General News
Abbas proposes think-tank to advise NASS on economic policies, laws
By Saint Mugaga
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen has proposed a think-tank to be known as the National Assembly and Business Executive Roundtable with the aim of closing gaps between legislative interventions and current economic realities.
Speaker Abbas noted that the proposed NABER, which will be composed of the lawmakers and stakeholders in the organised private sector, is to feel the pulse and understand the impact of laws on the country’s economy.
Speaker Abbas made the proposal on Thursday in his ‘Legislative Response and Commitments’ at a session tagged Legislative Business Breakfast Meeting with the private sector and the diplomatic corps as part of the NASS Open Week 2026, held at the National Assembly Library Trust Fund building, Abuja.
The event had the theme, ‘The Business of Growth—Legislative Priorities for Investment, Competitiveness, and Economic Transformation.’
The Speaker made reference to South Africa, where no significant economic or labour law reaches the parliament without first passing through the National Economic Development and Labour Council, a standing council where government, business, and labour reason together until they find common ground.
He also cited the example of Kenya, where the Private Sector Alliance meets the parliament in regular roundtables to clear the specific bottlenecks that hold back investment.
Also in the United Kingdom, Speaker Abbas noted that the Industry and Parliament Trust places legislators inside real businesses so that lawmakers understand the enterprises their laws affect.
Similarly, in India, he said the national budget is not finalised before the chambers of industry have been consulted.
The Speaker said, “The lesson is the same everywhere: that an economy grows faster when those who legislate and those who invest remain in continuous conversation, and Nigeria will learn it too.
“So, let me move us from lesson to action. I propose, here and now, that we institutionalise this gathering. Let us establish a standing National Assembly and Business Executive Roundtable (NABER), convened twice every year, that brings the leadership of both chambers and our economic committees together with the organised private sector, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, organised labour and our development partners.
“Its mission would be simple and serious: to keep the conversation between Parliament and the productive economy continuous, structured, and grounded in evidence, rather than occasional and reactive.
“Its purpose would be fourfold: to review, each half-year, the true state of our business environment; to track the implementation of our reforms and the fate of the commitments we make to one another; to shape a shared, pro-growth legislative calendar for the year ahead; and to surface the obstacles to investment early enough for us to remove them by law.
He added, “The Roundtable should have a permanent home here at the National Assembly Library, so that it endures as an institution and does not depend on the goodwill of any single session.”
Speaker Abbas emphasised that the National Assembly should not make laws concerning the economy “from a distance,” stating that, “If we are to get this right, we need you as partners, and not merely as petitioners.”
He said, “So, I ask four things of you. Do not allow this communiqué to gather dust. Bring it to our relevant committees, on commerce, trade and investment, industry, finance, and banking as a living working document.
“Come to our public hearings, and come with data, because sound law is built on evidence and not on anecdote. Tell us honestly when a law we have made is not working as intended, so that we can move quickly to amend it.
“And let us, from today, institutionalise this engagement, so that the conversation between Nigerian business and its Parliament no longer waits for an annual breakfast, but becomes a permanent and structured partnership.
The Speaker noted that the reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, were not undertaken for the benefit of the government; “they were undertaken for you.”
He further noted that the President has made it plain that his agenda is private-sector-led. This, he said, “places you not at the margins of the Renewed Hope Agenda, but at its very centre.”
Speaker Abbas also stated that the Parliament has not been a bystander to reform, saying, “We have been its legislative engine, and our record is one of concrete action.”
He went on to highlight some landmark legislation considered and passed by the National Assembly, in line with the economic policies of the current administration.
Addressing some issues, the Speaker said, “First, on regulatory clarity and legislative predictability, we commit that laws affecting business will be stable, transparent, and made with your input so that no investor is ever ambushed by a rule they could not foresee.
“Second, on the cost of doing business, we will build on the tax reforms to harmonise levies across all tiers of government, so that one enterprise is not taxed to exhaustion by federal, state, and local authorities at the same time.
“Third, on access to finance, we will strengthen, through law and through oversight, the institutions that lend to the real economy and press for financing that actually reaches the small and medium enterprises that employ most of our people.
