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Tag: 2019 budget presentation

  • 2019 Budget presentation: kogi governor, Bello attacks lawmakers

    *Says Buhari displayed uncommon love for Nigeria

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello on Wednesday night described lawmakers who made the 2019 Budget proposal presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari rowdy as bunch of poorly trained lawmakers at their youthful age.

    According to him, the troublesome lawmakers are not just self-centered, but bent on destroying Nigeria and its democracy.

    Bello spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the Anchor Borrowers Programme Gala Night at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday night.

    The governor, however, noted that President Buhari remained calm during the provocations from the lawmakers and displayed his fatherly love for Nigeria.

    Asked his reaction to the drama that played out during the budget proposal presentation, Bello said “Well, first of all, two distinct human beings. A father and a gentleman who has the interest of the country at heart, President Muhammadu Buhari has displayed his stuff and those who are selfish, self-centred and bent on destroying this country and democracy have also shown themselves today.

    Read Also: 2019 Budget: Buhari scolds unruly lawmakers

    “As I said sometimes back that when you have a child that is not well trained by his parents, he will constitute a menace to the society. And that is what we witnessed today at the National Assembly.

    “The National Assemblies are supposed to be made of men and women of character and integrity. We’ve seen those who constitute such class of human being today and those that constitute menace to the society in the National Assembly today.

    “But above all, I thank God and thank Mr. President for a wonderful presentation of 2019 Budget estimates and which we all believe will take Nigeria to the next level by the grace of God.” he added.

  •  APC denounces ‘disgraceful’ PDP lawmakers for heckling Buhari

     The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the conduct of lawmakers of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) during Wednesday’s budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari as disgraceful.

    The lawmakers booed and jeered almost every statement by the President but the APC said their action eroded the little respect Nigerians still have for the PDP.

    The ruling party said the PDP lawmakers succeeded in confirming to Nigerians they were self- serving.

    A statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu reads: “We condemn in strong terms the action by lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the presentation of the 2019 budget by President Mohammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

    “The PDP should be aware the disgraceful conduct and actions of its legislative caucus has succeeded in eroding the remnant of the public’s respect, (if any) that the Party has in the eyes of any respectable Nigerian.

    “The PDP has further confirmed its unsavoury image in the eyes of well- meaning Nigerians the party is largely populated by self-serving and unpatriotic members, whose sole aim in politics is to promote their self- interest at the expense of the country’s interests.

    “By law, respect for the office of the President or head of government in any clime is not a matter of choice, but a civic obligation sanctioned by laws.

    “Being an opposition party or critic is no licence for such wayward conduct by the PDP legislative caucus; most especially against the President of the country.

    “Not even the admonition of the President to the PDP lawmakers that “You are on international TV, comport yourselves.

    “The world is watching us; we should be above this,” failed to calm the unruly PDP elements.

    “Nigerians are not oblivious of the actions and inactions of the National Assembly presiding officers, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara while the President was being heckled by the PDP legislative caucus.

    “Their failure to rein in their unruly PDP colleagues, while their show of shame lasted clearly confirmed that the PDP members’ action was premeditated and orchestrated to embarrass the President.

    “When the APC was in opposition, Nigerians will recall statements by the PDP government the immediate-past President Goodluck Jonathan did not personally present the national budget to the National Assembly based on fears that he will be heckled and embarrassed by the opposition federal lawmakers at the time.

    “The fears turned out to be misplaced as that never happened when Jonathan eventually presented the national budget.

    “Such shameful and undignified practice has no place in our progressive ideology.”

    The APC commended Buhari for remaining calm and focused during the budget presentation “despite the provocation from PDP lawmakers, an act of statesmanship that has been acknowledged by Nigerians.

    “We are equally proud of the APC lawmakers, who stood firm in defence of the President and our great party during the budget presentation.“

    It called on the National Assembly to “rise above political and selfish interests by putting the country first in its consideration of the proposed N8.83 trillion 2019 national budget.”

     

     

  • Update: Applause, boos as Buhari presents 2019 budget

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s presentation of the 2019 Appropriation Bill to the Joint Sitting of the National Assembly began on a rancorous note on Wednesday.

    When he stated the presentation will be his last for the term at the commencement of his speech, some lawmakers shouted amen.

    However, on being interjected at every mention of the modest achievement by his administration in all sectors of the economy, the President was interrupted by claps from those believed to be members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    But opposition lawmakers reacted with boos.

    When he informed the economy recovered from recession, which drew the same response from the floor, the President had to take it again.

    At this point, the President took a short break from his address to advise the lawmakers to be cautious and mindful of the importance of the day.

    “The world is watching us, we are supposed to be above this,” he said.

    Earlier, on resumption of the joint sitting from the over 40- minute closed session, the lawmakers with the two presiding officers seated, broke into freedom song.

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    With some on their feet, they sang ‘Freedom come, by struggle, by struggle, freedom come‘.

