Category: Nigerian Tribune

Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Dr Abdullahi Musa, has been conferred with the Doctoral Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Human Resources and Strategic Management (CIHRSM) at an induction ceremony held in Lagos.

Speaking on the rationale for the honour, the institute’s Registrar, Dr. Minna Abell, cited Dr. Musa’s contributions to public service, human capital development, strategic management and nation-building, stressing that the award represented the Institute’s highest membership cadre.

Abell also noted that Dr Musa’s distinguished background as a scholar and administrator, coupled with his diverse experience in governance, leadership, public administration and strategic management, had effectively impacted his responsibilities at NAMA as the agency’s spokesperson.

‘In his current role, Musa has applied the depth of his academic research and scholarly experience to the strategic management of critical information, ensuring that information dissemination within the agency is strategic, effective, educative and proactive. This has strengthened the communication of NAMA’s mandate, activities and interventions to stakeholders and the flying Nigerian public,’ Abell said.

CIHRSM is a professional institution dedicated to advancing human resource development and strategic management through professional education, research, training and knowledge sharing. Its stated emphasis on ethical leadership, professionalism, integrity and excellence provides the context for the recognition of Dr. Musa, whose professional responsibilities at NAMA combine strategic communication, public administration and institutional information management.

It was a symbolic moment when the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, formally passed the hosting mantle to Senegal after Nigeria hosted the 35th Airports Council International (ACI) Africa Annual General Assembly, Regional Conference and Exhibition, in Abuja.

With the handover, attention has now shifted to Dakar, where Senegal is expected to build on the momentum generated in Abuja when it hosts the 36th ACI Africa Annual General Assembly, Regional Conference and Exhibition in the country.

From 20-26 March 2027, Senegal, represented by LAS (Limak-AIBD-Summa), the operator of Blaise Diagne International Airport, is expected to organise the event.

The Abuja event, which attracted more than 500 airport professionals, policymakers, aviation experts, technology providers and other industry stakeholders from across Africa and beyond, was held from September 19 to 25, under the theme: ‘Next-Gen Airports: Driving Performance and Resilience.’

For one week, Abuja became a meeting point for Africa’s airport operators, regulators, policymakers, technology providers and aviation professionals.

The discussions centred on some of the most consequential issues confronting the continent›s airports, including operational efficiency, digital transformation, infrastructure modernisation, sustainability, passenger experience and resilience.

FAAN’s hosting of the event also placed Nigeria’s airport management system and infrastructure under the spotlight, providing an opportunity for the country to showcase its aviation capabilities while engaging with developments taking place across the continent.

Although Senegal is now in the picture, the transition from Abuja to Dakar should not be regarded merely as the routine movement of an annual aviation conference from one host country to another.

Rather, it should represent a continuation of the conversation and, more importantly, a test of whether African airports can translate conference resolutions, technical presentations and policy discussions into measurable improvements on the ground.

ACI Africa exists to promote cooperation, professional excellence and the exchange of knowledge among airports across the continent. Its annual conference therefore provides an important platform for airport executives, regulators, policymakers and industry partners to compare experiences, examine emerging technologies and develop common approaches to shared challenges.

For Nigeria, hosting the 35th edition was an opportunity to present its airport infrastructure and aviation capabilities to the African and international airport community.

FAAN had positioned the Abuja conference as a platform for bringing together airport CEOs, civil aviation authorities, policymakers, technology innovators and other stakeholders. The programme featured high-level discussions, technical workshops, exhibitions, business-to-business engagements and sessions focusing on smart airport technologies, climate-resilient infrastructure, passenger experience, safety innovation and public-private partnerships.

For Nigeria, the discussions were particularly relevant. The country has one of Africa›s largest aviation markets and a network of airports serving major commercial and population centres. Yet, airport development continues to face familiar challenges, including infrastructure renewal, congestion at strategic gateways, passenger processing, surface access, commercial sustainability, funding constraints and the need to maintain international standards amid local economic realities.

The Abuja conference therefore offered Nigeria more than an opportunity to host an international aviation gathering. It provided a platform for Nigerian airport managers and other industry stakeholders to examine their systems against developments elsewhere in Africa and to identify areas where operational and technological improvements could be accelerated.

