Ibadan – President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima will spend a total of N9,364,349,417 on local and foreign travels, as well as food and refreshments in the 2026 fiscal year.
This is according to details of the 2026 Appropriation Bill released on Thursday by the Budget Office of the Federation.
Tinubu had on December 19, 2025, presented the budget estimate, totalling N58.18tn to a joint session of the National Assembly, where he said national security remained the foundation of economic growth, investment and social stability.
In the 2,790-page budget document sighted by Saturday PUNCH, the President earmarked N3.2tn for Defence and N1.1tn for Power, while the Education sector is to receive N2.3tn.
KPMG flags five major ‘errors’ in Nigerian tax laws
Fresh apprehension has surfaced over Nigeria’s newly implemented tax framework after KPMG Nigeria highlighted what it described as “errors, inconsistencies, gaps, and omissions” in the new tax laws that took effect on January 1, 2026. The professional services firm in a recent statement cautioned that failure to address these issues could weaken the overall objectives of the tax reforms.
Nigeria’s tax overhaul is built around four major legislations: the Nigeinpieces of legislation:ria Tax Act (NTA), the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) Establishment Act, and the Joint Revenue Board (JRB) Establishment Act. The laws were signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2025 and formally commenced in 2026. However, the reforms have continued to attract controversy since they were first introduced in October 2024.
Despite the concerns, government officials have consistently described the reforms as essential to improving Nigeria’s low tax-to-GDP ratio and modernisingpieces of legislation:modernizing the country’s tax system in line with evolving economic conditions.
Rivers crisis: PANDEF intervenes, sets up seven-member mediation team
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) on Friday intervened in the spiralling political crisis in Rivers State, calling on all actors to sheathe their swords and embrace peace in the interest of the development of the state and the region in general.
Expressing concern that the political disagreement involving the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the State House of Assembly might degenerate to total lawlessness, the Board and National Executive Committee of PANDEF set up a seven-member reconciliation team to resolve the issues.
The team, which is headed by a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, has six other members.
There could be more US strikes in Nigeria, says Trump
United States President Donald Trump has said there could be more military strikes by the US in Nigeria if Christians continue to be killed in the country, even as Nigeria’s federal government has denied that Christians are facing systematic persecution.
Trump made the remarks in an interview with The New York Times, published on the newspaper’s website on Thursday.
He was responding to questions about Washington’s Christmas Day military strike in Nigeria.
Trump cancels ‘second wave of attacks’ on Venezuela after prisoner releases
US President, Donald Trump, on Friday, said he had cancelled a second wave of attacks on Venezuela after the country began releasing prisoners.
Trump said the decision followed cooperation from Venezuela’s new leadership, which started freeing detainees nearly a week after US forces removed and detained President Nicolas Maduro.
“Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of ‘Seeking Peace,’” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second wave of attacks,” he said.
The United States has since stepped up engagement on Venezuela, with Trump meeting oil executives and US diplomats visiting Caracas to assess the reopening of the embassy closed for years.
Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan: Real reasons Akpabio withdrew sexual harassment suit – Aide
Eseme Eyiboh, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, has explained that the decision by the Senate President to withdraw all defamation suits he instituted against individuals was guided by faith, leadership responsibility and a desire for national reconciliation.
Eyiboh said the move, announced on January 1, was not influenced by political pressure or expediency, but arose from deep personal reflection and conviction.
Recall that Akpabio had instructed his legal team to discontinue all pending court cases filed in his name over alleged defamatory statements.
Farouk Ahmed: After withdrawing from ICPC, Dangote drags ex-NMDPRA boss to EFCC
The Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, through his legal representative, has filed a formal corruption petition against former Managing Director of the Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This move follows the withdrawal of the same petition from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), a strategic decision aimed at accelerating the prosecution process.
In the petition signed by Lead Counsel Dr. O.J. Onoja S.A.N, Dangote urged the EFCC to investigate allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Ahmed and prosecute him if found culpable.
Kwankwaso seeks compensation as Kano Assembly endorses Yusuf’s defection plan
The rift between Rabiu Kwankwaso and Kano Governor Abba Yusuf stemming from Yusuf’s plan to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has deepened.
The tension between the two gladiators has been building with Kwankwaso reportedly feeling sidelined and inadequately consulted on key decisions.
Yusuf, on the other hand, seems determined to assert his independence, having secured support from most NNPP lawmakers and local government chairmen.
Yusuf, who feels defection is his political right based on consultation with the electorate and party stakeholders, obtained APC membership card from his ward in preparation for the formal defection scheduled for January 12.
Be it as it is, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, has warned members who have defected or planing to defect, demanding they compensate the Movement for the support and labour invested in them.
