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Insecurity: FG, NLC to meet in January

The Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliates on Wednesday protested nationwide against rising insecurity in the country.

The union had declared a nationwide protest for December 17, citing what it described as the country’s “degenerating security situation.”

In a notice issued to all state councils on December 10, after its National Executive Committee-in-session meeting on December 4, the union condemned the rampant activities of bandits and kidnappers across the country.

It singled out the November 17 abduction of female students from a boarding school in Kebbi State and expressed outrage over the withdrawal of security personnel from the school shortly before the incident.

The union directed all its affiliates and state councils to “fully mobilise” workers and civil society for the protest.

In last-minute efforts to halt the protest, President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday night, met with the NLC leadership and some state governors, led by the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma.

The President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, told journalists on Wednesday that the leadership of the Congress would meet with the President again by January to address the issue of financial insecurity of Nigerian workers.

Ajaero said that the engagement the Labour had with the Federal Government was aimed at cancelling the planned protest, adding that the workers who were poorly paid and inadequately fed were more likely to face deeper challenges.

“The action continued this morning (Wednesday). We are rounding off now. We will take back whatever we discussed with them to our members.

“The attitude of meeting on the day or eve of any action is not rocket science.

“However, Mr President was emphatic that the issue of insecurity will be a thing of the past very soon. He said he’s taking extra steps to take care of it.

“We equally talked about financial insecurity because a worker who is not well fed and not well paid will have even more problems than those who are well fed and well paid.

“Mr President said he has put Nigeria on the map of prosperity, and we agreed that we’re going to meet in January to look at some grey areas where we need to touch.

“It will equally translate into the prosperity of the working people of Nigeria,” he said.

On whether the protest had been cancelled, Ajaero said: “We are going back to our members now, and then we will get back to them.

“But today (Wednesday) is gone, and our action is not an indefinite one. It’s a protest. The issue of suspension is not there because the action was taken off this morning,” Ajaero said.

Uzodimma, who is Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, said the President’s intervention played a key role in resolving the matter, adding that a channel had been opened for increased communication with Labour.

“President Bola Tinubu met last night with the leadership of NLC. They discussed issues of the Nigerian economy, workers’ welfare, ongoing reforms, national security and other developments in the country, and all of them agreed.

“National unity is very critical, and our national interest is also very important. And the march towards economic prosperity by the president is a welcome idea.

“At the end of the meeting, we also discovered that there is a need for regular engagements with the Nigeria Labour Congress.

“For now, both the government and labour are on the same page to ensure that Nigeria is better protected, and more investments in the areas of security should be encouraged.”

The governor expressed appreciation to Tinubu for the way he came out to explain to the labour leaders his programmes and activities for improved security arrangements in the country.

“We are also very grateful to the NLC for the maturity they exhibited; for the interest they also displayed for national security and better security for Nigerians and the welfare of Nigerian workers,” he said.

On Wednesday, workers gathered across states and the Federal Capital Territory in obedience to the directive of the NLC leadership to protest against insecurity.

Demonstrations in Lagos, Abuja, Anambra and some other parts of the country underscored how fear, violence and restricted movement have become part of daily life for millions of Nigerians.

In Abuja, the workers converged on the NLC national secretariat, with security personnel, including police, civil defence, and officials from the Department of State Services, deployed to ensure orderliness.

Ajaero, addressing the workers, said the planned protest remained firm and was intended to draw attention to the country’s worsening insecurity.

“The protest is to help this country – to call attention to the effect of insecurity,” he said.

He warned that insecurity was affecting Nigeria’s economy and discouraging investors.

Ajaero also highlighted the human cost, noting that workers and their families were often victims of kidnappings.

“Many workers are being kidnapped daily. People are killed. In Kebbi, a teacher was killed. Children of workers are kidnapped. The government must act to find the perpetrators,” he said.

Ajaero described banditry and kidnappings for ransom as alien to Nigerian values and called for a national response to end the trend.

He also suggested the idea of an “insecurity allowance” to support workers who are kidnapped and often need to raise money for ransom.

“This protest is our way of telling Nigerians and the international community that insecurity must stop.

“This is not the culture of Nigerians, and we must condemn it and strengthen the hands of those in authority to make sure it does not continue,” he said.

In Lagos, the march started at 9:10 am from the historic Ikeja Under Bridge and concluded at the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa.