The real measure of Abuja, however, should not be the number of delegates who attended, the number of organisations represented or the scale of the exhibition. It should be what changes after the conference.

Having received the hosting rights, Senegal now has the opportunity to take the issues raised in Abuja and examine them within its own airport-development experience, while providing the wider African industry with another opportunity to assess what works, what does not and what can be replicated.

Abuja has passed the baton to Dakar. The responsibility now is to ensure that the baton carries forward not just the memory of a successful conference, but a measurable programme of action.

The development was contained in a report on the 2027 ranking prepared by Emeritus Professor Peter Okebukola, Chairman, Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NiTERAC), following the release of the rankings on Wednesday.

Professor Okebukola said the 2027 edition ranked 2,297 universities across 118 countries and territories, compared with 2,191 universities in 2026.

He said Nigeria’s 29 ranked universities represented 42 per cent of the 69 institutions ranked across sub-Saharan Africa, while another 32 Nigerian universities were placed in the Reporter category, bringing the total number of Nigerian institutions engaging with the ranking to 61.

According to Professor Okebukola in a statement made available to news men in Abuja on Wednesday , Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos jointly occupied the highest Nigerian position, in the 801-1000 global band.

Covenant University improved from the 1001-1200 band in 2026, while the University of Ibadan and University of Lagos retained their positions.

He added that four other Nigerian universities, Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University, Landmark University and the University of Ilorin, were placed in the 1001-1200 band, bringing the number of Nigerian universities in the global top 1,200 to seven.

Professor Okebukola a former Executive Secretary of the National University Commission,NUC, noted that federal universities continued to anchor Nigeria’s performance in the upper bands.

Five of the seven Nigerian universities in the top 1,200 are federal institutions: the universities of Ibadan, Lagos and Ilorin, Ahmadu Bello University and Bayero University.

He said the number of federal universities in the top 1,200 increased from three in 2026 to five in 2027, while their share of Nigeria’s top-1,200 institutions rose from 60 per cent to 71.4 per cent.

Overall, 19 federal universities, seven state universities and three private universities were ranked in 2027.

Professor Okebukola also reported that Nigeria had the highest number of Reporter institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, with 32 universities submitting data but not meeting the requirements for inclusion in the ranked table. Sixteen of the Reporters are private universities, 12 are state-owned and four are federal.

He said the national performance showed that Research Quality was Nigeria’s strongest pillar, with a mean score of 43.3, while Research Environment and Teaching recorded weaker mean scores of 13.9 and 20.6 respectively.

Professor Okebukola identified global academic reputation as the single biggest lever for improving Nigeria’s performance, noting that reputation-related measures account for 33 per cent of the overall ranking score. He also highlighted research income, research productivity and doctoral output as important areas requiring attention.

The report recommended that Nigerian universities strengthen their global academic reputation through international conferences, joint research, visiting professors and stronger engagement with diaspora academics and alumni.

Professor Okebukola,a one time Chairman of Governing Board of the National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN further called for improved research funding and productivity, more accurate institutional data submission, increased doctoral output, deeper international collaboration and mobility, and stronger industry engagement and patenting.

He said the 2027 results provided an important diagnostic tool for Nigeria’s higher education system and would serve as empirical input for the work of NiTERAC.

Professor Okebukola disclosed that NiTERAC had commenced the development of a national ranking for Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, with the three rankings expected before December 15, 2026.

He said the national ranking was designed to complement global rankings, stimulate healthy competition among institutions and strengthen areas such as research environment, doctoral output and academic reputation.

Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has explained why the South-West may be a difficult terrain for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, warning that the contest may not be as easy for the president as expected.

Primate Ayodele said Tinubu would need to work harder in South-West, particularly in Lagos, Oyo and Osun states, where he predicted a tough contest despite the president’s political standing in the South-West.

In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the cleric said Tinubu should not assume that the election would be a ‘bread and butter’ affair in the region.

‘Tinubu must work hard in some states because it won’t be easy. Even in Lagos State, it will be hot; he shouldn’t think it will be bread and butter. The election will be a very tough one for him; even in Oyo and Osun, it won’t be all that smooth in the South West.

