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BREAKING: 35 Lawmakers Propose Six- Year Single Term For President, Governors, One-day Election, Two-Vice Presidents

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By Gloria Ikibah
A group of 35 lawmakers in the House of Representatives under the auspices of “The Reformers” from  different political parties have sponsored six bills to propose a single term of six years for the office of the President and Governors and rotational presidency amongst the six geopolitical zones, two vice presidents representing the North and South.
The group is also advocating the conduct of Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship, State Houses of Assembly and Local Government as well as Area Councils (FCT) elections in one day.
The lawmakers disclosed this at a press conference on the 50 bills they jointly sponsored and which passed first reading on the floor of the House.
Reading the text of the press conference on Monday in Abuja, Co-sponsor of the bills Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, said the group is proposing Constitutional Alteration to provide for the rotation of executive powers among the six geopolitical zones to ensure equal representation and reduce the desperation and tempo of agitation for the creation of states.
According to him, the bills seek to amend the Constitution to create the office of two vice presidents from the southern and northern parts of Nigeria with the 1st vice being a succession Vice president, while the 2nd Vice president being a Minister in charge of the Economy, and both being Ministers.
Ugochinyere explained that the reformer bills seek Constitutional Amendment to provide that the President and the 1st Vice President shall come from the same part of the country (North or South) and the 1st Vice President shall become President whenever the President becomes incapacitated.
He said: “We, the reformers elected representatives of the people of Nigeria, are concentrated on proving that we are fully capable of managing our affairs together as a nation. Hence, as the first step in our commitment, we are presenting to the public Bills and proposals, which will are pushing on the floor  floor of the 10th Assembly. These Bills will touch on every aspect of development in all sectors of our Economy and well-being as a nation.
“These bills which are 50 in numbers have gone through first reading but today we are starting with public unveiling of about 6 of them while the remaining will come in the weeks ahead.  It ranges from governance, economic, security, and justice sector reforms to social bills that will target unifying our nation and ensuring long-lasting peace and national cohesion.
“Therefore, the bills presented today will address that proposal
On Governance, we are proposing:
Constitutional Alteration to provide for the rotation of executive powers among the six geopolitical zones to ensure equal representation and reduce the desperation and tempo of agitation for the creation of states.
“To amend section 3 of the Constitution to provide for the recognition of the division of Nigeria into six geopolitical zones. To amend the Constitution to provide for a single tenure of six years for the President and Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The reduction in government spending and wastage, efficiency in governance, and national stability by providing a single term of six years for the President and Governors.
“Amend the Constitution to create the office of two vice presidents from the southern and northern parts of Nigeria. The 1st vice shall be a succession Vice president, while the 2nd Vice president shall be a Minister in charge of the Economy, and both shall be Ministers.
“Constitutional Amendment to provide that the President and the 1st Vice President shall come from the same part of the country (north or south) and the 1st Vice President shall become President whenever the President becomes incapacitated, i.e., V.P. (Succession), V.P. (Administration and Economy)
“The financial autonomy and accountability of Local Government Councils by prescribing an independent Consolidated Local Government Council Account solely superintended by Local Councils and prescribing long-term imprisonment for any misuse of Local Government funds.
“To amend section 162(5) of the 1999 Constitution to provide that where a State Government fails to remit to the Local Government Councils within its jurisdiction (or within the State), the amounts standing to the credit of that Local Government in the allocation from the Federation account, such State Government shall not be entitled to receive a future allocation from the Federal Government.
“Elections remain our only democratic means of bringing back sanity in our polity, so we must get our selection processes right. We are proposing Bills to address capture and corruption in our electoral processes to include; Amending the relevant sections of the Electoral Act to ensure that all elections (presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state houses of Assembly, and local governments) are held on the same day.
“Amending the relevant sections of the Electoral Act to provide that no declaration of a winner of an election shall be done by the relevant INEC Officials until such officer has compared the results with the list of accredited voters and ensured that the results to be declared are in tandem with the list of accredited voters and the B-VAS machine or any other electronic device.
“Amend the Electoral Act to provide that any INEC Officer who declares a false result will be liable for civil and criminal action personally brought against him by parties in the elections. An Amendment to the Electoral Act to provide that all election-related litigations must be resolved and determined by the Elections Petitions Tribunal, Appeal Courts, etc., before the winners are sworn into the respective elective offices.
“An Amendment of the Electoral Act to make provision for the conduct and conclusion of all elections and election-related litigation within a period of six months before the swearing into office of the validly elected person for the office contested.An Amendment of the Electoral Act to provide that all election-related documents and materials must be made available to those who participated in elections and who have reasons to question/petition the elections at the Elections Tribunal.
“We want to conclude this press conference by greeting all Nigerians of all walks of life on this historic day: our men and women in the different sectors of the Economy, our vibrant young people, persons with disabilities, our law enforcement agencies, our traditional rulers, fathers of our communities and custodians of our cultural heritage, our religious leaders, custodians of faith and morals, our effective civil society organizations”, Ugochinyere added.
He therefore urged all to work towards achieving this.
“This task ahead of us is huge and cannot be achieved without you. It is a task for all of us. Our work does not go beyond taking the initiative to get them into Parliament,” he added.
Members of the group believe that the bill when passed into law will attempt to cure some defects.
The bill according to them summarises unity and peace of Nigeria.
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Inflation, Rising Costs Behind 50% Telecom Tariff Increase – Minister

