Politics
Amaechi Pledges Support For Widows Of Dead Soldiers
Campaign activities dominated activities in Govern
ment House last week, only on Thursday did the governor observe a break to honour the nation’s fallen heroes when he participated in the Armed Forces, Remembrance Day Celebrations.
Early in the week, Governor Chibuike Amaechi and other chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign train visited Owerri, capital of Imo State.
The penultimate week, the Buhari Presidential campaign had visited Enugu and Ebonyi states. But as at last weekend, the campaign had covered Edo and Anambra states.
Governor Amaechi returned to the state on Thursday to participate in the closing ceremony of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day. The Governor, his deputy, Tele Ikuru, security chiefs and chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Giniwa, were among those that laid wreath at the cenotaph of the unknown soldier, at Boro Park in Port Harcourt.
After the ceremony, the governor through the Secretary to the State Governor, Mr George Feyii addressed Legionnaires in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor said the State Government deeply appreciated the sacrifice made by members of the armed forces, saying the freedom and unity being enjoyed today in the country was as a result of hardwork and effort of the armed forces.
Amaechi, therefore, pledged to address the plight of widows and relatives of dead soldiers, while assuring that requests made by the state chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Col (Rtd) Philemon Chinda for loans and pilgrimage slots to members would be addressed.
On his part, Col. Philemon Chinda thanked the state government for its assistance and support, while using the occasion to seek for the construction of a permanent secretariat for the body.
Chairperson, widows of Ex-Servicemen in the state, Mrs Anidima Pepple challenged government to come to their aid. She pleaded that the State Government should provide loans, scholarships and other assistance to reduce the plight of relatives of ex-servicemen.
Shortly after addressing ex-servicemen as part of activities making the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, the governor headed straight to the State House of Assembly to present the state’s 2015 budget.
According to Governor Amaechi, the State is to expend about N335 billion, about 30 per cent less than that of 2014. He used the occasion to enumerate the achievements recorded in last year’s budget, which included increased employment, better infrastructure, better educational and health facilities.
A breakdown of the budget indicates that among the sectors, the economic sector got the largest chunk of N31.77 billion, social sector had N17.69 billion.
Among the different Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Works had the largest allocation of N20.3 billion, followed by Education, N10 billion, Rivers Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), N10 billion.
The governor stated that the monorail project will be pursued to aid transportation in the city and further promised that the administration will not leave financial burden, as the budget will complete ongoing projects.
The Senate yesterday received the 2026-2028 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper from President Bola Tinubu, marking the formal launch of the 2026 federal budget cycle.
In a letter addressed to the upper chamber, Tinubu said the submission complies with statutory requirements and sets out the fiscal parameters that will guide the preparation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
He explained that the MTEF/FSP outlines the macroeconomic assumptions, revenue projections, and spending priorities that will shape Nigeria’s fiscal direction over the next three years.
The letter was read during plenary by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who urged lawmakers to expedite consideration of the document.
“It is with pleasure that I forward the 2026 to 2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper for the kind consideration and approval of the Senate.
“The 2026 to 2028 MTEF and FSP were approved during the Federal Executive Council meeting of December 3, 2025, and the 2026 budget of the Federal Government will be prepared based on the parameters and fiscal assumptions therein,” the President stated.
Last week, the Federal Executive Council approved the fiscal projections, pegging the oil benchmark price at $64.85 per barrel and adopting a budget exchange rate of ?1,512/$1 for 2026—figures expected to significantly shape revenue forecasts and expenditure planning.
After reading the President’s letter, Jibrin referred the document to the Senate Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), with a directive to submit its report by Wednesday, December 17.
The Senate adjourned shortly after to allow committees to commence scrutiny of the fiscal framework and continue the ongoing screening of ambassadorial nominees.
Tinubu’s communication to the Senate came less than 24 hours after he transmitted the same MTEF/FSP documents to the leadership of the House of Representatives.
The letter was read on the House floor by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who also urged timely legislative action as required by law.
The MTEF and FSP are statutory instruments mandated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act and serve as the blueprint for Nigeria’s annual budgets.
They outline the government’s fiscal stance, macroeconomic assumptions, revenue frameworks, projected deficits, and sectoral priorities over a three-year period.
The Tide reports that approval by the National Assembly is a prerequisite for the executive to present the Appropriation Bill for the next fiscal year.
In a statement on Saturday, the former Senate Leader stated that the allocation of nominees across states and geopolitical zones falls short of the constitutional requirement for fair representation in the composition of the Federal Government.
The ex-Senate Whip warned that allowing the list to pass could deepen ethnic suspicion at a time when the administration should be consolidating national unity.
He highlighted disparities in the spread of nominees, noting that while some states have three or four slots, others have none. He also cited the inclusion of Senator Adamu Garba Talba from Yobe, who reportedly died in July.
“The entire North-East states have seven nominees in the list. Further checks revealed that the South-West geo-political zone has 15 nominees, while North-West and South-East have 13 and 9, respectively.
“North-Central region has 10 nominees in the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominee while South-South parades 12 nominees,” Senator Ndume said.
According to him, such imbalances could heighten tensions and undermine Section 14(3) of the Constitution.
“My sincere appeal to President Tinubu is to withdraw this list. At this critical juncture in his administration, he should avoid missteps that could undermine national unity and foster ethnic distrust.
“I know him to be a cosmopolitan leader who is at home with every segment and stakeholder in the country. He should withdraw that list and present a fresh set of nominees that will align with the spirit of the Constitution on the Federal Character Principle,” Senator Ndume added.
He accused the legislators of undermining the sanctity of the legislature and acting as instruments of destabilization.
“The members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have, by their actions since they assumed office, shown that they are political puppets and a clog in the wheels of democratic progress,” Comrade Ememobong stated, adding that “They will go down in history as enemies of democracy and those who made mockery of the legislature.”
“So the easiest way to describe their action is a defection from APC to APC,” he said.
Comrade Ememobong announced that the party would deploy constitutional provisions to reclaim its mandate from those who have “ignobly and surreptitiously” abandoned the platform on which they were elected.
“Consequently, the PDP will take legal steps to activate the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to recover the mandate gained under the banner of our party which these people have now switched to another platform,” he said.
He urged party members in Rivers State to remain calm and steadfast.
“We urge all party members in Rivers State to remain faithful and resolute, as efforts are underway to rebuild the party along the path of inclusiveness, fairness and equity,” Comrade Ememobong assured.
