In a recent revelation by the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), a staggering sum of N208.86 billion has been disbursed to a substantial cohort of 475,230 Nigerians who found themselves unemployed during the second quarter of 2023. This disclosure came to light during a media parley themed ‘At the Dawn of 20 Years of Pension Reform, What are the Gains?’ organized by PenOp for reporters based in Abuja. Oguche Agudah, the Chief Executive Officer at PenOp, shared these insights during the event. According to Agudah’s presentation document, a comparative analysis reveals a significant evolution from the third quarter…
Author: Temitope Nlewemchi
In a recent report by the Ghanaian Statistics Service, consumer inflation in Ghana experienced a significant drop from 35.6% in October to 26.4% in November. This notable decline of 8.8% within a month marks a substantial shift, bringing the inflation rate to a 19-month low. The Statistician-General of Ghana attributes this sharp decrease to favorable base-effect comparisons with the previous year and the proactive implementation of monetary policy tightening by the central bank. The Bank of Ghana has maintained its benchmark policy rate at an unprecedented 30% since July, signaling a momentary pause after a cumulative tightening of 16.5 percentage…
In a significant legislative development, the Delta State House of Assembly recently approved the 2024 Appropriation Bill, amounting to a total of N724.9 billion. This decision comes approximately two weeks after the state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, presented the budget to the assembly. The legislative milestone was achieved following the adoption of the report submitted by the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation during a plenary session held in Asaba. The comprehensive budget breakdown reveals a Recurrent Expenditure of N316.6 billion and Capital Expenditure of N408.3 billion. This signifies an increase of N10.5 billion compared to the initial budget proposal of…
In a recent disclosure, the World Bank unveiled that Nigeria emerged as the primary beneficiary of its fresh loans in 2022, with a substantial sum of $2.9 billion disbursed to the country. This revelation was highlighted in the International Debt Report for 2023, wherein Tanzania followed closely with a considerable financial injection of $2.7 billion during the same period. The official report stated, “Infostride News and Tanzania were the top recipients of new financing from the World Bank in 2022, at US$2.9 billion and US$2.7 billion, respectively.” Further analysis from the Debt Management Office (DMO) external debt stock report reveals…
In a significant turn of events, the medium-term bonds of the Federal Government have experienced oversubscriptions for the first time since February 2023. The specific bonds in question are the 14.55% FGN APR 2029 and 14.70% FGN JUN 2033 bonds, both of which have garnered heightened attention from investors. Infostride News learned that the Debt Management Office (DMO) recorded an impressive oversubscription of N526 billion in its December bond auction, marking a substantial increase in investor appetite for government bonds. The DMO had offered N360 billion for the bonds auctioned on December 11, 2023, and witnessed a remarkable subscription of…
In the labyrinth of fiscal planning, Nigeria’s 2024 budget emerges as a crucial roadmap, riddled with assumptions that bear significant implications for the nation’s economic health. As we dissect the intricacies of this financial blueprint, we find ourselves grappling with pivotal factors such as oil output, inflation rates, economic growth, benchmark oil prices, and the exchange rate. The bedrock of fiscal projections, these elements warrant meticulous examination to unravel the potential opportunities and pitfalls that lie ahead. Oil Output: A Tenuous Balancing Act At the heart of Nigeria’s revenue juggernaut lies the critical assumption of oil output. With the nation’s…
In a significant move towards economic revitalization, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has presented the eagerly awaited N2.246 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2024 to the State House of Assembly. The budget, aptly named the “Budget of Renewal,” reflects the government’s commitment to ushering in a new era of growth and development in the state. Highlighting the key components of the budget, Governor Sanwo-Olu revealed that the capital expenditure for the year would be N1.22 trillion, constituting a substantial 54.4% of the total budget. This allocation underscores the administration’s focus on investing in critical infrastructure projects and initiatives…
In a bid to drive economic growth and sustain development initiatives, the Lagos State Government is ambitiously targeting an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N1.251 trillion to finance its 2024 budget. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu unveiled this fiscal strategy during the presentation of the 2024 budget, aptly titled the “Budget of Renewal.” The financial blueprint outlines a comprehensive approach, projecting a combination of the targeted IGR and a total Federal transfer of N596.629 billion to support the N2.246 trillion budget. Notably, this target reflects a substantial 17.35% increase from the N1.066 trillion set in the 2023 budget. Governor Sanwo-Olu articulated the…
In the latest Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report released in December 2023, the World Bank has projected that the elimination of import restrictions in Nigeria could potentially lift approximately 1.3 million people out of poverty. This significant development aligns with recent moves in the country, including recommendations from some members of the House of Representatives to impose a ban on the import of items that can be locally produced. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has also played a pivotal role in this shift by lifting the foreign exchange prohibition on 43 items, including essential commodities like rice, fertilizer, and…
In a recent revelation by the World Bank, it has been indicated that the Federal Government of Nigeria may still find itself saddled with the financial burden of fuel subsidies due to the current non-cost-reflective nature of fuel prices in the country. During the presentation of the Nigeria Development Update (NDU) for December 2023 in Abuja, the Lead Economist for Nigeria at the World Bank, Alex Sienaert, highlighted the disparity between the recommended cost and the prevailing retail prices. According to the World Bank’s assessment, Nigerians should ideally be paying around N750 per litre, a significant increase from the current…