Workers in union colours and civil society activists waved Nigeria Labour Congress flags and chanted labour songs and freedom anthems.

They criticised escalating banditry, kidnappings and violent crime, saying insecurity has eroded both safety and freedom of movement across the country.

At the forefront of the march were the chairperson of the NLC Lagos chapter, Funmi Sessi, and human rights lawyer and Labour Ambassador, Femi Falana (SAN).

Dan Poster by — December 18, 2025 in General News 0
Fresh storm brews over new tax law

The Presidency, on Wednesday, rejected calls for the suspension of President Bola Tinubu’s recently-signed tax reform laws, insisting the legislation was “unstoppable” and would take effect from January 1, 2026.

This was as opposition figures warned the policy could deepen hardship and trigger severe social and economic consequences.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in an interview with The PUNCH said the reforms had already been passed by the National Assembly and endorsed by the President, faulting critics for raising objections late.

“The law has been passed by the National Assembly. It has been endorsed by the President. And some people are just waking up when they should have made known their objections long time ago,” Onanuga said.

So This Happened (EP 357) reviews: FG arraigns Stella Oduah over alleged N5bn fraud

“The law is unstoppable. By January 1, 2026 by the grace of God, the implementation will begin. And there is nothing to fear. This development will harmonise most of our multiple taxes and it also excludes the low-income workers from being taxed,” he added.

Onanuga described the reforms as “revolutionary,” arguing that the new regime would enhance tax revenue for the benefit of Nigerians, while dismissing calls for suspension as inconsistent with “right-thinking Nigerians.”

He said, “But some people are saying that it should be implemented? You can see that they are not on the same page with right-thinking Nigerians.

“It is a revolutionary law that will enhance our tax revenue with the benefits of all nigerians. For them to say we should not implement, it’s too late to raise objection. The law as it stnds today is unstoppable.

It is already being implemented anyways.”

His response came as the National Opposition Movement demanded the immediate suspension of the tax plan’s implementation, warning that forcing it through would worsen the living conditions of Nigerians.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday at the Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, the NOM spokesperson, Chille Igbawua, said Nigerians were already struggling with poverty, unemployment and rising living costs, insisting the new tax regime would be punitive.

The NOM, a coalition of citizens drawn from various opposition parties, said it monitors policies affecting Nigeria’s security, economy and overall prosperity under the Tinubu administration, while advocating national liberation and transformation.

President Tinubu recently signed four major tax reform bills into law, marking what the government has described as the most significant overhaul of Nigeria’s tax system in decades.

The laws include the Nigeria Tax Act, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act, all operating under a single authority, the Nigeria Revenue Service.

The reforms are designed to simplify tax compliance, expand the tax base, eliminate overlapping taxes and modernise revenue collection across federal, state and local governments.

The laws are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, following a six-month transition period for public education and system alignment.

However, the reforms have continued to attract mixed reactions nationwide.

Reacting, Igbawua described the planned implementation as “shocking” and “punitive,” arguing that Nigerians are already struggling to meet basic needs.

“This new tax plan must not take off now. Its implementation must be suspended immediately. This is not tax reform; it is a weapon fashioned against the economic wellbeing and social security of suffering Nigerians,” he said.

“You cannot tax hunger. You cannot tax poverty. And you cannot tax people into prosperity. Since coming to office, President Tinubu has shown that his priorities are not with ordinary Nigerians but with a few oligarchs tied to his economic and political interests.”

He warned that the country risked multidimensional failure under the current policies, threatening democracy, security and human development in West Africa.

According to him, the combination of fuel subsidy removal, naira depreciation, food inflation and rising electricity tariffs has pushed households and small businesses to the brink.

“What the government is rolling out in January is not a tax reform; it is an assault on the livelihood of ordinary Nigerians,” he said, alleging that low-income earners and the unemployed would be disproportionately affected.

The group further accused the administration of tolerating high-level corruption while placing additional burdens on citizens, likening the tax drive to what it described as the “reckless” removal of fuel subsidies.

The NOM demanded the suspension of the tax take-off date, nationwide consultations involving labour unions, civil society groups, small and medium-scale enterprises and state governments, as well as social protection guarantees tied to any reform.

Other members of the movement include activist Aisha Yesufu, former Minister of Youths and Sports Solomon Dalung, former Director-General of the PDP Governors Forum, CID Maduabum, and Dr Sam Amadi.

