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Tinubu Unveils ₦58.18trn 2026 Budget, Targets Growth as Revenue Pegged at ₦34.33trn

By
Gladys Phillip
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0

 

…New Tax Laws to Broaden Base, Boost Non-Oil Revenues – Abbas

 

 

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday presented the 2026 Appropriation Bill to a joint sitting of the National Assembly, proposing total expenditure of ₦58.18 trillion against projected revenue of ₦34.33 trillion, with ₦15.52 trillion set aside for debt servicing.

 

Describing the proposal as a “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” the President said the fiscal plan reflects a decisive stage in Nigeria’s economic reform and transformation agenda. The budget projects capital expenditure of ₦26.08 trillion and a fiscal deficit of ₦23.85 trillion, representing 4.28 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

 

Tinubu told lawmakers that the 2026 budget is designed to build on reforms undertaken over the past two and a half years to stabilise the economy, address long-standing structural weaknesses, restore investor confidence and position the country for inclusive and sustainable growth.

 

Acknowledging the hardships experienced by Nigerians during the reform process, the President assured citizens that the sacrifices would yield lasting benefits. He stressed that while reforms often bring short-term pain, they remain essential for long-term stability and shared prosperity.

 

Highlighting improvements in key macroeconomic indicators, Tinubu said the economy grew by 3.98 per cent in the third quarter of 2025, up from 3.86 per cent in the same period of 2024. Inflation, he noted, has declined for eight consecutive months to 14.45 per cent in November 2025, while oil production, non-oil revenues and external reserves have also recorded significant gains.

 

“These outcomes did not happen by chance. They are the result of tough and sometimes unpopular policy choices,” the President said, adding that the 2026 budget is aimed at consolidating existing gains and transitioning the economy from recovery to sustained growth.

 

He explained that the budget is anchored on four pillars: strengthening macroeconomic stability, improving the business and investment climate, driving job-rich economic growth, and deepening human capital development while protecting vulnerable citizens. Accordingly, key sectors received substantial allocations, including ₦5.41 trillion for defence and security, ₦3.56 trillion for infrastructure, ₦3.52 trillion for education and ₦2.48 trillion for healthcare.

 

On security, Tinubu announced the adoption of a new national counterterrorism doctrine to tackle banditry, militias, armed criminal groups, violent cults and foreign-linked mercenaries. He added that education and health financing would be strengthened through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and a statutory allocation of six per cent of the budget net of liabilities, with support from international partners, including the United States.

 

The President said infrastructure investment would prioritise transport networks, energy supply, port modernisation and agricultural reforms aimed at food security and job creation. He disclosed plans for mechanised agriculture across seven regional hubs covering one million hectares, targeted at boosting employment and export earnings.

 

Tinubu also emphasised procurement reforms and the implementation of the “Nigeria First Policy” to promote local content, strengthen domestic industries and advance economic self-reliance.

 

“The true value of a budget lies not in its announcement, but in its execution,” he said, pledging improved revenue mobilisation, prudent spending and stronger accountability in implementation.

 

Reacting to the presentation, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, said recently enacted tax laws would broaden the revenue base, promote fairness and strengthen non-oil revenue streams, providing a sustainable financing framework for the 2026 budget.

 

Abbas commended the President’s commitment to a unified fiscal framework, describing the “one budget, one fiscal framework” policy and the elimination of overlapping fiscal authorities as critical to discipline, transparency and due process. He assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would subject the proposal to thorough scrutiny while acting with speed and patriotism.

 

On security spending, the Speaker said transparent and adequately funded security expenditure is central to national development, pledging that the legislature would ensure allocations translate into measurable improvements nationwide.

 

Reflecting on the 2025 fiscal year, Abbas described it as a period of adjustment and consolidation, citing improvements in foreign exchange reserves, remittance inflows and export earnings as signs of renewed confidence in the economy.

 

He expressed confidence that the 2026 Appropriation Bill signals a return to fiscal discipline, stronger investor confidence and a firmer foundation for inclusive growth and long-term national development.

