Economy & Politics
National Assembly ready to pass 2021 Budget before end of 2020 – Senate President
The National Assembly has assured Nigerians of its readiness to pass the 2021 budget before the end of the year.
The National Assembly has declared that it is set to pass the 2021 Appropriation Bill before the end of 2020.
This was disclosed by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, in his opening remarks before President Muhammadu Buhari was called to lay the budget before the joint session of the two chambers.
READ: Full texts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2021 Budget speech
He said, “The National Assembly is ready to pass the 2021 budget before the end of the year, by the grace of God.
“I thank members of the National Assembly for fulfilling that promise, by working assiduously towards achieving that promise, and the same vigor would be applied to the 2021 Appropriation Bill when it is presented.”
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President of the Senate, His Excellency, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan welcomes the President to the National Assembly for the presentation of the #FGNBudget2021. He recalls the presentation of the 2020 budget around this time last year and the promise to return to the Jan-Dec budget cycle
— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 8, 2020
If achieved, the feat would not be the first for the National Assembly, as the parliament promised to pass the 2020 budget before the year ended, which was achieved.
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Economy & Politics
Buhari in crucial meeting with Obasanjo, other former heads of state
President Buhari is presiding over a National Security Council meeting with some former heads of state and some security chiefs.
President Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over a National Security Council meeting with some former heads of state and some security chiefs.
READ: Obasanjo opens garment factory, competes with Nike Art Gallery, Sam & Sara
Although the agenda of the meeting is not made public, issues bothering on the current security situation in the country are believed to top the agenda. This follows the outbreak of violence across the country during the protest against police brutality and extra-judicial killings, which has led to the loss of lives and destruction of public assets and private properties.
READ: Update: Buhari seeks power to freeze accounts, clamp down on money launderers
According to media reports, the meeting which is coordinated from the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, has in virtual attendance General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.), former President Goodluck Jonathan and former head of interim national government, Chief Ernest Shonekan.
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Others who are physically present at the council chambers are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd.); Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olanisakin; Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Director-General, Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi; and Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Rufai, among others are attending with the President.
READ: #EndSARS: Buhari holds National Security Council meeting with Osinbajo, IGP, others
This meeting is coming a day after President Buhari’s national broadcast on the security situation in the country calling for an end to the #EndSARS protests as their voices have been loudly heard.
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Details later…
Economy & Politics
Senatorial, State House of Assembly bye-elections postponed – INEC
Senatorial and State House of Assembly bye-elections slated to hold on October 31 in 11 states have been postponed by INEC.
The 6 Senatorial and 9 State House of Assembly bye-elections slated to hold on October 31 in 11 states of the Federation has been postponed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The vacancies were as a result of death and resignation of previous members.
According to the statement issued by its National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye Esq., INEC said the decision was taken after meeting with the 37 Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Thursday.
Breaking News: #INEC Postpones Bye Elections in 6 Senatorial Districts, 9 State Constituencies. pic.twitter.com/RWiUomBsC6
— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) October 22, 2020
Though the commission did not categorically state the reason for the postponement, feelers are that it may not be unconnected with the raging #EndSARS protests across the nation.
Details shortly…
Economy & Politics
Some Nigerians mistook promptness of FG response as sign of weakness – Buhari
President Buhari has said that FG’s promptness to consent to the demands of the protesters was taken as a sign of weakness.
President Muhammadu Buhari has pointed out that the promptness with which the Federal Government acted in meeting the demands of the #EndSARS protesters seemed to have been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their selfish unpatriotic interests.
This was disclosed by the president in his national broadcast on Thursday, October 22, 2020, on the current widespread violence which has engulfed the country following the protest against police brutality and extrajudicial killings.
The president said that the government listened to the protesters and after evaluating their five-point demands, they were accepted and some of them implemented, which includes the disbandment of SARS.
In his address to Nigerians, President Buhari said, “As a democratic government, we listened to, and carefully evaluated the five-point demands of the protesters. And, having accepted them, we immediately scrapped SARS and put measures in place to address the other demands of our youth.
“On approving the termination of SARS, I already made it clear that it was in line with our commitment to the implementation of extensive Police reforms.
“Sadly, the promptness with which we have acted seemed to have been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their selfish unpatriotic interests.
The president said the actions of these elements has caused serious violence which has led to the loss of human lives, attack on correctional facilities, destruction and vandalization of public and private properties, attack on the palace of Oba of Lagos, invasion of International Airport and so on.
While acknowledging that the choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of every citizen as enshrined in the constitution, the president pointed out that this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators the responsibility to respect the rights of other citizens and the necessity to operate within the law.
Details later…
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
South-West Governors say attacks in Lagos were attempts to weaken the region’s economy
#EndSARS Protest: 80 BRT buses worth N3.9 billion were destroyed by hoodlums – LASG
#EndSARS protest: Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria sues for peace
BREAKING: Lagos State reviews curfew again, now from 8pm to 6am
COVID-19 Update in Nigeria
#EndSARS: A day by day timeline of the protest that has brought Nigeria to its knees.
#EndSARS: FG creates new N25 billion Youth Fund, to increase to N75 billion in 3 years
CBN to drive implementation of zero balance account opening in banks
#EndSARS: Buhari should guarantee freedom for peaceful protesters in Nigeria – Martin Luther King III
