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Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is failing – Says UK

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File photo of Britain’s Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (C) hosting a meeting in England. AFP

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to mobilise military reservists to support the war in Ukraine shows that “his invasion is failing”, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Wednesday.

“No amount of threats and propaganda can hide the fact that Ukraine is winning this war, the international community are united and Russia is becoming a global pariah,” he said in a statement.

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FAAC Shares N1.7 tn Revenue to Federal, State, Lgs in February 2025

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The Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has distributed a total revenue of N1.678 trillion among the federal, state, and local governments for February 2025.

The revenue distribution was announced in a statement issued on Saturday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa. The allocation was finalised at the March 2025 FAAC meeting in Abuja, which was chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and attended by the Accountant General of the Federation, Shamseldeen Ogunjimi.

Breakdown of Distributable Revenue

The total distributable revenue of N1.678 trillion comprised:

Statutory revenue – N827.633 billion

Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue – N609.430 billion

Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue – N35.171 billion

Solid Minerals revenue – N28.218 billion

Augmentation – N178 billion

According to the FAAC communiqué, the total gross revenue available for February 2025 was N2.344 trillion. Deductions for the cost of collection amounted to N89.092 billion, while transfers, interventions, refunds, and savings stood at N577.097 billion.

The communiqué also revealed that gross statutory revenue for February 2025 was N1.653 trillion, which was N194.664 billion lower than the N1.848 trillion recorded in January 2025. Similarly, gross VAT revenue fell from N771.886 billion in January to N654.456 billion in February, reflecting a decrease of N117.430 billion.

Revenue Allocation to Tiers of Government

From the total N1.678 trillion distributable revenue:

Federal Government received – N569.656 billion

State Governments received – N562.195 billion

Local Government Councils received – N410.559 billion

Derivation revenue (13% of mineral revenue) to benefiting states – N136.042 billion

Allocation from Statutory Revenue (N827.633 billion)

Federal Government – N366.262 billion

State Governments – N185.773 billion

Local Government Councils – N143.223 billion

Derivation revenue (13%) – N132.374 billion

Allocation from VAT Revenue (N609.430 billion)

Federal Government – N91.415 billion

State Governments – N304.715 billion

Local Government Councils – N213.301 billion

Allocation from EMTL Revenue (N35.171 billion)

Federal Government – N5.276 billion

State Governments – N17.585 billion

Local Government Councils – N12.310 billion

Allocation from Solid Minerals Revenue (N28.218 billion)

Federal Government – N12.933 billion

State Governments – N6.560 billion

Local Government Councils – N5.057 billion

Derivation revenue (13%) – N3.668 billion

Allocation from Augmentation (N178 billion)

Federal Government – N93.770 billion

State Governments – N47.562 billion

Local Government Councils – N36.668 billion

Revenue Trends and Economic Outlook

The FAAC report highlighted a significant increase in Oil and Gas Royalty and Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenues for February 2025. However, there were declines in Value Added Tax (VAT), Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Companies Income Tax (CIT), Excise Duty, Import Duty, and CET Levies compared to the previous month.

 

 

 

 

 

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Rivers Sole Administrator Announces Release of Withheld Allocations

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Assures Prompt Salary Payment

 

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibok-Ete Ibas, has announced the release of withheld local government allocations, assuring that necessary steps would be taken to ensure the prompt payment of workers’ salaries.

Ibas disclosed this on Thursday during a meeting with Heads of Local Government Administrators in Port Harcourt, describing the engagement as a crucial step towards restoring stability and progress in the state.

He lamented the economic hardship in the Niger Delta, noting that despite the region’s wealth of natural resources, many of its people continued to suffer.

“This is unacceptable,” he said, stressing the need for transformation and financial accountability.

The administrator expressed concern over the delay in salary payments across local government areas, acknowledging the struggles of affected workers.

“I feel the pain of the workers,” he stated, assuring them that the withheld allocations had been released and that his administration would ensure prompt payment of salaries.

However, he warned that financial discipline would be strictly enforced, directing all local government areas to submit their wage bills with supporting documents through the office of the Head of Service.

Ibas, a retired Vice Admiral and former Chief of Naval Staff, vowed to scrutinise public funds and take decisive action against mismanagement.

“Good governance is not just a slogan; it is a commitment to changing the negative narrative within the next six months,” he added.

He also emphasised the need for collaboration with traditional rulers and security agencies to enhance grassroots security.

“You must take the lead in ensuring security within your domains,” he charged local government administrators.

Reacting, the President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) and Administrator of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Clifford Paul, commended the Federal Government for appointing Ibas, attributing the decision to his leadership competence.

He urged the administrator to prioritise workers’ welfare, stating that local government workers were currently owed two months’ salaries.

“With the release of the withheld allocations, we are hopeful that workers will receive their entitlements soon,” he said.

Paul further called on stakeholders to seize the opportunity to rebuild trust and foster unity in the state.

 

 

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Tinubu Swears in Ibas as Rivers Sole Administrator

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President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, following a brief meeting at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday afternoon.

Ibas’ appointment comes a day after Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The President cited Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution as the legal basis for his action, stating that he could no longer stand by as the political crisis in the state escalated.

However, the suspension of Fubara and other elected officials has sparked widespread condemnation. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, senior lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and several civil society groups have rejected the move, describing it as unconstitutional and undemocratic.

In contrast, the pro-Nyesom Wike faction of the Rivers State Assembly, led by Martins Amaewhule, has praised Tinubu’s decision, accusing Fubara of disregarding a Supreme Court ruling related to the state’s political crisis.

Vice Admiral Ibas, a retired naval officer, previously served as Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under President Muhammadu Buhari. Born in Cross River State, he attended the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979 and went on to have a distinguished military career, rising to the highest ranks in the Navy.

He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Nigerian Institute of Management. In 2022, Buhari conferred upon him the national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) in recognition of his service.

Ibas now assumes leadership of Rivers State amid a deeply divided political landscape, with tensions running high over the legality and implications of the emergency rule.

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