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Federal revenue agencies face shake-up as Tinubu signs tax bills
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday signed into law four tax reform bills, declaring that it signals Nigeria’s readiness for modern economic growth and international investment.
Following Tinubu’s assent to four tax reform bills, key revenue-generating agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and several federal ministries and agencies, may lose their tax collection mandates.
The development, which establishes the Nigeria Revenue Service as the sole body responsible for collecting federally chargeable taxes, is expected to trigger major restructuring across the federal revenue architecture.
“We have opened the door for new economic and business opportunities. We are showing that Nigeria is truly ready and open for business. Easy in, easy out,” said Tinubu at the signing ceremony held at the State House in Abuja.
The President acknowledged the complexities involved in tax reforms but praised stakeholders for demonstrating leadership and courage through the process.
Commending the collaborative effort behind the legislative process, he added, “What you have provided is leadership and courage in the face of mounting dispute. Nowhere in the world will tax reforms be any easier.”
According to him, the signing marks a turning point in the nation’s fiscal direction: “We are in transit. We have changed the rule. We have changed some of the misgivings. The question of our tax-to-GDP and all other formulas will be obsolete,” he said.
Thursday’s signing comes nearly two years after President Tinubu, on July 7, 2023, approved the establishment of a Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms.
He appointed Mr Taiwo Oyedele, a Fiscal Policy Partner and Africa Tax Leader at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, as committee chairman. It came hours after he signed four Executive Orders, suspending the five per cent excise tax on telecommunication services and the excise duty escalation on locally manufactured vehicles.
The committee, inaugurated on August 8, 2023, comprised experts from both the private and public sectors. It was mandated to retrofit various aspects of tax law reform, fiscal policy design and coordination, harmonisation of taxes, and revenue administration.
On October 24, 2023, Oyedele presented a 30-day quick-wins report to President Tinubu, recommending the merger of over 200 taxes paid by Nigerian businesses into 10. In the months that followed, the committee undertook extensive engagements with stakeholders, culminating in the tax bills presented to the National Assembly in late 2024.
However, the bills faced resistance at the National Assembly and among some state governors, who rejected their passage. The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, earlier said that the proposed tax reform bills are in jurisdictional conflict with the NCS and threaten the agency’s existence.
At the NASS, the bills sparked heated debate, particularly around the revenue-sharing structure, which governors from the North opposed. They warned that a shift toward derivation-based allocations, especially with VAT, could tilt fiscal balance in favour of southern states with stronger consumption bases.
After prolonged dialogue, the VAT rate remained at 7.5 per cent, and a new exemption was introduced to shield minimum wage earners from personal income tax. By May 2025, the National Assembly passed the harmonised versions with broad support, driven in part by pressure from economic stakeholders and international observers who welcomed the clarity and efficiency the reforms promised.
The four bills include the Nigeria Tax Bill (Fair Taxation), Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill.
According to the President, “They will unify our fragmented tax system, eliminate wasteful duplications, cut red tape, restore investor confidence, and entrench transparency and coordination at every level.”
Tinubu added that the long-standing burden of Nigeria’s tax structure had unfairly weighed down the vulnerable while enabling inefficiency. Tinubu emphasised that the signing marks the beginning of Nigeria’s tax evolution.
Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of the National Revenue Service (formerly the Federal Inland Revenue Service), Zacch Adedeji, has announced that the newly signed tax reform bills will take effect on January 1, 2026.
Adedeji, who briefed State House correspondents after Tinubu signed the four tax bills into law, said this would give the administration six months for planning, education, and alignment with the fiscal calendar.
He explained, “Based on best practices globally, because when you have this kind of change, it takes time for all the stakeholders, participant operators, and even the regulator to change the system. So with the magnanimity of the National Assembly, Mr. President, the effective date will be January 1, 2026, by the special grace of Almighty God.”
