News

CSOs Want Budget Portal Periodical Review

Published

4 years ago

May 26, 2022

Editor

A coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Edo State on Friday, tasked the Consultative Forum on Transparency Initiative of National Budget Portal on periodic review of its portal if finally created to enable citizens know how the nation’s budget is spent.

They gave the task at a one day stakeholders interactive session with the Consultative Forum on Transparency Initiative of National Budget Portal held with the Civil Society Organizations in Benin City.

The event was themed: ‘Coordination and Implementation of Open Budget and Fiscal Transparency Commitment: Citizens Engagement Forum in Budget Implementation.’

The interactive session was aimed at giving citizens of the state the opportunity to make their own contributions as regards to what they should expect in the proposed portal.

Speaking at the interactive session, Comrade Itietie Omojevwe of the Edo Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO), said with the constant review of their portal, it will enable citizens of the state to know and monitor progress of an awarded project, how much was budgeted, released to contractors, who bided for the contract and to what extent has the contract being executed.

He said the consequences of not reviewing the portal are grievous because citizens cannot monitor progress and thereby erroneously accusing a contractor of abandoning his job whereas the said contractor has long completed his job.

Itietie said with constant update of the portal, it would save citizens those shortfalls.

The Interim Chairman of EDOCSO, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, said the importance of creating a portal by the government cannot be overemphasized because it serves as a warehouse of information and that the citizens of the state can easily log into it and source for what ever information they seek about the government.

He said with the Freedom of Information bill that has since been signed into law, had availed citizens the right to ask questions and source for what ever government information they want.

While commending the organizers for the initiative, he said learning is a continuous thing just as he urged the civil rights groups in the state to key into the project with the view of being able to hold their government accountable and ask questions about how their yearly budget is being spent by the government they voted into power.

Earlier, the coordinator, Consultative Forum on Transparency Initiative of National Budget Portal, Mr. Bassey Emmanuel, said the portal is going to be a website where citizens can have easy assess to all government’s budgets and allocations

He also said the portal is not in existence yet, but it is still in the offing adding that, ARZIKI BRAND NIG.LTD, a consortium of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning is the one driving the process on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Planning.

Bassey said the consultative forum is to harness expected features and expectations for the proposed National Budget Portal (NBP).

He added that the interactive session has become so imperative as it will give the citizens and the right groups the opportunity to state what they would want to see in the portal as regards the monitoring and implementation of the nation’s yearly budget.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

8 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.