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Tag: Federal government

  • Rivers govt warns against militancy, pipeline vandalism

    Rivers govt warns against militancy, pipeline vandalism

    The Rivers State government has warned militant youths who are vandalising pipelines and other installations of oil companies in the Niger Delta to sheathe their swords and embrace the truce initiated by the Federal Government.

    Rivers Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, made the admonition yesterday at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

    She called on stakeholders to ensure a lasting solution to the endemic poverty and poor infrastructural development in the crude oil and gas-rich region and work towards upgrading the capital base of Port Harcourt like that of Abuja and Lagos, to equate it as truly the Industrial hub of Nigeria.

    Harry-Banigo stated that the continuous bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta by the Niger Delta Avengers and other militant groups was inimical to economic, environmental and human survival, stressing that the water, land and the entire ecosystem were being polluted and destroyed.

    Rivers deputy governor noted that although the vandalism of oil facilities in the Niger Delta was being perpetuated outside Rivers state, but called on parents and guardians across the region to prevail on their children and wards to shun acts that would impede the actualisation of peace and sustainable development in the Niger Delta.

    Harry-Banigo also said there was the need for an aggressive, pragmatic and holistic development master plan that would transform the lives of the people and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the Niger Delta, pointing out that militancy and youth restiveness would be greatly reduced, when the people of the region were gainfully engaged.

    Meanwhile, the Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, also yesterday inaugurated the caretaker committee chairmen of three local government areas of the state, with a charge to them to support the ongoing security drive, to rid the state of cultists.

    Those inaugurated included Gbara Erelo (Khana LG council), Monday  Dum-Iye (Gokana) and Adonye Kelly Diri (Opobo/Nkoro).

    Wike stated that the caretaker committee chairmen had a responsibility to cooperate with security agencies to build the security architecture of their LGAs.

    He noted that any of the caretaker chairmen who failed to cooperate with the security agencies would lose his appointment.

    Rivers governor said: “Make sure you cooperate with the security agencies to flush out cultists. We cannot allow the cultists disturb the peace and security of the state. Enough is enough.”

    Wike also disclosed that he had received security reports, which he said the security agencies would act upon, as they relate to the sponsors of the cultists.

    He noted that any official of the Rivers government found to be connected to the cultists would be arrested and prosecuted.

    The governor also directed the caretaker committee chairmen to ensure that they pay their workers’ monthly salaries regularly.

     

  • FG begins recruitment of 500,000 unemployed graduates next week

    FG begins recruitment of 500,000 unemployed graduates next week

    The Federal Government on Wednesday announced the commencement of recruitment of 500,000 unemployed graduates to benefit from the N500 billion social investment Programme included in the 2016 Budget.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande.

    The Buhari presidency, the statement said, will start taking applications via online for positions in the 500,000 direct teacher jobs scheme, through an internet portal named npower.gov.ng.

    It said that the applications were expected to start coming in on June 12, as the portal would formally be launched on Saturday, June 11.

    Qualified young unemployed Nigerians were therefore urged to visit the website and apply.

    It reads: “It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari in his May 29th Democracy Day broadcast to the nation formally launched the unprecedented social investment programmes already provided for under the 2016 Appropriation by the administration.

    “The 500,000 Teacher Corps, nicknamed N-Power Teach on the portal, is one of the three direct job creation and training schemes Nigerians can start applying for from Sunday, June 12.

    “Others are N-Power Knowledge which will train 25,000 Nigerians in the area of technology, and N-Power Build, which train another 75,000 in the areas of building services, construction, utilities, hospitality and catering, automotive vocations, aluminium and gas services.

    “All trainees would be paid for the duration of their training. The N-Power Teacher Corps initiative which will engage and train 500,000 young unemployed graduates is a paid volunteer programme of a 2-year duration.

    “Unemployed Nigerians selected and trained will play teaching, instructional, and advisory roles in primary, and secondary schools, agricultural extension systems across the country, public health and community education-covering civic and adult education.

    “Besides their monthly take home pay estimated at about N23, 000, the selected 500,000 graduates will also get computer devices that will contain information necessary for their specific engagement, as well as information for their continuous training and development. They get to keep the devices even after exiting from the programme.

    “According to the plan of the Buhari administration, the N-Power Teacher Corps programme is an invaluable opportunity for young Nigerians to make immense economic and social contributions to the nation while developing their skills. It will also help to address the problems of inadequate teachers in public schools.

