society
HOW TAMINU YAKUBU IS DRIVING BUDGET INNOVATION IN NIGERIA
HOW TAMINU YAKUBU IS DRIVING BUDGET INNOVATION IN NIGERIA
By Andrew Oche
The Budget Office of the Federation, an agency within the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, traces its origins to 1921 when it was established as the Bureau of the Budget (BOB) within the Treasury Department. Since its inception, it has played a critical role of varying significance in Nigeria’s governance and economic planning.
Over the years, the Budget Office has undergone progressive transformation, evolving through innovative reforms, restructuring initiatives, and strategic collaborations at both national and subnational levels. The agency has adapted through institutional and stakeholder engagements, focusing on developing and implementing the federal budget, overseeing budget allocations across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and managing government-wide initiatives to improve the welfare of citizens.
These transformative changes reflect the Federal Government of Nigeria’s commitment to refining the budgetary process, enhancing presidential influence, advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda, and fostering efficiency, integrity, and effectiveness in government operations. Historically, a series of reforms has progressively shifted the agency away from colonial practices toward a more formalised and dynamic system.
Today, a robust model of synergy and collaboration exists, characterised by shared values and an inclusive budgetary process that involves both the legislative and administrative arms of government.This wave of innovation has gained momentum since Alhaji Taminu Yakubu Kurfi assumed the role of Director-General of the Budget Office. A former Commissioner of Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning in Katsina State from 1999 to 2002, and Chief Economic Adviser to President Umaru Yar’Adua, Alhaji Yakubu has proven his competence and justified the confidence placed in him by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through his initiation of landmark reforms.
One of his key initiatives has been to strengthen the National Assembly’s role in the appropriation process while enhancing coordination for effective oversight, resulting in a dynamic, people-oriented annual budget. His commitment to accountability has transformed the Budget Office from a primarily execution-focused agency to one that emphasises monitoring and supervision. This ensures that approved and released funds are utilised for their intended projects, programs, and interventions without misappropriation, misapplication, or misallocation.
Alhaji Yakubu has also elevated the Budget Office’s role in sustaining development and ensuring the timely preparation of the annual budget, aligning it with specific fiscal objectives. Budget presentations are no longer ceremonial events but platforms for practical, sustainable, and verifiable analyses of macroeconomic indices, growth projections, and development factors. This approach facilitates effective monitoring and control of economic planning, making state infrastructure planning and implementation more feasible.
Under his leadership, the Budget Office has sustained the preparation of Development Plans and the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework while actively monitoring capital projects to eliminate the issue of abandoned federal projects. Through his influence, transparency, and resolute lobbying prowess, Alhaji Yakubu has attracted reliable development partners and ensured effective monitoring of fund disbursement and application.
Alhaji Yakubu has established a robust process for state infrastructure planning and has positively impacted the implementation of developmental plans at both national and subnational levels. His steadfast integrity and sincerity have led to the development of an uncompromising monitoring framework for capital projects and the timely preparation of appraisal documents. This has accelerated progress and ensured structural compliance in all ongoing federal projects.
His integrity, accountability, and transparency have fostered confidence, dependability, and trust among development partners, enhancing their willingness to engage and invest in Nigeria. Alhaji Yakubu’s devotion has brought consistency and sanity to the budgetary process, improving fiscal policy implementation and strengthening the management of initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
An unassuming and patriotic statesman, Alhaji Yakubu personally monitors capital projects to verify their progress, contributing to the successes recorded across various sectors of the economy. His holistic reforms include workforce motivation, recognising staff as vital stakeholders in growth. To this end, he introduced a mixed-skill arrangement that enhances the capacity of existing staff by integrating inter-agency professionals, ensuring timely remuneration and fostering a proficient, engaged workforce.
Acknowledging the importance of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Alhaji Yakubu has leveraged modern, state-of-the-art digital tools to optimise service delivery. This has created a highly productive and committed workforce capable of supporting the goals and vision of President Tinubu’s drive for a prosperous Nigeria.
Alhaji Yakubu has also fostered a conducive work environment, enhanced staff capacity, and provided necessary tools, including official and private vehicles for efficient project monitoring and evaluation. As a highly intellectual and cerebral administrator, he has identified cost-saving strategies for budget analysis and devised methods to improve forecasting and variance analysis, achieving nearly 90% accuracy in predicting revenue and expenditure trends. This robust forecasting model accounts for seasonal fluctuations, resulting in improved outcomes.