In a recent development, the World Bank has put forth a proposal urging the Nigerian federal government to consider elevating the Value Added Tax (VAT) rate as a strategic move to augment non-oil revenue flowing into the government’s coffers. This recommendation was disclosed in the World Bank’s Bi-annual Nigeria Development Update titled “Turning the Corner: From reform and renewed hopes, to results,” which was officially published today. The report emphasizes the importance of raising the current VAT rate of 7.5% as a significant step toward creating more fiscal space and subsequently increasing non-oil revenue. However, the World Bank underscored the…
In a bid to bolster its healthcare infrastructure and services, the Lagos state government has earmarked a substantial N151.66 billion for the health sector in its 2024 budget, representing a 1.5% increase from the N149.353 billion allocated in the previous fiscal year of 2023. The overall 2024 fiscal year budget for Lagos, a staggering N2.246 trillion, allocates a significant 6.75% of its funds to the health sector, underscoring the government’s commitment to enhancing public health services and facilities. Upon approval, the 2024 healthcare budget will be strategically distributed across various entities, including the Lagos State Ministry of Health, primary health…
In a recent circular issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), a sweeping mandate has been put forth, compelling all financial institutions within its regulatory purview, encompassing banks, other financial entities, payment services providers, and international money transfer operators, to prominently showcase their corporate names on all online business platforms. This directive includes websites, portals, and mobile applications. The circular, signed by Haruna Mustafa, the CBN’s Director of Financial Policy and Regulation, emphasizes the necessity for every registered financial institution in Nigeria to legibly exhibit its legal name across all online interfaces. The move comes as a response to…
In a groundbreaking development, the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is set to usher in a new era of fiscal policies with the implementation of a revised revenue-sharing formula for Nigeria, expected to kick off in the first quarter of 2024. This significant revelation was made by Mr. Muhammed Bello Shehu, the Chairman of RMAFC, during his appearance before the House Committee on Finance in Abuja. Mr. Shehu underscored the gravity of the impending changes by revealing that President Tinubu has already been briefed on the proposed adjustments to the nation’s revenue-sharing formula. However, he emphasized that the process…
Infostride News, the leading source of information, is proud to report on the momentous announcement made by the International Billionaire Christian Conference (IBCC) regarding the launch of a groundbreaking startup fund aimed at empowering Christian youths with innovative business ideas. This revelation came to light during the announcement of the second edition of the IBCC meeting, themed “Power, Wealth, and Technology,” scheduled to take place next month at the Redemption Camp in Ogun State. In a press statement issued on Monday, IBCC shared insights into the upcoming event, promising a transformative experience that transcends conventional boundaries, focusing on the intersection…
In a recent development, the National Bureau of Statistics, as reported by Infostride News, unveiled the latest figures on Value Added Tax (VAT) for the third quarter of 2023, standing at a substantial N948.07b. The VAT Q3 2023 Report, released in Abuja on a Monday, revealed a noteworthy growth rate of 21.34% on a quarter-on-quarter basis, showcasing a surge from N781.35b in Q2 2023. Breaking down the contributions, the report outlined local payments at N522.08b, while foreign VAT payments and import VAT played significant roles, contributing N204.58b and N221.41b, respectively, in Q3 2023. Analyzing specific sectors, the quarter-on-quarter growth rates…
In a significant development, approximately 20 German companies have signaled their keen interest in investing resources and technical expertise to bolster local production and enhance the export capabilities of Nigeria. This promising prospect materialized during a dialogue between officials from the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission and a delegation representing 22 companies from Germany and Europe. The private sector delegation embarked on an exploratory mission to uncover potential investment opportunities in Nigeria. The dialogue, which took place in Abuja, aimed to strengthen bilateral ties between the nations and implement agreements forged during a prior visit by the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz.…
In a recent announcement made by Richard Olatunde, Chief Press Secretary to Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, it has been revealed that the governor is set to embark on another medical leave starting December 13, 2023. This development comes as part of the ongoing medical treatment that has kept Governor Akeredolu away from Ondo State since June 2023. Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is slated to assume the role of acting governor in Akeredolu’s absence, a move that follows recent tensions between the governor’s loyalists and the deputy. The discord arose due to Governor Akeredolu’s prolonged absence and the ensuing power…
In an in-depth analysis conducted by Infostride News on the economic landscape of Africa and the Middle East (MEA), Nigeria has emerged as the leading hub for self-made billionaires in 2023, according to the Billionaire Ambitions Report. Despite economic challenges, Nigeria has secured the top position with an impressive 66.6% of self-made billionaires, outpacing South Africa (60%) and Egypt (50%) in the MEA region. The report zooms in on specific details, spotlighting three influential Nigerian billionaires—Aliko Dangote, AbdulRabiu Samad, and Mike Adenuga—whose combined wealth has seen a substantial increase of nearly 20%, reaching an impressive $28.5 billion. This surge in…
In a recent development, the National Population Commission (NPC) has presented a budget proposal of N693.3 million for the year 2024, specifically earmarked for the long-awaited national population and housing census. This budget request marks a significant increase from the N10.52 million allocated for the same purpose in the approved 2023 budget. However, a detailed examination of the proposed budget reveals not only the substantial increment for the upcoming census but also other allocations related to census activities. Notably, the approved budget for the current year includes a separate allocation of N30 billion for outstanding activities related to the postponed…