Adedeji stressed the importance of launching the reforms at the start of a new calendar year, saying, “When you have this kind of change, it’s not what you do mid-year. Because if the application of the law is better, you start from the beginning of the year.
“So effective dates, by God’s grace, will be first of January 2026,” he added. This timeline, the revenue chief explained, allows for adequate sensitisation, planning, and harmonisation with government budgeting frameworks.
For his part, the Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, described the newly signed tax laws as “pro-poor,” saying they will ease the burden on low-income earners, small business owners, and everyday Nigerians.
He said, “More than 1/3 of workers in both the private and public sectors will now be exempted completely from PAYE. They will not have to pay personal income tax. Small businesses, over 90 per cent of small and micro, nano businesses, we no longer have to worry about paying corporate income tax or charging VAT or even deducting withholding tax or paying PAYE for their employees.”
Oyedele added that the reforms will leave “more money in the hands of the ordinary Nigerian to take care of their daily needs,” and announced a new zero‑rate VAT framework on essential items.
“Any traces of VAT in food, in education, in medical and health care are now removed completely, so we should see prices of those items come down,” Oyedele explained.
He also emphasised relief for sectors where households spend most, clarifying that “transportation, accommodation and housing is exempt from VAT… collectively account for more than 80 per cent of where Nigerians spend their money. That’s a huge relief for them.”
Appearing as a guest on Channels Television Politics Today programme on Thursday, Oyedele explained that the current system of revenue was opaque, noting that the new system, operated by the Nigerian Revenue Service will require the government to be more transparent and transparent.
“The current system is opaque. And usually, if you’re hiding stuff from me, I need to be suspicious of you. It’s hard to trust you if you’re not open and transparent. That’s exactly what we have today in Nigeria. So, these new laws require that government should be more transparent. There are requirements around the standard of reporting, the timeliness of those reporting, and making them accessible to the public, by the agencies like the Nigerian Revenue Service.
“(We’re changing) from FIRS to NRS, Nigerian Revenue Service. And that Nigerian Revenue Service will then work in collaboration with subnationals,” he said. The chairman explained that the NRS will operate a digitised system that will collect data like National Identity Numbers, phone numbers, and bank information, to prevent tax evasion by high-income individuals.
Oyedele emphasised that the new tax reform bills were designed with three principal objectives in mind, including ensuring that they were people-centric, efficiency-driven, and growth-focused.
Highlighting where revenue would come from, Oyedele said, “Two places where money would come from are tax evasion. We estimate that the tax gap, which is how much we are collecting and how much we could be collecting, is in the region of 70 per cent, so we are only collecting 30 per cent. We want to close that gap. Imagine if we just close it by another 30 per cent, that is double what we collect now.
“Number two is that we have lots of wasteful incentives. They are not just wasteful, they are also distortionary, so we lose money and create problems for the economy. So, we fixed that as well, so that’s money coming to the government without raising the tax on the people. Then there is the one to do with just ensuring that government resources are more effectively utilised. These areas combined will be where we will initially make money from.
“Ultimately, the money will come from the economy growing. If we get 10 per cent of $200bn, it is more than 100 per cent of one billion. That is where the money is coming from. It is not about going to the person who is trying to survive and asking them to give; they have nothing more to give.”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, stated that the newly signed tax reform laws reflect the true aspirations of Nigerians and are the product of broad consultations, especially with stakeholders who initially opposed the reforms.
Addressing journalists at the signing, Musa acknowledged the initial public backlash—particularly from the northern—but said the National Assembly approached the task with balance and diligence.
He added, “With the consultations and the painstaking nature of the legislative processes that we’ve taken, I believe we are bringing out, we brought out bills that seek the aspirations of Nigerians.
“And what are those aspirations, just as has been highlighted by the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force, we consider the less privileged in terms of earnings, and see that we don’t add burdens on them.”
The senator noted that one of the significant breakthroughs of the legislative process was the harmonisation of Nigeria’s fragmented and duplicative tax system.
