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Buhari Presents N13.08trn 2021 Budget Proposal

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President Muhammadu Buhari has presented the 2021 budget estimate to a joint session of the National Assembly.

The proposed expenditure is put at N13.08 trillion with a crude oil benchmark price of $40 per barrel and a daily oil production estimate of 1.86 million barrels (inclusive of condensates of 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day).

This also includes N1.35 trillion spending by Government Owned Enterprises and Grants and Aid funded expenditure of N354.85 billion.

The budget contains recurrent expenditure of N5.65 trillion, personnel cost of N3.76 trillion, and debt service of N3.12 trillion.

Statutory transfers have been put at N484.4 billion while Pension, Gratuities & Retirees Benefits was put at N501.19 billion and Overhead cost at N625.50 billion.

A projected inflation rate of 11.95 percent and a GDP growth rate of 3.00 percent was considered.

President budgeted N128 billion for the National Assembly and N63.5 billion for the Niger Delta Development Commission.

Based on the foregoing fiscal assumptions and parameters, total federally distributable revenue is estimated at N8.433 trillion in 2021. Total revenue available to fund the 2021 Federal Budget is estimated at N7.886 trillion. This includes Grants and Aid of N354.85 billion as well as the revenues of 60 Government-Owned Enterprises.

The deficit, Mr Buhari said, will be financed mainly by new borrowings totalling N4.28 trillion, N205.15 billion from Privatisation Proceeds and N709.69 billion in drawdowns on multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific projects and programmes.

Oil revenue is projected at N2.01 trillion. Non-oil revenue is estimated at N1.49 trillion.

Other allocations include N29.7 billion for the North East Development Commission, N110 billion for the Nigerian Judicial Council, N70.05 billion for UBEC, and N40 billion for the electoral umpire INEC.

Mr. Buhari said the 2021 budget is titled ‘Economic Recovery and Resilience’ with the aim of promoting economic diversity and enhancing social inclusion.

Others are the Public Complaints Commission – N5.20 billion; Human Rights Commission – N3.00 billion; and Basic Health Care Provision Fund – N35.03 billion.

President Buhari also said in compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007, all beneficiaries of

Statutory Transfers will be required to provide the Budget Office of the Federation with periodic reports on the allocation and expenditure of funds for inclusion in the quarterly Budget Implementation Report.

The lawmakers are expected to receive the Finance Bill which will contain details of the budget for consideration and passage.

 

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HAPPENING NOW: Gale of defection hits Ebonyi NDC as EXCO members dump party over controversial primaries

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There appears no end to the controversies trailing the conduct of the party primaries held by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in different parts of the country on May 29.

The latest among the controversies is the gale of defection that hit the party in Ebonyi State, especially the resignation of the Executive Council (EXCO) members of the NDC.

As of the time of filing this report, over 11 members of the NDC State Executive Council in Ebonyi State have resigned from the party.

From letters obtained by our reporter on Monday, those who have resigned from the NDC in Ebonyi include the Deputy State Chairman; Comrade Okey Idenyi, State Secretary; Barrister Aduma Solomon Chinedu, State Youth Leader; Anthony Nwofe, Deputy State Youth Leader; Emenike Daniel Oroke.

Others are: State Welfare Officer; Hon. Ajah Cyril, five Local Government Area Party Chairmen, among others.

Reason for resignation
According to the resignation letters of the aforementioned members of the party, the decision to resign from the NDC is as a result of the conduct of the recent party primaries, which allegedly were highly compromised by a former governor of the state.

According to the aggrieved EXCO members, popular candidates of the party in the primary elections, including Architect Christian Asaga Nwali, PhD, were allegedly edged out in the primary election through a process that disregarded the will of party members and the masses.

The aggrieved EXCO members also alleged that the national leadership of the NDC prioritised not offending a former governor of the State, Senator Dr. Sam Egwu, over listening to the concerns of the grassroots.

“This decision follows the conduct of the recent party primaries, which were highly compromised by Dr. Sam Egwu, the recognized NDC leader in Ebonyi State. In our view, popular candidates including one “Double Chief” and others were allegedly edged out through a process that disregarded the will of party members and the masses.

“The National leadership prioritized not offending Dr. Sam Egwu over listening to the concerns of the grassroots. When a party abandons internal democracy and the voice of its base, it loses its foundation. More resignations are expected to follow. A party that cannot respect its own members cannot claim to represent the people,” they stated.

