***US says Nigeria failed fiscal transparency test in 2025

***Says government revenue, expenditure must tally with enacted budget

***FG committed to strengthening fiscal transparency, accountability and public financial management – presidency

By Sam Otuonye

Former Vice president of Nigeria and the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 general election, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed his dissatisfaction with what he described as lack of transparency in the handling and f the county’s fiscal policies by the federal government

Atiku, who raised the concerns while reacting to the recent report by the United States of America (USA) which listed Nigeria as one of 67 countries that failed it’s fiscal integrity test, said he has been vindicated by the recent report which highlighted concerns over fiscal transparency in Nigeria, with specific reference to the federal government’s failure to disclose revenues and expenditures.

Recall that Atiku has continually raised concerns and criticisms over federal government’s financial policies, especially with the 2026 approved appropriation budget, where the former vice president has identified and queried alleged insertion of several fictitious figures and projects running into billions of Naira by both the federal government and national assembly

The US report, which was released on Thursday by the Department of States, said Nigeria failed to meet the government’s minimum fiscal transparency requirements in 2025.

The US findings further categorised Nigeria as among the 14 out of the 67 country that are not making any significant progress towards addressing the deficiencies identified during the review period.

The report assessed Nigeria and 138 other governments, including the Palestinian Authority, for the period January 1 to December 31, 2025

The US department of state said its assessment included whether governments make key fiscal information available to the public, including budget documents, debt obligations, audit reports, natural resource contracts and public procurement information.

Accordingly to the report, “Fiscal transparency is a critical element of effective public financial management, helps build market confidence, and underpins economic sustainability

“Transparency fosters greater government accountability by providing a window into government budgets, helping citizens hold their leadership accountable and facilitating better public debate,” the report noted

The report noted that the assessment requires governments to make their executive budget proposals, enacted budgets and end-of-year reports widely and easily accessible within specified periods.

“Budget documents, including the executive budget proposal, enacted budget, and end-of-year report, should be widely and easily accessible to the public

“Information on government debt obligations, including from state-owned enterprises, should also be publicly available on a public-facing website and updated at least annually

“Publicly available budget documents should provide a substantially full picture of a government’s planned expenditures and revenue, including natural resource revenues,” the US report added.

The report emphasised that such documents should include expenditure broken down by ministry and revenue broken down by source and type, as well as allocations to and earnings from state-owned enterprises.

The US report emphasised that government revenue and expenditure should correspond to the enacted budget, while significant deviations should be explained and publicly disclosed

“Budget documents and related data are considered reliable if the information contained therein is credible, meaning actual government revenues and expenditures correspond to the enacted budget

“The basic parameters of concessions and contracts should be made publicly available after the decision,” the report further stated

The report however cautioned that the fiscal transparency assessment should not be interpreted as a corruption ranking.

“A finding that a government ‘does not meet the minimum fiscal transparency requirements’ does not necessarily mean there is significant corruption in the government,” the department added.

“Similarly, a finding that a government ‘meets the minimum fiscal transparency requirements’ does not necessarily reflect a low level of corruption,” it explained

Atiku has consistently called out the Bola Tinubu-led administration for its failure to uphold the basic standards of fiscal transparency, accountability, and disclosure required in a modern democracy.

The former vice president in a statement issued by his media office on Thursday, said the “damming” US report aligns with his concerns about discrepancies between Nigeria’s approved budget and the actual revenues and expenditures recorded during implementation.

“This is precisely what Atiku Abubakar has been saying for years: that Nigerians are being kept in the dark about how public resources are generated and spent.

“Atiku had maintained that without full disclosure of how public funds are earned and spent, Nigeria cannot attract investment, fight corruption, or build public trust.

“Transparency is not a slogan. It is the foundation of good governance,” he had said in one of his several interventions on the issue.

“This report confirms what we have been saying that Nigerians deserve to know where every kobo is coming from and where it is being spent. They are our resources and not the resources of President Bola Tinubu and his family and friends,” the statement said.

The former Vice President stressed that fiscal transparency is a key benchmark for investors, donor agencies, and credit rating firms, reminding that our economy also relies heavily on foreign investment and multilateral support to fund infrastructure and social programmes.

He reiterated that publishing detailed, timely data on revenue from oil, taxes, and borrowing, and on how that money is spent is critical to restoring confidence amid rising debt and inflation.

