Nelson Ugwuagbo

President Bola Tinubu is set to present the proposed 2025 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced this during a plenary session, confirming that the President had communicated his intention to lawmakers.

“The president has made his intention known to the National Assembly to present the 2025 budget to the joint session of the National Assembly on the 17th of December, 2024,” Akpabio stated.

The proposed budget, amounting to N47.9 trillion, was previously disclosed by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.

The Senate on Thursday mandated an investigation into the recent demolitions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), directing the establishment of an investigative committee to examine the issue.

The committee is tasked with inviting Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the FCT, to provide an explanation for the demolitions, which have reportedly displaced numerous residents in the nation’s capital.

The motion, sponsored by Senator Ireti Kingibe, who represents the FCT Senatorial District, raised concerns over what she described as the illegal demolition of structures in the area. She also called for an immediate halt to further demolitions pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Senate resolved that the committee would conduct a thorough inquiry into the demolitions and submit its findings within a specified timeframe.

The House of Representatives was thrown into disarray on Thursday following the defection of Ajang Iliya, a lawmaker representing Jos South/Jos East federal constituency of Plateau State, from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection was announced by Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House, who read Iliya’s letter during plenary. In his letter, Iliya attributed his decision to the leadership crisis within the Labour Party.

Despite a court ruling recognizing Julius Abure as the LP’s national chairman, a faction led by Nenadi Usman continues to claim control of the party. Iliya also stated his intention to align with the developmental policies of President Bola Tinubu, adding that it had become challenging to reconcile with the LP’s stance on various national issues.

“It is difficult to align with LP’s position on current issues,” the letter read.

The defection sparked outrage among opposition lawmakers. Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader, argued that Iliya had not fulfilled the constitutional requirements to defect, noting that the lawmaker must officially join the APC at the ward level in Plateau State before formalizing his move.

The incident comes barely a week after four other Labour Party lawmakers defected to the APC. These lawmakers are Chinedu Okere (Owerri Municipal/Owerri North/Owerri West federal constituency of Imo State), Mathew Donatus (Kaura federal constituency of Kaduna State), Akiba Bassey (Calabar Municipal/Odukpani federal constituency of Cross River State), and Esosa Iyawe (Oredo federal constituency of Edo State).

The defectors similarly cited the internal crisis within the Labour Party as their reason for switching allegiance.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ọjájá II), paid a courtesy visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday at his residence in Daura, Katsina State.

Ahmad Bashir, a former media aide to the ex-president, shared details of the meeting on X (formerly Twitter), along with photographs of the occasion. Bashir highlighted the significance of the visit and provided updates on the Ooni’s engagements in Daura.

During the visit, Oba Ogunwusi also called on the Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness Faruk Umar Faruk, at the historic Daura Emir’s Palace. Former President Buhari accompanied the Ooni and his delegation to the palace, underscoring the spirit of unity between traditional and political leaders in Nigeria.

In his post, Bashir stated: “Today, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ọjájá II), arrived in Daura with his entourage to meet with former President Muhammadu Buhari. Before departing the city, the former President personally escorted the Ooni of Ife and his delegation to the historic Daura Emir’s Palace.”

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has issued an interim restraining order against human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, prohibiting the publication, sale, advertisement, and distribution of his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.

Justice Peter Kekemeke granted the order on Wednesday after reviewing an ex-parte application filed by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and managing partner at Afe Babalola & Co. The order applies to Farotimi, his agents, publishers, and distributors, as well as any individuals or entities involved in disseminating the book in any form, including digital platforms and social media.

The injunction will remain in effect pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, which was filed on December 6, 2024.

As part of the court’s directive, security agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force, the State Security Service (SSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have been instructed to seize all physical copies of the book wherever they are found. The agencies are required to submit a compliance affidavit within 72 hours of receiving the court order.

Nigeria’s National Grid suffered another collapse on Wednesday at approximately 2:09 pm, marking the 12th incident this year and leaving large parts of the country without electricity.

The latest grid failure adds to a worrying trend of instability, with 11 collapses already recorded since January 2024. In October alone, the grid failed three times within a single week, underscoring persistent vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s power infrastructure.

Confirming the incident, the official handle of the National Grid stated, “A major grid setback has occurred, and the restoration is to commence.”

The recurring collapses have sparked widespread criticism from Nigerians, who face significant economic and social disruptions due to the unreliable power supply. Calls for the government to modernize the grid infrastructure have intensified, with experts attributing the failures to outdated systems and overburdened capacity.

Efforts to stabilize the power sector have included privatization and the exploration of renewable energy solutions. However, these measures have yet to address the underlying issues, as evidenced by the frequency of grid failures.

The National Grid remains the backbone of electricity distribution in Nigeria but continues to struggle with technical inefficiencies and inadequate capacity. Experts recommend significant investments in infrastructure, better management practices, and diversification of energy sources to address the challenges.

As Nigeria aspires to industrialize its economy, the unreliable power supply remains a major hurdle, affecting industries, businesses, and households nationwide. The question of when a stable power supply will be achieved remains a pressing concern for citizens.

A cargo aircraft operated by Allied Air crash-landed on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, following the failure of one of its landing gears.

According to Zagazola Makama, a counterterrorism and insurgency expert, the aircraft was carrying six crew members at the time of the incident. No casualties were reported, as all crew members were safely evacuated and are currently undergoing medical assessments at the 063 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) medical unit.

Emergency responders swiftly secured the crash site, with the area cordoned off under the supervision of the Military Airport Commandant and other relevant agencies.

The incident has resulted in the temporary closure of the airport’s runway, causing significant delays for inbound and outbound flights. Airport authorities and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) are working to remove the aircraft and inspect the runway for potential damage to restore normal operations.

Passengers and airlines have been advised to anticipate disruptions until further notice.

Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, on Wednesday declared the Ovia Federal Constituency seat held by Edo State Deputy Governor, Denis Idahosa, vacant.

Idahosa, who previously represented the Ovia Federal Constituency in the House, assumed the position of Deputy Governor following the September 21, 2023, Edo State governorship election. He was sworn in on November 12, 2023.

The decision to declare the seat vacant was made after House Leader Julius Ihonvbere read Idahosa’s resignation letter during a plenary session. Ihonvbere subsequently requested the Speaker to formalize the vacancy, paving the way for the election of a new representative for the constituency.