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Edo Assembly approves N409.2 billion supplementary budget for Obaseki

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Barely five months after assenting to the 2024 appropriation bill by the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, the State House of Assembly has shored up the budget to N409, 217,894,248,87 billion.

DAILY POST reports that the governor had on December 22, 2023, assented to N342.825,969,909,21 billion appropriation bill, which was N17.5 billion higher than the N321.4 billion earlier presented to the House.

DAILY POST noted that the raising of the budget to N409.2 billion was sequel to the House’s consideration and approval of the Governor Obaseki’s letter requesting a revision of the 2024 budget.

The lawmakers, while speaking in favour of the revised/supplementary budget, noted that it would enable the governor to finish his eight-year administration of the state well.

Moving the motion, Charity Aiguobarueghian, the Majority Leader of the House, noted that the supplementary budget was necessary for the state government to get legislative backing for the implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage approval for the state’s workers recently.

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Charity, also opined that it would also allow the governor to complete all the ongoing projects awarded.

Other lawmakers that spoke in favour of the supplementary budget include, Maria Edeko (PDP), the deputy speaker, Eric Okaka, (APC), the minority leader of the House, Eigbiremonlen Fada Sunday, (PDP), Esan Central and Ugabi Kingsley Oghenakhogie (APC), Etsako East constituencies.

They all noted that, if approved, the revised supplementary budget would give the government the financial enablement to complete all ongoing projects and thereby eliminate cases of abandoned projects.

The House, at the committee of the whole, however, shored up the 2024 fiscal year budget to N409.2 billion, an increase of N66.4 billion.

In the new supplementary budget, recurrent expenditure is now N182, 446,255,325, 16 billion, while capital expenditure stood at N226, 771, 634, 923, 71billion as against the earlier assented budget of N154, 276,225,868,96 billion and N188,549,744,040,26 billion, respectively.

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The Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, who summed up the deliberation, said a clean copy of the approval will be sent to the state governor for his assent.

CREDIT: DAILY POST

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BREAKING: RSIEC goes ahead with Rivers LG polls

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The local government election in Rivers State is set to take place as planned, despite requests from stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Governor Siminalayi Fubara to pause the process.

According to DAILY POST, both sensitive and non-sensitive election materials have been delivered to the Registration and Accreditation Centers (RACs) in various local government areas, including the Government Technical College in Ahoada East.

The state’s atmosphere resembles typical election day conditions, with noticeably quiet roads and a lack of presence from the Nigeria Police Force.

On Friday, Governor Fubara reiterated his determination to proceed with the election, even after the Rivers State Police Command announced its withdrawal from overseeing the event.

The governor accused Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun of trying to sabotage the election for the benefit of “an Abuja-based politician.”

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The Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) assured that the election will continue as scheduled and urged residents to exercise their voting rights in line with the Electoral Act.

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Okpebholo’s tenure will usher progress, development in Edo – Senators Forum

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The Southern Nigeria Senators Forum has commended the electorate in Edo State for electing one of their members as governor of the State on Saturday, saying that the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo will usher progress and development in for the people of Edo State.

The Forum reacted to the declaration of Senator Okpebholo as winner of Edo State governorship election on Sunday.

In a statement issued by the Chairman of the Forum, Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru and made available to DAILY POST on Monday, the lawmakers of the southern extraction maintained that the governor-elect has track record of achievements and his understanding of challenges confronting Edo State would make him reposition the State in the interest of the people.

The statement read: “The forum expressed optimism that Senator Okpebholo’s tenure as governor will usher in a new era of progress and development for Edo State, given his track record of service in the Senate and his understanding of the challenges facing the state.

“The Nigerian Southern Senators Forum has extended its heartfelt congratulations to one of its distinguished members, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on his successful election as the Executive Governor-Elect of Edo State in the just-concluded election held onSeptember 21, 2024.”

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The Forum pledged their support and cooperation, urging the newly elected governor to continue working for the betterment of Edo State and Nigeria at large.

CREDIT: DAILY POST

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Abuja Court dismisses Northern APC suit seeking Ganduje’s removal as chairman

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Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at removing Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from his position as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawsuit, brought against Ganduje by the APC North Central Group, was dismissed on Monday for several reasons. Justice Ekwo ruled that the APC North Central Group is not a legally recognized entity since it has not been formally registered, and therefore lacks the legal standing to file the suit.

The judge also noted that the plaintiffs did not utilize the internal mechanisms available for resolving disputes before resorting to legal action. Additionally, he stated that the appointment of party officials by the APC’s National Executive Committee is an internal matter that falls outside the jurisdiction of the courts.

The North Central APC Group had sought to nullify Ganduje’s appointment, claiming it violated the APC Constitution due to a lack of a democratic process. They argued that Ganduje’s appointment breached Article 13 of the party’s constitution, as it was not conducted in accordance with the democratic principles established by the party.

Led by Saleh Zazzaga, the plaintiffs contended that Ganduje should not hold the position, as it was meant for someone from the North Central geopolitical zone, which was next in line for the role.

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In the suit, designated as FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the plaintiffs requested that the court prevent Ganduje from acting as APC chairman and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not recognize any actions taken by the APC since Ganduje’s appointment on August 3, 2023.

The plaintiffs argued that Ganduje’s position was illegal because he is not from a North Central state, and claimed that the APC’s National Executive Committee had violated the party’s constitution by appointing him from Kano State in the North West.

In dismissing the lawsuit, Justice Ekwo concluded that the plaintiffs lacked the legal authority to bring the case to court, finding no valid cause of action against the defendants.

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