Facebook Instagram Twitter Website Youtube
Home Blog Page 2047

Senate Passes N607bn 2022 FCT Budget

By
ABN Editor 2
-
0
Senate Passes N607bn 2022 FCT Budget

The Senate has passed for second reading the N607.962bn 2022 budget by the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The appropriation bill was passed on Wednesday after several objections over the lateness of the presentation of the 2022 budget.

The upper legislative chamber consequently, ordered the authorities of FCT, to make available, 2023 budget proposals latest by next week at or risk zero allocation for the fiscal year.

The N607.962bn 2022 budget for FCT, ran into trouble waters in the Senate, when after the presentation for a second reading by the leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir ( APC Sokoto East), Senator James Manager (PDP Delta South), frowned at it, for coming in October.

Senator Manager who repeatedly reminded the senators that the year the budgetary proposals were meant for is less than three months to roll away, subtly called for its rejection.

Manager said, “Mr President if I heard the Senate Leader right, the N607billion appropriation bill, presented for second reading, is for FCT and to be implemented in the 2022 fiscal year which is less than three months to roll away.

“To me, this is very unfortunate and must be stopped. What are the people saddled with the drafting of the proposals doing since January? Are they aware that we are already in the 10th month of the year?”

In preventing rejection of the proposals, the Senator representing FCT, Philip Aduda, hurriedly rose to tender an apology on behalf of the FCT Minister for the late submission of 2022 budget proposals.

Aduda in his intervention said, “Mr President, it is very unfortunate that the 2022 FCT budget is submitted for consideration in October but I seek the indulgence of this Senate to consider it by passing it for second reading as moved by the leader.”

But the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, in his remarks said submitting the 2022 budget proposals in October was not only unfortunate but unacceptable.

He directed the Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT, Smart Adeyemi, to liaise with FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, on the unfailing submission of the 2023 Budget next week.

Lawan said, “What the FCT did on its 2022 budget submission in the month of October is not only unfortunate but unacceptable.

“Honestly speaking, this should not be accepted by us but for the interest of innocent residents of FCT, it will be considered.

“However, similar action from FCT will not be accepted as far as the late budget submission is considered.”

Lawan also issued a directive that FCT should unfailingly submit for consideration, its proposed budget for 2023 next week or keep to itself.

“This Senate will no longer consider this type of approval-seeking submissions in the 10th month of the year the budget proposals are meant for”, he said.

Breakdown of the N607. 962billion 2022 FCT budget grudgingly passed for a second reading by the Senate are N76.569billion for personnel cost, N138.199billion for overhead, and N393.192billion for capital projects.

Rico Swavey, Ex-BBN Housemate, Is Dead

By
ABN Editor 2
-
0
Rico Swavey Set For Burial Thursday – Family
Patrick Fakoya (Rico Swavey)

Former Big Brother Naija season 3 housemate, Patrick Fakoya, popularly Known as Rico Swavey, has been confirmed dead.

Colleagues who were housemates with him confirmed his death on various social media platforms on Thursday.

Report had it earlier that the former BBN star was involved in an auto crash leading to his going into coma before his eventual death on Thursday morning.

Reacting, Tobi Bakare on his Instagram handle posted a picture adding a caption, “This is how I will remember us brother. Forever ” RIP”

READ ALSO: 9 Things To Know About Late BBnaija Star Rico Swavey

While Alexandra Amuchechukwu Asogwa popularly known as Alex Unusual also took to her Twitter handle to express her grief. She wrote, “This was not what we agreed Rico, Rest in peace.”

It was on Wednesday reported that Nigerian entertainers launched a fundraiser for the deceased housemate of Big Brother Naija season 3 after he was involved in a car crash.

Bakre made the announcement on his Twitter page on Wednesday, as he asked the public for donations. Bakre noted that the accident victim had been placed on life support.

“Please help save Rico. He had a really bad car accident. We have to keep him on life support and continue to pay the rising medical bills while we pray for God’s miracle.

“(We) can’t do it alone. Please click on the link to donate at ricoswavey.com,” Bakre tweeted.

Reality TV star, Alex Asogwa aka Alex Unusual, who had shared the news about the accident on her Twitter page on Tuesday, also called for donations.

She wrote on her Instagram page on Wednesday, “I wish I didn’t have to post this but my friend is in a critical condition and we are in need of your financial assistance and prayers.

“I also wish I could give more information on his health but how can I when we are still waiting for the doctors and God to save this dear life or at least get a sign or response from Rico?

“Whatever you can do to support will be highly appreciated as he is on life support and fighting for his life. Please, @ricoswavey_official needs our help #ricoswavey #prayforricoswavey”

On Wednesday, Rico Swavey’s management announced that he was on life support in the hospital.

