Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja will deliver his ruling on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL’s preliminary objection against a suit filed by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE over oil import licence dispute on March 8, 2025.

Ekwo scheduled the matter after the NNPCL’s lawyer, Ademola Abimbola, SAN, and John Ibrahim, SAN, presented their arguments and adopted their processes for and against the suit.

Recall that the judge had fixed Wednesday(today) for the hearing of the NNPCL’s preliminary objection after the Dangote Refinery’s lawyer told the court that they were yet to file their response to the application.

At the resumed hearing, the NNPCL’s lawyer brought the attention of the court that the case was scheduled for hearing of their objection, and he said they were ready to proceed.

Ibrahim, who said they had filed their counter affidavit in opposition to the objection, said he was ready to move their application too.

Moving the application, Abimbola said their notice of preliminary objection, dated and filed on November 15, 2024, sought an order striking out the suit for lack of jurisdiction or in the alternative, an order striking out the name of the company from the suit.

He said an affidavit and a written address were in support of the application.

The lawyer said upon receipt of the refinery’s counter affidavit, they filed a further affidavit on February 3 in response and a reply on points of law.

He prayed the court to either strike out the suit or the name of the NNPCL from the suit.

Responding, Ibrahim said a five-paragraph counter affidavit, dated January 31, was filed with a written address.

He adopted the processes and urged the court to dismiss the NNPCL’s preliminary objection for being unnecessary.

After listening to the parties, Justice Inyang Ekwo, adjourned the matter to March 18 for ruling.

In a surprise move on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu jerked up the proposed 2025 budget from the N49.7 trillion he earlier presented to the National Assembly to N54.2 trillion.

The President announced an increase in the proposed budget size in separate letters forwarded to the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The letter read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said the increase arose from N1.4 trilliion additional revenues made by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, N1.2 trillion made by the Nigeria Customs Service, and N1.8 trilliion generated by some other Government Owned Agencies.

Akpabio consequently directed the request to the Senate Committee on Appropriation for expeditious consideration, and declared that the 2025 budget would be passed before the end of February.

Corroborating the National Assembly, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu recalled how the President submitted N49 trillion budget to the National Assembly and legislative work commenced.

He explained that the legislative work continued with interactions between the executive and the National Assembly, as well as the economic management team, which continued to interrogate all the figures.

According to Bagudu, “While the process was still going on, the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senate Committee on National Planning and Senate Committee on Finance established that we can generate more revenue by tasking all the institutions to do more and the Federal Inland Revenue Service confirmed the ability to do more than was submitted.

“It was established that the government-owned enterprises can contribute more revenue, as well as the Customs Service.

“So additional revenue amounting to over N4.5 trillion naira was established and this was taken to the President and he guided that this additional revenue should be used to further strengthen the Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry, support the diversification program by putting more money in the solid minerals sector, as well as infrastructure projects.”

Commenting on the adjustment of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, Bagudu stated that even when the budget was submitted, the MTEF was amended.

“The MTEF that was initially approved was for a budget of less than N49 trillion, so it goes together and so the consequential amendment to the MTEF will certainly follow.”

President Bola Tinubu has approved an increase in the retirement age for doctors and other healthcare workers from 60 to 65 years.

The National Publicity Secretary, Nigerian Medical Association, Dr Mannir Bature, made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

Bature said the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has been directed to formally present the approval to the Council on Establishment through the Office of the Head of Service for finalisation.

He said Pate conveyed the policy shift during a high-level meeting with the NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu, and key stakeholders in the health sector.

Bature said the meeting also had in attendance the leadership of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and the Joint Health Sector Unions.

He said discussions centred on progress made regarding the welfare of doctors and other healthcare professionals in Nigeria.

According to him, the coordinating minister confirmed that the arrears resulting from the adjustment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure are set for payment.

“The process to effect this correction is at an advanced stage, providing much-needed relief to doctors and other healthcare workers,” he said.

He said following an extensive review initiated by the NMA, approval has been granted for the implementation of new tariffs for healthcare service providers.

“This will particularly benefit members of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners and Nurses (ANPMPN), ensuring better financial remuneration and sustainability for healthcare services nationwide,” he said.

Bature said the Coordinating Minister expressed appreciation for the patience and collaboration of all stakeholders, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of all healthcare workers.

Bature said Pate emphasised that collaboration was crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s health sector.

He said attendees at the meeting renewed their commitment to work together to advocate for the welfare of healthcare workers and ensure the full implementation of key reforms.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that NMA has championed increasing the retirement age of health workers from 60 to 65 years to address brain drain, improve knowledge transfer and for quality healthcare delivery.

NAN reports that various health associations or unions had declared nationwide strikes over the non-implementation of CONMESS and CONHESS for doctors and healthcare workers.

NAN