Meanwhile, the Presidency has responded to a US assessment that Nigeria failed to meet minimum fiscal transparency requirements, stating that the findings should be viewed as an external benchmark rather than a complete assessment of the country’s fiscal governance.

Special Adviser to the President on Media, Sunday Dare, said the Federal Government remains committed to strengthening fiscal transparency, accountability and public financial management.

His response followed the release of the 2026 Fiscal Transparency Report by the US Department of State, which classified Nigeria among 67 governments that failed to meet the minimum requirements during the 2025 review period.

The report identified weaknesses in Nigeria’s budget disclosure, revenue and expenditure reporting, audit independence and public procurement transparency, while also acknowledging progress in the public availability of budget documents and debt obligations.

Dare said the government takes the findings seriously but argued that the assessment should be properly contextualised.

“Fiscal transparency, accountability and effective public financial management remain important priorities of the Federal Government, and Nigeria continues to implement reforms aimed at strengthening the management, reporting and disclosure of public resources.

“The U.S. Fiscal Transparency Report is a specific assessment against the Department of State’s minimum fiscal-transparency requirements, particularly the public disclosure of national budget information, government contracts and natural-resource licenses.

“It should therefore not be interpreted as a comprehensive assessment of all fiscal and public financial management reforms currently underway in Nigeria.

“The appropriate response, therefore, is neither to dismiss the findings nor to portray them as a complete characterization of Nigeria’s fiscal governance.”

Dare said the government has established mechanisms including the Open Treasury initiative, public budget documentation, debt disclosures and reforms to public procurement, while also strengthening digital procurement and other systems designed to improve the accessibility, reliability and timeliness of public financial information.

In its 2026 Fiscal Transparency Report released on Thursday, the US Department of State said Nigeria made no significant progress in addressing the deficiencies identified during the review period.

Nigeria made its enacted budget and end-of-year report widely and easily accessible to the public, including online, but did not publish its executive budget proposal within a reasonable period.

Information on government debt obligations, including major state-owned enterprise debt, was publicly available, but budget documents did not provide a substantially complete picture of government revenues and expenditures.

Actual government revenues and expenditures did not reasonably correspond to those contained in the enacted budget.
The Supreme Audit Institution did not meet international standards of independence or publish substantive reports, although it had access to the entire executed budget.

The latest assessment comes after concerns raised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over Nigeria’s fiscal reporting and financing arrangements.

*** Adeleke,  Oyebamiji, Salaam, 12 others battle for 2.34m voters’ mandate

*** Osun Central, East senatorial districts remain major battle flashpoints with over 1.8m registered voters

***Accord, APC trade blames as killings continue after senator’s “kill” Accord members’ order

***Opposition kicks as military takes over Osun streets

By Eze Nnadi, Nkem Okereh and Ganiyu Olarewaju (Oshogbo)

Analysts have envisaged a poor voter turnout as 15 political parties and their candidates  battle for over two million votes in Saturday’s governorship election in Osun state.

This is as tension has continued to rise across the state with reports of unending killing of suppirtets accross political party lines as the candidates and their political parties end campaign  midnight on Friday  (today).

There were fresh allegations of killing of both the Accord Party (AP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) supportets, barely 24 hours after an alleged comment from the APC Osun east senator, Francis Fadahaunsi, ordering his party’s supporters to kill Accord Party members  during the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier declared that 15 political parties are participating in the election, with the recent court ordered of the candidate of the Social  Democratic Party (SDP) on the ballot.

INEC has responded to the court order, and reprinted the election ballot papers to include the SDP as the 15th political party in the governorship race.

In the firece battle  for the Osun state Government House included the incumbent, Ademola Adeleke, who is contesting on the platform of the Accord Party, Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the APC, as well as Salaam Folasaye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Other candidates include Olanrewaju Farinloye of the Action Alliance (AA), Esan Olajide of the African Action Congress (AAC), among others, while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Adedamola Adebayo has announced his withdrawal from the election,  while urging his supporters to vote for the incumbent governor,  Adeleke

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State had formally presented the electronic voter registers to the political  parties.

At the presentation of the documents to the leadership of the political parties at the commission’s head office in Osogbo, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, disclosed that a total of 2,339,233 voters registered to participate in the poll.

