News
N54.2 trillion budget: Peter Obi questions Tinubu govt on transparency, accountability

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, says there is no corresponding breakdown of expenditures to justify the increase in the 2025 national budget.
The statement comes after President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, increased the appropriation bill for the 2025 fiscal year from N49.7 trillion to N54.2 trillion.
Recall that Tinubu announced the increment in separate letters, which he forwarded to both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Reacting to the development, Obi said that Nigerians need to know how the resources generated are being allocated for the sake of transparency and accountability.
This, he said, was to ensure that they were judiciously spent on the country’s development and the well-being of the people.
In a statement issued on Friday via his X handle, the former Anambra state Governor said Nigerians were still waiting for a detailed account of the execution and expenditures of the Renewed Hope budget passed in December 2023.
Obi further called on the National Assembly to seize this opportunity to obtain and make public the full details of the 2024 budget.
He said: “Yesterday, I read about the increase in the Budget of Restoration to N54 trillion due to increased revenue.“
While the sources of this revenue were detailed, there is no corresponding breakdown of expenditures to justify the increase.
For transparency and accountability sake Nigerians need to know how the resources generated from them are being allocated to ensure that they are judiciously spent on the country’s development and the well-being of the people.
“Such expenditures should be directed toward critical areas of development; education, healthcare, security, and poverty alleviation.“
Furthermore, Nigerians are still waiting for a detailed account of the execution and expenditures of the Renewed Hope budget passed in December 2023 to ensure that it has been properly utilized for the country’s future development and the well-being of its citizens.
“I call on the National Assembly to seize this opportunity to obtain and make public the full details of the 2024 budget of Renewed Hope budget
“Transparency in this regard is crucial for ensuring accountability, learning from past budgets, and making informed decisions for the nation’s progress.
“As we work towards passing the Budget of Restoration for 2025, let us uphold openness, accountability, and the welfare of the Nigerian people.
We owe it to ourselves, our children, and the future of our great nation.
News
Amb Egbosiuba’s Virtuous Widows Int’l Foundation Wins Most Impactful NGO of the Year Award , courtesy of AFLCA
Ifenyinwa Bernice Egbosiuba is a visionary humanitarian, reform advocate, and the Founder & President of the Virtuous Widows International Foundation (VWIF) — a transformative organisation dedicated to empowering widows, advancing human dignity, and promoting social justice across Africa.

Ambassador Ifenyinwa Bernice Egbosiuba,the Founder & President of the Virtuous Widows International Foundation (VWIF) has been named the recipient of the Most Impactful NGO of the Year Award, courtesy of Africa Future Leadership and Conference Awards (AFLCA).
The Africa Future Leadership Conference and Awards is an annual summit organized by Africa Future Leadership Magazine.
In a statement on Monday, AFLCA said that the award will be conferred on her during the 10th edition of the event, scheduled for Saturday, 25th October 2025 Maryland, Lagos.The statement reads: “Amb.
Ifenyinwa Bernice Egbosiuba is a visionary humanitarian, reform advocate, and the Founder & President of the Virtuous Widows International Foundation (VWIF) — a transformative organisation dedicated to empowering widows, advancing human dignity, and promoting social justice across Africa.
Having journeyed through personal loss and recovery, she turned her pain into purpose — building a movement that restores hope, skills, and independence to widows through shelter, food, vocational training, and financial empowerment programs.“Talent exists everywhere, but opportunity does not. Widows deserve dignity, not pity.” — Amb. Ifenyinwa Bernice Egbosiuba.
Beyond widowhood advocacy, she is also a global voice against xenophobia and discrimination, calling on African leaders to build unity, compassion, and equality across borders.
Her work — featured in The Sun Nigeria, AllAfrica.com, and other major platforms — continues to inspire women, youth, and reformers to lead with empathy, courage, and conviction.
Ambassador Egbosiuba’s story reflects the heartbeat of AFLCA — leadership that heals, empowers, and transforms Africa’s future. “
News
Osinbajo leads ECOWAS team to monitor Côte d’Ivoire poll
In statement from ECOWAS, the election is scheduled to be held on October 25, 2025, while the observation mission will be deployed from October 19 to 29, 2025, in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) appointed Nigeria’s former Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, to head its Election Observation Mission for the presidential election in Côte d’Ivoire this week.
In statement from ECOWAS, the election is scheduled to be held on October 25, 2025, while the observation mission will be deployed from October 19 to 29, 2025, in accordance with the provisions of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
“As Head of Mission, Osinbajo will lead a delegation of eminent West Africans who will engage with key national stakeholders to encourage a peaceful and credible electoral process,” the statement said.
“The team will also collaborate with international and domestic observer groups to assess the conduct of the polls.”
The regional body said the deployment of the mission underscores ECOWAS’ commitment to promoting peace, stability, and credible elections across West Africa.
The Côte d’Ivoire election comes at a critical time for the region, where several member states are preparing for key national polls amid efforts to consolidate democratic governance
News
CPPE Calculates Negative Effects of Presidential Pardons on the Economy and Investment
Dr Muda Yusuf, Director/CEO of CPPE, expressed concerns about the inclusion of individuals convicted of corruption, financial crimes, murder, drug trafficking, and illegal mining.

The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) is urging the Federal Government to urgently review and rationalise the list of individuals granted the prerogative of mercy by President Bola Tinubu, which includes both living and deceased Nigerians.
In a policy brief made available to our editor on Sunday, the CPPE asserted that while the prerogative of mercy is a legitimate constitutional tool, its application to serious economic and financial offences, as well as other criminal acts, requires utmost discretion, transparency, and alignment with Nigeria’s commitments to anti-corruption, drug control, and the sanctity of human life.
Dr Muda Yusuf, Director/CEO of CPPE, expressed concerns about the inclusion of individuals convicted of corruption, financial crimes, murder, drug trafficking, and illegal mining.
He stated, “Extending clemency and pardons to persons convicted of corruption, financial fraud, illegal mining, murder, and drug-related crimes has far-reaching economic and social consequences.”
He highlighted the following issues:
– Illegal Mining: It undermines legitimate enterprises, depletes national revenue, and fuels insecurity in mining communities.
– Corruption and Financial Crimes: These distort markets, weaken institutions, and discourage fair competition.
– Drug Trafficking: This tarnishes Nigeria’s global image, exacerbates insecurity, and imposes significant social costs.
Leniency toward financial and economic crimes erodes deterrence, weakens enforcement, and signals a tolerance for misconduct.
A lenient approach undermines respect for the law and the credibility of governance.
Damage to Investor Confidence
Investor confidence thrives on predictability, fairness, and justice. When individuals convicted of economic or financial crimes are pardoned, it raises concerns about policy consistency, the sanctity of contracts, and investment security, thereby discouraging both domestic and foreign investors.
Reputational and Governance Risks
Excessive clemency could reverse gains in governance credibility and reinforce perceptions of institutional weakness.
Such perceptions can negatively impact sovereign risk ratings, capital inflows, and the overall attractiveness of Nigeria’s investment climate.”
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