Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: federal government

  • Tinubu doubles down: Nigeria’s new tax laws kick off January 1

    Tinubu doubles down: Nigeria’s new tax laws kick off January 1

    2025-12-31 08:00:00

    According to PUNCH, President Bola Tinubu said the new tax laws will begin on January 1, 2026, insisting the government is moving ahead despite lingering debate around implementation and potential pushback from some quarters.

    The presidency’s line is that the reforms are designed to modernise the tax system, widen the base, and improve collection efficiency—while reducing leakages and uncertainty that have long weakened fiscal planning.

    Officials also framed the rollout as part of a broader reform bundle meant to stabilise the economy and strengthen public finances, with the administration urging stakeholders to focus on execution rather than delay.

    Premium Times also reported Tinubu calling the reforms a “once-in-a-generation opportunity,” while Reuters quoted him saying “No substantial issue should cause us to renege on a programme that will benefit our economy.”

    Validation: Premium Times said “once-in-a-generation opportunity” and Reuters reported “No substantial issue should cause us to renege on a programme that will benefit our economy.”

    Echotitbits take: This is the kind of policy moment where the headline is easy, but the real story is implementation. Watch for the early guidance notes, compliance timelines, and how disputes (if any) are resolved without undermining confidence.

    Source: Lindaikejisblog — 31 December 2025 (https://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2025/12/president-tinubu-insists-new-tax-law-to-commence-january-1-2026.html)

    Lindaikejisblog 31 December 2025

    Photo Credit: Lindaikejisblog

  • FG prepares deployment of 7,000 forest guards across northern states

    FG prepares deployment of 7,000 forest guards across northern states

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-28 09:00:00

    In a report published by Punch, the federal government said thousands of newly recruited forest guard operatives have completed training ahead of deployment across northern states.

    The initiative is presented as part of a wider push to curb banditry and improve security in forested corridors often linked to armed groups.

    TheCable’s newspaper roundup said “7,000 newly recruited forest guards… have completed a three-month intensive training programme,” reflecting how multiple dailies framed the move as a new layer in the security architecture.

    Echotitbits take: The headline number is less important than command-and-control, rules of engagement, funding, and coordination with police, DSS and the military. Watch whether the programme becomes community-embedded intelligence—or just another uniformed layer with unclear accountability.

    Source: The Punch — December 27, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fg-to-deploy-7000-forest-guards-in-north/)

    The Punch 2025-12-27

  • FG’s Deficit Funding: N6.1trn Raised Locally in Six Months

    FG’s Deficit Funding: N6.1trn Raised Locally in Six Months

    Photo Credit: The Punch
    2025-12-25 09:10:00

    In a budget-performance update cited by The Punch, Nigeria’s federal government reportedly raised about N6.10 trillion from domestic sources in the first half of 2025 to help plug a wide fiscal gap. The report points to a deficit of roughly N5.70 trillion, with financing largely driven by local borrowing instruments.

    The same performance data indicates debt service pressure remains heavy, with large outflows to service obligations even as revenues lag spending needs. That combination—high deficits and high debt service—continues to compress fiscal space for social and capital priorities.

    The report also suggests the borrowing mix leaned heavily on bonds and other local issuances, reinforcing the concern that domestic credit may be crowded toward government paper instead of private-sector lending.

    Corroborating the same Budget Office picture, another outlet reported the government had to finance the deficit through “domestic borrowing… of N5.70tn” and proceeds including “privatisation… N64.92bn,” while a separate report noted “debt service was N4.44tn,” underscoring the weight of repayments in the fiscal structure.

    Echotitbits take: Nigeria’s deficit story is increasingly a debt-service story. Watch for (1) whether revenue reforms lift the non-oil base fast enough, and (2) whether domestic borrowing costs ease—because a sustained high-rate environment makes deficits more expensive and squeezes development spending.

    Source: The Punch — December 25, 2025 (https://punchng.com/budget-deficit-fg-raises-n6tn-locally-in-six-months/)

    The Punch 2025-12-25

  • Yule travel boost: FG temporarily opens Bodo–Bonny Road to ease movement

    Yule travel boost: FG temporarily opens Bodo–Bonny Road to ease movement

    Photo credit: The Punch

    2025-12-22 09:00:00

    According to *The Punch*, the Federal Government has temporarily opened the Bodo–Bonny Road corridor to ease movement for residents during the yuletide period, offering partial relief on a long-awaited route.

    The opening is being framed as a humanitarian and economic lift for communities whose travel and commerce have been constrained for years by difficult terrain and limited road access.

    Authorities say the temporary access is meant to improve safety and reduce travel bottlenecks, even as construction continues toward full completion.

    For residents and businesses, the real benefit is time-cost: faster transport can lower prices of goods, shorten emergency response times, and improve local trade flow.

    A Ministry of Information/official government release described the road as “temporarily opens, connecting communities and commerce,” while *The Guardian (Nigeria)* also reported the project as a major yuletide milestone and quoted the framing around safer travel on the legacy route.

    **Echotitbits take:** Temporary openings are good headlines—but the public will judge by durability. Watch the restrictions (hours/vehicle types), security presence, and whether the final completion timeline holds in early 2026.

