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GODWIN AKPABIO

President Tinubu Set to Present N26.1 Trillion Budget for 2024 to National Assembly

by KINGSLEY OYEMA November 28, 2023

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to present the 2024 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday. This confirmation came from Dr. Ali Umoru, the Secretary of Research and Information at the National Assembly, who was at the Senate addressing protocol arrangements.

In anticipation of the budget presentation, stringent measures will be in place to manage the limited space and ensure security within the National Assembly Complex. Reliable sources in the upper chamber revealed that President Tinubu has formally communicated his intention to address the joint session, with the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, expected to read the letter during Tuesday’s plenary.

President Tinubu had submitted the 2024 – 2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) to the National Assembly three weeks ago. The proposed expenditure for the 2024 fiscal year stands at N26.1 trillion.

Following two weeks of deliberations and interactions with heads of ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) on revenue and expenditure projections, the Senate’s Committee of Finance approved the MTEF. This approval includes the N26.1 trillion proposed as the 2024 budget and other parameters outlined by President Tinubu.

Key parameters approved by the Senate include new borrowings of N7.8 trillion, an oil price benchmark of $73.96, oil production set at 1.78 million barrels per day, GDP growth rate at 3.76%, inflation rate at 21.40%, suggested benchmark exchange rate at N700 to $1, and a projected budget deficit of N9.04 trillion.

President Tinubu’s budget proposal also details spending plans, with N16.9 trillion as retained revenue, N9 trillion budget deficit (including Government-Owned Enterprises), N7.8 trillion in new borrowings, N1.3 trillion in statutory transfers, an estimated N8.2 trillion in debt service, N234.6 billion in the sinking fund, N1.27 trillion in pension, gratuity, and retiree benefits, and a total recurrent (non-debt) expenditure of N10.2 trillion, along with N4.49 trillion allocated for capital expenditure.

November 28, 2023 0 comment

Politics

Akwa Ibom APC Denies Claims of Newly Appointed REC Being a Member

by ONUAH YVONNE November 6, 2023

written by ONUAH YVONNE

The Akwa Ibom State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted allegations that the newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Etekamba Umoren, is a member of the party. Umoren, who is an ally of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was recently appointed as one of the ten Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) RECs by President Bola Tinubu and confirmed by the Senate.

These allegations emerged after a photograph circulated online, showing Umoren wearing the APC’s regalia. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raised concerns about his appointment, suggesting that he is a member of the APC.

Addressing the matter at a press conference in Abuja, an APC chieftain in Akwa Ibom State, Eseme Eyiboh, stated that Umoren is not a card-carrying member of the APC and is not in financial standing with the party. Eyiboh argued that merely wearing the party’s campaign regalia does not confirm Umoren’s membership status and that he is, in fact, a career civil servant.

Eyiboh further suggested that the photograph in circulation might have been manipulated, potentially through photo editing or Artificial Intelligence. He emphasized that the criteria for membership in a political party involve more than clothing and attire, including financial standing and official registration.

In response to the allegations, Eyiboh stated, “It is not true, it is speculating that Etekamba Umoren is a member of the APC. That is not correct.”

November 6, 2023 0 comment

Senate Drama Erupts as Ndume and Akpabio Clash during Plenary

by ONUAH YVONNE October 17, 2023

written by ONUAH YVONNE

In a dramatic turn of events, the floor of the Senate witnessed a clash between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume on Tuesday. The dispute unfolded during the plenary session, as Ndume raised a point of order in protest against Akpabio’s handling of affairs within the upper chamber.

Ndume cited order 54 of the Senate Standing Orders and raised his point of order. However, the Senate President ruled him out of order, leading to a tense moment in the Senate. Following this ruling, Ndume staged a walkout and retreated to his office.

Surprisingly, Ndume received a call from a colleague, urging him to return to the chamber for an executive session shortly after leaving. The nature of the executive session and its implications remain unclear.

Nigerians took to the micro-blogging platform to express their reactions to the Senate drama, and here are some of the responses:

@riskandgrace expressed skepticism about the senators’ commitment to attending plenary and suggested that Ndume’s actions were driven by animosity toward Akpabio.

@TemiBeedie accused Akpabio of acting superior to other senators and criticized what they perceived as a “rubber stamp” Senate.

@Davidweizide questioned whether Senator Ndume should have been sacked instead of Senator Abbo, emphasizing that Akpabio’s actions were in question.

@nigerianpollz speculated about the possibility of the Senate President’s impeachment, suggesting that the individuals involved hold significant influence in the Senate.

@Sijibo71 lamented the perceived decline in Nigeria’s legislative effectiveness.

@rotilaw highlighted the importance of experience and seniority in leading legislative bodies due to their complex rules and procedures.

@abdulllsalimm described the situation as a “House of commotion,” reflecting the chaos in the Senate.

@chizzi_vincents expressed doubt that Akpabio might complete his tenure as Senate President.

@jamesagada emphasized the idea that the Senate President is first among equals and should not act as if they hold higher authority.

@OlaniyiTaofiq recalled a past incident when Senator Saraki suspended Ndume, hinting at possible further discord between Ndume and Akpabio.

@09Nasiir suggested that Akpabio lacked knowledge of Senate rules and appeared unwilling to learn them.

@aleeyu786 criticized Akpabio’s perceived arrogance and urged him to follow due process, or face potential removal.

@mmrajii90_raji predicted that Ndume might lead a revolt against Akpabio in the near future, as others join the effort to impeach Akpabio.

The clash between Senate President Akpabio and Senator Ndume has raised concerns and sparked debate among Nigerians about the state of the Senate and the conduct of its members. The situation remains dynamic, and its implications for the future of the Senate remain uncertain.

October 17, 2023 0 comment