Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State has declared 2025 as the year dedicated to the execution and completion of projects to drive impactful results for residents.

Soludo made the declaration on Tuesday in Awka, at the opening of a Retreat for Members of the State Executive Council and Local Government Chairmen.

The retreat had the theme: ‘Changing Gear, Accelerating the Execution of the Solution Agenda in 2025’.

He said the retreat was not only a moment for reflection, but a call to action, focusing on teamwork to deliver measurable progress that would resonate with residents.

“This 2025 is an important year for us. By March 17 next year, we will draw the curtain on four years of this administration.

“The retreat is designed to provide an opportunity for us to pause, reflect, and recalibrate for the critical period ahead.

“I urge every participant to take a critical look at the administration’s roadmap, as articulated in the manifesto, and assess their progress.

“Identify areas of success, pinpoint shortcomings, and chart new approaches to accelerate implementation,” the governor said.

He said his administration was resolute in its vision to build a sustainable framework for development in the state, in spite of challenges.

Soludo said there was a need to explore innovative strategies to enhance service delivery and align efforts with the administration’s solution agenda.

“Despite the odds, 2025 is an execution and completion year.

“The intention is to coordinate and deliver in a way that we have not done before, focusing on leadership, accountability and the delivery mechanism as a team, to show the people results.

“This is not just about routine governance, it is about tangible transformation,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu has no hanMr Gboyega Akosile, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, says the governor has no hand in the impeachment of the immediate past Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa.

Akosile debunked rumour making the round that Sanwo-Olu was responsible for the removal of Obasa, over a perceived rift between him and the legislative arm.

Akosile made the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

“No, no, no. There is absolutely nothing true about that. I mean, no, the Governor does not have a hand in it. It was purely a legislative matter.

“The Governor is busy with serious matters, busy with taking care of the over 20 million Lagos population.

“What happened in the Hallowed Chamber of the House of Assembly was purely the prerogative of the legislators.

“I mean, we saw on the media, just like you, that the legislators removed the Speaker. We watched like every other person. The Governor must have watched it like any other person.

“I don’t think there is anything more to it other than that. So, absolutely, there is no hand of the governor in the impeachment of the Speaker,” Akosile told NAN

NAN reports that Obasa (APC-Agege1), a sixth-term lawmaker, serving his third term as Speaker, was on Monday removed by lawmakers

32 out of the 40 lawmakers, at an emergency plenary, impeached Obasa via voice votes over alleged gross misconduct.

NAN reports that the Assembly subsequently elected and swore in Deputy Speaker, Mrs Mojisola Meranda (APC-Apapa I) to replace Obasa while Mr Fatai Adebola (APC- Ibeji-Lekki I) was elected as the Deputy Speaker.

The House also suspended the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr Olalekan Onafeko, indefinitely during the plenary and dissolved all principal positions and standing committees.

Nasarawa government has taken steps to entrench transparency and accountability in its budgetting system through the adoption of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) chart.

Mr Polinus Wahe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning, stated this in Lafia on Tuesday, at the opening of a two-day training of 90 officials on IPSAS.

Wahe explained that the training, organised for directors of finance, accountants, cashiers and budget officers from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and tertiary institutions, was designed to improve budget performance reporting.

According to him, the training is geared towards elevating the standards of budget performance reporting in the state, in accordance with international benchmarks for transparency and accountability.

He explained that the adoption of IPSAS chart was to ensure that every financial decision was reflected in budget reports with utmost clarity and integrity.

“This training is designed to equip officers responsible for annual budget and budget performance report preparations across MDAs with the necessary skills to navigate the complex but rewarding schedule.

“The goal is not just to learn, but to transform our approach to budget implementation for an accurate, timely and transparent reporting system.

“This is crucial for informed decision-making needed to foster trust amongst stakeholders,” he said.

The Director of Budget in the ministry, Mr Peter Aklo, also said that the training would improve budget performance reports in the state.

Aklo said that the IPSAS chart makes for uniformity in the budget performance reporting process with specific coding for every expenditure item that could easily be interpreted globally.

“The chart also helps to ensure transparency which will address corruption, as every money spent must be accurately accounted for with the right code,” he said.