Suspected political hoodlums today, November 29, temporarily occupied the Kogi State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lokoja, the State capital.
Reports reaching us at Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper said that it took security operatives tough time to be able to prevent the hoodlums from turning the scene into bloody riot.
The hoodlums were believed to have taken the advantage of a meeting between officials of INEC and legal teams of aggrieved governship candidates in the November 11 election in the State.
Confirming the incidence, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Dr. Hale Gabriel Longpet said that the hoodlums, who he described as “mob,” barricaded all entrances to the office and prevented access for staff to carry out routine duties.”
Gabriel Longpet, in a statement, said: “the siege also prevented attorneys representing political parties involved in the recent off-cycle governorship election from inspecting documents/materials used in the election.
“It took the intervention of the Nigerian Army to calm the situation down at the State Headquarters. The security agencies have assured us that they will maintain normalcy on our premises.”
The Commission assured all parties and litigants that the Kogi State office is committed to granting unimpeded access to all materials needed to prosecute their petitions.

President of the Senate, Senator Godwin Akpabio, has called on President Bola Tinubu to restrict the movement of his ministers and other relevant government officials, as the national assembly gets down to look at the 2024 budget estimate which the President presented before the lawmakers today, November 29.
Speaking shortly after the presentation of the budget by President Tinubu before the joint session of the National Assembly, Senator Akpabio stressed the need for any minister invited to promptly appear before the relevant Committees.
“To ensure maximum attention to the review of the Year 2023 Budget performance and the consideration of the Year 2024 Budget Proposal, we request that Mr President would mandate Honorable Ministers and Heads of Agencies to avoid any travelling engagements that would prevent them from honoring our invitation to promptly appear before our committees to defend their budget estimates.”
Akpabio reminded the leadership that their actions today, as they embark on considering the budget, “will shape the future of our nation. “Together, let us work towards a budget that reflects the aspirations and dreams of every Nigerian citizen for a greater country.”
Part of the speech of the Senate President is reproduced hereunder:
The presentation of the budgetary estimates sets the course for our nation’s fiscal policies and priorities for the coming year. It is an opportunity for us to deliberate, scrutinize, and collaborate in order to ensure that the budget aligns with the needs, hopes, and aspirations of our people.
Therefore, the National Assembly bears a great responsibility in the task of reviewing and approving the budget. We fully understand the weight of this responsibility, and the impact our decisions will have on the lives and welfare of the Nigerian people. It is our duty to ensure that the budget reflects the principles of transparency, accountability and inclusiveness. Consequently, we will certainly conduct a thorough and meticulous review of the budget estimates.
I would also like to express our gratitude to the President for his tireless efforts in driving economic growth, promoting social welfare, and enhancing the security of our country. His patriotic efforts give us hope, his antecedents comfort us, while his courage to take decisions motivates us.
In our people-focused legislative agenda, we place a strong emphasis on national security, recognizing it as a cornerstone for progress. These challenges demand a united front. We remain steadfast in our determination to work collaboratively with the executive to address and overcome the security challenges confronting our nation. In this National Assembly, the death of any Nigerian equates a loss of a constituent. So when ever we lose anyone to insecurity, it is the sound of the ambulance passing by our window. We believe that insecurity can and must be stopped and it must be stopped by all Nigerians rallying around and supporting Government’s efforts. We also want to seize this opportunity to appreciate our Armed Forces for fighting for us and sometimes paying the supreme sacrifice for us.
We need to acknowledge the specific achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration so far. Those who doubted him, initially, forgot his track record as the Governor of Lagos State, Nigeria’s melting pot. They forgot his various economic reforms that helped attract investments and promoted economic growth; improved the ease of doing business; promoted pro-business policies; and attracted foreign direct investment, not to mention today’s robust internally generated revenue which he grew as the Governor of Lagos from N600 million to N50 billion. Nigerians believe you are the man for the job of fixing our economy.
Already we have seen significant economic reforms. Starting with the courageous removal of the petroleum subsidy which had become an albatross for our nation. He also took steps to unify the multiple foreign exchange markets, signed the 2023 Electricity Bill into an Act, not to mention other good works.
Mr President, Sir, as the removal of the petroleum subsity caused some discomfort in the nation, you responded with compassion and doled out palliatives to assuage the effects on the people. We the elected representatives of the masses of this country took note of the responsiveness your government.
We have also taken note that these bold decisions taken so far by this Government have created some measures of economic discomfort for some Nigerians. We plead for continued support for the Government to actualise the long term benefits of these policies. The pain of today is like the pain of childbirth, when the result (the baby) manifests, we will rejoice and forget the pains. However, we hope these budgetary estimates contain provisions to ameliorate the sufferings that the economic measures has exacted on our fellow citizens whom we represent here.
