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Senate Moves To Provide Economic Diversification Framework

Published

3 years ago

December 15, 2022

By Lateef Taiwo
The Senate is set to provide the much needed legislative framework to enable the federal government pursue its diversification policies to improve on the Nigerian economy.

The upper chamber, accordingly, seeks to achieve same with the passage of the Nigerian Economic Diversification Bill 2022 presently before the National Assembly.

A public hearing on the bill sponsored by the Deputy Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger North) is slated for Monday, December 19th, 2022.

The hearing is organised by the Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi-led Committee on National Planning.

The bill, which was read for the first time on December 8, 2021, seeks to establish the Nigerian Economic Diversification Council, as well as provide for the Nigerian Resource Development Plan.

It also provides for the transfer of technology for Nigerian capacity development and succession plan, establishment and management of startup development programme, issuance of work permits and expatriate quotas, and formalization and development of artisanal and small scale miners of solid minerals.

The bill in its provisions, specifically focuses on the promotion of Nigerian Content Development in automobile manufacturing, maritime industry and credit guarantee scheme.

The piece of legislation makes it mandatory for Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to submit Annual Nigerian Content and Economic Diversification Development Report and Annual Budget.

Other sectors of the economy duly covered in the bill are Information and Communications Technology, Health, Agriculture and Agro Allied, Power etc.

Speaking on the bill, its sponsor, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, said same provides for the “establishment and maintenance of programmes for the overall development of the Nigerian economy, more especially, to encourage the growth of Nigerian industries, services, technologies in order to diversify the Nigerian economy and raise the standard of living of persons living in Nigeria to a reasonable level.”

He added that the scope of the Bill “are to be applicable to all ministries, arms and agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria and private businesses.”

“However, local content development in the oil and gas sector is excluded from the application of this Bill”, he noted.

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NYCN: High Court Bars Gbenga, others from holding election

Published

35 mins ago

October 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Josl Ajayi

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has issued an order restraining Comrade Ademola Gbenga, Comrade Okechukwu Nnamene and others from conducting the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) election slated for October 7, pending the determination of the substantive suit before the court.

Justice J. E. Obanor, in an order dated October 6, 2025, in suit no: FCT/HC/CV/3803/2025 and motion no: M/12204/2025, sighted by our correspondent, directed the Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to enforce the court’s order.

The claimants/applicants in the case are the Incorporated Trustees of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, representing the existing leadership of the Council.

The defendants include Comr. Ademola Gbenga, Comr. Okechukwu Nnamene, Comr. Abel Abaji, Comr. Alex Allen Akin, Comr. Hassan Mamman, the Inspector General of Police, and the Department of State Services.

It would be recalled that the NYCN, during its National Elective Convention held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, from September 20 to 22, re-elected Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo as President alongside other executives.

However, dissatisfied with the Sukubo-led leadership, Gbenga and his allies formed a parallel group and planned to conduct another election in Abuja on October 7.

Consequently, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo regarding the leadership of the NYCN, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The Order read in part, “Upon hearing the Motion Ex parte and the accompanying affidavit of. Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo listening to P. Ulofu ESQ., of counsel to the Applicants praying this Honourable Court for the following:-

“An Order of Interim Injunction restraining the Respondents (Gbenga and others) or any person(s) acting through them or on their behalf from conducting the scheduled election of the 7th day of October, 2025 or taking any further step concerning the subject matter of this suit respectively pending the hearing and determination of the motion on Notice.

“An Order of Interim Injunction directing the Respondents to maintain the status quo with respect to the leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, pending the determination of and determination of the motion on notice.

“An Order directing the 6th (IGP) and 7th (DSS) Defendants/Respondents to enforce the Order of Court restraining the 1st to 5th (Gbenga and others) Defendants, their privies, agents, or howsoever called, conducting the scheduled election of the 7 th day of October, 2025 or taking any further step concerning the subject matter of this suit respectively pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.

“And for such further or other orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this suit and or application.

“The court ordered as follows: Application is hereby granted and order made as prayed. Case is adjourned to 16th October, 2025 for hearing of Motion on Notice.”

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