He said the review also extended to vital sectors such as oil and gas and the Export Processing Zones, ensuring the laws supported industrial growth and competitiveness.
Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. James Faleke, described the passage of the bills as a once “mission impossible” task made successful through national cooperation.
Faleke commended the efforts of lawmakers, governors, and the Nigerian public for what he called a united effort to overhaul the country’s tax regime. He emphasised that the reforms do not introduce new tax burdens but rather expand the efficiency of collection and plug leakages.
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association on Thursday lauded President Bola Tinubu’s assent to four major tax reform bills, describing it as a significant step towards ending over 10 years of crippling multiple taxation on businesses in Nigeria.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 4th Employers Summit in Abuja, NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, said the legislation, which harmonises taxes, levies and fees across all levels of government, was a long-awaited relief for the Organised Private Sector.
“Our immediate reaction is ‘uhuru’, we thank God because we have canvassed this for a long time,” Smatt-Oyerinde told journalists. “The challenges of multiplicity of taxes, levies and fees have been a major issue for the Organised Private Sector for over 10 years.”
The NECA boss noted that while the assent marks a major milestone, the true test lies in effective implementation. “The main work is implementation, and it will come with its own challenges that we are not all aware of right now,” he said. “But we’re happy that he has signed it. The reality for organised businesses in the context of harmonised taxes, levies and fees has begun.”
Smatt-Oyerinde stressed that the issue was not only about tax rates but also the chaotic and inefficient method of collection that had long discouraged business growth.
“The efficiency of tax collection has been a recurring concern for every rational stakeholder. That was why we supported the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, which did a very humane and consultative job with the bill,” he explained.
He added that the bills are interconnected and were designed to stimulate growth across all levels of the economy, from micro, small and medium enterprises to large corporations.
“You don’t grow from the top. You grow by promoting businesses. Some parts of the reform affect MSMEs, others SMEs, big businesses, and individuals. It’s a chain reaction that we believe will catalyse the entire economy,” he added.
NECA President, Dr Ifeanyi Okoye, in his remarks, echoed similar sentiments, stressing that the reforms must not end with legislation but must lead to practical improvements for Nigerian businesses.
“For over six years, NECA has remained committed to promoting a stable, predictable, and enabling policy environment where all businesses, regardless of sector or size, can thrive,” Okoye said.
He challenged the federal government to show commitment to implementing actionable outcomes from the summit, warning against treating the platform as “another talk shop.”
“This must be a catalyst for the policy coherence and reform implementation that businesses, and indeed, the country urgently need,” he said.
Smatt-Oyerinde further disclosed that NECA had worked closely with the Presidential Committee throughout the drafting of the tax bills and would remain actively engaged with the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the lead agency for implementation.
“We are ready to deepen our collaboration with FIRS to ensure that these reforms work in practice, not just on paper,” he said.
Following the signing of four major tax reform bills by President Bola Tinubu on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen, has revealed that the new laws have codified four key executive orders aimed at stimulating investment in Nigeria’s oil, gas, and clean energy sectors.
She said the act has already helped unlock over $6 billion in fresh investments into Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Reacting in a post on her official X (formerly Twitter) handle shortly after the presidential announcement, Verheijen described the signing as a “historic moment” and a clear demonstration of the administration’s commitment to driving energy sector reforms through long-term policy clarity.
She explained that the act enshrines into law Presidential Directive 40 and three other key executive instruments. Among the codified executive orders are: Presidential Directive 40: A framework for fiscal incentives targeting upstream, midstream gas, and deep offshore oil projects.
“The 2024 VAT Modification Order: This grants value-added tax exemptions for Compressed Natural Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas, and other clean energy products.
“The 2025 Upstream Petroleum Cost Efficiency Order: Designed to reduce operational overheads in the upstream oil sector. Other incentive orders focused on energy transition and infrastructure localisation.
