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Senator Bamidele Celebrates Christmas With Constituents, Distributes 3,000 Bags Of Rice

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Senator Opeyemi Bamidele with a Child, Father Christmas and others during celebration at Iyin-Ekiti
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Says Economic Recovery Is Imminent

The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has celebrated Christmas with his constituents in Ekiti Central, distributing 3,000 bags of rice to them across the state.

Bamidele, also pleaded with Nigerians in general to be patient with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring them that the country’s economy would soon recover from its present gnawing crisis.

He gave this assurance in a statement his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs issued on Sunday in Iyin Ekiti, the home country of the senate leader, after he addressed his constituents that gathered to celebrate Christmas with him.

Addressing the constituents on Sunday, Bamidele reflected on the country’s economic crisis, which were triggered by COVID-19 and global economic turbulence that occurred after the pandemic that claimed thousands of lives across the world.

Just about two years after the global pandemic, the senate leader explained that President Tinubu assumed office with an ambitious plan to rebuild, reconstruct and revamp the country’s troubled economy.

He explained that the process of economic reconstruction “has started already. All Nigerians, whether in the cities or remote villages, will start experiencing the gains of economic programmes President Tinubu has initiated under his Renewed Hope Agenda.

“As a federation, we may be witnessing difficult times currently. But we will walk into an era of economic boom, for which all Nigerians will glorify the Name of God Almighty. The time is no longer far. It will begin to manifest with the implementation of the 2024 appropriation, which the National Assembly will pass into law this week.

“All the committees of the National Assembly have concluded their hearings. They have equally submitted their reports to the Committee on Appropriations, whose members are now looking into the committees’ reports ahead of the plenary.

“After this Christmas holiday, the National Assembly will recovene on December 29 to deliberate on the report of the Committee on Appropriations. Hopefully, before the end of this year, the National Assembly will pass the 2024 appropriations bill and also transmit to the Presidency for assent.

“As a parliament, we are committed to maintaining our tradition of January-December budget cycle. Since 2019, we have kept to this tradition and will not allow anything to disrupt it in order to deepen the budget governance,” the senate leader explained with an assurance for a more prosperous Nigeria.

Also, in his Christmas message, Bamidele preached peaceful co-existence among all ethnic nationalities across the federation, warning that no country could witness development progress in an atmosphere of ethnic disharmony.

He also urged the Christian faithfuls to imbibe the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, who graciously laid down His lives for all, irrespective of our religious leanings, to reconcile us with God Almighty.

The message reads in part: “As we celebrate Christmas, I implore Nigerians to graciously live by the doctrines of Lord Jesus Christ. During His earthly ministry, Jesus Christ showed the path to life that every nation, people and race should follow.

“In particular, Jesus Christ emphasised faith in God Almighty, love among people of all races, patience in the face of adversity, perseverance at difficult times and honesty in public and private engagements,” Bamidele wrote in his Christmas message.

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Tax Reform Bills: Senate To Consider Viable Opinions Of Stakeholders

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The chairman, Senate committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, says the Senate will consider viable opinions of all stakeholders in the passage of current Tax Reform Bills .

Senator Musa who stated this during an interview with newsmen in Abuja emphasized the need for Nigerians to be patient for a tax regime that would be beneficial to all and sundry.

He explained that the red chamber would evolve a legislation that is workable in line with international best practices.

Senator Musa told newsmen that president TINUBU needs one trillion dollar economy adding that the proposed Tax regime would outlive every individual including the lawmakers.

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Price Hike: FCCPC Summons MultiChoice, Warns Against Exploitation

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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has summoned MultiChoice Nigeria to explain its proposed subscription price increase, set to take effect on March 1, 2025.

Exercising its mandate under Sections 32 and 33 of the FCCPA, the FCCPC directed the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria to attend an investigative hearing at the Commission’s headquarters on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

In a statement, the Director of Corporate Affairs in FCCPC, Mr Ondaje Ijagwu said the action follows MultiChoice’s formal notification of the price adjustment, which raises concerns about recurrent unilateral price hikes, potential market dominance abuse, and perceived anti-competitive practices in the pay-TV industry.

“The FCCPC is deeply concerned that Nigerian consumers continue to face frequent price increases, amid accusations that MultiChoice applies different pricing strategies in other markets, heightening questions about fairness and market abuse and should MultiChoice fail to provide satisfactory explanations or be found in violation of fair market principles, the FCCPC will be left left with no other option than to impose regulatory penalties, sanctions, or other corrective measures to protect Nigerian consumers” He warned

In his words”Furthermore, the FCCPC is engaging the sector regulator and other relevant agencies to ensure fair competition and consumer protection within Nigeria’s broadcasting and digital subscription landscape”.

 

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Senator Natasha Sues Akpabio For Defamation, Asks ₦100bn Damages

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Senator Godswill Akpabio and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
Senator Godswill Akpabio and Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
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Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a lawsuit against Senate President Godswill Akpabio for allegedly defaming her

The suit was filed before the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday with Akpabio and his senior legislative aide Mfon Patrick listed as second to third defendants.

In the suit, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan through her lawyer, Victor Giwa, referred to Akpabio’s words published by his aide on his Facebook page with the title, “Is local content committee of the senate Natasha’s birthright?” where he stated that the claimant thought being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the Chambers.

Giwa alleged that the statement on Akpoti-Uduaghan was defamatory, provocative, and disparaging, and lowered her dignity in the eyes of her colleagues and right-thinking members of the public.

“A declaration that the words ‘it is a bottled anger by the Kogi Lawmaker, who knows nothing about legislative rules. She thinks being a lawmaker is all about pancaking her face and wearing transparent outfits to the Chambers’ used and written by the 3rd defendant at the prompting of the 1st and 2nd defendants is defamatory and intended to cause public opprobrium and disaffection towards the claimant by members of the public,” her reliefs partly read.

Akpoti-Uduaghan urged the court to restrain the defendants or associates from publishing defamatory words against her on any platform.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants whether acting by themselves or through their agents, privies, assigns, or associates from further publishing or caused to be published the said defamatory words herein stated or any other similar publications about the claimant on the social media platform or in any other manner, which is capable of defaming the claimant,” she stated.

She, however, urged the court to order the defendants to pay her ₦100bn as damages and ₦300m as litigation costs.

“An order for payment of the sum of ₦100,000,000,000 as general damages. An order for payment of the sum of ₦300,000,000.00 only as cost of action,” she said.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan had recently voiced her concern after her seat was reassigned due to a reshuffle. She resisted the relocation and this led to a clash between her and the senate president.

The Kogi lawmaker has been referred to the Senate Disciplinary Committee in the wake of the seating arrangement dispute.

 

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