ADC Cracks Down on Dissent as Nwosu, Rufai, 13 Others Suspended for Anti-Party Acts

By
Roland Edet
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The National Working Committee (NWC) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, has suspended several prominent party members, including Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu and Balarabe Rufai, over alleged anti-party activities said to threaten the unity and stability of the party.

 

The decision was taken at the NWC’s regular meeting held on Thursday, December 17, 2025, at the Global Campus and Transformation Center, where the leadership also approved fresh appointments and key organisational resolutions.

 

In a statement signed by the National Chairman, Gombe accused some members of engaging in unauthorised collaborations and activities that “caused disaffection among party members and disrupted the peaceful conduct of party business.”

 

“The NWC has observed that some party members have engaged in anti-party activities with coalition members, causing disaffection among party faithful and undermining the efficient conduct of party affairs,” Gombe said.

 

He announced that, pursuant to Article 15(a) of the party’s constitution, the NWC approved the suspension of 15 members for a period of six months. Those affected include Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu; Alhaji Ibrahim Mani; Dr. Bamidele Ganiyu Ajadi; Dr. Chike Okogwu; High Chief Anayo Arinze; Hon. Kenneth Gbandi; Alhaji Said Baba Abdullahi; Ms. Hauwa Yusuf Musa; Hon. Nkem Ukandu; Barr. Peters Iyiola Oyewole; Dr. Peter Edeh; Hon. Prince Festus Igbinoba; Hon. Razak Eyiwuawi; Balarabe Rufai; and Barr. Emeka.

 

The NWC also warned against what it described as the organisation of unauthorised ward, local government and state congresses by some individuals claiming to act on behalf of the party.

 

“The NWC declares these congresses null, void and of no effect whatsoever,” the statement said, directing party members and the public to disregard any outcomes from such gatherings.

 

At the meeting, the committee approved several appointments into key party positions. Hon. Leke Joseph Abejide was named Chairman, Board of Patrons, by virtue of his position as a high-ranking elected official of the party, while Hon. Bala Sani was appointed Chief of Staff to the National Chairman.

 

Other appointments include Dr. Abimiku Monday as Special Adviser on Strategic Communication; Muhammad Sa’ad Aboki as Director of Youth Mobilisation; Bello Shehu as Director of Finance; and Rabiu Mohammed as Administrative Secretary. All appointees were directed to assume duties immediately and collect their appointment letters at the party’s national headquarters.

 

In addition, the NWC constituted a four-member committee to conduct the Osun State governorship primary election, with Dr. Rufus Ikanmi as chairman, Barr. Henry P. Moses as secretary, and Muhammad Ibrahim and Alhaji Ibrahim Saleh Katagum as members.

 

Gombe further advised party members and the general public to ignore unauthorised gatherings, noting that the National Executive Committee (NEC) would soon meet to approve an official timetable for legitimate party congresses.

 

“All official announcements regarding party congresses will be made through the ADC’s authorised communication channels,” he said, adding that all appointments take immediate effect and appointees are expected to discharge their duties with professionalism and dedication.

Abuja Logs 300 Crime Cases in Three Months, Six Policemen Killed in Gunfights — FCT CP

By
Uche Kingsley
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0

 

 

Abuja recorded no fewer than 300 cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes between October and December 2025, resulting in the deaths of six police officers and nine suspected criminals, the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, has disclosed.

 

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Dantawaye said the cases led to the arrest of 160 suspects and the rescue of 32 victims across different crime fronts within the three-month period under review.

 

According to him, nine armed suspects were killed during gun duels with police operatives, while six officers “paid the supreme price in the line of duty.”

 

The CP revealed that seven kidnapping cases were recorded during the period, with 41 suspects arrested. He said several kidnapping gangs operating within and around the FCT were dismantled through intelligence-led operations, forest combing exercises and joint actions with sister security agencies.

 

Armed robbery incidents, he said, stood at 62, leading to the arrest of 38 suspects and the recovery of firearms and live ammunition, while cases of “one-chance” robbery totalled 26, with 12 suspects arrested following sustained surveillance, stop-and-search operations and targeted raids.

