This allocation aims to enhance the ongoing fight against insecurity and anti-insurgency operations.

Specifically, N184.25 billion has been allocated for the acquisition of military equipment, arms, and ammunition.

This significant allocation is part of the N2.18 trillion supplementary budget for the 2023 fiscal year, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council.

Within this funding package, the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces are set to receive over N147.03 billion to intensify internal operations against groups like Boko Haram, bandits, kidnappers, and other anti-insurgency threats.

The Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, and the Nigerian Navy will receive N211.5 billion, N112.2 billion, and N62.8 billion, respectively, making them the primary beneficiaries of the military budget. The breakdown includes N245.1 billion for recurrent expenditure and N329.99 billion for capital expenditure.

According to Minister Abubakar Bagudu of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the budget’s primary purpose is to address urgent national defense and security needs.

An additional N300 billion has been allocated for bridge repairs, including the Eko and Third Mainland Bridges, as well as road construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance. N18 billion is designated for the Independent National Electoral Commission to support elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo, while N5.5 billion is allocated to launch the student loans board.

In the supplementary budget, N49.99 billion is directed towards the Ministry of Defense, with N33.6 billion for recurrent and N16.4 billion for capital expenditure.

The Nigerian Army’s budget allocation of N211.5 billion comprises N116.3 billion for recurrent and N95.2 billion for capital expenditure.

The budget also covers various capital projects, including the acquisition of arms and ammunition, refurbishment, and upgrades of military equipment.

Additionally, N31.59 billion has been set aside to boost the morale of security officers through allowances and severance packages.

This comes as a response to the sacrifices made by 186 security operatives in their line of duty between January and September 2023.

Furthermore, the Federal Government has approved N16.02 billion for “Operation Dakatar da Barawo,” aimed at combating oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

This operation, initiated by the Nigerian Navy in collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited, seeks to prevent further sabotage of the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure in the region.

Lastly, N5.09 billion has been allocated for the president’s yacht in the government’s plans.

TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arc Sunny Echono, made this revelation during an interactive session with leaders of beneficiary institutions in Abuja, where he discussed disbursement guidelines for the 2024 intervention cycle.

Echono attributed this exceptional revenue increase to several factors, including the approval of a 3 percent share of accessible profit by both former and present administrations, as well as measures implemented by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in partnership with TETFund.

In response to the improved tax collections in 2024, TETFund has allocated a significant increase in annual direct disbursements as part of its intervention program.

Approximately 90.54 percent of the taxes generated will be directly disbursed, with 6.5 percent designated for specific projects and 2.94 percent for stabilization efforts.

Echono also announced plans to expand the Special High Impact Programme (SHIP) with upgrades to laboratories, workshops, and equipment in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education (technical) for the 2024 Intervention Year.

Additionally, the Early Grade Resource Centers Phase II will be extended to Colleges of Education accredited by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

He called upon external stakeholders, including the National Assembly, to minimize distractions and support TETFund’s efforts to elevate tertiary institutions to the envisioned heights set by President Bola Tinubu.

In response, Prof Paulinus Okwelle, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), commended TETFund for its commendable activities in colleges of education throughout the nation.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu who disclosed this while speaking after the FEC meeting on Monday in Abuja, said the budget is to fund urgent issues.

“The council considered a request for supplementary appropriation, which is a second for 2023,” he said at the State House in Abuja.

“And graciously approved the sum of N2,176,791,286,033 as supplementary budget and this supplementary budget is to fund urgent issues including N605 billion for national defence and security.

“This is to sustain the gains made in security and to accelerate and these are funds that are needed by the security agencies before the year runs out. ”

According to him, there will be allocations to maintain previous progress on national security and agriculture.

The budget will also cover four months of wage awards for Federal Government workers and student loan funds.

“Equally the sum of N210 billion is provided for the payment of wage Awards. In negotiation with the Nigeria Labour Congress,” Bagudu added.

“The Federal Government agreed to pay N35,000 each to about 1.5 million employees of the Federal Government for September, October, November, and December 2023.

“And that amounts to about N210 billion which has been approved and also N400 billion as Cash Transfer payments.

“You may recall that the Federal Government secured a $800m loan from the World Bank to pay cash transfers of N25,000 to 15 million households. The $800 million is for two months: October and November. The President graciously approved that an additional month should be funded by the federal government and that is what this N100 billion is for.”

