Compilations of top 10 key latest updates that you need to know this Tuesday morning, 23rd December, 2025
Autonomy battle: LGs demand direct funds as states receive N7.43tn
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria and the National Union of Local Government Employees have thrown their weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s plan to enforce direct deductions of council funds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, even as state governments continue to retain control over allocations to local governments.
During the 15th National Executive Committee meeting of the All Progressives Congress at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, Tinubu urged state governors to comply with the Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to local governments.
The President warned that failure by governors to honour the verdict may compel him to issue an Executive Order to ensure direct allocations from the Federation Account to local councils.
Tinubu’s remarks followed the July 11, 2024, judgment by the Supreme Court, which upheld the Federal Government’s suit seeking to enforce financial independence for local governments.
KWAM1 loses bid to block Awujale selection process
The Ogun State High Court sitting in Ijebu-Ode on Monday refused to grant popular Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, alias KWAM1, 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
Yuletide: Police tighten security, FG declares holidays
The Federal Government on Monday declared Thursday, December 25, 2025, Friday, December 26, 2025, and Thursday, January 1, 2026, as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day, and New Year celebrations.
The declaration was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of the government.
In a statement, the minister extended Christmas and New Year greetings to Christians in Nigeria and abroad, as well as to all Nigerians marking the end of the year and the beginning of a new one.
The holiday declaration coincides with directives from the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who ordered the strategic deployment of police personnel and operational assets nationwide to ensure security during the festive season
Twitch suspends Carter Efe’s account for four months
Popular Nigerian comedian Carter Efe’s Twitch account has been temporarily suspended, days after his record-breaking livestream with Afrobeats star Davido.
The livestream, which took place on December 17, 2025, garnered significant attention online and enabled Carter Efe to become Africa’s most-followed Twitch streamer, with over 405,000 followers.
The comedian announced on Monday that Twitch had placed a four-month suspension on his account, citing violations of its Terms of Service and Community Guidelines.
However, no specific details were provided regarding the alleged infractions.
The development comes shortly after Carter Efe surpassed fellow Nigerian content creators, including Shank Comics, and recorded one of the most-watched livestreams on the platform with Davido
Police release detained wife, baby of FIJ reporter
The Nigeria Police Force has released Adenike Atanda, wife of a senior investigative reporter with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), following her reported detention alongside her nine-month-old baby in the Owutu area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
FIJ reported that Adenike and the infant were released on Monday evening, shortly after police operatives arrested her husband, Sodeeq Atanda, a senior reporter with the organisation, who was later released.
According to FIJ, Adenike and the baby were earlier taken to a police station in Owutu, where they were held for several hours before officers allegedly asked her to contact her husband.
In an account published by the organisation, Adenike said she was instructed to call Atanda and tell him that their child was ill and had been taken to the hospital.
Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, December 23, 2025
The Nigerian Naira maintained a relatively stable position against the United States Dollar on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, as trading opened across both the official and parallel markets.
This stability comes amid ongoing efforts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to manage liquidity within the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).
In the official window, the Naira showed minor fluctuations but remained within the range established during the previous week’s trading sessions.
According to real-time data, the exchange rate in the NFEM opened at approximately 1,455.95 NGN per 1 USD
This follows a closing rate of 1,459.43 NGN recorded on Monday, December 22.
Market analysts noted that the intraday high reached 1,461.63 NGN, while the lowest point dipped to 1,452.65 NGN during early morning trades.
The relative steadiness in the official window suggests a consistent supply of foreign exchange to meet legitimate corporate and individual demands.
ADC: Tinubu’s 2026 budget ‘buries’ next generation in debt
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has described President Bola Tinubu’s 2026 budget proposal as a dangerous debt trap that threatens to mortgage Nigeria’s future and deepen the country’s fiscal crisis.
In a preliminary review of the budget presented to the National Assembly by President Tinubu, the opposition party said the proposal exposes growing fiscal recklessness, administrative chaos and what it called a disturbing lack of concern for future generations.
The statement by the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, faulted the government’s claim that the proposal represents a ‘Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,’ arguing that the document reflects a continuation of failed fiscal practices under the Tinubu administration.
“What was presented was only a consolidation of the fiscal recklessness and renewed wishful thinking that have become the hallmark of the Tinubu administration.
If approved, the only thing this budget is capable of sharing is more debts and greater misery in the years ahead,” the ADC said.
INSECURITY: Oyo, Ogun, Lagos launch Joint Task Force to flush out terrorists
OYO, Ogun, and Lagos states, yesterday, launched a joint security operation aimed at tackling rising security threats along major highways and urban centres in the region
The initiative sought to ensure the safety of commuters, residents, and businesses, particularly along high-risk areas of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and adjoining routes.
The security awareness campaign, tagged ‘Joint Show of Force,’ was organised by the police commands of the three states in collaboration with other security agencies.
The exercise commenced from the Lagos end of the expressway and terminated at Ojoo in Ibadan, showcasing a coordinated effort to reinforce security visibility and deter criminal elements.
Briefing journalists at the Oyo State Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan, after the show, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security Matters, CP Fatai Owoseni (retd), welcomed the initiative, saying it reflected the southwest states’ resolve to adopt proactive measures in tackling insecurity.
Sunday Igboho to Tinubu: Herdsmen ‘re killing our farmers
YORUBA nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, yesterday, raised the alarm over the alleged killing of three farmers during a fresh attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Igboho, his native town in Orelope Local Government Area, Oke Ogun axis of Oyo State.
The victims, identified as Aderoju Mukaila, Olawuwo Saka, and Ojeniyi Ojebayo, were reportedly hacked by the herders after resisting the destruction of their farms by grazing cattle.
Although the farmers were rushed to the hospital following the attack, they later succumbed to their injuries despite the efforts of medical personnel.
Igboho, in a statement, urged President Bola Tinubu to take urgent steps to address the escalating insecurity in rural communities across Oyo State and other parts of the South West, warning that failure to act could trigger avoidable conflicts and widespread chaos.
The statement reads in part:
“On Sunday, three innocent people were killed in my town, Igboho.
This is exactly what I have been warning the government about for years.
Nothing has changed, and our people continue to suffer attacks while those responsible roam freely.
“The storm is over” – Biola Bayo marks new dawn as she celebrates birthday
Nollywood actress Biola Bayo is celebrating a new dawn on her birthday today, December 23rd, 2025.
Sharing photos of herself, the movie star, who announced her separation from her husband, noted how it’s been a long year, but in all God has been so good to her.
She stated that it is a new dawn and the storm is over.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABIOLA MI! Indeed, it’s been a long year, but in all God has been so good to me.
AYOMIDE, you’re a blessing, nations will continue to call you blessed
It’s a new dawn, babe
The storm is over!”
