President Bola Tinubu has urged citizens and businesses to increase tax compliance, emphasizing that the delivery of essential infrastructure—such as roads, schools, and hospitals—is dependent on collective contributions to national revenue. Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the commissioning of the Arterial Road N5 in the Federal Capital Territory, the President highlighted that infrastructure development is a key pillar of his “Renewed Hope Agenda”. He noted that improved compliance is necessary to fund public projects while reducing reliance on borrowing, and he committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The reported resignation of former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State has sparked significant controversy. While Pantami’s associates maintain he resigned prior to joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)—where he has since become the governorship candidate—certain APC executive members in Pantami Ward dispute this claim.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Perspectives from Ward Leadership

The APC Chairman in Pantami Ward, Alhaji Bala Galda, asserts that he personally received Pantami’s resignation letter on May 19, which he signed and thumbprinted alongside the ward’s legal adviser, Malam Babangida Gololo. According to Galda:

• He rejected pressure from local government party leadership to deny knowledge of the resignation.

• He maintained that he was under no legal mandate to inform higher party echelons about a member’s voluntary resignation.

• The ward’s legal adviser, Malam Babangida Gololo, noted that there is no constitutional requirement for an ordinary party member to submit a formal letter of resignation, as joining another party is typically considered evidence of an exit.

APC State Leadership Position

Conversely, the Gombe State APC Publicity Secretary, Moses Kyari, has challenged the validity of the resignation. The party’s stance includes the following points:

• The party leadership requested the original acknowledged copy of the resignation letter from the ward chairman, but Kyari claims Galda has remained incommunicado and failed to produce it.

• The party contends that the ward secretary, rather than the chairman, is the appropriate official to receive such correspondence.

• The APC maintains that Pantami remains on its membership list as filed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal and insists that he must follow proper resignation procedures.

The House of Representatives has officially resolved to restrict principal office positions—including minority leadership roles—to lawmakers with previous legislative experience. On Wednesday, the House unanimously passed a motion sponsored by Babajimi Benson to clarify “Order Seven, Rule 15″ of the Standing Orders, which stipulates that only members with “cognate legislative experience” are eligible for such appointments.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Defining Experience: The House defined “cognate legislative experience” as having completed at least one full four-year term, mirroring a recent definition adopted by the 10th Senate.

• Global Best Practices: The resolution emphasizes that reserving leadership roles for experienced legislators promotes institutional memory, stability, and deeper understanding of legislative and constitutional processes.

• Exclusion of First-Timers: This decision effectively bars first-term lawmakers, such as Ikenga Ugochinyere, from holding these principal offices.

Reaction from Philip Agbese

Philip Agbese, the Deputy Spokesperson of the House, welcomed the decision, stating that it has “vindicated” his long-standing position on the matter.

• Emphasis on Rules: Agbese asserted that the Standing Orders are unambiguous and that one cannot attain a leadership position through shortcuts or unauthorized endorsements.

• Institutional Integrity: He argued that being a “greenhorn” does not qualify a member to lead a caucus and expressed that the resolution is a positive development for the “institutional memory” of the Parliament.