According to him, out of the amount for the supplementary budget, the Federal Government approved N18 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi State off-cycle elections next month.

“Equally N18 billion was provided for the Independent National Electoral Commission to support them in the conduct of the Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo elections,” he noted.

“Yes, some N5.5 billion naira was provided for the funding of the takeoff of the student loans board as well as N8 billion for the take-off grant of new ministries.

“Equally, a sum of N200 billion was provided as capital supplementation to deal with urgent requests that have been made to Mr President from various parts of the country.”

This appeal was made on Wednesday in Owerri at the ongoing mediation and dialogue training for political actors in the Southeast and South-South Zones, in collaboration with the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, and other stakeholders. It was made by Dr. Onyinye Onwuka, Head of Mediation and Coordination of Regional Political Affairs, MCRA, ECOWAS Commission.

At the fourth and final training and interactive engagement in the series, Onwuka, who spoke on behalf of the President of the Commission, Amb. Omar Alieu Touray, and the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdel-Fattah Musah, also tasked the political actors to renew their commitments to upholding the provisions of the signed Peace Accord and the Electoral Act and Guidelines, stressing that these are what would ensure peaceful and credible elections.

She clarified that this was a tactical assistance and intervention measure for peaceful general elections in Nigeria in 2023.

Onwuka further declared that the ECOWAS Commission was ready to continue working with the appropriate parties to ensure the prevention of election-related tensions and violence throughout the entire West African region, not only in Nigeria.

In order to achieve this, she stated that they are giving creating platforms and opportunities for such interactions top priority. She also mentioned supporting initiatives aimed at giving stakeholders the knowledge and abilities they need to manage election-related disputes through inclusive dialogue and mediation.

In a similar vein, Engr. Yabagi Sani, the National Chairman of IPAC, concurred with the ECOWAS Commission on the significance of Nigeria to West Africa and the entire world, noting that all Africans and the rest of the world look to Nigeria to conduct a peaceful, free, fair, transparent, and credible election.

Sani asserts that by providing training in communication and mediation aimed at ensuring peaceful elections in 2023, ECOWAS is being proactive and conscious of its obligations.

He said, “So like I said, this training is very timely and appropriate to prepare various political parties and key players in the exercise of the 2023 elections on the need to always go the way of peace through dialogue. This is because once we can communicate, you find out that problems are largely solved.”

He assured that the participants who are mostly political actors would internalize the essence of the training and work towards free, fair, and credible polls in the country.

On his part, the Head of the Department, of Election and Party Monitoring, EPM, Mr. Victor O. Nwokeabia, who represented the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Imo state, Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, described the program as fundamentally crucial to the in-coming election, noting that no meaningful election could take place in an environment prone to violence.

“I believe that after this event, you will all go home, and inform your candidates and members of your political parties on the importance of alternative dispute resolution,” he stated.

Nwokeabia assured that INEC was ready to conduct a violent-free election, assuring that it would no longer be business as usual with BVAS.

He added that other electronic devices procured by INEC for free and fair elections would be used to give Nigerians the best election this year.

Also speaking, the commissioner of police in Imo State, CP Mohammed Barde who spoke through CSP Mike Abattam assured that the security agencies would leave no stone unturned to contribute their quota for a credible election.

He however pleaded with the media for accurate, objective, and unbiased reportage of the election, avoidance of hate speeches by politicians, and the need to educate the people on their rights as established in the constitution.

According to him, “As we prepare for the polls, there must be information flow by the media during the pre-election, election itself, and post-election.”

The workshop featured lectures on Dialogue and Mediation processes for the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC)– Nigeria by Professor Joy Onyesoh, Dr. Onyinye Onwuka, and Dr. Brown Odige as well as a goodwill message from Ambassador Musa Sani, Nuhu- -Nigeria’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS through the Senior Councillor, Permanent Mission of Nigeria to ECOWAS; Mr. Makwe Samuel Victor. This brings to an end the series of the trainings aimed at peacefully 2023 polls having taken place in Lagos for the Southwest, Kano for the Northwest and parts of Northeast, and Jos for North Central and parts of Northeast.

The Commission, therefore noted that it has meticulously factored out errors and would deliver a hitch-free census.

Chairman of the Commission, Nasir Isa-Kwarra, gave the assurance at the opening ceremony of the national level training of Training  Centre  Managers And Administrators  (TCMA) for the 2023 population and housing census, held at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria in Abuja.

