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Reps Threaten To Recommend Scrapping Agencies Over Unused Funds

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…as SHESTCO DG Attributes Uncompleted Projects to Envelope Budgeting

By Gloria Ikibah

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Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Science and Engineering, Rep. Inuwa Garba, has criticized some government agencies for failing to fulfill their mandates since their establishment. He warned that the Committee might recommend their scrapping.

This warning came during the 2024 budget defense and 2025 budget proposal session on Tuesday in Abuja, where the Committee took the Director-General of Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Paul Onyenekwe, and other officials to task over uncompleted projects and questionable contract awards in Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, and Gombe states.

Rep. Garba highlighted discrepancies in the budget presentations of some agencies, stating that these irregularities raise concerns about their effectiveness, and  noted that if such agencies continue to fall short of their responsibilities, the Committee would push for their closure, in line with recommendations from the Steve Oronsaye Report on public sector reforms.

The DG of SHESTCO attributed the challenges faced by the agency to the envelope budgeting system, which he said hampers the completion of critical projects. However, the Committee was unimpressed, insisting on greater accountability and proper utilization of allocated funds.

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He said: “Most of their budget is just reputation and to an extent, some don’t even want anybody to know what they are doing. The question you will ask, is different from the answer that you are supposed to get from some of the agencies.
“Though some agencies are very relevant and are up and doing and very effective and supportive to the government policies and programs. When we finish, we are coming out to say our stand as a committee and present our report to the appropriation committee.
“Subsequently, we can make our position and proposal to the House very soon in order to help the government and to help the country”.
Reacting to the agencies involved Inuwa said, “I will not say it now because we are yet to come to a final conclusion. But when we finish, we can call the agencies, call the head of the agencies and say why and how we are making that recommendation.
“If I now come out to call the agency, I’m not doing justice to myself, I’m not doing justice to the committee. I’m only the chairman of the committee. I have other members that are members of the committee.
“A lot of abnormalities is happening in most of the agencies. You can see one budget is repeated 5, 6, 7 years. The money is increasing, some they will say it’s completed and before, in another way they say completion.
“Another year, completion. And they are putting in money. If you go in the same position, the same project, the same agency, only the amount that differs, the same contractor.
“So, honestly, I can’t say I’m comfortable for now. But what we have seen, a lot needs to be done in the budget and procurement process in our agencies, ministries and parastatals, so that we can be able to come up with something that will help the government and the people of this country.
However, Director-General of the Sheda Science and Technology Complex, Onyenekwe blamed the envelope system of budget by the federal government on the non completion of on-going projects in the northern states of the country by the agency.
The DG said that the envelope system of budgeting is to be blamed for non-completion of key projects by the agency.
He informed the Committee that the 2024 budget of the agency was N1.2 billion and that what he did the funds were operationalization of these centres and payment of staff emoluments.
The DG also said that the agency embarked on construction of staff quarters for it’s staff when it discovered that many of them were coming to work in the agency from  very remote areas from the office.
“On the 2024 budget review, he said that the agency got N69,569,607,924 00 as capital, N1,007,665.,803 00 as personnel and N382,552.074.00 as overhead cost.
He also stated that they had embarked on construction of drainages and culverts in four northern states of the country namely Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi and Gombe states.
speaking also at the budget session, a member of the  committee Hon.Chinedu Ogar (Ebonyi,APC) accused the agency of repeatedly breaching the Act of National Assembly by refusing to remit untilized funds to the federal government.

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15 huts razed, one injured in renewed Jukun-Tiv violence

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A fresh outbreak of ethnic violence between the Jukun and Tiv communities has erupted in Taraba State, with suspected Jukun militias launching an early-morning attack on Dekeh Village along the Wukari–Kente Road.
According to security sources available to Zagazola Makama, the incident occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

About six armed assailants stormed the village, opening fire indiscriminately and setting 15 huts ablaze. The attack forced residents to flee in panic, leaving behind food items, including yam seedlings, which were destroyed in the blaze.

One resident identified as Mdue Saaondo, sustained gunshot injuries during the assault. He was rescued by a joint team of police and military personnel and transported to the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Wukari for medical treatment.

The Taraba State Police Command has launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible. Authorities have also scheduled a security meeting with the Wukari Local Government Traditional Council as part of efforts to restore peace and encourage dialogue between the Tiv and Jukun communities, who have long-standing disputes over land and territorial claims.

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“Patrol and surveillance operations are ongoing to forestall further violence and ensure stability in the area,” police authorities stated.

The incident adds to the growing list of violent clashes that have plagued southern Taraba in recent years, underscoring the urgent need for a sustainable resolution to the communal tensions.

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2025 U-20 AFCON: Flying Eagles zoom into quarter-final after draw with Kenya

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Nigeria’s Flying Eagles booked a place in the quarter-final at the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations after playing out a 2-2 draw against Kenya.

Aliyu Zubairu’s side finished second in Group B with five points from three games.

The Atlas Cub of Morocco top the group with seven points after beating Tunisia 3-1 at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia.

Kenya started the game strongly, and deservedly took the lead after six minutes.

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Nigeria defender Emmanuel Chukwu handled the ball inside the box, and after initially awarding a free kick to Kenya, the centre referee pointed to the spot following consultation with VAR.

Captain Kevin Wangaya Colly slotted the ball past Ebenezer Harcourt to give the Rising Stars the lead.

The Flying Eagles fought back seven minutes later with Lillestrøm striker Kparobo Arierhi netting after he was put on through on goal by Simon Cletus.

Nigeria dominated the game in the second half but failed to test the Kenyan goalkeeper.

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Kenya took the lead for the second time in the game through substitute William Nwangi on 68 minutes.

Nwangi lashed home Humphrey Kegengo’s free kick from inside the box.

Daniel Bameyi, however, converted from the spot to hand the Flying Eagles a share of the spoils.

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Trump announces judicial nominees, accuses US court of obstruction

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United States President Donald Trump has announced a fresh slate of judicial nominees in a series of posts on Truth Social on Tuesday.

The president, who has repeatedly expressed frustration over what he sees as judicial obstruction, followed up on Wednesday with a post criticising the judiciary for allegedly preventing him from carrying out the mandate of the American people.

The Republican leader, whose second-term agenda has encountered multiple judicial roadblocks, wrote: “Our Court System is not letting me do the job I was Elected to do.

“Activist judges must let the [Donald] Trump Administration deport murderers, and other criminals who have come into our Country illegally, WITHOUT DELAY!!!”

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Trump named Maria Lanahan, Missouri’s Principal Deputy Solicitor General, as a nominee for a judgeship on the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. He praised her as “a true patriot” in a post on Tuesday.

The 78-year-old also nominated Judge Cristian Stevens to serve on the same court, describing him in another post as “a Great Patriot.”

The announcements came a day after a federal appeals court declined the Trump administration’s request to revoke temporary legal status from hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Haitians, and Cubans living in the United States.

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