Indications have emerged that President Bola Tinubu will present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
This announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Thursday’s plenary session.

Akpabio confirmed that the budget presentation will take place at the House of Representatives Chamber. He also noted that Tinubu had previously submitted the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) for 2025–2027 to both chambers of the National Assembly last Tuesday.

Akpabio therefore directed the Senate Committees on Finance, National Planning, and Economic Affairs to review the MTEF/FSP documents and submit their report within one week.

Key parameters in the MTEF/FSP include $75 oil price benchmark per barrel, a daily oil production target of 2.06 million barrels, an exchange rate of N1,400 to $1 and a GDP growth rate target of 6.4%
These figures will guide the consideration and approval of the proposed N47.9 trillion 2025 budget.entrusted with their collective hopes and aspirations for a just and equitable society through legislation.

Member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, has applauded key figures like Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, the late Gani Fawehinmi, and Femi Falana for their pivotal roles in Nigeria’s struggle for democracy. Speaking at the National Assembly Legislative Forum (NASSLAF) in Abuja, the Lawmaker who is the son of immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Elrufai acknowledged their consistent advocacy for workers’ welfare and democratic rights.

El-Rufai described Sen. Shehu Sani as a “father” and recognized him and Governor Uba Sani for setting an example in supporting legislative aides and fostering democratic dividends in their constituencies. He pledged to continue their legacy in his representation.

El-Rufai made this known at an event organised by the National Assembly Legislative Forum(NASSLAF) in Abuja, with the theme: “Role of Legislative Aides in National Development.

“I am glad that Sen. Shehu Sani has been invited here. Regardless of the politics between him and my father for example, even senator Shehu Sani’s enemies cannot discard the fact that him , Gani Fawehinmi school of thought, the Falana’s have consistently and deliberately advocated for the welfare and rights of workers across board.

On the need to preserve the Legislature, El-Rufai said the roles of legislative aides in lawmaking should be taken seriously.

He commended Sen. Sani and Gov. Uba Sani for taking good care of their legislative aides when they were senators.

El-Rufai added that the the two Sani’s had legislative aides at their constituency offices to give the people the dividends of democracy, stressing that “I want to continue that.”

On his part, Sen. Shehu Sani, who was the Keynote Speaker at the event, commended El-Rufai for effective representation in Kaduna North Federal Constituency.

On the role of the National Assembly in nation building, Sani called on the need for the independence of the legislature, adding that legislative aides played critical role in effective representation in the National Assembly.

Sani called on legislative aides to always tell their principals the real happenings in the country.

Sani, a former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, urged the legislature to live up to its responsibilities, for the betterment of Nigeria and Nigerians.

He said a subservient legislature would not be able to work in the interest of the country, saying that such could affect good governance and undermine democracy.

“In our time, it was unthinkable for heads of MDAs to ignore our summons. They understood the gravity of our oversight functions,” he said.

The lawmaker further advised lawmakers against prioritising personal gains over constitutional responsibilities

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday passed for second reading, a bill seeking to establish the Federal College of Skills acquisition, technology Agulu, Anambra state.
The sponsor of the bill Sen.Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra) had indicated that acquisition of technical and technological skills is a major requirement for the advancement and development of any nation.

While presenting his lead debate
Umeh said the establishment of platforms for acquisition of requisite skills, through technical and technological education is a source of youth’s empowerment.

This, he said is a sure way of curtailing unemployment in the country.

“It is instructive to note that Nigeria today, ranks among nations with very high level of youth unemployment.

“We have millions of youths idling away without any visible means of livelihood and this has significantly contributed to the high level of insecurity in the Country, that an idle mind is a devil’s workshop.

He, however, said the idle youths could be salvaged and empowered through acquisition of technical skills that would provide employment opportunities for them, especially, in the construction industry and enable them to be self-employed.

He said the bill has been conceived to provide trainings in bricklaying, electrical installations, plastering, roofing, plumbing, painting, cooling systems, refrigeration.

Others are carpentry, steel fabrications, welding, ceiling POPs, Iron bending and fitting among others.

“It is not in doubt that people with these skills are the backbone of the construction industry in any given nation,for example, in America and other developed countries of the world.”

He said great emphasis was placed on skills acquisition among the youths in the US, particularly those not in pursuit of university degrees or diplomas in tertiary institutions.

He urged the lawmakers to support the expeditious passage of the bill because of its far-reaching relevance to the socio-economic development of this country.

Consequently the bill which received support of most lawmakers who made contribution given its potential was read for the second time.

Deputy President of Senate, Barau Jibrin, (APC-Kano) who presided plenary referred the bill to committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for further legislative inputs and to return back to plenary in four weeks.