The Kogi State House of Assembly on Wednesday suspended the Chairman of Ibaji Local Government Area, Emmanuel Onuche, over alleged gross misconduct.

The Speaker of the House, Aliyu Yusuf, announced the suspension during Wednesday’s plenary.

Onuche was alleged to have undertaken actions capable of tarnishing the image of the state government and was asked to step aside pending an investigation into the allegations.

The local government chairman has been directed to hand over the affairs of the council to his deputy, Mrs Victoria Okolo, until the conclusion of the probe.

According to the lawmakers, an effective investigation into the allegations against the embattled chairman will not be possible if he remains in office.

Consequently, the Speaker constituted a five-member committee, headed by Hon. Bode Ogunmola, member representing Ogori-Magongo, to investigate the allegations against Onuche.

The House gave the committee one month to complete its assignment and report back for necessary action.

Other members of the committee include Hon. Ishaya Omotayo Adeleye (Ijumu), Hon. Asema Baba Haruna (Adavi), Anthony Ujah (Olamaboro), and Hon. Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Tijani (Lokoja 1), with Muhammed Bello serving as clerk of the committee.

Meanwhile, three members of the Kogi House of Assembly defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during Wednesday’s plenary.

The defectors are Bode Ogunmola (PDP – Ogori/Magongo), Idowu Ibikunle (ADC – Yagba East), and Sunday Daku (PDP – Bassa).

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President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday charged Nigerian editors to uphold integrity and fairness in their reportage, describing responsible journalism as essential to sustaining democracy and national cohesion.

Speaking at the opening of the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ Annual Conference held at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday, Tinubu said the media must continue to act as a stabilising force in a rapidly changing information environment.

“The freedom secured through struggle is not self-sustaining. It requires constant vigilance and responsible exercise.

“A democracy is sustained not only by elections and laws, but also by the integrity of public conversation,” he stated.

The conference, themed “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” brought together editors, senior journalists and policymakers to reflect on how the media can strengthen unity amid national challenges.

Tinubu commended the Nigerian press for its historical role in advancing justice and democracy, recalling how journalists “endured intimidation, detention, and personal hardship in defence of the public good.”

He, however, cautioned that the digital age has amplified misinformation, making the editorial function more critical than ever.

The president urged editors to be constructive in their criticism of government policies while maintaining fairness and accuracy.

He urged, “As editors and managers of the national information space, you shape narratives. You influence public understanding. You decide what becomes national focus and how our collective challenges are interpreted. The weight of that responsibility is significant. It must be exercised with wisdom, fairness and a strong sense of national duty.

“Nigeria is a large and diverse country. Debate and differences are part of our reality. However, disagreement must never translate into the erosion of national cohesion. Criticism, when informed and constructive, is a service to the nation. But cynicism that breeds mistrust and despair can weaken the very foundations of the society we all seek to improve. The national interest must always remain paramount.

“We live in a time when information travels rapidly and widely. Social media has made every citizen a potential publisher. This has benefits, but it also increases the speed and scale of misinformation.

“Falsehood can take root before truth has time to speak. In such an environment, the editorial function is more important than ever. Verification must be your anchor; balance must be your principle and professional judgement must be your guide.

“I urge you, therefore, to continue upholding the highest standards of journalism. Report boldly, but do so truthfully. Critique government policy but do so with knowledge and fairness. Your aim must never be to tear down, but to help build a better society.”

Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reforms aimed at long-term stability and prosperity.

“On our part, this administration remains committed to securing our nation, sustaining economic stability and widening the circle of opportunity for all citizens.

“The reforms we have undertaken have been challenging, but they are designed to place our economy on a strong and enduring footing.

“We have taken steps to restore macroeconomic balance, encourage investment and rebuild confidence. The signs of progress are visible in several sectors of the economy. Still, we know there is more work to do, and we remain focused on ensuring that growth translates into real improvements in the daily lives of Nigerians,” he said.

He called for collaboration among the government, the private sector, civil society, and the media to advance national unity.

“However, economic reforms and institutional improvements alone cannot build the Nigeria we seek. Nation-building requires cooperation.

” It requires trust. It requires a shared understanding that our future is tied together. The government has its role. The private sector has its role. Civil society has its role. And the media has a distinct responsibility to help shape a climate of reason and unity,” he urged.

He, however, reminded the editors that their influence extends beyond headlines.