“These reforms have already helped unlock over $6bn in new Oil & Gas investments. With their codification, the administration has delivered long-term certainty and regulatory clarity, ensuring these critical incentives are protected from future policy reversals,” Verheijen stated.
She praised the development as a strategic win for the public and private sectors, stressing that the energy industry now has a legal framework that assures investors of continuity regardless of future political changes.
Former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, has described Pastor Jerry Uchechukwu Eze as an exceptional man of God whose ministry has made a profound impact on humanity.
In a birthday congratulatory message issued on Saturday, August 22, 2026, Orji paid glowing tribute to the Senior Pastor of Streams of Joy International and Convener of the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declaration (NSPPD).
“Your faith, selfless service, wisdom and commitment to the work of God continue to inspire countless lives. Your ministry has been a source of hope, guidance and spiritual upliftment to many,” Orji said.
The former Speaker further described Pastor Jerry Eze as a highly revered servant of God who is truly filled with the Holy Spirit, noting that testimonies of miracles, signs and wonders consistently follow the NSPPD prayer sessions.
While wishing the celebrant a happy birthday, Orji prayed that God would continue to increase him in ministry, wisdom, knowledge and understanding, and grant him long life in peace and happiness.
The Anambra state police command has arrested a suspect for allegedly impersonating, False Representation of Mr Linus Williams “BLord” and defrauding members of the public.
According to the charges of false representation using the name of Blood to defraud the public the 22 year old young man Hillary Tochukwu Enujekwu from Okpanam in Delta state is accused of committing the crime punishable under Section 386 of the Criminal Code , Cap 36 , Vol 2 Revised Law of Anambra state of Nigeria 1991.
However the Magistrate Court did not sit on this Friday and the accused was returned to the State Criminal Investigation Department Amawbia.
Speaking to reporters Mr Linus William aka Blord confirmed that the accused had been using a fake TikTok handle claiming that he is Blord adding that he is not active on TikTok and is yet to verify his TikTok.
“I am at the Magistrate Court Amawbia in respect of a matter that was brought to the Court over a young man that has been using my videos and my pictures to defraud the public for the past three years”
“He has been n notorious on TikTok and he has about 11 million likes on TikTok and about 870,000 or there about followers on TikTok”
“Meanwhile my original TikTok has about 150,000 followers with 1,5million likes but this young man has about 11.6 million and that is ten times of my profile and people take his profile as the real Blord profile and they have been transacting with him and defrauded more than 100 people millions of naira and dollars ”
“Many of them came to the station to write their statements and the young man has confessed and agreed to the crime and the family has been begging for us to know how to settle the matter”.
“We came to Court today but the Court did not sit and they are taking the boy back to Police custody State Criminal Investigation Department where he is being remanded”
William recalled that when the matter came up, he reported to the Police who took action and arrested boy and invited him over to come and see the suspect .
“We went through his phone and all the videos on his phone are my videos, the number that he has been using to defraud them and once you call that number his number will ring and he used it to defraud people running into millions, 1,000 dollars , 3,000 dollar’s 5 million at different scenario and people believe that I was the one that defrauded them”.
“When he defraud the victims he will tell them to come to the office and we have nine different branches of my office and when they come we tell them that it not Blord profile” he said.
William thanked the Police for a job well done addin that he is innocent of those allegations against him.
William further explained that his outfit is verifiable on Instagram adding that his TikTok is yet to be activated .
“The Blord is on Instagram and I have a verify Instagram and verified Facebook but am not on TikTok and I am working towards verifying myself on TikTok”
“For you to get a legitimate Blord, make sure that the profile is verified and and if you feel doubted, we have office in nine major Cities and one should be close to you and you can come to the office and do your transactions ” he said.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga said that the matter is before the Court of law hence cannot comment on it .