Meanwhile, a group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Wednesday alleged that the tax reform laws passed by the National Assembly and signed by the President were altered after passage, raising questions about the legality of the versions currently in circulation.

The lawmakers claimed that provisions contained in the gazetted copies did not receive legislative approval and were therefore constitutionally defective.

Raising the issue under a matter of privilege during plenary, a Sokoto lawmaker, Abdussamad Dasuki, drew the House’s attention to what he described as discrepancies between the harmonised versions passed by both chambers and the gazetted copies released by the Federal Government.

A report compiled by the concerned lawmakers alleged that the changes went beyond clerical or editorial corrections.

According to the document, substantive provisions were allegedly inserted, deleted or modified after passage, including the removal of oversight and accountability mechanisms approved by parliament.

The report further claimed that new coercive and fiscal powers—such as arrest powers, garnishment without court orders and compulsory dollar-based computations—were introduced without legislative approval.

“These changes cannot be classified as clerical or editorial corrections,” the report stated, warning that the alterations undermine legislative supremacy and expose the country to legal uncertainty and investor risk.

The lawmakers argued that Sections 4 and 58 of the 1999 Constitution vest law-making powers exclusively in the National Assembly, stressing that the executive has no authority to alter bills after passage.

Speaking on the floor, Dasuki said, “What was passed by this House is not what has been gazetted. I was here, I voted, and what is before Nigerians today is completely different.”

He called on the House leadership to revisit the original versions passed by the National Assembly and demanded that all relevant documents be brought before the Committee of the Whole for review.

Responding, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, assured members that the leadership would investigate the allegations and take appropriate action in the national interest.

The disputed laws form part of President Tinubu’s broader economic reform agenda aimed at boosting revenue, widening the tax base and reducing reliance on borrowing amid rising debt-servicing costs.

However, the controversy has raised fresh concerns over legislative oversight, the integrity of the law-making process and the legal implications for the implementation of the new tax regime scheduled to commence in January 2026.

Dan Poster by — December 18, 2025 in General News 0
Otti maps Abia’s future, unveils 25-Year Development plan with legal backing 

 

By Foster Obi

 

Governor Alex Otti yesterday placed Abia State firmly on a long-term development path, unveiling a legally binding 25-Year Development Plan that will guide governance, spending, and growth priorities up to 2050, while declaring the state “a new development frontier” in Nigeria’s evolving macroeconomic landscape.
Speaking at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Otti said the future Abia seeks “will not happen by chance,” insisting that disciplined planning, rather than political improvisation, was the only shield against uncertainty in an era of global economic shocks.
Quoting Lewis Carroll and Benjamin Franklin, the governor warned that societies that fail to plan “are already planning to fail,” adding that the newly unveiled blueprint was not a utopian wish list but “a realistic framework against which policies, budgets, and leadership choices will be judged.”
“This plan is not an imaginary El Dorado by 2050,” Otti said. “It is a holistic development framework that captures where we are, where we want to be, and the decision pathways required to get there.”
Why a new plan:
Otti explained that Abia’s earlier 30-year plan, launched in 2020, had become outdated, overtaken by sweeping changes in local and global economic fundamentals, landmark legislations, constitutional adjustments, and the policy direction of the new federal and state administrations.
More critically, he said, Abia’s own rapid progress over the past 30 months had rendered many old assumptions obsolete, demanding a recalibration of the state’s long-term economic architecture.
“Expectations are higher, optimism is rising, and confidence in Abia is growing both locally and internationally,” he said, pointing to the presence of global development partners as evidence of renewed trust in the state’s economic direction.
A plan with teeth:
In a clear departure from past development documents that gathered dust after launch, Otti disclosed that the 25-year plan has been anchored in law by the Abia State House of Assembly, making it binding on successive administrations.
“What we are unveiling is more than a proposal,” he said. “It is a binding law that this administration and those to come are obliged to follow.”
Under the framework, annual budgets from the 2026 fiscal year will be drawn directly from the plan, while comprehensive reviews will be conducted every five years to measure progress, correct lapses, and recalibrate projections in response to major socioeconomic disruptions.
The plan sets milestones across education, healthcare, infrastructure, housing, transport, water and sanitation, environmental sustainability, and institutional capacity building.
Self-sufficiency agenda:
Otti also linked the development roadmap to Abia’s fiscal strategy, announcing a bold target to achieve self-sufficiency in recurrent expenditure beginning in 2026 through stronger internally generated revenue (IGR).
The governor said Abia aims to fund salaries, pensions, and routine government operations entirely from internal revenue, while channeling all external inflows into capital projects.
“As we deliver impactful infrastructure, productivity will rise, assets will unlock value, and public revenue will grow,” he said, expressing optimism that within a decade, Abia would rely far less on external allocations.
Global confidence, local ownership:
The governor paid glowing tribute to the Abia Economic Management Team, the Abia Global Economic Advisory Council (AGEAC), co-chaired by Prof. Arunma Oteh, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi, Bolaji Balogun, and Ifueko Okauru, as well as development partners including UNDP, PIND, PACE, and PwC for shaping what he described as a people-owned plan.
“This is not the ideas of a few eggheads,” Otti said. “It reflects the collective aspirations of the Abia community and makes room for future generations.”
“The future is now mapped”
As he formally unveiled the document, Otti urged citizens to see the plan as a collective covenant rather than a government proclamation.
“The New Abia project is our shared responsibility,” he said. “All that is required of us is to believe and do our part.”
With the blueprint now in place, the governor declared, “The future of Abia is mapped.”