“Fourth, on competitiveness, we will repeal the obsolete laws that frustrate enterprise, and legislate to support local manufacturing, agriculture, and our readiness for the continental market. And fifth, on delivery, we will use our oversight not to harass the private sector, but to hold public agencies to account for implementing these reforms faithfully and courteously.”
Earlier, the Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, in his welcome address, expressed admiration for the array of stakeholders at the roundtable, expressing the need for the House to host more of such engagements. “It is more of listening,” the Leader said, adding that “we are willing to service your interests.”
Also, Chairman of the House Committee on Commerce, Hon. Ahmed Muhammed Munir, equally reeled out the legislative interventions and economic reforms under the 10th House and the Tinubu administration.
In her remarks, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, commended the leadership of the National Assembly and the National Assembly Library Trust Fund for convening the “important gathering.” She noted that quality of legislation is fundamental to productive economic reforms, stressing that the National Assembly is a critical government body in the national transformation process.
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, His Excellency, Amb. Gautier Mignot, noted that Nigeria is a major business and investment hub. He also noted that ease of doing business and macroeconomics have improved in the last few years.
Also, a former Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning and Board Chairman of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), Usman Shamsudeen Ahmad, noted that the National Assembly passes laws and approves budget, therefore a necessary and important stakeholder in economic development. He emphasised that foundations laid by the parliament are what the government builds the economy on.
In his submission, a former minister of information and national orientation, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated that the National Assembly creates the legislative frameworks that inspire confidence in investors, noting, “I’m confident that today’s discussion with the business community will strengthen practical solutions.”
The Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Dr. Clement Nwankwo, criticised a development where “almost every agency of government considers themselves a revenue-generating agency.” He called for more reforms, especially harmonisation of taxes and standardisation of revenue collection.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary of the NALTF, Hon. Henry Nwawuba, noted that good laws cannot be made without the necessary data and research. He therefore urged the stakeholders to use the library.
… Abbas will return as Speaker by God’s will, says Governor Uba Sani
By Saint Mugaga
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has done to Kaduna State what no president or head of state ever has since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, GCON, has said.
Speaker Abbas, who noted the “exceptional love” President Tinubu has for Kaduna State and its people, challenged anyone with a contrary opinion to point out any Nigerian leader who comes close to what President Tinubu has done to Kaduna State in just three years.
A press statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, on Sunday said Speaker Abbas made the remark at the groundbreaking of 11 key township roads across Zaria and Sabon Gari Local Government Areas by the Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, CON, in Zaria on Saturday.
Speaker Abbas said, “I would want to seize this opportunity, as well, to thank His Excellency, the President/Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the exceptional love he has for Kaduna State.
“Some people who don’t know what they’re doing, think that President Tinubu is a tribalist. They think he is only after the interest of the South West. I challenge anyone to tell me of any president, right from 1960, after Sardauna, who has been able to bring phenomenal projects to Kaduna State than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” said.
The Speaker gave reasons for his assertion. “Let me tell you: we had only one federal university that was created in 1962 by Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardaunan Sokoto of blessed memory. Since then to date, no president, no head of state has ever come close to bringing any tertiary institution of that magnitude (to Kaduna State).
“But today, the story is different under President Tinubu. He has upgraded our Federal College of Education, Zaria, to become Federal University of Education, Zaria, making two federal universities within Zaria. He didn’t stop at that; he went to Kachia and established a brand new Federal University of Applied Sciences. We thought that would be the end. Just three weeks ago, he converted another institution, belonging to the Petroleum Training Institute, to a university.
“Just last week, I had a discussion with him, and he told me that he is planning to upgrade Kaduna Polytechnic to Federal University of Technology, Kaduna within the next few months. That takes the number of federal universities in Kaduna to five.”
The Speaker then remarked, “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, where have we ever seen any president, within a span of three years, being able to give so much to Kaduna State like President Tinubu? I don’t think there’s any. This is just one out of many.”
Speaker Abbas further said that President Tinubu has included Kaduna, among three other cities, in the light rail project of his administration.
