The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has strongly criticised the recent removal of Senator Ali Ndume as the Senate’s Chief Whip, accusing the Senate under Senator Godswill Akpabio’s leadership of stifling dissent and undermining democratic representation. In a statement by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, CISLAC condemned Ndume’s removal, stating that it demonstrates a trend of silencing …

The National Assembly on Wednesday passed for second reading an Executive Bill seeking to tax the windfall made by banks from foreign exchange business. The bill is an amendment to the Finance Act of 2023. The one-time tax will be used to finance capital infrastructure development, education, healthcare and other welfare initiatives, according to the Federal Government. Another Executive Bill …

Last Thursday’s judgement by the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to local government councils marks a significant shift in the country’s governance structure, aiming to reduce the influence of state governors over local administrations, public affairs expert has said. In a statement on Monday, Founder/Chief Strategist of The Rainbow Strategy, Mr. Franklyn Ginger-Eke, the judgement was a bold decision on local …

The Lagos State House of Assembly has invited the Attorney-General of the State, Mr. Lawal Pedro, to appear before it to explain the Supreme Court judgement on local governments in the country. In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Eromosele Ebhomele, the lawmakers said there was a need for …

The Chief Justice of Nigerian (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has vowed to deal ruthlessly with errant and controversial judges who are fond of giving what he called an “unpalatable cocktail of misleading and conflicting judgments”. He insisted that, “your conduct and disposition must tally with the yearnings and aspirations of the generality of the citizenry”. Justice Ariwoola handed down the …

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Kayode Ariwoola has urged judicial officers to remain faithful to the law, the Constitution and their oath of office in the discharge of their responsibilities. He also warned them against unethical practices. Justice Ariwoola spoke yesterday at the oath taking ceremony of 22 new justices of the Appeal Court and 12 judges of the …

The House of Representatives Special Ad Hoc Committee on Restructuring of Government Agencies and Commission has commenced the process of reviewing the recommendations of the Steve Oronsanye Report. The report, aimed at reducing the cost of governance through merging, scrapping and relocation of some departments and agencies of government, was submitted to the Federal Government in 2012. The report on …

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, disclosed plans by the National Assembly to establish an ultra-modern medical centre for senators, members of the House of Representatives and staffers of the federal parliament. Akpabio made the disclosure in his address to welcome his colleagues back from the Eid-El-Kabir holidays. He said the planned hospital would be constructed in such a …

A former governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Abuja, Justice John Tsoho to transfer his trial in alleged money laundering to Lokoja. Bello, who completed his two year tenure of eight years last 27 January, said that he preferred to be arraigned in Lokoja, the state capital, being the …

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, on Tuesday, fixed 21 October for the continuation of the trial of a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele. The trial judge, Justice Hamza Muazu, fixed the date on the agreement of the counsel after the close of the cross-examination of the ninth prosecution witness, …