 

Dantawaye also disclosed that 35 cases of car theft and vehicle snatching were recorded, with 11 suspects arrested and 20 stolen vehicles recovered within and outside the FCT. He added that arrests were equally made in cases of homicide, cultism, drug-related offences, illegal possession of firearms, cybercrime and other violent crimes, with 120 suspects apprehended across these categories.

 

He said a total of N15.45 million in cash, being proceeds of kidnapping, armed robbery, fraud and other crimes, was recovered during the operations.

 

The police boss listed recovered exhibits to include 21 AK-47 rifles, 10 shotguns, one K2 rifle, 37 locally made pistols, 31 locally fabricated firearms, 1,700 rounds of live ammunition of various calibres, 14 vehicles linked to criminal activities, as well as knives, cutlasses, communication devices, illicit drugs, motorcycles and other dangerous weapons.

 

Dantawaye noted that the FCT’s status as the nation’s political and diplomatic capital, sharing boundaries with Niger, Kaduna, Kogi and Nasarawa states, attracts people of diverse backgrounds, including criminal elements seeking to exploit its strategic importance.

 

“Since my assumption of duty in October 2025, the Command has undertaken a comprehensive review of the security situation across the six Area Councils of the FCT,” he said, adding that the assessment identified kidnapping, armed robbery, ‘one-chance’ robbery, car theft and drug-related offences as key challenges.

 

He explained that, in line with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, the Command adopted a focused, intelligence-driven approach anchored on crime analysis, hotspot mapping, inter-agency collaboration and continuous operational evaluation.

 

Looking ahead, the CP said the Command would intensify community policing engagements, deepen intelligence-led policing, sustain targeted clearance operations, strengthen inter-agency collaboration and expand public enlightenment initiatives to tackle evolving security challenges in the FCT.

FCCPC Reopens Ikeja Electric HQ After Firm Pledges Compliance on Consumer Violations

By
Olajumoke Sanusi
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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has unsealed the headquarters of Ikeja Electric Plc after the power distribution company gave a binding undertaking to comply with remedial measures over alleged consumer rights violations.

 

The headquarters was sealed on December 11, 2025, following Ikeja Electric’s failure to comply with a directive of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to unbundle a Maximum Demand account into 20 individual accounts for a customer who had reportedly been without electricity for over two and a half years.

 

In a statement issued on Friday, the Director of Corporate Affairs at the Commission, Ondaje Ijagwu, said the unsealing followed Ikeja Electric’s commitment to resolve all consumer complaints referred to it by the FCCPC within agreed timelines.

 

Ijagwu warned that any violation of the undertaking would expose the company to renewed and escalated enforcement action under the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA).

 

Reacting to the development, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Mr. Tunji Bello, said the Commission’s action was aimed at enforcing the provisions of the FCCPA, 2018, and ensuring fairness in service delivery.

 

“Our responsibility is to ensure that consumers are treated fairly and that service providers comply with lawful decisions and directives,” Bello said. “Enforcement is not an end in itself. Where compliance is achieved and credible commitments are made, the Commission will respond appropriately.”

 

He explained that the outcome reflected the Commission’s balanced regulatory approach.

 

“We intervene decisively where consumer harm persists, and we de-escalate where enforceable compliance is secured,” Bello added. “What remains constant is our duty to protect consumers and uphold regulatory accountability.”

Army Unveils Affordable Homes, Shopping Complex in Ibadan, COAS Urges States to Boost Soldiers’ Welfare

By
Saladin Babagana
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The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Waidi Shaibu, on Friday called on state governments to deepen their support for soldiers’ welfare through land allocation and strategic partnerships, as the Nigerian Army commissioned an affordable housing estate and a shopping complex in Ibadan, Oyo State.

 

The projects the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers (AHOOAS) housing estate in Akobo and a newly completed shopping complex in Eleyele—were inaugurated at Phase 4, Pacesetter Estate, Akobo, as part of efforts to improve the post-service living conditions of Nigerian soldiers.

