Category: Legislative

Reps approve NHRC 2026 budget, laud 2025 performance

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights has approved the 2026 budget proposal of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), commended the agency for what it described as an impressive performance in the 2025 fiscal year. The approval followed the presentation of the commission’s 2026 estimates by its Executive Secretary, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN), during a budget defence session at the National Assembly. Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Abiola Makinde, expressed satisfaction with the commission’s utilisation of its 2025 allocation and gave the nod to the proposed 2026 budget.…

Reps commend Health Ministry, Back ₦224.36bn 2026 Budget, demand timely BHCPF release

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The House of Representatives has commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for its performance, particularly in the implementation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), while backing its proposed ₦224.36 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year. The commendation came on Monday in Abuja during the presentation of the Ministry’s 2026 Headquarters Budget Proposal to the Joint House Committees on Health Services. Presenting the proposal, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the Ministry proposed a total estimate of ₦224.36…

2026 Budget: Senate demands stronger funding for Anti-Trafficking, Disability Inclusion, Elderly Welfare

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Senate Committee on Special Duties has called for increased funding for key social protection agencies, citing rising human trafficking cases, inadequate data on persons with disabilities, and insufficient welfare support for senior citizens. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, made the demand on Tuesday during the 2026 budget defence session and review of the 2024/2025 performance of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), and the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC). Expressing concern over the…

NASS joint committee rejects Nigerian Air Force budget, calls for urgent review

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Joint Committee on the Nigerian Air Force has rejected the service’s proposed budget, citing its inadequacy to sustain the level of firepower required to combat insurgency across the country at this critical time. According to the Committee, the proposed allocation fell short of meeting the operational demands of the Air Force, particularly amid ongoing security challenges. Consequently, the Committee resolved to form a mini-committee tasked with engaging the Federal Government, the Budget Office, and relevant legislative committees to develop a more realistic and sustainable budget framework. Speaking to reporters,…

ICPC Chairman appeals to Senate for increased funding amid staff kidnapping, low morale

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, has called on the Nigerian Senate to significantly increase the commission’s budget, warned that inadequate funding is crippling anti-corruption efforts and endangering staff. Dr. Aliyu made the appeal on Tuesday during ICPC’s 2026 budget defence before the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, revealing that a commission staffer was recently kidnapped and remained in captivity, highlighting the risks faced by operatives. He told lawmakers that the commission continues nationwide operations despite severe…

Oyetola presents ₦10.5bn 2026 Marine and Blue Economy Budget, flags funding gaps threatening Trade ,Food Security

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, on Tuesday presented a ₦10,499,984,667.10 budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year, expressed concern that the allocation is grossly insufficient to effectively execute the ministry’s wide-ranging mandate critical to Nigeria’s trade, transport efficiency, and food security. Oyetola made the revelation while defending the budget before a joint sitting of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and House of Representatives committees on Ports and Harbours; Maritime Safety, Education and Administration; Shipping Services; Inland Waterways; and Ocean and Fisheries. The proposed…

JUST IN : Senate amends Electoral Act, endorses Electronic Transmission of results with safeguards

Emporium Reporters

The Nigerian Senate has amended its Votes and Proceedings of the Wednesday, February 4 plenary, clarified its position on Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2026, following intense public controversy over the transmission of election results. The amendment was reached after a motion moved by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, which was subsequently adopted by the Red Chamber. The clarification came amid nationwide protests and growing public pressure on lawmakers to ensure real-time electronic transmission of election results. Earlier, protesters had stormed the National Assembly,…

BREAKING: Senate reconstitutes Electoral Act Conference committee amid rising protests

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Senate has reconstituted a 12-member Electoral Act Conference Committee as part of renewed efforts to harmonise proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, amid mounting public protests over electoral reforms. Senator Simon Bako Lalong was appointed chairman of the committee, which is mandated to work with its counterpart in the House of Representatives to reconcile differences in the amendment bill and produce a unified version for passage by the National Assembly. The move is seen as a critical step toward strengthening Nigeria’s electoral legal framework ahead of future elections,…

THE COURT OF APPEAL JUDGEMENT AND SEPARATION OF POWERS: SENATOR NATASHA AKPOTI-UDUAGHAN AND THE CLERK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA & 3 ORS By Rt Hon Eseme Eyiboh mnipr

Emporium Reporters

The judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered on Monday, February 9, 2026, represents a consequential affirmation of the constitutional principles that sustain Nigeria’s democratic order and the orderly functioning of its institutions. By upholding the disciplinary actions of the Senate as lawful and procedurally sound, the Court has robustly reinforced the doctrine of separation of powers, a cornerstone of our constitutional democracy. The ruling confirms with unmistakable clarity that the authority of the Senate to regulate its internal proceedings and discipline its members is firmly rooted in the Constitution…

2026 Budget: Trade and Investment Ministry seeks ₦2.72bn Capital Vote, records revenue surplus

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has proposed a capital allocation of ₦2.72 billion for the 2026 fiscal year, as the Minister, Dt. Jumoke Oduwole, appeared before the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment for the Ministry’s budget defence. Presenting the estimates on Monday, Oduwole disclosed that the Ministry’s total appropriation for the 2025 budget stood at ₦11.8 billion, noted that its ₦3.8 billion capital allocation for the year had not been released as at the time of the defence. She, however, confirmed that personnel and overhead costs…