In the Fiscal Strategy Paper of the Federal Government, which was obtained from the Budget Office of the Federation in Abuja, it has been gathered that the Federal Government is planning to spend a total of N8.9 trillion in the 2019 fiscal period.

The N8.9 trillion to be proposed is an increase of N305.86 billion over the original estimates of N8.61 trillion presented to the legislature on November 7, 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari for the 2018 fiscal year.

The planned N8.9 trillion spending will be about N220 billion lower than the N9.12 trillion 2018 budget, which was passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President.

The government is also planning to raise a total of N6.32 trillion as revenue next year to finance the budget.

The N6.32 trillion, when compared to the N7.16 trillion revenue projection approved for the current year, represents a decline of about N840 billion.

As a result of the planned increase in spending, the fiscal deficit of the government was expected to rise from the current N1.9 trillion to N2.59 trillion in 2019.

Recall that the National Assembly had passed the 2018 budget. The budget was passed 6 months after its presentation.

There have been concerns about the government’s yearly increment in budgeting and also the country’s debts.

Details of the budget show that the National Assembly raised the 2018 budget by over ₦508 billion, bringing it to ₦9.12 trillion as against the ₦8.612 trillion presented by the President in November 2017.

The Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Patience Oniha had disclosed that the government parastatal raised N410 billion from the domestic capital market to finance the 2018 budget. While addressing some newsmen in Abuja, Oniha said the country’s public debt stood at N22.37 trillion as at end of June 2018 ($73.31 billion) of which $22 billion was external.

According to DMO, Nigeria’s external debt was 26.64% as at the end of 2017 compared to 20.04% that was recorded in 2016. Domestic debt, however, decreased, standing at 73.36% less than the 79.96% that was recorded in 2016.

There have been reports that the former Lagos state governor Bola Tinubu, had allegedly decided to stop Ambode’s bid for a second term in office by replacing him with Babajide Sanwoolu. This according to the same report, led to an alleged phone conversation between Pastor Adeboye and Tinubu, in which the general overseer begged Tinubu not to dump Ambode.

But in a statement issued on Pastor Adeboye’s social media accounts, RCCG General Overseer has denied ever making the call.

“Our attention has been drawn to news making the rounds from dailies especially the New Telegraph that Pastor E.A Adeboye, the General Overseer of the RCCG had a recent phone conversation with the Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

 “We would like to inform the general public that this is false and Pastor E.A Adeboye has not and would not be involved in inters/intra party politics in Nigeria and anywhere RCCG is present across the world. Pastor E.A Adeboye advises all well-meaning Nigerians just like him to get their PVCs and exercise their civic duty.

“God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has disclosed its commitment to fine Nigerian financial institutions for any failed Instant Payment transaction not reversed into the customer’s account within 24 hours, based on complaint of the sender and/or beneficiary.

The apex bank said any failure will attract a fine of N10,000.

CBN made this known in a ‘Circular on the regulation on instant inter-bank electronic funds transfer services in Nigeria’, issued to all Deposit Money Banks, microfinance banks, other financial institutions, mobile money operators, development finance institutions, payment service providers and other stakeholders.

More so, CBN warned that delayed application of inward NIP into beneficiary’s accounts beyond four minutes would attract a penalty fee of N10,000 per item.

“The sanctions above and any other prescribed in the Nigeria Bankers’ Clearing System rules or any amendment thereto, shall apply.” CBN maintained.

In recent times, the apex bank has revived the banking sector by penalising financial institutions for violating rules.

Recall that CBN, in August, fined four banks a total of ₦5.86 billion for breaching Nigeria’s extant laws and forex rules when they facilitated illegal repatriation of funds to South Africa on behalf of MTN.

The disclosure was contained in a press statement obtained; a snippet of which had earlier been tweeted on CBN’s official Twitter handle.

Stanbic IBTC Holdings, in a notice sent to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) stated that the CBN deducted N1.88 billion from the accounts of its banking subsidiary Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC.

This pertains to the fine imposed on the bank in relation to the remittance of foreign exchange on the basis of certain capital importation certificates issued to MTN Nigeria Communications Limited.

