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Okowa Secures N71bn Supplementary Budget Approval

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Okowa Admonishes Government to Tackle Insecurity with Employment

 

In a move that has set tongues wagging in political and business circles, the Delta State House of Assembly (DSHA) has approved a supplementary budget of N71 billion at the request of the outgoing governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.

 

Biztellers reports that Okowa formally submitted the supplementary appropriation bill to the legislature on Tuesday. Deputy Speaker, Christopher Ochor read the governor’s letter to the House.

 

The request and approval are coming less than two weeks to the end of the Okowa administration.

 

Details of the bill indicate that the sum of N5.6 billion was earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while and N65.5 billion was set aside for capital expenditure for the year 2023.

 

Okowa explained in his letter to the House that the request was necessitated by the need to meet financial needs for some critical projects and activities of government, in addition to funding ongoing projects across the state.

 

He stated, “May I wish to note that there has been actual and projected increase in some fiscal receipts.

 

“Consequently, the supplementary budget has become necessary for appropriation to pay for some critical projects and activities of government as well as fund ongoing projects across the state in the year 2023.”

 

Consequently, Majority Leader, Ferguson Onwo moved a motion for the first reading of the budget which was unanimously adopted.

 

Onwo proceeded with a motion that relevant sections of the house rules be suspended, so that the house can take the third reading and pass the bill, which was adopted in the same manner.

 

The house proceeded to pass the bill with a voice vote.

 

The Deputy Speaker applauded his colleagues for the swift action on the bill which he described as the house’s constitutional responsibility to the people of Delta State.

 

“I, therefore, thank you for recognising the importance of this bill and its successful passage.”

 

“Dear colleagues, we have just performed one of our constitutional responsibilities to Delta people,” he said.

Politics

Gaetz Withdraws From Trumps Cabinet Nomination 

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Following his observations that ‘the momentum was strong’ Matt Gaetz whom 47th POTUS elect, Donald Trump nominated for Attorney General has withdrawn.

Biztellers reports that this follows his meeting with Senate and the feedback, which included two women, represented by their attorneys, who accused him of having paid for sex.

Consequently, Gaetz placed on record his full commitment to seeing “that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history.”

His withdrawal according his statement on micro-blogging site, X, was based on his conviction that “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle”.

ALSO READ: Trump Taps 27-Year-Old Karoline Leavitt As New White House Spokesperson

In is view, “Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1”.

Gaetz wrote, “I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback – and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.

“I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I’m certain he will Save America.”

His backers have promptly encouraged to take his seat in the House of Representatives, having been elected to the house under the flag of the Republicans to represent Florida.

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Adeleke Represents SW On Ad Hoc Committee on Nat’l Electrification Plan

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The Executive Governors from Nigeria’s South West have unanimously nominated Senator Ademola Adeleke as the chairman of the zone on the National Economic Council (NEC).

Adeleke is the Executive Governor of Osun State, southwest, Nigeria.

This, according to the Spokesperson to Governor Adeleke, Olawale Rasheed, transpired on Thursday, at a meeting of the NEC.

ALSO READ: Adeleke Flaunts Local Content Records, Industrialisation Progress

He noted that the meeting reviewed the state of Nigeria’s electricity sector and resolved to engage subnational structures to address current challenges in the sector.

“The meeting particularly sought to build on the devolution of the electricity sector and its movement into the concurrent legislative list which empowers state governments to regulate the sector in their respective areas,” he stated.

Consequently, the NEC, therefore set up an ad hoc committee to review actions in the sector by state governments and explore ways to ramp up activities through coordination, Rasheed highlighted.

The full list of members of NEC’s Ad-hoc Committee on National Electrification:

  1. Governor of Cross Rivers State, Bassey Out – Chairman, South-South
  2. Governor of Katsina State, Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda – Chairman, North-West
  3. Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya – Chairman, North-East
  4. Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke – Chairman, South-West
  5. Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma – Chairman, South-East
  6. Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang – Chairman, North-Central
  7. Hon. Minister of Finance, Wale Edun
  8. Hon. Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu
  9. Special Adviser, NEC and Climate Change, Rukaiya El-Rufai
  10. Special Adviser, Power Minister, Hon. Bolaji Tunji
  11. MD/CEO Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu
  12. MD/CEO Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Jennifer Adighije
  13. Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazak
  14. NEC Secretariat
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ACF Pledges Support For Northern Presidential Candidates Ahead Of 2027 Elections

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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has announced its decision to back Northern candidates in the 2027 general elections, citing the urgent need to address the worsening socio-economic and security challenges facing the region.

In a communique issued after its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna on Wednesday, the forum expressed deep concern over the economic state of Northern Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, attributing the region’s struggles to flawed governance and poor policy decisions.

READ MORE: JUST IN: FG Dissolves Nnamdi Azikiwe University Governing Council, Removes VC

The ACF criticized the Federal Government’s economic policies, describing them as detrimental to the livelihoods of Northern citizens.

According to the communique, signed by the forum’s National Publicity Secretary, Professor Tukur Muhammad-Baba, the policies have compounded the already dire economic conditions in the region.

The statement reads, “Arewa people remain at a great disadvantage, being already worse off economically compared to other parts of Nigeria. While economic reforms are indeed desirable, they should not impoverish the same people they are meant to serve. Policies must have a human face.”

The forum noted that the North faces chronic food insecurity, limited educational and vocational opportunities for youth, and a heavy reliance on small-scale economic activities.

“Livelihoods are currently dependent on micro activities. The region faces acute and chronic food insecurity; its youths lack education and skills training. Daunting as these may be, they can be reversed. The time to think big is now,” the communique emphasized.

The ACF also addressed the pervasive insecurity in the North, warning that the situation has begun to erode public confidence in the government.

“Security is an irreducible minimum of human existence. In this regard, insecurity in its various manifestations remains the most worrisome challenge of Arewa people, that has even started to corrosively undermine the authority of government,” the forum stated.

It condemned the government’s response to the crisis, arguing that the Federal Government has failed to meet its primary duty of safeguarding lives and property.

“That those whose responsibility it is to provide security will be saying they are doing their best is unacceptable,” the communique said. “The minimum duty of government is to safeguard life and property, and doing anything less is a failure.”

The ACF faulted what it described as the “flawed leadership selection process” under the Tinubu administration, claiming it has elevated individuals without the requisite competence or experience to key positions.

It urged the Federal Government to “review, reassess, reevaluate, and re-order the direction of its economic policies with a view to giving it the needed human face.”

Looking ahead to the next general elections, the ACF pledged its support for Northern politicians who demonstrate a clear commitment to addressing the region’s challenges and fostering national development.

“Notwithstanding the parlous state of Arewa’s glaring economic conditions, the policies of the current Federal Government have continued to make matters much worse,” the communique stated.

 

 

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