The Delta House of Assembly passed the Appropriation Bill of N979.2 billion for the 2025 fiscal year for assent.

The budget passed at plenary, was sequel to a report by the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mrs Marilyn Okowa-Daramola.

Presenting the committee’s report, Okowa-Daramola noted that out of the amount, N348.7 billion was for Recurrent Expenditure, while the N630.4 billion was for Capital Expenditure.

She said that the amount showed an increase of N43.2 billion compared to N936 billion Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori earlier presented to the Assembly.

”The committee also recommended that the Capital Expenditure estimate of N587.3 billion be amended to read N630.4 billion.

“This represents an increase of N43.1 billion or 7.34 per cent increase over the proposed Capital Expenditure budget.”

Okowa-Daramola added that the committee recommended that the total amended budget size would now be N979.2 billion from the N936 billion presented by the governor.

She also recommended that the 2025 Appropriation bill should be monitored for effective implementation.

The committee chairman said that the 2025 budget was presented in line with global best practices.

According to her, the budgetary estimates reflect the goals of the ‘MORE Agenda’s of the state governor.

The report of the committee was unanimously adopted at the Committee of Supply, Chaired by the Speaker, Mr Dennis Guwor.

Consequently, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Mr Emeka Nwaobi, moved a motion for the third reading and passage of the bill.

The Minority Leader, Mr Edafe Emakpor (APC-Uvwie) seconded the motion when put to a voice vote by the Speaker.

The Speaker commended the lawmakers for their commitments to the early passage of the appropriation bill.

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The Kano State Public Complaint and Anti-Corruption Commission has uncovered a warehouse suspected of being used to repackage rice palliatives meant for distribution to vulnerable members of the society.

This discovery was made during an operation led by the Commission’s chairman, Barrister Muhuyi Magaji, at a warehouse located along the Hotoro Western Bye-pass in Kano.

Speaking to reporters after the operation, Barrister Magaji revealed that around 28 trucks of rice palliatives, which had been provided by the Federal Government to alleviate poverty, were allegedly diverted to the warehouse. The palliatives, instead of being distributed to the intended recipients, were being repackaged with the intent to sell them in the open market for personal gain.

“This is a grave case of mismanagement and the deliberate diversion of public goods meant for the poor and vulnerable. It is both unethical and inhumane to exploit such a situation for financial gain when these items were intended to provide relief for the suffering masses,” Magaji remarked, expressing his concern about the corruption behind the act.

In connection with the discovery, one individual has been arrested, and investigations are currently underway to uncover all parties involved in the illicit activity. The commission has vowed to continue its probe until all those responsible for this act of corruption are identified and brought to justice.

We will not tolerate such criminal behavior. The commission is fully committed to holding all those responsible accountable. Furthermore, we are working hard to recover the diverted rice palliatives and ensure that they reach the vulnerable individuals they were meant to help,” Magaji emphasized.

This revelation has raised further concerns about the mismanagement of humanitarian aid, as it underscores the need for stricter monitoring and accountability in the distribution of relief materials. The Commission’s efforts to ensure that the palliatives are returned and properly distributed reflect its determination to address corruption and uphold the welfare of Kano State’s most vulnerable residents.

The House of Representatives has passed a motion to dump the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Umar Danladi.

This was sequel to a motion promoted by the Majority Leader of the House, Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), who cited Section 17(3) of the Fifth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution.

Constitutional requirement stipulates that Danladi could only be removed by a two-thirds majority of the 360 members of the House.

TNG recalls that the Senate last week also recommended Danladi’s removal, following a motion moved by Opeyemi Bamidele, the majority leader.