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Gov Orders MDAs To Commence Implementation Of 2014 Budget

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11 years ago

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Governor Mukhtar Yero of
Kaduna State last Thursday directed the various state Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to commence implementation of the 2014 budget.
Yero gave the order during a one-day retreat on the  implementation of the approved 2014 budget.
The governor said that the budget estimates could only be achieved when projected revenue was realised.
Our correspondent recalls that the 2014 budget is tagged “Budget of Peace and Continuity”.
It has a total revenue projection of N200.9 billion, comprising  63 per cent capital expenditure and 37 per cent recurrent expenditure.
“The major problem with implementation is that we all relax as soon as the budget is passed and we wait until the last quarter before we begin to rush to award contracts.
“We have to begin implementation as soon as the budget is passed.”
Yero also urged members of the State House of Assembly to intensify action on their oversight function in order to ensure efficient budget implementation in the state.
He said that government officials should not regard oversight functions as witch-hunting, but rather as necessary legislative activity that ensured probity and accountability in public sector expenditures.
“Oversight function should be seen as partnership between the executive and the legislative arms not as witch-hunting.
“Personally, I want regular oversights because there is no way you can have a good executive without a good legislature.
“I don’t look at oversight as witch-hunting and even if that is the case, I have no fear because the records are there.
“The House should make oversight more consistent and not only when a budget is presented that you begin to go for inspection.
“You have to go at all times and if you find any problem please correct us.”
Also speaking at the retreat, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Alhaji Shehu Tahir, said that the legislature would continue to carry out its oversight function as enshrined in the Constitution.
“Parliamentary oversights seeks to promote and enhance government accountability and transparency by ensuring that the Executive and those bodies to whom authority have been delegated, remain responsible and accountable in the performance of their functions,” he said.

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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5 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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5 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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5 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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