The Senate on Tuesday unveiled a major reshuffle of key standing committees, following a reconstitution directed by the Selection Committee chaired by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
A prominent change saw Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North) appointed as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence. Abdullahi previously chaired the Committee on National Planning, a position he now vacates.
The Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry also received new leadership, with Senator Shehu Buba (APC, Bauchi South) named chairman. Buba had served until last week as chairman of the National Security and Intelligence Committee, making way for his redeployment.
In a corresponding move, Senator Mustafa Musa (APC, Yobe East) has been appointed as Chairman of the National Planning Committee, succeeding Abdullahi.
Additionally, the Senate announced changes in the leadership of the Air Force Committee, with Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu State), the Minority Whip, appointed as Acting Chairman. Ngwu previously served as the committee’s Deputy Chairman.
The reconstitution reflects the Senate leadership’s intent to realign committee leadership for greater efficiency and oversight across critical sectors.
A fresh wave of uncertainty has gripped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State as a faction of the party on Tuesday conducted a controversial governorship primary that produced Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola as its 2026 gubernatorial candidate barely 24 hours after Governor Ademola Adeleke formally resigned from the party.
Adeleke, in a letter dated November 2, 2025, addressed to the Chairman of Ward 2, Sagba, Ede, cited the unresolved leadership crisis at the national level as the reason for his departure. While he did not disclose his new political platform, PDP sources say the governor is likely to seek re-election under another party.
Despite Adeleke’s exit, the PDP National Organizing Secretary, Theophilus Shan, announced in a December 1 memo that the primary would proceed as scheduled, noting that delegate congresses had been completed in late November and that an electoral committee had been appointed to supervise the process.
At the primary held at Adolac Multipurpose Hall, Osogbo, Adedamola secured 919 votes out of 958 accredited votes, emerging as the faction’s preferred candidate.
However, the exercise was fraught with controversy.
Multiple eyewitness accounts confirmed that a significant number of delegates at the venue were drawn not from Osun but from Oyo State, with several of them admitting they were mobilised to fill delegate slots. Heavy security provided by policemen from Oyo State further deepened suspicions.
A party chieftain from Oyo, who spoke anonymously, justified the intervention:
“Osun PDP did not conduct the mandatory three adhoc delegates. We filled the vacancies. We cannot allow the party to die here.”
The situation took a dramatic turn when several suspected political thugs were arrested. Some reportedly confessed to being mobilised from the Oyo State Government House, allegedly on the orders of Governor Seyi Makinde. Buses loaded with PDP members were also sighted entering Osun through Iwo and Ikire axes on the eve of the congress.
Inside the hall, PDP members from Osun were conspicuously absent, while the Ibadan-based Zonal Youth Leader of the party was seen coordinating arrivals from Oyo.
The events have further exposed deep fissures within the Osun PDP, raising questions about the legitimacy of the primary and the future of the party in the state ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
With Adeleke out, Adedamola’s emergence leaves the faction battling both internal rebellion and public scrutiny while Osun voters watch closely to see how the unfolding political drama will reshape the state’s electoral landscape.
The House of Representatives has demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the gunmen who brutally murdered five police officers in Sabon Sara, Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, on Saturday, November 29, 2025.
The slain officers DSP Ahmad Muhammad, ASP Mustapha Muhammad, Inspector Amarhel Yunusa, Inspector Idris Ahmed, and Corporal Isah Muazu — were ambushed during a security operation. Two others, Inspector Isah Musa and Inspector Yusuf Gambo, sustained serious injuries.
Moving the motion on the floor of the House, Hon. Mansur Soro, who represents the constituency, described the attack as a deliberate assault on law enforcement officers carrying out legitimate duties. He disclosed that intelligence suggests the ambush was orchestrated by an armed group attempting to obstruct the arrest of the dethroned hamlet head of Sabon Sara, whose activities have destabilised the community.
Soro commended Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, for his prompt intervention and noted that the state has enjoyed nearly six years of relative peace free from banditry.
