POLITICS
FG Owes only 6 Months Pension Accrued Rights – PenCom
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) said the Federal Government was yet to pay only six months of pending accrued rights of retirees, under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).
Director-General of PenCom, Aisha Dahir-Umar, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday at the interactive session on 2022-2025 MTEF and FSP, organised by Senate Committee on Finance.
Dahir-Umar was responding to the questions from Senators on alleged delayed payment of pension benefits to retirees, possibility of investing pension fund for benefit of the economy, and alleged malpractice by Pension Fund Adminstrators (PFAs).
She said delayed payment of accrued rights would soon be a thing of the past as government was making frantic effort to clear the backlog of accrued rights.
According to her, government had in the last 17 years, consistently paid accrued rights, saying that it only owed six months of accrued rights.
She said that government was paying N49 billion monthly accrued rights in the last 17 years, adding that Federal Government via Debt Management Office (DMO), was on the verge of paying off the balance of accrued rights.
According to her, issue of accrued rights will soon be a thing of the past.
On investing the N14 trillion pension fund, she said PenCom was glad to invest the funds on attractive and viable instruments with the full involvement of government and the Federal Ministry of Finance because a lot of guarantees were required.
She said PenCom had invested 63 per cent of pension fund, adding that N9.5 trillion was invested on Federal Government securities, N1.2 trillion on equity, while 35 per cent was invested in money market.
She said the funds were not idle, but earning more funds for the contributors.
She explained that employees due for retirement, who didn’t appear for documentation and enrollment risked not getting paid their entitlements on time.
Chairman of the Committee,
Sen. Solomon Adeola, said the Senate was interested in the activities of PenCom.
He urged the commission to generate and pay more fund to the coffers of Federal Government, saying that Senate was considering adoption of cost of collection for MDAs to generate more funds for government.( NAN)
POLITICS
Presidency Transmits N43.5trn 2026 Appropriation Bill to Reps
President Bola Tinubu yesterday, transmitted the appropriation (Repeal and Re-enactment Bill 2024/2025 bill to the House of Representatives for consideration and expected approval in accordance with constitutional and appropriation process.
Reading the letter during plenary, the Deputy Speaker, Rep.
Benjamin Kalu said that the appropriation bill is aimed at ending the practice of running multiple budgets concurrently.“Rt Honourable Speaker, the Bill seeks to authorize the issue from the consolidated Revenue fund of the federation of the total sum of N43,561,041,744,507.
“Comprising N1,742,786,788,150 for statutory transfers, N8,270,960,606,831 for debt service, N11,268,513,380,853 for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure and N22,278,780,968,673 for capital expenditure for the year ending 31 December 2025,” the President said.
According to the President, the bill provides a transparent and constitutionally grounded appropriation mechanism.
President Tinubu in the letter said that the appropriation is not only critical but time-sensitive expenditures necessary in advancing the well-being of Nigerians.
He further explained that the bill seeks to strengthen implementation discipline and accountability by requiring that appropriated funds are applied strictly for purposes specified in the schedules.
The House however adjourned to Thursday being 18, Dec for further consideration of the Bill.
POLITICS
2027 Election: Igbo’s Community Promises Votes for Eno
From Christopher Tom, Uyo
Non-indigence in Akwa Ibom State especially the Igbo’s community has promised to give the highest number of votes across the state to Governor Umo Eno come 2027 governorship elections in the state.
The Igbo community said they will not fail to vote massively for the Governor.
The President of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Hon.
Keyceey Chidiadi made this known while speaking with media practitioners shortly after the Uyo chapter of Igbo community unity day celebration 2025 in Uyo.He said Igbo’s scattered across the 31 local government Area of the state without any doubt seriously doing their businesses without any crisis, showcasing their love, unity among the indigence of the state while also contributing their quotas to boost the state economy.
According to him, the Igbo’s are about five thousand while some have not been recorded because they have not identified with the community and advise others to join the train before it’s too late for them.
He said their vote come 2027 is massively for Pastor Umo Eno without compromise because of his leadership style and developmental strive, showcasing true democracy carrying every individual along not minding the state or religion the people came from but stand on peace, unity among the people to benefit the dividend of democracy.
He called on Igbo’s resident in the state to make sure they vote here without going to their various states to maintain their voting strength as the highest numbers of people across the non-indigence communities in Akwa Ibom State.
He said they are law abiding citizens and not ready to accommodate or entertain any crisis, violence, because of their peaceful nature created by God, especially respect for the government of the day while corporate to preach peace in the state. He commended the community for embracing peace after 27 years of crisis without a leader among them, but now peace has restored to them across the communities in the state.
POLITICS
INEC Begins Display of Preliminary Voter Register in Delta
From Francis Sadhere, Delta
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Delta State Office, has announced the commencement of the display of the Preliminary Voter Register for claims and objections across the state.
According to a press release by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Etekamba Udo Umoren, the exercise will begin on Monday, 15th December 2025 and end on Sunday, 21st December 2025.
The display will take place at all the 25 Local Government Area offices of INEC in Delta State between 9:00am and 3:00pm daily.
INEC explained that the exercise is in line with the Electoral Guidelines and is aimed at correcting any anomalies that may have occurred during the recent voter registration exercise.
The Commission noted that the process is essential to producing a credible and reliable voter register, which remains a key instrument for conducting free, fair and credible elections.
The Commission urged eligible voters in the state to seize the opportunity to visit INEC offices in their respective local government areas to confirm that their names and personal details are correctly captured in the register. Voters were also encouraged to report cases of omission, errors in spelling, or any other discrepancies.
In addition, members of the public were advised to raise objections to the inclusion of names of deceased persons, underaged individuals, or any other doubtful entries found in the register.
INEC reiterated its commitment to electoral integrity and called on all Deltans to actively participate in the exercise as part of their civic responsibility.
The Commission concluded the notice with a call to action, encouraging eligible citizens to register and participate in the electoral process.

