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Reps Approve N1.485trn Rivers 2025 Budget

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago01 mins

The House of Representatives has approved a budget of N1.485 trillion for Rivers State for the 2025 fiscal year. The approval followed the presentation and adoption of the report by the House Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State during Tuesday’s plenary session. According to the budget breakdown, N256 billion is allocated for personnel expenses, N162.5 billion for overhead costs, while capital expenditure will take the largest share with N1.06 trillion earmarked for developmental and infrastructural projects. The legislation, titled: “Bill for an Act to Authorise the Issue from the Rivers State Government Statutory Revenue Fund of the Rivers State Account, the Total Sum of N1.485 Trillion for the Year Ending 31 December 2025”, was considered and approved at the Committee of Supply chaired by the Speaker. After consideration, the House reverted to plenary, suspended its rules, and passed the Rivers State Appropriation Bill, 2025 through the third and final reading.

Gbajabiamila: Lawmakers Forced Into Budget Insertions Due to Broken Local Governments

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago14 mins

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, says Nigerian lawmakers are often forced to insert constituency projects into the national budget to meet public expectations caused by the collapse of local government systems. Speaking on Tuesday during the opening of the 2025 Open Week of the House of Representatives in Abuja, Gbajabiamila — a former Speaker of the House — said there is a widening disconnect between the constitutional role of lawmakers and what the public expects of them. “It is a source of frustration that, nearly three decades later, the vast majority of our nation’s people still do not fully comprehend the legislative functions, powers, responsibilities, and limitations of each member of parliament and the institution,” he said. Gbajabiamila explained that the public pressure on legislators to build roads, classrooms, and healthcare facilities — responsibilities assigned to the executive and local governments — has driven lawmakers to rely heavily on budget insertions to deliver tangible projects to their constituents. His remarks follow revelations by BudgIT, a civic tech group, which recently said it uncovered over 11,000 projects worth N6.93 trillion inserted into the 2025 national budget by the National Assembly. The group described the practice as a systemic abuse of power. But Gbajabiamila argued that in the absence of functioning local governance, lawmakers have little choice but to fill the vacuum. “A member of the House of Representatives who isn’t actively engaged in providing education and healthcare facilities, who isn’t doing road construction and waste management, while delivering sustained empowerment for commercial activities, is not going to be a legislator for very long,” he said. He warned that the blurring of legislative and executive roles risks long-term dysfunction and growing public resentment. Legislators, he said, are being judged on duties they were never constitutionally designed to perform. “For example, when the executive builds roads, there is a framework for maintenance through the public works department. No legislator can provide that, nor should they be expected to,” he noted. Gbajabiamila assured that the Tinubu administration is working to restore autonomy and functionality to local governments through improved funding, transparency, and accountability. He emphasized that in more advanced democracies, local governments handle most quality-of-life services — from waste disposal to community policing — now unfairly expected of federal lawmakers. He expressed hope that a strengthened local government system will allow legislators to return to their core constitutional duties: lawmaking, policy development, and oversight of the executive.

N14.4bn for Luxury Cars: Customs Faces Backlash Over 2025 Vehicle Budget Amid Economic Hardship

Fola Badmus3 months ago3 months ago04 mins

Abuja — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has come under fire from civil society organisations following revelations that it plans to spend ₦14.39 billion on luxury vehicles for senior officers in 2025, as part of a broader ₦35.27 billion vehicle procurement budget. According to details obtained from the service’s proposed 2025 appropriation bill, 579 new vehicles are to be purchased, with the most expensive models earmarked for senior ranks such as Comptrollers, Assistant Comptroller-Generals (ACGs), and Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCGs). Unit prices for these vehicles range from ₦44 million to ₦75 million. Brands listed for acquisition include BYD hybrids, CHANGAN, MAXUS D90, NISSAN MG5, MIKANO, and NORD, with a breakdown showing 20 CHANGAN CS95 vehicles at ₦68m each for ACGs and 15 MAXUS D90 SUVs at ₦70m each for DCGs. Also budgeted are 20 QIN BYD hybrid sedans (₦65m each) and 15 HAN BYD hybrids (₦75m each), along with 180 sedans for Comptrollers valued at over ₦9.5bn in total. Additionally, operational vehicles such as 50 NORD TUSK trucks, 100 JIM 4WDs, and 10 30-seater buses are included in the proposal. Civil society groups have slammed the plan as wasteful, tone-deaf, and morally unjustifiable, especially as millions of Nigerians grapple with severe economic challenges. Ayo Ologun, convener of the Transparency and Accountability Group (TAG), accused the Customs of hypocrisy. He questioned why the agency would spend billions on imported vehicles when it had impounded thousands of serviceable cars in recent years. “Customs claim to be generating revenue but squander it on luxury. Why can’t they refurbish seized vehicles instead of this extravagant spending?” Ologun asked. In 2024 alone, the Customs reported 397 seizures of vehicles valued at ₦5.64 billion, while over 3,400 vehicles were seized in 2023. Anti-corruption groups argue these could meet the agency’s operational needs if refurbished, saving the nation scarce resources. Debo Adediran, Executive Director of the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CAROL), described the procurement as “obscene opulence,” saying it reflects the public sector’s insensitivity to citizens’ struggles. “This is a time for empathy, not extravagance,” Adediran stated. “Many Nigerians are struggling to survive, yet government officials continue to flaunt immoral affluence.” He added that funds allocated to vehicle purchases could instead support critical sectors such as health and education. As public frustration over government spending grows, critics are calling for greater fiscal responsibility and a reassessment of luxury spending in governance—particularly during a time when many Nigerians face worsening inflation, unemployment, and economic hardship.

