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Tag: BUHARI

  • Senators, Reps reply Buhari on 2018 budget

    THE Senate and House of Representatives yesterday listed the need to address “geo-political imbalances’ and ensure compliance with the constitutional principle of Federal Character as the reasons for its adjustments to the 2018 budget proposals submitted to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The lawmakers also claimed that the budget process is a joint effort that “must reflect the input of both the executive and the legislature, the latter being the closest representatives of the people.”

    But it admitted that it was “fully aware that the Executive has the exclusive responsibility to execute all parts of the Appropriation Act once it is signed into law.”

    The legislature was responding to Wednesday’s public complaint by President Buhari on the massive alteration made to the budget by the federal lawmakers.

    Buhari who signed the budget document ‘reluctantly’ on account of the alteration said the National Assembly raised estimates he presented by N578 billon, cut N347 billion allocated to 4,700 projects and introduced 6,403 projects of their own, reduced allocation for the completion of the Enugu Airport terminal building from N2 billion to N500 million and the take-off grant for the Maritime University in Delta State from N5 billion to N3.4 billion, among others

    He said: “Many of the projects cut are critical and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with the reduced allocation.

    “Some of the new projects inserted by the National Assembly have not been properly conceptualised, designed and costed, and will therefore be difficult to execute.”

    But giving its own side of the controversy in Abuja yesterday, the National Assembly said that the number of projects had to be increased in order to “give a sense of belonging to every geo-political zone of the country to ensure socio-economic justice, equity, fairness, and to command National loyalty.”

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, spoke for the legislative arm at a press conference.

    Abdullahi said that within the context of the provisions of Sections 4, 80 and 81 of the Constitution, “everything that the National Assembly has done is within its powers.”

    He said that Chapter 2 of the Constitution emphasises the need for balance, inclusivity and equity in the distribution of national resources.

    The annual budget, which symbolises the distribution of these resources, he said, must reflect these values, which they swore to uphold.

    “These Constitutional provisions, in addition to a recent court judgment, have affirmed the fact that the budget process is a ‘joint effort’ that must reflect the input of both the executive and the legislature — the latter being the closest representatives of the people,” he said.

    He said it was wrong to blame the National Assembly for the delay in passing the budget proposals because, according to him, as at March 15, 2018 (five months and eight days after the budget was submitted), the President was still directing the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to compel the Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government to appear before the committees of the National Assembly to defend their respective budget.

    “In addition, up till April (6 months after the budget submission), the Executive was still bringing new additions to the 2018 budget which the National Assembly in good faith and in the spirit of collaboration and harmonious working relationship accepted,” he said..

    “More importantly, the 2017 budget was signed into law on June 5, 2017, and by the provisions of Section 318 of the Constitution, which defines the Financial Year as “any period of 12 months beginning on the first day of January in any year, or other date as the National Assembly may prescribe” – the 2017 budget lapsed on the 5th of June 2018. This same provision is replicated in the 2017 Appropriation Act.

    “It is important to also note that if not for the fact that the 2017 budget elapsed on the 5th of June 2018, the Federal Government would not have recorded notable capital projects for the just ended financial year.

    “This is because the Federal Government only started releasing funds for capital projects in December 2017 when the funds from the Federal Government’s loans were released and disbursed to contractors.”

    On the N347 billion said to have been cut from the budget proposals, Abdullahi said the money was ”made from low priority areas to higher priority areas to support the generation of employment for our youth by MSMEs.

    ”We took the decision to reduce the funds in some areas in order to ensure balance and equity in the spread and utilization of our national funds.

    “Additionally, the figures, given amounts of the reductions made by the National Assembly, were unduly exaggerated, as we did not make any substantial reduction on any project to the extent of affecting its implementation.”

    He added: “It should be noted that the counterpart funding for the Mambilla Power Plant, Second Niger Bridge/Ancillary roads, the East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo Road, Lagos-Ibadan Express Road and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project, was reduced by only N3,956,400,290 – which represents only 1.78 % of the total N222,569,335,924 submitted by President Buhari. This left these projects with N218,612,935,634 which cannot negatively affect their implementation.

    “This obviously contradicts the claim that these projects lost “an aggregate of N11.5 billion”.