DFC Management by — December 17, 2025 in General News 0
2027: I will not be vice president to anybody – Amaechi rejects deputizing Atiku

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has vowed not to deputize any presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections.

There has been speculation that the former governor would deputize ex-vice president, Atiku Abubakar, who is likely emerging as the flagbearer of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

But speaking at an event in Abuja, Amaechi clarified that he is too presidential to be anybody’s vice.

“I will not be vice president to anybody. There are too many reasons why I won’t be vice president to anybody.

“The first reason is that I’m too presidential to be vice”, he said.

According to Amaechi, who is also eyeing the presidential ticket of the ADC, the problem with the office of vice president is not ceremonial, it is structural.

The former governor of Rivers State claimed that in Nigeria, the office of the vice president is designed to be subordinate, often powerless, and depend entirely on the temperament of the president.

“We will quarrel, instead of that, I would rather be a minister than be a vice president”, Amaechi said.

Dan Poster by — December 17, 2025 in General News 0
Anti-corruption: EFCC must not be cowed – Coalition

A coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organisations has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to remain resolute in its war against corruption.

This comes amid allegations against the commission, with opposition politicians accusing it of doing the bidding of the presidency.

A former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has gone as far as asking the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede to recuse himself from ongoing investigation involving him, accusing the EFCC helmsman of bias.https://dailypost.ng/2025/12/15/recuse-yourself-its-personal-vendetta-malami-tells-efcc-chairman-to-step-aside-from-probe/

However, a press statement obtained on Wednesday, signed Hon. Comrade Gloria Okolugbo, Coordinator, Coalition of Concerned Civil Society Organisations, accused politicians of throwing up allegations against the commission in order to evade lawful investigation.

It declared that Nigerians would not allow “unsubstantiated allegations, media grandstanding, or claims of personal vendetta to undermine an ongoing anti-corruption process.”

The coalition clearly affirmed that “Section 6 of the Act expressly mandates the EFCC to investigate economic and financial crimes, enforce all laws relating to corruption and illicit financial conduct, and trace, freeze, seize, and confiscate proceeds of crime.

“These powers apply to all persons, without exception, and without immunity for former public office holders, including former Attorneys-General.”

It rejected calls for Olukayode’s resignation, insisting that the present EFCC Chairman must continue to preside over the matter.

“There is no legal or moral basis for calls for his recusal. Under Section 7(1)(a)–(c) of the Act, the Commission is empowered to cause investigations to be conducted into the properties and financial activities of any person where reasonable suspicion exists, to obtain information from any individual or institution, and to initiate and supervise prosecutions arising from such investigations.

“Nowhere in the Act is a suspect granted the right to dictate who leads or supervises an investigation into their conduct.

“Allowing a person under investigation to demand the removal of the head of an anti-corruption agency would set a dangerous precedent and amount to institutional capitulation. Such a demand is alien to the law and represents a clear attempt to obstruct justice.

“The extraordinary level of noise, threats, and preemptive accusations being deployed by Mr. Malami only reinforces the public interest in a thorough and transparent investigation.

“If there is nothing to hide, there should be no fear of lawful inquiry. Those who once exercised prosecutorial authority over others should be the first to submit themselves calmly to the same legal processes they once enforced.