 

“It gives me great pleasure to commission the Affordable Home Ownership Option for All Soldiers, Akobo project and the Post-Service Housing Development Limited Shopping Complex in Eleyele,” Shaibu said. “These projects represent a major welfare commitment of the Nigerian Army.”

 

The Army chief commended Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for his consistent support to military formations in the state, and also acknowledged the backing of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja.

 

Paying tribute to the late former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, Shaibu said the AHOOAS scheme was conceived to ensure that soldiers could own decent homes after retirement.

 

“Our late former Chief of Army Staff took the bold step of initiating this laudable scheme,” he said. “As someone who believes strongly that soldiers are the bedrock of the Nigerian Army, I have made the ‘Soldier-First Culture’ the foundation of my command philosophy.”

 

He reaffirmed that affordable post-service housing would remain a priority, describing the Akobo project as proof of the Army’s resolve to help every soldier realise the dream of home ownership in a location of their choice.

 

Shaibu disclosed that the pilot phase of the scheme in Idu, Abuja, delivered about 400 housing units, now fully occupied by soldiers and their families.

 

“Encouraged by the success recorded in Abuja, we are expanding the scheme to Ibadan, Benin, Jos and Uyo,” he said, urging other state governments to key into the initiative by allocating land.

 

He also described the Eleyele shopping complex as a catalyst for local economic growth, noting that it would support small businesses and serve residents of the area.

 

Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Army Post Service Housing Development Limited, Maj.-Gen. Isiah Alison, said the first phase of the AHOOAS project was commissioned in Abuja on December 18, 2024, delivering 400 housing units.

 

“Since taking over, I have built on the achievements of my predecessors,” Alison said, adding that the COAS approved substantial funding at the outset of his tenure to enable the execution of multiple projects nationwide.

 

He revealed that the Army currently has 80 housing units under construction in Jos, 40 completed units in Benin, 120 units nearing completion in Idu under Phase II, and additional units ongoing in Ibadan.

 

“In Ibadan alone, we have 30 units of two-bedroom flats for officers and another 30 units of three-bedroom flats for senior personnel,” he said, adding that five per cent of the houses would be allocated free to soldiers wounded in battle.

 

According to Alison, 70 per cent of the houses are reserved strictly for soldiers, while 25 per cent are allocated to civilians at discounted rates to promote integration.

 

“This is purely a welfare programme. A house built at about N30 million is sold to soldiers for as low as N7.5 million, while one built at N50 million is sold for about N8.5 million,” he explained.

 

On the commercial side, Alison disclosed that 22 shops have been completed in Eleyele, while another shopping complex with over 50 shops in Warri is about 60 per cent completed and scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2026.

 

He also acknowledged partners supporting the Army’s housing projects for widows of fallen heroes and skills acquisition programmes, some of which are expected to be handed over in January 2026.

 

The event was attended by the Oyo State Government, represented by the Commissioner for Lands, Housing, Survey and Urban Development, Mr. William Akin-Funmilayo; the General Officer Commanding, 2 Division Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Chinedu Nnebeife; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja; and other dignitaries. Highlights included a tour of the newly inaugurated estate and presentation of awards.

Clerics Accuse Two Ex-Governors of Fueling North-West Banditry, Demand Prosecution

By
Udehi Alambo
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0

 

Northern clerics under the banner of the Concerned Northern Inter-Faith Clergy for Peace have accused two former governors of laying the groundwork for the persistent banditry ravaging Nigeria’s North-West, urging President Bola Tinubu to order their immediate arrest and prosecution.

 

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the inter-faith group—comprising imams, pastors, bishops and other religious leaders—said actions allegedly taken by the former governors created the conditions that allowed armed criminal gangs to flourish in the region.

 

Led by Bishop Sunday Bawa, the clerics referenced a widely circulated video released earlier this month by notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji. In the video, Turji accused former governors of Zamfara and Sokoto states of confiscating and selling grazing reserves meant for herders, as well as arming vigilante groups known as Yan Banga, whom he claimed attacked and killed Fulani communities.