The Tenth National Assembly is fully aligned with the President’s dreams for our country. Our plans encompass comprehensive legislative actions that will contribute to nation-building, economic growth, and social development. Through strategic reforms, we aim to create an enabling legal environment for sustainable progress and growth.
Mr President, Distinguished Senators and Honorable Members, the two chambers of this Assembly are the two wings upon which not only the executive will soar but our country would rise as well. There is unparrarrel unity between the two chambers. Recently, the House of Representatives set forth its legislative agenda and that of the Senate will be out in due course. Both Chambers believe that we need to encourage the Executive Arm to unbundle some agencies for effectiveness, and merge agencies of Government which job definitions or or roles overlap for greater effectiveness. We deem it necessary for our country to go back to agriculture as a way of stopping the overdependence on crude oil. A monoeconomy is putting all our eggs in one basket. It is a risk we have taken for too long and we cannot continue to tempt providence..
We also believe that education should be prioritized and something done to stop frequent closures. If we do not checkmate the braindrain, the drain will numb our brains. This is why we must open the door of education, because when you open the door of education you close the door of the prison. We also want to plead with the Government to do all within its powers to reduce our high debt profile. We know that Mr President inherited this worrisome burden. But then the mark of a great leader is that he fixes the problems wherever they exist
Mr President, as we embark on this budget presentation, let us reaffirm our commitment to responsible governance, fiscal prudence, and the efficient allocation of resources for the benefit of all Nigerians. Together, with the spirit of unity and collaboration, we can overcome challenges and usher in an era of unprecedented development through reinvigorated revenue generation and fiscal prudence.
We will continue to support the war against corruption and collaborate with anti-graft agencies to ensure that we do not continue to lose money that could be used to develop our people. The Tenth Assembly will always stand with the people, protect their constitutional rights and fight for their welfare. We are glad that you share these sentiments for our people and had codified these in the Renewed Hope Agenda. This Agenda resonates with us as an instrument the people endorsed by voting you into office. Our legislative agenda constellate around it and we believe its faithful implementation would agur well for our nation, and put our country on a new growth trajectory.
Mr. President, we reiterate and assure you of the National Assembly’s readiness to support your administration. Our legislative agenda reflects our dedication to the Nigerian people, and we look forward to achieving remarkable milestones for our great nation under your purposeful leadership. However, from whom much is given, much is expected, and we will try to perform the oversight functions expected of this Assembly and ensure that the tax payers money is used to benefit the taxpayer.
In conclusion, we assure you that the proposals you have come to present will be diligently considered accordingly. We approach this moment with a sense of duty, unity, and purpose.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has assured Nigerians that the legislative arm of the government will strictly monitor the implementation of the 2024 budget for their benefit.
“We must ensure that the budget when finally passed, meets the expectations of the people we represent. We must equally follow through the implementation process through our various oversight engagements.”
Speaker Abbas, who delivered a vote-of-thank today, November 29, after President Bola Tinubu presented the 2024 budget estimate to the joint session of the National Assembly, said that already, budget monitoring committees have been set up.
He said: “for the first time in our legislative history, the 10th House of Representatives created monitoring and evaluation committees to ensure effective implementation of the budget and Mr. President’s 8 Point Agenda among others.”
He told President Tinubu that administration’s renewed hope agenda is the philosophical foundation of the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House of Representatives.
“We have developed a detailed roadmap to ensure that the legislature supports, promotes, and oversees the strategic objectives of this government. A major thematic area of our Agenda is “economic growth and development.
“We recognise the role that parliament plays in shaping the economic trajectory and the role that we play in influencing the economic environment.
“Towards this end, the National Assembly will support the government’s policies and programmes targeted at alleviating poverty, economic restructuring and diversification, as well as general social sector reform and development.
Speaker Abbas said that the Legislative Agenda was on 14th November, 2023 unveiled to the Nigerian public.
“Mr. President, it is a well-known fact that millions of our constituents are living through incredibly difficult times.
“For this reason, they also look to the Tinubu-led government to provide quick and sustainable solutions. The antecedents of the President and your track record in governance inspire a lot of hope in Nigerians.
“Mr. President, it is for this reason that we cannot afford to fail Nigerians. If anyone can change the rot and chart a new course for Nigeria, IT IS YOU! I have no doubt whatsoever that we can measure up to the expectations of Nigerians through your visionary leadership and the commitment of the National Assembly.
“Accordingly, the budget laid before us today should not be seen as a mere financial document but a reflection of our collective resolve to address the most critical needs of our long-suffering citizens. In order to promote economic growth and development, the 2024 Budget should prioritise social welfare programmes to help reduce poverty and inequality.
“Equally important is job creation and youth empowerment in view of the large and ever-growing youth population. Failure to do this means failure to invest in our future.