INEC  declared that the number of registered voters in the state for the 2023 general elections in Osun State was 1,954,800, whike 395,995 voters were registered in Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election

“During the 2025/2026 CVR exercise; 26,202 voters transferred to Osun State during the 2025/2026 CVR exercise; 7,125 voters transferred out of Osun State during the 2025/2026 CVR exercise.

“2023 general elections – 1,954,800, 2025/2026 CVR valid – 365,356, transfer to Osun State (2025/2026 CVR) – 26,202, transfer out of Osun State (2025/2026 CVR) – 7,125. The 2026 register of voters – 2,399,233′” the commission stated in its voter registration analysis

From the list made available by INEC, analysts have identified  the Osun central senatorial district,  and Osun east district as the flashpoubts with the highest number of decisive votes in Saturday’s election , accounting for about 1,i808, 227 out the entire votes.

Osun Central,  according to the INEC released list has a registered voter strength of 984, 817, consisting of 42% of the total voters list, while the Osun East senatorial district,  with about 10 local government areas has a total number of 823, 410 registered voters (38%), leaving the Osun West Senatorial District with the remaining 531,006 registered voters (24%).

Any candidate with a strong showing in both Osun Central and Osun East is expected to be at a pole position to win Saturday’s governorship election.

The unrest has heightened concerns that Saturday’s election could record a voter aparthy as there are fears that it could witness further bloodshed, with two people confirmed dead and the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, attacked on Wednesday in Okuku, moments after the alleged APC senator’s charge to his supporters.

The Speaker who confirmed the attack in a Facebook post called on the security agencies to investigate, noting that two people have already been arrested and handed over to the security agencies.

Reacting to the deteriorating security situation, the spokesman for the Accord governorship campaign organisation, Pelumi Olajengbesi, in a Facebook post, accused the APC of unleashing its  thugs on Accord Party chieftains and supporters

He wrote, “APC ison a rampage in Esa Oke, attacking Accord members and invading their homes and properties.”

He warned that every act of destruction and killing must be thoroughly investigated, adding that those responsible must be brought to justice.

He disclosed that the situation had been reported to the Department of State Services (DSS), with the Accord party reaching out to international organisations and observers on ground in Osun State.

This is even  as the All Progressives Congress (APC) has called out the supporters of Accord Party  over the alleged killing of one Dele Ayegbo, who it said is the nephew of Wole Oke, the party’s governorship campaign director-general for the state.

The Osun APC in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson,  Kola Olabisi,  Ayegbo was killed in Esa-Oke, Obokun LGA of the state, on Wednesday night.

Olabisi alleged that Ayegbo was assassinated at a junction close to his house in the Idofin area of the town by suspected hoodlums who rode in a car.

“The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the killing of the party’s governorship campaign Director-General, Wole Oke’s nephew, Dele Ayegbo, in Esa-Oke, Obokun Local Government Council Area of the state on Wednesday night by the hit squad of the Accord Party who have been terrorising the members and supporters of the opposition APC across the state,” the statement reads.

“Information has it that Ayegbo was gunned down at the road junction close to his house at the Idofin quarters area of the ancient town by the Accord Party hoodlums who were riding in a car.”

Olabisi claimed that two members of the party were shot during the incident, including Ayegbo, who died instantly, while the other victim was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in the town where he was receiving treatment.

The  statement described Ayegbo’s “killing” as “one death, too many” and called on the police to investigate the incident.

“The killing of the nephew of our campaign Director-general in Esa-Oke is one death too many which must be urgently unravelled by the police in the interest of fairness and justice,” he said.

Olabisi further alleged that over 30 APC members have been killed by political thugs, noting that Ijesaland has witnessed the highest percentage of political killings, alleging that 17 of the 30 APC members allegedly killed since 2022 were from the area.

Meanwhile, major opposition stakeholders  have decried what they  described as militarization of Saturday’s  election,  with the massive deployment of security personnel accross Osun state.

There has already been a massive deployment of soldiers, policemen and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers to reassure voters of their security, as well as operatives from the Directorate of State Services (DSS) accross the state.

For example,  several contingent of soldiers, dressed in camouflage, have been seen patrolling in trucks, especially in Osogbo, the state capital, especially hotspots areas like Fagbewesa, Ola-Iya, Old Garage, Oke-Fia, Oke-Baale and Ilesa Garage.

