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Fraudulent Acts : Many Governors misuse council funds, Says Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday accused governors of misappropriating the allocations of Local Government Areas (LGAs) in their states.
According to him, the misappropriation by unnamed governors is behind the stunted rural development in some states.

The president spoke with members of the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He alluded to “fraudulent acts” by some governors in the distribution of funds intended for the management of local councils, saying some governors collect money on behalf of council areas and remit only half of such allotment to the council chairpersons.

The council head, he added, always pilfered the remittance, thereby depleting public resources.

He chided the affected governors for lack of integrity.

Buhari said: “Speaking from personal experience, a Chief Executive of a state, a qualified lawyer, trained; what they did – this is my personal experience – if the monies from the Federal Government to state governments is N100million, let’s put it at N100m, N50m will be sent to the chairman with a letter that he will sign that he received N100m.

“The governor will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to and then, the chairman of the local government will see how much he must pay in salaries; to hell goes development! Monies for the salaries will be given and the balance will be put in his pocket. This is what is happening.

“This is Nigeria, it’s a terrible thing, You cannot say the person who was doing this was not educated, he was a qualified lawyer, he was experienced, yet, he participated in this type of corruption.”

Buhari attributed such conduct to a lack of integrity, noting that it contributes to the pervasive corruption in the country.

He added: “So, it’s a matter of conscience. Whichever level we find ourselves. As a leader, you sit here, with all the sacrifices the country is making by putting you through institutions and getting you ready to lead. The fundamental thing is personal integrity. May God help us.”

The president’s criticism came a day after the Federal Government criticised governors for prioritising flyovers and airports over improving conditions in rural areas, thereby, contributing to the country’s high poverty rate.

Buhari pledged that the recommendations contained in the presentation of SEC 44 will be painstakingly studied by the government, with the view to implementing them.

He praised his administration for building trust between the government and the people, adding that the report would largely assist in the provision of good governance to those at the grassroots and by extension win back their trust in government.

Buhari said: ‘‘I assure you that the report will be treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves. The government will study the report with the view to implementing the carefully detailed recommendations.”

NIPSS Director-General Prof. Ayo Omotayo said the course participants undertook study tours of 14 states, six African countries and six countries outside Africa.

He added: ‘‘This enabled them to have both local and international perspectives on local governance, how to overcome challenges in achieving it, identify the available opportunities to strengthen it and develop workable options to be considered by the government in strengthening local governance.”

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Update : 2027 Race: APC Pegs Presidential Form at ₦100m, Unveils Primaries Date

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The All Progressives Congress has released its timetable for the 2027 general elections, fixing its presidential primary for May 15 to 16, 2026.

According to the schedule signed by the APC National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Argungu, on Monday, the party will begin the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms at its National Secretariat from April 25 to May 2, 2026, while submission of completed forms will close on May 4.

The APC pegged its presidential form at ₦100m, comprising ₦30m for expression of interest and ₦70m for nomination.

Governorship aspirants are to pay ₦50m, while Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly forms cost ₦20m, ₦10m and ₦6m respectively.

The timetable indicates that screening of aspirants will hold between May 6 and May 8, while screening results will be released on May 11, followed by appeals from May 12 to May 13.

Photo: X/@OfficialAPCNg

Presidential primaries are scheduled for May 15 and 16, while those for the House of Representatives, Senate, State House of Assembly and governorship will hold on May 18, May 20, May 21 and May 23, respectively.

The party also fixed May 25 for the conclusion of election appeals across all categories.

The schedule shows that all primary elections will be conducted within eight days.

The party, however, granted concessions to female aspirants, youths and persons living with disabilities, who are to pay for only the expression of interest forms and 50 per cent of the nomination fees.

The timetable stated that the schedule was in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the Independent National Electoral Commission guidelines

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Breaking : Tinubu Endorses ₦68.32 Trillion 2026 Budget, Prolongs 2025 Spending Timeline

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President Bola Tinubu has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, authorising an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion for the current fiscal year.

He also signed a separate bill extending the implementation period of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026.

The budget allocates ₦4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and ₦15.8 trillion for debt service.

It further sets aside ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent expenditure and ₦32.2 trillion for capital expenditure through the Development Fund.

The presidency made the disclosure in a statement signed by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Friday.

The statement read, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assented to the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which provides for an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion. He has also signed the bill extending the implementation period for the 2025 budget from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026.

“The N68.32 trillion budget for this year earmarks N4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and N15.8 trillion for debt service. It allocates N15.4 trillion to recurrent expenditure and N32.2 trillion to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure.

“With capital expenditure accounting for about 50 per cent, the 2026 budget underscores the administration’s continued commitment to economic stability, national security, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth.