    ”The counterpart funding for 3050 mw Mambilla Hydropower Project was reduced from N8.5billion to N8.2billion (a reduction of N300 million);

    “The construction of the Second Niger bridge including access roads phases 2a and 2b in Anambra and Delta states and other projects in the South East were reduced from N10 billion to N9.1 billion (a reduction of N900 million);

    “The construction of Bodo-Bonny road with a bridge across the Opobo channel in Rivers State was reduced from N10billion to N8.7billion (a reduction of N1.3billion);

    “The funding for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway was reduced from N20billion to N18billion (a reduction of N2billion), which would not significantly affect the construction of the road in one appropriation cycle.

    “The Railway Projects (Counterpart Funds): 1. Lagos-Kano (ongoing) 2. Calabar-Lagos (Ongoing) 3. Ajaokuta-Itakpe-Aladja (Warri) (Ongoing) 4. Port Harcourt- Maiduguri (New) 5. Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi in Niger Republic (New) 6. Abuja-Itakpe and Aladja (Warri)-Warri Port and Refinery including Warri new Harbour (New) 7. Bonny deep Sea Port & Port Harcourt of N162,284,335,924 was retained by the National Assembly as presented by Mr. President.”

    Abdullahi said that the National Assembly increased the aggregate funding for the East-West Road from N11,285,000,000 to N12,085,000,000 “because we realised the strategic importance of the road to the entire oil producing areas of our country and the fact that the road project has lingered for too long.”

    On the Second Niger Bridge project, Abdullahi said that “apart from early works, as of today, there is no existing contract for the Second Niger Bridge in spite of frequent requests from the National Assembly.”

    He added that “the N900million reduced from the N10billion proposed by the Executive was deployed to fund ancillary roads that connect to the Bridge.”

    “It should again be noted that the N12.5billion and the N7.5billion appropriated for the Second Niger Bridge in the 2016 and 2017 budget by the National Assembly were never utilised for the project.”

    He said that the National Assembly allocated an additional N2billion to the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway project over and above the sum appropriated by the executive.

    Abdullahi said that under the 2017 budget, contracts for 15 roads were awarded by the Federal Executive Council with no budgetary provisions.

    He noted that the realization of the importance of the projects made the National Assembly to “spread the N3.9billion saved from the earlier mentioned projects funding to facilitate the take-off of these projects that include: the rehabilitation of Ikorodu-Shagamu Road in Lagos State; the rehabilitation of 9th Mile-Orakam to Benue Border; and the general maintenance of Pankshin – Ballang – Nyelleng – Sararele – Gindiri road in Plateau State, etc. These are the projects purported to be “project inclusions without conceptualization.”

    He said that “the National Assembly needs to be commended by Mr. President for helping to support the take-off of these awarded but unfunded projects.”

    On the issue of the 104 Unity Schools across the country and the claim that N3billion was cut from their funding, Abdullahi said that “Nigerians need to know that after careful consultation by the committees of the National Assembly with stakeholders in the sector, the National Assembly actually provided an additional N3.7billion more for meal subsidies in these 104 Unity Schools.”

    On the allocation for the Enugu Airport he said: “It is necessary to again clarify that during the budget defence and oversight processes, the National Assembly discovered that out of the N2billion contract for the Enugu Terminal Building, N1.7billion had already been paid to the contractor. And what is left to complete this project is just N300million.

    “Hence, the National Assembly approved N500million for the project — which is even N200million more than was required.”

    He added: “The Executive’s proposal for the National Judicial Council was N100 billion, however, the National Assembly appropriated N110billion which represents N10 billion increase.”

    He said that the Executive’s proposal for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was N71,195,023,529, however the National Assembly appropriated N81,882,555,891 — which represents a N10,687,532,363 increase;

    “An additional N33,981,437,188 was also appropriated for the outstanding liabilities to the NDDC by the Federal Government to enable the commission settle some of its contractors that were owed over N1 trillion  ;

    “The National Assembly received an additional N14.5billion in funding;

    “In order to ensure that they are able to meet their mandate, the National Assembly increased the Public Complaint’s Commission’s budget from the N4,200,000,000 proposed by the President to N7,480,000,000 — which represents a N3,280,000,000 increase; and

    Lastly, the National Human Rights Commission’s budget was increased from N1.5billion to N3,013,745,000, which represents a N1,513,745,000 increase.”

    Abdullahi noted that “It is therefore very clear that the three arms of government benefited from the increase which was mutually agreed on with the Ministry of Budget and Planning.

  • Buhari appoints new director for Border Communities Development Agency

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mrs Agnes A. Aremu as Director of the Border Communities Development Agency(BCDA), with effect from Wednesday, 20th June 2018.

    A statement by Lawrence Ojabo, Director, Information Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said that Aremu will oversee the affairs of the agency pending the appointment of a substantive Chief Executive Officer.

    Mrs. Agnes A. Aremu was until this appointment the Director Human Resources Management in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    While in charge of the agency, Mrs Aremu will effect the formal disengagement, investigation and disciplinary procedures against the former Director, Mrs. Olutayo Odumosu over allegation of age falsification.

    “Government has taken this step to restore normalcy to the agency, which has been the subject of investigation by various agencies.”

  • Buhari to IDPs: We’ll restore your devastated communities

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday assured the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) his administration would restore their devastated communities.

    While congratulating the 2,000 IDPs at the Kuchingoro Camp, Federal Capital Territory, who are preparing to return to their communities in the North East, the President assured Nigerians that his administration would not forget citizens in their time of distress and would continue to work for the betterment and security of the people.

    Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who received the IDPs at the precincts of the Aso Rock Villa, President Buhari thanked the international community and Nigerians, including Aliko Dangote, Gen. T.Y Danjuma and other philanthropists, for their sustained efforts towards the reconstruction and rehabilitation of destroyed communities in the North East.

     

  • Buhari okays more appointments

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved the appointment of four new Non-Executive Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and two new Chief Executive Officers for some federal agencies.

    He also approved renewal of tenure for three CEOs.

    The new appointments included that of Adeola Adetunji as Non-Executive Director of CBN for initial period of four years, with effect from June 7.

    Prof. Mike I. Obadan was also appointed the Non-Executive Director of CBN for initial period of four years with effect from same day.

    Also appointed were Prof. Justitia Odinakachukwu Nnabuko and Prof. Ummu Ahmed Jalingo.

    Prof. Abdullahi Dasilva Yusuf was appointed Chief Medical Director of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital for initial period of four years with effect from June 19.

    Dr. Pauline N. Ikwuegbu was appointed the Provost of Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Enugu State, for initial period of four years with effect from March 19.

    A statement by the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office) at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olusegun A. Adekunle, said the President expects the new appointees to regard their appointments as call to national service and to carry out their responsibilities with uprightness, diligence and prompt response to the yearnings of the public.

  • Buhari hails Super Eagles’ victory over Iceland

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday congratulated the Super Eagles on the team victory over Iceland in the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    Nigeria defeated Iceland 2-0 in both countries second group match played in Volgograd, Russia.

    The President, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina expressed delight at the confidence, discipline, team-work and indomitable spirit displayed by the young Nigerian players.

    He urged the players not to limit themselves but sustain the current winning momentum by going all out against Argentina in the final group match slated for next week.

    He said: “I am confident that if our players believe in themselves, they can qualify out of their difficult group and even go very far in the tournament. With determination, nothing is impossible.”

    The President urged Nigerians to continue to rally round the Nigerian ambassadors with their prayers and other forms of support.

     

     

  • Buhari: only good journalism can promote good governance

    •43 journalists killed so far in 2018, says IPI

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said only good journalism can promote good governance.

    He urged journalists to rise to the challenges facing the media with the menace of fake news, hate speech and explosion on the social media

    Executive Director, International Press Institute (IPI), Barbara Trionfi, expressed regrets that independent journalism was under attack all over the world.

    She also said press freedom was being eroded globally.

    Buhari, who spoke at the 67th World Congress of the IPI in Abuja, agreed with the theme of the summit that “good journalism matters.”

    He said: “In a world where the borderline between hate speech and free speech has become blurred, good journalism matters. In an environment where fake news dwarfs investigative reporting, Good Journalism Matters.

    “For survival in an increasingly competitive field, Good Journalism Matters. Good journalism promotes Good Governance. I therefore urge participants to give depth to the topic in your discussions and conclusions.

    “The changing media landscape, the explosion of the social media and the rapidly evolving new technology have had profound impact on media business and media practice. It is satisfying, therefore, that you have chosen an appropriate theme for your conference: Why Good Journalism Matters: Quality Media for Strong Societies.

    The annual congress, he observed, was holding in Nigeria during a period of global terrorism.

    He added: “Nigeria experiences that scourge through Boko Haram, which has been technically degraded and has no territorial hold anywhere, anymore, in its northeast operational base. The Internally Displaced Persons are gradually returning to their communities in reasonable safety and security.

