Top shots in the executive arm of government, like the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, the Director General of National Orientation Agency ( NOA) Mallam Lanre Issa – Onilu and his counterpart in the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) , Ali Mohammed Ali , were separately put under fire in the Senate during 2025 budget defence sessions .

While the Minister of Finance , Wale Edun and the Minister of Budget and Economic planning , Senator Atiku Bagudu were put on hot seats by the Senate Committee on Appropriation, the DG of NOA and that of NAN , had very tough encounters with the Senate committee on Information and National Orientation .

Trouble came the way of the Minister of Finance when barrage of questions were fired at him by some members of the Appropriation committee on state of implementation of the 2024 budget , particularly the capital component .

Specifically , Senator Abdul Ningi ( PDP Baichi Central) , in the barrage of questions fired at the Minister , asked him to explain how proceeds from fuel subsidy removal were expended in the 2024 fiscal year .

” What is the budget performance achieved so far , for 2024 fiscal year , particularly in terms of the capital expenditure.

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We haven’t heard from the Minister how much has been saved from the removal of fuel subsidy and how much has been expended .

“We also haven’t heard from the Ministers about the debt servicing. How much have we actually used to service our debt in 2004?

” How much are we expecting to service the debt in 2005? Finally ,will the Minister of Finance guarantee that the extension of the capital component of the 2024 budget to June 30, 2025 will give the desired results in terms of implementation that has a very low percentage now ? ”

Apparently unsettled by the question , the Minister hurriedly requested the committee to accord him a close door session for detailed response to the question .

” Are we in a closed door session ? If we are not in a closed door session , i will humbly seek for that for detailed explanations on the questions asked “, he said .

The Committee Chairman , Senator Solomon Olamilekan ( APC Ogun West ) , according asked journalists to excuse them for the closed door session.

Earlier at the budget defence session the Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation had with agencies under its purview , the Director General of National Orientation Agency ( NOA) , Mallam Issa – Onilu and his counterpart in the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) Ali Mohammed Ali , were ordered to re – draft and re – present their budgetary proposals for 2025 fiscal year .

The committee chaired by Senator kenneth Eze ( APC Ebonyi Central), tackled the NOA DG on the National Identity Project being implemented by the Agency by saying the project is not known to Nigerians , particularly, those residing at the grassroots .

But the NOA DG , held his ground by telling the committee members that the project is very necessary in putting in place , the right value system .

” The challenge we have about value system is about National Identity which is very necessary at galvanising Nigerians for Nation building , national development and growth “, he said .

The Committee however insisted that he should go back for re – drafting programmes of the agency to be captured and appropriated for , in the 2025 fiscal year .

Similar fate also befell the Director General of News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) , who was told to go and reconcile disnointed figures presented in the 2024 budget implementation before coming for appropriation of projected figures for 2025 fiscal years .

An Ogba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos State has ordered that a 45-year-old primary school teacher, Stella Nwadiggbo, be remanded at a correctional facility for allegedly assaulting a three year old primary school pupil in the Ikorodu area of the state.
The teacher was caught on camera slapping the three year old child in class. The video of the teacher assaulting the child had gone viral.

She was consequently arrested and detained by the Family Support Unit (FSU) of Ikorodu Police Division.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the latest twist stated that Stella Nwadigbo, aged 45, was arraigned on the orders of the State Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, for indecent treatment and assault of a child.

Hundeyin stated that the accused was arraigned, on Thursday, at a Magistrate’s Court 1, Ogba.

He stated that the accused had been captured in a viral video indecently treating and assaulting a three-year-old pupil of a primary school in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

“Following receipt of the video, the Family Support Unit (FSU) of Ikorodu Police Division promptly arrested the suspect on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 and transferred her to the Gender Unit of the Command Headquarters same day after preliminary investigations. The victim was taken to a medical facility for adequate medical attention.”

“The suspect has since been remanded to Kirikiri Correctional facility till February 18, 2025 when the case comes up for continuation of hearing” he added.

Hundeyin further stated that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, commended Nigerians for promptly alerting the police to the situation also, assured them of the ever-readiness of the Command to respond quickly and appropriately to situations towards ensuring the safety and security of resident and visitors to Lagos State.

… but we’re yet to feel the impact now

Director General of Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness CCLCA, Dr Gabriel Nwambu has said President Bola Tinubu has showcased excellent salesmanship globally but Nigerians are yet to feel the impact.

Nwambu disclosed this in a chat with TVC where he outlined Tinubu’s moves so far in international relations.

Watch video below: