News
FG Plans to Spend N59Bn on Ex-Militants

The Federal Government plans to spend an estimated N59 billion on ex-militants, according to details of the 2014 Appropriation Bill presented to both arms of the National Assembly last week.
A breakdown of the figure showed that while N23.6 billion will be spent for payment of stipends to 30,000 ex-militants, another N35.4 billion is allocated for transformed ex-militants.
Daily Independent reported that the Presidency is to spend a total of N33.4 billion within the fiscal year, out of which N25.106 billion represents recurrent expenditure, while capital expenses is estimated at N8.39 billion.
A further breakdown of the Presidency’s budget shows that N320.222 million is for ‘honorarium and sitting allowance,’ N267.775 million for ‘welfare.’
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been allocated N10.245 billion in the budget, comprising N8.838 billion, or 86.26 per cent recurrent expenses and N1.406 billion, or 13.72 per cent as recurrent.
The budget also made provision of N700 million for the proposed National Dialogue.
Allocation proposed for the Education sector increased to N493.45 billion of the total, which represented 10.6 per cent of the total 2014 budget proposal.
The Appropriation Bill, presented by Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, before both arms of the National Assembly, showed that N3.7 trillion, representing 72 per cent of the N4.6 trillion, is to be spent on recurrent expenditure, while N1.1 trillion was earmarked for capital projects.
This, according to analysts, does not tell of any plan for infrastructure development in the coming year. The document, they believe, failed to address critical needs of the country.
On the revenue side, the Bill proposed a Gross Federally Collectible Oil and Gas Revenue of N7.16 trillion while Non-Oil Revenue is projected at N3.29 trillion.
Out of the oil revenue, total deductions, including cost of crude oil production, subsidy payments, and domestic gas development is put at N2.15 trillion, the same amount as in 2013.
The Federal Government budget revenue is estimated at N3.73 trillion. Subsidy payments were maintained at the 2013 level of N971.1 billion.
On the fiscal balance side, the government projected that in the 2014 financial year, fiscal deficit would be about N911.96 billion, representing about 1.90 per cent of the GDP while total borrowing of N571 billion is proposed in the Appropriation Bill, representing a mere N6 billion decrease from the approved 2013 figures.
For Edwin Ikhinmwin, a financial analysts and former bank chief executive, the 2014 budget does not show any sign of helping to create jobs, which would ordinarily come through massive capital investment “needed to rejuvenate our dilapidated infrastructure and build new capacities to support job creating growth.”
Consequently, he told Daily Independent, a “budget document that provides only 27 percent for capital expenditure is a trip in self delusion and propagation of false hood. The weight of recurrent expenditure cannot be supported by the capital budget. This is symptomatic of a rent economy whose long-term growth is not sustainable.
It is like the winner of a lottery who changed his style to expensive consumption without investing in sustaining wealth creation. The money soon got finished and he became poorer than before.”
Olufemi Awoyemi, and analyst and Chief Executive of Proshare Nigerian, an online finance and economy portal, lamented the inequity in the distribution of spending in the budget.
He is particularly concerned that 72 per cent of the spending is earmarked for payment of salaries and wages to about 10 million workers or less than six per cent of the nation’s 174 million people.
Even under in the days of military, he lamented further, “capital expenditure never grew below 40 per cent of total budget… We just bloated the civil service with every many of hangers’ on and political jobber.”
Mallam Garba Kurfi, Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Limited, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Lagos, that the Nigerian economy would not grow with the scant emphasis on capital expenditure.
Allocating a mere N1.1 trillion for capital expenditure is a child’s play, considering the nation’s huge infrastructure challenge, and that Nigeria needs capital expenditure for the economy to experience meaningful growth and development.
Sehinde Adenagbe, Managing Director, Standard Union Securities Limited, however expressed dissatisfaction with the late presentation of the budget, calling for quick passage of the budget, which he regarded as the “road map for economic activities”.
This, he said, would help companies in decision making on investment, since it is a pointer to the direction of the nation’s economy in the new year.
Harrison Owoh, Managing Director, HJ Trust & Investment Limited, also told NAN that the budget proposal failed to address critical sectors of the economy, and that it was indeed disheartening that bulk of the nation’s budget would be used for wage payment instead of capital projects.
He said that the Federal Government should be bothered about the sufferings of the masses and ensure the provision of basic social amenities.
News
CAC Flags Three Companies, Warns Nigerians

Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has warned Nigerians against transacting with three fake Nigerian firms, citing fraudulent incorporation documents and registration numbers not issued by the commission.
According to the CAC, these companies are using fake certificates of incorporation with two different RC numbers each, none of which exist in the commission’s official records.
The affected companies are SPEF Cooperative Society Ltd with RC Numbers 1265884 and 512862, UPIL Staff Cooperative Society Ltd with RC Numbers 1265837 and 553220, and PREM Staff Cooperative Society Ltd with RC Numbers 1265844 and 545901.
The CAC warns that any Nigerian conducting business with these entities does so at their own risk.
“Anyone that transacts any business with the above-mentioned companies does so at their own risk,” the commission warned.
The commission further advised potential partners and investors to verify registration details directly through its official portal before signing contracts or making payments.
Similarly, the CAC, in a bid to enhance its services, introduced an AI-powered business registration platform on July 3, designed to streamline incorporations.
This new system offers instant name reservations, automated business-name suggestions, and same-day registration using a National Identification Number (NIN).
Additionally, the commission plans to review its service fees starting August 1, aiming to make its services more efficient and cost-effective.
News
AfDB to Introduce Systems Reforms to Prioritize Investing in Africa’s Youth

The African Development Bank, in partnership with the International Labour Organization, has launched a transformative system to mainstream youth employment, skills development, and entrepreneurship across its investments.
The approach, called the Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System, is aligned with the Bank’s latest Ten-Year Strategy, which places Africa’s young people at the center of development efforts to maximize the impact of every dollar invested, turning demographics into a dividend.
The Marker System ensures that Bank projects spanning diverse sectors, such as agriculture, transport, energy, water, and education, systematically incorporate components that enhance youth employability, foster entrepreneurship, and build market-relevant skills.
“The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is about ensuring Africa’s young people have a real say and active role in building sustainable economies and creating jobs – not as passive recipients of youth programs,” said Dr. Beth Dunford, the Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development. “This transformation of Bank practices and systems is a step toward making sure our investments have a positive impact on Africa’s young women and men.”
The integrated system has three focus areas:
Youth: Supporting youth-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through targeted investments and operational integration.
Skills: Expanding access to practical, market-driven training and apprenticeships to enhance career prospects.
Jobs: Ensuring Bank-funded projects create sustainable job opportunities, particularly by developing youth skills for employability and the promotion of youth-led businesses in priority value chains.
Each year, around 10 to 12 million young Africans enter the labor market, which offers only three million formal jobs annually. The Bank will prioritize youth entrepreneurship and mobilize private sector partnerships to strengthen industry-oriented skills training as well as job creation over the coming decade.
“[This initiative] is very important because it allows us to significantly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #8 that includes decent work for all,” said Peter van Rooij, Director of Multilateral Partnerships and Development Cooperation at the International Labour Organization. “It also allows the International Labour Organization to influence the Bank’s work, to support their lending that is more geared toward more job creation and better jobs in a sustainable way.”
The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is modeled on the success of the Bank’s Gender Marker System and its online dashboard, which categorize Bank projects based on their contribution to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Similarly, the new system will feature an online platform enabling Bank staff and consultants to access real-time data for preparing country strategy papers, mid-term reviews, annual reports, project supervision, and reporting on youth-related skills, businesses and jobs outcomes.
The Bank has just launched a pilot version of the Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System in readiness for the full implementation in 2026. This system will enhance data tracking, improve estimates of youth skills attainment and employment, strengthen labor market information systems, and support policymakers in making evidence-based decisions that drive meaningful change.
The International Labour Organization provided technical support for the system’s development with financial support from the Bank’s Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund. The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is the first deliberate action of its kind developed by a development finance institution worldwide.
News
SEC Probes Ponzi Scheme Linked to FF Tiffany

The Securities and Exchange Commission has revealed plans to commence investigation into the activities of an entity operating under FF Tiffany, allegedly running a fraudulent investment scheme that has defrauded citizens.
A statement by the SEC on Tuesday in Abuja said preliminary information revealed that the scheme, which promised investors unusually high and unrealistic returns, had resulted in the loss of several billions of naira.
The SEC said it viewed the activity as a threat to investor confidence and the overall integrity of the financial system.
The commission assured the public that it was working closely with law enforcement agencies and other relevant bodies to bring everyone involved in the unlawful operation to justice.
According to SEC, those found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the Investment and Securities Act and regulatory provisions.
SEC reiterated its earlier warnings to the general public to desist from engaging in Ponzi or unregistered investment schemes that promised guaranteed or exaggerated returns.
“These schemes are not registered with the SEC and do not offer investor protection under the law.
“The commission is currently investigating 79 schemes and will make a statement on its findings at the conclusion of the investigation,” the SEC said.
The commission encouraged investors to conduct due diligence and verify the registration status of any investment firm or product by visiting the SEC website or contacting the commission directly through official channels.
SEC said it remained committed to its mandate of protecting investors, ensuring fair practices, and maintaining confidence in Nigeria’s capital market.
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