Category: Legislative

Gov Okpebholo presents N605bn 2025 Budget with Focus on Infrastructure, Education, and Security

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has presented a budget estimate of N605 billion for the 2025 fiscal year to the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA). The proposed budget, tagged “Budget of Renewed Hope for a Rising Edo,” represented a 25% increase from the 2024 fiscal year.   Speaking at the presentation on Tuesday, Governor Okpebholo disclosed that 37% (N223 billion) of the budget is allocated to recurrent expenditure, while 63% (N381 billion) is dedicated to capital projects.   The Governor emphasized the administration’s commitment to achieving its five-point…

Formidable Coalition grows against Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills in House of Representatives

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The ongoing controversy surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s proposed Tax Reform Bills has sparked intense debate in the National Assembly, particularly in the House of Representatives. While the Senate recently passed the Second Reading of the bills, the House has yet to deliberate on the proposals, and tensions are rising.   A strong opposition coalition has emerged within the House, comprised influential members from both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition parties. This coalition, which included notable figures such as former Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Idris Wase, Hon. Sada…

Affirmative Action for Women is a Necessary Corrective Measure – Speaker Abbas

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has stressed that affirmative action for women is not a privilege but a critical corrective measure to ensure gender balance and fairness in Nigerian governance.   Speaking at a session with State Houses of Assembly Speakers marking the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Speaker Abbas emphasized the importance of integrating women’s and gender issues into Nigeria’s constitution, policies, and budgetary processes.   During the event at the National Assembly, Speaker Abbas highlighted the…

Senate declares Power Sector Privatization a Failure, Orders Investigation

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Senate has criticized the privatization of the power sector as a “total failure,” described the operators of Generation Companies (GenCos), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and Distribution Companies (DisCos) as unproductive. Lawmakers accused them of plunging the country deeper into darkness since the privatization policy was introduced in 2013.   During a heated plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed frustration over the lack of value added by power operators, highlighted instances where citizens and state governments were forced to provide transformers and pay for their installation…

Coast Guard Bill: Stakeholders call for maritime protection, economic boost

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac   The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Eshilokun Sanni Wasiu has submitted that, Nigerian Coast Guard Bill when passed into law will bolster the Nation’s economy, safeguard its coastal and maritime resources, curb oil theft, pipeline vandalism and prevent marine pollution.   He stated this during a public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Marine Transport.   The bill seeks to establish a dedicated branch of the military to secure Nigeria’s maritime zones and support the Navy during wartime.   The Coast…

Oyo Speaker hails Gov Makinde’s Hybrid Power Project ,calls it Giant Leap Towards Energy Sufficiency

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, has commended the Hybrid Power Plant project recently launched by Governor Seyi Makinde, calling it a “giant leap” in the state’s pursuit of energy sufficiency. Ogundoyin made the remarks after attending the commissioning of the project at the State Government Secretariat in Ibadan. The Hybrid Power Plant, which combines a 10MW gas-fired power generation system with a 1MW solar power solution, is set to provide stable electricity to critical facilities such as government offices, healthcare centers, schools,…

House of Reps decries Extortion, Harassment at Security Checkpoints on Onitsha-Enugu Expressway

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The House of Representatives has expressed deep concern over the excessive number of security checkpoints along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway, described them as a breeding ground for harassment and extortion of commercial drivers and travelers. During Thursday’s plenary, lawmakers adopted a motion sponsored by Hon. Amobi Oga, who highlighted the plight of road users subjected to delays, bribe demands, and other inconveniences by security personnel stationed at these checkpoints. Hon. Oga revealed that the 105-kilometer route between Onitsha and Enugu has approximately 28 checkpoints, averaging one every 3.7 kilometers. He described…

Nigerian Coast Guard Bill faces strong opposition,as Navy, Lawmakers, CSOs ask Senate to reject proposal

Lukman Laleye Babalola

A proposed Bill to establish the Nigerian Coast Guard has sparked widespread opposition from key stakeholders, including the Nigerian Navy, lawmakers, and civil society organizations (CSOs). The Bill, introduced by Senator Wasiu Eshilokun (APC-Lagos), seek to create a full-fledged military service under the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, but critics argued that it would lead to unnecessary duplication of functions, stretch limited resources, and fail to address Nigeria’s maritime security challenges effectively.   At a public hearing held by the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Rear Admiral Olusegun Ferreira,…

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele refutes claims on Tax Reform Bills suspension, reaffirms commitment to further deliberations

Emporium Reporters

The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has clarified that the upper chamber of the National Assembly has not suspended or withdrawn deliberations on the Tax Reform Bills, 2024, countering recent media reports suggesting otherwise.   Speaking during Thursday’s plenary, Bamidele emphasized that the Senate remained committed to its constitutional duties and warned against attempts to misrepresent its proceedings or intimidate lawmakers.   “Nowhere in our votes and proceedings was it stated that we suspended further deliberation on the Tax Reform Bills, 2024. This is because we did not,” Bamidele asserted.…

Senate sets up committee to address controversies in Tax Reform Bills

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Senate has constituted a special committee to address contentious issues in the proposed tax reform bills, following widespread opposition from stakeholders. The committee, chaired by Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), was announced during Wednesday’s plenary session by Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who presided over the sitting. The committee has been tasked with engaging the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the executive arm of government, and other critical stakeholders to resolve the grey areas in the bills before a public hearing is…