The adoption of cross-functional teams has aligned the annual national budget with the goals of government MDAs, fostering collaboration, synergy, and peer review across different arms and tiers of government. Alhaji Yakubu has enriched the budget process by incorporating strategic planning, compliance indicators, and meticulous tracking of disbursed funds and project implementation. His engagement with critical stakeholders, partners, and investors at both national and subnational levels has built confidence and facilitated seamless implementation, efficiency, and effectiveness.
As an astute administrator, Alhaji Yakubu’s commitment to structural and systemic reforms is yielding results, transforming the operations of Permanent Secretaries and introducing efficiency across MDAs.His pragmatic approach has enabled Nigeria to operate a triple budget instrument—the 2024 Main Appropriation Act, the 2024 Supplementary Budget, and the 2025 Appropriation Act—seamlessly. Notably, Alhaji Yakubu ensured that the 2025 Appropriation Act was prepared and signed before the end of 2024, a remarkable achievement that underscores his commitment to fiscal discipline and timely budget implementation.
These reforms have contributed to economic recovery, increased gross domestic product, and enhanced fiscal efficiency. Innovations in the upstream sector have reduced production costs, increased crude oil output to 2.6 million barrels per day, and boosted profitability. Recognising the agricultural sector’s importance, Alhaji Yakubu has prioritised timely fund releases for agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, agrochemicals, and tractors, significantly enhancing food production, security, and availability. Alhaji Taminu Yakubu Kurfi has led an inspiring stabilisation of Nigeria’s economy, reduced inflation, and promoted economic growth within the framework of the Renewed Hope Agenda through the Budget Office. His leadership continues to drive transformative change, ensuring a prosperous future for Nigeria.
Oche writes from Makurdi.
You Against Crime Founder Tayo Folorunsho Praises Winners of Abuja Schools Festival.
Abuja, Nigeria – The maiden edition of the You Against Crime – Schools Festival 2026 Grand Finale has concluded, marking a significant milestone in youth engagement and crime prevention efforts across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The event, held at the University of Abuja, brought together 78 secondary schools from the six Area Councils of Abuja, with the top six schools competing in the Grand Finale.
*Winners Emerge*
Tudunwada School, Bwari took the top spot, followed closely by The Golden Crest Royal in second place, and Government Secondary School, Kuje in third.
*CULTURE, THE CURE FOR CRIME*
The festival’s theme, “Culture, The Cure for Crime,” highlighted the importance of values, identity, mentorship, and positive engagement in preventing crime and shaping responsible citizenship among young people.
*DISTINGUISHED GUEST SPEAKERS*
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Chairman, Amnesty International, praised the initiative, saying, “This festival is a beacon of hope for our young people, promoting values and principles that can shape a brighter future for Nigeria.”
Aisha Mohammed, Head of Enlightenment & Re-orientation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, emphasized the importance of mentorship, stating, “Empowering young people with the right guidance and opportunities is key to preventing crime and building a stronger nation.”
*PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORT*
The 2026 Grand Finale Edition was proudly sponsored by Civicx Technology Ltd Int’l, reinforcing a shared commitment to youth empowerment and crime prevention through cultural reorientation and innovation.
Tayo Folorunsho, Host & Founder, You Against Crime International, addressing the media and appealed to government agencies to support initiatives like this, targeting young minds early.
You Against Crime International is a movement advocating cultural change as a long-term solution to crime. The organization remains committed to advancing youth development, civic responsibility, and nation-building across Nigeria.
TICP Customs Launches Paperless Regime, Warns Against False Declarations
The Customs Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Frank Onyeka, has launched a roadmap for the full implementation of a paperless regime at the command.
Onyeka disclosed this during a press briefing in Lagos, stating that the command was fully prepared for seamless digital operations ahead of the nationwide rollout scheduled for the second quarter of the year.
He described the engagement as the first in a series of consultations aimed at sensitising stakeholders on the strategies, operational framework and expectations under the new regime.
The controller commended the media for its constructive reportage since his assumption of office and sought continued collaboration to ensure the success of the initiative.
Presenting the command’s performance report, Onyeka said the Tin Can Island Command generated ₦609 billion in revenue in 2025, describing it as the highest in the history of the command.
He added that revenue collection rose from ₦116 billion recorded in January of the previous year to ₦145 billion in the corresponding period last month, representing an increase of over ₦29.9 billion.
