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Benue State House of Assembly Passes 2025 Appropriation Bill.
In a significant legislative development, the Benue State House of Assembly has officially passed the 2025 appropriation bill, amounting to N550.1 billion. This pivotal decision was made during a plenary session presided over by Speaker Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh on Monday, following the successful completion of the bill’s third reading.
The appropriation bill, which has been termed the “Budget of Human Capital Development, Food Security and Digital Economy,” was presented to the Assembly by Governor Hyacinth Alia. The House Committee on Appropriation, led by Chairman Cephas Dyako, presented a comprehensive report that facilitated the bill’s passage. The bill was meticulously reviewed and adopted clause by clause before being read for the third time by the clerk of the House, John Hwande.
In addition to the appropriation bill, the Assembly addressed pressing issues concerning the recruitment of primary school teachers by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). Following an investigation by an Ad Hoc Committee, the House approved six recommendations aimed at ensuring fairness and compliance in the recruitment process. These recommendations emphasize the importance of local government representation in hiring practices and the establishment of a compliance committee to oversee the implementation of the House’s resolutions.
The plenary session also witnessed the passage of two significant bills: the Rev Fr Moses Orshio Adasu University Bill and the Benue State University of Agriculture Science and Technology Ihugh Bill.
Speaker Dajoh highlighted the Assembly’s productivity during the second sitting, noting the receipt of 16 bills—nine of which were passed, while four remain in committee and five are pending. The Assembly also deliberated on 17 substantive motions and adopted 31 major resolutions, alongside receiving seven major communications, including requests for revisions to the 2024 Supplementary Budget.
With the conclusion of this plenary session, the Benue State House of Assembly has officially entered recess, marking the end of the Second Sitting of the Second Legislative Session of the Tenth Assembly.
The Federal Government has declared a state of emergency on the construction of the Suleja-Minna road. Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the declaration on Saturday following an inspection of the road. He stated that the project, initially awarded to Salini Nigeria Limited, had been poorly executed or abandoned.
Umahi explained that despite repeated attempts to have Salini repair the road over the past year and a half, progress had been unsatisfactory. Niger Governor Mohammed Bago raised concerns with President Bola Tinubu, prompting the Ministry of Works to intervene. The road, described as being “in a very terrible situation delaying travel time by seven hours instead of an hour and half hours and vehicles are falling and killing people,” has been designated an emergency project.
The contract with Salini has been irrevocably terminated due to substandard work. Umahi has directed his ministry to recover funds owed by Salini, potentially involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Two contractors are now engaged in the project. CCCC International Engineering Nigeria Ltd. has been contracted to handle part of the road, with 60km already completed under the Governor’s urban renewal agenda. CCCC has been given 10 days to mobilize and commence work on a critical 7km stretch. Umahi emphasized that work will begin immediately under emergency procurement guidelines, with pricing to be verified subsequently.
The Nigerian film industry is in mourning following the death of Kayode Peters, a renowned filmmaker and producer. The news was announced by his family on his official Instagram page, stating that he passed away peacefully on the morning of Saturday, June 28, 2025, in Toronto, Canada, after a long illness.
Peters, fondly known as KP, was celebrated for his contributions as a filmmaker, actor, and producer. He was known for his role as Koko in the popular sitcoms “Twilight Zone” and “Flatmates” in the early 2000s. His work also extended to stage plays and sitcoms like “Extended Family” and “Being Farouk,” significantly impacting Nigeria’s contemporary theatre and television landscape.
He is survived by his wife, Alexander, and their children. Funeral arrangements are underway, and further details will be shared by the family in due course. The industry and fans alike will deeply miss his warmth, generosity, and contributions to Nollywood.
President Bola Tinubu arrived in Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia, on Saturday, marking the commencement of a two-nation tour encompassing the Caribbean and South America. Upon arrival at Hewanorra International Airport, he was received with full military honors by Governor-General Errol Melchiades Charles and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.
The President’s itinerary includes courtesy visits to the Governor-General and Prime Minister, followed by an address to a joint session of the Senate and the House of Assembly of Saint Lucia. Discussions will focus on deepening cooperation between Nigeria and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), with emphasis on economic partnerships and cultural solidarity. A visit to the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College is also planned to strengthen educational ties.
Following his engagements in Saint Lucia, President Tinubu will proceed to Brazil to participate in the 2025 BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, attending at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil. Nigeria’s participation as a ‘partner country’ underscores its commitment to strengthening diplomatic and economic relations on a global scale.
A Special Birthday Message to Dike Christopher Nnamdi.
Federal Government Declares State of Emergency on Suleja-Minna Road.
