N206bn Budget Controversy: “Finance Minister’s submissions, satisfactory” | The News Roundup

Alleged N206bn Budget Padding: Senate exonerates Finance Minister

The Senate has exonerated the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, from allegations of inserting N206 billion into the proposed 2023 budget of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

According to the Minister, “most of these sums are bilateral or multilateral loans captured in the budget of agencies selected for projects execution for sole purpose of transparency.”

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Jibrin Barau (APC Kano North), in expressing satisfaction with the Minister’s clarifications, commended her for ensuring transparency with capturing of such loans or grants in the budget.

According to the Niger Police Command in a statement released on Monday, ”additional facts in the course of investigation indicate that  “the hoodlums suspected that he could be at home, having attended a coronation ceremony at Kagara on the same date and to possibly kidnap him.”

The suspects said they were hinted that the lawmaker was travelling to Niger State for the coronation and presentation of Staff of Office to the Emir of Kagara by one Sherrif now at large.

“My government’ll not abandon any of Oyetola’s projects”  – Governor Adeleke 

Osun Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Monday, pledged that his government will not abandon any of the projects embarked on by the previous administration of his predecessor, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

Adeleke, who stated this during an unusual visit to the All Progressives Congress(APC)-led State House of Assembly to solicit their support and extend a hand of friendship to them, also promised an all-inclusive government that would ensure no one in the state is cheated. 

“Under my leadership, be rest assured that this Assembly will support your administration according to best global practices. Also, it is important that your administration continue to uphold the rule of law and principles of fair hearing. Any deviation from this path may lead to a State of anarchy and crisis,” Speaker Timothy Owoeye said in response.

2023 Budget: Governor Akeredolu presents N272.736 Billion proposal to Ondo Assembly

Ondo Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has presented a budget proposal of N272.736 Billion for the 2023 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.

According to the budget presented before the State lawmakers on Monday during a plenary sitting, N143.511 billion was budgeted for capital expenditure and N129.224 billion for recurrent expenditure.

Tagged ‘Budget of Shared Prosperity,’  the proposal is higher than that of the total projected budget outlay for the 2022 Fiscal year which was N199,282,437 billion.

The Nigerian Navy has cleared the air on reports claiming that its official accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of insincerity and exaggeration of oil theft figures during a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on the Economic and Financial Crimes.

According to the Military outfit,  its representative at the Senate hearing repeatedly mentioned that the Navy is not indicting the NNPCL in any way and has been working with the National Oil Giant to curb the menace of crude oil theft since 1 April 2022 when Operation DAKATAR DA BARAWO (OPDDB) was launched in Onne, Rivers State.

“The first set of naval personnel to soon commence this task were sponsored by NNPCL and trained in the UAE and at Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State. There is thus a harmonious working relationship between the Nigerian Navy and NNPCL. The general public is thus requested to disregard the misrepresented report,” a statement by the Navy’s Director of Information, Ayo Vaughan, read.