Politics
Expert Makes Case For Rivers Neighbourhood Watch
A security expert and social commentator, Charles Inko-Tariah, has backed the formation of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Watch Agency by the incumbent administration of Governor Nyesom Wike, saying proper take off of the outfit would lead to crime reduction in the state.
This is as he said that recent comments by President Muhammadu Buhari calling for more community involvement in security is a vindication of the formation of the Neighbourhood Watch.
Inko-Tariah, who stated this when he appeared as guest on a Radio programme in Port Harcourt monitored by The Tide said that the President’s comment that neighbourhood watches were not enough to stem the tide of crime across the country suggest that he implicitly supports such outfits.
He said, “The President was on national television and he was asked one of the challenges of insecurity in the country. He (Buhari) confirmed that it is because there were not enough neighbourhood security watches and he seek the Nigerian populace to bring forth information for the security to operate effectively.
“That vindicates the formation of neighbourhood watch in Rivers State. If Neighbourhood Watch takes off effectively in the state, you will see a proper demobilization of the proliferation of firearms among our young men,” Inko-Tariah stated.
While reacting to the recent declaration of tough times for criminal and criminal gangs in the state by Governor Wike said the security agencies would work with the Neighbourhood Watch when the latter’s operation kicks off, even as he expressed the optimism that the step in ensuring the operationalizing of the outfit would help allay fears amongst people and reduce insecurity in the state.
“What the Neighbourhood Watch would have to do is to do stakeholder engagement. Bring in the security arms together and make your programmes clear to them.
“Enable them ask questions to allay there fears where necessary. Let them know your operational modules and design on how it intends to operate. That will create an integration to the security forces together. And when they come together you The Peoples’ Democratic Party in Rivers State has said that last Wednesday’s second term inauguration of Governor Nyesom Wike is the outcome of overwhelming support of Rivers people to him, assuring that the governor will consolidate on his achievements.
The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Darlington Orji who gave the assurance during a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, expressed happiness over the governor’s performance in his first term.
Dennis Naku
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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