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Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has presented a proposed N828.64 billion 2027 budget to the State House of Assembly, representing a N69.23 billion, or 7.71 per cent, reduction from the approved 2026 budget.

Tagged “Building Your Future IV,” the proposal allocates N637.91 billion, representing 76.98 per cent, to capital expenditure, while N190.73 billion, or 23.02 per cent, is earmarked for recurrent expenditure.

Presenting the budget, Governor Radda said the reduction followed a realistic assessment of expected revenue and expenditure.

He said the government had reviewed available funding sources to ensure fiscal balance and reduce the risk of revenue shortfalls.

Radda added that the 2027 budget was shaped by the Citizens’ Budget Exercise conducted across all 361 wards on July 18, 2026, with each ward expected to receive a special project selected by its residents.

The governor said the exercise would also guide interventions in agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), women’s empowerment, environment, climate change and security.

According to the proposed budget, the social sector will receive N317.73 billion, representing 38.34 per cent; the economic sector, N303.17 billion, or 36.59 per cent; the administrative sector, N198.55 billion; while N9.19 billion is allocated to law and justice.

Speaking on the 2026 budget performance as of August 28, Radda said total recurrent and capital expenditure stood at N295.19 billion, representing 32.88 per cent overall performance.

He said recurrent revenue, including opening balance, stood at N267.47 billion, representing 44.16 per cent, while capital receipts reached N116.41 billion, representing 39.84 per cent.

The governor also revealed that recurrent expenditure stood at N102.17 billion, representing 59.64 per cent, while capital expenditure was N193.02 billion, representing 26.57 per cent.

Radda expressed confidence that budget implementation would improve significantly in the remaining months of 2026, adding that major infrastructure projects include the Katsina and Funtua urban renewal projects, Musawa-Gingin-Tabanni Road, Kunduru-Kadanya Road, Daura Western Bypass, housing projects and the supply of 30 hybrid buses.

The governor acknowledged continuing challenges in security, education, healthcare, water, sanitation and infrastructure, saying the government would continue to address them through community-driven interventions.

He commended the Katsina State House of Assembly for its partnership with the executive and expressed confidence that the lawmakers would consider and pass the 2027 Appropriation Bill in good time.

In his address the speaker Katsina state house of Assembly Hon. Nasir Yahaya Daura, promised to ensure speedy deliberations as well as a speedy passage of the budget.

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The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has filed a notice of withdrawal before the Election Petition Tribunal against its controversial petition against Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election.

The tribunal had on Monday pasted a notice displaying two petitions purportedly filed by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, challenging the re-election of Governor Adeleke.

The petitions, which were dated September 5, 2026, were pasted on the notice board of the tribunal secretariat in Osogbo, formally commencing the process of hearing disputes arising from the August 15 governorship election in the state.

However, the APC disowned the said petition as members of its legal team disclosed that neither the candidate nor the party leadership sanctioned the filed petition.

A senior member of the team, Dr Abiodun Layonu, SAN, in a statement said the petition did not emanate from the team and was not authorised by the party leadership and the APC campaign spokesperson, Remi Omowaye, also urged the public to disregard the document before the tribunal.

However, a legal practitioner, Mr Seyi Oyagbile, admitted to filing the said petition on the instruction of the deputy governorship candidate, Engr. Benjamin Adereti, who, he said, signed the document before the tribunal.

Following the outrage that trailed the petition, Oyagbile on Tuesday filed a notice of motion to withdraw the petition.

The application’s copy, which Vanguard obtained, is dated September 8 and also stamped and received by the tribunal secretariat on the same date.

The document, which listed Governor Ademola Adeleke, Accord and the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC as respondents, has Mr Bola Oyebamiji and the All Progressives Congress APC as petitioners.

The notice reads partly, “NOTICE OF MOTION TO WITHDRAW PETITION
“TAKE NOTICE that this Honourable Tribunal/Court will be moved on……….the…………… day of…..20… at the hour of 9 o’clock in the forenoon or as soon thereafter as the Petitioner or Counsel on his behalf can be heard praying the Tribunal/Court for an order enabling the Petitioner to withdraw the above petition on the following ground (s):

“DECISION OF PETITIONER
“Dated….this 8th day of September 2026.”

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, has declared an indefinite strike over the non-payment of the full August 2026 salary.

In a statement jointly signed by its chairperson, Innocent Nnubia and the secretary, Osita Nnajiofor, on Monday, the union said the decision was taken in compliance with the resolution of the ASUU national executive on non-payment of salaries.

“The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU-UNIZIK Branch, at its congress held today, Monday, September 7, 2026, resolved to withdraw its services in compliance with the standing Resolution of ASUU National Executive Council on non-payment of salaries.

“The ASUU-NEC standing Resolution empowers branches of the Union to withdraw their services when salaries are not paid after the 3rd day of the next month,” the statement said.

The union, which described the situation as ugly and frustrating, added, “Today is 7th September 2026, and the University has not paid the complete salary for August to our members.”

The union urged the management and President Bola Tinubu to address the issue immediately.

“We therefore implore university authorities and visitor (President Bola Tinubu) to urgently address the situation by ensuring the complete payment of the August 2026 salary to our members and ensure that this ugly experience does not repeat itself.

“The congress resolution directs as follows that all members should immediately withdraw all academic and administrative services. The withdrawal of services shall subsist until the complete payment of the August 2026 salary to all members,” stated the union.