“Light rail will be introduced in only four cities in Nigeria for the first time in our history. One of those four places will be the city of Kaduna. It will benefit from the light rail, which will help in transportation challenges for people residing within Kaduna, Rigasa, Sabon Tasha, etc. This is an unprecedented project, a project that will cost hundreds of billions of naira. Kaduna is a beneficiary. No president ever has done that much for Kaduna State.”
He, therefore, appealed to the people of Zaria and Kaduna State to show their gratitude to the President by coming out in large numbers to vote for him during the 2027 presidential election.
“I appeal to you, ladies and gentlemen, that on the day of reckoning, the day of judgment, the day we’re going to elect our next president, let the people of Zaria show their gratitude, let the people of Kaduna State show their gratitude. Come out in large numbers and show that we are people who appreciate good things; we are people who reciprocate goodness with goodness. That’s the only way we will appreciate this honourable gentleman.”
Speaker Abbas also lauded Governor Sani for his unprecedented leadership, noting that the governor has demonstrated that Zaria is a special constituency to him.
“My message is very simple: it’s just to say thank you very much, thank you very much, and thank you very much. The chairman of Zaria Local Government has put it more plainly and comprehensively. That the governor of Kaduna State is somebody who truly loves Zaria very well.
“He mentioned only one instance where the governor intervened in Zaria to avert a political crisis, occasioned by some projects we brought, but some people within our communities were trying to sabotage it.
“There is another example, which he forgot to cite, that is the issue of citing four additional federal institutions in Zaria, namely, the Federal College of Technical and Vocational Centre, Sports Academy, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, and the College of Agricultural Sciences.
“For those four institutions, it was His Excellency, the governor, who came to our rescue. Even though (even) within the state government, many people were putting pressure on him not to grant what we requested, and that was to carve out a massive land within the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, which was sitting idle, unutilized for years.
“His Excellency said, “I will not be intimidated by those people. I will do what is expedient for Kaduna State. I will give this piece of land to you so that you can build those noble projects (institutions) within Zaria Local Government. So, I use this opportunity once more to thank His Excellency for always being there for us in Zaria. There is no empowerment that we ever invited His Excellency that he has not honoured. There is no request of anything that was made to His Excellency for the benefit of the people of Zaria that he has not granted.
“Today is the culmination of the gratitude that the people of Zaria owe you. The roads that you’re going to construct will significantly complement the ones that we have started on behalf of the state government, Zaria Local Government, and the Federal Government of Nigeria. These nine projects, out of the 11 that will be flagged off today, will go a long way in solving our infrastructural deficit in Zaria.
“I assure you, Your Excellency, that your nobleness, your humility, and your generosity to the people of Zaria—your support and assistance—will not go in vain. We will reciprocate in a big way. Come 2027, Zaria will speak only one language, and that language is APC Zaria Local Government for Uba Sani, In Sha Allah.”
On his part, Governor Uba Sani noted the good working relationship between him and the Speaker, saying all the people-oriented projects he is executing and the ones the Speaker has been attracting to Zaria and Kaduna State are as a result of the support they get from President Tinubu.
He said President Tinubu has done everything for Kaduna State, including the light rail that the Speaker had mentioned. He said the project, which is the first of its kind, would gulp the sum of one trillion naira.
“Additionally, in the next one week, the project for the construction of the road from Mando to Birnin Gwari will be flagged off. The President approved the sum of N178 billion for the road. Work will commence from next week.
“The President doesn’t stop there. He has done many things for Kaduna State. But there is one thing I want to tell you, the people of Zaria. The Rt. Hon. Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, if not for the fact that he’s occupying the office of the Speaker, you wouldn’t have seen all the good projects he has been attracting to Zaria. For that, we must vote massively for Tinubu. We must ensure that he gets at least 95 percent of the votes from Zaria. That is the only way we will appreciate the President.
“Today, I want to assure you of something, by God’s grace. A few days ago, I was with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and he assured me that Abbas Tajudeen will return as Speaker by God’s will. Therefore, what we want from you is prayer.
“We won’t allow the Speaker’s seat to be taken out of Kaduna State. We want it to remain in Kaduna, in Zaria, to be specific. We will stand firm up to the election period and ensure that he returns as Speaker, In Sha Allah. I call on you all to come out and vote for APC from top to bottom. I thank you all,” Governor Sani said.
