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Legal Challenge Unfolds: Akpabio, Abbas, And Accused Face Lawsuit Over N147bn Budget Surge
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and 20 concerned Nigerians have sued the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas for unilaterally and arbitrarily increasing the allocation for lawmakers from N197 billion to N344 billion, representing highest since the return of democracy in 1999….CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Recall that the lawmakers had last month raised their allocation from N197 billion proposed by President Bola Tinubu for them in the budget to N344 billion. The lawmakers will in total draw N514 billion from the 2024 budget. The lawmakers also in 2023 arbitrarily increased their own budget from the originally proposed N169 billion to N228 billion.
The President presented the Appropriation Bill 2024 made up of N27.5 trillion to the National Assembly on November 29, 2023. The National Assembly on December 30, 2023 passed the Appropriation Bill 2024 in the sum of N28.7 trillion.
That while exercising its legislative powers, Akpabio and Abbas increased the Appropriation Bill by N1.2 trillion, wherein the 1st and 2nd Defendants unilaterally increased allocations made to the National Assembly in the Appropriation Bill 2024 presented by the President from N197,932,625,616 Billion to N344.85 Billion.
The President signed the ₦28.7 trillion Appropriation Bill 2024 into law on January 1, 2024. The 2024 Budget is in deficit of ₦9.18 trillion.
In the suit filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on behalf of SERAP and 20 concerned Nigerians by their lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, the Plaintiffs were asking the court to determine “whether the lawmakers, in the exercise of their powers over appropriation/money bills, can unilaterally increase their own budget without the re-presentation of the budget by the Executive.
“For a declaration that the National Assembly, in the exercise of its powers over appropriation/money bills, cannot unilaterally increase its own budget without the re-presentation of the budget by the President in line with section 81 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].
“For a declaration that the action of the National Assembly, unilaterally increasing its own budget from N197 billion to N344 billion, without the re-presentation of the budget by the President is a breach of the democratic principles of separation of powers and checks and balances, “
Political analyst Katch Ononuju has shed light on the strategic calculations behind former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi’s decision to temporarily align with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and his subsequent departure from the platform. Speaking during an interview on SYMFONI TV, Ononuju recounted the private discussions he shared with Obi prior to the political move, noting that he had initially advised the former presidential candidate against entering the opposition coalition. According to Ononuju, Obi justified the alignment by asserting that remaining outside established political structures would severely hinder his ability to negotiate for power, firmly believing that he needed to step inside the room to actively engage with the political establishment.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Despite Obi’s rationale, Ononuju opted against participating in the arrangement, choosing to remain outside the coalition alongside several other political actors who also distanced themselves from the move. Ononuju elaborated on the dynamics of the departure, recalling Obi’s perspective: “When Peter Obi said, ‘I don’t like you going to ADC,’ what he told me in Enugu is, ‘Look, the people said I can’t negotiate for power staying outside the room. I need to go into the room to go and negotiate with power.’” Ultimately, when internal obstacles made further progress impossible within the party, Obi publicly announced his exit, a decision Ononuju characterized as a natural and inevitable reaction to a dead-end political environment.
Healthcare services across Katsina State face imminent disruption starting September 8, 2026, as the Assembly of Healthcare Professionals of Nigeria (AHAPN) declares a seven-day warning strike. The industrial action is set to kick off at midnight following the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum given to the state government, which concluded without a resolution regarding longstanding professional and welfare demands. Participating bodies include the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), and the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to AHAPN State Chairman Ibrahim Balange, the strike comes after years of unproductive dialogues and unfulfilled government promises despite official acknowledgment of their grievances. The coalition has cautioned that failure by the state government to address these demands before the warning period lapses could trigger an indefinite total shutdown. Appealing for public understanding, the association placed the responsibility for any resulting service disruptions squarely on the government, emphasizing that all amicable channels have been thoroughly exhausted.
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POLITICAL ULTIMATUM OF DOOM! Nwifuru Warns Ebonyi Council Chairmen: ‘Deliver APC In 2027 Or Lose Your Job!’.
Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has issued a stern warning to the newly sworn-in chairmen and vice chairmen of the state’s 13 local government areas, declaring that they face immediate removal if they fail to deliver their domains to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. Speaking on Tuesday in Abakaliki during the inauguration ceremony, Nwifuru emphasized that political performance will be strictly monitored, noting that any underperforming chairman will be stripped of office and replaced by a councillor.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Underscoring his stance publicly, the governor stated that political strategy will not be conducted behind closed doors, explicitly challenging the newly inducted leaders to prove their grassroots support or face swift administrative penalties. Furthermore, Governor Nwifuru offered structural guidance to the vice chairmen—metaphorically describing them as “spare tyres in the car boot”—advising them to remain actively engaged with their respective council chairmen regarding daily operations while guarding against divisive gossip and destructive external influences. Concluding his address alongside his deputy, who was commended for effective service delivery, the administration reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to ensuring a landslide victory for the ruling party in 2027, reiterating the core mandate that leadership positions are strictly tied to electoral success.
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