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Budget:President Bola Ahmad Tinubu And Vice President Kashim Shettima’s Trips To Gulp Over 9 Billion Naira

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima will spend N9.36 billion on local and foreign travels as well as refreshments in the coming year.

This is contained in the details of the 2025 Appropriation Bill released by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

The president had, on Wednesday, present the N49.7 trillion 2025 budget proposals to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The fiscal document is christened: ‘Restoration Budget, Securing peace and building prosperity.’

According to the budget proposal, Tinubu will spend N7.44 billion on travels and refreshments; while Shettima will spend N1.9 billion for same.

The president’s international travels in 2025 will gulp N6.14 billion; and his local trips, N873.9 million.

Also, the sum of N431.6 million was earmarked for Tinubu’s refreshments and meals as well as foodstuffs and catering supplies.

The vice president’s international travels in 2025 will gulp N1.31 billion; and local trips, N417.5 million.

Refreshments and meals as well as foodstuff and catering supplies for the vice president will gulp N186.02 million.

In 2024, President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and First Lady Remi Tinubu spent not less than N5.24 billion on local and foreign travel between January and March 2024, according to an analysis of the travel expenses using GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks and analyses the Federal Government’s spending.

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Presidency to spend N10.6bn on cars, honorarium, fuel, SAs office

The Office of the President also proposed N4,760,035,960 for vehicles, with N3,661,566,123 for the purchase of State House operational vehicles and N1 billion for the replacement of Sport Utility Vehicle (SUVs).

Another N255,728,214 was budgeted for purchase of cars, with N127,864,107 set aside for the procurement of SUVS for the president and vice president as well as N127,864,107 for the purchase of operational vehicles at the Presidential Conference Car Unit (CCU) fleet.

The sum of N5,938,883,548 was proposed for honorarium, construction for Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants’ Office Complex and fuel for generators.

The budget proposals showed that N2,118,521,128 was earmarked for sitting allowance/honorarium, N1,989,579,359 for fuel and N1,830,783,061 (billion) is for construction of office complex for SAs and SSAs.

2025 Appropriation Bill scales second reading

The National Assembly yesterday passed the N49.7tn ‘Restoration’ Budget for a second reading.

The budget was passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives after various deliberations on the bill’s general principles by senators and members of the House of Representatives at their separate sittings.

In the Senate, the budget was passed and referred to the Committee on Appropriations after being put to a voice vote by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session.

Similarly, in the House of Representatives, the appropriation bill was passed for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Appropriation for further legislative actions.

Also, the House also passed through Second Reading, a Bill to extend the capital component of the 2024 Budget to June 30th, 2025.

The bill was presented on the floor of the House by the House Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvere.

It was titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Appropriation Act, 2024 to extend the Implementation of the Capital Component of the Appropriation Act, 2024 from 31 December, 2024 to 30 June 2025 and for Related Matters (HB.2023).’

Meanwhile, both chambers of the National Assembly have adjourned sittings to January 14, 2025, to observe recess for the yuletide celebrations.

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Review of Police Officers’ Salaries Underway–FG

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The federal government says it plans to review the welfare of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), including salary structure, allowances, insurance, pension-related benefits and other packages.

A statement on Thursday by Modupe Adegboro, the deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Police Affairs, said the decision was taken on Tuesday in Abuja during a ministerial and stakeholders committee meeting.

She said the outcome of the meeting was to review the police officers’ welfare package and settlement of outstanding benefits.

The chairman of the committee and permanent secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs, Dr Anuma Ogbonnaya Nlia, said the initiative reflects the federal government’s determination to address longstanding welfare concerns affecting serving and retired police personnel while strengthening the operational effectiveness of the force.

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“The committee is reviewing regular and non-regular allowances to ensure they reflect prevailing economic realities, the peculiar nature of policing, and are fully aligned with the public service rules,” he said.

He stated that the committee also examined outstanding pension arrears, death benefits, group life insurance liabilities, group personal accident claims and other welfare obligations requiring government intervention.

The statement also noted that deliberations identified inadequate accommodation as one of the major welfare challenges confronting Police personnel.

The committee said that improved access to decent accommodation would boost officers’ welfare, morale and productivity.

Mrs Adegboro stated that members further agreed on the need to harmonise existing allowances and eliminate duplication.

She also stated that this would ensure that only allowances recognised under the public service rules, alongside justified Police-specific operational allowances, are recommended.

“The committee also called for innovative and sustainable funding mechanisms to complement annual budgetary provisions and guarantee effective implementation of approved welfare programmes,” she said.

She added that the secretariat had also been mandated to produce a comprehensive draft report for consideration at the committee’s next meeting before submission to the government.

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Court arraigns car dealer over alleged false stolen vehicle report

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An Abuja businessman, Mr Ibrahim Garba was on Wednesday, arraigned before the Chief Magistrates’ Court Wuse for alleged criminal decimation of Mr Shehu Abdullahi, a businessman in the same premises.

Garba is the Managing Director of Wakaso Car Ltd. located at the Royal Park Garden of Wuse, Abuja.

The prosecuting counsel, Simeon Wujat, informed the court that the complainant, Mr Shehu Abdullahi of the same address, brought the matter to the court on June 24,2026.

The prosecutor said that on the June 17, 2026, the complainant came into his business premises and park his Honda Civic car in front of his business space.

Wujat said that on that same day at about 8:04pm the complainant was suprise when he saw a team of well-armed and fiercely looking police officers with a road safety towing van, attempting to towing his car.