News
2027: Mandate Group Endorses ex Abia Speaker Chinedum Orji for Ikwuano/Umuahia Fed Constituency Seat
The Ikuku 2027 Mandate Group has endorsed former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji, as its preferred candidate to represent Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives in 2027.
In a statement titled, “Representation with Experience, Legislation with Results: The Ikwuano/Umuahia Compact for 2027,” the group said its position followed what it described as a careful assessment of aspirants seeking to represent the constituency.
According to the group, Orji stood out on the basis of his experience, capacity, character and record of public service, having previously served as Leader and Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly.
The group said its support for the former Speaker was based on what it described as a desire to take tested legislative experience to the National Assembly.
“We are presenting Rt. Hon. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji to represent our Federal Constituency in 2027. This is not a campaign of noise. It is a campaign of structure, law, and delivery,” the group stated.
It said Orji’s experience in presiding over legislative debates, passing budgets and exercising oversight over the executive would equip him to effectively represent the constituency in Abuja.
The group outlined security, economic relief, youth employment, education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture and transparency as key areas of its proposed legislative agenda for the constituency.
On security, it said Orji would support legislation aimed at strengthening community policing, local security architecture and federal intervention against kidnapping and violent crime across Ikwuano, Umuahia North and Umuahia South.
The group also said he would focus on legislation and oversight aimed at reducing the cost of doing business, improving access to credit for small and medium-scale enterprises and protecting households through scrutiny of policies affecting fuel and electricity costs.
On youth development, the group said the proposed agenda would seek to connect young people in the constituency to federal employment, entrepreneurship and skills-development programmes, including initiatives of the National Directorate of Employment and the Bank of Industry.
It added that education and healthcare would also feature prominently, with plans to advocate increased intervention in schools, expand access to scholarships and bursaries, and pursue improvements in primary healthcare and federal health infrastructure across the three local government areas.
The Ikuku 2027 Mandate Group further said Orji would use legislative engagement, budgetary advocacy and oversight to pursue federal road, electrification and water projects in the constituency.
“A legislator does not build a road, but he fights for it in the budget and monitors it,” the group stated, adding that quarterly reports on approved projects and their implementation would form part of its proposed accountability framework.
On agriculture, the group said the agenda would focus on policies supporting agro-processing, storage facilities, access to agricultural grants and improved market access for farmers, particularly in Ikwuano.
It also promised an open and accessible representation model, including annual scorecards, town-hall meetings across the three LGAs and a public tracker for constituency interventions.
The group said women, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups would also feature in its inclusion agenda, alongside support for women-owned businesses and girls’ education.
It further argued that the constituency deserved stronger federal presence, including more intervention programmes, training centres, agencies and infrastructure projects.
According to the group, its 2027 campaign would be built around ward-level engagement, policy town halls and what it described as data-driven voter outreach.
“Sloganeering gets attention. Campaigning gets results. And with Chinedum, you get both,” it stated.
The group described the proposed agenda as a “compact” with the people of Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South, built around legislation, effective oversight, accessible representation and transparency.
“This is our contract with you: Legislation that protects. Oversight that delivers. Representation that is accessible. In 2027, vote for experience that has led, and leadership that will legislate,” the group stated.
It adopted the campaign message: “Ikwuano/Umuahia First. Experience That Works.”
The statement reads in full
REPRESENTATION WITH EXPERIENCE, LEGISLATION WITH RESULTS: The Ikwuano/Umuahia Compact for 2027″
BY IKUKU 2027 MANDATE GROUP
1. THE VERDICT AFTER SCRUTINY
After a careful examination and scrutiny of all those aspiring to represent Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, and after weighing verifiable empirical indices of service, capacity, and character, one name stands clearly above the rest: Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji. He stands out as the most suitable because he has distinguished himself as a man of independent mind, tested experience, natural charisma, loyal followership, and above all, a human heart that beats for the people. In a race where many talk, he has a record to show.
