The Late 5: Buhari expresses displeasure with NASS over budget, INEC cries out over increasing number of political parties and other stories

These are the stories that drove the conversation today:

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, signed the 2018 budget of  N9.12 trillion, seven months after it was presented but expressed displeasure at the alteration of the bill by the lawmakers.

Buhari said “The logic behind the Constitutional direction that budgets should be proposed by the Executive is that it is the Executive that knows & defines its policies and projects. Unfortunately, that has not been given much regard in what has been sent to me,” adding that he may remedy the situation through a supplementary budget.

The budget estimate of N8.26 trillion initially presented to the National Assembly on November 7, 2017 was increased to N9.12 trillion by the lawmakers, representing an increment of N508 billion,  after they got the document.


The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cried out that more than 100 political parties could enter the ballot paper in the forthcoming general elections.

INEC Chair, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this at an election stakeholders’ summit in Abuja on Wednesday and expressed concerns that registering more political parties could have effect on the size of ballot paper, the ballot box and also have implications on the speed of processing the election outcome.

“As at the eight of this month, we have received requests from 138 associations to register as political parties to join the already 68 registered political parties, so we may have more than the 68 registered political parties before the 2019 General Elections,” he said

Noting the laws of the land, Yakubu said that there was nothing the commission could do to stop an association from applying to register as a political party as an estimated 138 associations had so far applied and a number of the applicants would be registered before the 2019 elections.


The Commissioner for Health in Niger, Dr Mustapha Jibrin, has confirmed the death of at least 10 people as a result of Cholera outbreak in the state.

He disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing reporters at his office in Minna, that a total of 120 cases were recorded in four Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Bida, Katcha, Lavun and Gbako.

Dr Jibrin said the State Rapid Response team has been reactivated while the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, and other international bodies are also offering support to the state government to tackle the outbreak while sensitisation and awareness campaigns have been stepped up alongside collaborations with traditional institutions as part of efforts to tackle the menace of the cholera outbreak.


34 Nigerians deported from the United States of America (USA) on Wednesday arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

The deportees which comprise of 32 males and two females who were sent back home for various offences bothering on homicide, fraud, carrying prohibited items, impersonation, among other offences arrived aboard a chartered Omni Air International B767 aircraft which landed at 14:35 hr (2:35pm). The aircraft departed at exactly 4: 30 pm.


Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) and Policemen  clashed on Wednesday during the group’s protest over the continued detention of its leader. 

The Shiite members took over the popular Ahmadu Bello way, carrying placards demanding the immediate release of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky.

Reports say Police and the sect members fired gunshots during the clash and several people, including two policemen, were wounded in the incident.

Police Spokesman, Aliyu Mukhtar said “the two injured policemen are receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the area.”


And……stories from around the world:

Host nation, Russia and La Celeste of  Uruguay have both sealed a  a place in the World Cup knockout rounds on Wednesday after the South Americans beat Saudi Arabia 1-0, ending the hopes of the Arabians and the Pharaohs of Egypt.

Luis Suarez on his 100th international appearance broke the deadlock midway through the first half and the Saudis despite putting up a brillant and entertaining display failed to find an equaliser, slipping to their second straight defeat.

In same vein, the Atlas Lions of Morocco became the second African team to be evicted from the competition after losing by a slim margin (0-1) to the Ronaldo’s Portugal who were so ordinary on the night. The only goal of the game came through a header from team captain, Cristiano Ronaldo.


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