The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abba Kyari

  • Perm Sec tenure extension: Reps fault President’s Chief of Staff’s letter

    Perm Sec tenure extension: Reps fault President’s Chief of Staff’s letter

    Tempers flared on Tuesday at the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education meeting with the Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita over the extension of the tenure of the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr Jamilah Shu’ara.

    The committee had insisted on the need to be intimated with the extant laws on which her extension as permanent secretary was hinged, but the Head of Service could not provide any constitutional backing for her action, except a letter from the President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.

    It demanded to see the letter the HOS wrote which the Chief of Staff was responding to and also wondered why it took the Chief of Staff a year to respond, particularly only when the extension was under probe by the House committee.

    The Head of Service refused to produce the letter prompting lawmakers to insist that she must produce it by Thursday.

    The committee members were angry that the investigative sessions of the committee had been postponed twice at the instance of the HOS and a third one was given on Tuesday, effectively slowing the committee’s investigation.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Zakari Mohammed, faulted the letter by the Chief of Staff saying anyone in the Civil Service who has attained the age of 60 years or 35 years in Service ought to retire. The only other option is if the person is appointed by the President under section Kyari quoted ” but not an extension of tenure”.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#dd9e40″ bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]The letter from the President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari dated 20th, March 2017 to the HOS purported to have approved the extension of Shu’ara tenure indicted the HOS by showing it was in response to a letter from her.

    The letter reads in part: “I write to acknowledge receipt of your letter ref. No. HCSF/1013/I dated March 17th, 2016.
    “In line with the provisions of 171 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, Mr.President has approved the extension of the appointment of Dr Mrs Jamila Shu’ara by one year in a special dispensation which should not be cited as policy[/quote]

    The committee has vowed to get to the bottom of the matter by Thursday.

    According to the Chairman of the committee, “the HOS is frustrating this committee from doing its job.”

    The lawmakers have been trying to investigate the mystery behind the second time extension of the tenure of Dr Jamilah Shu’ara a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education who was supposedly retired.

    Her tenure was extended from February 2016 to 2017 and again from 2017 to 2018.

    In the first instance, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu had appeared on behalf of Dr Jamilah Shu’ara when he was not invited prompting curiously from Rep members on his motive particularly when Shu’ara did not put up an appearance on that date.

    The ministry later wrote the committee that she has been removed as Permanent Secretary. Surprisingly, she was said to have been reinstated again and her tenure extended a second time.

     

     

  • IPMAN urges members to disregard fuel price hike rumour

    IPMAN urges members to disregard fuel price hike rumour

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Kano State has told its members to disregard the rumour of a possible price hike of Petroleum Products.

    The state IPMAN Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dan-Malam, who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Kano on Friday, said the call was necessary to avert hoarding and its attendant hardship on Nigerians.

    Dan-Malam advised members in the state to continue with their normal business as the association would sanction anyone caught hoarding or selling the product above the approved price of N145.

    “As leaders of the association, we feel it is necessary to tell our members the truth as the government has no plan to increase fuel price for now.

    “The rumour is a lie and anything you hear that is not from us, ignore it,” the IPMAN chairman said.

    He commended the recent meeting of the association with the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and Minister of state, Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachukwu.

    The chairman said the meeting was an indication that the Federal Government was ready to listen to their grievances and resolve them.

    Dan-Malam said that during the meeting it was resolved that the union should go and reconcile with the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) on the outstanding payment of transportation charges.

    “During the meeting, it was agreed that a committee to be chaired by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun consisting of all stakeholders be set up with a mandate to reconcile all outstanding balances.

    The aim is to come up with a plan to clear all the issues that have plagued the sector.

    “The administration has clearly demonstrated its willingness to create an enabling environment for a viable and sustainable downstream sector in Nigeria and IPMAN is 100 per cent committed to achieving this goal,” he said.

  • FG orders payment of N150bn to petroleum marketers

    FG orders payment of N150bn to petroleum marketers

    The Federal Government on Wednesday ordered the payment of N150 billion Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) owed petroleum marketers in the country.

    The move is aimed at thwarting the imminent threat to steady fuel supply in the country.

    The order for the payment was given at a meeting between the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and key players in the petroleum downstream sector.

    The N150 billion is said to be the bridging cost for the delivery of petroleum products across the country.

    The National Secretary of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Zarma Mustapha, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the closed-door meeting, which lasted about two hours.

    He said: “The meeting had nothing to do with increase in petroleum pump prices.

    “We looked into the issue of diesel and kerosene and as a matter of fact government is tackling the issues.

    “The other issue is the issue of franchise which is the petroleum equalization fund which marketers are owed up to about N150 billion. That issue has been resolved. The government has directed that our monies must be paid and I am assuring you that with the payment of this money there is no cause for alarm.

    “We are assuring our marketers that they should go back to their normal business as their outstanding money will be paid in few days.”

