At the celebration of the 2024 International Children’s Day, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central has canvassed for the digitalisation of education in Nigeria to prepare schoolchildren for modern challenges.

Speaking at an event organized by the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Akpoti-Uduaghan highlighted the benefits of digital learning, citing Rwanda and Ghana as successful examples.
She announced the distribution of 5,000 digital devices to public schools in her constituency and pledged to equip a secondary school in the FCT with similar tools.

“Digital education simplifies learning and ensures every child has access to the best resources,” she noted.

As Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content, the senator has championed education reforms and capacity building to empower Nigerian youth.
According to her, the significance of digitisation of education cannot be ignored if school children must cope up with the realities of life.

She stressed that every child has the right to education, regardless of their background.

The senator highlighted the benefits of digital learning, citing examples from Rwanda and Ghana where most public primary and secondary schools have already gone digital.

Akpoti-Uduaghan also shared her efforts to promote digital education in her community.

“Education is a fundamental right, and the future of education lies in its digitalisation.
Over the past three weeks, I have commissioned 5,000 digital learning devices, which have been distributed to public primary and secondary schools in Kogi Central. Embracing digitalisation in education is essential.

“As you sit here today, remember that your colleagues in Rwanda and Ghana have successfully transformed their public primary and secondary schools into digital learning environments. What does this mean? It means simplifying education and making the best educational resources accessible to every child,” she stated.

Additionally, she pledged to equip one public secondary school in the FCT with digital learning devices.

The senator’s advocacy for digital education is part of her broader commitment to empowering Nigerian youth. She has been a vocal advocate for education and has worked to promote local content and capacity building in various sectors.

As the chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Akpoti-Uduaghan has met with representatives from the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and Bank of Industry (BoI) to strengthen capacity building and collaboration.
Her efforts aim to enhance synergy between government agencies and maximise impact on Nigerian beneficiaries.

In attendance are Senator Ireti Kingibie, Senator Neda Imasuen, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, Minister of Women Affairs, ably represented by the Permanent Director of Child Development, Association of Society Engineers, amongst others.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the 2025–2027 Medium-Term Fiscal Framework (MTF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) after he formally transmitted the two documents to the Senate to guide the preparation of the 2025 federal budget.
In a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio President Tinubu highlighted that the FSP had been approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) during its meeting on November 10, 2024. He emphasized that the 2025 budget would be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions outlined in the MTF and FSP.

“It is imperative to seek the National Assembly’s expeditious legislative action on this submission. I trust that the Senate will consider the passage of this submission without delay,” the President stated in the letter.

The Senate President directed that the document be referred to the Committees on Finance, National Planning, and Economic Affairs for further review.
The committees are expected to report back to the Senate in due course to facilitate timely deliberations and approval.

During the session, Senators voiced their support for the motion to refer the document to the relevant committees, with the motion receiving unanimous approval.

The MTF and FSP serve as critical policy instruments for Nigeria’s fiscal planning, outlining revenue projections, expenditure priorities, and economic assumptions that guide budget formulation. Their timely approval is essential to ensure the smooth preparation and eventual implementation of the federal budget for the coming fiscal year.

The Senate is expected to deliberate on the committees’ findings and provide a final resolution on the framework and strategy paper in the coming weeks.

**Investigation Launched into N105.66 Billion Financial Mismanagement

The Nigerian Senate has warned Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to immediately comply with financial regulations, following the release of the Auditor General’s report that revealed massive financial mismanagement. The Senate has made it clear that it will impose sanctions on any MDA head found ignoring or failing to address the findings in the report.
The warning came from Senator Garba Madoki, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance, at a workshop on legislative oversight organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS). Senator Madoki expressed concern over the frequent failure of MDA heads to appear before the Senate when summoned, stressing that the Senate would no longer tolerate such behavior. “We will take firm action against any agency head who disregards Senate directives,” he stated, emphasizing the need for prompt responses to the Auditor General’s report.
The Auditor General’s recent findings revealed that a total of N105.66 billion had been misappropriated across several MDAs, with N18.36 billion of this amount spent on contracts awarded without following the proper procedures outlined in the Public Procurement Act. This comes amid growing concerns over the mismanagement of public funds, especially in light of Nigeria’s ongoing fiscal challenges.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, reinforced the importance of legislative compliance in ensuring good governance. “Ensuring MDAs adhere to legislative resolutions is vital to achieving Nigeria’s development goals and maintaining public trust,” Akpabio said. He stressed that the Senate’s oversight role is critical to ensuring accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.
The Acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, also highlighted the importance of compliance in strengthening public confidence in government institutions. “For the laws to have meaning and for public institutions to earn trust, there must be consistent and effective compliance with legislative directives,” Ogunlana remarked.
Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, Director General of NILDS, pointed out some of the systemic challenges that undermine MDA compliance, including weak enforcement, bureaucratic inertia, and a lack of political support. He warned that these issues could lead to greater erosion of public trust in government institutions and hinder efforts to improve governance and transparency.
In light of the findings, the Senate’s Committee on Public Accounts has already initiated an investigation into the financial mismanagement reported by the Auditor General. Senator Madoki assured that the Senate would pursue sanctions where necessary, reiterating the Senate’s commitment to holding public institutions accountable for their actions.
This latest development marks a significant step in the Senate’s ongoing efforts to strengthen oversight mechanisms, curb corruption, and ensure that public resources are managed efficiently. The move reflects the Senate’s resolve to uphold transparency, restore public trust, and promote sustainable development in Nigeria.