Author name: clickreportteam

Nigeria has failed the United States’ minimum fiscal transparency requirements for the second consecutive year, with the US Department of State saying the country made no significant progress in improving financial management and public access to fiscal information in 2025. The finding was contained in the 2026 Fiscal Transparency Report released by the US State Department on Tuesday. The report assessed 139 governments and the Palestinian Authority, with 73 meeting the minimum requirements. Of the 67 that failed, 14 recorded significant progress, while 53 countries, including Nigeria, were classified as making no progress. The assessment was based on information gathered by the US Embassy in Abuja, federal agencies, international organisations and civil society groups between January 1 and December 31, 2025. The report criticised Nigeria’s budget process, saying the country’s budget documents did not provide a sufficiently complete picture of government revenues and expenditures. It also said actual revenue and spending did not reasonably correspond with figures contained in the enacted budget. The US further faulted the government for failing to publish its executive budget proposal within a reasonable period before the start of the fiscal year, limiting opportunities for public scrutiny and debate. Nigeria’s Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation also came under criticism. According to the report, the supreme audit institution did not meet international standards for independence and failed to publish substantive audit reports within the required period. The report also raised concerns about public procurement, saying accessible information on government contracts was not sufficiently available. It noted that although Nigeria had laws governing the award of natural-resource contracts and licences, key details about concessions, including the geographic area, duration and companies awarded contracts, were not made public after decisions were taken. Despite the criticisms, the US acknowledged some areas of progress. Nigeria was credited with making its enacted budget and end-of-year report publicly accessible, while information on government debt obligations, including major debts owed by state-owned enterprises, was also available. The country’s sovereign wealth fund was similarly recognised for having a sound legal framework and disclosing its funding sources and general withdrawal policy. The State Department recommended several measures to improve Nigeria’s fiscal transparency. These include publishing the executive budget proposal on time, providing detailed revenue and expenditure breakdowns, ensuring actual spending corresponds with approved budgets, strengthening the independence of the Auditor-General’s office, publishing audit reports and making public procurement contract information easily accessible. Reacting to the report, the Presidency said fiscal transparency, accountability and effective public financial management remained priorities of the Federal Government. Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the findings should be viewed as an external benchmark rather than a comprehensive assessment of all fiscal reforms underway in Nigeria. He said the government was continuing reforms through initiatives such as Open Treasury, public budget documentation, debt disclosures and digital procurement systems, with the aim of improving the accessibility, reliability and timeliness of financial information. BudgIT, however, agreed with several of the report’s findings. Its Country Director, Vahyala Kwaga, said while Nigeria’s revenue and expenditure composition was generally clear, budget implementation reports had remained inadequate. Kwaga also criticised the lack of independence of the Auditor-General’s office and raised concerns about the absence of publicly accessible procurement information and recent debt sustainability analyses. The US report comes amid growing concerns over Nigeria’s budget implementation and the simultaneous operation of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 budgets. It also follows criticism of several 2026 budget allocations, including constituency projects, religious infrastructure and large lump-sum provisions described as special presidential interventions and miscellaneous expenditure. Globally, the US report found that major economies including China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Ukraine also failed to meet the minimum fiscal transparency standards. Countries that made significant progress included Cameroon, Chad, Liberia, Niger, Senegal, Bangladesh and Ethiopia. As Nigeria prepares for its 2027 budget cycle, the latest report is expected to increase pressure on the Federal Government to improve public access to financial information, strengthen oversight institutions and ensure greater accountability in the management of public resources.

