Bamidele Salam, chairman of the house of representatives committee on public accounts, has called for increased participation of Nigerian women in politics.

Speaking during the visit of Grace Ike, first female chairperson of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the federal capital territory (FCT), Salam said Nigeria needs to do better on the inclusivity front.

He said the country should emulate the likes of Rwanda, with 60 percent of members of parliament being women; and Kenya, with about 50 percent women in parliament.

Salam added that Nigeria should make deliberate efforts to ensure that more women participate in politics and governance. The legislator said merit and capacity to deliver are not exclusive to a particular gender.

In her remarks, Ike said her leadership is committed to strengthening the relationship between the media and the legislature.

She said the NUJ recognises the critical role that the house public accounts committee plays in ensuring that public funds are judiciously utilised.

“We believe that a strong and independent media is essential to a functioning democracy, and we are committed to playing our part in promoting good governance,” she said.

Jarrett Tenebe, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo, has defended Monday Okpebholo, governor of the state.

On Tuesday, Okpebholo stuttered before lawmakers while reading figures from his 2025 budget proposal.

The governor said the N605 billion appropriation bill represents a 25 percent increase from the 2024 budget.

“The Edo state Appropriation Bill of six billion… 605 billion… 76 million…” Okpebholo began, his hands unsteady and voice quivering in the rarefied assembly.

“Let me take it again. 506 billion… 605 billion… sorry… 776 billion… sorry, it’s confusing me.”

Okpebholo’s admission elicited laughter and murmurs in equal doses from the lawmakers.

Defending the snafu, Tenebe said Okpebholo struggles with figures because he does not know how to steal public funds.

“He is the governor of the state, he is performing and he’ll continue to perform and anybody who does not like his face should go to hell and burn to ashes. Period!”

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour says he will contest the Lagos governorship election in 2027.

Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos during the 2023 election, spoke during an interview on Gold Room anchored by Iyabo Ojo, a Nollywood actress.

The former LP governorship candidate said he would fix the trend of opposition parties fading into silence post-election.

“By God’s grace (I will run for governorship again in 2027). We are working. We gained a lot of traction, saw our mistakes. We saw the loopholes we made, and we’re working on that,” he said.

“I think the biggest mistake that has happened in Lagos politics is after elections, the opposition goes quiet. That is not happening this time.

“We’re in people’s faces. We’re doing our best in terms of health outreaches. We have a micro health insurance plan that we’re taking all across the state where people can get treatment of up to N6,000 for free.

“And just being up-to-date to current affairs and holding the government accountable, calling out when the government is spending our monies in extravagant ways, regardless of the suffering that Nigerians are dealing with.”

Rhodes-Vivour also asked for accountability from Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos.

“So, with the level of suffering that Nigerians are dealing with, Lagosians are dealing with, we need to have accountability and transparency, and our government must be using our money in the most efficient way possible,” he added.

“And that is the work of opposition. So when opposition does that, then the people benefit.”