 

According to Turji, those actions ignited ethnic tensions and cycles of reprisal violence that later escalated into widespread kidnappings, massacres and cattle rustling.

 

“Even though Turji is a confessed terrorist, we cannot simply ignore the substance of his claims,” the clerics said in a statement jointly signed by Imam Sheikh Yusuf Sarki, Bishop Pius Dauda and 10 other faith leaders.

 

The group argued that the allegations point to deeper issues of land dispossession and armed vigilantism, which enabled criminal networks to mutate into what they described as “the monsters now terrorising the North-West.”

 

They also expressed solidarity with families of banditry victims who have petitioned President Tinubu for an investigation, describing him as their “last hope” after years of unfruitful appeals to local authorities.

 

Bawa painted a grim picture of the human toll, calling banditry an “unfolding genocide.” The clerics cited figures showing that more than 13,485 people were killed by bandit attacks between 2010 and May 2023, with at least 2,266 deaths recorded in the first half of 2025 alone—already exceeding the total for the whole of 2024.

 

They further referenced reports by Amnesty International and the National Human Rights Commission documenting thousands more kidnapped, injured or displaced, alongside economic losses running into trillions of naira due to disrupted farming, trade and ransom payments.

 

The statement dismissed responses from the accused former governors as “empty echoes,” noting their insistence that banditry was insignificant when they left office in 2007 and their questioning of the timing of the accusations.

 

“Time heals no guilt,” the clerics countered, warning that denial only deepens suspicion and entrenches impunity.

 

In a Yuletide appeal to the President, the inter-faith body urged Tinubu to “immediately direct the arrest and prosecution” of the two ex-governors over the alleged actions that helped seed the crisis. They also called for a transparent, independent investigation potentially with international oversight—alongside broader measures to address root causes such as poverty, land disputes and social exclusion.

NNPC GCEO Rated High On Performance, Transparency, Improved Crude Production

By
Ola Akinola
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The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has been rated high for his transformative leadership in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

The Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency in the Extractive Industry (CCSTEI), gave this commendation in Abuja on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the coalition’s National Coordinator, Dr. Agabi Emmanuel praised Ojulari’s bold reforms that have enhanced transparency, boosted operational efficiency, and driven significant improvements in crude oil production.

The CCSTEI highlighted that since Ojulari’s appointment in April 2025, NNPC Ltd has shifted from longstanding perceptions of opacity and inefficiency to a more commercially driven and accountable entity.

Key achievements noted include the consistent publication of monthly performance reports, which have fostered real-time stakeholder oversight.

Financially, the coalition applauded the company’s 2024 audited results, which showed a record revenue of ₦45.1 trillion and a profit after tax of ₦5.4 trillion – marking a 64% year-on-year growth in profit.

On the production front, the group celebrated the milestone reached by NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), the company’s upstream subsidiary, which hit a daily crude oil output of 355,000 barrels on December 1, 2025 – the highest in 36 years.

This contributed to an average daily production increase of 52%, from 203,000 barrels per day in 2023 to 312,000 barrels per day in 2025.

The statement also acknowledged ongoing investments in gas infrastructure, including progress on projects like the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline, Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS), and Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) pipeline, aimed at achieving ambitious targets of 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion by 2030.

While recognizing persistent challenges such as lingering public skepticism, oil theft, and global energy transitions, the CCSTEI called for continued support for Ojulari’s leadership.

It recommended further enhancements in public engagement, third-party audits, anti-corruption measures, local content development, and alignment with energy transition goals.

Concluding the appraisal, Dr. Emanuel stated: “Bashir Bayo Ojulari and his team for restoring confidence in NNPC Limited after many challenging years.

“You have proven that visionary leadership, coupled with accountability and performance excellence, can redefine an institution for the better. We charge you to soldier on undeterred.

“The Nigerian people are watching, and with your continued resolve, NNPC Limited will not only drive economic prosperity but also serve as a beacon of transparent governance in Africa.”