Also spotted in their large numbers were members of Police Special Protection Unit (SPU), Mobile Police and Intelligence Response Team (IRT), among others, who were said to have arrived from Kwara, Oyo and Delta states in about 25 buses, even as there reports that more are being expected to arrive today .

There were also huge deployment of members  of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who have continued to storm the state in batches.

Rejecting the mass deployment of soldiers and other security agencies,  the  presidential candidates of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi respectively warned that Osun voters must he allowed to freely chose who their governor would be, rather that imposing a governor on the people,  through what they described as federal might.

The police have similarly warned troublemakers to stay away from the election.

Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, who said there was no room for violence, urged candidates and party leaders to steer their supporters away from thuggery.

Disu, who has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Ishyaku Mohammed, to take charge, said thugs and hoodlums would have themselves to blame.

The IGP warned in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, that the police would not renege on their commitment to professionalism, neutrality, respect for human rights and the protection of the electoral process.

*** We are not afraid, Gov. Adeleke warns

*** Arrest, prosecute Sheikh Jingir, NHRC charges FG

By Nkem Okereh

Tension has remained heightened in Odin state ahead of this weekend’s governorship election, despite the signing of the Peace Accord by the leaders and candidates of the participating political parties

The parties and their candidates had at the event, signed to promote violence free election by Irving their supporters to about d clashes and attacking of each other

But the Peace Accord, which was initiated by the General Abdul salami Abubarkar ryd, led National Peace Movement and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), seems not to have received the acceptance of some political actors in the state

This is as the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, on Tuesday, warned the members of Accord Party (AP) from their activities in Ilesha ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.

The APC senator had ina widely circulated video, where he addressed his supporters Yoruba language in Ilesha, warned that there would be trouble if members of the Accord Party were seen in the area,

Fadahunsi, who called on his supporters to come out and vote during the election, also called on those present to record his statement, while making the remark

He said, “If we hear of Accord Party members coming to Ilesha, there will be trouble. We will all come out and vote. Please record me. We are here, and between now and the election, if we see anyone from the Accord Party, we will kill them,” he said.

This is as the incumbent governor of the state, and Accord Party governorship candidate, Ademola Adeleke, has declared that he would not be intimidated by any form of federal medical ght as he has remained exoressed confidence that he would win the August 15 election

Adeleke said he was not afraid and cannot be intimidated by the alleged support of the Federal Government and some state governors for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate ahead of the governorship election

The governor, who spoke during the Arise Townhall Meeting, on Tuesday , described himself as a “bulldozer”, saying he was prepared to confront what he described as “Federal might” and the influence of governors campaigning for his opponent.

“I am a bulldozer. I am not afraid of Federal might and governors backing the APC candidate. If they like, they should bring all the governors,” Adeleke said.

He noted that the governors were free to campaign and mobilise support for the APC candidate, but they would not be able to vote in the election, adding that their presence would not change the position of Odin voters.

“Those governors are my friends. I am a civilised administrator. They won’t vote; they can only come and dance, and after the election, we will meet,” he said.

Meanwhile,the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has called on the Federal Government to immediately arrest and prosecute Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Jingir, over what it described as hate speech and incitement.

The Commission have the charge in a statement issued on Tuesday, by its Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, s

NHRC condemned in strong terms “the hateful and inciting remarks” it said were attributed to the Islamic cleric in a viral video on Sunday.

The NHRC said it watched with grave concern as the cleric openly canvassed for religiously exclusive politics ahead of the general elections and used derogatory language referring to “infidels” while urging supporters to obtain voter cards to “show their limit.”

It described the statements as a direct attack on the principles of equality, non-discrimination, and peaceful coexistence guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.

“The Commission finds these remarks to be hate speech and incitement to religious hatred and potential violence. At a time when we are preparing for another general election, such utterances are reckless and dangerous.

“They serve no purpose other than to divide Nigerians along religious lines and set citizens against one another.

“We cannot afford to look away. If we fail to speak and act now, we embolden both Christian and Muslim clerics and other influential persons to make worse statements in the coming months. That path leads only to crisis,” the Commission stated.

The Commission therefore called onon the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, and other relevant authorities to immediately arrest and prosecute Sheikh Jingir for hate speech and incitement, while it urged religious leaders, traditional rulers, and politicians to refrain from divisive rhetoric, and reject identity politics and to hold leaders accountable based on competence and service delivery