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FG flags off Benin–Asaba Expressway

Our Reporters2 weeks ago2 weeks ago03 mins

The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with Africa Plus Partners, has officially flagged off the 125km Benin–Asaba Expressway Project in Edo State—an ambitious, dual-carriage, solar-lit superhighway that is fully financed by the private sector under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Finance & Coordinating Minister of the Economy Mr. Wale Edun described the project as a milestone in infrastructure financing. “What you see on the front page of the pamphlet will be delivered—because the cash is there,” he affirmed. “This is not reliant on direct federal funding. Africa Plus Consortium, backed by credible investors, has put forward the full capital commitment under the enabling policies of President Bola Tinubu.” This flagship initiative is part of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, demonstrating how strategic partnerships can unlock long-term value for the economy. Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi described the project as a cashless model. Governor of Edo State Senator Monday Okpebholo, standing in for Mr. President, lauded the financing structure. “This is a legacy project. For private investors to risk their capital, it shows belief in the president’s vision and the future of our economy.” HM Wale Edun reiterated that this model will be replicated nationwide: “This is just one of many projects that will be delivered week after week, month after month, through sustainable financial frameworks that ensure transparency, efficiency, and speed.” The Benin–Asaba Expressway is more than a road. It is a statement—that with innovative financing and investor confidence, world-class infrastructure is not only possible but imminent.

FG expands palliative programme to support Students, FCT communities

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

In a significant move to improve the lives of Nigerians, the Federal Government has expanded its palliative programme with the support of students across the country and residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, building on the success of its previous distribution in Imo State. The Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, CFA, while distributing the palliatives weekend, emphasized that the gesture will address immediate needs, explaining that they form part of the broader economic reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’sAdministration. These palliatives serve as a bridge while our comprehensive economic reforms take root, she said. The initiative has reached multiple demographics across the FCT’s Area Councils, with beneficiary groups including student bodies, women associations, community organizations, and vulnerable groups. Notable student organisations that benefited from the programme include the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Nigerian Female Students Association (NFSAN), and NANS alumni networks. Commending the initiative, Mr. Sunday Asefon, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, praised the Minister’s commitment to student welfare: Dr. Uzoka-Anite has demonstrated remarkable understanding of students’ challenges in these times. Her proactive approach in extending these palliatives to students nationwide shows the Tinubu Administration’s dedication to supporting Nigerian students while implementing necessary economic reforms, he stated. In the FCT, the distribution has particularly impacted grassroots organizations across various Area Councils, with special attention to women groups and community associations. Key beneficiaries include FCT Market Women Associations, Area Council Youth Associations, Religious and Cultural Groups, Widows’ Associations, and Community Development Organizations. The Minister emphasized that the palliative distribution aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to alleviating the immediate impact of economic reforms while building a more sustainable economic foundation for Nigeria. As we continue to navigate the complexities of our economic landscape, Dr Doris assured, our administration remains committed to supporting Nigerians through these challenging times, We are dedicated to creating a brighter future for our citizens, and this expanded palliative programme is a testament to that commitment. The FCT distribution follows a successful rollout in Imo State, where thousands of bags were distributed across all 27 Local Government Areas, reaching religious institutions, community groups, women organizations, youth associations, and vulnerable populations. As both a public servant and resident of the FCT, I understand the immediate needs of our communities, said Dr. Uzoka-Anite. The Minister emphasised that the palliative distribution aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to alleviating the immediate impact of economic reforms while building a more sustainable economic foundation for Nigeria.