    “It is a reflection of your assessment of Nigeria as a safe country that you gave the country the hosting right for this conference. As you have seen since your arrival, you made a wise and right choice.”

    He explained what Nigeria had been doing to facilitate the Ease of Doing Business.

    “One of the reform initiatives of this administration is the introduction of visa on arrival policy. The policy is designed to aid ease of doing business in Nigeria. I am glad that international delegates to this conference are beneficiaries of this policy.

    “Nigerian government has provided necessary support for a successful hosting right from the time our delegation presented its hosting bid in Qatar to the granting of that right in Germany last year.

    “I commend the efforts of the Nigeria Hosting Committee for organizing this conference. It is one more evidence of Nigeria’s capacity for doing great things.”

    Trionfi said 43 journalists have been killed so far this year.

    She said independent journalism was under attack all over the world.

    She said: “There is a sense that independent journalism is under attack and press freedom as eroded all over the world.

    ‘From Mexico to the Philippines, from Zimbabwe to Turkey, from Russia to Ethiopia,  journalists are being imprisoned, they are denied access to justice,  they are  threatened an insulted on social media, they age  directly targeted  after labeled as traitors, and enemies of the state and they are killed, shot in front of their houses, on their way to work by killers who know that murdering journalist is the easiest way to silence them and ensure that the stories of corruptions they were investigating,  the wrongdoing they had uncovered will never be revealed.

    “But as journalism is under attack, the journalist community has been coming together unprecedented.  Editors, publishers, journalists are increasingly aware that the future of journalism depends on the support they receive from their audiences and from and from their communities

    “ That if we cannot convince our readers,  viewers and listeners that quality, independent journalism is a valuable good, one they should cherish and depend and fight for, it will be very easy for those who want to silence critical journalism to do so.

    “At least 43 journalists have been killed so far in 2018 in places like Afghanistan, Mexico, India, Pakistan, or the Philippines, to mention a few.

    Local Organizing Committee Chairman and President, Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, said in spite of occasional overzealousness of security agencies, “Nigerian journalists have continuously enjoyed a relatively free press.”

    On the complaint of IPI about a detained Nigerian journalist, he said: “We have not been totally briefed of the journalist being talked about.”

    Concerning the menace of Boko Haram insurgency, he said since the return of democracy in 1999, which marked the end of military rule; the nation had not paid much attention to the size of the nation’s military and the police.

    He said with a population of about 190 million people, the nation has to enlarge its military and the police.

    He said: “We have been confronted by the reality to rebuild our total security infrastructure and bring police to the community to ensure the safety of our citizens.

    Obaigbena also made a case for a robust focus on global immigration challenges by journalists like the case in the United States where the press forced President Donald Trump to reverse his policy.

    He added: “Immigration has been one major central issue in the world. If we all can also report it in a robust way, perhaps we can reverse the course of history.”

  • 2018 Budget: NASS will address media on concerns by Buhari- Senate

    The Senate has said that it had delegated its Chairman Committee on Appropriation, Sen. Danjuma Goje to hold a media briefing to clarify concerns raised by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 2018 Budget.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi made this known in a statement on Wednesday.

    President Buhari in his speech while signing the 2018 budget on Wednesday, had raised concern about some changes made to the budget by the National Assembly.

    Abdullahi said the senate was in agreement with the statement issued by the House of Representatives, in response to the issues raised by Buhari on the budget.

    He said, the leadership of both chambers have directed the chairmen of our committees on appropriations to provide item by item, detailed explanations on all points raised by the President for the benefit of members of the public.

    “They will therefore address a press conference on Friday, June 22nd, 2018.

    “It should however be noted that the action of the National Assembly while working on the budget was informed by the provision of the Constitution on the need for inclusion, balance and the fact that the first responsibility of government is the security and welfare of all citizens,” he said.

    Read Also: Buhari signs Budget 2018 despite N578b injection

    President Buhari had in his speech said, “the logic behind the Constitutional direction that budgets should be proposed by the Executive is that, it is the Executive that knows and defines its policies and projects.

    “Unfortunately, that has not been given much regard in what has been sent to me. The National Assembly made cuts amounting to 347 billion Naira in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting to 578 billion Naira.

    “Many of the projects cut are critical and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with the reduced allocation.