‘He also needs to work on Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Niger, Bayelsa, Imo, Enugu, Delta, Benue and Abuja; all these states are still shaking. It may not be easy for the president in these places. He must work very hard and perfect all that is needed.’

Ayodele also attributed part of the potential challenges to concerns surrounding the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that the issue could create religious tension if not properly managed.

He urged Tinubu and his team to exercise caution in their campaign around the ticket, saying some people were unhappy with the arrangement and could react violently.

‘Let us be cautious against a religious crisis because of this Muslim-Muslim ticket. What I see is trouble if this is not well handled. A lot of people are in pain, and people are ready to go violent if this isn’t well taken care of.

‘This won’t be about the presidency alone, it will also move to the states that are presenting the same ticket format. They must be careful not to create a religious tension that will go across the nation. Tinubu must show wisdom otherwise, a lot of things will come out from it.’

The cleric further listed Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, Niger, Bayelsa, Imo, Enugu, Delta, Benue and Abuja among other areas where he said the president would need to intensify his efforts ahead of the election.

There was a light-hearted moment at the 2026 Independence Day edition of The Platform after the Lagos State governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, was challenged by an audience member to answer a question on Yoruba culture and language in the indigenous language.

The incident occurred during the question-and-answer session of the event when an attendee asked Rhodes-Vivour what he would do to preserve Yoruba culture, tradition, and language if elected governor of Lagos State.

The questioner referred to a recent interview the ADC candidate had with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels Television, expressing concern that many Yoruba children in Lagos were increasingly unable to speak the language.

‘Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, I have two questions for you. I watched your recent interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Channels TV, where you spoke about the Yoruba culture, tradition, and language. You know Lagos is Yorubaland. Now, what would you do to preserve our culture, tradition and language?’ the attendee asked.

He also cited China and India as examples of countries where children continue to speak their indigenous languages.

However, as Rhodes-Vivour began responding in English, some members of the audience protested and demanded that he answer the question in Yoruba.

The development briefly caused a stir at the venue before the ADC candidate calmed the audience and proceeded with his response, at one point speaking in Yoruba.

Rhodes-Vivour affirmed that Lagos is Yorubaland and stressed the importance of preserving the Yoruba language as a carrier of the people’s culture and heritage.

‘Let me start by saying this is Lagos; Lagos is Yorubaland. No doubt about it. Language is important, language carries the culture and heritage of our people,’ he said.

He, however, said his primary responsibility as a governorship candidate was to address issues of governance.

The ADC candidate also criticised the state’s education system, alleging that pupils had been punished for speaking Yoruba in schools despite more than two decades of APC administration in the state.

‘Today, we’ve had 20-something years of the APC governance but till now, if you speak Yoruba in primary schools or secondary school, they will say it is vernacular and they beat and punish you,’ he said.

Rhodes-Vivour subsequently urged the questioner to direct some of the concerns to representatives of the Lagos State Government who were present at the event.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on Thursday called on Muslim faithful in Nigeria to uphold their right to practise the religion without any let or hindrance, even as he appealed for unity among Muslims.

Alhaji Abubakar said this at the NSCIA 2026 General Assembly held at the Abuja National Mosque, and emphasised the need for Muslims to uphold their faith.

He further called on Muslims to be proactive instead of passive when issues affecting their faith and welfare arise, and urged them to engage constructively in protecting their religious interests.

While saying Muslims should protect their religious interests, the Sultan, who is the spiritual head of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, however, emphasised that Islam does not advocate coercion in matters of faith.

According to him, Muslims did not need and must not force anyone to embrace Islam.

‘What we need in this country and anywhere else is for us, as Muslims, to be allowed to practise our religion without hindrance.

‘We do not intend to force anybody to join Islam. But we have seen how many people have been joining Islam on their own free will because Almighty Allah said there is no compulsion in religion,’ he said.

The Sultan, however, appealed to Muslims to support and protect those who voluntarily embraced Islam with a view to helping them live according to the tenets of Islam.

He equally admonished Muslim faithful to demonstrate humility and equality, submitting that all people were equal before Almighty Allah and that piety remained the true measure of a person’s worth.

While appreciating Allah for making it possible to hold the general assembly this year, seven years after the last one, the Sultan described the gathering as significant, as it brought Muslim leaders from across the country together.