His management posted a video of the crashed car and asked for prayers and support from his fans, via his Twitter handle.

67-Year-Old Man Locked Up In Room For 20 Years In Kaduna Rescued

By
Alex Enemanna
-
0

The Police Command Kaduna State, said it had invited five persons to assist them in their investigation over the locking up of a 67 year-old man for 20 years in Kaduna.

The Command Public Relations Officers, DSP Mohammed Jalige, stated this at the scene of the alleged offence on Wednesday.

The rescued man, Mr Ibrahim Ado, was allegedly locked up in a room in Bayajidda/Ibrahim Taiwo road in Kaduna North Local government Area on Wednesday.

Jalige told newsmen that the incident was reported to the Police community health workers who were on duty in the afternoon at Bayajidda by Ibrahim Taiwo road in Kaduna.

According to him, upon receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna Command ordered that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area should lead operatives to the scene and bring out the man.

He said the Commissioner also ordered that they should find out from the people around the area why the man was kept in a room for so long.

He said that he had been locked up in the room for almost 20 years, where he ate, urinated and did everything without taken care of.

“When we went to the scene, we found the man naked, we gave him clothes to wear and brought him out and took him to hospital for medical evaluation,” he said.

Jalige further said that the Kaduna Comissioner of Police, Yekini Ayoku, also ordered for a full scale investigation to be carried out to unravel the true position and cause of the inhuman treatment to the elderly man.

He noted that investigations had commenced by the DPO Magajin Gari Police Division, and would reveal the outcome.

He said they found about five people in the area who were assisting them in the investigation process.

“We were made to understand that the man had children and a wife who were nowhere to be found, the people we met in the compound and the neighboring houses, we believe will assist us in getting the true position of the whole scenario.”

“We will work together with the medical doctors to obtain their report on the man’s health status, what matters now is to get the man alive and make him comfortable, and we have succeeded in doing that,”Jalige said.

NAN

10,000 Police Officers Undergoing Training On Digital Skills, Says IGP

By
Munachi
-
0
10,000 Police Officers Undergoing Training On Digital Skills, Says IGP
IGP Usman Alkali Baba

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, on Wednesday said 10,000 police officers are currently undergoing training on digital skills.

Baba also said the Nigeria Police Force has acquired drones as part of new technology to curb crimes and unmask criminal elements.

He said the training was due to the security situation in the country and how to overcome the menace. Baba made the disclosure while receiving a delegation from the International Certification for Digital Literacy (ICDL) Foundation, which was led by the chairman of E-Tech Complete Solutions Ltd, Mr. A.U Mustapha (SAN). He said the force would partner effectively with ICDL to ensure a comprehensive digital skill for police officers and men.

He said: “10,000 police officers and men are undergoing training on technology. We also make several efforts to ensure that our officers and men are computer-literate.

“We have a computer school in Abeokuta and many of our officers are also undergoing training there.

“With ICDL coming to us now, we are willing to work with you to achieve the best because technology is very important. We will partner with you.”

Earlier, the chairman of E-Tech Complete Solutions Ltd, Mr. A.U Mustapha, (SAN), said ICDL had been working with security agencies in Nigeria on how to use digital technology. He said ICDL would give the best training to officers and men of the police force for the desired results. The Chief Executive Officer of ICDL Foundation, Damien O’Sullivan, said the organization would give quality training to offices and men of the police.

He said: “We want to work with your training institutions and provide necessary training. “International Certification for Digital Literacy (ICDL) is a Global Social Enterprise dedicated to raising digital competence standards in the workforce, education, and society.

“ICDL certification is now available in over 100 countries across a network of more than 20,000 test centres, delivering over 70 million ICDL certification tests to more than 16 million people worldwide.

“ICDL benefits from the unique support of experts from national computer societies and partners worldwide to develop vendor-independent standards that define the skills and knowledge required to use digital technology effectively.

“ICDL works with education and training partners, local and regional authorities, national governments, international development organizations, as well as public and private sector employers in all sectors in the delivery of our programmes.

“The quality and reputation of ICDL are built on over 20 years of experience in delivering our certification programs to over 16 million people and in more than 40 languages worldwide, with more than 2.5 million ICDL tests taken annually.”

Ekiti Governor Elect Promises Prosperity Vision

By
ABN Editor 2
-
0
Ekiti Governor Elect Promises Prosperity Vision
Ekiti Governor Elect, Hon. Biodun Oyebanji

Ekiti State Governor-elect, Biodun Oyebanji, has said that he will work with competent, courageous and transparent persons in his bid to drive his agenda of making Ekiti prosperous.

Oyebanji said that securing the citizens, building enduring Infrastructure and solving the perennial epileptic power supply to the state would form the focal areas of concentration.

“My vision is to have a society where everybody will prosper,” he said.

The incoming governor, who would be inaugurated on Sunday, speaking in a chat with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, assured that his administration would be transparent and work hard to build strong institutions, rather than strong men to help our people.

He said, “I will have to strike a balance between growth and development. Our development plan will be such that it will improve the people’s living standards,” adding that his areas of focus would help to increase investment drives that would create wealth and ignite human capital development, through job provision and revenue earnings.

Oyebanji said, “I will work with competent, committed, courageous, transparent and God-fearing people. My government will be all-inclusive. We are bringing those that will add value to our dear state and our party, APC.

“We will monitor the activities of whoever we bring on board to ensure that they relate with the people at the grassroots. That is why I want to live in my hometown at Ikogosi to encourage other appointees to live in their localities,” he said.

The incoming governor, who was former Secretary to State Government under the outgoing Dr Kayode Fayemi administration, said that although the challenges of leading the state appeared overwhelming, he was least bothered by paucity of funds based on the strong partnerships the state had built with local and international development partners.

He said, “I have learned from Governor Fayemi, who has sustained the partnerships and relationships with development partners to make more monies for our state.”

The governor-elect added that he would deploy strategies to increase the internally generated revenue of the state through an effective and affordable tax regime that would not put pressure or burden on the populace.

He said, “We can do N1.2billion monthly IGR without necessarily putting pressure on our people. If those not captured or not paying taxes are convinced to pay or brought to the tax dragnet, our IGR will increase and we will spend it judiciously on areas of priorities”.

2023: How PDP Govt Will Address Nigeria’s Insecurity – Gov. Okowa

By
Munachi
-
0
"You Lack Competence And Experience To Fix Nigeria" – Okowa’s Aide Blasts Peter Obi
Gov. Okowa

Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, insists that the creation of State Police will address the insecurity challenge in Nigeria.

Okowa made the remark at the annual conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate said many Nigerians agree that the establishment would reduce the crime rate.

Okowa lamented that the Federal Government had remained indifferent on the issue to the detriment of the people.

The governor assured that a PDP-led administration would empower states to run their separate police system.

NAN quoted him saying indigenes will ensure the protection of lives and property in their areas and curb criminal activities.

“State Police would help in the effective enforcement of anti-open-grazing law in the states,” Okowa added.

He affirmed that the PDP would encourage power devolution to the states for better development in the country.

The chieftain said this would attract and stimulate investment in states across the six regions.

Ebonyi PDP Gov Candidate Denies ‘Alliance’ With APC

By
ABN Editor 2
-
0
Ebonyi PDP Gov Candidate Denies ‘Alliance’ With APC
Dr Ifeanyi Odii

The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Dr Ifeanyi Odii, has denied the allegation in some quarters that he was hob-nobbing with the All Progressives Congress, in the state, for the purpose of ‘securing’ appointment after the 2023 general elections.

Rumours made the rounds in social media a few days ago that Odii and the APC governorship candidate, Hon. Francis Nwifuru, was sighted in a meeting, at the Oriental Hotels, in Lagos, last week.

But debunking the alleged political romance, the main opposition party’s gubernatorial candidate, Odii, described it as laughable, saying it was a figment of falsehood that emanated from political merchants.

Odii stated this in a statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity, AnyiChuks (Odii) Grassroots Organisation, Abia Onyike, on Wednesday night.

The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to another round of fake news concocted by our political opponents. The fake news which is a figment of the imagination of the social media fabricators claimed that the incoming Governor of Ebonyi State- the PDP Governorship candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii is now working for APC with a view to be offered the post of Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, so as to bring his business associates to invest in Ebonyi State.

“These merchants of falsehood also claimed that there was a meeting between Dr Odii and the APC Guber candidate, Hon Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru at Oriental Hotel, Lagos, where the deal was sealed. This is very laughable.

“We wish to seize this opportunity to inform all Ebonyians in particular and Nigerians in general, especially our teeming supporters that there is no iota of truth whatsoever in the trending fake news. The PDP Governorship candidate, Dr Odii has never met with Nwifuru or anyone else to discuss such mundane issues. Rather, Dr Odii has been busy consulting Ebonyians and strategizing and getting prepared to kick off his campaign in the state and we are highly elated and impressed with the massive positive response Dr Odii has so far received from Ebonyians from all walks of life. This tremendous goodwill that he enjoys is a testimony that the people of the state are willing and ready to elect him as the Governor during the 2023 elections.

“It is this massive popularity which the PDP Governorship candidate enjoys in the state that may have triggered the latest groundless campaign of calumny, which is aimed at deceiving and hoodwinking the people of the state.”