SDP Demands INEC Compliance After Supreme Court Upholds Party Autonomy, Leadership

By
Toyin Adebayo
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ABUJA — The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to cease all engagements with its expelled members and formally recognize its acting national chairman, following a definitive Supreme Court judgment affirming the party’s internal disciplinary authority.

The Acting National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar, made the demand during a press briefing on Friday at the SDP national secretariat, immediately after the apex court’s ruling.

Abubakar urged INEC to “immediately remove the name of the suspended and expelled National Chairman,” Alhaji Shehu Gabam, from its records and replace it with his own, as the duly appointed leader recognized by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

“INEC should, in line with the ruling of the apex court, recognise only the duly constituted leadership of the SDP as determined by the party’s National Working Committee and its constitution,” he stated.

Judicial Affirmation of Party Autonomy

The SDP chairman described the Supreme Court verdict as a conclusive settlement of the party’s internal leadership dispute, reinforcing the principle that political parties have the exclusive right to manage their internal affairs without external interference.

“The Supreme Court has now clearly affirmed that the internal affairs of political parties are their exclusive reserve,” Abubakar said, commending the judiciary as “the last hope of the common man and institutions alike.”

He explained that the crisis originated when the NWC, acting under the SDP constitution, investigated allegations of constitutional breaches and financial impropriety against some national officers. After a disciplinary committee granted fair hearings, the former National Chairman and National Auditor were expelled—a decision communicated to INEC.

INEC’s refusal to recognize the new leadership and its insistence that party correspondence be signed by the expelled chairman forced the SDP to seek legal redress. Victories at the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal were upheld by the Supreme Court.

Call for New INEC-Party Relationship

Abubakar emphasized that the ruling reaffirms the supremacy of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, and party constitutions over administrative convenience.

He urged INEC to take guidance from the judgment and henceforth refrain from meddling in the internal affairs of political parties, calling for a new relationship based on mutual respect, adherence to the rule of law, and ethical conduct.

While noting that reconciliation efforts within the SDP are ongoing, Abubakar stressed that matters involving alleged criminal conduct would be left to the appropriate authorities.

“I hope and pray that this judgment will strengthen our democracy and help make Nigeria a better place for all,” he concluded.

The judgment is expected to set a significant precedent for party autonomy in Nigeria’s political landscape.

 

SGF Hails Paperless Civil Service as “Fundamental Shift” in Service Delivery

By
Ola Akinola
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0

ABUJA — The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has described the ongoing transition of the Federal Civil Service to paperless operations as a transformative step toward modernizing governance and improving service delivery.

Speaking at the Paperless Civil Service Gala & Awards Night in Abuja, Akume stated that the initiative marks “a defining milestone” in the service’s transformation journey.

“The transition to paperless work processes is not merely a technological upgrade; it is a fundamental shift in culture, mindset, and service delivery,” Akume said. “It represents efficiency over bureaucracy, transparency over opacity, and accountability over discretion.”

He emphasized that digital governance is now essential for effective coordination, fiscal discipline, and timely decision-making, urging all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to institutionalize digital processes, safeguard data integrity, and invest in capacity building.

Significant Progress Reported

In her keynote address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF), Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, highlighted notable advancements in the digitization drive.

She revealed that GOVMail, the official government email platform, now boasts 100,828 active accounts, ensuring secure communication and saving the government “billions of naira previously spent on external licences.”

Walson-Jack noted that while only three MDAs—the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of Transportation, and the Federal Ministry of Finance—had fully digitized their processes at the start of her tenure in August 2024, the reform has since gained significant momentum through coordinated efforts like the “Digitalisation War Room.”

New Digital Initiatives Unveiled

The HCSF outlined several innovative digital tools already in operation, including:

· A Service-Wise GPT trained on official documents like the Constitution and Public Service Rules, which has recorded over 25,000 chats.

· An Online Compendium of Federal Circulars to streamline access to official directives.

· The Federal Civil Service Online Academy to modernize and scale up training for public servants.

“Digitalisation, which for many years sounded like a good idea we would get to ‘one day,’ has finally arrived,” Walson-Jack stated. “We can now speak about it not as a concept, but as reality.”

