News
JUST IN: FG commence payment of ASUU’s withheld salaries
By Francesca Hangeior
The Federal Government has commenced the payment of the withheld salaries of academics under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Multiple sources in the academic sector confirmed the development on Monday.
The chairperson, ASUU at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. Gbolahan Bolarin, who confirmed the developmentnon the record, said, “Yes, it is true. Payment has started rolling in.”
President Bola Tinubu Tinubu had in October 2023 approved the release of four of the eight months’ ASUU withheld salaries of the workers.
The salaries were withheld when the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari invoked a ‘No Work, No Pay policy’ against some university-based unions that embarked on a strike that lasted eight months in 2022.
The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, recently said the government has increased the university workers’ salaries by 35 per cent.
The minister also said the government has granted autonomy to the universities by removing them from the Integrated Payment and Payroll Information System .
He added that the universities no longer need a waiver to recruit and fill their vacancies.
These resolutions were reached through informal consultations with the unions based in the tertiary institutions, Mamman said.
News
Niger State: Gov Bago sacks 30 special advisers
Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago has approved the disengagement of 30 special advisers in a move aimed at restructuring the state’s governance framework.
The development was disclosed on Tuesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, who explained that the decision forms part of efforts to revamp the administration and improve efficiency in line with the governor’s New Niger agenda.
According to the statement, details of fresh appointments or possible reassignments were not provided.
The governor reportedly made the announcement during his maiden State Executive Council meeting with the newly inaugurated commissioners at the Government House in Minna.
Bologi explained that, “the termination of their appointment was to allow the governor to rejig and reposition their portfolios with a view to making them more effective and efficient in line with his New Niger agenda.”
He added that the governor expressed gratitude to them for their sacrifices and contributions to the success of his administration, while wishing them success in their future endeavours.
News
Senate okays Oke, Are, Dalhatu for appointment as ambassadors
The Senate on Tuesday approved the nomination of three ambassadorial nominees—Ayodele Oke, Colonel Kayode Are (rtd), and Amin Dalhatu for appointment as envoys.
The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs presented by its chairman, Senator Abubakar Sani Bello, during plenary.
Oke, a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and ex-Nigerian Ambassador to the Commonwealth Secretariat in London; Are, a former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS); and Dalhatu, Nigeria’s immediate past Ambassador to South Korea, were unanimously endorsed by lawmakers when the Senate President Godswill Akpabio put their nomination to a voice vote.
In his comment, Akpabio urged the ambassadors-designate to bring to bear their wealth of experience in their new roles.
News
Senate Passes MTEF/FSP, Says 2026 Budget To Be Presented This Week
The Senate has passed the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper, indicating President Bola Tinubu is expected to present the 2026 Appropriation bill of N54.4 trillion this week.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, announced the passage on Tuesday following the consideration and debate on the report presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Sani Musa.
Akpabio described the MTEF as a prerequisite for the presentation of the national budget, underpinning that the document does not represent a final position of the legislature.
“The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework is only a prerequisite before the presentation of the budget. What we are discussing here is not a finality. If circumstances change, it will be brought back to us to rejig, react or act,” the former governor of Akwa Ibom said.
Senator Akpabio explained that the passage of the MTEF would enable the National Assembly to receive the 2026 budget proposal between now and Thursday.
According to him, the framework is not cast in stone, as reviews can still be made when the budget is formally laid before the Senate.
He expressed hope that the projections contained in the framework would be realistic enough to support the effective implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
During a brief debate, Senator Mohammed Monguno noted that the MTEF clearly outlined key fiscal parameters, describing them as realistic.
Monguno cited the projected daily crude oil production benchmark of 1.84 million barrels per day as achievable, and the reduction of the oil price benchmark projection to 60 dollars from 64 dollars per barrel as circumspect, given current realities.
Following the deliberations, the Senate adopted the recommendations contained in the MTEF/FSP report through a voice vote.
On Thursday, the upper chamber received the 2026–2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper from President Tinubu, signalling the launch of the 2026 budget cycle.
In a letter addressed to the lawmakers, Tinubu said the submission complies with statutory requirements and sets out the fiscal parameters that will guide the preparation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
President Tinubu explained that the MTEF/FSP outlines the macroeconomic assumptions, revenue projections, and spending priorities that will shape Nigeria’s fiscal direction over the next three years.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who read Tinubu’s letter during plenary, urged the lawmakers to expedite consideration of the document.
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