Politics

Reps minority caucus to FG: Engage organisers of nationwide protest

Reps summon Auditor-General of the Federation over fuel subsidy payments

The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to engage in talks with the protesters.

The protest tagged ‘EndBadGovernance’ has gained traction on social media and has been scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August.

The organisers of the protest have been anonymous.

Worried by the implications on the economy, the lawmakers want President Bola Tinubu’s administration to address the concerns of the protesters.

This was part of the Caucus’ resolution at the end-of-session dinner in Abuja.

Briefing journalists after the dinner on Tuesday night in Abuja, the Chairman of the Caucus, Hon Kingsley Chinda, however, discouraged the planned protest, especially against the background of insecurity in parts of the country.

“We also appealed to the government to dialogue with the planned protesters and also look at some of the messages they are raising, the critical areas that need government intervention. Government should intervene and ensure that issues are resolved amicably,” he said.

We are not going to encourage any protesters because in the past we have observed in most cases that even peaceful protests have been overtaken by hoodlums and with the insecurity situation in some parts of the country, you may not have control of the gathering of people. So some unscrupulous people may use the opportunity to create chaos.

“So we are discouraging any protest but we appeal to the government to dialogue and also look at critical areas that are necessary and address them amicably.”

Chinda also advised the government to adopt the carrot-and-stick method in addressing the problem of insecurity in the country.

“We acknowledge and observe the insecurity situation in the country and we call on the government to use carrot and stick by ensuring that let the result be seen. Let all the security chiefs do what is right to ensure that Nigerians are protected,” he said

Politics

N’Assembly threatens zero allocation to JAMB over N1b spent on meals, refreshments

NASS Transmits Constitution Amendment Bills To State Assemblies

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance has threatened to cut off the Federal Government’s grant to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the 2025 budget proposal over excessive spending.

This decision was made after JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede presented the agency’s 2025 budget proposal to the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives.

According to Oloyede, JAMB remitted N4 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund in 2024 but received a grant of N6 billion from the Federal Government.

This sparked criticism from committee members, including Hon. James Abiodun Faleke and Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who questioned why a self-funding agency like JAMB should receive government allocations.

Faleke asked: “Why not keep the N4 billion and stop government funding for JAMB?” Oshiomhole also slammed JAMB for its expenses, including N1.1 billion on meals and refreshments, N850 million on security and cleaning.

Faleke asked: “Why not keep the N4 billion and stop government funding for JAMB”? Oshiomhole also slammed JAMB for its expenses, including N1.1 billion on meals and refreshments, N850 million on security and cleaning, and N600 million on local travels. He demanded justification for the N6.5 billion spent on local trainings, asking, “What did you fumigate? Is it mosquitoes that took all this money?”

“You remitted N4 billion and got N6bn f on the Federal Government. Why not keep the N4bn and we stop. the government from funding JAMB,” the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Faleke asked.

“You spent N1.1 billion on meals and refreshment. Are you being freely fed by the government? What this means is that you are spending the money you generate from poor students, many of them orphans.

“You also spent N850m on security, cleaning and fumigation in 2024.What did you fumigate? Is it mosquitoes that took al this money”? Oshiomhole asked

The former Edo State Governor also slammed JAMB for spending N600m on local travels even as he called on Oloyede to justify the N6.5 billion on local trainings.

Politics

Mojisola Meranda emerges new Lagos Assembly Speaker

Mojisola Meranda has emerged as the new Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

This development comes after the impeachment of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.

Meranda, who represents Apapa Constituency I, was previously the Deputy Speaker of the 10th Assembly.

She has been a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly for three consecutive terms, starting from 2015.

With her new role, Meranda is expected to lead the House and ensure the passage of laws that benefit the people of Lagos.

Politics

Gov. Adeleke breaks silence on report of ‘defection to APC’

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has rubbished reports claiming that he has made several attempts to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor gave his response to the defection report on Monday via a statement issued by his media aide Mallam Olawale Rasheed.

According to Olawale, the report of defection is fake and from a pit of hell.

Olawale further said: “The report reflects the depth of unelectability of the APC in the 2026 guber election as the opposition is at a crossroad over acute short supply of electable aspirants. The opposition has noticed the futility of fielding the former Governor, confused over the cantankerous nature of Senator Ajibola Bashiru and in disarray over the featherweight, Oyebamiji from Ikirre whose traditional leaders have endorsed a second term bid for Governor Adeleke.

“By the fake reports, the opposition is indirectly preparing for the possibility and eventuality of a second term win for the State Governor. The ‘Imole’ winning signal must have become so clear that the state APC is surrendering to the reality that God, the people and even federal authorities have affirmed the re-election of Mr Governor even before 2026.

“I will put on record that Governor Adeleke has never at any time hosted any meeting on defection either within or outside the country. A very popular Governor with over 85 percent approval rating is the doyen of all stakeholders at subnational and federal levels. Recent report confirmed that the state APC under the former Governor has lost more than 65 percent of its followership to the PDP because of the Governor’s acclaimed superlative performance.

“Mr Governor enjoys the confidence of the Presidency and top federal officials because he concentrates on good governance delivery and patriotic collaboration with the Federal Government on federal- national programmes. As a state governor, he prioritises positive partnership for service delivery instead of political bickering which retards rather than advance development.

“Mr Governor is also a passionate believer that President Bola Tinubu must succeed in his efforts to reform the national economy for several reasons. We all know that the success of President Tinubu is the success of all Yoruba sons and daughters as well as of all patriotic Nigerians. So supporting the President is a national duty as far as Governor Adeleke is concerned.

“There is however no plan whatsoever by the Governor to defect to the APC. We pity the APC for its crisis of unelectability. It is apparent that Governor Adeleke is unbeatable, hence there is a crisis of electoral strategy within Osun APC. That crisis within the opposition will get more compounded if the Osun APC continues on the path of fake news and concerted falsehood

“It is not wrong neither is it bad if the Osun APC can simply abandon futile efforts of fielding a candidate in 2026.

“As the former Governor cannot beat Governor Adeleke, neither Senator Bashiru nor Oyebamiji can scratch the solid re- election assurance of the incumbent.”