Politics
Speaker Hails Lawmaker Over Constituency Project
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, has described the lawmaker representing Bonny Constituency in the state legislature as a practical politician that is passionate about the development of his constituency.
Hon Amachree gave this indication last Saturday in Bonny while commissioning the Finima Youth Centre built by Hon. Aye Pepple as part of his constituency project in the area.
The speaker who was represented by the House Committee Chairman on Information and Training Hon. Onari Brown, said Hon. Aye was representing his constituent well because he is a strong voice in the Assembly and has attracted the attention of the government to Bonny.
He explained that since the former speaker and now Governor of the state Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi introduced constituency projects which the National Assembly had also adopted, politicians like Hon. Aye Pepple have utilised the opportunity to affect the lives of their constituents positively.
Hon. Brown, hinted that the Bonny lawmaker in the House had done many projects to his credit and commended him for identifying with the problems of his people, adding that it was a mark of a good politician to keep to promises.
The speaker’s representative, urged the youths to see the centre as a place to generate positive ideas, peace and not for rancour, while tasking them on the maintenance of the structure.
Hon Brown who also represents Akuku-Toru Constituency I, advised the youths of the area not to allow the intrigues of the multi national companies in their area to divide them but work cooperatively in unity of purpose.
Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, Hon. Edward Pepple lauded the lawmaker for the vision to embark on projects that have direct bearing on the youths, stressing that building institution that would strengthen the future of the youths remains a worthy venture.
Edward Pepple called on the youths to use the project to improve themselves for a better tomorrow, emphasising that the planned youth summit would lead to an economic summit pioneered by the council.
Earlier, the lawmaker representing Bonny in the State Assembly, Hon. Aye Pepple, said the project was part of his contribution to assist the youths of Finima as a promise made during the electioneering campaign, noting that the fulfillment has shown that politics today is a game of integrity.
The lawmaker picked holes on the attitude of multi national companies operating in the area, pointing out that he would be facilitating a youth summit soon to tackle some of the challenges confronting the development of youths in the area.
The occasion was also used to inaugurate a 5 member constituency football cup competition committee with additional one as representative each from each of the twelve wards that make up Bonny.
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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