He, however, raised concerns over the families left behind by the fallen officers, stressing the emotional and economic hardship they now face.
“These officers died in active service. Their families need urgent support. Showing care for officers who pay the ultimate price is crucial for morale and the operational strength of our police,” Soro said.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Police Trust Fund, and the North East Development Commission to immediately provide financial assistance and educational support for the families of the deceased.
Lawmakers also mandated the Inspector-General of Police to fast-track the payment of insurance claims and all statutory benefits, and ensure that the injured officers receive full medical care.
The Committee on National Security and Police Affairs was directed to liaise with security agencies for swift implementation of the resolution.
The killing of police officers has become increasingly frequent in northern Nigeria, fuelled by armed groups, banditry, communal clashes, and insurgency-related violence. Many officers lose their lives responding to distress calls or confronting criminal networks that now operate with alarming sophistication across rural communities.
The House resolved that urgent institutional reforms, improved welfare, and strengthened intelligence-sharing are needed to restore morale and reinforce the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force in high-risk areas.
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, on Tuesday laid before the State House of Assembly a ₦820.49 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year, describing it as a financial roadmap designed to drive shared prosperity, sustainable growth, and stronger economic competitiveness.
The 2026 estimate tagged “Budget of Shared Prosperity: Driving Sustainable Growth for All” represents a 35.7% increase from the 2025 budget of ₦604.5 billion, amounting to an upward difference of ₦215.96 billion.
Presenting the proposal to the lawmakers, Governor Ododo said the budget is structured around enhanced revenue mobilisation, strict expenditure discipline, and strategic investments in key growth sectors.
The appropriation bill projects ₦367.45bn for recurrent expenditure and ₦453.04bn for capital spending.
Ododo said the 2026 spending plan would prioritise:
Aggressive repayment of Federal Government debts
Strengthening the investment climate
Collaborative investment models
Blocking revenue leakages
Consolidating ongoing projects while initiating new ones aligned with the state’s 32-year development plan
> “This budget is more than a financial statement; it is a roadmap for inclusive growth, economic diversification, and shared prosperity,” Ododo said.
“Our aim is to create an economy that works for all one that rewards productivity, encourages innovation, and uplifts the vulnerable.”
Earlier, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, urged the governor to support the Assembly’s push for full digitisation of its operations. He lamented that Kogi remains one of only two states yet to adopt full digital legislative processes.
He also appealed for recruitment of qualified staff to meet the 200 minimum support personnel needed for optimal legislative work, and requested transport buses to ease mobility for staff who commute long distances to the Assembly complex.
Assembly Applauds Ododo’s Governance Style
The Speaker commended Governor Ododo’s strides in fiscal discipline, infrastructure expansion, security enhancement, and human capital development.
> “There is no doubt the people of Kogi State are experiencing renewed confidence and stability under your leadership,” he said.
He also thanked the governor for granting full autonomy to the State House of Assembly, describing it as a landmark step for accountability and stronger institutions.
Yusuf further appreciated the governor’s personal visit during his recent health challenge, calling it a gesture of empathy and statesmanship.
House Promises Diligent, People-Centred Budget Scrutiny
On the 2026 budget, the Speaker assured that lawmakers would undertake a transparent, development-driven review process, while giving the bill accelerated but thorough consideration in line with global best practices.
He tasked Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to honour committee invitations for budget defence to ensure timely passage.
The 2026 budget debate is expected to commence immediately as the Assembly begins its appraisal of sectoral allocations and spending priorities.
Kogi State on Tuesday kick-started the second round of the 2025 Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week with a renewed push to cut preventable deaths among mothers and children under five.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Lokoja, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adeiza Abdulazeez, said the initiative reflects the state government’s determination to deliver accessible and quality healthcare to families across Kogi.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Steve Momoh, the commissioner disclosed that the state has so far revitalised more than 80 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and upgraded an additional 88 facilities to strengthen service delivery.
He said Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has continued to prioritise maternal and child health, while commending development partners, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders for supporting the sector.