Stanbic IBTC maintained its position on the matter, which is the fact that the Bank has done nothing illegal and accordingly the Bank will continue to provide CBN with documents and details in support of our contention that our actions in relation to these transactions were not illegal.

Superstar footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo has finally broken his duck for Juventus after he scored his first and second goals against Sassuolo on Sunday at the Allianz Stadium.

The 33-year-old Portuguese went three games without scoring for the Turin-based side after moving to the Italian club in July. But in today's clash, it took the striker only 15 minutes to get his brace in the clash which ended 2 - 1 in favour of Juventus.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, today reinstated his decision not to step down as the president of the senate. Recall that his former party, APC, has insisted that since his defection to the PDP, it would be honorable for him to relinquish the senate president's seat for a member of the APC. The party chairman, Adams Oshiomole, has repeatedly stated that if Saraki does not resign honorably, he would be impeached.

Saraki who visited Niger state today for consultations on his presidential bid, spoke with newsmen and vowed not to step down. According to Saraki, the APC is currently the minority in the senate and therefore don’t have the powers to carry out the impeachment threat.

“The APC members know that we are in the majority and whatever they want to do they know that they don’t have the number. The other kite they are trying to fly is asking me to step down from my seat, but I can tell you that this cannot be possible as I will not step down. One thing is very clear and that is to say that I will not sacrifice the interest of the country for my personal interest and in the last three years as a Senate president, I have demonstrated that my interest is second to that of national interest,” he said

Juventus striker, Douglas Costa has apologised to the club fans after being sent off for spitting in the face of Sassuolo’s Federico Di Francesco in a 2-1 Serie A win in Turin on Sunday.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first goals for Juventus but the champions’ fourth win in as many games this season was overshadowed by Brazilian Costa’s late red card for spitting at Di Francesco the 24-year-old son of Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco.

“I would like to apologise to all the Juventus fans for my wrong reaction during today’s game, I also apologise to my teammates, who are always by my side, in good and bad times. It was ugly, I am aware of that and I apologise to everyone for that. I want to make clear that this isolated conduct has nothing to do with what I’ve shown throughout my career” he wrote on Instagram.

Costa now faces an extended ban with coach Massimiliano Allegri annoyed with the forward for “rising to provocation”. 

Juventus striker, Douglas Costa apologises to fans over spitting on opponent

“Maybe he was irritated at a foul before, but it doesn’t matter, because these things should absolutely not happen. The one thing we must avoid is rising to provocation. We could have scored a third goal, but instead we started to play as individuals, we tried to dribble past everyone, this wound up the opposition, who then reacted badly and then you get situations like Douglas Costa,” said Allegri.

R&B superstar R Kelly, who has been accused in the past of being a pedophile, is now being accused again by his own brother of impregnating his 14 year old cousin.

Below is how MTO is reporting it;

In a recent interview, R Kelly's brother claims that the singer paid family members to come and clean his home. Carey Kelly claims that one such person was a 14 year old COUSIN.

According to R Kelly's bro, the singer would take her in his room and close the door. Carey claims that he later found out that R Kelly was having s*x with this cousin and she later had a child. Carey believes that the child is R Kelly's, even though no DNA test was taken.

The brother said;

“You give people chances to change before you put their business out there, before you actually say ‘enough it enough.’ Things happen in people’s lives to the point where you feel like it’s a wake-up call and now they get a chance to right their wrongs,” Carey said referencing the 1993 death of their mother, Joanne Kelly, and Aaliyah’s death in 2001.

Carey claims that his brother “became worse” after losing his mother and Aaliyah, and being acquitted in a 2008 child pornography case. The siblings apparently got into a physical fight at one point, after Carey allegedly confronted R. Kelly about going after little girls. “I wasn’t condoning [his behavior],” Carey maintained, noting that he believed that R. Kelly was “trying to get some help.”

Controversial OAP, Daddy Freeze has revealed that since he started the 'Free The Sheeple' movement and his campaign against paying tithes, 'They' (referring to pastors) have fought him on every realm.

According to him, 'they went as far as trying to get me sacked from work so I can be without much of a ‘crown’ and ‘frozen’.