It added, “Dr Odii is a man of principle, character and integrity. He cannot be cajoled into acts of mediocrity and surrogacy. He is a man who cannot start what he cannot finish.

“We, therefore, advise those behind the circulation of the fake news to refrain from such childish propaganda as such undertakings cannot alter the incontrovertible political situation in Ebonyi state today which points to the inevitability of a grand PDP victory in Ebonyi state in the forthcoming 2023 elections.

“The PDP Governorship candidate, Dr Odii is a young man with the drive, capacity and mass support to lead the PDP victory ship to safe anchor. There is no going back on this promise as God has already graciously willed it.”

Gov. Obaseki Suspends Local Govt Administrators Over Heavy-Duty Trucks

By
Munachi
-
0
Obasanjo Commends Obaseki, Encourages Attention On Human Capital Devt
Gov. Obaseki

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has suspended three heads of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) for negligence and dereliction of duty.

Chris Nehikhare, the commissioner for communication and orientation, disclosed this while briefing journalists after the weekly executive council meeting chaired by the governor on Wednesday in Government House in Benin.

“The Edo state government has suspended three heads of service of local government areas, namely Owan West, Owan East, and Igueben. They have refused to keep to the directive of the government instructing them not to allow heavy-duty vehicles to pass through their areas, despite the damage done to our roads,” the commissioner stated.

The commissioner explained that the local government heads “were suspended for failing on their duties of protecting the government’s infrastructural assets.”

Nehikhare added, “To protect our roads, we have placed a ban on articulated vehicles weighing up to 30 tonnes from plying state roads, as the roads are not designed to carry vehicles weighing over 30 tonnes.”

According to him, heavy-duty vehicles are used “to destroy and damage our roads,” especially those carrying cement, petrol, and diesel, pointing out that “our roads are not designed for such purposes.”

“These heavy-duty vehicles should use the Federal Government roads designed for such purposes. Our roads are destroyed by travelers who don’t contribute to the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state but pass through these roads and damage our infrastructure,” the Edo commissioner stressed. “The federal roads are there, and they should continue to use them. We call on all appointees in these areas to stop these vehicles from destroying our roads.”

 

NATO Chief, US Defense Secretary Reiterate Support For Ukraine Ahead Of Ministers Meeting

By
ABN Editor 2
-
0
NATO Chief, US Defense Secretary Reiterate Support For Ukraine Ahead Of Ministers Meeting
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (L) shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a press conference on the second day of a meeting of the alliance's Defence Ministers at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels on October 13, 2022.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated their support for Ukraine ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on Thursday. 

“We still stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes, we will step up our support and in particular we will provide more air defense assistance to Ukraine,” Stoltenberg said in Brussels alongside Austin.

UN vote: Stoltenberg praised the UN General Assembly’s approval Wednesday of a resolution telling Russia its annexation of four Ukrainian zones is illegal and not valid, calling the vote a “clear condemnation of the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories and a clear call on Russian President [Vladimir] Putin to reverse these decisions and respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

“I absolutely agree with you … and I couldn’t have put it better,” Austin said, reiterating that the US will continue to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”

“I want to applaud all of our allies and partners who’ve stepped up to provide assistance to Ukraine,” Austin said. “This alliance is the essential forum for consultation, decision making and action when it comes to security of the region and transatlantic security as well.”

Austin reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to Article 5 — the principle that an attack on one member of NATO is an attack on all members — and to “defending every inch of NATO’s territory.”

President Erdoğan Calls For Ukraine War To Stop, Says “Our Priority Is To End The Bloodshed”

By
ABN Editor 2
-
0
President Erdoğan Calls For Ukraine War To Stop, Says "Our Priority Is To End The Bloodshed"
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) speaks during the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Astana, Kazakhstan on October 13, 2022.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reiterated his calls Thursday for an end to the war in Ukraine while speaking at a conference in Kazakhstan, where Russian President Vladimir Putin is in attendance. 

“Each of us is feeling the regional and global impact of the crisis in Ukraine … Despite these difficulties on the ground, our priority is to end the bloodshed as soon as possible,” Erdoğan said while delivering remarks.

Later Thursday, Erdoğan and Putin are expected to meet for a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) summit in the Kazakh capital Astana, according to Russian state-run news agency TASS.

Erdoğan has repeatedly called for an end to the war and played a key role in the UN-brokered deal between Moscow and Kyiv this summer to allow the resumption of grain shipments from Black Sea ports in Ukraine.

1...2,0462,0472,048...4,117Page 2,047 of 4,117

Latest News

Popular News Now

Facebook Instagram Twitter Website Youtube

EVEN MORE NEWS

POPULAR CATEGORY

© ©2025 ABN TV All Rights Reserved