Politics
Lawmaker Gets Kudos For Constituency Project
Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State House of Assembly, has commended a member representing Ogu/Bolo constituency, in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Maureen Tamuno for the completion of a civic centre in her constituency.
The civic centre nominated by Hon Maureen Tamuno into the 2009 budget was among other constituency projects constructed for the people of the area by the present administration in the state.
Governor Amaechi made the commendation during the commissioning of the civic centre in the area.
The state chief executive represented on the occasion by Senator Sekibo Thompson George, said the project has given a face lift to the Ogu community.
He described the project as a monumental edifice that would stand fall in the history of the community adding that, the commissioning of the civic centre is a glaring indication of the present administration’s commitment to the development of every local government area in the state.
The state governor thanked the state lawmaker for ensuring that her electioneering promised to the people were fulfilled and urged other state lawmakers to emulate the leadership qualities of Lady Tamuno by ensuring that they lived up to their responsibilities for their various constituencies.
He described Lady Tamuno as an asset to the state noting that the lawmaker has been able to do what many politicians could not do within a short period in office.
“Let me tell you, there is no limitation in politics and no going back in the game, as long as you are in. Those who are committed to the people’s heart never have enemies in politics”, he said.
The governor urged the people of Ogu community to continue to give support to their leaders at all times assuring that the good relationship existing between the executive and the legislature would be sustained, so as to attract more developmental strides to our various rural communities in the state.
Also speaking, the Ogu/Bolo local government council secretary, Mr Feberesima who represented the council chairman opined that the lawmaker has represented the people very well within the short period in office.
The council secretary thanked the lawmaker for the choice of the project in the area adding that the project has lifted the community high among its environs even as he urged the state legislator not to renage in her good representation of the people at the state level.
Responding, a member representing Ogu/Bolo in the state, House of Assembly, Hon Maureen Tamuno, said that the commissioned constituency project has added more joy to her and the people in her constituency.
She thanked God for making the day a reality, the chiefs, men, women, youths and the entire people of Ogu community for their support given to her to complete the project adding that without their approval and support, it would have been difficult to complete the project as scheduled.
The lawmaker urged them to continue to give peace a chance in the area so that sustainable development could be attained in the area, even as she promised to continue in her effort to ensure that more developmental projects are provided to the people.
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.
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