    Source: The Punch — December 22, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fg-opens-bodo-bonny-road-ahead-of-yuletide/)

  • Insecurity: Labour unions plan nationwide street protest for Dec. 17

    Insecurity: Labour unions plan nationwide street protest for Dec. 17

    File photo: Troops — Punch Newspapers
    2025-12-13

    According to The Punch, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says it will stage a nationwide protest on December 17 to demand stronger action on insecurity and to push for better protection of lives and livelihoods.

    The union leadership argues that persistent attacks, kidnappings and community violence are undermining economic activity and deepening hardship, and it wants government to treat security as an urgent national emergency.

    Separate reports by Vanguard and TheCable also described the planned action and quoted labour leaders framing the protest as a pressure tool to compel a firmer security response, with Vanguard noting it was intended to be nationwide.

    Organised labour urged citizens to support peaceful mobilisation while calling on authorities to avoid heavy-handed responses that could inflame tensions.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: If labour follows through, the protest will be a real test of how the government is reading public frustration about insecurity. Watch for: (1) whether state chapters mobilise beyond major cities, (2) whether government announces fresh security measures ahead of the date, and (3) whether the protest expands into broader economic demands.

    Source: The Punch — 13 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/nlc-to-hold-nationwide-protest-over-insecurity-december-17/?amp)

  • Health Workers Vow to Sustain Strike Over Unmet Salary Demands

    Health Workers Vow to Sustain Strike Over Unmet Salary Demands

    Health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions have vowed to sustain their nationwide strike, accusing the Federal Government of dragging its feet on implementing a new Consolidated Health Salary Structure agreed since 2022. The unions argue that most of their welfare demands hinge on this single pay review.

    The industrial action has already forced public hospitals to scale down services, with many patients turned back or pushed to more expensive private facilities. Union leaders say they have shown patience but can no longer work under conditions they deem unfair and demotivating.

    Health-policy commentators warn that prolonged disruption will further erode trust in public hospitals and may worsen health outcomes, especially for poor Nigerians who rely solely on government facilities. They urge both sides to compromise quickly, noting that previous health-sector strikes have often ended with partial, delayed implementation of agreements.

    Source: Punch – “Health workers vow to continue strike”.

  • If they kill Gov Ortom, you’ll be responsible – Gov Wike to Buhari-led Government

    If they kill Gov Ortom, you’ll be responsible – Gov Wike to Buhari-led Government

    Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike Saturday warned that should his counterpart in Benue State, Governor Samule Ortom be killed, the Federal Government of Nigeria be ready for a civil war.

    The threat was coming after the alleged assassination attempt on the life of Governor Ortom by “herdsmen”.

    “The Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government would be held responsible if Governor Ortom is assassinated. If they kill Ortom, they should be prepared that there will be no more Nigeria. It could lead the nation to a civil war and they should be prepared to bury Nigeria.

    “This is not a first, during the 2019 elections the former General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Major General Jamil Sarham, and APC Chieftains had concluded plans to assassinate me.

    “We have gotten to such a low point where even incumbent Governors are brazenly threatened with death”, Governor Wike lamented.

    Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday condemned the attack on Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, describing it as “reckless” and an “assassination attempt”.

    Governor Ortom was attacked earlier on Saturday by suspected herdsmen while visiting a farm in Makurdi.

    But his security detail was able to repel them.

    Mr Ortom said he ran for “more than one and a half kilometres without stopping” to escape the assault.

    “The party calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to put machinery in motion by ordering an immediate manhunt, arrest and prosecution of the assailants and beef up security around the governor,” the PDP said in a statement signed by spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan.

    “The PDP expresses shock that the assailants trailed Governor Ortom and opened fire on him and his aides along Makurdi/Gboko road, in an attack that by every indication is aimed to assassinate the governor.

    “Our party is worried that this brazen attempt at Governor Ortom’s life is coming on the heels of his outspokenness in exposing those allegedly behind the incessant attacks of communities in the state and demanding that the Federal Government to live up to its responsibility on the protection of life and property in the state.

    “The PDP fears for the life of Governor Ortom and we urge Nigerians to hold the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration responsible over its failure to take a decisive step to check the escalated insecurity and brazen attacks on innocent Nigerians.

    “The PDP however calls on Governor Ortom not to be deterred by the attack but to remain courageous and at alert, at all times while providing leadership to the people of his state.

    “The party also calls on the people of Benue State to be calm and vigilant while providing useful information to security agencies to flush bandits and criminal elements out of the state and other parts of the country.”

  • With ASUU’s Victory over Unwilling FG, It’s Time to Reopen Public Universities in Nigeria, By Idowu Sowunmi

    With ASUU’s Victory over Unwilling FG, It’s Time to Reopen Public Universities in Nigeria, By Idowu Sowunmi

    After the usual government’s fudge and mudge for more than eight months, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has eventually been boxed into a corner and forcefully made to bend on its knees over avoidable confrontation with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    The recalcitrant stance of the Federal Government, insisting on using the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) as the only viable platform in paying the lecturers’ salaries and emoluments fell on its face.

    And ASUU won!

