News
Ekiti Tops States In Public Finance Transparency Ranking

The 2025 Subnational Audit Efficacy (SAE) Index released by the Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) has ranked Ekiti State as the top-performing state in transparency and public finance management in Nigeria.
The annual scorecard, unveiled in Abuja on Tuesday assessed public finance management and policy implementation practices across the 36 states through public audit systems and key actors in the audit cycle.
The report revealed that Ekiti led the ranking with a score of 72 per cent, while Gombe and Yobe states placed jointly second with 68 per cent each. At the bottom, Abia and Rivers states ranked 36th, both scoring nine per cent.
PLSI, a civic organisation promoting public accountability, said the 2025 index adopted a modified methodology to include public audit functions at the local government level for the first time in six years. The assessment weighted state performance at 80 per cent and local government performance at 20 per cent, using data from the 2024 financial year.
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Presenting the report, PLSI Executive Director, Olusegun Elemo, said gains recorded under the $1.5 billion World Bank-assisted States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme (2018–2022) had not been sustained in subsequent years.
According to him, while the 2022 assessment showed stagnation or reversal, the 2023 index revealed deeper decline and reform erosion, and 2024 recorded further weakening of accountability systems.
However, he noted that the 2025 index signalled a modest recovery, with the average score rising to 34.5 per cent from 29.47 per cent in 2024, representing a 5.03 percentage point increase.
He said the improvement reflects renewed momentum among subnational accountability actors but stressed that its impact would depend on whether it translates into better service delivery and equitable resource allocation.
READ ALSO:Ekiti Police Arrest 44 Suspects, Recover 558 Rustled Cattle, Vehicles, Others
The report also revealed persistent gaps in fiscal governance. Only five states have implemented financial autonomy, while 12 states have established administrative independence for the Office of the Auditor-General.
In addition, 18 states failed to publish audit reports on state accounts, while 21 states did not publish reports on local government accounts during the 2024 financial year.
Elemo urged state governments and relevant agencies to deepen accountability by fully implementing financial autonomy for audit institutions, ensuring timely release of funds, and establishing audit service commissions to guarantee independence.
READ ALSO:Ekiti 2026: Court Nullifies PDP Primary Election, To Orders Fresh Governorship Primary
The report noted a gradual shift towards performance-based accountability, with three states producing standard performance audit reports in 2025, compared to none in 2023.
It also highlighted improvements in public access to financial information, with 18 states publishing Citizens’ Accountability Reports in 2024, up from 11 in 2023 and eight in 2022.
PLSI recommended mandatory and timely publication of audit reports, expansion of performance and value-for-money audits across key sectors, and stronger legislative oversight through effective Public Accounts Committees, noting that only three states currently have fully functional committees.
News
Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.
Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.
Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.
“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.
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He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.
According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.
Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.
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He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.
One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.
He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.
News
Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan
Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.
Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.
He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.
READ ALSO: Wale Edun Opens Up After Sack
Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.
“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”
He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.
He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.
Watch the video here
News
Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint
Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.
The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.
READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection
It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.
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Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.
He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.
Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.
“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.
“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
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