.”

Igali also reminded the government of its commitment to set up a Modular Refinery Development Fund, similar to the Solid Minerals Development Fund.

“This must be urgently looked into and encouraged as a way of carrying more host communities along in implementing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), creating more economic activities in the Niger Delta and ensuring that the sector has greater stability for the overall good of the country,” Igali said.

While hailing the President for the recent appointments in the oil and gas sector, especially that of Eyesan, PANDEF also used the opportunity to seek more appointments for qualified individuals from the region.

“PANDEF again take this opportunity to express the hope that, as Mr. President will continue to follow through with these reforms in the sector, with more sons and daughters of the Niger Delta from where the country has the highest number of experienced professionals in the sector, would be brought into other top positions within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the industry at large.”

On the latest appointments t of Eyesan and Mohammed into two downstream regulatory agencies, the group said it was pleasant news to them and indeed the entire Niger Delta with great appreciation and expectation.

Igali said, “We particularly applaud the appointment of one of Nigeria’s most competent professionals in the oil and gas sector, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, as CEO of Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), saying that “indeed, this particular appointment could be described as putting a square peg in a square hole, and we thank His Excellency, President Bola Anmed Tinubu, GCER, for this.

PANDEF said the new appointee, Mrs. Eyesan, is a seasoned economist who has left her mark in the Nigerian petroleum industry, having previously served as Executive Vice President (Upstream) in NNPC.

 In all her professional life, she has always left a mark of diligence, excellence, and impact, wherever she served. She showcases a panache, making all Nigerians, and indeed, our womenfolk, exceptionally proud of her service to the country.

PANDEF equality applauded the appointment of Nigerian, Engr. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority.

Igali also assured the federal government of the group’s commitment to mobilise the people behind the government to ensure an enabling environment in the region.

“Finally, as the apex body representing host communities, PANDEF reaffirms its commitment to working closely with Federal and State governments in mobilising our people to ensure that the right enabling environment exists for this important sector to continue to play its deserved role.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Chief Michael Abiodun Ponnle, founder of MicCom Engineering Nigeria Limited and a renowned businessman, industrialist, and philanthropist.

Chief Ponnle, an accomplished engineer, died at the age of 86.

Until his passing, he was the Chairman of the popular MicCom Wires and Cable Company and proprietor of the MicCom Golf and Resort in Ada, Osun State.

In a condolence message issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the late Ponnle as a visionary professional whose contributions to the engineering sector and Nigeria’s economic development were significant and enduring.

He noted that the industrialist distinguished himself through dedication, innovation, and integrity, building MicCom Engineering Nigeria Limited into a reputable indigenous engineering and industrial firm.

“Engineer Ponnle provided employment opportunities to many young people. He contributed meaningfully to national development as he also helped to uplift his immediate community,” the President said.

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Tinubu also highlighted Chief Ponnle’s lasting impact on the tourism industry, particularly through the establishment of the MicCom Golf and Resort in his hometown of Ada, Osun State.

He further acknowledged the late businessman’s investments in the state’s educational sector, describing them as part of his broader commitment to human capital development.

The President extended his heartfelt condolences to the Ponnle family, the management and staff of MicCom Engineering Nigeria Limited, as well as the friends and professional associates of the deceased.

He prayed for comfort and strength for the bereaved family and for the peaceful repose of the soul of the late elder statesman.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday wrote to the National Assembly seeking the approval of the lawmakers to extend the life span of the 2025 budget to March 2026.

The letter dated December 18 and read at plenary on Friday by the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, is also seeking permission to consolidate the capital components of the 2024 and 2025.

The letter came ahead of the planned consideration of the earlier letter on the two budgets by the House, with the President saying in the letter that the new one supersedes the earlier correspondence dated December 16.

He explained that the request is part of a broader Fiscal reform measure aimed at eliminating the overlap of multiple concurrently running budgets, thereby strengthening planning, execution, and accountability across government expenditure circles.

The letter reads, “I hereby transmit to the House of Representatives the enclosed Appropriation (Repeal and Re-Enactment Bills), 2024 and 2025, for the consideration of the National Assembly, in accordance with the established constitutional and legislative appropriation process.

“The Bills seek to repeal the 2024 Appropriation Act of N35,055,536,770,218 and re-enact by authorising the issuance from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation of the total sum of N43,561,041,744,507 comprising N1,742,786,788,150 for Statutory Transfers, N8,270,960,606,831 for Debt Service, N11,268,513,380,853 for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure, and N22,278,780,968,673 for Capital Expenditure/Development Fund contributions for the year ending 31st’ December 2025 as provided in the Bill).

“It also seeks to repeal The 2025 Appropriation Act of N54,990,165,355,396 and re-enact by authorising the issuance from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation of the total sum of N48,316,242,591,785 comprising N3,645,761,358,925 for Statutory Transfers, N14,317,142,689,548 for Debt Service, N13,588,009,682,673 for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure, and N16,765,328,860,640 for Capital Expenditure/Development Fund contribution, for the year ending 31§t March, 2026 (as provided in the Bill).

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“The House of Representatives is invited to note that the Bills are submitted to cater for all items not previously recognised, while also reflecting a revised capital implementation target of 30%.

“In addition to this, adjustment aligns with current fiscal realities and execution capacities, while ensuring that budget performance remains credible and transparent. It further seeks to extend the 2025 Budget to March 31st, 2026, to allow for full release of the target 30% for ALL MDAs

“This is part of a broader fiscal reform measure aimed at eliminating the overlap of multiple concurrently running budgets, thereby strengthening planning, execution, and accountability across government expenditure cycles.

“It further provides a transparent and constitutionally grounded appropriation mechanism and prudent public financial management framework.

“The Bills also strengthen implementation discipline and accountability by, among other provisions: requiring that appropriated funds are released and applied strictly for the purposes specified in the Schedules; providing that virement may only be effected with prior approval of the National Assembly; setting out conditions for corrigenda where genuine errors may hinder implementation; requiring separate recording of excess revenue and limiting its expenditure to an Act or approval of the National Assembly; and mandating due process compliance and periodic reporting on releases and agency revenues/assistance. ;

“The House of Representatives is invited to note that this letter supersedes my earlier submission vide PRES/134/50/S/ARRENB dated 16″ December, 2025.”

He appealed to the lawmakers to consider the passage of the Bills in their usual expeditious manner.