    The Federal Government did not just agree to pay the lecturers’ outstanding salaries using the old methods, the Buhari administration, like a ductile substance which is capable of being drawn into wire, was constrained to adopt ASUU’s alternative University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) for payment of salaries and others.

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    Not done, ASUU also succeeded in forcing the Federal Government to offer a cumulative sum of N65 billion to address earned academic allowances and revitalisation of universities.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, said a sum of N15 billion from the amount offered by the government would be used to revitalise the universities.

    The minister added that the fund was in addition to N20 billion paid earlier, making it a total of N35 billion committed as revitalisation fund by the government.

    Reacting to the development, ASUU said: “The negotiation between the Federal Government and ASUU today (November 20) yielded very good results.

    “The government has agreed to use the old platform before IPPS to pay all withheld salaries.

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    “UTAS is still undergoing usability test.

    “On revitalisation, the government offered N15 billion in addition to the N20 billion pledged earlier.

    “ASUU would now consult with its council and then get back to the government in a short while to make their final intention known; if the strike will be suspended or not.”

    Sure, our lecturers have upperhand now and they are expected to return to classes after eight months of avoidable disruption.

    It’s hoped that going forward the Federal Government would make enough room for effective dialogue to take its primacy, so as to avoid future disruption of this magnitude.

  • Nigerian Senate Warns Government of Another Protest if Needs Aren’t Met

    Nigerian Senate Warns Government of Another Protest if Needs Aren’t Met

    The Nigerian Senate has warned the Buhari-led Federal Government to dedicate a substantial part of the 2021 budget to create employment opportunities, reduce poverty and ensure food security for Nigerians or risk another agitation similar to the recent EndSARS protest by Nigerian youth.

    The warning was sounded by Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture Abudullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West) during the 2021 budget defence session by the Minister of Agriculture, Sabo Nanono, in Abuja.

    The “abysmally low” budget allocation to the agricultural sector in past years was decried.

    Senate President Lawan affirmed agriculture as a potential job creation vehicle.

    In his advise, Lawan said the Federal Government (FG) ought to be “practical and radical” in applying its resources to address the urgent needs of the masses.

    “Recently, we had some of our youths protesting genuinely. They were seeking the attention of leaders and they got the attention of leaders.

    “So, our budget, especially for 2021 should be mindful of what we do to provide employment opportunities for these youths.

    “They demonstrated and protested because they could do so, there are so many other people who may not be youthful but are also in the same need and they didn’t protest.

    “Let’s meet them where they are. We don’t have to wait until they also start to grumble or protest.

    “We should be proactive, we should reach them and most of them are in the rural areas and give them what we can and what they need to some extent within the purview of our resources and keep them there to live a productive life and that is the only way that we can make a difference in the lives of the people.

    “And for us, elected people, we are going to be accountable. If we escape this one (#EndSARS protests), the other one is inescapable and I am sure people will know what I am saying”, he said.

    Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture, Abudullahi Adamu also lamented that despite the Maputo declaration that stipulates 10 per cent of national budgets should go to agriculture, the FG’s 2021 allocation to the agricultural sector is less than two per cent of the N13.8 trillion total appropriation.

    “In 2021, the sector (agriculture) witnessed a slight increase with a total allocation of N139,458, 322,208.00.

    “Over the years, the sector’s allocation has been abysmally low, a far cry from the Maputo declaration which states that a country should allocate at least 10 per cent of their national budget to the agricultural sector.

    “This year’s budget proposal only allocated less than two per cent to the agricultural sector.

    “The sector’s N139,458,322,208.00 is broken down as follows: Personnel – N68,031,135,074.00, overhead – N3,186,608,895.00, capital – N110,240,253,439.00”, Adamu said.

    The Minister of Agriculture, Nanono however argued that the agricultural sector recorded meaningful progress in 2020 and remains one of the fastest growing sectors in the country.

    He regrettably admitted the current budgetary allocations for the sector has been low.

  • MSMEs Survival Fund: FG Pays N30,000 to 333,000 Artisans

    MSMEs Survival Fund: FG Pays N30,000 to 333,000 Artisans

    As part of the Federal Government’s Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP), a total number of 333,000 artisans across the country has been paid the sum of N30,000 one-time grant.

    This was disclosed in statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr Laolu Akande, who explained that the payments were made to verified beneficiaries of the Artisan Support Scheme, which is implemented under the MSMEs Survival Fund.

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    The first stream of payments, which started on Tuesday, included beneficiaries from the FCT, Lagos, Ondo, Kaduna, Borno, Kano, Bauchi, Anambra, Abia, Rivers, Plateau and Delta States. The paid beneficiaries from the first batch of the applications for the scheme submitted between October 1 and October 10.

    The MSMEs Survival Fund scheme is a component of the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP), which was developed and implemented by an Economic Sustainability Committee established by President Muhammadu Buhari in March 2020, and headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

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    The ESP-Survival Fund is aimed at supporting the vulnerable MSMEs and averting job losses in the face of the coronavirus pandemic that has created critical economic shocks across the globe.

    States under Stream 2 include Edo, Ogun, Ekiti, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Enugu, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Taraba, Bayelsa