    “Some of the new projects inserted by the National Assembly have not been properly conceptualized, designed and costed and will therefore be difficult to execute.

    “Furthermore, many of these new projects introduced by the National Assembly have been added to the budgets of most MDAs with no consideration for institutional capacity to execute them or the incremental recurrent expenditure that may be required.

    “As it is, some of these projects relate to matters that are the responsibility of the States and Local Governments, and for which the Federal Government should therefore not be unduly burdened.

    ” Such examples of projects from which cuts were made are as follows:
    The provisions for some nationally/regionally strategic infrastructure projects such as Counter-part funding for the Mambilla Power Plant, Second Niger Bridge/ancillary roads, the East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project were cut by an aggregate of 11.5 billion Naira.”

    “Similarly, provisions for some ongoing critical infrastructure projects in the FCT, Abuja especially major arterial roads and the mass transit rail project, were cut by a total of 7.5 billion Naira.

    “The provision for Rehabilitation and Additional Security Measures for the United Nations Building by the FCT, Abuja was cut by 3.9 billion Naira from 4 billion Naira to 100 million Naira.

    “The above will make it impossible for the Federal Government of Nigeria to fulfill its commitment to the United Nations on this project.

    “The provisions for various Strategic Interventions in the health sector such as the upgrade of some tertiary health institutions, transport and storage of vaccines through the cold chain supply system, provision of anti-retroviral drugs for persons on treatment, establishment of chemotherapy centres and procurement of dialysis consumables were cut by an aggregate amount of 7.45 billion Naira.

    “The provision for security infrastructure in the 104 Unity Schools across the country were cut by 3 billion Naira at a time when securing our students against acts of terrorism ought to be a major concern of government.

    “The provision for the Federal Government’s National Housing Programme was cut by 8.7 billion Naira.

    “At a time when we are working with Labour to address compensation-related issues, a total of 5 billion Naira was cut from the provisions for Pension Redemption Fund and Public Service Wage Adjustment.

    “The provisions for Export Expansion Grant (EEG) and Special Economic Zones/Industrial Parks, which are key industrialization initiatives of this Administration, were cut by a total of 14.5 billion Naira.

    “The provision for Construction of the Terminal Building at Enugu Airport was cut from 2 billion Naira to 500 million Naira which will further delay the completion of this critical project.”

    He also said, “the take-off Grant for the Maritime University in Delta State, a key strategic initiative of the Federal Government, was cut from 5 billion Naira to 3.4 billion Naira.

    “About seventy (70) new road projects have been inserted into the budget of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. In doing so, the National Assembly applied some of the additional funds expected from the upward review of the oil price benchmark to the Ministry’s vote.

    “Regrettably, however, in order to make provision for some of the new roads, the amounts allocated to some strategic major roads have been cut by the National Assembly.

    “Another area of concern is the increase by the National Assembly of the provisions for Statutory Transfers by an aggregate of 73.96 billion Naira.

    “Most of these increases are for recurrent expenditure at a time we are trying to keep down the cost of governance.

    “An example of this increase is the budget of the National Assembly itself which has increased by 14.5 billion Naira, from 125 billion Naira to 139.5 billion Naira without any discussion with the Executive.”

    NAN

  • Buhari signs Budget 2018 despite N578b injection

    It was supposed to be a lively ceremony, but yesterday’s budget signing at the Presidential Villa was sober.

    President Muhammadu Buhari signed Budget 2018 into law — reluctantly.

    The ceremony ought to have held in January as envisaged when the President  submitted the proposals to the National Assembly on November 7, last year.

    He told the lawmakers of his desire to return the country to the January – December budget cycle and solicited for their cooperation, but the budget was passed just last month. The bill was transmitted to the President on May 25. It was passed on May 16.

    The lawmakers raised the total expenditure profile by N578 billion— from N8.6 trillion to N9.1 trillion.

    The President said he signed the document because he had no choice going by the comprehensive alterations made by the lawmakers.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara were absent.

    Deputy Senate Leader Ibn Na’Alla and House Chief Whip Ado Doguwa stood in for them.

    The President noted that “the National Assembly made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting to N578 billion”.

    He added: “Many of the projects cut are critical and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with the reduced allocation.

    “Some of the new projects inserted by the National Assembly have not been properly conceptualised, designed and costed and will therefore be difficult to execute.

    ”Furthermore, many of these new projects introduced by the National Assembly have been added to the budgets of most MDAs with no consideration for institutional capacity to execute them or the incremental recurrent expenditure that may be required.