According to him, this year’s general assembly did not only serve as an avenue for Muslim faithful in the country to share ideas but also strengthened the existing bond among them as members of the big family of Islam.

‘We are holding this general assembly almost seven years after we had the last one. All of you are aware why we didn’t hold general assembly for some few years,’ he said.

The Sultan said that, despite not holding a general assembly, the NSCIA had been holding expanded general purpose committee meetings, explaining that the inability to hold a general assembly all this while was largely due to financial constraints.

Despite the constraints, the Sultan said the NSCIA had been seeking assistance to enable it to carry out its responsibilities to Islam and the Nigerian Muslim Ummah.

This year’s general assembly, according to the Sultan, was holding at a time when Nigeria and the entire world were facing challenges.

‘This (general assembly) is coming at a time when we should be attentive. We should be a little more conscious because we all know the situation in the country and in the world. We Muslims have a lot of roles to play,’ Sultan Abubakar said.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, has assured members of the party that all candidates vying for different positions in the 2027 election would come out victorious, without fight or rancour.

He gave the assurance while addressing a gathering at an interfaith prayer and praise concert, held at the Ake Pavilion, in Abeokuta, on Wednesday evening, organised to seek God’s divine intervention in the elections.

Adeola, representing Ogun West Senatorial District, said the prayers offered at the gathering would culminate in victory for the party at all levels, beginning with the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.

He expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be re-elected, alongside APC candidates contesting National Assembly seats in Ogun State.

The lawmaker, who is aspiring to succeed Governor Dapo Abiodun, also prayed for divine support for his emergence as the next governor of the state.

He explained that the APC would record victory without a serious contest, saying God had already begun paving the way for the party ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship election.

While adding that other political actors were allegedly making efforts to reorganize their political platforms, he remained confident that the APC would emerge victorious.

He said, ‘That same God that will give us victory on January 16 will also support me to become the seventeenth Executive Governor of Ogun State.

‘God will give us victory and clear our path without a fight. Because there will be nobody contesting against us. God has started that already. In February 6, 2027, there will be nobody, because they are all party less.’

He said they are running helter-skelter to perfect their shortcomings, but God has spoken that He’s going to give us victory without a fight,’ he added.

Also speaking, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said the gathering was an opportunity for APC members to seek God’s guidance and commit their political journey towards 2027 into His hands.

Abiodun said the party had gathered to put God first through prayers, songs, and thanksgiving, expressing confidence that the prayers would yield positive results.

Reflecting on his political journey, Abiodun recalled the challenges he faced during the 2019 governorship election, saying his emergence as governor was a testimony to God’s intervention.

He said the political circumstances at the time were difficult, but maintained that the same God who helped him navigate those challenges remained capable of guiding the state through another transition.

The governor added that despite the challenges and political opposition he encountered in 2018, he eventually emerged as governor, stressing that the same divine intervention would guide the state towards a smooth transition from his administration to the next government.

‘We have gathered here to seek the Almighty’s face and commit our journey of 2027 into His hands.

‘Today, we have come here to put God first, to pray, dance, and sing. I am very confident, and without a doubt, that our heart’s desires shall be granted by the men of God who have prayed for us.

‘I recalled how the journey was in 2018. When we started, it was not like this at all; it was tough. But God has used me as a testimony.

‘God of 2018 is still around, and He will continue to allow us to embark on a smooth transition from a sitting governor to the incoming governor,’ he said.

Earlier in his sermon, the Regional Evangelist of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Johnson Kalejaiye prayed for divine intervention for the 2027 general elections.

Pastor Kalejaiye prophesied that God will clear the coast for Ogun APC and lead the party to victory without a fight.

The cleric called on political parties to refrain from the campaign of calumny and hate speech that may trigger violence.

The event, attended by Muslim and Christian clerics who prayed for APC candidates’ victory in turn, also had in attendance Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State; Minister of Livestock Idi Mukhta Maiha; Chief Yemisi Sanusi; Ogun State APC chairman and Senator Lekan Mustapha; and the Director General of the APC Campaign Council in Ogun.

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has called on Nigerians to uphold national unity, tolerance and respect for the rule of law as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

The CJN, in a goodwill message to Nigerians, said the anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on Nigeria’s journey as a nation, the challenges it had overcome and the work that remained to be done.

