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Senate Bars First-Termers From Senate Presidency, Deputy Race

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The Senate on Tuesday amended its standing orders to effectively stop first term Senators from vying for the position of Senate President and Deputy Senate President.

This move by the Senate came few months after Senator Abdulaziz Yari, a first term Senator, who had earlier served in the House of Representatives contested against Senator Godswill Akpabio for the position of Senate President.

The moves also followed recent rumours of alleged plot to impeach Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

With the new amendment to the standing orders of the Senate, first term senators are now excluded from those qualified or eligible to contest for the position of presiding officers of the Red Chambers.

The amendment of the rule 3(2) (1-3) of the Senate Standing Orders followed a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC – Ekiti Central).

Rule 3 subsection  1 – 3 of the Senate Standing Orders reads: “A Senator-elect may, before taking the Oaths prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, take part in the election of the President and Deputy President of the Senate.

“Nomination of Senators to serve as Presiding Officers and appointments of Principal Officers and other Officers of the Senate on any Parliamentary delegations shall be in accordance with the ranking of Senators.

“In determining ranking, the following order shall apply: Senators returning based on number of times re-elected;

“Senators who had been members of the House of Representatives.”

The motion was titled: “Amendment of the Standing Orders of the Senate pursuant to Order 109 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2022 (As Amended).”

Rule 3 of the Senate Standing Orders as amended now stipulates that any senator wishing to contest for the position of the Senate President and Deputy Senate President must have spent a minimum of one term in the senate.

The Senate also amended its rules and created additional nine Standing Committees.

The Senate now has 83 Standing Committees following the addition of nine committees to the existing 74 committees.

Bamidele in his lead debate  said: “The  Senate: Recalls that the Senate Standing Rule was amended on Saturday 5th August 2023 to create new Committees and other sundry amendments.

“Aware that there are number of issues that require further amendments to provide for the creation of additional Committees of the Senate in response to emerging developments that will enhance rules of procedure for a sound legislative practice;

“Aware that these developments have made it imperative to further amend the Standing Orders of the Senate 2022 (as amended) occasioned by the creation of additional Senate Standing Committees and to have the functions and jurisdictions reflected in the Standing Orders of the Senate;

“Further aware that the amendments have been circulated to Senators in accordance with Order 109 Rule 2 of the Senate Standing Orders.”

Bamidele in his prayers urged the Senate to consider and approve, as it deems fit, the proposed amendment;

“Enter into the Committee of the Whole to consider the proposed Amendment;

“Approve the proposed amendment as contained therein;

“Amend Rule 3 subsection 2 of the Senate Standing Orders which proposed that only senators that have spent at least one term in Senate that can contest for the position of presiding officers of the Senate.

“Direct the Rules and Business Committee to reprint the Senate Standing Orders with the new amendments.”

As contained in the amendment, the Senate created the Committee on Atomic and Nuclear Energy, which would oversee the Nigeria Nuclear Energy Regulatory Commission, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission and their annual budget estimates.

The Senate also splitted the Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into two,  namely: Committee on FCT and Committee on FCT Area Councils.

The Senate resolved that the Committee on FCT would oversee matters affecting the FCT, planning and development of the new Federal Capital Territory and control of development within the FCT and its annual budget.

The upper chamber further resolved that the Committee on FCT Area Councils would oversee Area Council Mandate, Area Council Service Commission, Area Council Staff Pension Board, Auditor-General for the Area Council and other agency or department under FCT.

The Senate similarly divided the Committee on Sports into two standing committees, namely: Committee on Sports Development and Committee on Youth and Community Engagements.

According to the Senate, the jurisdiction of the Committee on Sports Development shall include Federal Ministry of Sport Development, National Lottery Commission, National Institute for Sports, Nigeria Football Federation, Sport Arena Development, national and international sporting activities, sports administration and annual budget estimates.

The Senate further said the jurisdiction of the Committee on Youth and Community engagements would include Federal Ministry of Youth Development, National Youth Service Corps, Citizens and Leadership Training Centre, Offices of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement in the six geo-political zones, youths movement activities and associations and its annual budget estimates.

The Senate also divided the Committee on Solid Minerals, Steel Development and Metallurgy into two: namely: Committee on Solid Minerals Development and the Committee on Mines and Steel Development.

The Senate said the Committee on Solid Minerals Development “shall oversee Federal Ministry of Solid Mineral Development, Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Mining Cadastre Office and Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientist, Nigerian Metallurgical Training Institute, Solid Minerals Development Fund, Nigeria Institute of Mining and Geoscience, National Metallurgical Development Centre, exploration of minerals extraction and quarry, geological survey and minerals investigation as well as explosives.

“The Committee on Mines and Steel Development shall oversee Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Aluminum Smelting Company of Nigeria, Ajaokuta Steel Development Company, National Iron Ore Mining Company, National Steel Raw Material Exploration Agency and their budgets.”

BIG STORY

JUST IN: Super Eagles Receive National Honours, Housing, Land Documents Promised By Tinubu

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Members of Nigeria’s Super Eagles squad that finished second at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) have officially received their national honours certificates as well as title documents for houses and land allocations promised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The presentation took place on December 22, 2025, at the team’s hotel in Fez, Morocco, ahead of the Super Eagles’ opening match of the new AFCON qualifying campaign.