See his full post below,.

'From my experience with these people who stop at nothing if you dare speak out against the lies many of them are telling, you are in for a lot.

They fought me on every realm, I lost every business client, I used to MC a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 events monthly and I used to charge more than a million Naira per event. I haven’t MCed in 2 years.

They went as far as trying to get me sacked from work so I can be without much of a ‘crown’ and ‘frozen’.

All I do now is teach the Bible from home online and in my weakness his great strength prevails. My egbon, I pray that the river of truth that is flowing from your mouth, NEVER ceases and in the weakness of whatever persecution may come, God’s strength in you will prevail!

According to Atiku, his wife and daughter have received threat messages from unknown persons who have vowed to get them raped and killed if he doesn't back out from the presidnetial race.

In a petition titled “Petition Over Criminal Intimidation And Threat To My Life, That Of Members Of My Family, And Cyber Stalking Using Mobile Phone Number 08148228704,” which he wrote to President Buhari on September 7th, Atiku requested more police protection for his family and himself from the president, disclosing that he, his wife and daughters had received separate text messages from a mobile line stating that unless he backs out of the race, his family members would be raped and killed.

He noted that he received a threat text message on his mobile line on September 8th this year, and said the same number sent rape and death threats to his wife and daughter. He said the author of the text message he got on September 8 this year said he or she was watching Atiku’s family and that they would rape and kill his wife, Jennifer, as well as his daughters, Maryam and Fatimah.

The former vice president called on President Buhari to order an urgent investigation into the matter, as it could lead to serious security breaches.

The petition reads

“I present my highest compliments to the president and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and have the honour to request your excellency’s kind review/investigation and urgent consideration of extra protection for my family and I against some criminal intimidation and threat to my life, that of my family, and the cyber stalking against my family and I, using telephone mobile number +2348148228704.”

Atiku, in the petition, said the author threatened that if he did not withdraw from the presidential contest, “we will kill, rape your wife and daughters”, whom they identified as Mariam, who worked at Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Fatima, a former commissioner in Adamawa State.

The petition also stated that the author threatened to “mess up his wife”, whom they used unsavoury expressions against. He listed some of threats to include:

“We will blow your plane off the sky and we will poison you and your family. You are going to see what we will go with your family. We know where and where your children travel to. We will blow up all your properties and those of his wife. We control the aviation towers in Nigeria and South Africa. We are on government and Buhari will win again. Your party members will never select you and, if they do, we will assassinate you. We will kill you by blowing up your plane.”  He wrote

In separate text messages to Atiku’s wife and daughter, the anonymous person told them to prevail on Atiku to back down from the contest or they will be harmed. The former vice president, however, said,

''From the foregoing, Mr President can see that if adequate and urgent steps are not taken to identify and deal with these threats, it could lead to serious breaches and may constitute real danger to national security. Considering that these threats border on the right of my family and I to life as well as my freedom to aspire for and contest for the presidency in Nigeria, I urge you to commence urgent investigation with a view to identifying the person (s) behind the threat, expose and prosecute the culprit (s) in accordance with the laws. “I request that you ensure the continued protection of my rights to life, that of my family, my property and my rights and freedoms to associate and aspire to any political office as guaranteed under the 1999 Nigerian constitution (as amended),” he stated in his petition

Senior Pastor of the House on the Rock Church, Pastor Paul Adefarasin, says the itineraries of some Nigerian pastors are more demanding than that of President Buhari. He said this while backing the decision of some Nigerian pastors to acquire private jets. He also said there are only three clergymen in Nigeria that own private jets.

''We have only three (clergymen) who own jets. And they make so much noise about it. Yet their itineraries are more demanding than the president's intinerary.  Their itineraries are more demanding than any CEO in corporate Nigeria. The three men involved.  A 30 year old boy buys Bentley and jet and instead of castigating him, they celebrate him. Yet those of you who are pastors do much more for communities as a social net and then they castigate you' he said

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector contributed over $70 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the last one year, the country’s telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said.

Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, made this known in South Africa during his speech at the 2018 ITU Telecom World Conference which is ending today.

