THE National Assembly has invited members of the public to review the recently passed tax laws, following allegations that copies in circulation differ from those approved by parliament. News Point Nigeria reports that the leadership of the 10th National Assembly directed the Clerk to produce the Votes and Proceedings of lawmakers in both chambers, alongside the gazetted versions of the tax Acts. The move comes after controversy triggered by claims of alleged alterations to the bills. During plenary, Sokoto lawmaker Abdussamad Dasuki had alleged that the versions of the tax laws circulating publicly differed materially from those approved by the…
Author: Hamza Rufai
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THE Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the Federal Government to “urgently” review workers’ salaries in the new year following the wave of “escalating inflation and suffering” sweeping across the country. In his New Year’s address to workers sent to News Point Nigeria on Thursday, the President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, noted that workers’ salaries should be a “living wage”, rather than for mere “survival”. “Given the escalating inflation and suffering, we demand an urgent wage review as a worker’s income must guarantee life, not mere survival, in furtherance of Mr President’s promise to pay living wages. We shall…
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will today arraign former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) before Justice Nwute of Federal High Court, in Abuja. News Point Nigeria reports that this is following the fresh money laundering charges filed against Malami, and his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, over alleged financial dealings. The 16-count charge, instituted before the Federal High Court in Abuja, is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/700/ 2025 and lists the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant. Also named as a co-defendant is Hajia Bashir Asabe. Court filings allege that the defendants knowingly handled, transferred…
INVESTIGATORS of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have traced a significant portion of the wealth allegedly accumulated by Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to multiple high-profile public finance transactions, including Paris Club refunds to states, unpaid Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) agricultural loans, and the repatriation of looted funds linked to late military ruler, General Sani Abacha. News Point Nigeria reports that Malami is expected to be arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on multiple counts bordering on corruption and abuse of office. Properties estimated to be worth over ₦200…
THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned that joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) or openly professing loyalty to President Bola Tinubu does not automatically guarantee a second-term ticket. News Point Nigeria reports Wike issued the warning on Tuesday while addressing supporters during a political engagement in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, as part of his ongoing consultations across the state. The minister, who was received by the Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Chidi Lloyd, alongside traditional ruler Sergeant Awuse and other party leaders, used the occasion to reinforce his long-held position…
STATE governments and local government councils across Nigeria have significantly reduced their exposure to bank loans, collectively repaying about ₦547.52 billion within one year, amid a sharp rise in allocations from the Federation Account, findings have shown. Data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) latest Quarterly Statistical Bulletin indicate that the banking sector’s total claims on states and local governments dropped from ₦2.68 trillion in June 2024 to ₦2.13 trillion in June 2025, representing a 20.4 per cent year-on-year decline in sub-national debt to commercial and merchant banks. The figures suggest an aggressive effort by sub-national governments to…
THE House of Representatives says it is reviewing the tax reform laws following public backlash and alleged alterations of some portions of the laws. Reps spokesman Akin Rotimi said the Green Chamber has already inaugurated a committee to undertake a “review to establish the sequence of events and to identify any factors that may have contributed to the circumstances surrounding the legislative and administrative handling of the Acts.” In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Friday, Rotimi, who represents Ekiti North (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency, said the review “includes a careful examination of any lapses, irregularities, or external interferences,…
THE Nigeria government says President Bola Tinubu gave the go-ahead for the US strikes against terrorists in the country’s North-Western region. News Point Nigeria reports that Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said this on Friday, hours after the US Department of War and President Donald Trump announced the North American nation had conducted strikes against the terrorists. “Now that the US is cooperating, we would do it jointly, and we would ensure, just as the President emphasised yesterday before he gave the go-ahead, that it must be made clear that it is a joint operation, and it is not targeting…
THE Presidency on Thursday dismissed as false claims suggesting that President Bola Tinubu has replaced his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, with his Principal Private Secretary, Hakeem Muri-Okunola. The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria, described the claim as “a fabrication by mischievous purveyors of fake news whose sole aim is to create disharmony within the government.” “There is absolutely no truth to this story. We advise Nigerians to disregard it entirely,” Onanuga stated. The presidential spokesman emphasised that both officials remain in their respective positions. “The…
THE House of Representatives has commenced a formal investigation into allegations of discrepancies between tax laws passed by the National Assembly and versions subsequently gazetted and circulated by government authorities, pledging to submit its findings to the House without delay. News Point Nigeria reports that the Chairman of the investigative committee, Muktar Betara, gave the assurance on Wednesday following the panel’s inaugural meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday. Betara chairs the seven-member ad hoc committee constituted by the House after lawmakers adopted a matter of privilege raised two weeks ago by Abdussamad Dasuki, a member representing Sokoto State. Dasuki had…
THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda has appointed Suleiman Bakari as his adviser on Intelligence Coordination. News Point Nigeria reports that Bakari, an award-winning detective and law enforcement agent who served as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Liaison Officer at the National Assembly, was appointed alongside 14 others as Special Advisers, Advisers and Senior Special Assistants (SSAs). A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Suleiman Bakari contested for a seat in the House of Representatives representing Jalingo–Yorro–Zing Federal Constituency in 2019. Born to the family of late Alhaji Bakari Muhammed…
THE Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed federal road contractors to halt the closure of project sites, ordering them back to work. News Point Nigeria reports that Umahi issued the directive at an emergency meeting with directors and contractors of the Federal Ministry of Works on Tuesday in Abuja, where he accused some contractors of abandoning sites under the guise of holidays despite worsening road conditions across the country. Umahi insisted that strategic highways and bridges must remain operational during the holiday season and afterwards. He also directed directors in the Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Controllers of…
AN FCT High Court has granted interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in a matter involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Bello Kawu granted the bail application on Tuesday in a motion number: M/17220/2025 brought by Malami’s lawyers. According to the court order, the bail was granted on the same terms earlier considered by the EFCC, including the surrender of Malami’s international passport and the execution of bail bonds by two sureties. According to a statement by Malami’s counsel, Bello Doka, the court ordered that the sureties…
THE political landscape in Rivers State is taking a new dimension as two senators and six members of the House of Representatives officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday. News Point Nigeria reports that those in the upper-lawmaking body who defected are Senator Allwell Onyesoh, who represents Rivers East, and Senator Barinada Mpigi, of Rivers South-East. The announcement was made during plenary, with the Senate suspending its rules to allow the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, and other party executives into the chamber to witness the defection. Both senators, who are…
THE Federal Government has declared Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025, as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day. The government also declared Thursday, January 1, 2026, for the New Year celebration. The declaration was contained in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. According to the statement, the minister urged Nigerians to reflect on the values of love, peace, humility and sacrifice associated with the birth of Jesus Christ. Tunji-Ojo also called on…
THE Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has approached the Supreme Court over the legal battle arising from the suspension of Kogi Central senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The move was confirmed in some available court documents dated December 1, 2025, obtained by News Point Nigeria on Monday. The development followed a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which struck out the Federal Government’s brief of argument in the appeal linked to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension. The appellate court held that the brief was incompetent, having failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of the Court of Appeal Rules on formatting and procedure.…
THE African Democratic Congress has called for the immediate suspension of Nigeria’s recently introduced tax laws, alleging that critical sections were modified after approval by the National Assembly and assent by President Bola Tinubu, a development the party described as a grave constitutional breach. In a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party warned that altering legislation after approval by the legislature raises concerns that President Tinubu is allegedly seeking to centralise power. The party’s reaction followed a point of privilege raised on December 17 by Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki (PDP…
VICE President Kashim Shettima on Friday said only someone hell-bent on a suicidal path or an outright imposter can dare to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election. News Point Nigeria reports that Shettima stated this during the 15th meeting of the National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. According to him, elections are not won on social media platforms like Twitter, now X. “Only a fool hell-bent on a suicidal path or an outright imposter can dare to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election. But…
SENATE President Godswill Akpabio has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review the directive ordering the withdrawal of police operatives attached to Very Important Persons (VIPs), citing growing security concerns for federal lawmakers. News Point Nigeria reports that President Tinubu had, on November 23, ordered the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to VIPs across the country, directing that the affected personnel be redeployed to frontline duties to address Nigeria’s worsening security challenges. Under the directive, VIPs and public officials requiring armed protection are expected to seek security coverage from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), rather…
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has presented a budget proposal of ₦58.47 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year to a joint session of the National Assembly, with capital recurrent (non‑debt) expenditure standing at ₦15.25 trillion. News Point Nigeria reports that Tinubu presented it on Friday, pegging the capital expenditure at ₦26.08 trillion and putting the crude oil benchmark at US$64.85 per barrel. He said the expected total revenue is ₦34.33 trillion, projected total expenditure: ₦58.18 trillion, including ₦15.52 trillion for debt servicing. The budget is ₦23.85 trillion, representing 4.28% of GDP. The proposal was anchored on a crude oil production of 1.84…