     

  • Kyari didn’t use High Commission’s funds for UK treatment – Presidency

    Kyari didn’t use High Commission’s funds for UK treatment – Presidency

    The Presidency on Monday explained that the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, did not use the funds of the Nigeria High Commission in the United Kingdom to pay his medical bills in the European nation.

    A statement issued by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said the allegations contained in a report published by an online news medium, are totally incorrect, misleading and total fabrication.

    He said: “The Nigeria High Commission in London did not at any time ever settle the medical bills or any other bills for that matter as Abba Kyari personally took responsibility for paying his own bills. This is by the Chief of Staff’s choice.

    “He pays for his medicals, his taxi and accommodation in the UK despite the high office he occupies, even when there is no rule that says he cannot be catered for by government.

    “For the records, Kyari was rushed out of Nigeria for an emergency medical treatment on the fateful day of December 1, 2016. To receive him on arrival, the Wellington Hospital needed to have cash deposited, or in the absence of this, a letter of guarantee.

    “In order to meet this condition, the Nigeria High Commission in London wrote the Letter of Guarantee to the hospital for treatment to commence. The role of the High Commission didn’t involve financial commitments on behalf of Kyari.

    “The Letter of Guarantee from the High Commission was meant to meet the routine requirements of the Wellington Hospital since the patient in question (Kyari) didn’t possess the UK National Health Insurance.”

    Apart from senior government officials, he said other reputable Nigerians are issued with such guarantee letters to hospitals.

    “A guarantor is not liable unless there is a default, but this wasn’t the case with Abba Kyari who paid all his medical bills by himself as he had done on previous occasions.

    “Hospital records are available for verification to show that the Nigeria High Commission in London didn’t spend a penny on Kyari, as its involvement didn’t go beyond the issuance of the letter of guarantee to the Wellington Hospital,” Shehu added.

  • High Commission didn’t pay Buhari’s aide medical bill in UK – Minister

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, on Monday defended the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

    Kyari was alleged have enjoyed the High Commission to the United Kingdom’s financial support with report claiming the Commission paid his medical bills.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Onyeama said the report was false.

    He said Kyari has not had any contact with the Commission since assumption of office as President Buhari’s Chief of Staff.

    The minister said: “Because a lot of people do not bring libel cases against media houses, they think they can write whatever they like.

    “The report was a blatant falsehood , really defamatory. As we all know, in most of these industrialized countries, if you want medical treatment, or hospital room reserved for you, they will require medical insurance of that country.

    “If you do not have, they will require a deposit or a guarantee. Our embassies and high commissions around the world are there to assist Nigerians.

    “All that happened in the case of the chief of Staff when he went to the UK for medical treatment was that before he arrived, the High Commission guaranteed that he will pay his hospital bills and that was all.

    “A letter was written to the hospital that this person is a high official and we guarantee that he will settle his bill.

    “On that basis, they reserved a hospital room for him and afterwards, he settled his bill. During the time he was in London, he never asked the Commission to even provide a car for him. He made his arrangements.

    “It is extremely unfair that such defamatory article would have come out. It has no iota of truth in it.

    “He had never made any contact with the UK for the one and a half years he has been in office.”

  • Col Abu Ali: Buhari mourns fallen officers and men

    Col Abu Ali: Buhari mourns fallen officers and men

    • Says their sacrifices won’t be in vain

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said that the sacrifices of fallen officers and men in the war against terrorism in Nigeria would never go in vain and that their memories would be eternally etched in the hearts and minds of fellow citizens for whose sake they laid down their lives.

    The President made this statement while reacting to the death of Colonel Abu Ali, one of Nigeria’s finest and bravest soldiers in recent history.

    Buhari, in a condolence statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said that he was rudely shocked by the news of the officer’s death along with other gallant soldiers during an encounter with the Boko Haram bandits in Borno State.

    According to the President, “a courageous commander does not only give orders but also joins his men to fight the battle, no matter the risks or the obvious danger.”

    He explained that the late Colonel Abu Ali “was an extraordinary officer who inspired respect and adoration among those he commanded”, adding that “one of the greatest attributes of a war hero is the ability to help your troops overcome fear in the face of danger.”

    President Buhari said the late Colonel Ali and his other fallen colleagues had brought glory to the army and the country for laying down their lives for the sake of others.

    In his condolence to the families of the victims and the Nigerian Army, the President also noted that their heroic sacrifices were “so immeasurable that no words can do justice to their patriotism and remarkable courage.”

    President Buhari, who personally called late Colonel Ali’s father, Brigadier-Gen. Abu Ali (Rtd.) to console the family, reassured them that the death of his son and others in battle would never go in vain.

    “He was a gallant soldier, never to be forgotten. He has brought a good name to the family,” said the President.