She acknowledged the difficulties and uncertainties that had characterised the country’s history but said Nigerians had continued to demonstrate resilience, creativity and faith in the nation’s future.

According to the CJN, the strength of a nation should not be measured solely by its economic and material progress, but also by the quality of its institutions, the fairness with which laws are administered and the level of trust citizens place in one another and public institutions.

She said the Judiciary had a critical role to play in this national development, describing it as an essential pillar of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and guardian of the rule of law.

‘The Judiciary remains committed to the fair, impartial and timely administration of justice,’ she said, and stressed that public confidence in the justice system depended largely on the integrity, independence and humanity with which justice was administered.

Justice Kekere-Ekun also urged Nigerians to cherish their common identity and approach their differences with understanding and tolerance, saying the country’s diversity should be regarded as a source of strength rather than division.

‘Our diversity, when guided by mutual respect and a sense of common purpose, should remain a source of strength rather than division,’ she said, and called on Nigerians to remember and honour those who had made sacrifices in various fields of national service to preserve the country’s freedom and sustain its democracy.

She urged citizens to contribute, regardless of how modest their efforts might be, towards building a stronger, more just and united Nigeria for future generations.

‘Let us honour their contributions by doing our part, however modest, to leave Nigeria stronger, more just and more united for those who will come after us,’ the CJN said.

The Federal Government has missed its September target for submitting the 2027 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, raising fresh concerns over Nigeria’s persistent delays in the budget cycle and the implementation of annual fiscal plans.

Government sources attribute the development to the decision to embark on yet another recess shortly after returning from a prolonged break.

Members of the National Assembly began the new recess after spending 68 days away from plenary. Their 2026 annual recess started on July 23, following the conclusion of legislative activities.

The Assembly was originally scheduled to resume on September 15, but the date was shifted to September 29 to allow for repairs to the sound systems in the Senate and House of Representatives chambers. Upon resumption, the Senate adjourned after deliberating on nationwide security ahead of a planned National Security Summit. The House is set to resume on October 13 to handle pending bills and budget-related matters.

The Federal Government had planned to lay the 2027 Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly in September as part of efforts to restore a more predictable budget cycle and address longstanding delays in budget implementation. The intention was outlined in the 2027 Personnel Costs Budget Call Circular issued by the Budget Office of the Federation and dated September 4, 2026.

In an earlier circular signed by the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu, the office noted that the draft 2027-2029 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper had been concluded in July 2026 in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. This was intended to facilitate the submission of the 2027 budget to the National Assembly by September 2026.

‘As you are aware, the 2027-2029 draft Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper was concluded by July 2026 in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 to facilitate the submission of 2027 Budget to the National Assembly by September 2026,’ the Budget Office stated.

Although no specific presentation date was fixed, the timetable aimed to have the spending plan before lawmakers about three months before the start of the 2027 fiscal year. The move comes against a backdrop of repeated delays and overlapping budget cycles that have complicated the execution of federal budgets in recent years.

More concern lies in the fact that the National Assembly has extended implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act’s capital component to December 31, 2026, giving federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) three more months. The extension came after the Senate and House of Representatives separately considered and approved President Bola Tinubu’s request for more time to implement capital projects under the 2025 fiscal framework.

This is coming at a time when economic and financial experts have stated that part of the 2026 budget may be rolled over into 2027, noting that the Federal Government is still struggling with the implementation of previous budget cycles. ‘If the budget, for example, the 2025 budget, has not been implemented, and we have to roll over 70% of 2025 to 2026, and that with the promise that 30% will be implemented before March. Up to March, even 30% was not implemented. The National Assembly had to extend the lifespan of the budget up to September to allow government to implement just the 30% component of the 2025 budget,’ one expert lamented.

Tribune Online contacted the Budget Office of the Federation to ascertain the level of 2026 budget implementation. However, there was no response at the time of filing this report.

Officials had previously linked some implementation challenges to inconsistencies in key macroeconomic assumptions used by fiscal and monetary authorities. Following a joint budget retreat and technical validation workshop, discrepancies were identified in projections for crude oil prices and production, exchange rates, inflation, and non-oil revenues. These differences contributed to gaps between budget estimates and actual fiscal outcomes.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, had emphasised that harmonising the assumptions would help reduce such discrepancies and improve the alignment between budget projections and economic performance.