Awards Recognize Top Performers

The event concluded with the presentation of awards to deserving MDAs and top government officials, recognizing their commitment and achievements in driving the digital transformation agenda.

The ceremony underscored the Federal Government’s resolve to build a modern, responsive, and citizen-centered public service aligned with global standards of efficiency and transparency.

Supreme Court Fine, Vindicates SDP as Adebayo Warns INEC to Stop Interfering in Party Affairs

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

 

 

 

 

 

Lead Counsel to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and it’s Presidential candidate of in 2023 general election, Dr. Adewole Adebayo, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately interfering in the internal affairs of opposition parties, warning that such actions threaten Nigeria’s multi-party democracy.

 

Speaking after the Supreme Court ordered INEC to pay a ₦2 million fine for pursuing what the court described as an unnecessary appeal against the SDP, Adebayo said the ruling should serve as a strong warning to the electoral umpire to respect the autonomy of political parties.

 

“I have made it clear to INEC to stop interfering in the internal affairs of the SDP and other political parties,” Adebayo said. “A multi-party democracy requires that INEC is seen to be unbiased and not fomenting crises in opposition parties.”

 

According to him, the SDP has no leadership crisis, stressing that its National Chairman, Professor Sajid Kakuaka-Ukumbe, the National Secretary, and all members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) are validly in office.

 

Adebayo explained that the dispute arose when the party appointed an acting national chairman, who formally wrote to INEC to nominate candidates. He said INEC refused to recognise the acting chairman, insisting instead on dealing with a chairman who had already been removed by the party.

 

“The court was very clear that INEC had no such power,” he noted. “The Court of Appeal ruled that the SDP had the right to change its leadership and that the acting chairman was duly authorised to act for the party.”

 

Despite complying with the judgment, INEC proceeded to the Court of Appeal and later to the Supreme Court, which dismissed the case and fined the commission ₦2 million, a cost Adebayo said would ultimately be borne by Nigerian taxpayers.

 

“It is unfortunate that taxpayers will pay for this, but it is a good lesson for INEC to leave the SDP alone—and indeed, leave all political parties alone,” he said.

 

Adebayo warned that democracy would be endangered if INEC undermined opposition parties, stressing that Nigerians must be given real choices at the polls.

 

“If only the ruling party exists, there will be no democracy,” he added. “INEC must ensure that other political parties are allowed to exist and function freely so Nigerians can choose between the ruling party and the opposition.”

 

 

Also speaking the Acting National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar, has described the Supreme Court’s ruling against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a landmark victory not only for the party but for Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law.

 

He said the decision affirmed the long-standing position of the courts that the internal affairs of political parties are exclusively for the parties themselves to determine.

 

“This judgment is very significant, not only for the SDP, but for all political parties in Nigeria, our democracy and the rule of law,” he said. “As highlighted earlier by our lead counsel, Dr Adewole Adebayo, INEC must respect the independence of political parties.”

 

He noted that the Supreme Court had consistently ruled that issues relating to leadership and internal management fall outside the powers of the electoral umpire, stressing that the apex court reaffirmed this position in its latest decision.

 

The acting chairman urged INEC to fully comply with the ruling by allowing the SDP, and indeed all political parties, to manage their internal affairs without interference.

 

“We call on INEC to abide by this judgment and allow the SDP to decide on its internal matters, just as all other political parties should be allowed to do,” he said.

 

He also admonished political parties to conduct their affairs strictly in line with their constitutions, noting that the SDP’s actions, which culminated in the Supreme Court victory, were guided by the party’s constitution and due process.

 

Expressing gratitude to the judiciary, the SDP leader said the ruling should serve as a source of hope for Nigerians and a boost for democratic governance ahead of future elections.

 

“We are grateful to the judiciary. We hope this judgment will strengthen our democracy and the rule of law, not just now but as we move towards 2027 and beyond,” he said.

 

The Supreme Court had earlier dismissed INEC’s appeal against the SDP and imposed a ₦2 million fine on the commission, reinforcing the autonomy of political parties in managing their internal leadership affairs.

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