Politics
Amaechi Tours, Woos Electorate For APC
Activities in Government House continued on stray
note last week. On Sunday, November 23, 2014, Governor Chibuike Amaechi worshipped at St Mathias Cathedral Okomoko-Etche where he participated at, the church’s adult harvest thanksgiving service.
He used the church service to commend the people of Etche for supporting his administration. According to him, “Etche people cannot talk of marginalization. Please look at the rate of development in your community and support us”.
The governor however promised to fix the Umuchen / Chokocho road which is currently in a deplorable state. Even though the road is a federal route, he assured that state government would rehabilitate it to reduce the plight of the people in the area.
On Monday, Governor Amaechi went to the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) to sensitize students on the upcoming permanent voters card collection (PVC). During the question and answer session the governor announced plans by state government to remove discriminatory fees.
He also directed the vice chancellor of the university, Prof Barineme Fakae to commence the completion of the moot court for the faculty of law.
On Tuesday, the governor visited the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education at Rumuolemeni campus.
He used the forum to apologies for the poor state of Rumulemeni road and promised that government will complete the road before the exit of his administration.
Amaechi explained the decision of his government to adopt a non-discriminatory fees posture in the state. According to him, the vision of the administration is to ensure that both the poor and the rich have access to quality education. The Rivers State governor, however, tasked the students to ensure they collect their permanent voters card so that they can exercise their rights of franchise.
On Wednesday, Governor Amaechi began tour of Omuma Local Government Area, But before the visit to Omuma, he and other delegates for the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention received the party’s presidential hopeful, Gen Muhamadu Buhari (rtd).
Buhari informed the delegates that his visit was part of his nationwide tour to woo members of the party who will participate at the convention this December to elect a candidate who will bear the partys flag in the presidential elections next year.
Governor Amaechi who responded on behalf of the party in Rivers State assured the former Head of state that Rivers delegates will not collect money from any of the candidates, but rather vote their conscience. “If Buhari will bring money, we will reject it. If Atiku will bring money, we will also reject it”, he said.
Later on Wednesday, the Rivers State Chief Executive toured about six wards in Omuma local government area to sensitise the people on the need to participate in the permanent voter’s card collection.
The governor paid a courtesy call to Onye Isi Aguru Omuma, HRH Monday Ojiegbe, where he was bestowed a chieftaincy title of “Ogbanudike Izuzu of Omuma.” He later visited wards 1, 3, 5, 6, and 2 and promised to complete abandoned schools and health centres in the area.
On Thursday the governor was engaged in marathon party meetings with stakeholders after the announcement on Wednesday of APC guber aspirant Hon Dukuku Peterside.
On Friday the governor made a statewide broadcast, urging the citizenry to participate in the PVC collection to enable them vote in next year’s elections. From there, he proceeded to ward 8 in Ubima to collect his permanent voters card, and urged INEC to sustain the tempo. He flew to Akwa-Ibom to participate in APC rally in the state the sameday.
Politics
Senate Receives Tinubu’s 2026-2028 MTEF/FSP For Approval
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.
Politics
Withdraw Ambassadorial List, It Lacks Federal Character, Ndume Tells Tinubu
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.
Politics
PDP Vows Legal Action Against Rivers Lawmakers Over Defection
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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