Ahead of the September target, the Budget Office set a 4pm deadline on September 18, 2026, for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to submit both hard and electronic copies of their 2027 personnel budget proposals. The circular introduced stricter verification requirements, including the compulsory submission of the laws establishing each MDA alongside its budget proposal. The measure followed controversy over the inclusion of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, which was allocated about N1.3 billion in the 2026 budget despite questions over its legal status.

The Budget Office said the new requirement was designed to prevent the inclusion of unestablished agencies in the Federal Government’s budget. ‘To further strengthen the budget preparation process and mitigate against any entry of unestablished agencies in the FGN Budget, it has become compulsory for MDAs to submit budget proposals along with their respective Establishment Acts as failure to do so may lead to rejection,’ it stated.

Beyond agency verification, the 2027 budget circular tightened controls over personnel expenditure. MDAs were warned against providing salaries and allowances for individuals who are not legitimate Federal Government employees. Payrolls must be validated against records on the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

The Budget Office stated that no personnel cost provision would be made for serving Federal Government employees who are not captured on IPPIS or enrolled on GIFMIS, except where an appropriate exemption exists. MDAs were directed to use only salary structures and allowances approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and to verify employees’ grade levels and steps.

The government further barred MDAs from budgeting for anticipated promotions. Only promotions already approved and effective will be reflected in the 2027 personnel budget, while those taking effect during the year will be funded centrally. Unauthorised recruitment that results in salary shortfalls or payroll lock-outs will not attract government funding.

Consultants, contract workers, National Youth Service Corps members, industrial attachment students, outsourced service providers, and other non-permanent workers are not to be included in MDAs’ nominal rolls. Particular restrictions were placed on federal health and education institutions to prevent the multiple capture of consultants, lecturers, and interns on the payrolls of different institutions.

The Budget Office said it would deploy a centralised Personnel Cost Monitoring Dashboard linked to IPPIS and GIFMIS. This will allow MDAs to compare actual personnel expenditure with approved budget provisions in real time. A Payroll Discrepancy Resolution Committee will meet monthly to address differences between MDA submissions and government payroll records, while requests for salary and promotion arrears will be processed quarterly.

MDAs are also required to submit their third-quarter 2026 personnel budget performance reports by September 30 to guide personnel planning for the 2027 fiscal year. Ministers, chief executives, and accounting officers must initial every page of their hard-copy budget proposals and certify the accuracy of the information submitted.

The tighter controls indicate that the 2027 budget preparation process is being used not only to advance the submission timetable but also to strengthen expenditure controls and reduce payroll and institutional irregularities before funds are appropriated.

With the National Assembly now on another recess and the House not expected back until mid-October, the early submission of the 2027 budget remains delayed, continuing a pattern that has long hampered effective fiscal planning and implementation in the country.

Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has urged political actors, community leaders, and residents to reject violence, division, intolerance, and criminality in order to sustain peace and development in the state.

Yusuf made the call on Thursday while addressing citizens at the 66th Independence Anniversary celebration held at the Sani Abacha Indoor Stadium, Kano.

The governor also urged residents to pray for peaceful, free, fair, and credible elections while exercising their civic responsibilities responsibly.

‘Let us shun violence and anything that may threaten the peace and stability of our dear state,’ Yusuf said.

He called on the people of Kano to renew their commitment to peace, unity, and responsible citizenship as Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

Yusuf said nation-building required unity, sacrifice, and collective responsibility, urging Nigerians to turn the country’s diversity of languages, cultures, traditions, and faiths into a source of strength through mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.

The governor also urged citizens to obey the law, protect public property, reject violence and criminality, pay legitimate taxes, and contribute to the peace and development of their communities.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working with the federal government, local governments, traditional and religious institutions, the private sector, and development partners in the interest of the people.

Yusuf called on residents to support farmers, traders, teachers, entrepreneurs, women, and young people, saying a peaceful and stable environment would enable citizens to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.

He said his administration would remain focused on consolidating its achievements in education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, water supply, security, and human capital development.