Nelson Ugwuagbo

President Bola Tinubu has said that those alleging embellishments in the 2024 budget did not understand arithmetic.

LeadingReporters recalls that the 2024 budget was shrouded in controversy following allegations by Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central, saying over N3.7 trillion in the budget could not be traced to any project.

The allegations, which landed him three-month suspension, stimulated reactions from concerned Nigerians across the country.

Speaking on the matter, Tinubu while hosting the leadership of the Senate to a dinner to break the Ramadan fast at the State House on Thursday in Abuja, assured the lawmakers that their integrity was still intact.

“I know the arithmetic of the budget and the numbers that I brought to the National Assembly, and I know what numbers came back. I appreciate all of you for the expeditious handling of the budget. Thank you very much.

“Those who are talking about malicious embellishment in the budget, they did not understand the arithmetic and did not refer to the baseline of what I brought. But your integrity is intact.

“I am grateful for what you have been doing. The natural challenge we are facing will be over.

“On the current economic difficulty, we are about turning the corner. Our revenue has improved. All we have to do is to control expenditure and manage ourselves better,” the President said.

Tinubu thanked members of the National Assembly for the speedy attention given to the Students Loan Amendment Bill, urging more tolerance, forgiveness, and charity during Ramadan.

Policemen attached to the Isokoko Division of the Lagos State Police Command have raided a house in Agege where fake drinks are being produced.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a video shared on his X handle on Thursday.

According to Hundeyin, during the raid, four persons believed to be the masterminds behind the illegal distillery were arrested, and fake drinks were recovered among others.

His caption read, “Officers of Isokoko Division, acting on credible information, raided a house in Agege where fake alcoholic drinks were being produced.

“The police arrested four people behind the illegal distillery and recovered fake drinks, empty bottles, and labels of different brands. Investigation is ongoing.”

LeadingReporters had reported in December 2023, that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control intercepted counterfeiters involved in the production of a variety of fake beverages including wine, soft drinks, and other products estimated at over N750,000,000 in the Eziukwu market in Aba, Abia state.

Same month, officers attached to the Ojo Division of the Lagos State Police Command arrested two suspects, Magnus Nwonka, 42, and Imo Lawrence, 35, for being in possession of fake drinks.

The suspects were reported to have led the detectives to a multi-room factory in a filthy environment where the fake drinks were produced.

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Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, will now earn N1.1 million monthly basic salary and N4.3 million regular allowances as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu increased the remuneration of Judiciary officials.

The development came after President Tinubu sent an executive bill to the National Assembly on Tuesday seeking an upward review of the salaries of judicial officers.

The House of Representatives approved Tinubu’s request to increase the salaries and allowances of judicial officers.

According to the bill, the CJN will earn N13.5 million in annual basic salary and N51.2 million in regular allowances, making it a total of N64.7 million.

Further analysis of the new salary structure showed that the President of the Court of Appeal will earn N62.4 million annually.

In contrast, the justices of the Supreme Court will earn N61.4 million annually.

LeadingReporters gathered that in October last year, retired Supreme Court Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad said the CJN N400,000 monthly salary is lower than the N1.2 million earned by the Supreme Court Registrar.

The Senate has passed the Student Loan, Access to Higher Education, Act 2024.

The senate’s resolution followed its consideration of the report of the senate committee on tertiary institutions and TETFUND.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse presented the report during plenary.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu transmitted the Bill to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage.

The Upper Legislative chamber had given the Bill an accelerated hearing by suspending relevant sections of its standing rules and referred the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.

After debate on the Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in one week.

The Bill seeks to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established in the Act to provide education for all Nigerians.

The senate’s resolution followed its consideration of the report of the senate committee on tertiary institutions and TETFUND.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse presented the report during plenary.

Last week, President Bola Tinubu had transmitted the Bill to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage.

The Upper Legislative chamber had given the Bill an accelerated hearing by suspending relevant sections of its standing rules and referred the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.

After debate on the Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in one week.

The Bill seeks to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established in the Act to provide education for all Nigerians.

The Nigeria Air Force, NAF, has announced the successful destruction of an arms storage facility belonging to one of the most wanted terrorists operating in Niger State.

The operation was carried out by military operatives as part of Operation WHIRL PUNCH, aimed at rooting out terrorists in the Northwest and North Central regions of Nigeria.

Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, spokesperson for the Airforce, disclosed in a statement, informing that credible intelligence led to the discovery of the terrorists’ storage facility.

He stated, “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft under Operation WHIRL PUNCH (OPWP) has continued to decimate terrorists and their logistics, especially in the Northwest and North Central regions of Nigeria.

“One such success was recorded on March 15, 2024, when strikes by NAF aircraft successfully targeted and destroyed terrorists’ logistics storage situated in Palele near Shiroro in Niger State,” Gabkwet stated.

According to Gabkwet, authorisation was obtained before the operatives struck at the target, and a secondary explosion confirmed the destruction of the arms and ammunition.

“The operation, which was executed with speed and precision, resulted in significant damage to the target area, including a secondary explosion confirming the destruction of arms and ammunition.

“The weapons are believed to be affiliated to a particular terrorist’s kingpin who is on the most wanted list of terrorists,” he stated.

A devastating fire has swept through a major section of Idumota Market in Lagos, causing extensive damage to shops and stalls. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. Local authorities and emergency services are on the scene, providing assistance to affected individuals. Updates to follow.

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