General
How Buhari Plans to Spend N255b for 2019 Elections
By Dipo Olowookere
On Tuesday, July 17, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari wrote to the Senate, seeking an approval for the use of N254.5 billion for the 2019 general elections.
Next year, Nigerians will head to the polls to choose another set of leaders for the next four year.
In 2015, Nigerians voted massively for the All Progressives Congress (APC), which promised them change.
The APC, which was then an opposition party, defeated the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the polls.
Business Post gathered that the 2015 general elections were executed with about N108 billion by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
In the letter sent by President Buhari to the Senate yesterday, he explained that the N254.5 billion would be drawn from the 2018 and 2019 budgets.
Mr Buhari urged the lawmakers to remove projects earlier inserted into the budget and replace them with priority projects as contained in the original bill.
While signing the budget on June 20, President Buhari raised the alarm that Nigerian lawmakers had tampered with the document sent to them.
Mr Buhari said the National Assembly made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting to N578 billion.
Mr Buhari in his Tuesday letter insisted he would not submit a supplementary budget to fund these priority projects. Instead, he urged the lawmakers to remove those inserted.
Also contained in the letter is the supplementary budget of N242.5 billion to fund six agencies in the 2019 general election.
Of the total sum, N164 billion will be drawn from the 2018 supplementary budget while N78.3 billion will form part of the 2019 budget of these agencies.
“As you are aware, the 2019 general election is scheduled to be conducted early in 2019. To ensure that adequate arrangements are made for free and fair election, it has become necessary to appropriate funds to enable the relevant agencies to commence preparations.
“INEC and the security agencies have accordingly recently submitted their requests and these have been subjected to the usual budget evaluation. The aggregate cost of the election is estimated at N254,445,322,600.
“However, in line with the prevailing fiscal I’m proposing that the sum of N164,104,792,65 be provided for through virement or supplementation of the 2018 budget.
“I propose that the balance of N78,340,530,535 mostly related to personnel allowances, fuelling and other costs not required until election proper be provided in their 2019 budget.
“The proposal for the 2019 election is as summarised below:
INEC
2018 supplementary – N143,512,529,445
2019 budget – N45,695,015,438
Total: N189,207,544,893
Office of the National Security Adviser
2018 supplementary – N3,855,500,000
2019 budget – 426,000,000
Total – 4,281,500,000
DSS
2018 supplementary – N2,903,638,000
2019 budget – N9,309,644,455
Total – N12, 213, 282, 455
NSCDC
2018 supplementary – N1,845,597,000
2019 budget – N1,727,997,500
Total – N3,573,534,500
Nigeria Police
2018 supplementary – N11,457,417,432
2019 budget – N19,083,900,000
Total – N30,541,317,432
NIS
2018 supplementary – N530,110,078
2019 budget – N2,098,033,142
Total – N2,628,143,320
Total amount (for 2019 election)
2018 supplementary – N164,104,792,065
2019 budget – N78,314,530,535
Total – N242,445,322,600
“You will also recall that when I signed the 2018 appropriation act, I indicated the need for reinstatement of certain cuts made to certain critical projects provided in the original executive bill. I’m therefore submitting for your consideration the reinstatement of most of the most critical of such cuts totalling N67,742,216,150 which are summarised in page one.
“The total amount required to be provided for in the 2018 budget for the 2019 general election and to restore the identified critical projects to the amount earlier proposed is therefore N228,854,800,250.
“Implementing a budget of N9.12 trillion for 2018 would be extremely challenging and therefore, I do not consider it expedient to propose a further increase to the size of the 2018 expenditure framework to fund these very important and critical expenditure items.
“Accordingly, I invite the distinguished senate to consider, in the national interest, relocating some of the funds appropriated for the new projects which were inserted into the 2018 budget proposal totalling N 578,319,951,904 to cover the sum of N228,854,800,205 required as noted above.
“A schedule sitting out a comprehensive list of these inserted projects is attached to this letter for ease of your consideration.
“Further to the above, kindly find attached a supplementary budget and virement proposal for your consideration.
“While hoping that this request will expeditious consideration of the distinguished senate, please accept, Mr Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration,” the letter signed by Mr Buhari said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar, has resigned from his position, in line with the directive that government appointees seeking political offices must resign before March 31.
Business Post reports that the diplomat is eyeing a governorship ambition in Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Mr Tuggar’s resignation was confirmed in a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Monday.
Mr Tuggar submitted his resignation letter on Monday, barely 24 hours before the deadline set by President Bola Tinubu, which directs all political appointees under his administration seeking to contest elective offices in the 2027 elections to resign before March 31.