The governor said the 11 road projects flagged off would be completed between four and five months, assuring that they would be commissioned during that period.
The road projects flagged off are Babban Dodo–Durumi–Kofan Kuyanbana; Rimin Tsiwa–Kofan Gayan (Secretariat–Albarkawa–Kaura); Maje Road, Tudun Wada; Turunku Road (Sabon Gari); Waff Road (Sabon Gari); Layin Radio Road, Tudun Wada; Aba Road, Tudun Wada; Turunku Road (Sabon Layi, Tudun Wada); Dadda’u Road (Layin M. Mamuda); Sheikh Umar Muazu Street; and Idris Majeh Street (Fillin Mallawa).
By Felix Umande
Suspected armed herdsmen have abducted three siblings and carted away the corpse of their late mother along the Ogobia–Otukpo Road in Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State.
The victims were reportedly travelling in the early hours of Saturday from Abuja to their hometown, Iklenyi in Okpokwu Local Government Area, to bury their mother when they were ambushed.
A source familiar with the incident revealed that the family’s journey was delayed after their vehicle developed a mechanical fault.
“Even at about 2am they were still on the road because their vehicle had broken down. After repairing it, they continued the journey because they were determined to take their mother’s body home for burial,” the source said.
According to the source, the siblings were in contact with relatives throughout the trip until they reached the stretch between Omutele and Ankpechi communities where the attack occurred.
“It was the three of them travelling with the corpse of their mother. When they got to that area, the armed men abducted all three siblings and even took the corpse of their mother into the bush. As we speak, they are still being held,” the source added.
The source described the incident as “heartbreaking” and appealed to security agencies to intervene swiftly.
“It is painful that a family already grieving the loss of their mother has been subjected to this ordeal. They kidnapped not only the children but also took the corpse of a dead woman. We appeal to the security agencies to act swiftly and ensure their safe rescue,” the source said.
Confirming the abduction, the Chairman of Ohimini Local Government Area, Mr. Gabriel Adole, said he had received reports of the attack and was on his way to the affected community to obtain firsthand information.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Benue State Police Command on the incident, and the whereabouts of the siblings and their mother’s remains remain unknown.
By Michael Lim
A fake pastor and his accomplice have been arrested by the Niger State Police Command over the abduction of a four-week-old baby in Minna.
SP Wasiu Abiodun, the command’s Public Relations Officer, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Minna.
According to him, a report was received at the ‘A’ Division, Minna, on July 14 at about 10am indicating that a four-week-old baby had been deceitfully taken from its mother around the Mobil Roundabout area.
Following the report, he said, the police detectives immediately commenced an investigation, deploying technical intelligence, leading to the arrest of Chidi Johnson, also known as “Yaron Pastor,” 24, of Abdulsalam Quarters, Minna.
“Upon receipt of the report, police detectives from the division immediately commenced investigation and deployed technical intelligence, which led to the arrest of Chidi Johnson, aka ‘Yaron Pastor’, 24, of Abdulsalam Quarters.
“During investigation, he confessed that Zainab Ibrahim, 22, of Alagbado Area, Minna, but residing in Sokoto State, had contracted him to procure a newborn baby following her reported miscarriage,” he narrated.
According to the police spokesperson, Johnson allegedly lured a nursing mother and her four-week-old baby to the Kasuwan-Gwari area on July 13 at about 12 p.m.
“Johnson said it was on the pretext that the child would be given food items and alms by a benefactor.
“On arrival, the victim and her friend were instructed by Ibrahim to contact Johnson, who subsequently met them and led the victim into an uncompleted building near Mobil Roundabout.
“Upon arrival at the uncompleted building, Johnson offered snacks and soft drinks to gain their confidence while pretending to play with the baby.
“Unfortunately, in the process of playing with the baby, the suspect fled with the baby through a rear exit of the building on a motorcycle to an unknown destination,” he said.
Abiodun said Ibrahim was also arrested, while the baby was rescued and reunited with its mother.
“Meanwhile, the suspects are in custody undergoing investigation after which they will be charged to court for prosecution.”
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