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2025 budget: It’ll take magic wand to succeed — ASBON

*Funding’ll be a challenge – Financial analysts  THE Federal government’s proposed 2025 budget has come under attack by industry groups and analysts who expressed disappointment over the assumptions, benchmarks and figures in the budget. The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, faulted the key parameters and assumptions on which the proposed 2025 budget were based, saying they are too optimistic in the face of current realities. In a statement yesterday, the Director General of LCCI, Dr. Chinyere Almona, said the assumptions of an exchange rate at N1,400 per dollar and inflation rate at 15.8 per cent, in particular, are unrealistic. Her words: “A review of the key parameters and assumptions on which the 2025 budget is being proposed appears to be too optimistic in the face of current realities as recorded in the economic and social indicators. “Particularly, the assumption of an exchange rate at N1,400 is too fragile to work with against the current average of above N1,600 to
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I’m presidential spokesman — Daniel Bwala

Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to President Bola Tinubu, Daniel Bwala, has announced himself as the new presidential spokesman. There had been some confusion as Bayo Onanuga, designated as special adviser on communication and strategy, had been the presidential spokesman since the exit of Ajuri Ngelale, who was special adviser on media and publicity. Onanuga also moved to the office previously occupied by Ajuri at the presidential villa. But in a tweet yesterday, Bwala announced himself as the presidential spokesman. Also in an interaction with State House correspondents yesterday, Bwala, former spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s presidential campaign in 2023, rejected claims that his appointment was down to pecuniary gains. He emphasised the importance of staying focused on the larger goals of the Tinubu administration, despite the distractions that often accompanied public office. Bwala, who noted that the negative reactions to his appointment were motivated by ext
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With '99 Constitution, Angel Gabriel can’t save Nigeria — Anyaoku

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Chief Emeka Anyaoku *Culture of celebrating least people destroying Nigeria — Obi *How book project was conceived in 2018 — Fayemi FORMER Commonwealth Secretary-General,  Chief Emeka Anyaoku , has warned that if Nigeria refuses to abolish the 1999 Constitution, development will continue to elude the country. While faulting the 1999 Constitution which he described as unitary, Anyaoku argued that united and progressive pluralistic countries were those who addressed their diversity with true federal constitutions. The elder statesman spoke at the launch of the book: ‘The Noble Academic and Patriot: A Biography of Emeritus Professor Akinjide Osuntokun,’ held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, in Lagos. Why Angel Gabriel won’t save Nigeria — Anyaoku Anyaoku, who was chairman of the occasion, said Nigeria, like many other countries, is a pluralistic country whose population comprised peoples long established in their separate geographical areas with different histories
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Same-sex marriage: Anglican Primate rejects Church of England’s stance

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Henry Ndukuba THE Primate of All Nigeria, Most Rev’d Dr. Henry C. Ndukuba, has strongly rejected the Church of England’s approval of same-sex marriage, asserting that it goes against biblical teachings and undermines the sanctity of marriage as ordained by God. Speaking at the 2024 Divine Commonwealth Conference, DIVCCON, in Abuja, he emphasized the Church of Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to biblical orthodoxy and partnership with the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) to uphold traditional Christian values. The Primate also addressed the current state of Nigeria’s economy, urging the federal government to focus on empowering local industries rather than relying on imports. He called for the Nigerian government to collaborate with universities, polytechnics, and industrialists to harness the nation’s potential for technological innovation, referencing the example of countries like South Korea and Iran, which have successfully developed their own industries. In his address, th
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Minimum wage: States panicking over NLC’s Dec 1 strike notice

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*Only 12 states implementing new wage *24 states yet to implement  *10 states remain silent on implementation *7 states fail to give commencement date *6 states promise to pay end of Nov THERE is growing tension among states yet to  implement the N70,000 new minimum wage, following the December 1 strike notice given by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to workers in defaulting states to commence indefinite strike. As at end of October, no fewer than 24 states are yet to start implementation, despite a promise by the Federal Government to Organised Labour on implementation. It would be recalled that during the meeting on October 17, in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF,  government promised to summon a meeting of the economic council to impress it on governors to implement the new minimum wage signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in August. However, at the end of October, only 12 state governments, out of the 36 state governments, are implementing
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Lakurawa: Northern groups beg FG to root out new terror group

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Northern groups under the Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, yesterday pleaded with the Federal Government to immediately root out the new terror group known as 'Lakurawa' operating in the North West region of the country. In a statement, the National Coordinator, CNG, Jamilu Charanchi, said  “The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, calls for concerted efforts among all stakeholders to tackle the emergence of a terrorist group called Lakurawa around the Sokoto-Kebbi axis. “The CNG particularly charges local, state, and federal authorities on one hand and communities, religious and traditional leaders on the other hand to join hands together to confront this new common threat. “We have unfortunately heard of the emergence of a new terror group identified as ‘Lakurawa’, reportedly operating around Kebbi and Sokoto States in North-Western Nigeria. This development poses yet another threat to the safety and security of residents and has the potential to further destabilize an alread
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How Tinubu’s policies killing Nigerians — Atiku

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Atiku Abubakar FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar , has insisted that President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies and approach to governance were killing Nigerians.  He said the President should focus on solving this problem rather than attacking the opposition which is not in the saddle. Atiku in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, in Abuja, yesterday, spoke in response to an earlier statement issued by the Presidency.  The Presidency’s statement which was issued on Sunday, stated that Atiku’s criticisms of Tinubu’s policies were driven by jealously.  Atiku said: “On July 8, 2024, Tinubu announced that import duty on essential goods like food would be lifted for 150 days. “ “But over 120 days later, the policy is yet to take off, while Nigerians continue to die daily due to increasing costs, including food inflation, which now exceeds 40 percent, the highest in decades. “The brazen disobedience to a government policy by Tinubu’s appointees and
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