The directive is in line with Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission for party primaries ahead of the 2027 polls.
With this development, more resignations are expected before the March 31 deadline as appointees seeking elective offices move to meet the stipulated deadline.
Earlier today, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr Nasiru Gawuna, formally resigned from his position to join the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with his sights on the Kano governorship ticket.
Mr Tuggar’s resignation comes amid the speculation of his interest in contesting the 2027 Bauchi State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The 59-year-old is a seasoned diplomat, policymaker, and political figure who was appointed as minister by President Bola Tinubu in August 2023.
Born on March 12, 1967, he has built a distinguished career spanning diplomacy, politics, energy, and strategic consulting.
He is widely regarded for his role in shaping Nigeria’s global engagement and advancing its foreign policy priorities.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Lagos State government has promised to sustain its collaboration with private sector players to drive sustainable urban development, create jobs, and position Lagos as a leading hub for commerce and industry in Africa.
This assurance was given by the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the commissioning of Irele Tower last Thursday.
The nine-storey facility is the first commercial building within the Lagos Free Zone (LFZ). It is EDGE-certified, which sets a new standard for sustainable workspace in Lekki, Nigeria’s fastest-growing economic corridor.
Irele Tower is designed to host office and retail activities in the Lekki economic corridor. It was built for efficiency with 26 per cent less energy and 46 per cent less water consumption. It is an eco-friendly building, with the design inspired by maritime architecture, reflecting its proximity to the Lekki Deep Sea Port.
Mr Sanwo-Olu described the delivery of the Irele Tower as a significant milestone in the development of the economic zone in line with the agenda of making Lagos a 21st-century economy by boosting economic growth to support the state’s developmental plans.
According to him, the facility is critical to unlocking the full potential of the Ibeju-Lekki axis of the economic zone, particularly given the presence of the Lekki Deep Sea Port and other major industrial investments within the Lagos Free Zone.
“The commissioning of Irele Tower is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved through strong collaboration between the public and private sectors. This development not only enhances the infrastructure profile of the Lagos Free Zone but also strengthens our vision of making Lagos a premier destination for investment and economic activities.
“We will continue to support initiatives that promote industrial growth, create employment opportunities, and improve the overall business environment in our state,” he said.
In her remarks, the chief executive of LFZ, Ms Adesuwa Ladoja, stated that the development reflects the zone’s commitment to creating an integrated ecosystem where businesses can thrive, supported by modern infrastructure, a strategic location, and efficient logistics.
“The commissioning of Irele Tower represents a defining milestone in our journey to build a world-class industrial and commercial hub. This development reflects our commitment to providing high-quality infrastructure that supports ease of doing business and enhances operational efficiency for our tenants.
“As the first commercial tower within the Lagos Free Zone, Irele Tower, sets a new benchmark for quality workspace in this corridor and reinforces our position as a preferred destination for investment and enterprise,” she added.
Irele Tower sits on a gross floor area of approximately 12,000 square metres. It offers modern workspaces tailored to evolving business needs. The facility also offers premium amenities, including office spaces, retail outlets, parking facilities, shared workspaces, and a rooftop cafeteria, creating a dynamic, integrated business environment.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Mr Nasiru Gawuna, has formally resigned from his position, obeying a directive that requires office holders with political ambitions to step down before March 31, 2026.
Mr Gawuna, a former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, submitted his resignation in a letter dated March 27, 2026. In the letter, he stated that his decision takes immediate effect and is in compliance with directives issued by President Bola Tinubu.
He is expected to formally announce his move to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday alongside Mr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a prominent political figure and former Governor of Kano, who resigned from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
The former governor of Kano and senator rose to prominence through his grassroots-oriented Kwankwasiyya Movement, which has played a decisive role in shaping electoral outcomes in Kano. His political journey has seen him move across major parties before leading the NNPP into the 2023 general elections, where he maintained significant influence in the North-West state.
“My resignation is in strict compliance with the President’s directive requiring all political appointees to step down in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act,” Mr Gawuna wrote.
In his resignation letter, Mr Gawuna expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve under the current administration, describing his tenure as both an honour and a privilege.
“I am profoundly grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the confidence reposed in me to serve. It has been a privilege to contribute to the growth and development of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and our great country,” he stated.
He also struck a reflective tone regarding his future, adding, “I place my future in the hands of Allah (SWT) and seek His divine guidance in all my endeavours.”
Mr Gawuna assured stakeholders of a seamless transition process, noting that he would hand over responsibilities in line with established procedures.
“I remain committed to ensuring a smooth and orderly handover in accordance with all laid-down directives,” he said.
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