President Bola Tinubu, on Monday in Abuja, urged Muslim and Christian leaders in the country to show greater compassion for the poor and under-privileged by pursuing policies that cater to the needs of the majority in the grassroots.

The President, who hosted governors for the breaking of an interfaith fast at the Presidential Villa, said the simultaneous periods of abstinence and penitence for both religions underscore a common humanity.

President Tinubu noted that Ramadan and Lent provide opportunities for leaders in both religions to reflect further on the plight of others and to design programmes that will directly impact the livelihoods of many.

“It is a joy and great honour to be with you again this year. To give thanks to the Almighty God for sparing our lives and keeping us together to see another Ramadan.

“A great Ramadan that coincides with that of the Christian faith, Lent. You know what it means: discipline, sacrifice, faith, resilience, and strong determination to continue to bridge together, pray together, and love one another.

“For the humility, self-restraint, love for our neighbours, and their service for humanity, I want to thank all of you for what you have been able to get and achieve so far. I thank God for what we have been able to achieve together,’’ he said.

The President said more could be achieved, especially in reducing poverty and empowering the youth.

“I didn’t expect this number because some governors are still buried in various congresses and other local government or state-level activities.

“Tolerate everybody and build structure in this period of faith, unity, harmony and sacrifice that you are experiencing. Let the young ones breathe too,’’ the President added.

President Tinubu welcomed the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to the State House.

“I am glad I can see Abba from Kano. Even though the cap is red, it is not different from that of the Ebonyi State governor. Ebonyi Governor, I saw the crisis on the news, please temper justice with mercy,’’ he stated.

The President commended Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State for his magnanimity to both Muslims and Christians during the period of fasting.

“I must refer to the generosity of Prof. Zulum. I saw the layout of the Ramadan outreach for both Christians and Muslims. That is a very good spirit. I watched the story.

“To all of you, I am very grateful because we have seen progress and commitment to duty. But please, I appeal again, let’s go further to embrace the downtrodden, the young ones and all the supporters.

“Let it be all encompassing so that we can spread the development opportunity across to the grassroots and local governments. I have seen a lot of progress being made in the States. The reward of hard work is more work, including for my son, the farmer from Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago.

“There are lots of gains and commendations coming from all angles. As long as we stay together, work together, and are determined to rescue this country, the best is yet to come for Nigeria.

“We are out of the woods. Out of the dark tunnel of uncertainty. The economy is showing up. Let’s help the unemployed. What I promise you will not be postponed. We will establish State Police to combat insecurity. Start looking around you,’’ the President noted.

The President added, “To reach the young man who feels forgotten. To lift the woman who carries her family on tired shoulders. To touch the communities at the grassroots, where hope sometimes flickers. Development must not recognise religion. Compassion must not recognise tribe. Opportunity must not recognise status.

“I am determined to rescue this country. And as long as we work together in delivering hope to our citizens, the best is yet to come for Nigeria.

“What I promised Nigerians will not be postponed.

“Security is the foundation of prosperity. Without it, farms cannot flourish, businesses cannot grow, and families cannot sleep in peace.

“We will establish state police to curb insecurity. This is not about politics. It is about practicality. It is about empowering states with the tools to protect their people while strengthening our national framework.

“We must be bold enough to reform what is not working. We must be united enough to protect what we hold dear.’’

Imo State Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, representing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) Chairman, commended President Tinubu for fostering national unity amid religious and ethnic tensions during an interfaith.

Uzodimma said the simultaneous fasting was divinely inspired.

“It is not often that the Muslim Ramadan fast coincides with the Lent season. The last time was 33 years ago. This convergence is a special situation created by God to remind us Christians and Muslims, not to allow religious and ethnic differences to guide our thoughts and our political activities,” Uzodinma stated.

The governor commended President Tinubu’s leadership: “Mr President, you have brought to bear in the goings on and activities of governance in Nigeria. I have been around for some time now, playing politics. Never in the history of this country have we had the opportunity to remove some situations in our political environment.”