Onyeka stated that his vision was to make the command known for trade efficiency, explaining that under the paperless regime, containers would be released without physical contact between Customs officers and clearing agents, provided declarations were accurate.
He credited the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for providing the leadership and strategic direction driving modernisation efforts across Customs formations nationwide.
The controller urged stakeholders to avoid false declarations and engage directly with the command to resolve concerns, emphasising that transparency and dialogue were essential to achieving efficient port operations.
He assured that consignments with clear scanning results and proper documentation would be released promptly, while those flagged by the risk management system would undergo physical examination, adding that the command would continue to collaborate with other agencies to reduce cargo dwell time and enhance port efficiency.
Love on Display: Katie Price and Lee Put On a Public Show of Affection
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
British media personality Katie Price is once again at the center of tabloid and public attention after being photographed poolside with her new husband, Lee, in a display of affection that quickly circulated across entertainment platforms. The images, reportedly taken during a recent leisure outing at a private resort location in the United Kingdom, show the couple embracing and kissing beside a swimming pool, with Lee prominently displaying a tattoo tribute dedicated to Price.
The photographs, which surfaced in mid-February 2026 through British tabloid outlets, depict the couple appearing relaxed and affectionate. Lee, whose full name has been reported in sections of the UK press but who largely maintains a lower public profile compared to his wife, lifted his arm to reveal a visible tattoo said to be in honor of Price and a gesture widely interpreted as a public affirmation of their relationship.
What happened was straightforward but symbolically charged: a public display of affection between newlyweds, amplified by Price’s longstanding celebrity status. Where it happened (poolside at what sources describe as a private holiday setting) underscores the blending of personal life and public spectacle that has long defined Price’s media journey. During a recent February getaway placed it squarely within ongoing tabloid interest surrounding her latest marriage. Price, 47 and her new husband Lee, whose visible tribute tattoo became the focal point of the moment.
Celebrity culture scholars argue that public figures such as Price operate within a media ecosystem where visibility sustains relevance. “Modern celebrity is performative intimacy,” explains Professor Graeme Turner, a media and cultural studies scholar known for his work on celebrity culture. “Public displays of affection are not merely private acts; they are communicative gestures that reinforce brand identity and narrative continuity.” In Price’s case, her romantic relationships have long been interwoven with her public persona.
Price first rose to prominence in the late 1990s under the glamour model moniker “Jordan,” before transitioning into reality television, publishing and business ventures. Her personal life (including previous marriages and high-profile relationships) has frequently generated headlines in the British press. This latest marriage continues that pattern of intense scrutiny.
The tattoo tribute displayed by Lee is particularly significant in celebrity symbolism. Body art dedicated to a partner is often perceived as a declaration of permanence. Dr. Chris Rojek, emeritus professor of sociology and an authority on fame and public identity, has observed that “celebrity relationships are sustained as much through symbolic reinforcement as through private commitment. Visible tokens (rings, tattoos, coordinated appearances) function as public assurances.” In this case, the tattoo serves not merely as personal expression but as a visual narrative device in an already highly mediated relationship.
How the moment unfolded (casually but conspicuously) reflects the dynamics of contemporary celebrity coverage. Photographs were reportedly captured either by paparazzi stationed nearby or shared through controlled media access, a common practice in the British entertainment industry. Within hours, the images were republished by multiple outlets, accompanied by commentary on Price’s relationship history and ongoing legal and financial challenges, issues that have previously placed her under intense public scrutiny.
Despite recurring controversy throughout her career, Price remains a resilient media figure. Communications analyst Mark Borkowski has previously remarked in interviews that “Katie Price understands publicity better than most. Whether by design or instinct, she maintains a feedback loop with the press that keeps her culturally visible.” The poolside photographs appear to fit squarely within that established pattern of managed exposure and reactive media amplification.
Critically, there is no indication of misconduct, public disturbance or controversy tied directly to the poolside display itself. It was, by all verified accounts, a consensual and celebratory expression of affection between married adults. The wider attention it has generated speaks less to the act and more to the individuals involved; particularly Price’s enduring position within British popular culture.
For global audiences, the episode illustrates a broader truth about contemporary fame: private milestones often become public commodities. The marriage of Katie Price and Lee (and the symbolic tattoo that now marks it) has become another chapter in a life lived persistently under the camera’s gaze.
As celebrity culture continues to blur boundaries between intimacy and publicity, moments like this poolside embrace are no longer trivial snapshots. They are narrative events, reinforcing identity, commitment and brand continuity in equal measure.
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