> “This initiative underscores government’s commitment to building a healthier and more prosperous state, with equitable healthcare services for all citizens,” Abdulazeez stated.
The Executive Director of the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (KSPHCDA), Dr. Musa Mu’azu, raised concern over the 34% stunting rate among children under five in the state, as revealed by the 2023/24 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).
He said the agency is scaling up nutrition interventions across PHCs and communities to tackle the crisis.
According to Mu’azu, this year’s MNCH Week will provide free services such as routine immunisation, vitamin A supplementation, deworming, health education, and other child-survival packages targeting children aged 0–59 months and nursing mothers.
He noted that healthcare workers across the state have been mobilised and trained to ensure seamless and equitable service delivery.
Development partners, traditional and religious leaders, and other stakeholders present at the ceremony praised the state government’s commitment and pledged support for the successful implementation of the programme.
The highlight of the event was the official flag-off, which featured the administration of Vitamin A supplements to children and distribution of free drugs and diapers to nursing mothers by Momoh on behalf of the commissioner.
A mild drama played out in the Senate on Tuesday as former Gombe State Governor, Senator Danjuma Goje, openly confronted Senate President Godswill Akpabio, accusing him of engaging in conduct that violated parliamentary rules.
The Senate was already in session with Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau presiding when Akpabio walked in and assumed control of proceedings. Moments after taking the chair, he summoned Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele and a few other principal officers for an impromptu consultation at the front of the chamber.
Goje, visibly displeased, immediately raised Order 55 (12)(a), which prohibits side interactions during plenary, insisting that Akpabio’s action amounted to a breach of parliamentary decorum.
“Interaction is not allowed except to move the business that we have been called upon to do,” Goje said pointedly. “Mr. Senate President, what you are doing is unparliamentary. You are disturbing the business of the Senate. You cannot be holding a separate meeting when the Senate is in session.”
Akpabio responded by inviting Goje to approach the chair for clarification, but the senator refused.
“I cannot be part of what is illegal and unparliamentary,” he declared. “What we are doing here, everything is at a standstill now. We are not doing business.”
When Akpabio replied with a curt “noted,” Goje shot back, “Noted, but not sustained?”
Efforts by Akpabio to calm the situation proved unsuccessful as Goje insisted the cluster of senators at the chair disperse so plenary could resume properly.
Akpabio, offering an explanation, said the brief meeting was to determine whether the Senate should proceed in view of a scheduled appointment at the Presidential Villa by 1 p.m.
“Everybody you see here was invited by the chair for a brief discussion in continuation of today’s sitting,” he said, again urging Goje to join the discussion. “Please, approach the chair so you can also be part of it.”
But Goje declined.
“I don’t want to be part of it. I’m opposed to this. I will not come. It’s unparliamentary. It’s wrong,” he maintained.
He later reminded the chamber that the day’s sitting coincided with the launch of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem at the Presidential Villa.
The confrontation left plenary briefly stalled before normal proceedings eventually resumed.
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has issued a blistering warning to the National Assembly, urging lawmakers to halt the creation of new health commissions and instead repair the “collapsed oversight system” crippling existing health institutions.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Omokhafe Ashore, FPSN, the association said it was alarmed by fresh proposals at recent public hearings calling for the establishment of a Surrogacy Commission, a Tertiary Health Institutions Commission, and multiple Sickle Cell Centres across the country.
The ACPN dismissed the proposals as “economically unrealistic, administratively wasteful, and legally unnecessary,” insisting that the National Health Act (NH-Act) 2014 already provides the statutory framework for regulating tertiary healthcare through the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee (NTHISC).
“The attempt to create three commissions from structures already established in the NH-Act 2014 is unnecessary, especially concerning organ trafficking regulations and surrogacy procedures that are already captured under the NTHISC,” the statement said.
The pharmacists argued that the real problem is not the absence of commissions but the National Assembly’s failure to perform its constitutional oversight role.
“What is missing has been proper oversight responsibilities by the National Assembly, which ought to strengthen the NTHISC to carry out its statutory functions,” the group added.