Uzodimma highlighted collaborative progress: “You’ve done this and forged national partners in progress with governors. There are also challenges with governors. This period of fasting is a holy time that God has enjoined on us to support the less privileged. In your wisdom, you invited us to come and eat together.”

Commentary suggesting that Executive Order 9 (EO9) amounts to the President “making law” misstates both the Constitution and the fiscal question at issue. EO9 does not create law; it enforces constitutional custody of Federation revenues.

Section 80(1) of the Constitution (1999, as amended) is mandatory: all revenues or other moneys raised or received by the Federation shall be paid into and form one Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation. Public revenue cannot lawfully be retained, applied, or warehoused outside constitutional funds.

Section 162 complements this rule by requiring revenues accruing to the Federation to be paid into the Federation Account for distribution in accordance with constitutional allocation principles. The order of legality is clear: revenue must first enter constitutionally recognised accounts before it can be appropriated, shared, or spent.

EO9 operationalises these provisions in the oil and gas sector by directing direct remittance of petroleum revenues – including royalties, taxes, profit oil and gas, penalties, and related receipts – into constitutionally recognised accounts, and by tightening reconciliation and transparency across collection, custody, and reporting.

EO9 does not intrude into legislative competence. Section 60(1) preserves the procedural autonomy of the National Assembly; EO9 does not regulate legislative procedure, amend the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), or repeal any statute. It is an executive instrument issued under Section 5 to ensure faithful execution of the Constitution and applicable laws.

If any party disputes the constitutional validity of EO9, the judiciary remains the proper forum for determination.

Pending any judicial pronouncement, the Executive is duty-bound to protect Federation revenues, uphold constitutional supremacy, and strengthen fiscal integrity for FAAC distributions, budget credibility, and macroeconomic stability.

Open Alliance, a coalition of civil society organisations working to improve openness and accountability in government, expresses deep concern over Nigeria’s prolonged failure to conduct a credible National Population and Housing Census, nearly two decades after the last exercise.

Notably, Nigerians aged 18 years and below have never experienced a proper census. The last national population census was conducted in 2006, barely eight years after Nigeria’s return to democratic governance.

Since then, the country has held five general elections, experienced multiple administrations at federal and subnational levels, and undergone significant demographic shifts, yet public planning and resource allocation continue to rely on projections and assumptions rather than verified data.

Against this backdrop, the Presidency’s April 2025 announcement of a committee to lay the groundwork for a long-overdue National Population and Housing Census was widely welcomed as a potential turning point. Chaired by the Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, the committee was mandated to submit an interim report within three weeks.

However, several months after this announcement, there has been no publicly available report, actionable timeline, or policy direction arising from the committee’s work. This prolonged silence has further heightened concerns about the government’s resolve to address Nigeria’s long-standing demographic data deficit.

Equally troubling is the lack of consistency and clarity surrounding budgetary provisions for the census. In the 2026 capital expenditure proposal, N770 million was allocated to the National Population and Housing Census.

When disaggregated across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, this figure amounts to approximately N20.8 million per subnational government.

This figure raises serious questions about adequacy, realism, and strategic intent, especially when juxtaposed with the N693.3 million allocated to capital expenditure for the 2024 population and housing census, which, like the figure, failed to translate into concrete preparatory actions or measurable progress.

Commenting, Joseph Amenaghawon, BudgIT’s Acting Country Director, underscored that a credible census is far more than a statistical exercise.

“Accurate demographic data informs fiscal transfers, constituency delineation, infrastructure planning, healthcare delivery, education policy, and social protection programmes. In the absence of reliable population data, public policy becomes guesswork, undermining efficiency, equity, and accountability in governance,” he said.

Importantly, as Nigeria prepares for its sixth general election since the last census, the continued delay in conducting a national population and housing census poses grave risks to democratic representation, development planning, and social cohesion.

As the National Assembly reviews the 2026 Proposed Budget, we call on the House of Representatives and the Nigerian Senate to prioritise and ensure the conduct of a credible National Population and Housing Census within the year, before electoral preparations gain full momentum. The time to count Nigerians properly and credibly is now.