He added, “Distinguished Editors, your work matters. The tone you set in your newsrooms, the standards you enforce, and the courage with which you defend the truth will all help shape the direction of our national journey. Let us carry this responsibility with purpose.”

Tinubu’s call came amid growing concern over the spread of misinformation and the erosion of public trust in the media.

In July, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, voiced similar concerns, warning that fake news, misinformation, and disinformation were fast becoming threats to Nigeria’s stability.

Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Aminu Gamawa, at the third Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture organised by the NGE, Mohammed compared today’s digital challenges to the era of press suppression under colonial and military regimes.

“The digital age has opened the floodgates of information and misinformation. Social media has democratised speech but also diluted truth. Artificial intelligence now creates headlines, but who checks the heart behind them?” he asked.

The governor lamented that editorial independence was increasingly under pressure, as some media houses were tempted to trade truth for the financial influence of politicians and corporate interests seeking to control public narratives.

Similarly, Idris, represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, warned that unchecked fake news could ignite social unrest, stressing that the spread of falsehood was “a ticking bomb that could set the nation ablaze.”

Tension over the 2026 budget stalled proceedings at the House of Representatives on Tuesday as lawmakers abruptly adjourned plenary without considering a single item on the day’s Order Paper.

It was an unusual development, last witnessed only when the chamber suspended sittings in honour of a deceased member.

Lawmakers exchanged heated words in the closed-door session that preceded the adjournment, fuelling speculation of growing division within the House over the handling of the budget process.

The House reconvenes today to resume legislative business, with the loan request expected to feature prominently.

Tuesday’s  Order Paper contained 30 bills for the first reading, 16 reports for consideration, eight bills for second reading, and six motions slated for consideration and possible adoption.

Proceedings commenced with the arrival of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and other principal officers, after which the lawmakers went into a closed-door executive session that lasted for about an hour.

Although no official explanation was provided, sources within the chamber suggested that the session centred on the expiration of the one-week ultimatum issued to the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning as well as the Accountant General of the Federation, to clear outstanding debts owed to indigenous contractors.

Emerging from the closed-door session, the chamber became tense when Ifeanyi Uzokwe from Anambra State repeatedly sought recognition to raise a point of order. His attempts were ignored by the Speaker, who, instead, proceeded to make announcements, including a notice of an emergency meeting of the South West caucus.

Undeterred, Uzokwe persisted, prompting the Speaker to direct him to approach the chair privately. Moments later, the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, moved a motion for adjournment, which was adopted, bringing the session to a close.

The PUNCH reliably gathered that President Bola Tinubu had anticipated that the House of Representatives would on Tuesday approve his administration’s request to borrow N1.15 trillion to fund the 2025 budget deficit.

However, that expectation was dashed as lawmakers, aggrieved over issues reportedly relating to their own welfare and constituency funding, refused to consider the request.

President Tinubu had, in a letter to the House leadership last week, sought parliamentary approval for the borrowing plan.

The letter, read by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, stated that the N1.15tn facility was essential to bridge the funding gap in the 2025 fiscal plan.

Titled ‘Request for the Approval of the National Assembly for a Borrowing Programme to Fund the 2025 Budget Deficit,’ the correspondence had earlier been presented on the floor of the Senate by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The letter read in part, “I write to kindly request the approval of the National Assembly to establish a N1.15tn borrowing programme in the domestic debt market to close the unfunded deficit gap created by the increase in the budget size, over and above the prior approved revenue and borrowing plans.

“This request is pursuant to the provisions of Section 44(1-2) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, which requires the approval of the National Assembly for all new borrowings by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The Right Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives may wish to note that the National Assembly passed a budget of N59.99tn, an increase of N5.25tn from the 49.74tn budget proposed by the executive. This increase created a budget deficit of N14.10tn.”

At Tuesday’s plenary, members expressed disgust at the Federal Government’s failure to release funds to execute the capital components of the 2024 and 2025 budgets following the one-week deadline it gave last week.

Before plenary began, Ismaila Dabo, the lawmaker representing Toro Federal Constituency in Bauchi State, shared a troubling reflection on the state of the members via the House’s WhatsApp group.

Titled ‘My concern and the sad reality about the 10th National Assembly’, Dabo drew his colleagues’ attention to several issues and called for quick fixes to address them.

