Author: Vardiafrica

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, yesterday, clarified his earlier comments on Nigeria’s N149.39 trillion debt, stressing President Bola Tinubu was committed to ensuring that borrowing remains responsible and tied to productive investments. Also, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, expressed optimism about the country’s fiscal outlook. Both officials delivered their remarks at the 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC), hosted by Nigeria’s House Public Accounts Committee, under the theme: “Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight of Public Debt.” The National Assembly recently…

Scarcity of petroleum products may soon hit the country as members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) continue their strike on Tuesday after negotiations between the Federal Government, organised labour, and the Dangote Group hit a roadblock late Monday in Abuja. This came as NUPENG officials stopped fuel loading activities across depots nationwide on Monday, and kicked against Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s alleged ban on workers’ unionism. Talks broke down after Sayyu Dantata, who represented the Dangote Group, reportedly walked out on Labour Minister Muhammad Dingyadi and the labour delegation during discussions over the unionisation of…

The National Assembly says Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan cannot resume office, despite completing her 6-months suspension. The Kogi Central senator had written to the National Assembly notifying that her suspension had expired and indicating her desire to return to the senate. Although the National Assembly is still on recess, the Clerk to the National Assembly, in response to her letter, communicated that her suspension which took effect on March 6, 2025 is still a pending issue in court. According to the letter seen by AIT News, until the judicial process is completed and the senate reviews the court’s pronouncement, no decision…

Atiku Abubakar, a former vice-president, says the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition will be unrelenting in defending the rights of Nigerians. Abubakar spoke during meetings with Aminu Tambuwal, senator representing Sokoto south; and Abubakar Malami, former attorney-general of the federation, on Monday. In an X post, he noted that opposition leaders are working to rescue democracy in Nigeria. “We will be unrelenting in defending the rights of every Nigerian being harassed by anti-democratic forces of the Tinubu-led APC administration,” Abubakar said. “The coalition that we are pushing is aimed at rescuing our democracy from the stranglehold of this emerging dictatorship. We shall…

The former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Prof. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu has canvassed that the $450m Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCI Fund) be increased to US$1bn, to cater for the funding of mega of oil and gas projects, setting up of pipe mills and manufacturing of other critical equipment needed in the oil and gas sector. He also recommended that oil and gas producing companies should provide timelines for developing oil and gas blocks, same condition for firms that win industry contracts based on commitments of investments.He made these recommendations and dwelt on similar issues on Monday at the…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Bayelsa State Office, on Wednesday in Yenagoa, pledged to deepen collaboration in human capacity Development (HCD), just as the Board was proclaimed Best-in-Training Contribution by the Fund. The Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, speaking through the General Manager, Human Capacity Development (HCD), Barr. Esueme Dan Kikile, welcomed the ITF Management team, led by the Area Manager, Mrs. Oluwatosin Akingbola, to the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), noting that the similarities in their respective mandates was a compelling ground for close collaboration. He recalled…

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) said it has rejected the Federal Government’s planned five per cent tax on petroleum products, describing it as a “reckless proposal” which is “nothing but an act of economic wickedness against already overburdened Nigerians”. The union said that the government policy, if implemented, would compound suffering, cripple businesses, and push millions of citizens deeper into poverty. It stated that the Federal Government cannot continue to use Nigerians as sacrificial lambs for its economic experiments. “Let it be clear: workers and citizens are still reeling from the pains of subsidy removal, skyrocketing fuel prices,…

Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, has said that the oil industry is too vital to Nigeria’s economy to be subjected to industrial unrest or corporate policies that threaten peace and stability. Dingyadi stated this in his opening remark at the commencement of a conciliation meeting convened by the Federal Government to end the nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) against the Dangote Group. The meeting, which commenced at about 5:15 p.m., was attended by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, senior officials of the Ministry,…

The Department of State Service (DSS) has issued a one-week ultimatum to human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, demanding the retraction of what it described as a “false, malicious, and inciting” social media post about President Bola Tinubu. In a letter dated September 7, the service accused the human rights activist of making criminal and derogatory remarks against the President in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on August 26. DSS warned that failure by Sowore to comply with its demands will force it to “explore all lawful means” to protect national security and public order. Sowore, a former presidential candidate…

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed concerns over Nigeria’s rising debt profile, warning that the country has exceeded its statutory threshold and now faces a serious threat to fiscal sustainability. Speaking on Monday at the opening of the 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC) at the National Assembly, Abuja, Abbas said Nigeria’s debt under President Bola Tinubu had reached “a critical point” and called for urgent reforms in borrowing practices and parliamentary oversight. He described the breach of the debt limit as “a signal of…