    Some members were seen collecting and tearing placards carried by their colleagues.

    Fight almost broke out when Bashir Babale (APC, Kano) was dragged away from Diri Douye (PDP, Bayelsa) after he attempted to collect a placard from him.

    When Vice President Osinbajo was quietly led into the chamber by the Presidential Liason Officer (Senate) Eta Enang, the song abated but picked up again until Senate President Saraki asked his colleagues to take their seats

    “Thank you for your understanding. Thank you so much,” he said.

    Saraki’s pleas were followed by some Senators throwing words at themselves across the seats, forcing the song to break out again.

    Buhari was ushered into the chamber with chants of ‘Sai Baba’ and ‘Freedom come’ renting the air.

  • National Assembly workers’ strike threatens 2019 budget presentation

    NATIONAL Assembly’s workers yesterday made good their threat to begin a four-day warning strike to press home their demand for a better welfare package.

    It was, however, gathered that the workers’ action may threaten 2019 budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari scheduled for tomorrow.

    The workers, under the auspices of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigerian (PASAN), paralysed activities at the National Assembly by cutting off water and power supply to the assembly complex.

    They also said they would not stop Mr. President from presenting the 2019 Appropriation Bill. “The President can go in and present his budget if the place is conducive enough,” their leaders said.

    This is the second time in less than one month that the union is mobilising its members to shut down the National Assembly over pay issue.

    The aggrieved workers had two weeks ago crippled activities at the complex, stopping senators and House of Representatives’ members from sitting.

    The workers blamed the Management of the National Assembly for their plight.

    They also insisted on the immediate removal of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, blaming him for their woes.

    Around 10am yesterday, the union leaders forced workers on duty at the Engineering Department to cut off power supply to the complex.

    The Account Section at the annex was, however, spared with the workers allowed to do their work of preparing the next salary.

    Banks, telecommunication offices, restaurants and other supporting staff within the complex were forced to close down.

    Some of the workers were seen trekking the long way back to the car park. Those of them that sneaked into the White House were asked by the union leaders to leave in their own interest.

    The angry workers were protesting the non-implementation of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) said to have been approved for them in 2010 among other demands.

    Although the union leaders said the industrial action was not a picket as no one would be stopped from accessing the National Assembly, they insisted that members of the union would not be allowed to carry out their duties.

    Addressing the protesting workers at the entrance to the White House complex, one of the leaders, Odo Chris, said that lawmakers, management staff from Grade Level 14 and above and visitors would not be prevented from accessing the complex for the duration of the strike.

    The workers gathered as  early as 6.30 am yesterday to close all entrances leading to the National Assembly complex.

    Contrary to what the leader said, non-members of the workers’ union, especially senior staff, were stopped from going into the complex.

    Odo said: “It is the members of the union that will not go to work; everybody else can go in and do whatever they want to do.

    “As a union, we don’t even have the power to stop Grade 14 officers and above from going in to perform their duties because they are not our members.

    “I am appealing to you to be careful and apply wisdom as we carry out this strike because we have a law that guides us.

    “This is not picketing, there should be no fighting, and there should be no breakdown of law and order.

    “Right now, some of us will go in and shut off electricity supply, by the time the environment becomes unbearable for those that are working, they will leave as well.

    “The President can go in and present his budget if the place is conducive enough”.

    The staff of Sergeant -at-Arm also joined the striking workers.

    But, armed security personnel, including mobile policemen, Department of State Services (DSS) operatives, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC)  are on ground to prevent breakdown of law and order, while officers of Federal Road Safety Corps ((FRSC) were seen coordinating vehicular movement.

    It was also observed that the protesting workers prevented vehicles of senior management staff, forcing them to park their vehicles outside the complex.

    The senior staff were compelled to walk more than half a kilometre into the White House.

    It was learnt that the leadership and management of the National Assembly summoned an emergency meeting to save the situation to no avail.

    No official statement came from the National Assembly management as at the time of filing this report.

    Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North), however, assured that the issues at stake would be resolved.

    Lawan, who spoke in his office, braved the heat of the shutdown of the complex to speak to reporters.

    He noted that the leadership of both chambers and management of the National Assembly planned an emergency meeting to find a way out of the problem.

    Lawan said: “I am not assigned by the entire leadership of the National Assembly to comment on the shutdown but an emergency meeting will be held today (yesterday) for quick and lasting solution to the crisis.”

    A source told our reporter that the leadership and management of the National Assembly had met the leadership of the workers several times.

    He said: “We are doing our part to resolve the issues at stake. The Clerk wrote the police and DSS to intimate them that the workers were bent on disrupting activities at the National Assembly

    “Yes, they have the right to down tool but they don’t have the right to prevent lawmakers and legislative aides from going into the National Assembly.

    “We suspect that external forces might have hijacked the protest to scuttle the presentation of the Appropriation Bill by Mr. President on Wednesday. That must not be allowed to happen in the interest of the country.”

    He said some of the demands of the workers have been met.