2025 Budget: N’ Assembly Demands Withdrawal of Contract Circulars Over Delayed Capital Releases

* As ₦23.9tn capital allocation faces 2026 roll-over

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

In a significant move that may alter the trajectory of the 2025 budget implementation, the National Assembly on Thursday demanded the immediate withdrawal of all circulars issued for contract awards under the 2025 fiscal year.

The federal parliament cited delays in capital budget execution, signaling that the N23.9 trillion capital component may extend into the 2026 fiscal cycle.

The resolution was jointly adopted by the Appropriations Committees of both the Senate and the House of Representatives during a joint budget assessment session with the Federal Government’s economic team at the Senate wing of the National Assembly.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West), who read out the resolution, stressed the need to streamline the commencement of the 2025 capital projects with the formal issuance of spending authority.

Adeola said: “Implementation of the capital component of the 2024 budget continues until December 31, 2025.

“The capital implementation for 2025 should commence immediately, and the Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) must be issued within seven days of this meeting. 

“Until then, all circulars issued by the Ministry of Finance to MDAs on contract awards should be withdrawn.”

This move followed a similar resolution adopted earlier in the week by the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee and reflects the legislature’s growing concern over overlapping budget cycles and the implications for project delivery and fiscal discipline.

Present at the joint session were key members of the Federal Government’s economic management team, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Samsudeen Ogunjimi; and Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr. Tanimu Yakubu.

The session concluded with a closed-door meeting between the lawmakers and the executive officials, with no opposition raised by the economic team to the legislature’s resolution.

The 2025 Appropriation Bill, valued at N54.99 trillion, includes a record-high N23.9 trillion earmarked for capital expenditure, much of which now risks delayed implementation amidst transitional fiscal planning between 2024 and 2025 cycles.

The meeting was still ongoing behind closed doors as of the time of filing this report.

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    Tinubu: Nigeria Ready to Host Africa’s First Commonwealth Games in 2030

    Tinubu: Nigeria Ready to Host Africa’s First Commonwealth Games in 2030

    President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to host a world-class 2030 Commonwealth Games, aiming to become the first African nation to achieve this historic milestone.

    ‎Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu gave the assurance on Thursday during a visit by the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    ‎The president reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to hosting an inclusive, diverse and world-class 2030 Commonwealth Games on African soil.

    ‎Gbajabiamila held a strategic meeting with the delegation led by Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance, and member of the 2030 Evaluation Commission.

    ‎President Tinubu emphasized that the Commonwealth champions unity and diversity, and Africa deserves its moment after nearly a century.

    The games have never been hosted in Africa since inception in 1930, making Nigeria’s bid historic and overdue.

    ‎”You’re very welcome to Nigeria. I hope you enjoy our great hospitality which we are known for, Mr President also asked me personally to convey his regards, he’s fully in support of this bid.

    ‎”As I said, the president has written a letter of guarantee to you, his full weight is behind this bid.

    ‎”What I can assure you is that we’re ready. We’re willing, we’re able, and we actually want this. It’s been 100 years… The games have not been held on any soil in Africa.

    ‎”The element of inclusivity is what the Commonwealth is, and we hope that to our benefit.

    ‎”You know, this administration has set some bold reforms to reposition sports. We see sports as a strategic driver of national development.

    ‎”The president intentionally scrapped the Ministry of Sports and created a National Sports Commission to drive sports development,” he said.

    ‎President Tinubu assured the delegation that all infrastructure, security and hospitality needs will be met ahead of schedule.

    ‎He emphasized that Nigeria’s bid is not just about hosting but leaving a legacy for youth and national development.

    ‎The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, made a strong case for Nigeria over India, stressing that Africa has 22 Commonwealth nations, and Nigeria—as the continent’s giant—deserves the honour.

    ‎”One thing I want to assure you is that the president sees the hosting of the Commonwealth Games in 2030, if we win the bid, as a celebration of the country’s growing force in sports, beyond just participation,” he stated.

    ‎The President of Commonwealth Sport Nigeria, Habu Gumel, said the country is ready to host environmentally sustainable Games.

    ‎The Chairman of the Bid Committee, Mainasara Illo, presented Nigeria’s proposal, highlighting key plans and innovations.

    ‎He revealed that Nigeria proposes 15 sports, with football introduced to boost excitement, global visibility, and audience engagement.

    ‎The Director of Games and Assurance, Darren Hall, thanked President Tinubu and the Nigerian team for their warm welcome.

