By Deborah Coker

Sen. Ned Nwoko (APC-Delta) has described as commendable President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to repositioning Nigeria.

Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District, said this in his congratulatory message to Tinubu on the occasion of his 73rd birthday anniversary.

The lawmaker said that the nation recognised the weight of the task before the president and his genuine efforts to steer the country towards growth and stability.

According to him, this special day offers yet another moment to acknowledge Tinubu’s unwavering dedication to the service of the country and his resilience in the face of the enormous responsibility of leadership.

“Mr President, we recognise the weight of the task before you and the genuine efforts you are making to steer the nation towards growth and stability.

“As you celebrate another year today, we acknowledge your unwavering commitment to repositioning Nigeria and advancing the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“It is our earnest hope that the year ahead brings you renewed strength, wisdom, and the collective support needed to fulfil the aspirations of Nigerians,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

By Naomi Sharang

The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has praised Sen. Basheer Lado for redefining the role of Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters.

He stated that, for the first time in years, the office is fully meeting expectations.

Speaking on Friday during a visit to the Special Adviser’s office, Akpabio described the visit as a key step in strengthening Executive-Legislative relations.

Accompanied by distinguished senators, he commended Lado and his team for ensuring a seamless flow of information between the Presidency and the Senate.

He said that the office is now more result-oriented, making governance more effective.

Akpabio also acknowledged its diligent efforts in tracking all bills passed by the Senate and signed into law by the President.

He highlighted the office’s critical role in enhancing legislative efficiency and governance.

Expressing his satisfaction, he said the Senate delegation was proud of the office’s achievements.

“We look forward to sustaining the existing cordial and productive relationship between the Executive and the Legislature throughout this administration,” he stated.

In recognition of his leadership, Lado presented an Award of Excellence to Akpabio.

In his remarks, Lado reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a strong working relationship between both arms of government.

He praised Akpabio’s dedication to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, defending it with clarity and advancing it through legislative action. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Kamal Tayo Oropo

By Naomi Sharang

The Senate has urged the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to engage with telecommunications providers to review the recent increase in data costs.

This, the upper chamber said, was with the view to ensuring that pricing remained fair and affordable for all Nigerians.

The senate’s resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC-Cross River), at plenary on Wednesday.

The motion is with the title: “Urgent Need to Address the Increased Cost of Data Services in Nigeria”.

Moving the motion, Ekpenyong said that telecommunications providers in Nigeria had recently increased the cost of data services by as much as 200 per cent.

“This move has placed significant financial strain on millions of Nigerians, especially young people who rely on the internet for their livelihood.

“Young Nigerians have embraced the digital economy, leveraging the internet for various income-generating activities, including freelancing and remote work, digital marketing and social media management,” he said.

The lawmaker further said fibre-optic internet services remained unaffordable for the average young Nigerian, leaving them dependent on mobile telecommunications companies for internet access.

“The sudden and substantial increase in data cost threatens their economic survival and limits access to critical digital services,” he said.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said the motion, when implemented, would assist young entrepreneurs.

Akpabio said the motion would not only enable them to remain in business but ensure they had affordable prices that would also generate revenue and profits for them.

The upper chamber also resolved to call on the ministry to develop a policy framework for affordable internet services in Nigeria.

The senate said that there was a need for the Federal Government to establish and support tech hubs across the country, providing free or subsidised internet access to young entrepreneurs, students and innovators.

The upper chamber also mandated its Committee on Communications, to conduct an investigation into the factors driving the high cost of data and proffer solutions for a sustainable and business-friendly telecommunications sector. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Florence Onuegbu/Oluwafunke Ishola

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) has congratulated former president Goodluck Jonathan for winning the prestigious 2025 Founders Sunhak Peace Prize (FSPP).

The congratulatory message was issued by the Director-General of the PDP-GF, Dr Emmanuel Agbo, in Abuja on behalf of the Chairman, Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

Mohammed said the award, being one of the highest global honours reserved for men of outstanding initiatives across the world, was well deserving.

He said that since leaving office in 2015, Jonathan had been very visible on the global scene advocating and propagating peace towards the development of humanity.

He said that the global recognition could not be fully appreciated without recalling days of Jonathan as Nigeria’s president between 2010 and 2015.

He recalled how Jonathan, in no small measure, transformed Nigeria and Nigerians lives with impactful policies, projects and programmes in every nook and cranny of the country.

He said that Jonathan’s administration recorded several outstanding and yet to be broken achievements.