President Tinubu had pledged the rewards following Nigeria’s runners-up finish at the 2023 AFCON tournament held in Côte d’Ivoire in January and February 2024.

The brief ceremony was led by Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, and attended by several dignitaries, including the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Abdul Ningi; Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Hon. Kabiru Amadu; Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale; President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau; Senior Special Assistant to the President, Mrs. Nathan-Mash; Nigerian High Commission officials; and Mallam Saleh Amadu, among others.

Speaking at the event, Dikko clarified that most players were awarded the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).

However, Ahmed Musa and Victor Osimhen received the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), having previously been conferred with the MON.

Team captain William Troost-Ekong was awarded the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in recognition of his emergence as Player of the Tournament at AFCON 2023.

Dikko confirmed that all national honours, housing allocations in Abuja or Lagos, and land grants in Abuja approved by President Tinubu had been fully processed, with allocation letters issued in line with the President’s commitment to rewarding excellence and national service.

He also disclosed that similar rewards approved for the Super Falcons and Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, D’Tigers, have been processed. Title documents for houses and national honours certificates are ready for collection, while the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation are finalising the direct payment of the cash awards — equivalent to $100,000 per player — into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

The development highlights a renewed focus on structured athlete welfare and accountability, as the Super Eagles shift attention back to their on-field responsibilities in the ongoing AFCON qualification campaign.

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BIG STORY

US Launches $3,000 + Free Flight ‘Leave Voluntarily’ Immigration Plan

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The United States Department of Homeland Security has announced a limited-time programme aimed at encouraging undocumented migrants to voluntarily leave the country during the holiday season.

Migrants who register to self-deport through the CBP Home app by the end of the year will receive a $3,000 stipend, in addition to a free flight to their home country, DHS said in a statement Monday.

Participants will also qualify for forgiveness of any civil fines or penalties related to failure to depart the United States.

According to DHS, approximately 1.9 million undocumented migrants have voluntarily left the country since January 2025, with tens of thousands using the CBP Home programme.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described the holiday incentive as a temporary increase.

“Since January 2025, 1.9 million illegal aliens have voluntarily self-deported, and tens of thousands have used the CBP Home programme.

“During the Christmas season, the US taxpayer is so generously tripling the incentive to leave voluntarily for those in this country illegally—offering a $3,000 exit bonus, but just until the end of the year,” the statement read.

Noem added a warning for those who do not take part. “Illegal aliens should take advantage of this gift and self-deport because if they don’t, we will find them, we will arrest them, and they will never return,” she said.

The programme, called “Project Homecoming,” was established in May 2025 under a presidential proclamation issued by former President Donald Trump.

DHS initially offered $1,000 and a free flight to those willing to self-deport. Funding for the programme comes from $250 million originally allocated to resettle refugees, repurposed by the State Department.

DHS described the CBP Home app process as fast and free. Migrants simply download the app, submit their information, and DHS arranges and covers the cost of travel.

The department also warned that individuals who do not participate could face arrest, deportation, and permanent restrictions on returning to the United States.

 

 

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BIG STORY

KWAM1 Loses Bid To Block Awujale Selection Process

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The Ogun State High Court, sitting in Ijebu-Ode, on Monday refused to grant an interim injunction aimed at restraining Governor Dapo Abiodun and five others from proceeding with the selection and installation of the next Awujale of Ijebuland.

Ayinde, represented in court by Wahab Shittu (SAN), had sought the injunction pending the hearing of his substantive suit challenging the selection process.

But Justice A. A. Omoniyi dismissed the application, holding that the interim injunction lacked merit and that there were no strong grounds to justify its grant.

He subsequently ordered the expedited hearing of the substantive matter, fixing 14 January 2026 for proceedings.

KWAM1 had declared his interest in the vacant Awujale stool, claiming lineage from the Jadiara Royal House of the wider Fusengbuwa Ruling House.

However, the Fusengbuwa ruling house rejected his claim, stating that he is not from the royal house.

To challenge what he perceived as injustice, Ayinde filed a suit against the Fusengbuwa ruling house, Governor Abiodun, the Chairman of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Dare Alebiosu, and three others.

The other respondents include the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat; Secretary of Ijebu-Ode Local Government, Oke Adebanjo; and the Chairman of the Awujale Interregnum Administrative Council, Dr Olorogun Sunny Kuku.

The suit, HC3/238/2025, was filed ex parte, citing Order 38 Rules 4 and Order 39 Rule 1 of the High Court of Ogun State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2024, Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction

A copy of the court document dated 16 December 2025 was obtained by our correspondent.

Ayinde urged the court to restrain all respondents from further action on the Awujale selection process to protect his interest and preserve the res from being dissipated or interfered with.

He prayed the court to restrain the respondents, “their agents, or anyone acting on their behalf, from taking any steps in the installation process of the next Awujale of Ijebuland pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

The musician said he is an aspirant to the Awujale stool, “and the injunction is necessary to secure his interest and preserve the res from being dissipated or interfered with by the respondents.”

With the interim injunction denied, attention now turns to the substantive hearing scheduled for 14 January 2026, which will determine the fate of KWAM1’s claim to the Awujale stool.

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