News
HoR Clarify Position on “Draft ‘Bill’ for Regional System of Government
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The House of Representatives has issued a clarification following inaccurate media reports concerning the House’s position on the widely reported “draft ‘bill’ seeking a return to a regional system of government for Nigeria.”
The House wishes to reiterate its position, educating the public that there are three main routes to proposing constitutional amendments in the House of Representatives:
1. By Honourable members proposing a constitutional amendment bill.
2. By individual citizens and groups submitting memoranda to the Constitution Review Committee. Note that memoranda submitted should eventually come by way of a bill sponsored by a member.
3. By an executive bill from the executive arm of government.
Regarding the specific memo authored by Citizen Dr. Akin Fapohunda, the House maintains that his proposal has not come before the House Committee on Rules and Business for listing as a bill by any member, nor has it been submitted by way of memoranda to the House Committee on Constitution Review.
To clarify the misinformation, the House states that contrary to inaccurate reports suggesting that the House “disowned the bill” or “rejected the bill,” the House has neither disowned nor owned the proposal. The position provided earlier was to inform the public that the proposal is not before the House for consideration at this material time.
The House of Representatives encourages healthy and progressive debates on any subject and the exchange of ideas on how to improve our country. However, the constitution review process has clearly defined guidelines and limitations, and involves a broad range of stakeholders to ensure that the collective will of the good people of Nigeria is reflected in the constitutional amendments underway.
The legislative agenda of the 10th Assembly prioritizes inclusion and engagement. We are committed to facilitating a constitution review process that ensures all voices are heard. For more information, individuals and groups can contact the House Committee on Constitution Review at info@hccr.gov.ng or visit the website at www.hccr.gov.ng.
We encourage the media to accurately report and frame public discourse in a way that promotes national cohesion. The document being circulated is not a bill, as it is not before parliament, and is, at best, a memo or proposal by a citizen.
*Rep. Akin Rotimi, Jr.*
House Spokesman
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Force has directed his men to resume the issuance of tinted glass permits across the country.
This development was announced in a statement released on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
According to the Force spokesperson, the move comes in response to rising concerns and complaints from the public over the harassment of vehicle owners by law enforcement agents for using factory-fitted tinted windows.
“The Nigeria Police Force, under the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has reactivated the issuance of Tinted Glass Permits (TGP) nationwide through a secure and user-friendly digital platform.
“This initiative comes in response to widespread public complaints about the harassment of motorists over the use of tinted windows and reflects the need for a clear, transparent, and accountable process for regularising factory-fitted tinted glass on vehicles”, the statement partly read.
Highlighting the prevalence of modern vehicles designed with tinted windows for comfort and aesthetics, the police emphasised the importance of having a formal system to regulate usage.
“With modern automobiles increasingly manufactured with tinted windows, it has become essential to provide a standardised system that accommodates legitimate use while ensuring public safety.
“Tinted vehicles have often been exploited for criminal purposes, including kidnapping, armed robbery, ‘one-chance’ scams, and other forms of banditry”, Adejobi explained.
According to the statement, the abuse of tinted windows by criminals creates operational challenges for law enforcement and compromises national security.
In addition, he explained that law enforcement will begin active implementation after the grace period, and the police warn that officers who misuse the enforcement process will be sanctioned.
“Enforcement will commence at the end of this period. Officers found engaging in unprofessional conduct, such as extortion or harassment, in the course of enforcement will be decisively dealt with in accordance with extant disciplinary procedures”, he said.
By Gloria Ikibah
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a revised documentation requirement for transactions conducted through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) in Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the apex bank’s acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali
The CBN said the new initiative is part of its ongoing commitment to foster seamless intra-African trade, financial inclusion, and operational efficiency for Nigerians engaging in cross-border payments within Africa.
Launched by Afreximbank in partnership with the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat in January 2022, PAPSS serves as a centralized payment and settlement platform that enables instant, secure, and efficient cross-border transactions throughout Africa.
By facilitating payments in local currencies, PAPSS minimizes reliance on third-party currencies, reduces transaction costs, and supports the rapid expansion of trade under the AfCFTA.
In a recent circular referenced TED/FEM/PUB/FPC/001/006 issued on April 28, 2025, CBN outlined the key changes to the documentation requirements associated with PAPSS transactions.
The key changes it added take effect immediately and include simplified documentation for low-value transactions, which allows customers to now use basic KYC and AML documents provided to their authorized dealer banks for low-value transactions of up to $2,000 and $5,000 equivalent in naira for individuals and corporate bodies, respectively.
“For transactions above the thresholds, all documentation as stipulated in the CBN foreign exchange manual and related circulars remains mandatory,” the bank said.
Also, the CBN added that applicants are responsible for ensuring all regulatory documents are available to facilitate the clearance of goods, as required by relevant government agencies.
“Authorized dealer banks may now source foreign exchange for PAPSS settlements through the Nigerian foreign exchange market, without recourse to the CBN.
“All export proceeds repatriated via PAPSS shall be certified by the relevant processing banks.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria urges all banks to adopt PAPSS and commence originating transactions in line with this new policy.
“In addition, CBN encourages exporters, importers, and individuals to familiarize themselves with the new requirements and leverage PAPSS for cross-border transactions within Africa,” the statement said.
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