The National Assembly joint committee on Solid Minerals, on Friday, rejected the budget estimates of the Ministry of Solid Minerals.

The committee said that the estimates presented were greatly inadequate.The Chairman of the joint committee, Sen. Ekong Sampson, stated this after the Minister, Dele Alake, presented the ministry’s 2025 budget estimate before the committee. The call for the rejection of the budget followed a motion moved by Sen. Diket Plang (APC-Plateau) and seconded by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP-Kogi).Moving the motion, Plang expressed displeasure that the ministry got just N9 billion as an envelope out of the N539.7 billion it proposed for capital expenditure in the 2025 budget.The chairman also expressed great displeasure over the ministry’s budget because of the importance of solid mineral sector to the diversification of the Nigerian economy.“This is because of the potential in not addressing the key concerns in this sector at a time that Nigeria is in a grand need to diversify the economy.“The estimates presented before us are grossly inadequate and will not help our economy at this critical period, when we have to invest in the future, consistent with what obtains in other economies.“We’ve taken this position in the interest of this country and as a support item to the vision of government as it were that this budget clearly needs a review.“The need for this review clearly contemplates the peculiarities in the sector.“Time has gone by and you have to take a very bold step in exploration, in data gathering, in tackling major drawbacks that have put us in dire situations as a nation richly endowed but faced, as it were with the contradictions in abundance.“It is the view of the joint committee that the budget of this sector be reviewed upwards.“I think that is the spirit of the meeting, in the meantime, we will suspend further decisions on this budget unless those steps are taken.“The budget for this sector needs radical upward review. So the joint session rejects the estimate before us. We will step everything down,” he said.The co-chairman, Mr Gaza Gbefwi, representing Keffi/Karu/Kokona Federal Constituencies, also supported the move for the suspension of the budget defence.“I move that we suspend this budget screening for the Ministry of Solid Minerals for the fact that what is appropriated to them, if it is true, is beyond imagination.“Also, we are here to pass a budget not for the ministry, not for us, but for Nigerians and the progress of this country.“I, therefore, propose that we step down this screening of the budget presented to us and request that we invite the Minister of Planning and Budget to appear before this committee,” he said.Earlier, the Minister, Dele Alake, said that the ministry in 2025, proposed N539.7 billion for capital expenditure and N2 billion for overhead cost, making it a total budget of N541.7 billion for the ministry.“In contrite distinction to the avowed objective of the economic diversification of Nigeria away from oil into green energy, into harnessing the solid minerals sector, the envelope that the ministry received was a far cry from our proposal.“We proposed N539.7 billion for capital in 2025, but the envelope that came is a paltry N9 billion,” he saidOn the 2024 budget performance of the ministry, Alake said that the overhead cost was 100 per cent performance while the capital was a dismal 18 per cent performance which was based on releases.“When I did a panoramic view of the entire budget from other ministries, it is a kind of a general problem.“The budget releases were not as expected which really hampered the capital budget in 2024.“We rely on your support and effort to correct this anomaly, because if we are going to achieve all our objectives, there is no way we can achieve them,” he said.In terms of revenue generated, Alake said that the ministry generated N37.8 billion in 2024 as above the N11 billion projected.

A High Court sitting in Katsina, on Friday, struck out a case filed by 7,095 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants challenging the conduct of the party congresses in the state.

Daily Asset recalls that Dr Mustapha Inuwa led-faction had filed a suit before the court challenging the conduct of the exercise for allegedly denying some members level playing ground during the congresses. The Plaintiff’s counsel, Mr Mustapha Shitu-Mahuta, had earlier told the court that it was unfair for the party to allegedly conduct congresses and exclude some members from participating. According to him, the congresses at ward, local government and state levels, were conducted against the democratic tenets and the party constitution.He, therefore, urged the court to declare the congresses null and void, and order for a fresh and genuine congresses that would provide a level playing ground to all members, as enshrined in the party’s constitution.However, the defence counsel, Mr Isaac Nwachukwu, told the court that congresses were internal affairs of the party.He said that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the case, therefore, urged the court to strike out the case for lack of jurisdiction.Delivering his ruling on the issue on Friday, Justice Abbas Bawale, maintained that the court has no jurisdiction to entertain the matter, “as it relates to internal affairs of the party.”He said the court only has jurisdiction to entertain matters arising from primary elections, not congresses, where leaders would be elected to run the affairs of the party.Bawale explained that that was also the position of the Appeal Court and the Supreme Court, therefore, “I have no option than to strike out the case for lack of jurisdiction.”He, however, said the plaintiffs have right to appeal within 90 days.Reacting to the ruling, the plaintiff’s counsel, Mustapha Shitu-Mahuta, said that they would file an appeal to the Court of Appeal. (NAN)

The Nigerian Army has directed troops under Operation Fansan Yamma to either eliminate the Lakurawa sect or ensure their expulsion from the country’s territory.

Maj.-Gen. Oluyinka Soleye, the Theater Commander of the Joint Task-Force Northwest, code-named ‘Operation Fansan Yamma’, issued the directive on Friday during a visit to troops stationed at Balle, headquarters of Gudu Local Government Area of Sokoto State. Addressing the troops, Soleye encouraged them to remain steadfast in their mission, while assuring them of full support of the Army headquarters. “I am here to check on you and motivate you in your efforts. Let me assure you that we stand by you.“Do everything within your power to either eliminate the Lakurawa sect or ensure their complete removal from our territory,” he commanded.Soleye commended the troops for their commitment and determination, pledging the Nigerian Army’s unwavering support to the operation’s success.In an interview with journalists, Alhaji Buhari Kurdula, the Chairman of Gudu local government, applauded the troops’ efforts in maintaining security in the area, especially against bandits and Lakurawa sect.Kurdula explained that the Lakurawa sect had been in the area for about eight years, only making a more permanent base in the past one year.He expressed optimism that with the current firm stance of government, the dangers posed by the Lakurawa sect and other security threats would soon be addressed. (NAN)