Compilations of top 10 key happenings that you might have missed this Thursday evening, 18th December, 2025
Tinubu reconstitutes NERC board
President Bola Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of the Board of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission following the Senate’s confirmation of its members on December 16.
This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, Dr Mulisiu Olalekan Oseni has been appointed Chairman of the commission.
Oseni, who joined the commission as a commissioner in January 2017 and later served as Vice Chairman, assumed office as chairman on December 1, 2025.
Tinubu to present 2026 budget to N’Assembly Friday
President Bola Tinubu has written to the House of Representatives, seeking an audience to present the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
In a letter read on the floor of the House on Thursday by the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, the President requested to be scheduled to present the bill at noon on Friday, December 19, 2025, before a joint session of the National Assembly.
“I write to crave the kind indulgence of the House of Representatives to grant me the slot of 12:00 noon on Friday, December 19, 2025, to formally present the 2026 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly,” the letter read.
In the 2026–2028 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) currently under consideration by the House, the total size of the proposed budget is N54.46 trillion, out of which N34.33 trillion is expected as retained revenue.
47.1m Nigerians no longer need treatment for elephantiasis, river blindness — Minister
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, on Thursday said that 47.1 million Nigerians no longer require treatment for Lymphatic Filariasis (elephantiasis) and Onchocerciasis (river blindness).
According to Salako, Nigeria exceeded its disease-control targets for the two neglected tropical diseases and conducted significantly more assessments than originally planned.
Salako stated this in Abuja at the BLON project close-out ceremony, an initiative that delivered Nigeria’s largest-ever assessments for Lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis, conducted across 13 states.
The project was launched to address a critical gap in Nigeria’s elimination roadmap for the diseases and received $4.9 million in funding support from the Gates Foundation.
Reps approve harsher penalties for vote buying, introduce electoral reforms
The House of Representatives has approved targeted amendments to the Electoral Act, imposing stiffer penalties for vote buying and selling.
Individuals found guilty may face a minimum of two years’ imprisonment or a N5 million fine—or both—and a 10-year ban from contesting elections.
The amendments were adopted during the clause-by-clause consideration of the report of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
Under the revised Clause 22(a and c), penalties for vote buying and selling are significantly higher than previous provisions, which capped fines at N500,000 or two years’ imprisonment.
PDP caretaker committee backed by Wike takes charge, dissolves 14 state executives
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday reaffirmed central control of its structures as the Nyesom Wike-backed National Working Caretaker Committee declared itself the party’s sole legitimate authority and dissolved state working committees in 14 states.
The announcement came after a meeting of the caretaker committee in Abuja, where Acting Chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed outlined the mandate and direction of the leadership.
Mohammed emphasized that the committee operated under the authority of the party leadership and the Board of Trustees, insisting that the PDP remained united and guided by its constitution and Nigerian law.
“I want to thank the leadership of our great party, the Board of Trustees, and our party leader, Hon. Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for giving us this mandate to manage the activities of the party for a period of 60 days,” Mohammed said.
He cautioned members and the public against being misled by parallel meetings or claims of alternative leadership, stressing that the caretaker committee remained fully in charge nationwide.
IMPI hinges 14% year-end inflation forecast on deep analysis of Tinubu reforms
The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has attributed its successful forecast of a 14 per cent inflation by the end of the year to a painstaking analysis of President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies in the last year.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Omoniyi Akinsiju, IMPI argued that while the President himself projected an ambitious 15% inflation rate in his 2025 budget speech, its analysts were convinced in September that the country would do better using a Predictive Regression (PR) analysis.
Katsina State reclaims ₦10b in properties, 38 years after creation
The Katsina State Government has successfully recovered landed properties valued at over ₦10 billion, nearly 38 years after the state was carved out from the former Kaduna State.
Dr. Lawal Aminu Bala, General Manager of the Katsina State Assets Management Agency, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists in Katsina.
He explained that the recovered assets include 37 houses and several parcels of land located in Abuja, Kaduna, and Zaria, which rightfully belong to Katsina State under the assets and liabilities sharing arrangement established at the time of its creation in 1987.
Osun 2026: APC candidate Oyebamiji pledges total Overhaul of health sector
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), has declared his readiness to raise the standard of healthcare in Osun State through a total overhaul of the health sector if elected governor in 2026.
Oyebamiji spoke with journalists on Thursday after his wife, Dr Sekinah Bola-Oyebamiji, was elected President of the Osun State chapter of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN).
He lamented the moribund state of health facilities across the state, describing the situation as a major setback to development.
He assured that his administration would be committed to revamping critical sectors for public benefit, including health, education, infrastructure, commerce and agriculture.
According to him, Osun State has remained stagnant due to prolonged neglect of key sectors, particularly the health sector, which he said requires urgent intervention.
“It is on record that the health sector has become moribund in the state.
None of the categories of the health system—primary, secondary or tertiary—is fully functional.
Little or no effort has been made by the current administration to revive our health system,” Oyebamiji said.
Makinde commissions Omololu Olunloyo Relaxation Park in Ibadan
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state on Thursday, officially commissioned the newly-built tourism park named after a late former governor of the state, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo.
The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, while speaking at the park on Airport Road, Alakia, Ibadan, said the new leisure park would serve the dual purpose of leisure and preserving the rich cultural heritage of the state.
Governor Makinde stated that the facilities and artifacts at the relaxation park would help both the residents and visitors to the state to learn more about the peculiarity of the state and each of the geo-political zones of the state.
Shettima reaffirms FG’s commitment to power reforms as NDPHC turns 20
Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to sustained reforms in the power sector as the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) marked its 20th anniversary.
Speaking at the anniversary celebration held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, Shettima acknowledged NDPHC’s contributions to national development over the past two decades.
He described the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023 as a defining turning point for Nigeria’s power sector and for NDPHC, noting that the legislation provides clearer legal authority, enhanced commercial credibility and a stronger institutional footing for the company to compete, partner and grow in a more open and dynamic energy market.
