Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has forwarded the names of 30 commissioner nominees to the State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation. According to a statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman, the submission is in line with Section 192(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The announcement comes barely a month after the governor dissolved his entire cabinet, promising a new team within two weeks. The SSG said the nominations followed thorough consultations and were based on the nominees’ integrity, competence, and dedication to the state’s development. Governor Bago emphasized that the…
Author: National Update
The Senate Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, has launched an in-depth review of stamp duty revenue collection and remittance across Nigeria, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring that public funds are properly generated, accounted for, and utilized. Senator Wadada stressed that while generating revenue is critical, ensuring its proper collection and deployment is equally vital. As part of the review, the committee has written to all commercial banks requesting details of stamp duty collected from 2016 to 2024, and has sought corresponding data from the Central Bank of Nigeria on remittances to the Treasury Single Account…
The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has applauded the Medicaid Cancer Foundation for disbursing ₦100 million to cancer patients and support organisations, calling it a shining example of how private-sector philanthropy can create meaningful social and economic impact. Speaking at the Cervical Cancer Day Commemoration in Abuja, Mr. Edun emphasized that such initiatives complement government efforts to strengthen healthcare and build a healthier, more productive population. “This is not just financial support; it is an act of solidarity and shared responsibility,” he said. “Every contribution to cancer care helps strengthen our human…
By Fatima Ndagi The House of Representatives is advancing far-reaching reforms in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, including measures to curb the illegal sale of human organs by vulnerable citizens, Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas has disclosed. Abbas made the remarks on Wednesday during a public hearing by the House Committee on Healthcare Services on seven health-related bills at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja. Represented by Deputy Chief Whip Rep. Ibrahim Isiaka, he said the proposed legislation aims to strengthen ethical standards, close regulatory gaps, and standardize practices across the country’s healthcare system. “These bills will directly impact the healthcare sector and…
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has urged Nigerian editors to dig deep into the moral and systemic failures that have tarnished the country’s global image, challenging them to confront the hard truths behind why Nigeria is increasingly seen as “a disgraced nation.” Speaking at the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) Conference in Abuja on Thursday, themed “Reclaiming Our Nation’s Dignity: A Call to Conscience,” Obi described editors as the “custodians of national conscience.” He urged them to go beyond political rhetoric and expose the structural decay and value erosion that continue to fuel poverty, insecurity, and corruption. “If…
The Nigerian Senate on Thursday took a major step toward overhauling the country’s military legal framework as it passed for second reading the Armed Forces (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 791) — a landmark legislation seeking to align the Armed Forces Act with democratic, constitutional, and operational realities. Sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua (Katsina Central), the bill proposes a comprehensive reform to bring Nigeria’s military governance in line with international standards, judicial accountability, and modern defence principles. Leading debate on the bill, Senator Yar’adua noted that the current Armed Forces Act, rooted in decrees of the 1960s and last…
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has faulted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s silence over the recent confrontation between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a naval officer in Abuja, describing it as a “troubling endorsement of impunity and arrogance in public office.” Frank, in a statement on Thursday, said Wike’s public outburst against a uniformed officer during an enforcement operation was not just an act of poor judgment, but “a window into the culture of unrestrained power, arrogance, and disregard for accountability that defines the current administration.”…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja The Commander, 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Kasim Umar-Sidi, has reaffirmed the military’s commitment to sustaining its onslaught against bandits and criminal elements terrorising parts of Kogi State, to ensure lasting peace and security. Brig.-Gen. Umar-Sidi gave the assurance when members of the Executive Council of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kogi State Council, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Lokoja. “We will do our best to keep Kogi safe by ensuring that bandits terrorising the state are dealt with,” he said, urging Nigerians to…
***As Three Lawmakers Defect to APC By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja The Kogi State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Ibaji Local Government Council, Hon. Emmanuel Onuche, over allegations of gross misconduct, pending the outcome of an investigation. The suspension was announced on Wednesday by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, during plenary. Yusuf said the decision was necessary to ensure a fair and unhindered investigation, noting that the chairman’s alleged actions had brought disrepute to the state government. The Speaker directed Onuche to hand over the affairs of the council to the Vice Chairman,…
The Federal Government has announced a bold 60% increase in the 2025 health budget—underscoring its commitment to building a healthier, more productive population and positioning human capital development at the centre of Nigeria’s economic renewal. Speaking at the 2025 Health Sector-Wide Joint Annual Review in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said the renewed focus on health investment reflects President Bola Tinubu’s vision of inclusive growth anchored on people-centered development. Director of Information and Public communications, Mohammed Manga in a statement quoted Mr. Edun to have commended the Honourable Minister of…