He said the Commission was irrevocably committed to positively rewrite the history of censuses in Nigeria and deliver to Nigeria, accurate and reliable census data.

According to him, “Preparations for the 2023 Population and Housing Census are on course and the Commission is confident that the prospect for an accurate and reliable census appears brighter than ever. This optimism is rooted in the fact that the present Commission has taken time to identify and deliberate on issues that stalled past censuses and have resolved to avoid those pitfalls through the adoption of scientific planning and modern digital technology.

“I, therefore, appeal to Nigerians to join the Commission in the bid to give our dear country accurate and reliable data through the forthcoming 2023 Population and Housing Census. In addition, there is a need for a shift in national attitude that sees census data as a tool for seeking economic and political advantages. Rather, we must strive to discover the real essence of the census data as a treasure of information and compass in the effort to build and plan a greater and prosperous Nigeria.

“Our vision of the 2023 census has been designed to produce not only accurate, reliable and acceptable census but also inclusive and user-friendly census data. This desire has informed the scope and quality of preparations made for the census thus far.

“Census is a national event and is the responsibility of every citizen to participate by presenting themselves to be counted. The Commission will no doubt, need the support of all stakeholders to deliver to the country credible and reliable data it can use for sustainable development planning.”

Giving reasons for the training of managers and administrators ahead of the 2023 census, the NPC Chairman said, “the success of every project is a direct function of the quality of manpower deployed in its execution and for a major national assignment such as the 2023 Population and Housing Census, its overall success will no doubt be tied to the quality of the entire workforce which will largely depend on the quality of training received. However, such must be done within an environment suitable for teaching and learning.

“To this end, the Commission has prioritized the training of centre managers and administrators for effective service delivery.  As centre managers and administrators, they will be equipped with relevant skills and knowledge to carry out their duties efficiently.”

Buhari signed the 2023 transition budget Tuesday morning at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in the presence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other members of the Federal Executive Council.

Speaking at the occasion, the President pledged that, as it neared May 29, 2023, his administration will expedite important national infrastructure projects.

He noted that the budget is N21.83 trillion aggregate expenditure, an increase N1.32 trillion over the initial executive proposal of N20.51 trillion.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, had revealed to journalists at the weekend after a closed-door meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that the President would sign the 2023 budget Tuesday.

Lawan said, “We are looking forward to Mr President signing the Appropriation Bill 2023, by the grace of God, on Tuesday.

“This because we signed the documents yesterday, having lost some time because of some anomalous figures we had in the bill presented to the National Assembly.

“But thank God, the National Assembly, in both chambers, has passed the Appropriation Bill 2023 on Wednesday, and I’m sure that Mr. President and his team, on the executive side will work on what we have done. And the first thing on Tuesday, the first official working day of the year, I believe that Mr. President will be signing the Appropriation Bill 2023.”

This is in accordance with human rights attorney Femi Falana (SAN), who condemned the recent murder of lawyer Mrs. Bolanle Raheem in Ajah, who was based in Lagos.

Raheem met an unexpected end when Drambi Vandi, a police officer with a gun in his hand, fatally shot her on Christmas Day. Many Nigerians are outraged by her death, and President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Inspector General of Police Usman Baba Alkali have all called for an impartial investigation and promised that justice will be done in the case.

Four days after Raheem’s gruesome murder, Falana in a statement said even though the presidential candidates have condemned the incident, they are yet to inform the masses how they will decisively tackle killings by security operatives should they be voted into office.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and complete disapproval of the horrendous killing, even though it is a common phenomenon under his administration,” Falana stated.

“In the same vein, the presidential candidates of the leading political parties have berated the Nigeria Police Force over the killing.

“It is however curious to note that these political leaders have not informed Nigerian voters how they intend to end the extrajudicial killing of unarmed citizens by the police and other security agencies in the county if they win the 2023 presidential election.”

Prior to the deployment of the BVAS device, Yahaya claimed that some politicians had exploited the card readers used in past elections for electoral fraud. Yahaya made this claim on Tuesday in the Tukulma ward of the Akko Local Government Area (LGA) of Gombe State.

The governor said the BVAS had been introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to avert such electoral frauds.

He said he remained confident that if the 2023 elections were to be held anytime, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates at all levels would win elections in the state.

“Before now, some people will sit in a room and write results, declaring whoever the winner of election, but with BVAS, we are not scared because we have supporters,” he said.