He wrote, “When we began the 10th Assembly, the National Assembly budget was less than N160bn. However, in 2024 and 2025, it has increased by more than 100%, now standing at approximately N360bn. This consistent increase has been made in the name of Honourable Members. Unfortunately, the reality today is deeply troubling.”

He added, “The majority of members cannot afford to pay their rents, many members are unable to travel to their constituencies, and several members are facing serious challenges with their banks due to defaults in loan repayments.”

He also noted that “local moneylenders are pursuing members over unpaid debts.”

Dabo added, “Numerous members are facing financial crises that have resulted in litigation. Sadly, members have been reduced to beggars in town, a very embarrassing situation.”

He faulted the multiplicity of committees under Speaker Abbas’s leadership, noting that the development is largely to blame for the poor oversight of the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government.

“The proliferation of too many committees has weakened our relevance before government ministries, departments, and agencies. We have become ineffective in discharging our constitutional responsibilities.

“More than five different committees are sometimes assigned to oversee a single ministry or agency, all requesting the same information and inviting the same officials over the same issues. As a result, these agencies have stopped taking the National Assembly seriously. They delay responses, ignore correspondence, and often refuse to appear when invited,” he lamented.

He further expressed displeasure over the wide gap in budgetary allocation between members and Principal Officers of the Green Chamber.

“The disparity between ordinary members and Principal Officers in terms of budgetary allocation is alarming and dangerous. This inequality has exposed many members to political risks. Imagine a situation where your colleague, a Principal Officer, is executing projects worth over N50bn in your state, while you, as a member, are struggling with a project portfolio of less than N1.1bn, which is not even funded. Such an imbalance is unsustainable and unfair,” he stated.

He therefore proposed immediate financial adjustment, saying, “The leadership should make necessary sacrifices by collapsing some budgetary provisions and increasing members’ monthly allowances from N12.5m to N30m. This is achievable, and we can substantiate the feasibility if required.”

The Bauchi lawmaker also called for a re-organisation of the committees and called on the leadership to set up a Review Committee to “rationalise and reduce the number of standing committees to a more effective and manageable size.”

The lawmaker also urged the leadership to ensure “a more balanced budgetary provision for members to close the existing wide gap between them and Principal Officers.”

Driving home his argument, he stated, “Our dignity, relevance, and effectiveness as lawmakers are being eroded. If these issues are not urgently addressed, the 10th Assembly risks becoming the weakest in Nigeria’s democratic history. We must act now for our integrity, for the institution, and for the people we represent.

“I therefore implore all Honourable members to carefully study these issues and deliberate on them with utmost sincerity and commitment, so that together we can restore the honour, strength, and effectiveness of the National Assembly.”

Another House member with knowledge of the matter, told The PUNCH that House spokesman Akin Rotimi, who is the Admin of the WhatsApp group, deleted Dabo’s post.

“But it still found its way to other House platforms,” the lawmaker said.

In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, the lawmaker, who is from the North Central, added, “Dabo’s brilliant perspective was discussed at the closed-door session alongside the Speaker’s meeting with the President.

“In that meeting, the President gave assurances to fund the remaining 2024 budget and 50 per cent of the 2025 budget. He, however, stated that there was no money because revenue increases are going into debt servicing.

“The President wanted us to approve the loan request today (Tuesday), but we couldn’t achieve that. So, the Presidency would be disappointed with the outcome of today’s sitting. He (President) needed the House to approve the N1.15tn domestic borrowing request to enable him to fund the gaps, but that did not happen.”

Following Dabo’s post, the legislator said the Speaker was quick to declare that the leadership of the House, under his watch, had never siphoned the House budgetary allocation despite the increases.

“The Speaker invited the Chairman, Committee on House Services, Hon Amos Daniel, to give an account of the budget increase in the 2024 budget of N120bn and told members that the increase was used for capital projects, including car parks, National Assembly hospital, National Assembly recreation centre, settlement of official cars, among others.”

Another lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that members frowned on the purchase of standing fans and dustbins from the N120bn.

The Reps member from the South-East stated, “It could have been used to improve members’ running costs in the face of their precarious financial situation.”

Attempts to obtain the House’s official stance on the matter through its spokesman, Akin Rotimi, proved unsuccessful, as he didn’t pick up his calls or reply to the message sent to his WhatsApp as of the time of filing this report.

Similarly, the message sent to Hon. Amos Daniel went unresponded to.

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