2. THE MANDATE
We are presenting Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji to represent our Federal Constituency in 2027. This is not a campaign of noise. It is a campaign of structure, law, and delivery. Having served as Leader and Speaker at the subnational level, he understands how to turn the voice of the people into laws that actually work.
3. WHY EXPERIENCE MATTERS
As former Leader and Speaker, Chinedum presided over debates, passed budgets, and held the executive to account. That is the experience we are taking to Abuja: the skill to draft bills, build consensus across party lines, and ensure our constituency is not just present, but influential in the National Assembly.
4. SECURITY OF LIVES AND PROPERTY
For us, the first duty is safety. Chinedum will sponsor and support legislation to strengthen community policing, support local security architecture, and increase federal intervention against kidnapping and violent crime across Ikwuano and the two Umuahia LGAs. A safe constituency is a productive constituency.
5. THE ECONOMY AND COST OF LIVING
Food, transport, and power costs are biting our people. His focus will be on laws that reduce the cost of doing business for our traders in Umuahia markets, support SMEs with access to credit, and protect households through oversight of fuel subsidy reforms and electricity tariff structures. We are legislating relief, not just talking about it.
6. JOBS, YOUTH AND SKILLS
Youth unemployment is not a slogan to Chinedum. It is a policy problem. He will push for a Federal Constituency Skills and Entrepreneurship Act to link our young people to NDE, BOI, and digital job programs. Internships, vocational centers, and startup support will be tracked quarterly and reported back to the people.
7. EDUCATION AS A FOUNDATION
From primary schools in Ikwuano to tertiary access in Umuahia, education must work. He will advocate for increased UBEC and TETFund releases to our schools, sponsor bills for STEM (Science , Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) and vocational education, and establish a transparent constituency scholarship and bursary scheme tied to merit and need.
8. HEALTHCARE THAT REACHES YOU
Our PHCs must have drugs, staff, and power. Chinedum will use legislative oversight to ensure NHIA ( National Health Insurance Authority) enrollment drives reach our wards, push for constituency health bills, and lobby for federal health infrastructure upgrades in our three LGAs. No mother should die giving life.
9. POWER AND INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH LAW
A legislator does not build a road, but he fights for it in the budget and monitors it. Chinedum will lobby for the inclusion of key Ikwuano-Umuahia roads, rural electrification, and water projects in federal budgets, and he will publish quarterly reports on what was approved and what was delivered. Oversight is his promise.
10. AGRICULTURE AND MARKET ACCESS
Ikwuano’s farmland and Umuahia’s markets are economic engines. He will support legislation for agro-processing, storage facilities, and easier access to federal agricultural grants. We will connect farmers to markets and reduce post-harvest losses through policy, not promises.
11. GOOD GOVERNANCE AND TRANSPARENCY
Having been Speaker, Chinedum knows how budgets are padded and projects disappear. He will run an open office: annual scorecards, town halls in all three LGAs, and a public tracker for all constituency interventions. The people must see where the money goes.
12. WOMEN AND INCLUSION
Legislation must reflect everyone. He will champion bills that support women in business, protect girls’ education, and ensure 35% inclusion of women and PWDs in constituency appointments and programs. Representation without inclusion is incomplete.
13. FEDERAL PRESENCE FOR OUR CONSTITUENCY
We deserve more federal projects and institutions. Chinedum will use his legislative relationships to attract agencies, training centers, and intervention programs to Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South. Our size and capital city status must translate to federal advantage.
14. CAMPAIGNS, NOT JUST SLOGANS
Let’s be clear: electioneering is more than chants. This campaign will be built on ward-to-ward engagement, policy town halls, and data-driven voter outreach. Yes, we will have a message you can remember. But behind every slogan will be a bill number, a budget line, and a plan. Sloganeering gets attention. Campaigning gets results. And with Chinedum, you get both.