    “As it is, some of these projects relate to matters that are the responsibility of the States and Local Governments, and for which the Federal Government should therefore not be unduly burdened.”

    He added that the lawmakers also hiked their own budget to N139b from N125billion without consultation with the executive.

    Faulting the many insertions by the lawmakers, Buhari said: “The logic behind the Constitutional direction that budgets should be proposed by the Executive is that it is the Executive that knows and defines its policies and projects.”

    The President said he decided “to sign the 2018 Budget in order not to further slow down the pace of recovery of our economy, which has doubtlessly been affected by the delay in passing the budget”.

    He said he would “seek to remedy some of the most critical of these issues through a supplementary and/or amendment budget which I hope the National Assembly will be able to expeditiously consider”.

    Buhari praised the implementation of the 2017 budget in which N1.5 trillion was released for the implementation of capital projects.

    The President said in spite of the delay in the budget’s passage, he would continue to work with the National Assembly “towards improving the budgeting process and restoring our country to the January-December fiscal cycle.”

    ”I note, with pleasure, that the National Assembly is working on the enactment of an Organic Budget Law, so as to improve the efficiency of the nation’s budgetary process,” Buhari said.

     

    HOW THE BUDGET WAS ALTERED

    • Lawmakers raise extimates presented by President Buhari by N578b
    • Lawmakers cut N347b allocated to 4,700 projects and introduced 6,403 projects
    • Counterpart funding for the Mambilla Power Plant, Second Niger Bridge/ancillary roads, East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project cut by N11.5b
    • Projects in the FCT major arterial roads and mass transit rail cut by N7.5b
    • Provision for rehabilitation for UN building cut from N4b to N100m
    • Estimate for health cut by N7.45 b •Vote for security at 104 Unity Schools cut by N3b
    • Funds for National Housing Programme cut by N8.7b
    • N5b cut from provisions for PRF and Public Service Wage Adjustment
    • Funds for EEG and Special Economic Zones/Industrial Parks cut by N14.5b
    • Construction of Enugu Airport terminal building cut from N2b to N500m
    • Take-off Grant for Maritime Varsity cut from N5b to N3.4b

     

     Insertions by lawmakers 

    • 70 new roads inserted into the budget without consultation with the Executive
    • Statutory Transfers increased by an aggregate of N73.96b (for recurrent expenditure)
    • The National Assembly’s budget was raised from N125b to N139.5b

  • Buhari: my concern about Budget 2018

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday signed into law this year’s N9.12trillion budget despite a N578billion injection by the National Assembly. The President believes the N347billion cuts in the allocations to 4,700 projects by the National Assembly and the introduction of 6,403 constituency projects estimated at N578billion, are booby traps for the Budget of Consolidation.

    I would like to thank the leadership of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as all the distinguished senators and honourable members, for passing the 2018 Appropriation Bill, after seven months.

    When I submitted the 2018 Budget proposals to the National Assembly on 7th of November, 2017, I had hoped that the usual legislative review process would be quick, so as to move Nigeria towards a predictable January-December financial year. The importance of this predictability cannot be overemphasized.

    While the Federal Government’s budget represents less than 10 per cent of aggregate yearly expenditures in the economy, it has a very significant accelerator effect on the financial plans of other tiers of government, and even more importantly, the private sector, which mostly operates on a January-December financial year.

    Notwithstanding the delay this year, I am determined to continue to work with the National Assembly towards improving the budgeting process and restoring our country to the January-December fiscal cycle.

    I note, with pleasure, that the National Assembly is working on the enactment of an Organic Budget Law, so as to improve the efficiency of the nation’s budgetary process.

    As I mentioned during the presentation of the 2018 Appropriation Bill, we intend to use the 2018 Budget to consolidate the achievements of previous budgets and deliver on Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020.

    It is in this regard that I am concerned about some of the changes that the National Assembly has made to the budget proposals that I presented.  The logic behind the constitutional direction that budgets should be proposed by the executive is that, it is the executive that knows and defines its policies and projects.

    Unfortunately, that has not been given much regard in what has been sent to me.  The National Assembly made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting to N578 billion.

    Many of the projects cut are critical and may be difficult, if not impossible, to implement with the reduced allocation.  Some of the new projects inserted by the National Assembly have not been properly conceptualised, designed and costed and will therefore be difficult to execute.