Although acknowledging the heavy burden of sickle cell disease in Nigeria, the ACPN described as financially reckless the proposal to establish several Sickle Cell Research Centres at once. It noted that key national research bodies such as NIPRD and NIMR remain grossly underfunded.
“Presently, NIPRD doesn’t enjoy a recurrent or capital expenditure budget of up to ₦20 million monthly. It is not appropriate to contemplate setting up parallel structures when gross underfunding persists in this research institute,” the association warned.
It also criticised the proposed organogram for the new centres, describing it as “unprecedented and administratively ridiculous.” Instead, the ACPN recommended the creation of a single national Sickle Cell Research Institute, supported by the 73 existing Federal Health Institutions.
The association further highlighted what it termed a “systemic failure of governance” within the Federal Ministry of Health, citing leadership gaps, partisanship, and administrative neglect. It listed several major red flags including:
Non-reconstitution of boards across 73 Federal Health Institutions
Failure to inaugurate boards of 13 regulatory councils
Dormant boards in multiple MDAs
Critical vacancies left unfilled for more than a year
The ACPN also referenced the ongoing JOHESU strike, which began on November 15, 2025, describing it as a symptom of deeper dysfunction worsened by 12-year unpaid entitlements and persistent government delays.
With Nigeria’s health budget already stretched thin, the association urged lawmakers to embrace cost-effective reforms instead of multiplying bureaucracies.
“One of the challenges, despite the highlighted absurdities, is a paucity of funds to support needed reforms. This must therefore compel very realistic initiatives,” the ACPN said.
The statement ended with a clear message to the National Assembly:
“Finally, the ACPN urges the National Assembly to create new bureaucracies only when it becomes obviously necessary.”
The National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, MAW, has called for urgent Federal Government investment in the local production of HIV medicines and commodities, warning that Nigeria’s progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS is now at risk due to shrinking foreign donor support.
In a statement issued on Monday to commemorate World HIV Day 2025, themed “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” Ezeh said Nigeria must immediately reduce its heavy reliance on external funding to prevent disruptions in treatment and prevention services.
“The recent cut in funding support from the United States Government should awaken the Federal Government of Nigeria to take decisive action,” he said, stressing that only strong domestic financing and policy commitment can sustain the national HIV response.
Ezeh noted that although Nigeria has demonstrated resilience through innovation, partnerships and advocacy, the changing global funding landscape demands a bold rethink.
“Today’s funding uncertainties require Nigeria to rethink, rebuild, and rise with renewed strategies grounded in evidence-based policymaking, innovation, and multi-sectoral collaboration,” he said.
The ACPN chairman highlighted worrying national data, including 1,400 new HIV infections and 50,000 AIDS-related deaths weekly in 2023, adding that an estimated 1.9 million Nigerians are currently living with HIV.
To prevent reversal of hard-won gains, Ezeh recommended three urgent policy actions:
He urged the Federal Government to approve Cabotegravir 600 mg and Rilpivirine 900 mg for eligible patients, saying long-acting injectables would ease pill burden, improve adherence, and significantly enhance treatment outcomes.
Ezeh stressed that community pharmacists already play key roles in HIV counselling, testing, and ARV refills. Expanding their involvement, he said, would improve case finding, ensure treatment continuity, and enhance national data accuracy—particularly critical as global funding declines.
He made a direct appeal for investment in domestic production of antiretrovirals, diagnostic kits and other essential commodities to reduce donor dependence, ensure uninterrupted supply, and strengthen the health system.
Expressing solidarity with people living with HIV, Ezeh urged all stakeholders to renew their commitment to ending the epidemic.
“As we mark World HIV Day, the Association extends warm solidarity to all people living with HIV and appreciation to every stakeholder committed to ending this epidemic. May today inspire renewed, transformative action,” he said.
The ACPN maintained that as external support continues to shrink, scaling up local manufacturing and integrating community pharmacists into the national HIV framework must become top priorities to safeguard treatment continuity and build long-term health system resilience.