15. THE COMPACT
This is our contract with you: Legislation that protects. Oversight that delivers. Representation that is accessible. In 2027, vote for experience that has led, and leadership that will legislate.
“Ikwuano/Umuahia First. Experience That Works.”
Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, Member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as “responsive leadership” following the Federal Government’s decision to accelerate implementation of the 2026 budget.
Speaking on Magic FM, Aba, on Thursday, Ikwechegh said the renewed push to release funds to Ministries, Departments and Agencies demonstrated that the President listens to the legislature.
“Mr. President has shown he is a listening President who has the interest of the nation at heart. He did not see our concerns as opposition. He saw them as part of our job to ensure Nigerians get value for money,” the lawmaker stated.
Ikwechegh had earlier drawn national attention after raising a motion on the floor of the House over delays in budget releases despite appropriations passed by the National Assembly. The intervention sparked debate among lawmakers over the slow pace of capital project execution.
The Federal Government has since announced measures to fast-track releases under the 2026 Appropriation Act, which provides for an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion, with ₦32.2 trillion earmarked for capital expenditure.
According to Ikwechegh, legislative oversight is most effective when it produces concrete results.
“Our job is to speak firmly when policies are not working, and to also acknowledge when government takes corrective action. That is how the executive and legislature serve the people together,” he said.
The Abia lawmaker stressed that the real test of the budget lies in delivery — completed roads, functional hospitals, jobs for youths, and improved services across constituencies.
He expressed optimism that with improved coordination between the National Assembly and the Presidency, Nigerians will increasingly begin to feel the impact of the 2026 budget as implementation gathers momentum.
Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan was the front-runner after last month’s first informal vote, in which the council’s 15 members, including the five with veto power, pass judgment in secret on the candidates.
Argentina’s Rafael Grossi — the current head of the UN nuclear watchdog — is also a candidate along with Chile’s Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Uganda’s Olara Otunnu and Senegal’s Macky Sall.
After the first round concluded, Ecuador’s Ivonne A-Baki threw her hat into the race to succeed Antonio Guterres, who will complete his second five-year term on December 31, 2026.
“While the first straw poll set the scene for the Secretary-General race, the second may give us some direction about where it is headed,” said the International Crisis Group’s Daniel Forti.
“Diplomats expect fluctuations in the vote distribution compared to the July poll. Most will be watching to see whether the early front-runners consolidate their support or slip in the standings.
“It is unlikely that any candidate will emerge from (Friday’s) poll with a decisive lead.”
Forti said the veto-wielding nations — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — might wait until later to express their preferences, while new contenders could emerge.
Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said Thursday he could not rule out that possibility.
“If, for example — I’m speculating now — if there is a deadlock on any of the candidates we are seeing today, if nobody… flies, then I think that we may see other candidates as well,” Nebenzia said.
Even if a candidate earns the required nine votes from the 15 available in the Security Council, they must also avoid a veto by the five major powers, which are deeply divided.
Once a candidate clears those bars, their name will go to the General Assembly of all UN members for confirmation.
The Security Council straw poll was devised in the early 1980s in an attempt to break a deadlock between two candidates shut down by vetoes.
The informal mechanism has persisted, in various forms, despite criticism from countries opposed to the opaque process.
“There is a good chance that some nominees realise after (Friday’s) vote that their campaigns have reached the end of the road,” Forti added.
Each member state must anonymously assign each candidate one of three labels: “encourage,” “discourage,” or “no opinion.”
That would give those with no support the opportunity to withdraw — though they are not obliged.
In the first rounds of the process expected to take several weeks, all ballots are the same colour.
But after an unspecified number of votes, the ballots of the five permanent members will become a different colour from those of the elected members, making it possible to identify potential vetoes, without knowing which country blackballed any given candidate.
It is tradition that the UN’s top job should rotate between different regions.
Under that premise, the role should go to a candidate from Latin America this time. There are many candidates from the region, though Sall and Otunnu hail from Africa.
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