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Senate Summons Sanusi Over Comments On NASS

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15 years ago

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The Nigerian Senate has summoned the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi along with the Minister of Finance to appear before four of its committees over the CBN Governor’s claim that federal lawmakers are taking 25 per cent of the government’s recurrent expenditure.

Sanusi, delivering a convocation lecture at Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State at the weekend, said: “If you look at the budget, the bulk of government spending is revenue; revenue expenditure. That is a big problem. 25 per cent of overhead of the federal government goes to the National Assembly.”

The decision was taken during a plenary session where 29 senators voted that the CBN governor must appear before its Banking and Finance committee and others for what was claimed to be a public misinformation when the CBN governor was said to have made public statements regarding the spending of the National Assembly.

Senators had on Monday described the CBN Governor’s claim as mischievous.

All the senators who spoke yesterday complained about the statements made by the CBN governor and the Minister of Finance, said it was wrong for a public official, especially one in the level of CBN governor to issue such kind of statement against the parliament.

Yesterday, House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole said he hoped Sanusi had been misquoted because his comment, according to him, was off the mark.

Speaking at the University of Lagos Monday, Bankole said: “Nigeria’s budget is N4.3 trillion. The National Assembly got N100 billion. How has that translated to 25 per cent?

“I know that over four years ago, the budget of the CBN was over N200 billion. I’m praying that Sanusi has been misquoted. Some of us in politics went to school.”

Senate spokesman Ayogu Eze while addressing journalists yesterday said: “It is an unfounded allegation that 25 per cent of the recurrent overhead budget of the federation goes to the National Assembly. I find that rather very curious in the sense that even before going to the press, the respective newspapers should have pulled a copy of the amended approved budget for the year and do the calculation.

“This was not the case and some of the newspapers this morning (yesterday); some were giving the indication that the National Assembly has crippled the economy. That the National Assembly takes 25 per cent of the entire budget of the federation.

“I want to state categorically that it is not true. The total budget figure for the year 2010 as amended is N4, 427, 184, 596, 534. That is the entire budget of the federation. And the entire budget of the National Assembly, including the Senate, the House of Reps, the National Assembly Service Commission, our legislative aides and all the entire current and capital expenditure for the year 2010 is N158, 916, 167, 627.

“If you reduce this to mathematics, what we have is N4.427 trillion for the entire federation and what the National Assembly gets is N0.158 trillion, which is 3.5 percent of the entire budget of the federation. So, where did the Mathematics of the 25 per cent come from?”

Eze said: “I think that this is not only mischievous but calculated to tarnish the image and reputation of the National Assembly, and it is part of the orchestrated assault, verbal and sometimes physical, against the National Assembly by some misinformed people who do not wish the National Assembly well. Otherwise, I do not see how that kind of figure can be bandied about by the Governor of the Central Bank.

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.
Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.
He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper,  7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.
He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin.  This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.
“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education.   We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”
Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic,  “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.
The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.
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Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council  trains tra 1,000 teachers

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.
This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies
The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.
He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.
Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.
“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.
“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.
Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.
He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.
 Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo
Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.
He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.
He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.
According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.
Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.
She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa
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RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

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6 days ago

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November 24, 2025

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The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.

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