    Furthermore, many of these new projects introduced by the National Assembly have been added to the budgets of most Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with no consideration for institutional capacity to execute them or the incremental recurrent expenditure that may be required.

    As it is, some of these projects relate to matters that are the responsibility of the states and local governments, and for which the Federal Government should therefore not be unduly burdened.

    Such examples of projects from which cuts were made are as follows:

    •President Buhari signing the budget at the State House in Abuja...yesterday. With him are: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (third right); Senate Committee on Appropriations Chairman Danjuma Goje (middle); House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Mustapha Bala (third left); Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (House) Sulieman Kawu (left) and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate) Sen Ita Enang (second left) and House of Representatives Chief Whip Ado Dogowa.
    •President Buhari signing the budget at the State House in Abuja…yesterday. With him are: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (third right); Senate Committee on Appropriations Chairman Danjuma Goje (middle); House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Mustapha Bala (third left); Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (House) Sulieman Kawu (left) and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate) Sen Ita Enang (second left) and House of Representatives Chief Whip Ado Dogowa.
    • The provisions for some nationally/regionally strategic infrastructure projects such as counter-part funding for the Mambilla Power Plant, Second Niger Bridge/ancillary roads, the East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project, were cut by an aggregate of N11.5 billion.
    • Similarly, provisions for some ongoing critical infrastructure projects in the FCT, Abuja especially major arterial roads and the mass transit rail project, were cut by a total of N7.5 billion.
    • The provision for rehabilitation and additional security measures for the United Nations (UN) Building by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, was cut by N3.9 billion from N4 billion to N100 million; this will make it impossible for the Federal Government of Nigeria to fulfill its commitment to the UN on this project.
    • The provisions for various strategic interventions in the health sector such as the upgrade of some tertiary health institutions, transport and storage of vaccines through the cold chain supply system, provision of anti-retroviral drugs for persons on treatment, establishment of chemotherapy centres and procurement of dialysis consumables were cut by an aggregate amount of N7.45 billion.
    • The provision for security infrastructure in the 104 Unity Schools across the country were cut by N3 billion at a time when securing our students against acts of terrorism ought to be a major concern of government.
    • The provision for the Federal Government’s National Housing programme was cut by N8.7 billion.
    • At a time when we are working with labour to address compensation-related issues, a total of N5 billion was cut from the provisions for Pension Redemption Fund and Public Service Wage Adjustment.
    • The provisions for Export Expansion Grant (EEG) and Special Economic Zones/Industrial Parks, which are key industrialisation initiatives of this administration, were cut by a total of N14.5 billion.
    • The provision for the construction of the Terminal Building at Enugu Airport was cut from N2 billion to N500 million which will further delay the completion of this critical project.
    • The take-off grant for the Maritime University in Delta State, a key strategic initiative of the Federal Government, was cut from N5 billion to N3.4 billion.
    • About seventy (70) new road projects have been inserted into the budget of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing. In doing so, the National Assembly applied some of the additional funds expected from the upward review of the oil price benchmark to the ministry’s vote.  Regrettably, however, in order to make provision for some of the new roads, the amounts allocated to some strategic major roads have been cut by the National Assembly.
    • Another area of concern is the increase by the National Assembly of the provisions for statutory transfers by an aggregate of N73.96 billion. Most of these increases are for recurrent expenditure at a time we are trying to keep down the cost of governance.

    An example of this increase is the budget of the National Assembly itself which has increased by N14.5 billion, from N125 billion to N139.5 billion without any discussion with the executive.

    Notwithstanding the above stated observations, I have decided to sign the 2018 Budget in order not to further slowdown the pace of recovery of our economy, which has doubtlessly been affected by the delay in passing the budget.

    However, it is my intention to seek to remedy some of the most critical of these issues through a supplementary and/or amendment budget which I hope the National Assembly will be able to expeditiously consider.

    I am pleased with the success recorded in the implementation of the 2017 Budget.  A total sum N1.5 trillion has been released for the implementation of capital projects during the 2017 fiscal year.  In response to this and other policy measures implemented, we have observed significant improvement in the performance of the Nigerian economy.

    To achieve the laudable objectives of the 2018 Budget, we will work very hard to generate the revenues required to finance our projects and programmes.  The positive global oil market outlookS, as well as continuing improvement in non-oil revenues make us optimistic about our ability to finance the budget.

