The Nation Newspaper

Tag: BUHARI

  • Labour urges Buhari to address salary disparity in civil service

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the Federal Government to resolve the low pay and huge salary disparity in the civil service  compared to the Federal Government’s ministries, department and agencies (MDAs).

    Its President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the government must respect International Labour Organisation (ILO) principle of equal pay for work of equal value.

    “Congress calls on the government to remedy the low pay and huge salary disparity in the core civil service when compared to other MDAs. I want to also call on the government to stop forthwith the use of consultants in executing tasks that the personnel in our civil service can render. The consultancy business in government circles has turned into a major conduit pipe for national resources. We need to plug that leak,” he said.

    According to him, the payment of promotion arrears, transfer allowance and other legitimate claims of workers should be attended to as when due.

    “We also urge the government to provide the working tools and facilities that can make workers more effective and productive,” he said.

    The public service, he said,  remains the engine room of the government for the implementation of people-oriented policies and programmes.

    “We urge the government to revisit the policy that discarded the eight years tenure for Permanent Secretaries and Directors in our civil service. The current policy has made our bureaucracy top heavy. Government should think this policy through to avoid talent haemorrhage and redundancy,” Wabba said.

    Speaking further, he said government workers in some states are owed salaries arrears, pensions and gratuities, despite the bailouts, budget support and Paris Club refund to states.

    He said despite the money released by the Federal Government for states to offset salary liabilities, some states refused to clear their salary arrears.

    “In the past four years, the NLC embarked on a number of industrial actions in states that are owing workers arrears of salaries. The NLC organised protest marches in Imo, Kogi, Nasarawa, Oyo, Osun, Ebonyi, Kaduna and Benue states to protest the poor working conditions of workers.

    “We commend the Federal Government for releasing about N1.9 trillion to state governments through bailouts, budget support and Paris Club refund.

    “The release of about N1.9 trillion in the form of bailout, budget support and Paris Club refund assisted greatly in addressing the non-payment of salary, pensions and gratuity in many states, especially worker-friendly governors. In some few instances, the funds were diverted and the situation has not been fully addressed,” Wabba said.

  • ‘Urhobo will give Buhari one million votes’

    Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) has said the only way the Urhobo nation can reciprocate President Muhammadu Buhari’s kind gesture is to give him their over one million votes on February 16.

    Omo-Agege, who spoke during his ward to ward campaign at Oria Abraka, Eku, Isiokolo and other communities in Ethiope East, said Urhobo has no other option but to re-elect President Buhari.

    According to him, Buhari has endeared himself to the Urhobo people as a friend and leader, and it will be to their benefit if they use their vote to thank him.

    He urged the people not to be intimidated by the planned use of security agents by the opposition to harass them, saying the Federal Government will provide security for every Nigerian, particularly Deltans to ensure the election is violence-free.

    Omo-Agege said: “I assure you that Ogboru is our governor come March 2, while President Buhari will be re-elected for a second term on February 16.

    “The PDP administration has consistently failed us as a people, but it was President Buhari who gave us hope as a people. Now, someone who served in the 16 years of PDP failure is coming to ask us to vote for him, how does it sound?

    “Ogboru is from Ethiope East, this is his home, and we expect everyone to vote for him to ensure that Urhobo delivers their bloc votes to him and President Buhari. I am supporting President Buhari because he has the interest of the Urhobo nation at heart, and he did a lot for the Urhobo people in his first term.”

  • PDP to Buhari: Your Presidency reeks of corruption

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari has failed the integrity test and has no moral rectitude to pontificate on corruption.

    The PDP said the President has entangled himself and soiled his administration in corruption.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said if there is any person whose activities of corruption have become a threat to the coming election, it is President Buhari.

    The main opposition party accused the President of financing his campaign with looted funds, while surrounding himself with politicians indicted for corruption.

    The statement was a reaction to President Buhari’s accusation of corruption against the PDP, particularly with regards to the opposition party’s campaign expenses.

    But the PDP it has all the while refrained from calling out the President on his “various indictments” for corruption, even during his reign as a military ruler.The statement reads, “A clear reading of Mr. President’s statement today shows that he is not yet aware that Nigerians have decoded his mastery of concealments of corruption in his Presidency and are no longer interested in his failed self-acclaimed fight against corruption.

    “President Buhari presides over the most corrupt and incompetent administration in the history of our nation, for which Nigerians are very eager to go to the polls on Saturday to vote him out of office.

    “If Mr. President were to be aware, he would have discovered that his entire surrounding reeks of moral, institutional and integrity corruption.

