WAFFI TV | Feature

Rivers Crisis: Fubara Writes Fresh Letter For 2025 Budget Presentation To Assembly

Less than eight hours after his Chief Judge was placed under investigation for alleged age falsification, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has formally notified the state House of Assembly of his intent to present the 2025 budget. On Wednesday, Fubara was denied access to the Assembly Complex, with House spokesman Hon. Enemi George citing his “failure to formally communicate with the House.” In a letter titled Notice of Presentation of Rivers State 2025 Budget to Rivers State House of Assembly and addressed to Speaker Martins Amaewhule, the Governor referenced his initial visit to the House. “You may recall my failed visit to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 12th March, 2025 for the presentation of the 2025 Rivers State Budget in compliance with the judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. “As you know, the planned presentation of the said budget could not take place because my entourage and I were locked out at the gate and denied entry into the premises despite the prior delivery of a soft copy of the notice to you following the failure of the Clerk to accept the hard copy from us. “Recall further that before this unfortunate incident, the House issued a 48-hour ultimatum to present the 2025 budget even when we were yet to be served with the certified true copy of the judgement and accompanying enrolled orders”, he said. Governor Fubara informed the Speaker in the letter that “we were simply complying with both the order of the Supreme Court and the request of the Rivers State House of Assembly when we came to present the 2025 budget on the 12th of March, 2025. “The Supreme Court has directed that all arms of government should exercise their powers and perform their duties within the ambits of the Constitution and ordinary laws of our country, and this we must do to end the lingering stalemate and advance the progress of our state and the well-being of our people. “No matter the depth of our differences, we believe the interests of the State and our people should take priority over political conflicts. “Against this background, it is my pleasure to again notify you, Mr. Speaker, of my desire and intention to present the 2025 Budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 19th March, 2025 by 11.00 a.m. or any other date within March 2025 that you may consider convenient”. It remains to be seen whether the House will extend the courtesy of responding to the letter, given the ample time available for the budget presentation.

3/14/2025, 7:16:05 AM

Pleasant Lines School Hosts 3rd Biannual Inter~House Sports Competition Today

Pleasant Lines School, Ugolo-Okpe, is gearing up for its highly anticipated 3rd Biannual Inter-House Sports Competition, a celebration of athletic talent, teamwork, and school spirit. The event, which has become a major highlight in the school's calendar, will showcase the determination and skill of young athletes as they compete in various sporting activities. In a statement, the school management expressed excitement about the upcoming competition and extended an open invitation to parents, guardians, sports enthusiasts, and the general public to witness the electrifying contests. The competition is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 14th, 2025, at the Okirikperhen Primary School field. According to the statement, sports lovers and supporters are encouraged to attend and cheer for their favourite houses as students put their best foot forward in pursuit of victory.

3/14/2025, 4:15:00 AM

FG Plans To Lower Airfares

The Federal Government, through the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has announced ongoing efforts to reduce the high cost of air tickets for both domestic and international travel while also enhancing airport safety and security. Speaking at the Ministerial Press Briefing on Thursday in Abuja, Keyamo highlighted key factors driving expensive fares, including limited access to affordable aircraft leasing, trapped funds of foreign airlines, and high airport taxes. He noted that Nigerian airlines face challenges in securing aircraft leases at competitive rates, often resorting to costly leasing or outright purchases, which ultimately impacts ticket prices. “We have domestic tickets and we have international tickets. I talked about domestic tickets and the fact that we don’t have access to lease aircraft at a very cheap cost. We will only go for the very expensive option of leasing aircraft or buying aircraft. We are addressing that. We will see the results very soon with the Cape Town Convention and the Dublin Conference we are going to. The deals are coming in, so we will see the results then,” he said. On improvements in security gaps, he said, “We are happy to report that Abuja and Lagos International Airport also achieved a recertification and in recertifying it, they closed more than 130 gaps at Abuja and Lagos airport. And so there’s a lot of improvement in terms of safety and security in those airports,” Keyamo stated.

3/13/2025, 7:28:35 PM

RMAFC Pledges To Review Salaries Of Public Officials

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has reiterated its dedication to reviewing and recommending appropriate remuneration for public, political, and judicial officeholders in accordance with its constitutional mandate. RMAFC Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Shehu, made this known on Thursday while receiving a delegation from the Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST), led by its Chairman, Hon. Amos Isaac Azi, during a courtesy visit to the Commission. This was disclosed in a press statement issued by Maryam Yusuf, Head of the Information and Public Relations Unit at RMAFC. Shehu assured the delegation of a comprehensive review of IST’s salary structure to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions. Recognizing IST’s vital role in Nigeria’s capital market, he praised its global reputation as a leading specialised tribunal, noting that similar models have been adopted internationally. “We recognise the remarkable work being done by the IST, and its reputation as a model tribunal in capital market adjudication is well deserved. Your role in ensuring swift and fair dispute resolution is instrumental to investor confidence and market stability. Given the importance of your work, it is only right that we give due attention to your remuneration structure to ensure it reflects your responsibilities,” Shehu said. He emphasised that the Commission would revisit the matter with a renewed sense of urgency, ensuring it receives the necessary attention. “We understand that processes like these take time, as they require a comprehensive review and input from various stakeholders. However, the Commission will ensure that this matter receives the attention it deserves. We have within the Commission highly experienced legal professionals, including a commissioner with extensive expertise, who will oversee the review. Once their findings are concluded, we will make a final recommendation,” he said.