“This Budget must also prioritise investment in education and healthcare, which is critical to human capital development and a more productive workforce. Infrastructure development is another critical area of importance, which is crucial for economic growth.
“The biggest challenge, however, is balancing these priorities within the constraints of available resources.
“In view of this and the related challenge of a high level of public debt, the National Assembly will ensure that the 2024 budget includes concrete strategies for sustainable debt management, including measures to increase revenue and control expenditure.
“Specifically, the focus should be on raising more revenue through tax reform, fiscal reform, subsidy reform, foreign exchange convergence, and centralised revenue collection. In our recent engagement with MDAs on the MTEF, we emphasised the need for revenue-generating agencies to double their targets to meet the N18 trillion revenue projected in the budget.
“Mr. President, the effectiveness and legitimacy of fiscal policies depend to a very large extent on public support. As the People’s House and in line with our Legislative Agenda, the House of Representatives will convene the first national citizens’ budget town hall to harness public input and opinion.
“We are convinced that this will increase transparency and accountability, improve policymaking, and increase trust in government.
“Public participation in the budgetary process has been shown to improve resource allocation and service delivery as well as a more stable and robust economy.
“By seeking input from citizens, we aim to understand their local needs and preferences better and allocate resources more effectively.
“Going forward, Mr. President, we will also work to institutionalise pre-budget engagement with the executive to further improve and hasten the budget process.
“The House has already commenced interface with MDAs through the Sectoral Debates to understand the challenges facing government agencies and identify areas for legislative intervention. “All of these efforts are geared towards ensuring that we provide the necessary legislative support to your administration’s renewed hope agenda.”
Speaker Abbas identified budget enactment, budget implementation and budget oversight as some of the challenges facing budgets in the country, saying that the gaps in the various stages of the budget process underscore the need for budget reforms, including altering relevant sections of the Constitution and existing laws to strengthen the budget process and transform the budget into an authentic tool for development.
“For this reason, I propose enacting a Budget Act to strengthen the budget process and promote development outcomes. This is a well-established practice in democracies across the world.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has expressed worry over the absence of Nigerian mission in Iraq.
He is therefore planning a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar on the matter.
The Speaker spoke today, November 28, while responding to a concern raised by the Iraqi Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Anwer Saeed Aljabali who visited him.
Speaker Abbas is surprised that as at now, there is no contact point in Iraq where Nigerians can run to for help.
According to the Speaker, Iraq is an important country in the comity of nations, which is why Nigeria efforts must be made to make the Nigerian mission in that country operational.
“I want to assure you that we will take this matter up. I will meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to find ways of resolving the issues so that Nigerian Mission in Iraq will be open once again.”
Speaker Abbas said that the 10th House has established a Parliamentary Friendship Group that would relate with the Iraqi Parliament for better cooperation between the two countries.
“We are serious about parliamentary relations with parliaments around the world. That is why we created the Parliamentary Friendship Group with the Parliament of Iraq. The chairman of the committee will meet you in due course.”
Earlier, Ambassador Aljabali had stressed the need for a parliamentary friendship committee between the two countries.
The Iraqi Ambassador said that the Nigerian Mission in Baghdad has been closed for many years even after the Iraqi war, adding that Nigerians living in that country have to go to countries like Oman to be attended to diplomatically.
He pleaded with the Speaker to intervene on the matter, saying that Baghdad currently houses over 140 missions.

The former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele has been abandoned by friends and associates as none of them came forward to meet the prescribed N300 million bail bond. As a result, he is to remain behind bars till next year.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court had granted bail to Emefiele in the sum of ₦300 million, along with two sureties in like sum. The bail application was filed by his legal representative, Mathew Burkaa, SAN.
The former CBN boss had previously been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Lagos, where he was required to pay ₦20 million.
The charges against Emefiele include allegations of corruptly conferring advantages on individuals and a company, as outlined in a six-count charge.
Among the charges are the award of contracts for the supply of vehicles and other services, totalling over ₦1.2 billion.
The charges specified instances where Emefiele is accused of corruptly conferring advantages on Sa’adatu Ramallan Yaro, a CBN staff, by awarding contracts for the supply of 37 Hilux vehicles at a cost of ₦854.7 million in 2018.
He is alleged to have conferred an advantage on a company with a CBN staff as a director by awarding a contract for the supply of one Toyota Avallon at the cost of ₦99.0 million.
The charges also involve the illegal award of contracts for the supply of Toyota Land Cruiser V8 vehicles, with one incident in 2019 at the cost of ₦73.0 million and another in 2020 at the cost of ₦73.8 million. Emefiele is accused of illegally awarding contracts for the supply of two Toyota Hilux in 2020 at ₦44.2 million and engaging in the illegal purchase of 43 vehicles between 2018 and 2020, amounting to ₦1.2 billion.