Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Senate re-amended the 2021 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill to accommodate the direct, indirect and consensus mode of electing candidates by political parties. Clause 84(3) requires that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party, while Clause 84(4) requires that a National Convention be held for the ratification of the candidate with the highest number of votes. The amendment followed a motion for its re-committal to the Committee of the Whole. Members of the House of Representatives expunged clause 84 (2) of the bill to incorporate a fresh stipulation that allows political parties to adopt direct and indirect primary methods of nominating candidates for election. A member of the House, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, alleged new clauses have been inputted into the bill to ensure President Buhari rejects it. The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, denied the allegation, saying nothing was included in the bill. The bill was passed despite the opposition.

The Senate re-amended the 2021 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill to accommodate the direct, indirect and consensus mode of electing candidates by political parties. Clause 84(3) requires that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party, while Clause 84(4) requires that a National Convention be held for the ratification of the candidate with the highest number of votes. The amendment followed a motion for its re-committal to the Committee of the Whole. Members of the House of Representatives expunged clause 84 (2) of the bill to incorporate a fresh stipulation that allows political parties to adopt direct and indirect primary methods of nominating candidates for election. A member of the House, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, alleged new clauses have been inputted into the bill to ensure President Buhari rejects it. The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, denied the allegation, saying nothing was included in the bill. The bill was passed despite the opposition.

The Federal Government has suspended indefinitely its planned fuel subsidy removal and will amend the 2022 Appropriation Act to provide for subsidy payments from July 1. This was announced by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Ms Zainab Ahmed, in a meeting with lawmakers at the National Assembly. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited had revealed that Nigeria consumes 19.535 billion litres of petrol yearly, averaging 1.6 billion litres monthly. This brings yearly subsidy to about N4.6 trillion. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) threatened to embark on a nationwide protest against the planned removal of fuel subsidy in the 2022 budget signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Finance Minister, Timipre Sylva, and the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, met with the National Assembly leadership to amend the law to provide for an extension of subsidy provision beyond June 2022. Sylva said the government had initially planned to remove subsidies on petroleum products from July, but a reasonable provision was made in the 2022 national budget for subsidy payment till June.

Nigerians mourned the death of former Head of Interim National Government (ING), Chief Ernest Shonekan, who passed away in Lagos, aged 85. President Muhammadu Buhari directed that the national flag be flown at half-mast from today till Friday as a mark of respect for the former elder statesman, who left his flourishing business career to become Head of Government at a delicate time when the country needed someone of his calm mien and pedigree to save the ship of state from sinking. Former military President Ibrahim Babangida said Shonekan was a patriot, an urbane and refined gentleman, a thoroughbred boardroom maestro and a cosmopolitan mind who was devoted to his country. Senate President Ahmad Lawan described Shonekan as a lawyer, business captain, boardroom guru and statesman. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo described Shonekan as "a unifying force for the nation" and former President Goodluck Jonathan described him as "an elder statesman, well-loved for his sincerity and sense of purpose". Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said Shonekan's sad exit came at a time the country needed his leadership, wealth of experience and wisdom to tackle the multifaceted challenges facing the nation.

The Federal Government is exploring new measures to raise revenue through tax reforms, but there are concerns that no amount of tax revenue will be enough to finance the magnitude of fiscal indiscipline by the executives. Debt has become the default option for the government in addressing gaps in its financing, raising concerns about repayment capacity and abuse by the executive. Nigeria's total debt stock rose from N32.9 trillion as of December 2020 to N39.6 trillion in November 2021. Despite higher revenue from rising oil prices, production challenges have put the country on the edge, with production averaging 1.3 million barrels per day. With over N7 trillion in fiscal deficit, the country may be heading towards double-digit deficit financing in the 2022 financial year. The Senate has developed a strategy to engage with revenue-generating agencies on how to make them achieve their targets and generate more revenues in 2022 to narrow the margins. The 2022 Budget is predicated on significant borrowing, making the country caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. To fund infrastructure, the country has to borrow and resort to other sources of funding. To improve on the revenue to GDP ratio, the country needs to generate more revenues.

The United States Mission in Nigeria has taken steps to bolster democracy in Nigeria by defending free and fair elections. Spokesperson Rauf Oyewole said fighting corruption and defending credible elections are central to the U.S. government's action plan. Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, has described unserious presidential aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC) running to President Muhammadu Buhari to inform him of their political ambition. APC has refuted reports of its decision to suspend the national convention of the party scheduled for February 27.