These, according to him, include rebase of Nigeria’s economy and its gross domestic product for the first time in over a decade, making the country the largest economy in Africa by overtaking South Africa and Egypt.

Mohammed prayed for divine protection upon Jonathan and his family as he continues to lead and serve by example beyond borders.

NAN reports that Jonathan made history as the winner of the 2025 Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award, a prestigious recognition by the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation in Seoul, South Korea.

With this win, Jonathan becomes the first African leader and only the third recipient of the Founder’s Prize, following in the footsteps of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee lauded Jonathan’s relentless peace efforts, highlighting his pro-democracy initiatives and mediation roles across Africa. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abdulfatai Beki/Sadiya Hamza

By EricJames Ochigbo

The bills seeking creation of State and Local Governments Police, Special Legislatives Seats for Persons with Disability (PwD) and Special Interest Groups scaled second reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The bills were among the 39 constitutional amendment bills seeking judicial and legislative security as well as electoral reforms, sponsored by different members of the house and passed without debate.

Some of the bills, according to the house, are as listed below:

“Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution to provide for special seats for the physically challenged persons in Nigeria’s Federal, State and Local Government Areas and Legislative Houses and for related matters”, sponsored by Rep. Tajudeen Abbas and Rep. Marcus Onobun;

“Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution to provide for six special seats for special interest groups in the House of Representatives and for related matters”, sponsored by Rep. Akintunde Rotimi (APC-Ekiti);

“Bill for An Act to Alter the Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police and Local Government Police and for related matters”, sponsored by Rep. Francis Waive (APC-Delta) and Rep. Akintunde Rotimi (APC-Ekiti);

“Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution to permit public servants to engage in healthcare education, production and services beyond farming and for related matters”, sponsored by Rep. Ahmed Wase (APC- Plateau);

“Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution to ensure gender equality in the composition of the Federal Character Commission and for related matters”, by Rep. Kaftlat Ogbara (APC-Lagos);

“Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution to establish and empower the Political Parties Registration and Regulatory Commission to register, regulate and monitor the organisation and operation of political parties, and for related matters”, by Rep. Aminu Daura (APC-Katsina);

“Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution to confer jurisdiction on the Federal High Court to try offences arising from violations of the Electoral Act and any other Related Act of the National Assembly”, Rep. Muktar Shagaya (APC-Kwara);

“Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution to provide for transition of substantive heads of Courts in Nigeria and to strengthen the procedure for removal of judicial officers in order to guarantee the independence of the judiciary; and for related matters”; and

“Bill for an Act to alter sections 68(1) (g) &109(1)(g) of the Constitution to require the official resignation from a political party before defection by members of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly and for related matters”, by Rep. Adebayo Balogun (APC-Lagos).

In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, referred all the 39 bills to the Committee on Review of the Constitution for further legislative actions. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

By Desmond Ejibas

The Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM), an interest group, has commended President Bola Tinubu for easing political tensions and restoring order in Rivers.

RRM’s Director General, Johnson Georgewill, told journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday that the emergency rule had brought stability to the state.

He said that Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers was timely, as it had helped to de-escalate the crises that had plagued the state for nearly two years.

“We commend President Tinubu, the National Assembly, security agencies, and other national leaders for their timely intervention in rescuing the state,” he said.

Georgewill said that the Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, had, within a short period, restored peace, stability, and unity among the people.

He added that, prior to the sole administrator’s assumption of office, Rivers was frequently in the news for negative developments.

The RRM leader also dismissed threats to blow up pipelines if Gov. Siminalayi Fubara was impeached, claiming that those making such threats were not Ijaw indigenes.

“Those who misguided the suspended governor and threatening lawmakers from performing their legislative duties are non-Rivers Ijaws who do not vote in Rivers State.

“They are also individuals who did not support Gov. Fubara in 2023 elections.

“A majority of indigenous Ijaws in the state support the efforts of President Tinubu and the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to restore peace, particularly the eight-point resolution peace pact,” Georgewill stated.

He further remarked that individuals who had previously fuelled unrest over the purported impeachment of Fubara were now benefitting from the current peace in Rivers.

He expressed gratitude to the state’s traditional rulers and the Rivers Elders Council, led by Chief Ferdinand Alabrabra, for working with the sole administrator to restore stability.

“Furthermore, the majority of Ijaws who contributed to Gov. Fubara’s election in 2023 remain grateful to the political leader of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for his role in liberating indigenous Rivers Ijaws,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Jane-Frances Oraka