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…FG to invest ₦6bn in fibre optic expansion

 

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By Gloria Ikibah

 

The Minister of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, has attributed the recent 50 percent increase in telecommunication tariffs to inflation and rising operational costs.

 

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The Minister disclosed this during the 2025 budget defense session held by the joint House of Representatives and Senate Committees on Communication, on Tuesday in Abuja.

 

Explaining the rationale behind the tariff hike, Dr. Tijani stated that the move aligns with broader economic trends where increased tariffs lead to higher consumer prices due to added costs on imported goods.

 

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The Minister also revealed plans by the Federal Government to invest ₦6 billion in the deployment of 90,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables, increasing Nigeria’s current coverage from 35,000 kilometers to 125,000 kilometers, and he described this initiative as a critical step towards boosting communication infrastructure and fostering growth in key sectors of the economy.

 

“Tariffs act as a sales tax, causing a one-off price increase rather than sustained inflation.

 

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“Outside of South Africa and maybe Egypt or Tunisia, many African countries face a significant deficit in fiber optic cable coverage.

 

“This is going to become a big business. We want Nigerian companies not only to lay cables within Nigeria but also to provide these services for neighboring countries. And we want our people to be the workforce driving this transformation,” he said.

 

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Dr. Tijani who emphasised the importance of communication infrastructure in ensuring security and economic development, highlighted the historical reliance on private investment for telecommunications infrastructure, which has often prioritized profitable urban areas over rural communities.

 

“Private companies only invest where they see potential returns.

“They use tools like night-time satellite data to identify economic activity, represented by lights, and focus their investments in those areas. This has left many underserved regions without proper infrastructure. Addressing this disparity is a priority for us,” he explained.

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The Minister, however, lamented the inadequate funding of the Ministry, which he said hampers its ability to fulfill its mandate effectively.

 

“The Ministry is underfunded compared to agencies like the NCC. We lack the necessary resources and software to track revenue-generating activities efficiently. With better funding, the Ministry could generate significantly more revenue and enhance its impact,” he said.

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In his remarks, Senator Shuaib Salisu, Co-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communication, acknowledged the critical contributions of the communication sector to Nigeria’s economic growth. He called for a review of the Ministry’s 2025 proposed budget to ensure it is adequately equipped to deliver on its mandate.

 

Following discussions, the Committee adopted a motion urging the Committees on Appropriation to consider an upward revision of the Ministry’s budget for 2025.

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Kalu Calls On UK Govt to Support Nigeria’s War Against Corruption

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…praised diplomatic ties between the two countries

 

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By Gloria Ikibah

 

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, has called on the government of United Kingdom (UK) to support Nigeria’s fight against corruption.

 

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The Deputy Speaker made the call during his speech in an event tagged “UK-Nigeria Collaboration: A Parliamentary Strategic Dialogue” which attracted the presence of the Deputy Leader of the British House of Lords, Rt. Hon. Lord Collins among other members of parliament from Nigeria and UK in London on Wednesday.

 

Kalu emphasized the importance of collaboration between the two countries in tackling corruption amongst other challenges.

 

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He commended the diplomatic ties between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, highlighting the potential for deepened economic relationships.

