Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Akpabio

  • PASAN warns of unrest over alleged federal character breaches in National Assembly appointments

    PASAN warns of unrest over alleged federal character breaches in National Assembly appointments

    2025-12-29 09:00:00
    Reporting by Punch indicates parliamentary workers under PASAN protested what they described as repeated violations of the federal character principle in the appointment of secretaries, warning the trend could provoke industrial unrest.

    PASAN’s argument is that uneven representation in sensitive appointments fuels perceptions of marginalisation and undermines cohesion inside the legislature’s bureaucracy.

    The Guardian reported PASAN referenced Section 14(3) of the Constitution and warned that continued disregard could fuel discontent and industrial unrest.

    Blueprint also reported PASAN’s petition, noting concerns about appointments and the risk of institutional tension if the alleged imbalance persists.

    Punch reported workers warned of “industrial unrest,” while The Guardian wrote PASAN warned “continued disregard… could fuel discontent and industrial unrest.”

    Echotitbits take: Federal character disputes rarely stay administrative. Watch for whether the National Assembly Service Commission publishes appointment data by state/zone and whether PASAN escalates to work-to-rule or strikes.

    Source: The Punch — https://punchng.com/nassembly-workers-protest-alleged-federal-character-breach/ — December 29, 2025
    The Punch 2025-12-29

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • National Assembly moves to publish certified copies of tax reform laws amid alteration claims

    National Assembly moves to publish certified copies of tax reform laws amid alteration claims

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-27 06:00:00

    In an update published by Punch, the National Assembly reportedly directed its administrative leadership to provide Certified True Copies of recently passed tax laws to the public and key stakeholders.

    The move follows claims that versions circulating in public space do not perfectly reflect what lawmakers passed, and it is framed as a step to protect the integrity of the legislative record.

    Policy analysts say publishing verified copies quickly can reduce uncertainty for businesses and taxpayers, especially ahead of implementation deadlines and compliance planning.

    Echotitbits take:
    Transparency here is not cosmetic—it’s market‑relevant. Watch how quickly the certified versions are released, whether agencies align their guidance to the same text, and how courts may treat any disputes over “which version” applies.

    Source: The Punch— December 26, 2025 (https://punchng.com/nassembly-directs-provision-of-tax-laws-ctc/)
    The Punch December 26, 2025

  • Budget Crunch: NASS Pushes 2025 Fiscal Year to March 2026

    Budget Crunch: NASS Pushes 2025 Fiscal Year to March 2026

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-25 09:05:00

    Reporting by The Punch indicates Nigeria’s National Assembly has extended the 2025 fiscal year timeline to allow more time for budget implementation, amid delays in budget passage and execution. The move is framed as a pragmatic reset to reduce the usual year-end rush that leaves capital spending under-delivered.

    The extension is tied to the broader issue of late appropriation cycles, where projects start too late in the year and MDAs struggle to complete procurement and releases before the fiscal window closes. Supporters say it improves planning realism; critics worry it normalizes delays.

    In practical terms, the extension gives ministries and agencies more runway to draw down releases and push ongoing capital projects, especially where procurement timelines already spilled beyond the calendar year.

    In related coverage, Vanguard quoted Senate President Godswill Akpabio describing the measure as a “major transformative step,” while Premium Times reported that the extension is aimed at “ensuring the full release and utilisation of budgeted funds for capital projects.”

    Echotitbits take: The real test is whether the extra months translate into measurable capital delivery—not just paperwork. Watch Q1 2026 releases and project milestones, plus whether the executive also reforms procurement bottlenecks that routinely delay project starts.

    Source: The Punch — December 25, 2025 (https://punchng.com/budget-crisis-nass-extends-2025-fiscal-year-to-march/)

    The Punch 2025-12-25

  • Sanity, Transparency, Accountability Will Return to NDDC, Buhari Assures

    Sanity, Transparency, Accountability Will Return to NDDC, Buhari Assures

    President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday broke silence over the ongoing unfolding drama over the probe of the budgetary allocations to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    Speaking for the first time on the attacks and counter attacks between and around persons, institutions, and the commission, Buhari expressed his strong determination to get to the root of the problem undermining the development of the Niger Delta and its peoples in spite of enormous national resources voted year after year for this singular purpose.

    Read Also….. NDDC Drama: Pondei walks out on Reps as Wike rescues Nunieh from arrest

    The President directed that there should be better coordination among security and investigating agencies with the National Assembly to ensure that his administration’s effort to bring sanity, transparency and accountability to the management of the large amount of resources dedicated to development of the Niger Delta sub-region is not derailed.

    According to him, auditing firms and investigative agencies working in collaboration with National Assembly Committees to resolve the challenges in NDDC must initiate actions in a time-bound manner and duly inform the Presidency of the actions being taken.

    The President also directed timely sharing of information and knowledge in a way to speedily assist the administration to diagnose what had gone wrong in the past and what needs to be done to make corrections in order to return NDDC to its original mandate of making life better for people in Niger Delta.

    Read Also… NDDC Crisis: Acting Finance Director is dead, sources suspect poisoning

    Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the administration wanted to bring about “rapid, even and sustainable development to the region.”

    The President gave firm assurance that his administration would put in place a transparent and accountable governance framework, not only in NDDC but in all other institutions of government.

    Idowu Sowunmi