    “But since he has consistently claimed not to be aware of anything around him, it is imperative to let him know that the fish in his pond is rotten from the head.

    “Clinical examples can be drawn from his campaign council. Nigerians are aware that not a few members of this council have been indicted for malfeasance bordering on corruption

    “Is it not strange therefore that President Buhari who wants Nigerians to perceive his administration as fighting corruption, will cast a net into the ocean and bring out only corrupt people to run his campaign?

    “The truth is that Nigerians have seen more than enough of the fake fight against corruption and have come to a conclusion that President Buhari is merely paying lip services to this fight. He has no intention to do it and even if he had the opportunity to govern perpetually, he will never fight corruption.

    “Rather than seeking for sympathy votes, President Buhari should simply admit his failure in governance and allow Nigerians to build their future by getting our nation working again under the leadership of Atiku Abubakar”.

     

  • Nnewi traders, Innoson endorse Buhari, Ubah

    Traders in Nnewi markets, Anambra state and Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Innoson Group of Companies, Chief Innocent Chukwuma have adopted President Mohammadu Buhari for reelection.

    The businessmen also endorsed Senator Andy Ubah for reelection to represent Anambra South Senatorial district of the State.

    The traders in their large numbers, made a firm promise to vote for Buhari, Ubah and all the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates at the poll.

    Chief Chukwuma said the endorsement of Ubah’s reelection to the Senate was for continuity, having been conversant with the workings of the Upper Chamber.

    “I appeal to our people to support Ubah through their votes and President Buhari in the forthcoming elections as well as other APC candidates,” he said.

    Responding, Senator Ubah said he was overwhelmed by the outpour of support he received at the trip, appealing it be translated to massive voting during the elections.

    He promised to attract more patronage to Innoson’s vehicles when after becoming the next Senate President.

    Ubah, had on arrival to Nnewi with over 2,000 members of his entourage, moved straight to Nkwo Nnewi market visiting every section including the timber market recently gutted by fire to see the extent the area has been reconstructed.

    Also accompanied by Deputy Governorship candidate in Anambra, 2017, Dozie Ikedife  jnr, the lawmaker also visited the four quarters of Nnewi community where he received a warm reception.

  • Victory is yours, Oba of Lagos tells Buhari

    THE Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, yesterday described President Muhammadu Buhari as a man of his words, adding that he would be victorious in Saturday’s presidential election.

    Akiolu spoke when Buhari and his campaign team visited his palace at Iga Iduganra shortly after arriving the state in continuation of the presidential rallies ahead of the Feb. 16 election.

    The traditional leader, who noted that the body of traditional rulers in the state is happy to receive the team, said they appreciated Buhari’s efforts as a highly respected person in Nigeria.

    He assured Buhari that there would be a repeat of his 2015 electoral victory in the coming election.

    “Give Buhari another chance and you will see how Nigeria will move forward,” Akiolu said.

    The monarch decried the rot that past administrations left behind in the country.

    “We should not go back to the past again. Now that you are here, Isha Allau, on Feb. 16, God will open the way for you. The best will happen to you,” he said.

    Akiolu, the Chairman, Lagos State Traditional Council of Obas and Chiefs, thanked the President for his achievements since assuming office and urged Nigerians to continue to support him.

    He listed a catalogue of requests, including mass transit and pressing issues on the Apapa Ports, which he said had all been committed into writing.

    Akiolu presented Buhari with a Quran as he prayed for him.

    In his response, Buhari commended Akiolu’s appreciation of the efforts of his government.

    “I appreciate all you have said and I assure you that I will continue to do my best.

    “The promise we made through our party in 2015, our country needs to be secured and properly managed.

    “If there is no security, we cannot do anything no matter your resources. We thank God our efforts have brought some fruits,” Buhari said.

    He said that his government was working hard to end importation of rice and ensure self-dependence.

    “We can feed ourselves and the money we save, we can put it in infrastructure; we are building the roads, we are building the rails and we are building power.

    “But the failure of former administrations in spite of enormous revenue they got to develop infrastructure is amazing,” Buhari said.

    He commended the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on his hard work and efficiency for keeping contractors on their toes, saying that he has done creditably well.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode said the state was very delighted to receive the President and for all he had done for the state.

    ”It is my pleasure to welcome Mr President and Mr Vice President to the palace of the Oba of Lagos, who is the chairman of the council of Obas and Chiefs in Lagos State.

    ”On behalf of all of them, we welcome you to Lagos State in continuation of your presidential campaign rally.