    ‎“I have been most thrilled by the passion of the Nigerian people in all their endeavors, including sports,” he said.

    ‎He said the Commonwealth, now comprising 74 nations, is aiming for greater diversity as it approaches its 100-year milestone.

    ‎Top government officials attended the meeting, including Ministers of Information, Aviation, Culture, Police Affairs, and Housing.

    ‎The delegation who are on a four-day visit will meet key stakeholders and inspect key facilities.

    ‎Nigeria and India are the two official bidders for the 2030 Games, with Abuja and Ahmedabad as their proposed host cities.

    ‎The Commonwealth Games General Assembly will decide the host city in November 2025, after thorough evaluation of both bids. (NAN)

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    ‎ President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to host a world-class 2030 Commonwealth Games, aiming to become the first African nation to achieve this historic milestone. ‎ ‎Represented by
    The post Tinubu: Nigeria Ready to Host Africa’s First Commonwealth Games in 2030 appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

    Counterinsurgency: ONSA, Military, Police, DSS, 20 Others Conduct Joint Simulation Exercise in Abuja

    Counterinsurgency: ONSA, Military, Police, DSS, 20 Others Conduct Joint Simulation Exercise in Abuja

    Linus Aleke in Abuja 

    The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in collaboration with the Nigerian military, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and over 20 other emergency and response agencies of the Federal Government, Thursday conducted a crisis response simulation exercise, codenamed Rapid Response 2.

    ONSA noted that the annual simulation exercise, which took place at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to test the preparedness of the military, security, intelligence, emergency, and response agencies in effectively countering terrorism, insurgency, and other forms of violent extremism in the country.

    Speaking during the simulation exercise, the Director of Presidential Communication, Command and Control Centre, ONSA, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Nmoyem, stated that the simulation exercise, an annual event, is primarily conducted to test the  response capabilities in accordance with the national crisis management doctrine.

    Stressing that in every crisis synergy matters, Admiral Nmoyem said the essence of the simulation exercise was to further strengthen synergy among response agencies in the fight against terrorism. 

    He said: “It is about how we can get the ministries, departments and agencies of government to collaborate and work together to tackle any situation.”

    On how the exercise can help curb the growing insecurity in Nigeria, he explained: “Crises can occur at any time, and the purpose of exercises like this is to refresh the knowledge of those who are the first line of responders in crisis management regarding their responsibilities. Secondly, we aim to assess their response capabilities and competence in handling their core duties. If we conduct this periodically, it will help ensure that when crises arise, we are better prepared to respond adequately. We may not respond perfectly, but exercises like this help prepare the agencies for such incidents in real-life situations.”

    The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, stated that the exercise serves more as a coordination forum — not just a simulation exercise — enabling the relevant agencies present to understand the roles expected of them.

    “Don’t forget that after this exercise, we will all return to review the process, and wherever we find lapses, we will work to close the gap. What you have witnessed today is the Office of the National Security Adviser taking charge of the security aspects. For NEMA, our role is to manage the fallout from security issues. Once the security phase is handled, we step in as first responders. All the relevant MDAs are present here.”

    She, however, pointed out that crowd control is always a challenge in crisis management. 

    Umar further explained: “We saw this demonstrated, with bystanders and onlookers trying to take photographs. In the scenario, they had to be decontaminated because sometimes the attack could be chemical, and people may not realise that. Even gaining access to buildings during such incidents becomes difficult due to crowd control issues.”

    She advised that whenever a disaster occurs, members of the public should make way to enable responders to reach those in need of immediate assistance.

    The royal father of the day and Chairman of the Traditional Council of Chiefs of Kokona LGA, Lawrence Ayih Abaga, said security agencies need information to function optimally.

    Emphasising the imperative of intelligence sharing, he said: “When a disaster occurs and no information is relayed to the appropriate agencies, they remain unaware of the incident. Timely information enables security and emergency agencies to act swiftly and tackle the situation.”

    The post Counterinsurgency: ONSA, Military, Police, DSS, 20 Others Conduct Joint Simulation Exercise in Abuja appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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    Linus Aleke in Abuja  The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in collaboration with the Nigerian military, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Department of State Services (DSS), the
    The post Counterinsurgency: ONSA, Military, Police, DSS, 20 Others Conduct Joint Simulation Exercise in Abuja appeared first on THISDAYLIVE.

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