 

Referencing the partnership between Nigeria and the UK as a testament to shared values and mutual interests, Kalu added that by deepening collaboration across these sectors, both countries will unlock the  opportunities for sustainable growth and development.

 

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He said: “The UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership establishes a comprehensive framework for deepening bilateral relations and achieving shared objectives. This collaboration spans six pillars: Growth and Jobs: Through the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), both nations will drive mutual economic growth by addressing market barriers, boosting two-way trade, and fostering sustainable investments in manufacturing, agriculture, and energy.

 

“Both nations commit to facilitating safe migration, tackling visa abuse, and operationalizing prisoner transfer agreements while advancing reforms in global financial systems.

 

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“I wish to call on the UK Government to intensify its efforts towards supporting Nigeria’s war against corruption in all its facets. One of the ways the UK can support this fight is to ease the process of repatriation of monies seized from Nigerian officials that are trapped in the UK financial system. Incidentally, I am here with the Chairman of the Nigerian Parliament Committee on Financial Crimes and he will be happy to continue the conversation with relevant officials.

 

“Nigeria seeks the UK’s continued support in recovering illicit funds. Enhanced collaboration should focus on: Setting up mechanisms to curb illicit financial flows. Strengthening institutions to combat  corruption. Facilitating asset recovery processes through bilateral agreements”.

 

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Kalu who is the Chairman,  Nigeria’s House Committee on Constitution Review and an advocate for political inclusion also called on the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to support the work of the panel.

 

“As Chair of the House Committee on Constitution Review, I acknowledge the monumental task of refining Nigeria’s constitutional framework to reflect the evolving needs of its people. Key issues under deliberation—such as the creation of special status seats for women in legislative assemblies, the enactment of more gendersensitive legislation, and the potential introduction of sub-national policing—are pivotal to fostering inclusive governance and addressing the nation’s security challenges.

 

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“Thus, I implore the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) to extend tailored support to the Committee’s critical work. By providing technical assistance, research expertise, and capacity-building programs, the FCDO can help ensure that these constitutional reforms are comprehensive, evidence-based, and aligned with international best practices.

 

“Such support would not only strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions but also reinforce shared values of equity, justice, and security, which underpin the UK-Nigeria Strategic Partnership. This collaboration would demonstrate a profound commitment to empowering marginalized groups, ensuring safer communities, and fortifying Nigeria’s legislative framework for future generations”, he said.

 

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FG Launches Plastic Waste Vending Machines to Tackle Pollution, Promote Circular Economy

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By Gloria Ikibah

The Federal Government has unveiled Plastic Waste Reverse Vending Machines to address environmental pollution and promote sustainable waste management in Nigeria.

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The launch, which took place on Wednesday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, is part of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) project titled “Promoting Sustainable Plastic Value Chains Through Circular Economy Practices.”

Speaking at the event, Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Lawal, described the initiative as a significant milestone in the fight against plastic pollution and the promotion of sustainable practices in waste management.

He stressed that the vending machines will reward Nigerians for depositing plastic bottles and other recyclable materials, thereby fostering a culture of recycling.

“Today, we take an important step forward in our collective fight against plastic pollution.

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“As we stand together, this reverse vending machine represents not just a tool, but a symbol of our unwavering commitment to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future for Nigeria”, Mallam Lawal said.

The Minister also highlighted the broader benefits of the initiative, as he explained that the technology encourages proper waste disposal and reduces environmental pollution while advancing the concept of a circular economy.

“Reverse vending machines are a cutting-edge solution in waste management. They allow individuals to deposit bottles and other recyclable materials, receiving a reward in return.

“This simple yet powerful technology encourages proper waste disposal and creates a culture of recycling, where each citizen can actively participate in protecting our environment,” he added.

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Mallam Lawal further noted the economic and environmental gains associated with the initiative, including cleaner communities, job creation, and increased public awareness of sustainability. He stressed that the project embraces local innovation and craftsmanship while reinforcing the government’s dedication to environmental protection.

“With its unveiling, we embrace local innovation and craftsmanship, and a renewed dedication to protecting our environment,” the Minister said.

Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Environment, Rep. Julius Pondi, commended the initiative and described it as a game-changer in waste management.

He called on UNIDO to collaborate with the National Assembly to replicate the project nationwide.

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The initiative is expected to significantly reduce plastic pollution across the country, empower communities, and encourage the active participation of citizens in sustainable environmental practices.

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