News

Reps Query NECO For Spending IGR, Postpones Budget Defence

Published

1 year ago

January 15, 2025

Editor

Professor Ibrahim Wushishi

The National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Basic Education Bodies, on Wednesday, queried the National Examinations Council (NECO ) for spending the revenue it generated from selling Senior School Certificate Examination registration forms without permission in 2024.

The poser was raised when NECO Registrar, Prof Ibrahim Wushishi, appeared before the panel to defend the 2024 budget performance and 2025 proposal at the National Assembly Complex.

However, the committee was forced to step down the budget defence session by the examination body due to discrepancies in their presentation.

Wushishi told the committee that it realised over N22 billion from the sales of the registration forms at the rate of N22,250 to over 1.3 million candidates for the examination in 2024.

Out of the revenue raised, he said the Federal Government deducted N9.5 billion and the balance was spent on the overhead cost of the agency.

But the account did not add up as the registrar claimed the government deducted 50 per cent, leading the lawmakers to query how it would amount to N9.5 billion.

He said, “Because of the fiscal policy of the government to deduct 50 per cent directly from the source, the government has taken N9.5 billion from the same account, which makes NECO difficult to operate.

“We are still reconciling and following up with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation to see how we can reconcile and put our house in order and submit.”

Continuing, Wushishi explained that the balance of the IGR was used to conduct five different examinations.

He said because of the direct deduction by the government, they could not put up a proper presentation to the Committee.

Following this, a motion was adopted by the committee to step down the budget defence due to insufficient documents and the inability of the NECO registrar to give a satisfactory explanation of the 2024 budget.

Wushishi was thereafter directed to provide copies of the approved 2024 budget for NECO, details of the various examinations conducted by NECO, the number of candidates registered, the amount paid and bank statements to date at the next session.

Earlier, the NECO Registrar had said for 2024, the sum of N100 million was appropriated for the payment of outstanding land compensation in respect of the ongoing project construction of the NECO zonal and state office at Dawaki, Kano State.

However, he said as of December 31, 2024, the Council had not received any allocation.

On personnel costs for 2024, he said N9.8 billion was approved for last year of which 97.5 per cent has been utilised.

But the Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education Bodies, Oboku Oforji, said the legislature has a public obligation to implement the budget effectively.

He said they were not out to witch-hunt anyone.

“The legislative branch must play an active role in ensuring that these matters are addressed properly.

“The Committee urges all agencies to see us as partners in progress. The agencies should not see the committee as adversaries or conceal any activities. There I urge all to do the needful by implementing projects and programmes of government.

“The Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation should ensure that funds are released promptly to the agencies so they can do their responsibilities,” he said.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

5 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

10 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

11 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.