    However, being a deficit budget, the Borrowing Plan will be forwarded to the National Assembly shortly.  I crave the indulgence of the National Assembly for a speedy consideration and approval of the Plan.

    The 2018 Budget I have just signed into law provides for aggregate expenditures of N9.12 trillion, which is 22.6 per cent higher than the 2017 Appropriation.  Further details of the approved budget will be provided by the Minister of Budget & National Planning.

    I thank the ministers of Budget & National Planning, the Budget Office of the Federation, and everyone who worked tirelessly and sacrificed so much to bring us to this day.  However, the job is only partly done.

    I am sure you will remain committed to advancing our Change Agenda, not only in the preparation of the national budget but also in ensuring its effective implementation.

  • Boko Haram IDPs celebrate final return of peace to the North-east

    ….commend Buhari, Buratai’s commitment

    No fewer than 2, 000 persons displaced from north east as result of activities of the Boko Haram insurgents are  finally returning  to their ancestral homes from Abuja and environs where they have been living for years.

    The IDPS, who were hitherto house in Kuchigoro camp and other annexes in the nation’s capital on Friday, stormed the Unity Fountain to thank the President, Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Army for liberating their villages from the grips of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    Speaking on behalf of the former IDP, Mrs Maryam Nuhu, called on the relevant authorities to fish out those who have been sponsoring the Boko Haram sect that had made the country volatile.

    Nuhu also saluted the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for his tenacity, to make sure IDPs can return home.

    She recall with nostalgia, “For years we were displaced persons in our own country, at the Kuchigoro IDPs camp and other annexes in Abuja and neighboring states. The measure of comfort and care provided us almost made us to resign to calling these camps home. But even if we had been quartered in the most glamourous of the hotels in the nation’s capital, the affinity for our ancestral lands would have still pulled us to return home as it did now.

    “The only thing that would have kept us away from our home is the terror attacks of Boko Haram that uprooted us in the first place. However, Boko Haram has become history as far as we are concerned. Whatever the terror group is capable of right now is no different from the kind of criminality that can occur on the streets of any of the world’s many towns and cities.

    “Our towns and villages have been cleared of these terrorists. We can now confidently return home to pick up our lives from the points where we will meet them. Of course the scars of our losses are there but they are scars that will remind us of the healing that sincere leadership can bring as opposed to the dark side of humanity that Boko Haram its backers want us to know.

    “Mr. President, thanks you for making it possible  for us to be returning home. Our sad story took a turn for the better because of the Caliber  of military leaders you appointed.
    We thank the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai for his tenacity. He went the extra mile to ensure IDPs can return home. From him we have the assurance that we will be protected when we get home.

    “It is proper that we also appreciate the troops. Their sacrifices, in many instances the supreme price, make it possible for us to be returning home today. We say thank you.
    “We want to make meaningful contributions to the economy; we want the Northeast to again be known as a hub for commerce so we need all the incentives we can get to make this happen.

    “We therefore call on Mr. President to intensify efforts towards providing whatever infrastructures are still lacking in our places. Mr President should encourage his appointees to support IDPs to return home to start farming, agro-processing, and small scale ventures that will guarantee everyone a quick win.

    “We believe that returning home is the right thing to do and that now is the best time to do so. We do not wish for or ancestral lands to become wilderness neither do we want the left over of Boko Haram fighters to get free spaces from where to plot further evil. When our towns and villages are occupied by us we can police them through community effort. But we will require that the Nigeria Police Force maintain a robust presence to complement what the Nigerian Army is already doing.

    “In terms of justice, for us it goes beyond the terrorists that have been killer in military operations or jailed after trial. Justice should extend to finding out those that made it possible for Boko Haram to dispense terror. They live in comfort in many Nigerian cities and other world capitals; they enjoy themselves while they made us suffer. Justice would be letting the world know who these people really are and what they did to turn a portion of Nigeria into hell before President Buhari, through the Nigerian Army, redeemed us from the brink.”

    The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and Publicity, Garba Shehu who received the IDPs at the gate said steps are being taken to rescue the country from terrorist using the Nigerian Army.

    He said the President is with all Nigerians that have been displaced from their homes.

    “There is no day that he doesnt express concern about the plights of the IDPs and he is doing everything possible to relocate them all back to their various communities.

    “It is a slow process but with international support, it shall be done, efforts are on to provide infrastructures to the North East to relocate all displaced Nigerians”he said