    He then called on members of the armed forces not to let the tragic incident dampen their morale and spirit, adding that under no circumstances should the Boko Haram terrorists be allowed to destroy the will of Nigerian troops.

    He said: “Evil should not be given any chance to defeat good and humanity”, and that “members of our armed forces should remain formidably united in the war against terrorism.”

    Meanwhile, the President has appointed a high-powered delegation to be led by the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, that includes the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello and the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bwari to represent him at the funeral of Colonel Abu Ali and others scheduled for Monday, November 7.

  • FG receives 2016 Budget from NASS

    FG receives 2016 Budget from NASS

    The Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari on Thursday receives the 2016 Budget from the Senior Special Advisers to the National Assembly Matters, Eta Enang and Kawu Ismaila.

     

    Details soon…

  • Senate gets Buhari’s second ministerial list

    Senate gets Buhari’s second ministerial list

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday submitted another list of ministerial nominees to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for screening and confirmation.

    This is line with President Buhari’s promise to send the second batch of ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

    President Buhari had in a letter dated September 3, 2015 submitted a list of 21 ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

    The President who said the first submission was a partial list of ministerial nominees assured that “the second list will follow shortly.”

    Findings showed that the second batch of nominees was submitted to the Senate President by the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kari, accompanied by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang.

    Hon. Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, another Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, was also said to be among the delegation that submitted the ministerial list to the Senate President.

    The list was said reportedly handed over to Saraki at about 4:20pm.

    The names of the ministerial nominees had not been disclosed at the time of filing this report.

    The Senate will begin the screening and possible confirmation of the nominees on Tuesday.

    The exercise is expected to last three days.

  • Photos: Buhari’s delegation to Abuja bomb blasts scene, hospital

    Photos: Buhari’s delegation to Abuja bomb blasts scene, hospital

  • Abba Kyari: A man for all seasons

    Abba Kyari: A man for all seasons

    Rumours and speculations about who will hold what political assignment(s) in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government have been partially scotched by Thursday afternoon’s announcement of appointees.

    One of the most interesting is Abba Kyari’s appointment as Chief of Staff to the President. It is a square peg in a square hole. Abba Kyari is a versatile, energetic, extremely well educated public servant who puts such a premium on industry and public relations. A double Masters Degree at Cambridge University, England’s Premier University, was preceded by a first degree in Sociology at Warwick University, also in England where General Gowon studied after his retirement as Head of State in 1975.

    Such lofty academic heights belie his lowly and modest beginning. After Secondary School in a Christian School in Wusasa, Zaria, Abba took to teaching. His restless energy drove him to seek a journalist’s job in New Nigerian. The only vacant position he was offered was as a proofreader. He readily took the job; his journalistic prowess grew to such an extent that he eventually became editor of another newspaper, The Democrat. Alas, to Abba’s intense chagrin, both the New Nigerian and The Democrat have closed down.

    After short stints in Government as Commissioner in Borno State as a legal officer and company secretary in Zamfara Textiles, he moved to Banking. From being company secretary in the African International Bank to being the brains and workhorse of a team that revived and rebuilt the dying UBA that he eventually became Managing Director and Chief Executive and later Vice-Chairman of the bank.

    On returning from the Bank, he was much in demand by Nigerian and multinational companies and offered many directorships. But being extremely careful about his reputation, he would only agree to serve on a few Boards after rigorous scrutiny of the companies and being fiercely independent in expressing his views at meetings.

    His foray in active politics started in 1998 when the consensus of Nigerians who take interest in such matters was that General Obasanjo should be rehabilitated and put up for election as President. Abba Kyari was very much attracted to this line of thinking. He was even touted as Vice Presidential running mate to Obasanjo. In the end, the General chose Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    When in 2002, numerous delegations at last extracted General Buhari from retirement and persuaded him to join partisan politics, Abba Kyari found his happiest position as he had been close to Buhari and his family for over 30 years. He went into Buhari’s politics head on, heart and soul.

    As a soldier who had rubbished the political class 17 years earlier, Buhari was not noticeably popular among politicians. The ANPP convention in Abuja was charged. ANPP Governors, party apparatchiks and power brokers opposed Buhari. The rank and file and “the crowds outside” were on the side of Buhari almost to a man. Abba Kyari spent two nights and two days without ever sleeping going round the 36 state delegations in Abuja to canvass support for Buhari. In the end, Buhari was nominated. Abba Kyari accompanied him on a campaign tours to 34 of the 36 states nearly all by road, sometimes on the road for 24 hours at a stretch- all unsuccessfully as the elections were massively rigged. Neither Abba nor, of course, General Buhari relented. The rest as they say is history.

    Abba Kyari brings to his new job impressive credentials. In his various careers, whatever he touched turned to gold. He is a man for all seasons. You could almost say he is a Master of all trades and Jack of none. His numerous friends are in no doubt that he is equal to the task.