“For years, Nigerians have witnessed a disturbing contrast between the immense personal wealth openly displayed by some former public officials and the daily hardship endured by ordinary citizens.

“Assets, lifestyles, and financial flows that raise legitimate questions must be accounted for. This investigation is not persecution; it is accountability.

“We therefore reaffirm our full and unambiguous support for the EFCC in the discharge of its statutory duties.

“Under Section 38 of the EFCC Act, the Commission is empowered to investigate and prosecute offences relating to economic and financial crimes.

“Its mandate is simple and lawful: to follow the money and allow the courts to determine the outcome.

“No amount of intimidation, political posturing, or media theatrics should be allowed to derail this process.

“Nigeria must seize this moment to reaffirm a fundamental democratic principle: no one is above the law, and no individual may bully anti-corruption institutions into retreat,” the coalition declared.

Dan Poster by — December 17, 2025 in General News 0
Okpebholo presents N939.8bn, Idris, Oborevwori sign budgets

Governor, Monday Okpebholo.Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday, presented a  N939.85bn 2026 Appropriation Bill, tagged the Budget of Hope and Growth, to the state House of Assembly.

This comes as Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, signed the N642.9bn 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi, after receiving the approved appropriation bill from the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Usman Muhammad-Zuru.

The 2026 budget, recently passed by the legislature, reflects the administration’s emphasis on capital development, with N479.36bn, representing 75 per cent of total expenditure, earmarked for capital projects, while N163.57bn, or 25 per cent, is allocated to recurrent spending.

Also on Tuesday, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, signed into law the state’s 2026 Appropriation Bill of N1.729tn, tagged the “Budget of Accelerating the MORE Agenda.”

The N1,729,881,208,779 budget represents an increase of over 70 per cent compared to the 2025 budget.

Presenting the Edo State budget proposal, Okpebholo said the 2026 fiscal plan was carefully designed to build on the foundation laid in 2025 while expanding the reach of government programmes to directly impact the lives of Edo residents across all sectors of the economy.

A breakdown of the proposal shows a total expenditure of N939.85bn, with capital expenditure of N637bn, representing 68 per cent of the budget, while recurrent expenditure stands at N302bn, accounting for 32 per cent.

Okpebholo explained that the strong emphasis on capital spending reflected his administration’s determination to fast-track development through strategic investments in roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, housing and other high-impact economic projects across the state.

He disclosed that the 2026 budget would be funded through Internally Generated Revenue estimated at N160bn, Federation Account Allocation Committee disbursements projected at N480bn, capital receipts and grants of N153bn, N146bn from Public-Private Partnerships, as well as other viable revenue sources available to the state.

Under sectoral allocation, the economic sector received the largest share, with N614.2bn earmarked for agriculture, roads, transport, urban development and energy.

Priority areas included rural and urban road construction, completion of two flyovers, drainage works, urban renewal, and the expansion of farm estates and irrigation facilities.

The social sector was allocated N148.9bn to cater to education, healthcare, youth development, women’s affairs and social welfare.

Reflecting on the previous fiscal year, the governor noted that the 2025 budget recorded strong performance in both capital and recurrent expenditure, driven by improved IGR, following deliberate efforts to block leakages and strengthen collections, as well as notable achievements in security, roads, healthcare, agriculture, education and job creation.

On security, he said his administration inherited a grave situation marked by cult killings, kidnapping, robbery and cybercrime, with over 300 cult-related killings recorded in 2024 alone.

He highlighted measures taken, including the enactment of a stronger anti-cultism law, the procurement of 80 Hilux vans and 400 motorcycles for security agencies, and the recruitment and absorption of 2,500 officers into the Edo State Security Corps, which he said had significantly reduced insecurity across the state.

Okpebholo thanked traditional rulers, faith leaders, political appointees and civil servants for their support.

Speaking after signing the bill in Kebbi on Tuesday, Idris commended the speaker and members of the assembly for the speedy consideration and passage.

He described the development as a demonstration of shared commitment to people-oriented governance.

“I am the happiest person because this government truly belongs to the people of the state. Whatever we do is done in the best interest of our people,” he said.

He noted that the cordial relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government had continued to yield positive outcomes, stressing that such cooperation was essential for driving sustainable development across the state.

“We are working harmoniously with the state House of Assembly to move Kebbi State forward and take it to greater heights in line with our people-oriented governance,” the governor added.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Delta, Oborevwori described the budget as “not just a budget of figures, but a budget of vision, action and expected deliverables for the next twelve months.”