According to him, the sector has consistently contributed an average of $5 billion to the GDP in half-year 2018, thereby marking a considerable increase since 2017 when it contributed $70 billion.

In all, the contributions by Nigeria’s telecommunications sector to the GDP have increased by 10.5%, up from 9.1% in 2016.

But more needs to be done

Professor Danbattta went ahead to admit that even though Nigeria’s telecoms sector is performing well, more needs to be done to take advantage of the opportunities that abound in the sector.

According to him, the NCC is already working to this effect by putting measures in place to incentivise Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) to speedily deploy “infrastructure that will deepen broadband penetration” and encourage greater investment in the sector.

In his own words:

“This is part of the roadmap to take Nigeria to the next level under the Open Access Model template. So far, six Infraco licences have been issued to cover Lagos, North East, North West, South South, South West and South East zones of the Country. Arrangements are underway to re-license the North Central zone.”

Over the past decade, the telecoms sector has grown to become a major component of the Nigerian economy. It has made life easier for most Nigerians, created new frontiers in the economy, and ensured that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians are directly and indirectly employed.

Asides the value and revenue generated by the telecom sector, it has also been fraught with many controversies thereby requiring intensive regulatory oversight. First, there was the debt crisis that rocked Etisalat Nigeria (now 9mobile), and the MTN many regulatory infractions, including violation of SIM registration requirement and illegal repatriation of funds to South Africa.

 The Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun has resigned. It was gathered that she resigned her appointment on Friday. However, Adeosun’s aides denied her resignation. It was also gathered that officials of the Presidential Villa who were shocked by the news were also calling the minister’s aides for confirmation.

Also reports have it that President Muhammadu Buhari decided on Kemi Adeosun’s fate some few weeks ago. Two sources close to the government told SaharaReporters on Friday that the UK-born Minister had resigned, but it has now emerged that it was the President who indeed “told Adeosun to go”.

Although no official statement has been released on the issue, but reliable sources confirmed her resignation on Friday. The 51-year-old former minister is reported to have resigned following pressure arising from her questionable NYSC discharge certificate.

In November 2015, Adeosun was appointed Nigeria’s Minister of Finance by President Muhammadu Buhari. Kemi was born in 1967 in London, England to Nigerian parents from Ogun State. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of East London and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Financial Management from the University of London. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales in 1994 and she was qualified for NYSC exemption on return to Nigeria after clocking above 30 years of age. The story has been out there that Adeosun forged her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate. Although she was qualified to formally obtain an exemption because she was above 30, her exemption certificate has been questioned. She initially ignored the forgery report, but her handlers later explained that she was not guilty.

They painted those digging into the story as mischief-makers who wanted to pull down a woman of substance. The NYSC headquarters also came up with a terse statement that she indeed applied for an exemption and that it was looking into the matter. Some citizens had dragged her to the Federal High Court in Abuja which has fixed October 8 to hear the suit asking it to sack her from office. The Chief Judge of the high court, Justice Abdul Abdu-Kafarati, assigned the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/712/2018, to Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu for expeditious hearing. The suit was filed by a Mr. Francis Obalim, a lawyer who approached the court, praying for an order quashing and setting aside Mrs. Adeosun’s appointment as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her appointment he filed circumvented the condition precedent and in contravention of mandatory Sections 12, 13 and 14 of the NYSC Act which is an integral part of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

The news of her resignation bursting the social media, recording more 15,000 tweets already. Dr. Joe Abah‏Verified account @DrJoeAbah tweeted: “I have just received, with sadness, news that Kemi Adeosun has resigned. She is a talented, courageous woman who drove a lot of important reforms as Minister of Finance. However, the NYSC saga had made her position untenable & the situation was only going to go from bad to worse.’’ Some people have praised her as one of the few Nigerians that have dared to resign from office. Kemi Ariyo‏ @d_problemsolver also tweeted: “If truly Kemi Adeosun has resigned, she earns my respect. “This is the first time in the history of Nigeria a minister or a leader will take a bold step to write a resignation letter because of forgery allegation.’’ In his tweet, Niyi Balogun‏ @ng_niyi said: “Just shows how dirty the labyrinth of power can get. Great talent though. Wish Kemi Adeosun best!’’