The Grand Council of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, has passed a vote of confidence in its leadership and rejected the purported removal of its chairman, Abdulateef Owoyemi, his deputy, Oladokun Ajidagba, and vice chairman, Prof. Fassy Yusuf. The three leaders were reportedly removed over allegations of financial inducement, document manipulation and other irregularities linked to the selection of a new Awujale of Ijebuland. However, the ruling house dismissed the allegations as baseless and described the committee responsible for announcing their removal as an unauthorised “kangaroo committee.” Speaking at a press briefing in Ijebu-Ode, Owoyemi said the family had previously been divided into three factions but had reconciled following the intervention of the Ogun State Government. He said he was subsequently elected chairman, with Ajidagba and Yusuf appointed as deputy chairman and vice chairman respectively. Owoyemi said the ruling house had concluded plans to take legal action against members of the opposing group over alleged defamation and other misconduct. He also urged the Ogun State Government to lift the embargo on the Awujale selection process, which has been suspended since January 2026. Prof. Yusuf also appealed to the government to allow the kingmakers to resume their constitutional role in selecting the new monarch. He argued that the government lacked the authority to halt the process and said the family could consider other options if its appeals were unsuccessful. However, the secretary of the fact-finding committee, Ridwan Oduneye, rejected the ruling house’s claims that the committee members were impostors. He said their actions were aimed at restoring due process, unity and integrity to the ruling house. Oduneye maintained that a general meeting attended by 115 family members had resolved to remove the three leaders and appoint Prince Adeleke Adeyemi as interim secretary and authorised signatory. The dispute follows the death of the former Awujale, Oba Sikiru Adetona, in July 2025 after 65 years on the throne. The Ogun State Government suspended the selection process in January 2026 following petitions from security agencies and stakeholders. A total of 95 aspirants had emerged from the ruling house’s nomination process before the suspension.

The National Human Rights Commission, Christian Association of Nigeria, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria and several political figures have condemned comments attributed to Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahaya Jingir over the 2027 general elections. The groups also called on the government to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute the cleric over remarks they described as inflammatory and capable of deepening religious tensions. Jingir had reportedly spoken at an event in Kano last weekend, where he defended the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress and argued that Muslims should dominate Christians because they constitute a larger population. The NHRC, through its Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, described the remarks as hate speech and incitement to religious hatred. The commission urged the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services and other relevant authorities to take action. It warned that inflammatory statements ahead of the 2027 elections could fuel division and potentially lead to violence. CAN also criticised the remarks, saying Nigerians had the right to support any political party or candidate but should not turn political choices into religious contests. The association urged Nigerians to judge candidates based on leadership, character, competence and performance rather than religious affiliation. It also called on religious leaders to use their influence to promote peace and tolerance. Similarly, PFN President, Bishop Wale Oke, urged politicians to avoid religious and ethnic considerations when choosing leaders. He said Nigeria’s status as a multi-religious country required balance and equal treatment of citizens. Oke also condemned violence committed in the name of religion, describing acts such as kidnapping, killings and attacks on schools as criminal regardless of the perpetrators’ faith. He called on the government to take decisive action against religious extremists. Former Kano State governor and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Rabiu Kwankwaso, also condemned Jingir’s comments. He said the people of Kano did not support the remarks and urged political and religious leaders to promote unity and reconciliation. Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, equally criticised the cleric’s comments and urged him to apologise to Christians. He warned that divisive religious rhetoric could have political consequences for the APC ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Fani-Kayode also called on the DSS to invite and caution Jingir, arguing that inflammatory statements should not be allowed to worsen religious tensions. Meanwhile, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, called on Nigerians to put aside religious, ethnic and political differences and work together to address insecurity and other challenges facing the country. Idris said Nigeria’s diversity should be a source of cooperation rather than division, warning that allowing religious differences to interfere with efforts to tackle insecurity could further worsen the situation. The reactions come amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections and renewed concerns over the use of religious rhetoric in political mobilisation.

Ten police officers and two civilians were killed during a gun battle between security forces and suspected bandits in Sakaba Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The incident occurred around 9:25am on Monday along the Rafin Makuku axis, where security personnel intercepted the armed group reportedly moving between Zamfara and Kebbi states. The Kebbi State Police Command said at least 17 suspected bandits were neutralised during the encounter, while four motorcycles belonging to the attackers were also destroyed. The command’s spokesperson, Bashir Usman, said the casualty figure among the bandits was still being verified. He said the security forces suffered significant losses, with 10 police personnel killed and two others injured and receiving medical attention. Usman described the deceased officers as brave personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, adding that their contributions would not be forgotten. Two civilians were also killed during the confrontation, according to the police. The command said its immediate priorities were to support the families of the deceased officers, care for the injured and continue operations to track fleeing members of the bandit group. The Nigeria Police Force also confirmed the deaths of the 10 officers. Its Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, said Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu described the incident as a painful loss to the Force and the country. The remains of the deceased officers were taken to Birnin Kebbi, while additional security personnel were deployed to the area to strengthen ongoing operations and pursue the fleeing suspects. The police said further details would be released as the situation continued to be assessed.