3/13/2025, 7:25:07 PM

TETFund To Disburse N2.8bn To Each Public University In 2025

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced its 2025 intervention disbursement plan, allocating N2.86 billion to each public university, N1.99 billion to polytechnics, and N2.18 billion to colleges of education. TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arch. Sonny Echono, disclosed this at a strategic workshop in Abuja, where he outlined the disbursement guidelines for beneficiary institutions. Breakdown of 2025 Allocations Universities - Normal allocation: N2,560,562,352.66 - Zonal allocation: N300,000,000.00 - Total: N2,860,562,352.66 Polytechnics - Normal allocation: N1,794,335,731.71 - Zonal allocation: N200,000,000.00 - Total: N1,994,335,731.71 Colleges of Education - Normal allocation: N1,978,428,260.79 - Zonal allocation: N200,000,000.00 - Total: N2,178,428,260.79 Utilization and Implementation Guidelines** Echono emphasized the importance of fully utilizing 2024 and previous allocations while ensuring a swift procurement process for 2025 funds. In line with the Federal Government’s directive, 2025 Physical Infrastructure Development allocations will prioritize: - Upgrading, rehabilitating, and renovating outdated infrastructure. - Encouraging advanced planning of projects through physical planning and consultancy units. - Boosting research funding, academic staff training, and manuscript/book development. TETFund 2025 Disbursement Structure The 2025 allocation is categorized as follows: - 91.08% – Direct Disbursement - 48.90% – Annual Direct Disbursement - 42.18% – Special Direct Disbursement - 8.72% – Designated Projects - 0.20% – Stabilization Fund Under Special Direct Disbursement, priority areas include: - Expansion of the Special High Impact Programme (SHIP). - Completion of the National Library in Abuja. - Mechanized farm projects in select universities. - Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for student hostel construction. Key Focus Areas in 2025 Guidelines Medical Education Expansion - Increased infrastructure for medical training, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists. - Adoption of medical simulation technology to enhance learning and patient care. Energy and Campus Infrastructure - Provision of alternative power solutions to address rising energy costs. - Strengthening campus security and disaster recovery initiatives. Research and Innovation - Continued support for the National Research Fund. - Institutionalization of Research & Development (R&D) initiatives. - Expansion of industry-academia partnerships through the Triple Helix Initiative. Laboratory & Agricultural Development - Funding for central research laboratories in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt. - Establishment of three new agricultural research centers/demonstration farms. Technical and Vocational Education (TVET) - Upgrading engineering workshops and laboratories across institutions. - Increased investment in the National Skills Development/TVET program. New Intervention Initiatives TETFund’s 2025 intervention package introduces: - Diaspora Outreach/Exchange Program - Staff Support Fund for tertiary institutions - Electric tricycles for campus transportation - Student Startup/Innovation Grants - 12 new Entrepreneurship & Innovation Hubs in polytechnics and colleges of education Additionally, TETFund is expanding its TERAS platform to digitize and modernize learning institutions, encouraging beneficiaries to leverage digital tools for enhanced learning. Echono urged institutions to reduce dependency on government funding by fostering private-sector partnerships for infrastructure development, particularly for student accommodation. Stakeholder Engagement The workshop was attended by representatives from key education bodies, including: - Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) - National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) - Other major education stakeholders With a strong focus on infrastructure, research, and innovation, the 2025 TETFund disbursement plan aims to strengthen Nigeria’s tertiary education system and enhance learning experiences across institutions.

3/13/2025, 7:20:05 PM

Rivers Assembly Orders DSS To Investigate Chief Judge Over Age Falsification

The Rivers State House of Assembly has pledged to investigate the State’s Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Simeon Amadi, over allegations of age falsification. During its 135th plenary session in Port Harcourt on Thursday, the assembly resolved to involve the Department of State Services (DSS) for a swift probe into the claims. The issue dominated the plenary after the House Leader, Hon. Major Jack, presented certain documents to the Speaker. Deputy Speaker Hon. Dumle Maol alleged that Justice Amadi had falsified his age in service. Maol said: “These documents before me simply say that the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Simeon Amadi, falsified his age in service. Mr Speaker, that is a very serious allegation, and I do hope that this House takes legislative notice.” After deliberating on the petition, the House passed a resolution through a voice vote. The assembly also agreed to formally request the Director of the DSS to investigate the allegation and report back on the findings. Meanwhile, Speaker Martin Amaewhule clarified that the issue at hand concerned the alleged age falsification of the Chief Judge. He said: “The documents are only suggesting a case of age falsification by the honourable Chief Judge of the state, Simeon Amadi. What it means is that there has to be an investigation to that effect.”

3/13/2025, 2:55:10 PM

Ukraine: Russia Ready To Discuss Peace Initiative With US~ Minister

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Russia is open to discussions with the United States regarding a peace initiative recently discussed between Washington and Kyiv. She indicated that such talks could potentially take place on Thursday. Following discussions with senior U.S. diplomats in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Ukraine expressed willingness to accept a 30-day ceasefire, while the United States confirmed it had presented the proposal to Moscow. “We are ready to discuss the initiatives set out there in future contacts with the United States. Such contacts are already possible as early as today,” Zakharova said. Earlier, the Kremlin announced that U.S. negotiators were en route to Russia. It also stated that Russian foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov and U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz had a phone conversation on Wednesday.

3/13/2025, 1:12:00 PM

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