AIDS Fight Must Reach Rural Communities, Says IHVN FCT Regional Manager
…as FCTA Rallies Stakeholders on World AIDS Day 2025
The Regional Manager of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Tangkat Hosle, has urged government at all levels to strengthen community ownership and sustain innovations in the nation’s HIV response, warning that Nigeria risks missing the target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 without deeper grassroots engagement.
Speaking at the FCT Integrated Symposium for World AIDS Day 2025, Hosle said the commemoration held under the theme “Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response” and sub-theme “Innovation, Collaboration and Integration: Securing the Future of HIV and the ATM Response in Nigeria” offers a timely opportunity to review progress and renew commitment to controlling HIV/AIDS.
“I want to appreciate the government of Nigeria for this opportunity to mark this very wonderful day, the World AIDS Day 2025. This provides an opportunity for us to review our interventions and look at how far we’ve gone,” he said.
Hosle stressed that innovation and sustainability remain central to keeping HIV services uninterrupted, especially for people living with HIV (PLHIV).
“This topical area helps each and every one of us and PLHIVs to take ownership of the HIV response. From the national down to the local government levels, sustainability allows us to contribute meaningfully to controlling HIV/AIDS,” he said.
He reaffirmed IHVN’s commitment to deepening collaboration with government, strengthening health systems, and advancing modern treatment and prevention methods.
While acknowledging remarkable progress, he cautioned that HIV/AIDS still disproportionately affects vulnerable populationsparticularly the poor, women and children despite the transformation of HIV from a fatal illness into a manageable chronic condition.
Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babagana Adams, said no HIV intervention would be fully effective unless rural populations are prioritised.
“The people who need the message more are in the communities,” she said.
“We can’t succeed in sustaining the campaign against AIDS without going closer to the rural areas.”
Fasawe said this year’s theme underscores the need to mobilise local resources to close funding gaps while ensuring that people living with HIV do not face additional barriers.
She identified insecurity, limited access to certain communities, and persistent stigma as major constraints to HIV control in the FCT.
“The government is committed to ensuring access, affordability and availability so that treatment success rates improve,” she added.
Director of the FCT Department of Public Health, Dr. Dan Gadzama, said a First-Class Committee has been established to intensify grassroots mobilisation across all six area councils.
“We educate people about HIV, including the availability of treatment and preventive services. Treatment is free,” he said.
He noted that community mobilisers, PLHIV support networks and civil society groups were working closely to expand awareness and service uptake.
Gadzama confirmed that although external support particularly from the United States has declined, the FCT is shifting its focus to mobilising domestic resources to sustain the HIV response.
“With dwindling funding, it is important that programmes like malaria, tuberculosis and other health services are integrated to minimise cost and ensure wider access,” he explained.
According to him, global innovations including monthly long-acting injectable drugs for HIV prevention are helping countries maintain service delivery despite funding disruptions.
Responding to calls for more community-level engagement, Gadzama said field activities had already begun and would continue across the area councils throughout the week.
“As a matter of fact, activities started in all the area councils on Sunday and will continue till Friday. This event is simply for key stakeholders to dialogue on ways to close gaps in HIV services,” he said.
He assured that the FCT Administration would continue working with local and international partners to ensure no community is left behind in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has lauded the outgoing Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, FNSE, for what he described as a highly successful and impactful four-year tenure.
In a letter issued by the Office of the SGF and signed by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Akume commended Engr. Ahmad’s dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to national development, particularly his contributions to the growth of the Federal Capital Territory.
“Your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to national development, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory, are duly noted and commendable. As you move on to the next phase of your career, kindly accept the best wishes of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for continued success and fulfilment,” the letter stated.
Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has approved the full payment of severance entitlements to the outgoing Executive Secretary, acknowledging his meritorious service up to the completion of his tenure on Friday, November 21, 2025.
Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE), was appointed Executive Secretary of the FCDA on November 22, 2021, and successfully completed his four-year mandate.