He assured that “the state would hit the ground running in 2026 to accelerate development across key sectors.”

Oborevwori stated that the budgetary estimate, though ambitious, was achievable, with 70 per cent dedicated to capital expenditure and 30 per cent to recurrent spending.

The governor also signed three bills into law, adding that they were designed to reinforce social welfare, education, and security in the state.

Earlier, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Emomotimi Guwor, said the passage of the four bills followed rigorous legislative engagement, wide consultations, and thorough scrutiny in line with the assembly’s constitutional mandate.

Dan Poster by — December 17, 2025 in General News 0
Dangote allegations: NMDPRA boss disowns viral statement, welcomes ICPC probe

NMDPRAThe Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, has denied issuing any statement in response to allegations raised against him by the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Ahmed, in a short statement made available to our correspondent on Wednesday, said he did not authorise the statement circulating on social media on the matter.

At a press briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, on Sunday, Dangote called for a full investigation into the source of funds used by Ahmed, urging him to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to offer a public explanation.

“I’ve actually had people making complaints about a regulator who has actually put his children in secondary school. And that secondary school education, which is six years, four of them cost Nigeria $5m. I mean, you cannot imagine somebody paying $5m for educating four children,” Dangote said.

Dangote also petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to probe Ahmed’s financial activities, while alleging that the regulator’s actions amounted to economic sabotage that could undermine public trust and investor confidence, especially as he granted licences for fuel importation.

On Tuesday, a statement purportedly signed by Ahmed went viral, but the NMDPRA team told our correspondent that it was false.

Speaking, Ahmed said the viral statement did not emanate from him.

He said he had chosen not to engage in public brickbats despite being aware of the allegations against him and his family.

“My attention has been drawn to a purported response I was said to have made on the recent allegations against my person. I hereby state categorically that the so-called statement did not emanate from me.

“While I am aware of the wild and spurious allegations made against me and my family and the frenzy it has generated, as a regulator of a sensitive industry, I have opted not to engage in public brickbats,” he said.

The regulator expressed satisfaction that Dangote had taken the matter before the ICPC, believing this would allow him to clear his name.

“Thankfully, the person behind the allegations has taken it to a formal investigative institution. I believe that would provide an opportunity to dispassionately distil the issues and to clear my name,” he concluded.

Dan Poster by — December 17, 2025 in General News 0
Senate lowers oil benchmark, approves N54.46tn budget

SenateThe Senate on Tuesday approved a revised Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for 2026–2028, slashing Nigeria’s crude oil benchmark to $60 per barrel for 2026 and endorsing a N54.46tn federal spending framework designed to shield the economy from global uncertainties.

The upper chamber adopted the recommendations of its Committee on Finance following the presentation of the report by the committee’s chairman, Senator Sani Musa, at plenary presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The approval comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in Europe and the Middle East, persistent volatility in the global energy market, and concerns over the vulnerability of oil-dependent economies such as Nigeria to external shocks.

In a key adjustment, the Senate reduced the crude oil benchmark earlier proposed at $64.85 for 2026, $64.30 for 2027, and $65.50 for 2028 to $60, $65, and $70 per barrel for the respective years. The committee explained that the downward review was informed by global uncertainties and the sensitivity of oil prices to geopolitical developments.

Despite the conservative oil price outlook, lawmakers sustained domestic crude oil production projections at 1.84 million barrels per day for 2026, 1.88 million barrels per day for 2027, and 1.92 million barrels per day for 2028, expressing confidence in ongoing sectoral reforms and efforts to stabilise output.

On macroeconomic assumptions, the Senate endorsed projected exchange rates of N1,512 to the dollar in 2026, N1,432.15 in 2027, and N1,383.18 in 2028, aligning with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s outlook and its drive to stabilise the naira through coordinated fiscal and monetary policies.

Inflation is projected to ease gradually over the medium term, moderating to 16.5 per cent in 2026, 13 per cent in 2027, and nine per cent in 2028. The committee anchored the projections on sustained monetary tightening and reforms aimed at addressing structural drivers of inflation.

Similarly, the Senate sustained real GDP growth projections of 4.68 per cent for 2026, 5.96 per cent for 2027, and 7.9 per cent for 2028, citing the expected impact of economic reforms, improved revenue mobilisation, and gains from recently enacted tax reforms expected to take firmer effect from 2026.

