The Kano State House of Assembly KNHA has cautioned the newly appointed Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, against announcing government decisions concerning the legislature before the Assembly formally considers and approves them.
The warning followed the announcement by the state government that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf would present the 2027 budget proposal to the House on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
Addressing journalists at the Assembly complex on Monday, the House expressed concern that the Commissioner had already announced the proposed budget presentation before the legislature formally considered the governor’s request.
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According to the Assembly, Speaker Jibril Ismail Falgore had earlier read a letter from Governor Yusuf seeking the legislature’s permission to present the state’s annual budget estimates in accordance with Section 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
The House explained that the governor’s request was still subject to consideration by the lawmakers, stressing that the legislature had yet to formally decide whether to grant the request.
It maintained that announcing a definite date for the budget presentation before the Assembly reached a decision amounted to pre-empting the legislature’s constitutional responsibilities.
The Assembly further argued that the House retained the authority to determine whether and when the governor would be allowed to appear before it to present the proposed budget.
It therefore called on the Information Commissioner to exercise caution when communicating government activities involving the legislature, particularly matters requiring the Assembly’s formal consideration and approval.
The lawmakers emphasised that the Commissioner should avoid making public announcements on legislative matters until the House had officially communicated its decisions.
The Assembly reiterated that the presentation of the annual budget was a constitutional process requiring cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of government.
The development highlights the importance of respecting the constitutional independence of the legislature and maintaining proper communication between the two arms of government.
The 2027 budget presentation is expected to outline the Kano State Government’s proposed spending priorities, development programmes and financial commitments for the coming fiscal year.