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The counsel said that upon making a peaceful inquiry, the complainant was told by the team leader of the squad that the defendant had reported to the police that the car is a stolen vehicle.

The prosecutor said that his client was embarrassed and was made to write a statement in respect to his own car, which was maliciously reported and declared by the defendant as a stolen vehicle.

Wujat informed the court that, the complaint provided a certified-true-copy of the said vehicle at the police station on June 17 with the copy of his proof of ownership and registration particulars.

The prosecution told the court that upon careful investigation by the Police, it was found out that, the defendant intentionally and spitefully gave the Police false information about the car.

According to him, the act inevitably distracted, maligned and defame the complainant’s good reputation, within and outside his business.

He alleged that the defendant malicious and false information which he gave to the Police against the complainant and his car, had portrayed him as a car thief.

Wujat explained that the act also portray his client as a criminal, thereby tarnishing his unassailable good reputation and good will.

The prosecutor said, the offence contrary to sections 391 and punishable under section 392 of the penal code ACT 9060.

The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charge when readed to him.

The defendant counsel, Mr Hamza Dantani applied for the bail of the defendant citing sections 158 and 162 of the administration of criminal justice act (ACJA) saying bail is at the discretion of court.

Ruling on the applicantion of the defendant, Magistrates Faridah Ibrahim, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N3 million in like sum with a surety.

She ordered that surety who the couple to the defendant to submit his call to bar certificate and an undertaking to provide the defendant whenever he is needed in court.

She also said that the counsel tot the defendant will be made to face disciplinary committee should he fail to produce the defendant.

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Genius Academy Marks 11th Anniversary, Graduates Students in Kano

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Genius Academy, Kano celebrated its 11th anniversary alongside its 2025/2026 graduation ceremony, with the school’s Director, Malam Ahmad Shuaibu Abdullahi, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to providing quality education, moral upbringing and continuous investment in teacher development.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, Abdullahi said the school had grown from a vision conceived 11 years ago into a thriving institution dedicated to producing academically sound and morally upright learners. He described the occasion as a moment of celebration, reflection and renewed commitment to educational excellence.

According to the director, Genius Academy was established with the conviction that education remains the greatest investment any society can make. He said the school’s mission has always been to provide sound, quality and value-based education that empowers children, strengthens families and contributes to national development by nurturing responsible citizens.

Abdullahi stated that one of the academy’s greatest strengths is the quality of its teaching workforce, noting that the management has consistently prioritized the recruitment of competent, dedicated and professionally qualified educators. He disclosed that the school’s staff includes holders of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE), bachelor’s and master’s degrees, while several teachers are currently pursuing Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes in education and related disciplines.

He further explained that the school places equal emphasis on continuous professional development, saying teachers regularly participate in seminars, workshops, conferences and capacity-building programmes designed to expose them to modern teaching methodologies, educational technology, child-centred instructional strategies, classroom management and contemporary assessment practices. According to him, these investments ultimately translate into improved learning experiences and stronger academic performance for pupils.

The director stressed that the academy’s educational philosophy extends beyond academic achievement to character formation. He said the school’s motto, “Learning and Modesty Is Our Pride,” serves as the guiding principle for producing disciplined, respectful, responsible and God-fearing learners.

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Abdullahi added that the institution deliberately instils values such as honesty, humility, integrity, respect for elders, compassion, hard work, patriotism and peaceful coexistence, describing them as the foundation of successful societies and effective leadership.

Addressing the graduating pupils and students, the director congratulated them on reaching an important milestone in their educational journey. He reminded them that graduation marks the beginning of greater responsibilities rather than the end of learning and urged them to remain disciplined, hardworking, respectful and honest as they advance to higher levels of education.

Reflecting on the school’s journey over the past decade, Abdullahi acknowledged that sustaining a reputable educational institution has not been without challenges. He cited economic pressures, infrastructural demands and the rapidly evolving educational landscape as some of the obstacles the school has faced. However, he said the institution had continued to expand through the grace of Almighty Allah and the collective support of parents, staff and other stakeholders.

He maintained that every challenge had strengthened the school’s resolve to improve teaching and learning, provide better facilities and uphold the high standards for which Genius Academy has become known.

The director expressed appreciation to parents and guardians for their confidence in the school and for entrusting it with the education and upbringing of their children. He said their cooperation, encouragement and constructive feedback had contributed significantly to the institution’s growth and achievements.

Abdullahi also commended both teaching and non-teaching staff for their professionalism, loyalty and dedication, describing their efforts as the driving force behind the school’s successes. He equally acknowledged the continued support of the Old Students’ Association, noting that its contributions have helped strengthen the school community and inspire younger learners.

He paid special tribute to the school’s mentor and father, Alhaji Muhammad Sarki Fakai, whom he credited with providing invaluable guidance, wisdom and unwavering support throughout the institution’s development. Abdullahi prayed for Allah’s continued blessings, good health and long life for the mentor in recognition of his contributions to the academy’s growth and stability.

The director further appreciated government authorities, educational agencies, community and religious leaders, security agencies, donors, partners and friends of the school for their various contributions over the past eleven years.

Malam Ahmad Shuaibu Abdullahi reaffirmed the academy’s commitment to investing in quality education, teacher development, modern instructional facilities, technological innovation and the holistic development of learners. He said the institution remains focused on producing future leaders distinguished by knowledge, integrity, innovation and service to humanity.

The ceremony, attended by the chairman of the occasion, special guests, parents, members of the school board, alumni, staff and graduating pupils, concluded with congratulations to the graduating class and prayers for the continued progress of Genius Academy, Kano State and Nigeria.

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