News
ECONOMIC STABILITY IS OUR PRIORITY IN 2024 AGENDA – VP SHETTIMA
ECONOMIC STABILITY IS OUR PRIORITY IN 2024 AGENDA – VP SHETTIMA
…As NEC appeals to organized labour to shelve planned strike
By: Michael Mike
The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has identified stability as one of the primes in the economic agenda of the Tinubu administration for the year 2024.
This is just as the National Economic Council (NEC) has appealed to the Organised Labour to shelve its planned strike, saying President Bola Tinubu remains committed to the welfare of Nigerian workers.
The Vice President stated that government at the federal, state and local government levels must remain committed to reevaluating their priorities, streamlining processes, and making bold decisions that would reflect key social issues, including social protection, social investment and nutrition.

Senator Shettima stated this on Thursday at the 136th meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) held in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
NEC, a statutory body that has the mandate to advise the President on the nation’s economic affairs, is chaired by the Vice President, with the Governors of the 36 states of the federation, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Minister of Finance and other stakeholders as members.
In his opening address at the NEC meeting titled, ‘Planning for Stability: Our Agenda for Economic Growth in 2024’, Vice President Shetimma reminded the governors and other members of NEC that the weight of the tough decisions to rescue Nigeria’s economy depends on their cooperation and goodwill.
He noted that what has set President Bola Ahmed Tinubu apart as a Nigerian leader is the courage to embark on fixing the country’s economy through bold reforms.
Identifying stability as a major priority in next year’s economic agenda, the VP said, “It took courage to embark on fixing an economy hindered by decades of political lip service. But that’s what has set President Bola Ahmed Tinubu apart: his bold reforms to reposition the economy and save it from further erosion.
Other highlights of the meeting are as follows;
ACCOUNTS BALANCES:
Excess Crude Account: – $473,754.57
Stabilization Account – N34,936,868,803.58
Development of Natural Resources – N128,330,636,441.14
The Governor of Kogi State and chairman of the Committee on impact of Flood and Disaster Across the States in Nigeria, Yahaya Bello, categorized states based on degrees of damage.
He classified the states as:
Group A
States with over 15 points (most affected)
Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Rivers, Enugu, Kano, Oyo, Yobe, Zamfara
Group B
States with 10-15 points
Cross River, Delta, Jigawa, Kwara, Ondo
Group C
States with less than 10 points
Katsina, Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, FCT.
COUNCIL RESOLUTION:
NEC resolved to develop a roadmap for intervention and directed NEMA to provide immediate intervention on relief to affected states. Roadmap to be developed and articulated by NEC with the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum.
Presentation on the Joint Planning Board (JPB) And National Council on Development Planning (NCDP)
The presentation on the National Council on Development Planning (NCDP) and the Joint Planning Board (JPB) meetings serve as a platform for bringing together Senior Officials from Federal and State ministries, as well as other related Agencies responsible for Budget and Economic Planning, Representatives of the Organized Private Sector, the Academia, Development Partners and Civil Society Organizations to engage in in-depth discussions on economic policy issues, with a view to propose an optimal approach for enhancing economic management processes at both National and Sub-national levels.
B. Status Report on the Implementation of Key Resolutions of the 21st Edition of the JPB/NCDP Meetings
i. The FMBEP should collaborate with the States in the process of designing a template for harvesting the status of implementation of the JPB/NCDP resolutions, factoring the peculiarities of each State. i. The FMBEP should collaborate with the States in the process of designing a template for harvesting the status of implementation of the JPB/NCDP resolutions, factoring the peculiarities of each State.
C. Energy Sufficiency for Sustainable Economic Development: Options for Nigeria
i. Government at all levels should promote the migration of Heavy-Duty Industries/Transport systems from fossil fuel to Gas Infrastructure;
ii. Given the new Electricity Act that empowers States and individuals to participate in all components of the energy sector, State Governments should carry out energy audit to determine Energy needs and explore areas for collaboration with the private sector based on their comparative advantage; iii. States should develop small hydropower plants, on or off-grid, and solar, for communities and MSMEs; iv. The three tiers of Government should institute initiatives for the promotion of attitudinal change regarding energy use, wastage, and theft; and v. The government should promote Research and development, Local Content, New Energy (Hydrogen, Biofuels) Prototype Investments for energy sufficiency.
COUNCIL RESOLUTION:
Council noted that the meeting was successful and approved regular interaction and synergy among commissioners of Economic Planning across the federation.
PRESENTATION ON THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMITTEE ON FISCAL POLICY AND TAX REFORMS
The chairman of the Committee Mr. Taiwo Oyedele made presentation to the NEC on the fiscal policy and Tax Reforms, disclosing that the Committee was set up by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to review and redesign Nigeria fiscal system with respect to:
(1) Revenue mobilisation, both tax and non-tax
(2) Quality of government spending and
(3) Sustainable debt management in addition, the committee will identify relevant measures to make Nigeria an attractive destination for investment and facilitate inclusive Economic growth.