SERAP drags FG, Telecos to court over tariff hike

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago011 mins

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the government of President Bola Tinubu over “the arbitrary, unconstitutional, unlawful, unfair, and unreasonable 50 percent telecom tariff hike by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).” Joined in the suit as Defendant is the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The NCC had recently approved a 50 percent hike in telecom tariffs. By the increase, the average price of calls will rise to N16.5 per minute from N11; the cost of 1GB of data will rise to N431.25 from N287.5/GB; and SMS prices to N6 from N4. In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/111/2025 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is asking the court to determine “whether the unilateral decision by the NCC to authorise telcos to hike telecom tariffs by 50 percent is not arbitrary, unconstitutional, unlawful, unfair, unreasonable and inconsistent with citizens’ freedom of expression and access to information.” SERAP is asking the court for “a declaration that the unilateral decision by the NCC to authorise telcos to hike telecom tariff by 50 percent is arbitrary, unfair, unreasonable and inconsistent and incompatible with citizens’ freedom of expression and access to information, and therefore unconstitutional and unlawful.” SERAP is seeking “an order of interim injunction restraining the NCC, its officers, agents, privies, assigns, or any other person or persons acting on its instructions from further implementing, enforcing and doing any act to give effect to the decision of the NCC authorizing telecom tariff hike by 50 percent.” In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “The legal and constitutional provisions as well as international standards on freedom of expression and access to information constitute the repository of legality. The requirements of legality constrain the exercise of statutory powers by the NCC to authorise any increase in telecom tariffs.” The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, read in part: “The demands of legality impose clear duties of fairness and reasonableness on the NCC in the exercise of its powers to authorize the telecom tariff hike by 50 percent, which is the subject-matter of this suit. “The NCC is required under the legal provisions on consumers’ rights and constitutional and international standards on freedom of expression and access to information to base its decision on reasonable interpretations of its enabling statutes and guidelines and other relevant legal frameworks, and to follow due process. “The exercise of the statutory powers of the NCC in approving the telecom tariff hike is a grave violation of the provisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party. “These legal and constitutional provisions and international human rights standards recognize that every individual has the right to an equal opportunity to receive, seek and impart information through any communication medium without discrimination. “The constitutional and democratic anomalies complained of by SERAP is more apparent when the said unilateral decision of the NCC approving a 50 percent increase in telecommunication tariffs is juxtaposed with the apparent procedural breaches of the condition-precedent for any approval of increase. “The NCC is the statutory agency charged with the responsibility of promoting and implementing the national communications or telecommunications policy in Nigeria. “The latest patently unconstitutional and unlawful increase in telecommunication tariffs is coming on the heels of a recent report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which shows that some 133 million Nigerians are poor. “The NBS report also shows that over half of the population of Nigeria are multi-dimensionally poor and cook with dung, wood or charcoal, rather than cleaner energy. “The increase in telecommunication tariffs is a fundamental breach of due process of law, as the purported approval by the NCC failed to meet the high threshold of consultation with key stakeholders, especially the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, which is the primary consumer protection agency in Nigeria. “The increase in telecommunication tariffs is coming at a time when Nigerians are deeply burdened by the cost of living crisis. The cost of living crisis has resulted in low quality of life, unemployment and deaths, as many socially and economically vulnerable people scramble for free food in public and religious gatherings. “The present-day economic realities in Nigeria include chronic poverty amongst a high percentage of citizens and the growing inability of several state governments to pay salary and pensions of workers, especially as the country still suffers from the removal of fuel subsidy, electricity tariff hike and inflated cost of food in the market.” SERAP is therefore asking the court for the following reliefs: A DECLARATION that the unilateral decision of the NCC approving the increase of telecommunications tariff by 50 percent is arbitrary, unfair, unreasonable, and a deliberate attempt to stifle the constitutional and international human rights of citizens to freely express themselves and share information, and breach of sections 104 and 127 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 [as amended] and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party. AN ORDER setting aside the unilateral decision of the NCC approving the increase of telecommunications tariff by 50 percent contained in a press statement published by the NCC on 20th January 2025 for being arbitrary, unfair, extortive, unreasonable, unconstitutional and a breach of the provisions of Sections 104 and 127 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2018, section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 [as amended], Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party. AN ORDER restraining the NCC, its agents, assigns, privies and…

Polytechnic senior staff begin strike Wednesday

Our Reporters2 months ago2 months ago04 mins

Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, SSANIP is set to embark on a three-day warning strike from Wednesday, January 22, over what it calls marginalisation of non-teaching staff members and denial of their deserved career progression. In a letter dated January 14, 2025, and addressed to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the union’s secretary Nura Gaya said the warning strike has become imperative to emphasise the union’s position concerning the ongoing plot by certain stakeholders to unjustly deprive Non-Teaching Staff of Polytechnics and Similar Institutions of their rightful progression to the peak of their careers under consolidsted technical education distinct salary structure, CONTEDISS 15 and in the ongoing redrafting of the Polytechnic Schemes of Service. The letter further said, “SSANIP has consistently championed the cause of equity and justice within the polytechnic system and has repeatedly called for the implementation of career progression policies that accommodate both Teaching and Non-Teaching Staff, noting that regrettably, previous engagements with relevant authorities have yielded little to no tangible results, adding that the current machinations against Non-Teaching Staff represents a direct affront to these efforts. In a similar development, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP has rejected what it calls plans to change the bill on the establishment of National Commission for polytechnic education to Nigerian commission for technical education. ASUP, in a statement signed by its president Shammah Kpanja says currently, the regulation of technical and vocational education is within the purview of the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE,established since 1977, and serves as an umbrella for all Nigerian polytechnics and monotechnics, representing the tertiary education institutions under its regulation. ASUP noted that the recent efforts of the National Assembly to establish a National Polytechnics Commission through a bill in the House of Representatives is commendable, as it comes after several failed legislative efforts on the same subject in the past. However, the union says it is surprising that as the bill awaits final reading in the House of Representatives, plans have emerged to establish a commission for technicaleducation. ASUP said the name change move is a distraction and it remains committed to the unbundling of the current mixture of over 700 institutions under the NBTE and the extraction of tertiary institutions from the mix to a dedicated commission for effective regulation. ASUP used the statement to call on Federal Ministry of Education to maintain a consistent position on the issue, noting that polytechnics need to have its own commission like the universities and the colleges of education, instead of remaining mixed up with vocational and technical education institutions and centres.

