News

Senate Steps Down N98.5bn FCT Supplementary Budget For Lacking Details

Published

1 year ago

June 6, 2024

The Senate has stepped down the consideration of the N98.5bn Federal Capital Territory Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2024.

The resolution stemmed from arguments by Senators that the supplementary budget lacked a profile, including budget performance, sources of revenue, and target areas where the money would be spent.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, who presented the bill for consideration on Wednesday, said the FCT 2024 Statutory Supplementary Appropriation Bill seeks to authorise the issuance from the Federal Capital Territory Administration Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Capital Territory Administration Account, the total sum of N98.5bn only “to accommodate additional inflow from Internally Generated Revenue, resulting to a revised total FCT-IRS 2024 Statutory Revenue Appropriation to the sum of N348.720bn.

“The FCT 2024 supplementary budget is to consolidate the magnitude and scope of the ongoing projects simultaneously within the city centre and across the six Area Councils in the Territory to ensure that the vision of the renewed hope mantra for a befitting capital city for Nigeria and Nigerians is accordingly achieved.”

Lending his voice to contribute to the debate, Ede Dafione (APC, Delta Central) stated that the supplementary budget lacked a breakdown of items and associated costs and called for explanations before the bill would scale second reading.

“I would like to note that the supplementary budget presented before us here does not give us any clarification on the revenue proposed or the usage of the funds. We are given two generic headings of a total revenue proposal of N98.5bn and a total expenditure proposal of N98.5 bn.

“I want to suggest that some further clarifications should be required to enable this House to know exactly where the revenue was generated from and also how the expenditure would be made so that we can approve both the revenue and the expenditure,” Dafione said.

Also speaking, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) said there was no need to debate a budget lacking in essentials.

He said, “I am not against this budget, but I feel when we are presenting budgets like this, we should do them in the right way so that posterity will also judge us right.

“When we are presenting a budget, it is supposed to come with a profile or a breakdown of what the expenditure is, what the source of the revenue is, what the performance of the previous budget is and then from there, we deliberate on it.

“But if it is going to be committed to the committee level, then we are not supposed to debate it at plenary.”

Ruling on the contributions, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said, “The Leader of the Senate (Bamidele), you have heard these observations. There is nothing before us to debate.”

In a bid to forge a way forward, Bamidele moved that the bill be withdrawn until the details are ready and made available to the Senators on the floor of the red chamber.

“Without any reservation, I agree with the observation made by distinguished Senator Sani Musa and of course through the voice vote of our colleagues.

“It is our tradition in parliament that when a money bill is presented, the agency that is bringing it through the relevant committee would attach the breakdown of the proposed budget estimates.

“I think it’s important that we do the proper thing. What I will suggest is that for the details of the breakdown to be presented, the chairman should be allowed to go and make photocopies so that every Senator here will have a copy, ” Bamidele said.

The bill was thus, stood down for consideration in a yet-to-be-announced legislative day.

News

Idahosa Hosts NBA, Assures Of Government’s Collaboration

Published

8 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Editor

Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, has assured of the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration’s desire to reduce crime and criminality in the state while also upholding the rule of law.

According to a press statement by Friday Aghedo, the Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Idahosa gave the assurance when he played host to members of the Benin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Benin on Tuesday.

During the interface with the body of lawyers, also referred to as “Lion Bar,” the deputy governor solicited their collaboration to help rid the state of violent crimes.

“Indeed, the state we met was plagued with security challenges such as kidnapping, cultism and its related issues, and other vices for which the governor needed to take decisive action to address these menaces which plagued society.

“To the glory of God and with your support, we have done reasonably well at reducing crime in Edo State,” he stated.

He informed the lawyers that their collaboration with the administration would assist at stamping out crimes and criminality and boost investors confidence in the state.

Idahosa also promised the government support to the lawyers in whatever capacity to assist in carrying out their functions efficiently.

Speaking earlier, the Benin NBA branch, Idemudia Osifo, congratulated and commended Governor Okpebholo, his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, on their inauguration and efforts at eradicating security challenges in the state.

He said the NBA maintained cordiality with the seat of power in order to form a solid partnership geared towards the delivery of dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

He further commended the Okpebholo-led administration for appointing members of the Bar to key positions of his government.

Speaking on the rule of law, Osifo said that the Bar believed that the administration would deliver, especially against the background of swearing in the three judges denied the same action by the immediate past administration

“That singular action showed the willingness of this administration to reposition Edo State in terms of Justice delivery and the rule of law,” he stated.

He expressed the willingness of the Benin Branch of the NBA to support the government to fight crime and criminality

News

Police Quiz Pastor Paul Adefarasin Over ‘Gun-like Object’ Video

Published

8 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that Pastor Paul Adefarasin, founder of the House on the Rock Church, has turned himself in for questioning over a viral video that appeared to show him holding a gun-like object during a roadside encounter.

The Command, in a post shared via its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday, stated, “No one is above the law!

“Pastor Paul Adefarasin has turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja and is currently being interrogated by detectives who have commenced investigation on the case since a video surfaced online showing the pastor holding a gun-like object against another road user, while driving in an unregistered vehicle.

“The outcome of the investigation will be made public.”

The video, which surfaced earlier, shows Adefarasin holding a metallic object while speaking to a passerby who appeared to be recording him.

The clip has since gone viral, with several social media users alleging that the object was a firearm.

Responding to the allegations, Adefarasin in a message to his congregation posted on his verified social media pages, he denied brandishing a weapon.

He described the incident as a misunderstanding.

According to the cleric, the object in question was not a firearm, and at no point was it pointed at anyone.

News

How Trailer Sent To Kill Me Fell Flat, Dented — Iwo Monarch

Published

12 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Editor

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, said the trailer that was sent to kill him upon hitting him fell flat and got extremely dented.

The Osun monarch made the revelation while testifying to the power of God in a now-trending video on Tuesday.

While Oba Akanbi didn’t give details or the location of the incident, he noted that after the trailer hit him, he saw some angels of God dragging it.

“A trailer that was sent to kill us, hit us and fell flat and extremely dented. It was dragged away by angels of God. Except you do not choose God. Don’t have doubts while trusting God.”