Deliverables and outcomes
The expected outcomes from the work of the committee will include, but not limited to the following:
- Repeal of existing taxes and levies especially those that are suboptimal, obsolete or unduly burdensome and enactment of new harmonised tax laws;
- Preparation of a harmonised list of taxes and levies, not exceeding a single digit in number and covering all levels of government;
- Review of the 2017 National Tax Policy to produce a new National Policy on Tax and Fiscal Policy for ratification by the federal and state governments;
- A national fiscal risk framework for efficient fiscal governance, fiscal consolidation and stability;
- Draft bills for constitutional amendments on fiscal matters to promote fiscal federalism;
- Enhancements to the revenue administration system to improve revenue mobilization and a robust framework for tax revenue accounting and reporting to improve taxpayer trust;
- Establishment of National Office of Tax Ombudsman, Fiscal Policy and Tax Simplification.
COUNCIL RESOLUTION
Council noted the presentation
UPDATES ON PALLIATIVE DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE STATES
The Governor of Kwara State, Abdulraman Abdulrazaq gave an update on the distribution of palliatives across the States. He told Council that members are making progress and urged them to re-double efforts as states looked forward for more interventions.
ECONOMIC STABILITY IS OUR PRIORITY IN 2024 AGENDA – VP SHETTIMA
News
Finally, DSS Arraigns Sowore on alleged Cybercrime Offences
Finally, DSS Arraigns Sowore on alleged Cybercrime Offences
By: Our Reporter
Judge bars him from inciting public, undermining national security
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday arraigned a politician and online publisher, Omoyele Sowore, before a Federal High Court in Abuja, for alleged cybercrimes, with the court barring him from further making statements that are detrimental to the peace and security of the country.
Justice Mohammed Umar, in a ruling, threatened to revoke the bail granted Sowore’ should he ever make such statements. The arraignment came after two previous attempts, with the politician’s lawyer introducing what the DSS lawyer, Akinolu Kehinde SAN, called legal obstacles.
On Tuesday, however, Justice Umar held that since there was evidence that Sowore was a presidential candidate in the country before and having also earlier been granted bail by the court, with his international passport still being held by the court, he was entitled to be granted bail on self-recognition.
The ruling was on a bail application argued by his lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, shortly after Sowore was arraigned on a five-count charge, in which he is accused of defaming President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as a criminal in his posts on X and Facebook.
When the charge, being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS), was read to him, Sowore pleaded not guilty.
In the charge, Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2019 and 2023 elections, is accused of contravening the provisions of the the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024 and the Criminal Code Act by calling President Bola Tinubu a criminal
The two other defendants listed in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025 are X Incorp (formerly Twitter) and Meta (Facebook) Incorp.
Details shortly.
Finally, DSS Arraigns Sowore on alleged Cybercrime Offences
News
One killed, dozens abducted as bandits launch multiple attacks in Zurmi, Bungudu LGAs in Zamfara
One killed, dozens abducted as bandits launch multiple attacks in Zurmi, Bungudu LGAs in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have carried out a series of coordinated attacks across parts of Zamfara State, killing one person and abducting several others in Zurmi and Bungudu Local Government Areas, security sources have confirmed.
In the first incident, bandits invaded Tungar Tsamiya village in Moriki District of Zurmi LGA at about 10:40 p.m. on Nov. 30, shooting dead one resident and abducting 10 others.
Security forces launched a search-and-rescue operation to locate the victims.
Barely hours later, on Monday morning, another group of bandits attacked Doguwar Gona forest in the same Moriki District.
The assailants abducted 17 men and women who were in the area fetching firewood. Security personnel are tracking the movement of the attackers with the aim of rescuing the captives.
In a separate incident in Bungudu LGA, gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed Makwa village in Kurar Mota District at about 12:15 p.m. on Dec. 1 and abducted an unconfirmed number of residents.
Troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA and police operatives, supported by local vigilante groups, have intensified efforts to rescue all abducted victims and restore calm across the affected communities.
Search operations are ongoing.
One killed, dozens abducted as bandits launch multiple attacks in Zurmi, Bungudu LGAs in Zamfara
News
NSA Ribadu visits Kontagora Bishop, pledges swift rescue of abducted Niger schoolchildren
NSA Ribadu visits Kontagora Bishop, pledges swift rescue of abducted Niger schoolchildren
By: Zagazola Makama
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday paid a sympathy visit to the Bishop of Kontagora, Bishop Bulus Yohanna, following the recent abduction of students of St. Mary Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The NSA, who arrived Kontagora by helicopter at about noon, was accompanied by the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Tony Ajayi; the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs; and senior officials from the Office of the NSA.
Ribadu and his entourage proceeded to the office of the Bishop at St. Michael Church, where they met with representatives of families of the abducted students, the school principal, and the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the 19 Northern States, Bishop Joseph Hayap.
During the meeting, the NSA assured the community that the Federal Government was intensifying efforts to secure the safe release of the abducted pupils and staff.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending attacks on schools and ensuring the safety of students across the country.
NSA Ribadu visits Kontagora Bishop, pledges swift rescue of abducted Niger schoolchildren
-
News2 years agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions4 years agoTHE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions4 years agoPOLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News2 years agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
News8 months agoFAILED COUP IN BURKINA FASO: HOW TRAORÉ NARROWLY ESCAPED ASSASSINATION PLOT AMID FOREIGN INTERFERENCE CLAIMS
-
ACADEMICS2 years agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Columns2 years agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
Opinions2 years agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
