Category: Legislative

10th House prioritises Dialogue over Confrontation with Executive – Speaker Abbas

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has affirmed that the 10th House under his leadership has embraced a strategy of dialogue, consensus-building, and institutional collaboration with the Executive arm of government, rather than engaging in open confrontation. Speaking as the Guest Lecturer at the 5th Lecture Series of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, the Speaker presented a lecture titled “Legislating Under Pressure: The Realities of Lawmaking in Nigeria.” He explained that the House’s approach is designed to foster effective governance and enhance democratic processes in Nigeria.…

Senate grills Nigeria Customs over 2025 Budget …. Lawmakers Query ₦1.1 Trillion expenditure, modest revenue projection

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac,Abuja     The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) came under intense scrutiny on Monday, June 24, 2025, as it presented its proposed ₦6.584 trillion revenue target and ₦1.132 trillion expenditure plan for the 2025 fiscal year before the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise.   While the Service was commended for surpassing its 2024 revenue target, senators expressed deep concern over what they described as unjustifiable spikes in expenditure and a lack of ambition in projected revenue growth.   According to the budget proposal, the NCS aimed to…

NPA projects ₦1.279Trillion Revenue for 2025, after Record ₦400Billion Remittance in 2024

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has set an ambitious revenue target of ₦1.279 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year a 40 percent increase from the ₦894 billion generated in 2024.   Managing Director of the NPA, Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, disclosed this during the agency’s 2024 budget performance review and presentation of its 2025 proposal before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport.   Dr. Dantsoho expressed appreciation to the Senate Committee for its continued guidance and support, acknowledging the National Assembly’s vital role in promoting fiscal discipline and transparency across government…

Senate begins Nationwide Constitution Review Hearings July 4–5

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution is set to commence a two-day zonal public hearing across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of ongoing efforts to amend the nation’s constitution. The hearings, scheduled for July 4 and 5, 2025, will hold simultaneously in Lagos (South West), Enugu (South East), Ikot Ekpene (South South), Jos (North Central), Maiduguri (North East), and Kano (North West). Chairman of the committee and Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, said the exercise is aimed at gathering the views…

Speaker Abbas condemns killing of 12 Travelers in Plateau, demands Justice

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has strongly condemned the gruesome killing of 12 travelers from the Basawa community in Zaria, Kaduna State, who were ambushed in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.   This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Abdullahi Krishi.   The victims, reportedly en route to Qua’an Pan LGA for the wedding of a colleague, were attacked around 8:00 pm on Friday night while traveling in a bus…

The 10th Senate: Two Years of Purposeful Leadership and Legislative Milestones By Hon Eseme Eyiboh

Emporium Reporters

As Nigeria marks 26 years of uninterrupted democracy and commemorates the second anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, it is timely to reflect on the pivotal role played by the 10th Senate under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio. In two years, the Red Chamber has emerged as a beacon of legislative activism, fostering good governance through robust lawmaking, strategic oversight, and statesmanlike diplomacy. From the beginning, the 10th Senate has exhibited uncommon legislative energy. With 844 bills introduced, 96 passed, and 52 assented to by the President, the…

Senate Screens Nwuche, Usoro Akpabio, Others for South South Development Commission Leadership

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Senate on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, screened key nominees for the leadership of the newly established South South Development Commission (SSDC), with Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche (Rivers State) nominated as Chairman and Usoro Offiong Akpabio (Akwa Ibom State) as Managing Director.   Also screened were nominees for Executive Director positions: Marcus Nie Eji (Projects – Rivers State) Aganaba Preye Steven (Social & Human Capital Development – Bayelsa State) Dr. Timi Alari Ayibatonye (Corporate Services – Delta State) Joseph Ugheoke (Commercial & Environmental Development – Edo State) Amb. Sony Abang…

Rivers officials withholding financial records, Sole Administrator tells Senate …. Senate insists emergency rule not a substitute for democracy

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac, Abuja   The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), has disclosed that some officials of the state government are concealing critical financial records, making it difficult to account fully for expenditures incurred in the first quarter of 2025. Ibas made the revelation on Thursday while defending the 2025 Rivers State Appropriation Bill before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Oversight of Emergency Rule in Rivers State at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.   He admitted that the N1.4 trillion budget “may not be…

Senate uncovers ₦210 Trillion discrepancies in NNPCL Accounts, demands answers within 7 Days

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac, Abuja     The Nigerian Senate has uncovered discrepancies amounting to a staggering ₦210 trillion in the audited accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), prompting a demand for urgent explanations within seven days. The Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC), chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada (SDP), made the discovery during a probe session on Wednesday at the National Assembly, as part of its constitutional oversight to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. Central to the inquiry was a contradiction in NNPCL’s…

National Assembly transmits Tax Reform Bills to President Tinubu for Assent

Emporium Reporters

The National Assembly has transmitted a set of four critical and controversial tax reform bills to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent, marking a major step in the administration’s drive to modernise Nigeria’s tax system.   Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, confirmed the transmission during a press briefing held Tuesday at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.   The bills – Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, and Nigeria Tax Bill have been the…