By George Mgbeleke

President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, has expressed strong optimism that Nigeria’s security challenges will see significant improvement by next year, citing ongoing strategic investments and recent changes in the nation’s military leadership.

Senator Lawan made this assurance on Thursday when he received a delegation of Vice Chairmen from the six Local Government Councils in his Yobe North Senatorial District (Zone C) on a courtesy visit at the National Assembly, Abuja.

Speaking on the nation’s security trajectory, Lawan who chairs the Senate Committee on Defence stated, “The security situation is still not what we desire, but the federal government is doing a great deal, working together with state governments. By the grace of God, things will improve.”

He highlighted the substantial investments being made by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration in the armed forces and other security agencies.

“It is my belief and conviction that the security situation will be far better by next year (2026). The leadership of the armed forces has recently been reconfigured. Now we have a new set of military leadership, and with the new Minister of Defence, who himself was formerly Chief of Defence Staff, I am sure things will get better,” Lawan said.

The Senator reaffirmed his confidence in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Tinubu administration, declaring that the party retains the trust of Nigerians as the nation looks toward 2027.

“All of us here belong to the All Progressive Congress (APC). We believe this is the party that has the trust of Nigerians,” he said, emphasizing the collaborative governance between national and state officials elected on the party’s platform.

Senator Lawan also addressed the nation’s economic outlook, acknowledging present challenges while pointing to a foundation for growth.

“This administration has succeeded in stabilizing our economy. The Nigerian economy is now on a very solid foundation, and steadily we are making progress,” he noted.

He linked the 2026 national budget to the broader agenda for development, adding that the Senate had received the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (2026–2028) from the President.

“The budget is what develops a nation, especially a developing one. We look forward to estimates in the 2026 budget that will address the challenges Nigerian communities face, so we can curb insecurity, improve the economy, create employment opportunities, and generate wealth for a better life.”

Assuring his constituents and Nigerians of dedicated representation, Lawan pledged, “Our purpose here is always to stand for the promotion and protection of the interests of our people.”

He thanked Nigerians for their support and called for national unity behind the government’s efforts to build an inclusive economy that provides relief for all tiers of society.

By Our Correspondent

There was a dramatic clash on Thursday during the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs’ screening of ambassadorial nominees, pitting Senators Ali Ndume (Borno South) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) against each other over the fate of former presidential aide Reno Omokri.

The session, was already tensed after an earlier struggle for space, brought together a lineup of high-profile nominees, including former INEC Chairman Mahmud Yakubu, ex-Army Chief Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode, and former Rivers State Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas.

In a move that instantly shifted the atmosphere, Ndume urged the committee to allow Omokri and several other nominees to simply “take a bow and go,” describing the former aide—whom he claimed to have known for 25 years—as fully qualified for the diplomatic role.

Oshiomhole pushed back, refusing to second the motion and insisting on making comments before any approvals.

The disagreement quickly escalated into a heated exchange, with Ndume accusing Oshiomhole of obstructing proceedings and calling him a “tout.” Oshiomhole shot back, branding Ndume a “hypocrite,” while stressing that despite past political differences, he would still support the president’s nominees.

The confrontation drew the attention of other lawmakers, who intervened to calm tempers. In the end, Omokri was allowed to “take a bow and go” without facing a single question—keeping him firmly on track for ambassadorial appointment.

Omokri’s nomination has stirred controversy, with critics questioning whether someone who fiercely opposed President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 elections could now credibly represent Nigeria abroad. His inclusion on the president’s list reignited debates about loyalty, credibility, and the standards for diplomatic postings.

The broader screening exercise followed a familiar pattern of deference. Former governors, ministers, first ladies, and ambassadors—among them Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi—were also asked to bow and exit without scrutiny. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele defended the practice, saying it recognizes their previous service.

President Tinubu submitted 65 ambassadorial nominees to the Senate—34 career diplomats and 31 non-career appointees, including former lawmakers and political heavyweights. Ndume, who had only last week criticized the list for allegedly violating the federal character principle, appeared to reverse course on Thursday, backing the same nominees he had questioned.

As the screening continues, all eyes remain on the Senate. But the fiery Ndume–Oshiomhole showdown and Omokri’s smooth passage have highlighted both the political undercurrents shaping high-level appointments and the Senate’s growing reliance on the controversial “bow and go” tradition.

By Our Correspondent

To guide against fraudulent practices in the nation’s financial institutions, an Ad-hoc Committee of the House of Representatives investigating deduction of taxes and sundry charges from civil and public servants earnings and multiple bank charges on customers account in Nigeria has given the commercial banks operating in Nigeria a 4-Day deadline to submit all requested documents on their charges

The House probe panel also insisted on the appearances of the Chief Executive Officers CEOs of these financial institutions at the investigative hearing and rejected representation of any bank CEO without authorization letter to the panel appropriately signed.

Chairman of the House Committee Hon. Kelechi Nwogu in a remark at the commencement of the House panel session on Tuesday in Abuja said that the House probe panel is mandated to ensure that all deductions of charges by banks on customers account must be fined rightly and used rightly.

He further stated that the House Committee had extended invitation to the Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation OAGF, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC and commercial banks operating in Nigeria on the investigation.

The House Committee members during the investigation said that the commercial banks are perpetrating illegality by deducting inexplicable charges from civil servants, public servants and other customers bank accounts without remittances.

The House Committee Chairman and some members who rejected representation of the CEOs of GT Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank and other commercial banks cannot hold waters as they insisted that they must appear before the panel unfailingly

He said: “You cannot appear here without an identity. We are not here on our own. We are here on the mandate of the people that elected us into parliament.

“We have resolved to meet next week Wednesday. You must submit all requested documents on or before Monday.

“We will go through all the documents and we will put you on oath”.

“It will not be well if we invite you here again and you tell us the same story. We have given a deadline that any bank that failed to submit the requested documents on Monday must be sanctioned”.

The House Committee Chairman said that the House panel is not leaving any stone unturned to unravel why the commercial banks engage in spurious decudctoon of charges on their customers account.

Other members of the panel notably Hon Chidi Mark Obeta,Hon. Engr Dominic Okafor,and other members while speaking in support at the hearing demanded that the bank chief executive officers must appear before the panel unfailingly.