By George Mgbeleke

Ahead of 2026 Budget presentation,President Bola Tinubu has transmitted the Appropriation, Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2 of 2024 to the Senate for consideration and passage.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read the President’s letter at plenary on Wednesday.

In the letter, Tinubu said the bill was submitted in line with established constitutional and legislative appropriation processes.

He explained that the proposal seeks authorisation for the issuance of N43,561,041,744,507 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for the year ending December 31, 2025.

According to the President, the sum comprises N1 trillion for statutory transfers, N8.2 trillion for debt service, N11.2 trillion for recurrent non-debt expenditure, and N22.2 trillion for capital expenditure and development fund contribution.

Tinubu said the bill was designed to end the practice of running multiple budgets while ensuring high capital performance rates for both the 2024 and 2025 capital budgets.

He noted that the proposal provides a transparent and constitutionally grounded appropriation mechanism for the orderly consolidation of critical and time-sensitive expenditures undertaken in response to emergency exigencies.

The President said the bill would advance the collective well-being of Nigerians, safeguard national security, and reinforce fiscal discipline, accountability, and broader public financial management.

He added that the proposal strengthens implementation discipline and accountability by ensuring that appropriated funds are released and applied strictly for the purposes specified in the schedules.

Tinubu further explained that the bill provides that virement may only be effected with the prior approval of the National Assembly, outlines conditions for corrigenda where genuine errors may hinder implementation, and mandates the separate recording of excess revenue, limiting its expenditure to an Act or approval of the National Assembly.

He said the bill also mandates due process compliance and periodic reporting on fund releases, as well as agency revenues and assistance.

The President urged the Senate to consider and pass the bill expeditiously.

Responding, Akpabio said the letter had been referred to the Senate secretariat to do the needful.

By George Mgbeleke

Worried by incessant spats of banditry attacks, kidnapping and killings in parts of the country, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will today (Wednesday 17th December) embark on nationwide protest rally against insecurity which today, has put Nigeria in a terrible state.

This is as the congress has raised alarm over plot by the Police to attack the protesters and cause mayhem, warning that any attack on the protest, would be a declation of war on Nigeria.

The Congress in a statement signed by its Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, said it had taken the decision to demand urgent and sustained action by the state to decisively address the festering insecurity situation in Nigeria.

It said the protest which will start at 7:30 a.m on Wednesday, will involve the peaceful procession of workers and civil society allies within designated routes.

Meanwhile, the congress in another statement on Tuesday, titled: “An Attack on Any Protester is an Act of Terrorism”, signed by the Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, said it received credible and disturbing intelligence from the networks within the communities that there is a clandestine move by some unscrupulous agencies and desperate political hirelings, to infiltrate and violently disrupt the peaceful National Day of Protest and mourning organised by workers for Wednesday.

It said: “These protests, as every comrade or citizen knows, are a necessary and legitimate response to the escalating reign of terror unleashed upon our nation. The industrial-scale losses of lives, kidnappings, abductions, and killings in the face of a staggering government’s indifference or weakness clearly speak to the issue.

“Our action tomorrow is therefore not just a mere procession, it is a collective act of grief, a roar of despair from the oppressed, and a democratic demand for the fundamental right to life and security. We have lost count of the numbers of our members; teachers, farmers, miners and other artisans that have died to this overwhelming insecurity.

“Let this be understood by those who occupy the corridors of power and the purveyors of violence that the Congress is now officially aware of their plot to use armed thugs to attack peaceful protesters, cause mayhem, and create a pretext for violent repression.

“We name this plot for what it is, a further enabled terrorism against Nigerian citizens.

“We issue a stern and final warning to the purveyors of this act: ‘Desist Immediately. Call off your hoodlums as any attack on peacefully protesting workers will be considered a direct declaration of war on the entire Nigerian working class and its allies’.

“The Police having been informed of our protests and its dynamics must act to protect the democratic rights of citizens to freely assemble and express themselves. The rights of citizens must be respected and guaranteed.

“To all the working people of Nigeria, the unemployed, the students, the traders, and all victims of insecurity, we alert you to this insidious plot. Do not be cowed. Do not be provoked. Our protest must remain peaceful, disciplined, and massive. Solidarity is our shield.

“Here is our iron-clad resolution as passed by the National Executive Council: Should a single worker, comrade, or citizen be harmed by these thugs or through escalated repression tomorrow, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not hesitate to declare an immediate, comprehensive, and indefinite nationwide strike.

“All wheels of production, all services, and every sector of the national economy will be shut down completely and indefinitely. When the ruling class moves to crush a peaceful protest against their failure, they unwittingly reveal their truly undemocratic tendencies.

“The message must be clear and without equivocation; any attack on our protest will be an attack on the very engine of Nigeria. The consequence will be an escalation and a total shutdown”.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

The International Federation of Women Lawyers,(FIDA), in Niger State has vowed to launch an offensive onslaught against all sort of digital violence against girl child and women in the state.

FIDA also said it will go all out in the protection of any sorts of Cyber bullying and social media attack on girl child and women in Niger State the association will not compromise in taking appropriate legal action against any assault on women in Niger State.

Speaking at the occasion of 2025 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence GBV with the theme, “ Unite to End Digital Violence Against all women and Girls”which took place in Maikunkele, the headquarters of Bosso Local government area of Niger State the Chairperson of FIDA in Niger State, Barrister Bolanle Jibogun said the association will continue to sensitize women girls on the need to raise their voice against such trend.

According to the FIDA Chairman, the 16 days Activism Humaright against GBV which is aimed at enlightening and sensitizing women and girl child on the danger of Cyber bullying and all sorts of social media attacks adding that the association will continue to stand against such ugly trends.

She assured that FIDA as a non governmental organization will provide free legal services to the girl child who is being sexually molested or abused and women that are facing domestic violence in their matrimonial home noting that such attacks would not be condoned by FIDA in Niger State.

The FIDA Chairman told the gathering who are mostly women to continue to raise their voice against any acts of molestation and abuse on their girl child for appropriate legal action to be taken against such offenders to serve as a deterrent to others.

While stressing the importance of reporting any act of molestation and other attack against girl child and the vulnerable in their neighborhood, Barrister Bolanle Jibogun told the participants that by raising their voice,the association will ensure that justice will be meted out to the offenders

Speaking earlier,the District head of Maikunkele, Alhaji Suleiman Abubakar Dada applauded FIDA for hosting the 2025 16 Day of Activism in his domain describing the occasion as enlightening.

He said he will continue to partner with FIDA in the area of creating an awareness and enlightenment to the neighboring communities in his domain to know the existence of the association in the state.