    “We are very delighted to receive you; we are very appreciative of everything that you have done for us in Lagos State.

    “All our Kabiyesis are also very appreciative,” Ambode said.

    According to him, Lagos has remained very peaceful in the last four years and the security and safety of Lagos cannot be underscored without the cooperation of all our traditional rulers.

    He commended specially the Oba of Lagos and other traditional rulers for keeping the peace for the government.

    According to Ambode, the President, Vice President and other party stalwarts are in the palace to receive royal blessings.

    He added that with the royal blessings, APC will continue to hold strong in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari who arrived the palace at exactly 10:59 am departed with his team before noon.

    In the team were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, APC Chieftain Bisi Akande, the National Leader of APC, Sen. Bola Tinubu and others.

  • Kwara APC commends Buhari on new appointment

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been commended for nominating an illustrious son of Kwara State, Alhaji Shuaib Yaman Abdullahi, as a commissioner on the new board of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). Deputy Coordinator, Field Operations, Presidential Campaign Council Kwara State, Kayode Oyin-Zubair, commended President Buhari in a statement issued in Ilorin yesterday.

    “President Buhari has again demonstrated his love for the good people of Kwara State. This administration since it came onboard has given more attention to the welfare of our people and development of the state than its predecessor.Today, Kwara has two ambassadors, a senior minister and several others on various boards. We would have been celebrating Hon. Benjamin Yisa too as a commissioner in Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), if not for the politics of bitterness played by the hawks led by Bukola Saraki that denied us that benefit.

    “This nomination of Alhaji Shuaib Yaman Abdullahi from the north senatorial district excites us in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidential Campaign Council as it will be another promise kept to tell the electorate that President Buhari means well for Kwara.

    “Our party and government are not promising to shift governorship to Kwara North in 2023 but already showing our love and affinity to our people in the north.

    “This is the time for stewardship – we want the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the control of Bukola Saraki to mention how he has helped the region in the last four years. He will do well to tell us, why he mobilised his colleagues to deny them representation in government. President Buhari has two ambassadors from Kwara North and the newest addition a commissioner on RMAFC.

    “We implore Kwarans to come out in good numbers on Monday to receive President Muhammadu Buhari and vote massively next Saturday,” the statement concluded.

     

  • Economic policies achieving results – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday in Lagos that his administration’s economic policies are making the desired impact.

    The impact, he said, is evident in the steady growth in the economy in the last three years.

    Buhari, speaking at a meeting with representatives of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises said : ”Inflation is coming down steadily, there is stability in the exchange rate and foreign exchange is readily available for genuine business. Foreign reserves are adequate and growing; capital inflows have increased and the trade balance is positive.”

    The President was also quoted by his Special Adviser on Median and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, as saying that he had kept his promise to boost the economy, through blocking leakages in government finances, increasing capital expenditure and inflows, and implementing the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), among others.

    He added: ”Growth was higher in 2017 than in 2016, data even from external sources shows that it will be higher in 2018 than in 2017.  I am confident that as we stay the course, it will be better still at the end of 2019.

    ”We are paying off debts that were not even publicly acknowledged before now, including those owed to states, the electricity sector, oil marketers, exporters, backlog of salaries of workers and pensioners, amongst others.

    ”Our commitment is reflected in the resources that we are providing for infrastructure.  In 2016 and 2017, capital expenditure was up to N2.7 trillion while over N800m has been released under the current budget.

    ”This has been complemented by the inception of the $650 million Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund which will focus initially on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the Second Niger Bridge, the Abuja-Kano expressway and the Mambilla hydropower plant,” he said.

    The President also highlighted completed and ongoing projects in the transport and aviation sector, expressing delight that the rail projects are generating excitement across the country because it would help local businesses to grow.

    ”The Abuja-Kaduna railway is up and running.  The Itakpe-Warri line is being test-run before going commercial.  The completed portion of the Abuja light rail project is facilitating movement to the airport.

    ”The Lagos-Ibadan railway is nearing completion with people already taking test rides on the completed portions. We are determined to work at the same pace on the Coastal Railway Line and the line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri.

    ”We completed the repairs to the runway in Abuja in record time, and just a few weeks ago, I commissioned the Baro Inland Port. All these achievements will help Nigerian businesses to grow,” he said.

     

  • Only God can punish PDP for looting Nigeria dry — Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari declared yesterday that  only God would punish the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for looting Nigeria dry during its 16 years in power.

    But he vowed that every proved case of corruption would be prosecuted.

