By Jamila Muhammad

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making young people central to the state’s development agenda, as the government moves to implement a new Youth Policy aimed at expanding opportunities in education, employment, skills, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Governor Inuwa Yahaya made the commitment in his goodwill message to mark the 2026 International Youth Day, coming shortly after the State Executive Council approved the Gombe State Youth Policy.

The governor described the policy as a significant milestone in his administration’s efforts to provide a coordinated and sustainable framework for addressing the aspirations and challenges of young people across the state.

He said the policy would help strengthen government interventions in education, skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, digital literacy, employment, innovation, leadership development and youth participation in governance.

According to him, the administration believes young people should not be regarded only as leaders of the future but as active partners in building Gombe in the present.

“We do not see our young people merely as the leaders of tomorrow. We see them as partners in building Gombe today. That is why we are giving them opportunities to serve, lead, innovate and contribute to decisions that affect the future of our state,” Governor Inuwa said.

The governor said the theme of the 2026 International Youth Day, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” reflects the shared expectations of young people regardless of their backgrounds or communities.

He identified opportunity, inclusion, dignity, skills, meaningful participation and the ability to turn ideas into positive change as some of the aspirations common to young people worldwide.

Governor Inuwa said his administration recognised its responsibility to create an environment where young people in Gombe could develop their talents and turn their ambitions into productive ventures.

He also highlighted the government’s partnership with the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI) as part of its efforts to prepare young people for the rapidly expanding digital economy.

Through the partnership, he said, a fully equipped digital skills acquisition centre had been established, with more than 2,000 young people trained and exposed to opportunities in technology and outsourcing.

The governor further reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the state’s scholarship system to ensure that students in tertiary institutions receive timely and sustainable support.

He described education as one of the most important investments government can make in young people, noting that a well-educated and skilled population is essential to achieving sustainable development.

Governor Inuwa urged young people to take advantage of emerging opportunities instead of waiting for government or traditional employers to provide jobs.

He encouraged them to embrace technology, entrepreneurship, vocational skills and innovation as tools for economic independence and community development.

“This is your opportunity to take your place. Learn a skill. Build an idea. Start something. Serve your community. Embrace technology. Seek knowledge. Create solutions. Wherever your talent lies, develop it and put it to work,” he said.

The governor also called on young people to take an active role in the implementation of the newly approved Youth Policy by expressing their needs, proposing innovative solutions and holding themselves to high standards of responsibility and citizenship.

He assured the youth that his administration would continue to listen to their concerns, invest in their potential and create pathways through which their talents could contribute to the economic and social advancement of Gombe State.

Governor Inuwa congratulated young people in Gombe and across the world on International Youth Day, assuring them that his administration remained committed to building a state where every young person, irrespective of background, has the opportunity to dream, acquire relevant skills and contribute meaningfully to Gombe’s development.

 By Jamila Muhammad Umar

The Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Idris Ahmad Almakura, has been honoured for his contribution to pilgrims’ welfare and improved Hajj administration in the state.

Mr Almakura received the Award of Excellence from a group of media influencers in Nasarawa State who said they had followed the activities of the board and its leadership during the Hajj operations.

The award was presented to the executive secretary by a delegation led by the group’s chairman, Aliyu Ibrahim Orah.

Speaking during the presentation, Mr Orah said the decision to honour Mr Almakura followed the group’s assessment of the board’s activities both in Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.

He said the group had particularly taken note of efforts by the board to improve the welfare of Nasarawa pilgrims and make the Hajj experience less difficult for them.

According to him, the recognition was meant to acknowledge the executive secretary’s commitment to his responsibilities and his contribution to the smooth running of the board.

“We have monitored the activities of the pilgrims’ board and its operations in both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. We believe the efforts being made to improve pilgrims’ welfare deserve recognition,” Mr Orah said.

Receiving the award, Mr Almakura thanked the media influencers for finding him worthy of the honour.

He described the recognition as an encouragement to remain committed to improving services for pilgrims from Nasarawa State.

The executive secretary said the board would continue to identify areas requiring improvement and work towards providing pilgrims with better support throughout the pilgrimage.

Mr Almakura dedicated the award to Governor Abdullahi Sule and the people of Nasarawa State, saying the board’s achievements would not have been possible without the support of the state government and its citizens.

He also reaffirmed the board’s commitment to strengthening Hajj administration and placing pilgrims’ welfare at the centre of its operations.

The award is the latest recognition of efforts by stakeholders in Nasarawa State to acknowledge individuals contributing to the improvement of Hajj management and pilgrims’ welfare.

FG, States, LGAs Share ₦2.55 tn June Revenue as FAAC Reports Higher Tax, Oil Receipts

By Jamila Muhammed

The federal government, along with the 36 states and the 774 local government councils, shared ₦2.55 trillion in revenue allocation for June 2026, which was made possible by an increase in statutory revenue and Value Added Tax (VAT) collections, according to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The allocation was approved at FAAC’s July meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to a communiqué issued after the meeting, the distributable revenue comprised ₦1.809 trillion from statutory revenue and ₦740.724 billion from VAT.

“A total sum of ₦2.550 trillion, being June 2026 Federation Account revenue, has been shared with the federal government, states and the local government councils,” the communiqué said.

The committee said ₦4.500 trillion accrued to the Federation Account during the month. Out of the amount, ₦160.744 billion was deducted as the cost of revenue collection, while ₦1.789 trillion was earmarked for transfers and refunds before the balance was distributed.

Under the approved sharing formula, the federal government received ₦923.438 billion, while state governments got ₦838.208 billion. The 774 local government councils received ₦591.390 billion, while ₦197.610 billion, representing the 13 per cent derivation fund, was allocated to oil-producing states.

Of the ₦1.809 trillion distributable statutory revenue, the federal government received ₦849.366 billion, the states ₦430.810 billion, and local governments ₦332.136 billion. Oil-producing states also received ₦197.610 billion as derivation revenue.

From the ₦740.724 billion shared from VAT, the federal government received ₦74.072 billion, states received ₦407.398 billion, and local governments received ₦259.253 billion.

FAAC attributed the higher allocation to improved revenue inflows during the month.

It said gross statutory revenue increased to ₦3.700 trillion in June from ₦2.651 trillion recorded in May, representing an increase of ₦1.049 trillion.

Gross VAT revenue also rose to ₦799.746 billion in June, up from ₦743.688 billion in the preceding month.

“Gross statutory revenue of ₦3.700 trillion was received for the month of June 2026. “This amount was ₦1.049 trillion higher than the ₦2.651 trillion received in the preceding month,” the communiqué stated.

The committee also reported increases in receipts from Companies Income Tax (CIT), Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Stamp Duties, Petroleum Royalties, Gas Flared, Rental and Miscellaneous Oil Revenue (MOR), VAT, Import Duty and Common External Tariff (CET) levies.

However, it noted that collections from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), Hydrocarbon Tax (HT), mineral royalties and related fees declined during the period, while excise duty recorded only a marginal increase.

The latest allocation comes as governments at all levels continue to rely on FAAC disbursements to finance recurrent expenditure and capital projects amid efforts to improve non-oil revenue generation.