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.

…call for action on key projects

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has expressed dissatisfaction with the inadequate release of funds to the Ministry of Environment, and described it as a setback to addressing the country’s pressing environmental challenges.

The Chairman House Committee on Environment, Rep. Julius Pondi, who stated this during the Ministry’s 2024 budget defence, highlighted the critical issues of deforestation, pollution, erosion, and the effects of climate change, and said that insufficient funding has hindered meaningful progress in these areas.

He also raised concerns over the removal of the Environmental Health Council of Nigeria (EHCON) and 13 professional bodies from budgetary allocations effective January 2024. While the other bodies were reinstated, EHCON remains excluded.

Rep. Pondi therefore urged the Minister of Environment to work with the Committee to ensure EHCON’s reinstatement.

“The outcomes of this budget review will set the tone for planning and resource allocation in the 2025 Budget.

“As a Committee, we are disposed to increased budgetary allocations for this critical sector, in as much as we see key projects that are envisioned to strengthen climate resilience, combat pollution, enhance community awareness, and ensure accountability in the Year 2025 Budget Proposal of the Ministry and its Agencies,” ,” Pondi stated.

He reminded the Ministry of its constitutional obligations, referencing Section 80(4) of the Constitution, which mandates that funds must be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund only as prescribed by the National Assembly.

Pondi further stressed the importance of the budget defence session in ensuring transparency and accountability, noting its role in evaluating progress made, addressing challenges, and providing actionable inputs for future budgets.

He emphasized that these environmental issues have deprived thousands, particularly in agrarian regions, of their livelihoods and their ability to contribute to national development.

“You may recall that the House of Representatives, on various occasions at plenary, deliberated motions ranging from erosion, desertification, and flood disasters in many parts of the country, necessitating government intervention through the Ministry of Environment and other Agencies.

“Our primary focus is to evaluate how the financial resources allocated have been utilized to achieve set objectives. This session will enable us to identify progress made in implementing projects and programs across key environmental sectors, address challenges that may have hindered the achievement of goals, and provide actionable input in the year 2025 Budget,” he added.

In response, the Minister called for increased budgetary allocations to enable the Ministry to fulfill its mandate effectively.

“In 2024, the Ministry installed about 2,200 units of solar street lights in various communities and 45 solar-powered boreholes to provide clean water for the people,” Lawal disclosed.

He further noted the installation of 5kV solar power systems in five institutions, including Ekpoma, Edo State; Ife, Osun State; Nsukka, Anambra State; Zaria, Kaduna State; and Abuja.

The Committee pledged to continue its oversight functions and collaborate with the Ministry to address environmental challenges and ensure optimal utilization of allocated resources.