President Bola Tinubu is expected to present the 2027 national budget proposal to the National Assembly before the end of 2026.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, Doris Anite-Uzoka, gave the assurance on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

According to the minister, preparations for the 2027 budget are already underway, with the government targeting presentation before the end of the year.

“We are working on the 2027 budget, and the intention is to present it before the end of the year,” she said in response to a question about when the budget would be submitted.

Anite-Uzoka’s disclosure comes weeks after the Budget Office of the Federation directed all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to submit their proposed personnel costs for 2027 alongside their respective establishment Acts.

The directive was contained in a Personnel Costs Budget Call Circular dated September 4, 2026, and signed by the Director-General of the Budget Office, Tanimu Yakubu.

Meanwhile, Senator Victor Umeh, who represents Anambra Central, has criticised Tinubu’s request for fresh external loans.

Tinubu had written to the National Assembly seeking approval for the Federal Government’s 2026–2027 supplementary external borrowing plan, valued at $20.5 billion and €1.45 billion.

Reacting during an interview on Channels Television, Umeh questioned how funds obtained through previous borrowing arrangements had been utilised.

The senator argued that despite repeated approvals for government loans, some budgetary obligations remained unfulfilled.

He also questioned why contractors were still owed payments for capital projects, noting that previous borrowing requests had been justified on the grounds that the funds would be used to finance government budgets.

Former France international and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry has defended his comments at Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony following criticism over jokes he made about Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal and co-host Kate Scott.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Henry, who presented the ceremony alongside CBS Sports presenter Scott, addressed the controversy in a video shared on social media on October 28, insisting that his remarks had been taken out of context.

The 49-year-old faced backlash after joking about Yamal winning the Young Player of the Year award for the third consecutive time.

During the ceremony, Henry asked the Barcelona youngster, “It’s your third one, right? But is it the one you really wanted to win?” The comment reportedly prompted reactions from the audience.

However, the former Arsenal captain maintained that he had no intention of disrespecting Yamal, whom he described as one of his favourite players.

“I’m a big fan of Lamine Yamal. I wasn’t checking his ego at all. That you didn’t like the joke, I can understand,” Henry said.

“But don’t do that; he’s one of the players I’d pay to watch. I love him.”

Henry also dismissed claims that he had disrespected Scott after correcting her pronunciation of the name of Brazilian football legend Socrates during the event.

“You didn’t like the joke, I understand, but please stop saying I disrespected Kate,” he said.

“I will never do that, and you can ask her; she was in on the joke with me. She did Soc on purpose, and I said Soc, so please stop inventing stories.”

The former France striker also explained his decision to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappe in the race for the main award, which was won by England captain Harry Kane.

Henry described Kane as a deserving winner, praising his dedication, hard work and commitment to the game.

“I’m French, and I was always going to back up and support my fellow countryman,” he said.

He added that he had congratulated Kane and told him he deserved the honour, describing the England captain as an example of how hard work and discipline could be considered talents in their own right.

“Well done, Harry Kane, and I call him Sir Harry Kane since the World Cup,” Henry added.

Urging critics to move on from the controversy, Henry reiterated his admiration for both Kane and Yamal while maintaining that he had not disrespected Scott.

“So please, people out there, relax, relax. I love Harry Kane, I love Lamine Yamal, and I didn’t disrespect Kate. She was on the joke with me,” he said.

Meanwhile, Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka received the Socrates Award at the ceremony in recognition of his humanitarian efforts and charitable work.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has disowned a campaign timetable currently circulating on social media, describing the document as unauthorised.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

n a statement signed by the Director of Media and Publicity of the ADC-PCC, Kola Ologbondiyan, the Council clarified that the purported timetable did not originate from the party’s campaign council or its campaign office.

The Council urged Nigerians, party members, leaders and other stakeholders to disregard the document and avoid treating it as an official schedule for the party’s campaign activities.

It also advised members and supporters to wait for an official announcement from the ADC-PCC regarding its campaign plans and timetable.

The statement read, “The purported timetable is unauthorised and should not be regarded as an official campaign schedule.

“Accordingly, all members and stakeholders are urged to disregard the document and await official communications from the ADC-PCC on campaign activities and schedules.”

Meanwhile, the ADC has warned President Bola Tinubu against any attempt to postpone the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, insisting that the Ebola outbreak must not be used as a justification for delaying the poll.

The Council also alleged that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, could be summoned to the Presidential Villa and pressured to alter the election date.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ADC-PCC Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, urged Amupitan to resist any pressure to change the electoral timetable.