FG launches N250bn Real Investment Fund

Our Reporters3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

As part of efforts to increase housing opportunities for all Nigerians, the Federal Government has launched a N250 billion Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) Real Estate Investment Fund (MREIF). According to a statement released by the Ministry of Finance on its X page, the government said the initiative was designed to provide low-cost, long-term mortgage financing and stimulate economic growth through the housing and construction sectors. Presiding over the signing ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, emphasised that the initiative addresses Nigeria’s housing finance gap by offering mortgages with repayment terms of up to 25 years. This contrasts sharply with the high-interest, short-tenor loans currently offered by commercial banks. The initiative would enable Nigerians to build generational wealth through sustainable homeownership.

Pensioners demand payment of accrued rights

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago03 mins

Concerned by the deteriorating conditions of NUP/CPS Retirees in Nigeria, Stakeholders have pleaded with the Federal Government to release funds for the payment of accrued rights portion of retirees’ pension benefits. The Stakeholders, majorly Pensioners from Federal and Lagos State governments, under NUP/CPS Lagos State Chapter and Lagos Sector stated this in a communique issued in Lagos on Tuesday. The Group accused the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein for the refusal to release funds for payment of accrued rights as appropriated by the National Assembly in 2023 and 2024 Budgets. The Stakeholders also claimed Federal government is yet to pay outstanding accrued rights, arising from Pension increment of 2007, 2010 and consequential adjustment of 2019, which includes 20% – 28% increase of 2024 as well as the approved N32,000.00 pension increase across board, arising from the current minimum wage of N70,000.00. The Stateholders also demand the implementation of three months palliatives to Pensioners by the Federal Government. “Denial of Pensioners of the National Health Insurance Scheme NHIS,and that the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, from inception in 2004,is a disaster, a one-chance Agenda, in which Nigerian workers wereblindfolded to accept. “The Stakeholders condemned in strong terms, the withholding ofpension money of CPS Retirees by African Alliance Insurance, AAI asthey have resorted to eating crumbs on the table. “To avert a nation-wide protest, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is urged to take Executive action by directing release of funds for payment of outstanding accrued rights and pension increment to CPS Retirees in nodistant time. “Taking into account, the Pension Reform Act of 2004 and 2014, theStakeholders demand fairness and equity from PENCOM for all CPSRetirees and call for a review of the Pension Reform Act.” They commended Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu forapproving the payment of accrued interest for CPS Retirees in the stateand urged him to actualize it to enable them enjoy the yuletide period.

Nigerians without insurance coverage to get FG’s financial protection

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago04 mins

The Federal Government has initiated a strategy to provide financial protection for millions of Nigerians who are currently without insurance coverage. The initiative, which marks the first major implementation phase of the recently signed Aso Accord, brings together the nation’s top financial and insurance regulators in a collaboration to transform Nigeria’s insurance landscape. Speaking at a roundtable meeting on Tuesday, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said outcomes of the roundtable will be presented to the National Economic Council (NEC). “This marks the first time insurance is being formally recognised as a critical financial service in Nigeria’s economic framework,” he stated. Sen. Hadejia explained that financial inclusion through insurance is an economic imperative, saying, “We cannot build a resilient economy while leaving millions of our citizens financially exposed. “Financial inclusion, particularly through insurance access, serves as the crucial driver that will propel Nigeria toward sustainable economic growth,” he added. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Technical at the National Insurance Commission, Dr. Jankara Usman, outlined the transformative potential of the initiative for Nigeria. He said, “Through inclusive insurance, we can provide tailored, affordable products that promote financial readiness and advance social well-being.” Dr Usman quoted a World Bank data that paints a stark picture of financial vulnerability in the region, revealing that only two out of five adults in sub-Saharan Africa can raise $35 within 30 days. “In Nigeria, insurance penetration remains at a concerning 3.3%, significantly below global standards,” he said. In his remarks, Technical Advisor to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr. Nurudeen Zauro @nazauro, said the meeting demonstrates President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s @officialABAT administration’s commitment to the insurance sector. He explained that the government has established a monitoring framework to ensure effective implementation of the decisions made during the roundtable, with a specific focus on forming specialised committees for financial control, developing risk management programmes for smallholder farmers, fostering public-private partnerships, strengthening inter-agency collaboration and simplifying processes for innovative insurance products. The roundtable produced several innovative proposals aimed at expanding insurance access, including enabling insurance purchases through mobile phone airtime, development of specialised micro-insurance products for low-income segments, integration of blockchain technology for insurance delivery and creation of digital platforms specifically for agricultural insurance coverage The initiative has garnered widespread support from major institutions, including the Nigeria Insurance Association (NIA), National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and various other regulatory bodies.

EndBadGovernance: SERAP hands Tinubu ultimatum to release arrested kids

Our Reporters5 months ago5 months ago01 mins

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued the Federal Government 48 hours deadline to release malnourished children that were arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protest in August. The organisation stated this on its X handle on Sunday. “We’ve given the Tinubu administration 48 hours to release the hungry, malnourished children and other #EndBadGovernance protesters from arbitrary detention, or face legal action. “These children ought to be in school, and not languishing in detention,” SERAP stated.