Although he has not come out to announce his defection, the recent move by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, points to the fact that he has defected to the opposition party, PDP and would soon make his position known.

Last night, Dogara who was elected to represent Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi state in the House of Representatives on the platform of APC in 2015, received the PDP House of Representatives form to contest in the 2019 election.

The speaker picked the form on Wednesday, a day after dozens of his constituents travelled to Abuja from his home state of Bauchi to persuade him to seek re-election.

His colleague, Senate President Bukola Saraki, defected from APC to PDP in July.

While Drake leads with a whopping 11 honors, new mom Cardi follows with 10 nods. Others who follow them closely include The Carters (Jay-Z + Beyonce), Migos, and J. Cole.   

Set to take place on October 6th, the annual event will broadcast on BET on October 16th. This year’s show sees the spectacle return to The Fillmore in Miami following last year’s move from Atlanta.

See the full list below...

Best Hip-Hop Video

Cardi B – I Like It Feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin

Childish Gambino – This Is America

Drake – God’s Plan

Kendrick Lamar – Loyalty Feat. Rihanna

Migos – Walk It Talk It Feat. Drake

Hot Ticket Performer

Cardi B

Childish Gambino

Drake

Kendrick Lamar

Travis Scott

Album of the Year

Cardi B – Invasion Of Privacy

Drake – Scorpion

J. Cole – KOD

Migos – Culture II

The Carters – Everything Is Love

Video Director of the Year

Benny Boom

Dave Meyers & The Little Homies

Director X

Eif Rivera

Hiro Murai

Karena Evans

Lyricist of the Year

Childish Gambino

Drake

J. Cole

Kendrick Lamar

Travis Scott

MVP of the Year

Cardi B

Childish Gambino

Drake

J. Cole

Travis Scott

Producer of the Year

Ben Billions

DJ Esco

DJ Mustard

Metro Boomin

Pharrell Williams

Best Collabo, Duo or Group

21 Savage & Offset & Metro Boomin – Ric Flair Drip

BlocBoy JB – Look Alive Feat. Drake

Cardi B – I Like It Feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin

Post Malone – Rockstar Feat. 21 Savage

The Carters – Apes**t

Single of the Year

Apes**t – Produced By Pharrell (The Carters)

God’s Plan – Produced By Cardo, Young Exclusive and Boi-1da (Drake)

I Like It – Produced By Craig Kallman, JWhiteDidIt and Tainy (Cardi B Feat. Bad Bunny & J Balvin)

Nice For What – Produced By Murda Beatz (Drake)

This Is America – Produced By Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson (Childish Gambino)

Best New Hip-Hop Artist

BloBboy JB

Juice Wrld

Lil Baby

Rich The Kid

XXXTentacion

Best Mixtape

BlocBoy JB – Simi

Future  – Beast Mode 2

Juicy J – Shut Da F* Up

Lil Wayne – Dedication 6: Reloaded

Zoey Dollaz – Sorry Not Sorry

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse

21 Savage – “Bartier Cardi” (Cardi B Feat. 21 Savage)

Cardi B – “Motorsport” (Migos Feat. Cardi B & Nicki Minaj)

Drake – “Look Alive” (Blocboy JB Feat. Drake)

Kendrick Lamar – “New Freezer” (Rich The Kid Feat. Kendrick Lamar)

Nicki Minaj – “Big Bank” (Yg Feat. 2 Chainz, Big Sean & Nicki Minaj)

Impact Track

Childish Gambino – This Is America

Dej Loaf & Leon Bridges – Liberated

Lecrae – I’ll Find You Feat. Tori Kelly

Meek Mill – Stay Woke Feat. Miguel

N.E.R.D – 1,000 Feat. FUTURE

DJ of the Year

Calvin Harris

DJ Envy

DJ Drama

DJ Khaled

DJ Mustard

Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip-Hop Style)

Cardi B

Migos

Nicki Minaj

Remy Ma

Travis Scott

Hustler of the Year

Cardi B

DJ Khaled

Drake

Jay-Z

Kendrick Lamar

Travis Scott