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I started Adamawa LG autonomy five years ago – Fintiri
The Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, has said the Supreme Court judgment of last week granting the 774 local governments in the country financial autonomy came after he implemented the Adamawa councils’ financial autonomy five years ago.
The governor, who spoke on Monday in Yola, during the swearing-in ceremony of the 21 council chairmen, also stressed that the financial autonomy granted to local governments has reduced the burden on the governors.
Fintiri stated, “With the Supreme Court judgment, the debate over financial autonomy for the local government councils is officially over. Even though, as a government, in Adamawa State, we are five years ahead of the judgment.
“We have conferred financial autonomy to the local government councils long before the Supreme Court made its recent pronouncement.
“But one cannot deny the fact that the recent judgment has come with its own excitement. Webbed in this excitement is my profound, often-call for transparency and accountability,” he said.
The governor, while cautioning the newly sworn in chairmen, charged, “This isn’t a part-time job. As leaders of the closest tier of government to the people, your doors must be wide open, and your people must have access to you as much as possible and at all times.
“I must emphasise that the era of absenteeism at your respective local governments is over.
“Under no circumstance should your people look for you and you are not there. You are coming at the most heated time in the polity,” the governor admonished them.
Fintiri disclosed that the people will follow their monies wherever they are urging that the residents will always ask questions, which the council chairmen must always be ready to answer at all times.
“What this means is that you must shun corruption and all corrupt tendencies. You must at all times be accountable and responsible to the people as their leaders,” insisted.
The Adamawa helmsman further reminded the council chairmen that the oath of office, which they were taking their respective offices, is both an opportunity and a burden
Fintiri maintained that it is an opportunity for the chairmen to tackle the hardship imposed on the people by the harsh policies of the incumbent APC government at the national level.
“There is so much hunger and frustration in the land. Use the resources at your disposal to make positive impact and make life easy for our people at the grassroot level, so that they can continue to see the difference between voting the PDP and any other party,” he pointed out.
In his welcome remarks, the state PDP chairman, Barrister Tahir Shehu, urged the chairmen to stand by the provisions of the Constitution of the country and discharge their duties without fear or favour.
He noted that with the Supreme Court judgment, every chairman will stand alone to defend how he spends his federal allocations.
Tahir assured the chairmen that the party will always be with them to provide the needed assistance whenever they need help.
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FEC approves ₦47.9tn 2025 budget
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved a proposed national budget of ₦47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.
This was part of the Medium-Term Expenditures Framework, MTEF, for 2025 to 2027 and in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007.
“And equally, the fiscal objectives were conservative, because we want to ensure that we study the course much as we believe the projections will be exceeded.
“The budget size that was approved for presentation to the National Assembly in the MTEP is ₦47.9 trillion, with new borrowings of ₦9.2 trillion to finance the budget deficit in 2025,” Bagudu said.
“We need to sustain the market deregulation, commendable market deregulation of petroleum prices and exchange rate, and to compel the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited to lower its oil and gas production cost significantly, and even to consider the need to amend the relevant sections of the petroleum industry act 2021 to address the significant risk to Federation.
“The Federal Executive Council approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the physical strategy paper, and it will be submitted to the National Assembly.
“This is in addition to bills that are already at the National Assembly, the economic stabilization bills and tax reform bills, which we believe we will have a very, very strong growth in 2025.”
During the meeting, the FEC approved its submission to the National Assembly as required by the 2007 Fiscal Responsibility Act.
The framework projected a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 4.6 percent, an exchange rate of $75 to the naira, and oil production of 2.06 million barrels per day. [Channels TV]
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Nigeria to get 6,000 power generation by December-Power Minister vows
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has expressed his unwavering optimism that the government will successfully meet its ambitious target of generating 6,000 megawatts of electricity by December 2024, despite the numerous challenges currently affecting the power sector.
The Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, conveyed this assurance at the fourth edition of the Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria’s annual workshop, themed “Ending the Talk, Moving the Action,” held on Thursday in Abuja.
Nigeria’s power generation currently ranges between 3,500 and 4,000 MW for a population of approximately 200 million people. For instance, on Thursday, the country’s power generation was 3,556.38 MW as of 8 am.
Earlier this year, Adelabu pledged that power generation in Nigeria would reach 6,000 MW by the end of the year, citing improvements in the sector over the past year.
However, the frequent collapse of the nation’s electricity grid and the vandalisation of towers have raised concerns about the stability of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry and its ability to achieve the target.
In his goodwill address, the Special Adviser emphasised that the minister’s primary focus remains on achieving the goal of increasing generation and ensuring its efficient distribution to consumers.
Tunji said, “The minister aims to achieve what seems to be an intractable goal—improving generation and ensuring that what is generated reaches the final consumers. There are challenges, but they are surmountable.
“The minister has promised that by December this year, we will reach 6,000 megawatts; yes, we still hope to get there.
“We are confident that we will get there, but we are aware of the current issues with grid collapse. Efforts are being made to resolve these problems. Day and night, teams are being dispatched to address the various issues, and we remain hopeful that we will achieve the 6,000 MW target by December.”
The Director of Renewable Energy, Sunday Owolabi, also reiterated that the government is committed to ensuring 24-hour power supply for Nigerians.
Owolabi, another representative of the minister, stressed that the government’s policies are focused on resolving the challenges facing the country’s electricity transmission, distribution, and generation sub-sectors.
“We are fully committed to transforming the country’s power sector. We are focused on ensuring that our policies are practical and sustainable. We are resolute in ensuring power supply for every Nigerian.
“The government remains fully committed to transforming Nigeria’s power sector through meaningful and actionable reforms.
“We are focused on ensuring that our policies are not only visionary but also practical, impactful, and sustainable. From the ongoing efforts to address infrastructure gaps, enhance power generation, and improve transmission networks, to vital reforms in distribution and the full implementation of the electricity market, we are resolute in our mission to improve power supply for every Nigerian.”
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Just in: Wike sends FCDA Executive Director on indefinite suspension
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike has suspended the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad indefinitely.
According to a statement on Thursday, by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the suspension of Engr Hadi Ahmad is with immediate effect.
The suspended Executive Secretary has consequently been directed to hand over to the Director of Engineering Services, in the FCDA.
Meanwhile, Nyesom Wike has revealed that President Bola Tinubu ordered the construction of houses for judges in Abuja.
The former Rivers State governor said the project is part of the government’s plan to provide secure housing for judges and strengthen the judiciary’s independence.
Speaking during a media chat on Wednesday, the former Rivers Governor clarified that the housing project is not his personal initiative.
Wike explained that the housing scheme was included in the 2024 budget, approved by the National Assembly, and is not his personal decision.
He added that judges currently live in rented homes, which could make them vulnerable.
He compared this to similar projects he carried out as Rivers State governor and expressed surprise at the criticism, especially from legal professionals.
Wike insisted the project is lawful and should be welcomed as a step in the right direction.
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