Marwa seeks more NASS support, defends N67.5B 2025 NDLEA budget

Fola Badmus8 months ago8 months ago08 mins

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) has expressed appreciation to the National Assembly especially the Senate and House Committees on Narcotic Drugs for their commitment to the nation’s fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking while he appealed for their continued support to enhance the capacity and capability of the Agency to deliver on its mandate. Marwa made the appeal on Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th January when he led his management team to defend the 2025 budget proposal of the Agency before the House Committee on Narcotic Drugs and Senate Committee on Drugs and Narcotics respectively. He equally thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unrelenting encouragement to the NDLEA. “I wish to first appreciate the honorable chairman, the deputy chairman, and distinguished members of this esteemed committee for your invaluable and consistent support throughout the 2024 fiscal year. This committee, under its able and dynamic chairman, has demonstrated remarkable courage and commitment towards the war against drug abuse. In particular, your effort towards the amendment of the NDLE Act is also highly appreciated. “And I respectfully ask your good offices to continue to assist in our area of critical needs during the appropriation process. Our commands across the federation are contending with significant challenges, particularly lack of accommodation. “I cannot overstate this matter because it all comes to my desk when you get these reports of attacks on our officers and so on and so forth, killing personnel and their families. So, we know that we trust that this esteemed committee will do its best. And we know that there are compelling demands from other MDAs, but the barracks project is critical to the operational efficiency and success of NDLEA. “I must not forget to seize this opportunity to also appreciate President Bola Tinubu for his continuing support and encouragement to the agency. I also wish to reaffirm the agency’s unwavering commitment to working collaboratively with the National Assembly, in particular this esteemed committee, to advance our shared vision of a drug-free Nigeria. With your support, we are confident in our ability to enhance our operations and fulfill our mandate of safeguarding the security of our nation”, Marwa stated in his remarks while pleading for budgetary provision for the ongoing barracks accommodation for the personnel of the agency to enhance their security, dedication and performance. In the budget proposal for 2025 fiscal year, the agency was allocated Sixty-Seven Billion Five Hundred and Twelve Million Five Hundred and Sixty-Four Thousand Sixty-Three Naira Eighty Kobo (N67, 512, 564, 063.80), with recurrent personnel cost taking N47, 159,240, 496.80; recurrent overhead N3, 384,332, 017.00 and capital expenditure N16, 968, 991, 550.00. He explained that the recurrent personnel cost reflects the nominal roll of the agency’s staff strength totaling over 14,038 officers, men and women, while the recurrent overhead cost covers the operational expenses of intelligence gathering, arrests, seizures, investigations and prosecutions. The NDLEA boss called for the enhancement of the N16 billion provided for capital expenditure, which has zero allocation for the ongoing barracks project component to enable the agency continue with the provision of secure accommodation for its workforce across the country. Justifying his plea, Marwa said “the agency faces growing challenges, including sophisticated drug cartels, drug abuse and inadequate critical infrastructure. To address these issues, NDLEA has embarked on reforms, including constructing barracks to accommodate its personnel, improve operational integrity and ensure security. Currently, many commands operate from rented facilities, which are inadequate for effective administration. Proper accommodation will enhance staff morale, ensure security, and strengthen the agency’s capacity to execute its mandate” In his remarks, House Committee Chairman on Narcotic Drugs, Hon Abass Adigun assured of their commitment to adequate funding to enhance NDLEA’s operational successes. “This committee recognizes the critical role the NDLEA plays in safeguarding our communities from the scourge of narcotics and illicit substances. As we engage in today’s deliberations, we remain committed to ensuring that public funds are allocated efficiently, with a focus on measurable outcomes, transparency, and accountability. I urge all participants to contribute thoughtfully as we work together to ensure the NDLEA is well-resourced to fulfill its vital mandate in the new year”, the lawmaker stated. Speaking in the same vein on Tuesday 14th January 2025, Senate Committee chairman on Drugs and Narcotics, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo congratulated the agency for its outstanding performance in 2024. “We’re all witnesses to the good work you are doing and we are proud of your performance”, the committee chairman stated, assuring of more support to enable the agency function effectively in the new year.

Rivers: Fubara signs N1.1trn budget into law

Fola Badmus9 months ago9 months ago01 mins

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has appended his signature to the State’s N1.1 trillion appropriation budget into law. Fubara signed the bill into law at the River State House of Assembly on Thursday. Shortly after the exercise, the Governor wrote on his X handle (formerly Twitter), “Today, I signed into law the 2025 Rivers State Appropriation Bill. Tagged; “Budget of Inclusive Growth & Development.” “The bill is estimated at N1.1 trillion. “I deeply appreciate the Rivers State House of Assembly for their diligence and my executives for their unwavering commitment to service. “Together, we are setting the pace for a prosperous year ahead, focusing on education, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure. “Let me, on this note, thank everyone and once again wish you a happy and prosperous New Year ahead as we continue the journey of making Rivers State great again.”