The National Vice President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone F, Comrade Opaka Dokubo, has urged the newly elected State Working Committee (SWC) members of the Delta State Council of the NUJ to embrace inclusive governance, strengthen internal communication and address differences promptly through constructive engagement.

Dokubo gave the charge during a meeting with the new leadership of the NUJ in Delta State following their successful election in Asaba, last week.

The NUJ Vice President in charge of the South South region stressed that diversity of opinion should strengthen, rather than divide the union, calling on the executive to promote teamwork, carry members along and place collective interests above personal differences.

Also addressing the new union leaders, the Chief Press Secretary to the Delta State  Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, called on the newly inaugurated SWC to prioritise peace, unity and professional responsibility while strengthening its working relationship with the state  government.

Ahon emphasized that internal cohesion was essential to effective union leadership, the protection of journalists’ interests and the council’s contribution to the development of the state.

He said Governor Oborevwori holds the NUJ and its members in high esteem, recognising the important role of journalism in promoting accountability, information dissemination and advancing democratic governance.

He called for closer synergy between the press and government, stressing the need for unity, love, respect amongst members and mutual cooperation in the collective interest of the State.

The Chief Press Secretary assured the NUJ of the government’s continued partnership and support for its activities and welfare, urging the new leadership to sustain the cordial relationship with the government while upholding the ethics of the profession.

He further urged the executive to resolve its disagreements, if any, through dialogue, mutual respect and understanding, warning against avoidable crises that could undermine the unity and progress of the council.

Similarly, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Comrade Nkem Nwaeke, appealed to members to close ranks and work together to strengthen the union, advance journalists’ welfare and enhance its capacity to represent the profession effectively.

In his response, the re-elected Chairman of the NUJ in Delta State, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, described his re-election as an act of divine providence and pledged to run an inclusive administration anchored on unity, collaboration and the welfare of members.

Oyowe commended the Delta State Government for its support to the union and promised to work closely with other members of the executive while ensuring that all members of the union in the State were carried along in the affairs of the council.

He called for all hands to be on deck, noting that the success of his administration would depend on their collective commitment to peace, responsible leadership and the advancement of the journalism profession.

The Presidency has refuted a claim by the Oyo State Governor and presidential candidate of the Allied People’s Movement in the 2027 general election, Seyi Makinde, in which the latter alleged that the Federal Government was withholding ?250 billion per State dividend from the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG).

In a State House statement issued yesterday by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency described the governor’s claim as false and said “it should be disregarded.”

Makinde had, at the 2027 Budget Stakeholders’ Consultative Engagement held at the Olola Ogunlana Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, last Friday, alleged that the funds would not be released until after the 2027 elections.

Makinde alleged, “Each state was supposed to get ?250 billion. We had already identified projects that would expand Oyo State’s economy. But they have now said the money will not be paid until after the election. Is the election more important than the people of Nigeria?”

In response, Onanuga said that “Makinde’s latest claim that the Federal Government is withholding the NLNG dividend windfall is false and should be disregarded.”

The statement read in part, “The Presidency wishes to clarify Governor Seyi Makinde’s claim that the Federal Government is withholding ?250 billion in NLNG dividends for each state of the Federation.

“At the 2027 Budget Stakeholders’ Consultative Engagement held at the Olola Ogunlana Hall, International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, on Friday, Makinde claimed the funds would not be released until after the 2027 elections. He further claimed that the Federal Government had spent the money.

“Makinde’s latest claim that the Federal Government is withholding the NLNG dividend windfall is false and should be disregarded.”

The Presidency affirmed that the “NLNG has never paid $25 billion in dividends to the Federation Account in a single payout.”

“Here are the facts the public should know about how the Federation Account is managed and how money is shared among the three tiers of government.

“Even as a one-off distribution, ?250 billion to each of the 36 states amounts to ?9.0 trillion, excluding the Federal Government, the FCT, and the 774 local councils.

“Under the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) formula, states receive 26.72% of the distributable Federation Account revenue. For the states’ share alone to reach ?9 trillion, total NLNG dividends paid into the Federation Account would have to exceed ?33.68 trillion (about $25 billion) in a single declaration,” the statement added.

Based on history, the Presidency stated, “NLNG has paid approximately $21.5 billion in dividends to the Federation over the last 25 years, with less than $3 billion realised since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office.

“Therefore, any claim that a single payout exceeds the company’s entire lifetime distribution to the Federation—and is being withheld—defies basic logic and economic reality.

“We expect Governor Makinde to be more measured in his public conduct and utterances. Since he embarked on his presidential bid, he has chosen to play politics by making misleading claims rather than presenting verifiable facts. Indeed, he has turned false, unguarded statements and claims into an art form.

“He once described the huge financial flow from the federation account to states, including Oyo, as ‘voodoo’.”

The statement stressed that according to the nation’s Constitution, Makinde has the freedom to “pursue” his presidential ambition, but it urged the APM presidential candidate to “desist from making falsehoods and disinformation the hallmarks of his campaign.

“We urge the public to disregard these unfounded claims, which serve only to mislead citizens and stoke needless disaffection against the Federal authorities.”

The Federal Government has faulted the revenue figures contained in the World Bank’s latest Nigeria Development Update, dismissing concerns that rising interest payments threaten the country’s debt sustainability.

The Federal Ministry of Finance described reports that interest payments consumed 124 per cent of the FG’s revenue in the first half of 2026 as misleading, arguing that the calculation relied on incomplete revenue figures and failed to account for debt obligations serviced on behalf of state governments.

The ministry made its position known yesterday in a statement which was shared by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, via his X handle.

According to the statement, Nigeria’s fiscal position had improved significantly, with government revenue growing faster than interest payments.

It stated, “The Federal Ministry of Finance has noted recent analysis and public commentary which, citing the World Bank’s October 2026 Nigeria Development Update, claims that Federal Government interest payments reached 124 per cent of revenue in the first half of 2026. This conclusion is misleading, for three reasons.”

The clarification followed reports based on the World Bank’s October 2026 Nigeria Development Update, which disclosed that the FG’s revenue stood at N6.2 trillion in the first half of 2026, while interest payments reached N7.7 trillion.

The Federal Government argued that the calculation compared obligations covering multiple tiers of government with revenue attributed solely to the Federal Government.

“The interest figure includes debt the Federal Government services on behalf of other tiers of government, including external loans to states. Measuring this against federal revenue alone overstates the ratio, which is only meaningful when debt and revenue cover the same level of government,” it claimed.