    Buhari, at a meeting with local and international support groups at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said ill-gotten properties of the guilty would be confiscated and sold and  the money realized would be put into the treasury for public use.

    Buhari said that upon his assumption of office, he approached the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who told him there was no money in the federal treasury.

    He noted that there was no infrastructure or any developmental achievements to justify the draining of the substantial earnings from crude oil.

    He said: “I have said this for the umpteenth time and I have challenged them to prove me wrong. In those 16 years of the PDP rule, Nigeria was getting 2.1 million times 100 (2.1 million barrels by $100 per barrel) every day, every week, but when we came on board, the price fell to between $37 and $38 and hung around $40-$50.

    ”I went to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and asked him for money and he said there was no money.”

    The last time road rehabilitation took place, he said, was under General Sani Abacha, when he served as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund, stressing that the roads were rehabilitated up to the east.

    Speaking on his integrity, Buhari said: “If I didn’t stick to my principle of accountability, I would have been in trouble by now and I have no regrets.

    ”Everybody wants to be comfortable, but the most important thing is to live within your means and bear the consequence.”

    On why he visited the neighboring countries shortly after he was sworn in, he said: “If you don’t establish good relations with your neighbours, you will spend more on security.”

    The leader of the delegation, Dr. Mahmud Mohammed, said the groups supported him because of his integrity and commitment.

    He said for the first time in the history of campaigns, they were campaigning with meagre funds generated from well-wishers because the president specifically directed that no money from the public funds should be spent on his campaign.

    He said: “From tomorrow, we will not sleep. We still start house to house, shop to shop and market to market campaign to ensure your victory.”

  • 53 parties endorse Buhari ahead of APC rally in Lagos

    Ahead of the Saturday mega rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, a coalition of 53 political parties has endorsed the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the decision was based on the president’s achievements in the last three years.

    The coalition, under the banner of Coalition of Political Parties in Lagos State (COPPILS), declared its support for Buhari at an event in Surulere.

    The event was witnessed by the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), APC’s National Legal Adviser, Babatunde Ogala, the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and thelawmaker representing Lagos East in the Senate, Gbenga Ashafa, among others.

    Director of Publicity of the coalition, Shakirudeen Olofin, said the 53 parties had directed their members to work with the APC to deliver Lagos to Buhari, noting that they took the decision to support him because of the infrastructure projects his administration has executed in the south west.

    According to a communiqué issued by the coalition and signed by its convener, Akinola Obadia, the APC-led Federal Government had sited more projects in Lagos to consolidate the status of the state as the fastest growing economy in Africa, and such stride must be sustained for sustainable development.

    The communiqué read: “Based on the numerous achievements of the President Buhari in the last three and half years, which include reduction in $5 million importation spending, infrastructure projects on Lagos-Ibadan axis and the flag of Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonsoki-Ojota Expressway, the coalition hereby endorses the candidacy of President Buhari.”

    Hailing the decision of parties to support President Buhari’s re-election bid, Fashola said Lagos residents had no choice than to return APC to power, arguing that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in its 16 years dominance at the centre, left infrastructure in the state to rot.

  • Buhari sends names of RMAFC chairman, commissioners to Senate for confirmation

    President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded to the Senate for confirmation, the names of 30 nominees as Chairman and Commissioners of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, said that it was in accordance with the provision of Section 154 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

    He said, that, the names were conveyed in a letter signed by the President to the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, which asked for expeditious consideration and confirmation of the appointments.

    The nominees include Elias Mbam as Chairman while the commissioners are Chris Alozie Akomas, Ayang Sunday Okon, Chima Philip Okafor, Prof. Isa B. Mohammed, Samuel Adaa Maagbe, Ntufam Eyo Nsa Whiley.

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    Others members are Andrew Ogheneovo Agbaga, Patrick Nworu Mgbebu, Victor Eboigbe, Amujo Philip Ajayi, Maria Chinyere Aniobi, Musa Tanko Abari, Mohammed Kabeer Usman.

    Also in the list are Alhaji Ahmed Mahmoud Gumel, Kabir Muhammad Mashi, Umar Farouk Abdullahi, Rilwan Hussein Abarshi, Suleiman Kokori Abdul, Abdullahi Shuaibu Yaman, Wright Olusegun Adekunle, Aliyu A. Abdulkadir, Ibrahim Bako Bagudu Shettima, Fari Adebayo, Tokunbo Ajasin.

    Other Commissioners are Kolade Daniel Abimbola, Alexander Shaiyen, Wenah Asondu Temple, Alhaji Modu Aji Juluri, and Abubakar Sadiq Gusau.