A major plank of the report was the emphasis on the effective implementation of newly enacted Tax Acts as critical tools for economic growth and fiscal sustainability.

In this regard, the committee recommended the adoption of a National Scanning Policy within the National Single Window of the Nigeria Revenue Service, in collaboration with relevant agencies, to enhance revenue assurance, reduce leakages, improve trade facilitation, strengthen transparency, and bolster national security.

On fiscal operations, the Senate approved a total proposed expenditure of N54.46tn for the 2026 financial year.

Of this amount, Federal Government retained revenue is estimated at N34.33tn, while new borrowings—both domestic and foreign—are projected at N17.88tn. Debt service obligations were put at N15.52tn.

The framework also provides N1.376tn for pensions, gratuities, and retirees’ benefits, while the fiscal deficit is pegged at N20.13tn.

Capital expenditure, exclusive of transfers, was sustained at N20.131tn, alongside statutory transfers of N3.152tn and a Sinking Fund provision of N388.54bn.

Total recurrent (non-debt) expenditure was approved at N15.265tn, while special intervention funds for recurrent and capital spending were fixed at N200bn and N14bn, respectively.

In concluding remarks, the committee expressed appreciation to the Senate for what it described as its commitment to a critical national assignment, expressing optimism that faithful implementation of the approved framework would help stabilise the economy and promote sustainable growth.

Dan Poster by — December 17, 2025 in General News 0
Gov Mbah swears in 13 new Permanent Secretaries

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State on Monday sworn in 13 newly appointed permanent secretaries, charging them to align with his administration’s delivery-oriented governance model.

The new Permanent Secretaries are Mr Chigbogu Nnaji, Mrs Phoebe Edeh, Mr Philip Arum, Mr Jeremiah Egbonwonu and Mrs Ifeoma Igwe.

Others were Mrs Ngozi Egbo, Mrs Nkiru Ede-Ogunnaike, Mrs Pamela Ikpa, Mr Canice Ngene, Mr Anyaora Okereke, Mrs Adaobi Nwodo, Mr Ikechukwu Ezenwukwa, and Paul Nwabuisi.

According to the governor, there would be no honeymoon period for them in office.

He noted that the appointments were strictly merit-based, having emerged from a rigorous and transparent selection process, while also filling existing vacancies in the civil service to promote equality, inclusion and fairness.

Governor Mbah also reminded them that so much responsibility accompanied their elevation, pointing out that the reward for hard work was more work.

“I believe you worked very hard to get to this level in your career, and you went through a very rigorous process to be selected.

“So, it is well deserved. But let me also remind you that the honeymoon is over. To whom much is given, much is expected,” he said.

Dan Poster by — December 16, 2025 in General News 0
Alleged bandit ties: Remove Matawalle or face nationwide protest — NANS issues ultimatum

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has demanded the immediate removal of the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, following allegations linking him to banditry, describing the claims as “shocking and deeply troubling.”

In a statement signed by the President of the NANS Headquarters Senate, Usman Adamu Nagwaza, on Monday, the student body said Nigerians deserved transparency and accountability in the handling of the matter.

The association said it was committed to fighting corruption and ensuring government officials were held responsible for their actions, stressing that the public must be protected from abuse of power.

NANS expressed concern over Matawalle’s alleged relationship with bandits, calling it a “serious breach of trust” that questioned his integrity and suitability to remain in office.

The statement highlighted that the allegations were particularly disturbing given the minister’s role in defending the nation against security threats.

“His alleged relationship with bandits is a betrayal of the trust reposed in him by the Nigerian people and undermines the government’s efforts to combat insecurity,” the association said.

NANS demanded Matawalle’s removal pending a full investigation, insisting such action was necessary to ensure a fair and unhindered inquiry, prevent further damage to national security, and restore public confidence.

The student body warned that the minister’s alleged ties to criminals could embolden banditry and worsen the displacement of innocent Nigerians.

It also issued a one-week ultimatum for his removal, threatening to mobilise students nationwide to block major highways if the government failed to act.

The association further urged President Bola Tinubu to act decisively, warning that Nigerians would not tolerate corruption or complicity with terrorists.

“It is essential that the government takes decisive action to address these allegations. The rule of law must be upheld, and all wrongdoing punished,” NANS stated.

Dan Poster by — December 16, 2025 in General News 0