The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, has praised Nigerian journalists for their immeasurable contributions to the successes recorded in the fight against human rights abuses in the country as well as sensitization of citizens on their rights and opportunities available to them to seek redress.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, expressed the appreciation on Monday at the Abuja national secretariat of the organisation during the 2024 media parley organized by the Commission.

Represented by the Director, Legal Services and Enforcement, Rabi Anwar, who was flanked by Mr. Obinna Nwakonye, Director, Public Relations and External Linkages, the Executive Secretary said that the gathering was meant to celebrate the dedication of journalists, especially those. Covering the Commission, saying the achievements recorded so far would not have been possible without the passion and commitment by the media.

Ojukwu said- “Through your work, many victims of human rights abuses enjoy more human rights awareness which has assisted then in no small measures to seek redress. This has no doubt enhanced the country’s human rights ratings among the committee of nations.

“It only takes a robust and enduring partnership like the one we have with you individually and collectively, hence the achievements of this feat we are celebrating today. There is no gainsaying your commitment to objectivity, balance, accuracy, truth, as the fulcrum of professionalism has continued to make a reasonable difference in Nigeria’s media landscape.

“You are all witnesses to the increased media activities in the Commission this year. There are occasions where you transit from one media engagement to the other in a very short notice and you have never wavered, rather, you have continued to live up to the task to the fullest. This speaks volumes of your sincerity and passion for the cause of human rights. We do not take all these for granted and I make bold to emphasize that the Commission is heavily indebted to you in gratitude. In you we we truly have a dependable ally

“As a responsible institution, we shall continue to contribute our quota in building your capacity to report complex human rights issues including human rights in migration, and business and human rights among other emerging human rights matters. We have already commenced training for journalists in this regards and we hope to work with relevant international partners to ensure that you benefit more in the coming years.

“As our token of appreciation to you, the Commission has instituted a yearly media award to further register our immense regards for your unalloyed support to the Commission. The awards ceremony holds yearly during the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day (IHRD). I therefore use this opportunity to appreciate the outstanding journalists who were honoured during the celebration of the 2024 IHRD

“The Commission so much value your techniques of storytelling, and your ability to narrate human rights issues in such a manner that our audience could appreciate and follow developments in the Commission. You have severally demonstrated this through detailed personality interviews, special reports, impactful editorials, features and news analyses. We do not take such dogged services lightly. Hence, we remain eternally grateful.

“God soaring our lives, I want to assure you that we will continue to strengthen our relationship with the media. We are committed to openness, transparency and collaboration and we look forward to creating more impactful stories together.

“I want to thank you, once again, for your unrelenting efforts, professionalism, and partnership. The role you play in shaping narratives and informing the public is invaluable, and we are honoured to have you as our allies .

“As the year draws to a close, I wish you all, a peaceful and joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year. We are eagerly looking forward to more years of mutually benefitting partnership,” Ojukwu concluded.

Former vice president and presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar,, has criticized the 2025 budget estimate presented to the national assembly by President BolaTinubu, saying it is inadequate to foster sustainable economic growth and curtail Nigeria’s deep-rooted challenges.

In a statement on Sunday, Abubakar said the budget shows a business-as-usual fiscal practice and increases Nigeria’s external debt burden.

“The 2025 federal budget, amounting to N48 trillion with a revenue forecast of N35 trillion, resulting in a deficit exceeding N13 trillion or 4% of GDP, reflects a continuation of business-as-usual fiscal practices,” he said.

“This represents a persistent trend under the APC-led administration since 2016, wherein budget deficits have been consistently presented, accompanied by an increasing reliance on external borrowing.

“To bridge this fiscal gap, the administration plans to secure over N13 trillion in new borrowings, including N9 trillion in direct borrowings and N4 trillion in project-specific loans.”

Abubakar said the borrowing strategy is similar to the approach of previous administrations, increasing public debt and exacerbating the attendant risks related to interest payments and foreign exchange (FX) exposure.

‘Weakened Budgetary Foundations, Disproportionate Debt Servicing’

The former vice-president further highlighted lapses identified in the budget.

“Weak Budgetary Foundations: The 2024 budget’s underperformance signals poor budgetary execution. By Q3 of the fiscal year, less than 35% of the allocated capital expenditure for MDAs had been disbursed, despite claims of 85% budget execution,” he said.

He said the underperformance in capital spending, crucial for fostering economic transformation, raises concerns about the execution of the 2025 budget.

“Disproportionate Debt Servicing: Debt servicing, which accounts for N15.8 trillion (33% of the total expenditure), is nearly equal to planned capital expenditure (N16 trillion, or 34%),” Abubakar said.

“Moreover, debt servicing surpasses spending on key priority sectors such as defence (N4.91 trillion), infrastructure (N4.06 trillion), education (N3.52 trillion), and health (N2.4 trillion).”

He said the imbalance would likely crowd out essential investments and perpetuate a cycle of rising borrowing and debt accumulation, threatening fiscal stability.

“Unsustainable Government Expenditure: The government’s recurrent expenditure remains disproportionately high, with over N14 trillion (30% of the budget) allocated to operating an oversized bureaucracy and supporting inefficient public enterprises,” Abubakar said.

He added that the “lack of concrete steps to curb wastage and enhance the efficiency of public spending exacerbates the fiscal challenges, leaving limited resources for development”.

“Insufficient Capital Investment: After accounting for debt servicing and recurrent expenditure, the remaining allocation for capital spending, ranging from 25% to 34% of the total budget, is insufficient to address Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit and stimulate growth,” the politician said.

He said it amounts to an average capital allocation of about N80,000 ($45) per capita, insufficient to meet the demands of a country “grappling with slow growth and infrastructural underdevelopment”.

The administration’s decision to increase the VAT rate from 7.5% to 10% is a retrogressive measure that will exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis and impede economic growth,” Abubakar said.

He said by imposing additional tax burdens on an already struggling populace while “failing to address governance inefficiencies,” the government risks stifling domestic consumption and further exacerbating economic hardship.

Abubakar said the 2025 budget lacks the “structural reforms and fiscal discipline” required to address Nigeria’s multiple economic challenges.

“To enhance the budget’s credibility, the administration must prioritize the reduction of inefficiencies in government operations, tackle contract inflation, and focus on long-term fiscal sustainability rather than perpetuating unsustainable borrowing and recurrent spending patterns,” he said.

Abubakar said a shift towards a more disciplined and growth-oriented fiscal policy is essential for the nation’s economic recovery.

Ten persons from the same family died on Sunday when their small plane slammed into a commercial district in the city of Gramado in southern Brazil.

The country’s Civil Defence officials told AP that the plane, a Piper Cheyenne 400 turboprop, was being flown by a businessman named Luiz Claudio Salgueiro Galeazzi.

Police also confirmed that the passengers were all family members of the businessman.

The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from the nearby city of Canela, striking the chimney of a building and then a house before falling onto a furniture store, the Rio Grande do Sul state security secretariat said in a statement.

An inn was also damaged, it added.

“There are no survivors of the plane,” Cleber dos Santos Lima of the state civil police told AFP.