Tag: Godswill Akpabio

“FIRS didn’t give N30bn to any State; Akpabio playing politics” – Makinde

Aminu Imam

Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has refuted the claim by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, that the Federal Inland Revenue Services, (FIRS), disbursed N30 billion to each State of the federation for food security, describing the statement as mere propaganda. Makinde, who spoke in the Iseyin area of Oyo State yesterday, during the commissioning of the renovated Iseyin Central Mosque, wondered why the President of the Senate would rely on an unconfirmed report. The Governor, who is the Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, (NGF), said he could speak for…

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Akpabio, Abbas sued over alleged 2024 Budget padding

Aminu Imam

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and twenty other concerned Nigerians have filed a lawsuit against the 10th National Assembly’s  leaders “for unilaterally and arbitrarily increasing the allocation for lawmakers from N197bn to N344bn, their highest since the return of democracy in 1999”. Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas are sued for themselves and on behalf of all members of the National Assembly. The lawmakers had last month raised their allocation from N197billion, as proposed by President Bola Tinubu for them in the Budget, to N344billiin. They…

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Current Economic Realities: SERAP asks Akpabio, Abbas to cut ‘self-serving N344.85bn NASS budget’  

Aminu Imam

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas to “promptly reduce the National Assembly budget of N344.85 billion, to reflect the current economic realities in the country, and cut the cost of governance”. SERAP urged them “to request President Bola Tinubu to present a fresh supplementary appropriation bill, which reflects the reduced National Assembly budget for the approval of the National Assembly.” SERAP also urged them “to promptly publish details of the National Assembly budget of…

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Why they said I collapsed – Akpabio

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

President of Senate, Godswill Akpiabio, has faulted media reports on his alleged collapse at a colloquium marking his 61st birthday on Thursday. Akpabio said this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday. He said that he felt a bit uncomfortable at the colloquium, partly due to exhaustion, caused by stress.“I have been reading on the social media the propaganda about my collapse, but I’m happy the Senate Press Corps did not join in the show of propaganda.“I went home and I called my doctors and I was told that…

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“We are transforming Nigeria with the support of National Assembly” – Tinubu

Aminu Imam

President Bola Tinubu says the efforts of his administration to transform Nigeria’s economy are yielding results with the support of the National Assembly led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas. Speaking at a colloquium to mark the 61st birthday of the Senate President, on Thursday in Abuja, President Tinubu said the challenges facing the country will be jointly assessed by the executive and legislature with a view to evolving implementable solutions for the good of Nigerians. “Having Senate President…

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N87.4tr debt: “Reject Minister’s N15bn residence proposal for VP” – SERAP Urges Akpabio

Aminu Imam

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, to use his leadership position “to promptly reject the plan by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, to spend N15 billion for the construction of ‘a befitting residence’ for the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima”. SERAP urged him to “assert Senate’s authority and constitutional oversight roles to reject the N2.8 billion on publicity for the FCTA and other proposed wasteful and unnecessary spending that may be contained in the 2023 supplementary budget and the 2024 budget proposed by…

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“EFCC embarrassed me before 2023 polls” — Akpabio

Aminu Imam

…Says they treat ex-Govs. like Pablo Escobar  Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, says he has had his “fair share” of embarrassment from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC). Akpabio stated this on Wednesday, when chair of the EFCC, appeared before the senate for screening. The Senate President said EFCC treats high profile suspects as though they are swooping on the notorious Colombian drug lord, Pablo Escobar, who was killed in the 1990s after a global manhunt spanning several years. According to the Senate President, in the build-up to the 2023…

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Alleged N108.1bn Theft:  “Don’t use me as example”, Akpabio tells EFCC Chair

Aminu Imam

There was laughter in the Senate yesterday, when the Senate President Godswill Akpabio told acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, not to use him as an example in anti-corruption fight. Olukoyede, who appeared before the Senate for screening yesterday, had cited Akpabio’s name as an example in his presentation on investigating a graft case but suddenly stopped when he realised the mood of lawmakers in the Chamber. He had started saying, “If we are investigating the Senate President for example…” prompting lawmakers to burst…

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Akpabio regrets rising poverty, insecurity, others; as Senate resumes new legislative year

Aminu Imam

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, lamented the rising poverty and insecurity across the country. Akpabio, who spoke yesterday when he welcomed lawmakers back from their annual recess, noted that public agitation for good governance has also been on the rise in the country and called on senators to close ranks and work for the good of the country. The Senate President, who, during the long break, had series of battles over purported plans to impeach him, called on his colleagues during the brief remarks to work for the interests of Nigerians. Speaking further,…

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“Tinubu steering Nigeria through turbulent waters” – Senate President, Akpabio

Aminu Imam

…Says 10th Assembly will change Nigeria’s destiny The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration is steering the country through troubled waters, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has affirmed. Akpabio, who stated this on Friday, at a retreat for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, which was held in Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State, however assured the President and Vice-President Kashim Shettima that they would not walk alone. He said the 10th National Assembly will walk hand-in-hand with them to take the ship of state to ‘harbours of bliss and development’. The Senate President…

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