Yahaya appealed to potential voters in the ward to ensure that they collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), adding that the PVCs remained the only tools for electorates to choice and determine their leaders during election.

He called on women and youths to vote for Bola Tinubu and all APC candidates in the state, adding that a vote for his party would help sustain the good performances so far recorded by his administration in the state.

Earlier, the State Director-General, APC Campaign Council, Mr Zubair Umar, appealed to supporters to collect their PVCs ahead of the 2023 general election to exercise their franchise.

Umar also called on youths to engage in peaceful politics and eschew violence.

He said that Yahaya needed no campaign for re-election because his administration had performed beyond expectations in all sectors.

According to him, there are over 200,000 PVCs yet to be collected in Gombe State, so I urge supporters and all those who registered to ensure that they collect their PVCs before elections to enable them vote the party of their choice.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Yahaya and his campaign team had so far visited all the wards in Balanga, Kaltungo, Kwami, Shongom and Billiri LGAs of the state and are currently campaigning in Akko LGA.

The commission’s Chairman, Nasir Kwarra disclosed this on Tuesday during a press conference in Calabar.

Represented by Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji, Chairman, Public Affairs Committee of the Commission, Kwarra noted that presently, Nigeria was the sixth most populous nation in the world.

The chairman said that by 2050, Nigeria would be the third most populous country in the globe going by her growth rate.

According to him, this is very significant, therefore, the next census is not just important to us in Nigeria for planning but has international relevance.

“The world wants to know whether Nigeria is set to become the third most populous country in the world.

“You hear that Nigeria has the biggest market in Africa and so, whatever happens to its population is of interest to any serious minded businessman and international organisations,” he said.

Kwarra said that was why it used the 2022 Calabar Carnival as a platform to sensitize Nigerians on the importance of the census.

He said the commission had planned the 2023 census activities in such a way that it would not get entangled in the political process, had no political undertones but purely for data collection for national planning.

While calling on the media to publicize the activities of the commission towards having a credible census, he said the 2023 enumeration exercise would be the first in Africa where every participant would be geographic defined.

Similarly, Navy Captain Charles Ogwa rtd, NPC Federal Commissioner for Cross River said the carnival was the biggest and most flamboyant street party in Sub-Saharan Africa with about 2,000,000 live viewers.

Ogwa said because of this huge viewership, the NPC in its strides to sensitize Nigerians about the census had decided to partake in the 2022 Calabar Carnival.

He said the main objective of the commission was to strategically reach a large number of people within and outside Nigeria.

“At the level we are now, we have successfully demarcated Nigeria with the use of high technological methodologies.

“We have also conducted pretests and trial census in the six geopolitical zones and it was successful.

“We are also ensuring that our staff are properly recruited and trained to have a 100 per cent quality man power,” he added.

Guterres who made the pledge at the end of year press conference at UN Headquarters said, “We owe it to people to find solutions, to fight back, and to act”.

Building on his general call to action, Guterres announced that he would convene a Climate Ambition Summit in September 2023, and called on every leader to “step up – from governments, business, cities and regions, civil society and finance.”

He said it would be “a no-nonsense summit. No exceptions. No compromises. There will be no room for back-sliders, greenwashers, blame-shifters or repackaging of announcements of previous years.”

The UN chief said it would be convened alongside a General Assembly opening-week summit already in the calendar, designed to accelerate action at the halfway point towards the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals.

He said that although there might be “plenty of reasons for despair”, amid the Ukraine war, and associated cost-of-living crisis leaving the poorest nations on “debt row”, that was not an option.

“This is not a time to sit on the sidelines, it is a time for resolve, determination, and – yes – even hope.

“Because despite the limitations and long odds, we are working to push back against despair, to fight back against disillusion and to find real solutions.

“Not perfect solutions – not even always pretty solutions – but practical solutions that are making a meaningful difference to people’s lives.

“Solutions that must put us on a pathway to a better, and more peaceful future,” Guterres added.

He highlighted the deal to halt the destruction of ecosystems worldwide, at the UN’s Biodiversity Conference, COP15.

“We are finally starting to form a peace pact, with nature”, he said, urging all countries to deliver on their promises.

Progress has been made on ending conflict in some of the world’s warzones, he said, pointing to the cessation of hostilities in northern Ethiopia, as another “reason for hope”, a by-product of “a rebirth of diplomacy.”