Deputy Chairman’s resignation letter
Meanwhile, in his resignation letter, addressed to the NDC Chairman, Ezillo Ward 2 in Ishielu LGA of Ebonyi State, dated June 21, 2026, the Deputy State Chairman, Comrade Okey Idenyi, lamented that his efforts to entrench the party in Ebonyi were betrayed, saying the process of the primary election was hijacked and that the outcome does not reflect the wishes of the people.

The letter read: “Sir, Politics they say is a game of interest. Before Mr Peter Obi joined the NDC, I had already made significant contributions to the development and formation of the party’s structure both in the state, LGAs and Wards. Precisely, I constituted the Structure of NDC in Ikwo, Ezza South, Ezza North, Ishielu and suggested names in other LGAs of Ebonyi State.

“I also made the payment for the office secretariat that is being used by the NDC in Ebonyi State. I hired labourers to clean up the space and made it look good for use. That is where the party still use till date.

“All these months I served as the State Deputy Chairman, I have taken pride that the NDC is a party that will provide credible leadership, transparency, accountability, Free, fare and sound internal reforms for the people, where the son of nobody could become somebody, whether the party is in power or outside power,

“Regrettably, in recent times, the party has taken a path that is in variance with my democratic belief and the new Nigeria project we envisage by organising a blanket primaries election, asking the party chairman to stay away from the venue, but stayed in a hotel to write results, which was later upheld as the authentic result after abandoning the other aspirants and their supporters at the party secretariat and the LGAs primary election venues. The process that made them candidates for the NDC in Ebonyi State is questionable and corrupt.

“I sincerely regret how the teeming supporters of the NDC were attacked and injured in some LGAs as they were abandoned with no one to address them at the venues slated for the Primary election but today, the news is that NDC Ebonyi State now has candidates.

“Despite my attempt to offer counsel, the party is, sadly no longer able to carry out its own rules or offer credible opposition going by so many corrupt activities going on in the party, both in the National leadership and in the States at the moment.

“It is in the light of the foregoing, that I am compelled to offer my resignation from the Nigeria Democratic Congress, effective immediately.

“While this decision was difficult to take, I, however, believe that it is in the best interest of my teaming supporters and the New Nigeria project. My resignation from NDC does not translate to quitting politics rather to align with my democratic principles and for the enthronment of good governance in Nigeria.

“Kindly ensure that my name is removed from the party’s physical and digital registers, structures, and all official mailing lists or communication platforms. I wish the NDC leadership well.”

Ebonyi Secretary resignation letter
Similarly, in his resignation letter, addressed to the NDC Chairman, Ndebor Ward in Ebonyi LGA, dated June 21, 2026, the State Secretary, Chief Barr. Aduma Solomon Chinedu, said the reason for his resignation is as a result of the national leadership of the NDC paying deaf ears to the controversies in Ebonyi State.

The letter read: “Sequel to the ongoing issues in Nigeria Democratic Congress NDC in Ebonyi State/National at large, letter dated 31st May 2026, together with the press interview which I the Secretary of the Party and the Deputy Chairman signed and submitted to the National Chairman, leader of the party, Secretary and appeal committee chairman of the NDC. For the issues bordered in Ebonyi NDC State primary, which the national chairman including the leader of the party still keeping silent and even after passing vote of rio confidence to the State Chairman Prince Enyinaya Udensi for compromise and abuse of office

“I, Chief Barr. Aduma Solomon Chinedu of the above address as the state Secretary of the party hereby resigned, hence the party has no democratic principle direction and the rule of law to pursue my political interests thereof. This is because my interest and interest of my followers in NDC, which are the foundation members of the party, are in danger of being denied their constitutional right.”

Protest by C-Sagas supporters
Recall that on Friday, June 5, over 1,000 supporters of Architect Christian Asaga Nwali (popularly known as C-Sagas), staged a peaceful protest at the Abuja offices of the NDC in Abuja, over the conduct of the Ebonyi Central Senatorial district primary election held on May 29, 2026.

The supporters of C-Sagas alleged there are rumours that the leadership of the party in Ebonyi State are making plans to declare Prof. Bernard Odoh winner of the primary election, saying the party should put the rumours to rest by declaring the result of the primary election; with C-Sagas as the winner.

Addressing journalists at the NDC offices, after submitting a letter to the party, Leader of the group, Mrs Joy Ewa, appealed to the NDC National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, the Presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, and other leaders of the party, to urgently intervene to ensure that the people’s mandate are not stolen, saying C-Sagas clearly won the primary election.

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