National

Discontent is reportedly growing in the House of Representatives following allegations that some lawmakers are plotting to move against Speaker Abbas Tajudeen over claims of being denied certain privileges. The grievances, which have largely played out on lawmakers’ WhatsApp platforms, center on complaints of exclusion and neglect. Some lawmakers alleged they were sidelined in a recent National Assembly recruitment exercise, where 785 new staff were reportedly hired without their knowledge. Frustration has also mounted over delays in payments to contractors handling constituency projects, with some members accusing the leadership of poor transparency and favoritism. They warned that the non-payment of contractors could hurt their chances of re-election in 2027. Read Also: El-Rufai Accuses Kaduna Governor Uba Sani of Sponsoring Political Violence In addition, some lawmakers faulted what they described as the poor performance of the national budget, its selective implementation by the executive, and the worsening insecurity in the North. However, the House leadership has dismissed reports of a plot against the Speaker. In a statement on Sunday, House spokesman Akin Rotimi described the reports as “misleading and sensational,” stressing that informal exchanges on WhatsApp cannot be mistaken for official caucus resolutions. Rotimi clarified that the recruitment exercise was conducted by the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), an independent statutory body, and not by the House leadership. He added that Speaker Abbas had already directed the Committee on Public Service Matters to investigate the process. “Contrary to insinuations of an impending showdown, the House remains united under Speaker Abbas Tajudeen. Informal conversations are normal in a vibrant democracy but cannot represent official positions,” Rotimi said. He further explained that delayed contractor payments were a nationwide challenge, not peculiar to constituency projects, and that the Appropriations Committees were already engaging the Minister of Finance to clear outstanding 2024 obligations. Rotimi stressed that the 10th Assembly has sustained unity despite Nigeria’s political, ethnic, and religious diversity, with consensus-building as its hallmark. The House is expected to reconvene on September 23 after its annual recess.

Former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase has reportedly passed away at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja. As of press time, there has been no official confirmation from his family or the Nigeria Police Force regarding the development. Arase, who served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, was appointed in April 2015 by then-President Goodluck Jonathan and retired from the Force in 2016. Read Also: PSC Approves Promotion of Senior Police Officers Across Ranks Following his retirement, he continued to take on national assignments, most notably as Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), a position he assumed in January 2023 under President Muhammadu Buhari. He was relieved of the role in June 2024 by President Bola Tinubu. A seasoned intelligence officer, Arase once headed the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Bureau, the apex intelligence unit of the Force. He also served as Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State and later as Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of intelligence. His distinguished career also included international service in Namibia on a United Nations peacekeeping mission.

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has once again shifted the implementation date of its revised service fees to October 1, 2025. The announcement was contained in a public notice uploaded on the Commission’s official X account Saturday night. The statement reads: “The Corporate Affairs Commission wishes to notify its esteemed customers and other stakeholders that, in demonstration of its unwavering commitment to service excellence, it has resolved to prioritise the full stabilization of the new Company Registration Portal before the middle of September, 2025. Read Also: NIS Raises Nigerian Passport Application Fees, Effective September 1st “Consequently, and in order to deliver optimum value to its various stakeholders, the Commission has further deferred the implementation of the revised fees for its services. The new fees will now come into effect on 1st October, 2025. “This decision reflects the Commission’s strong determination to ensure that the transition into the new regime of services is seamless, efficient, and beneficial to all. “The Commission sincerely appreciates the patience, understanding and cooperation of our customers and other stakeholders during this critical phase of transformation. “We remain fully committed to building an intelligent, customer-centric Registry that meets global standards.” Recall that the Commission had earlier postponed the implementation, which was initially scheduled to commence on August 1, to September 1, to allow for a smoother transition into its new company registration portal.

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced an upward review of fees for standard Nigerian passports processed within the country. In a statement issued on Thursday, ACI AS Akinlabi, the Service’s Public Relations Officer, said the new charges will take effect from September 1. Under the revised structure, a 32-page passport with five-year validity will now cost N100,000, while a 64-page passport with 10-year validity will cost N200,000. Read Also: FG Approves Nine New Private Universities Across Nigeria The statement clarified that the new fees apply only to applications made within Nigeria. Passport fees for Nigerians in the diaspora remain unchanged at $150 for the 32-page, five-year passport and $230 for the 64-page, 10-year passport. According to the NIS, the review is aimed at maintaining the quality and integrity of the Nigerian passport while ensuring accessibility for citizens. The adjustment comes less than a year after the last review of passport application fees.