“The allocations reflect a strategic balance between statutory obligations, debt servicing, recurrent expenditure, and capital investments critical to driving productivity and improving the quality of life for Nigerians,” it added.

The 2026 Appropriation Act took effect on April 1, with the Federal Government commencing full implementation in line with what the presidency describes as the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tinubu also assented to the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act by three months to June 30.

The presidency said the extension would ensure the full utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure projects at advanced stages of implementation.

“The extension will ensure the full and effective utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure and development projects that are at advanced stages of implementation across the country.

“It will enable Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to consolidate ongoing works, enhance project completion rates, and maximise value for public expenditure,” the statement read.

Tinubu directed MDAs to ensure disciplined, transparent, and efficient utilisation of allocated resources, with strong emphasis on value for money and timely project delivery.

He commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for what the presidency described as their “diligence, cooperation, and patriotism in expeditiously considering and passing the budget.”

“The President reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in advancing national development objectives,” the statement noted.

Tinubu also assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms and boost revenue generation.

“He further assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms, enhance revenue generation, and prioritise investments that will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen social protection mechanisms,” the statement read.

The budget, titled “The Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” was originally presented to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 19, 2025, at a proposed sum of ₦58.47 trillion.

It passed second reading in the House of Representatives on January 29, 2026, before going through further legislative scrutiny and emerging at ₦68.32 trillion at the point of assent.

During the second reading debate in January, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere had urged lawmakers to support the proposal, pointing to a projected 3.98 per cent economic growth rate for 2026, a projected drop in inflation to 14.45 per cent, improved revenues, and foreign direct investment growth.

He also cited a stabilisation of the naira at around ₦1,400 to the dollar and a rise in Nigeria’s external reserves to a seven-year high of approximately $47 billion.

When Tinubu presented the bill to lawmakers in December, he described it as a defining moment in Nigeria’s reform journey, acknowledging the pressures the process had placed on households and businesses while insisting the sacrifices were necessary.

“The path of reform is seldom smooth, but it is the surest route to lasting stability and shared prosperity,” he told the joint session.

He vowed that 2026 would mark a decisive shift to stronger budget execution discipline, announcing an end to the long-standing practice of running overlapping budgets and perpetual rollovers.

The budget’s four stated objectives are consolidating macroeconomic stability, improving the business and investment environment, promoting job-rich growth, and strengthening human capital development while protecting the vulnerable.

Key sectoral allocations include ₦5.41 trillion for defence and security, ₦3.56 trillion for infrastructure, ₦3.52 trillion for education, and ₦2.48 trillion for health.

Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, writing in a January op-ed, described the budget as a commitment to consolidate what was working in the administration’s reform programme and ensure that shared prosperity became “a lived reality for more Nigerians, faster.”

He pointed to expanding business activity, improving investor confidence, easing inflation, and stronger external reserves as early indicators of progress, and highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects including the Coastal Highway, Sokoto–Badagry Expressway, and Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline as evidence of the administration’s delivery record.

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Northern Muslim and Christian Youths Warn U.S. Lawmaker Against Fueling Division in Nigeria

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The Coalition of Northern Muslims and Christians Youth For Religious Tolerance in Nigeria has called for the Florida State representative and Chairwoman of the UN-WCD, Kimberly Daniels to not pretend under Christianity faith to create division between Christians and Muslims in Northern region of Nigeria for her Call on the Nigeria authority to redeploy the Honourable Minister of State for Defence Dr.Bello Mohammed Matawalle.

During the Coalition joint emergency press conference which was held in Kaduna Northwest Nigeria, the Coalition Statement which was jointly signed by Secretary General Mr. Bitrus Bahago along with his counterpart the Public relation officer Ustaz Abdullahi Abubakar,
Read: “The statements credited to Florida State representative Kimberly Daniels calling for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to redeploy the Honourable Minister of State for Defence Bello Mohammed Matawalle is not necessary and terrible motive aimed at targeting Norther Muslim public office holder”

“Mrs Kimberly Daniels Should note that Nigeria is not owned by only one faith, therefore we are collectively demanding her unreserved apology for her bigotry which could affect the peaceful Coexistence and religious tolerance between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria”

The Coalition Statement further remind Mrs. Kimberly Daniels that, “even though Matawalle is only overseeing the Nigeria Navy enjoyed a Cordial working relationship with his friend a devoted Northern Christian leader General Christopher Gwabin Musa who in charge of Nigeria army and Nigeria Air force combined.

The Coalition concludes by advising Mrs. Kimberly Daniels to desist from making unnecessary bigotry demand targeting or pointing finger at a particular faith.

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