    “Also, persons enlisted under the scheme will gain work experience and acquire key competencies through academic and non-academic capacity building programmes intended to improve their competitiveness in the workplace. Their devices will come loaded with knowledge-oriented applications and software that will enable them acquire the skills and capacity.

    “Under the N-Power Knowledge scheme, there are three aspects: Creative, Technology Software and Hardware. These three sub-divisions would will train 25,000 young Nigerians in all.

    “5000 of them would be trained in Animation, Graphic Design, Post-Production, Script-Writing. All of those under the sub-division of N-Power Knowledge-creative category.

    “The N-Power Knowledge scheme also has a technology category in two aspects: hardware and software. 10,000 Nigerians would be trained, and equipped in the area of software development, including web designers, and another 10,000 in hardware expertise including to repair, maintain and assemble mobile phones, tablets, computers and other devices.

    “Also the N-Power Build category was designed realizing that the presence of a well-trained and highly skilled youth population in any economy has direct impact on entrepreneurship/wealth creation, which in turn leads to a decline in unemployment.

    ‘N-Power Build is therefore an accelerated training and certification (Skills to Job/Enterprise) programme that will engage and train 75,000 young unemployed Nigerians in order to build a new crop of skilled and highly competent workforce of technicians, artisans and service professionals.” it stated

    On other schemes, the statement said: “The other schemes in the Buhari presidency Social Investment Programmes which would soon be rolled out in the coming weeks. These include the Conditional Cash Transfer that pays N5000 monthly to one million Nigerians, the Micro-Credit Scheme for more than 1.5 million Nigerians, the Home Grown School Feeding programme that will serve 5.5 million Nigerian pupils in primary school a free hot meal per day this year and the Education support grant programme for 100,000 tertiary students in Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics, STEM and education.”

  • FG, states collaborate to end Niger Delta crisis

    FG, states collaborate to end Niger Delta crisis

    The Federal Government and states in the Niger Delta region on Tuesday agreed to work together to ensure peace and end the bombings of oil and power installations in the region.

    This was part of the decisions reached at a closed door meeting involving the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, service chiefs and states from the Niger Delta region.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting in the Presidential Villa, Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, said that the collaboration will also include intelligence sharing.

    Stressing that the meeting was very fruitful, he said that a lot of other decisions that will mitigate the crisis in the states particularly, Bayelsa and Delta, were also agreed upon.

    One of the decisions, he said, was deployment of military operations in waterways around troubled communities.

    He said: “We governors of the oil producing states, security chiefs and ministers who are concerned met with the Vice President and I believe we had a very fruitful meeting.

    “One thing we identified which is the synergy between the Federal Government and the States which is very important and this meeting has raised a lot of issues and we believe that the collaboration will help us to tackle the issues in the Niger Delta.

    “Of course we were briefed by the service chiefs and the governors also have their own perspectives along with the minister of state petroleum. We have taken a lot of decisions which will help us mitigate what is going on currently in the states particularly Bayelsa and Delta,” he said.

    The governor added: “We believe we are going to find solution to it. One of such is that there is a need for us to share intelligence which is very important and for us to be proactive, working together with the various stakeholders in the states to achieve a better result going forward.

    “We have also agreed that there is a need to distill military operations directly in communities, but the military need to actually remain on our waterways to ensure that we adequately man the waterways itself while we engage the communities and that engagement process is starting any moment from now,” he stated

    When asked to give a date the amnesty programme will be revisited as a way out of the crisis, the Governor said that the programme was never stopped.

    He said: “I think the process is still ongoing, we have a Special Adviser in charge of amnesty and it is doing very well. I am aware that he did come in to talk with some of the communities and along with the advocacy team that was put up in Delta state.  He did brief us today and I believe it is going to be maintained.”

    On when the implementation of the meeting’s outcomes will start, he said: “Right from today, there is a meeting right after this and we are going to be collaborating even as we return to our various states.”

    On his part, Oshiomhole said: “You have been briefed by my brother from Delta and whatever he told you that is the truth of it. We agreed that we all have to work together to refocus on development issues, economic issues, military issues and community issues. Whatever he has told you there, that is what we have agreed to do.

    While stating that the amnesty programme has been on, he noted that a time lag could have resulted from the little transition of having a new leadership.

    Stressing that there have been stories about non-payment concerning the programme, he said that the problems are being addressed while funds are being provided.

    He said: “I believe the government recognizes that the amnesty programme has to be sustained but also we can improve on it because we have trained people.

    “People have been sent for training and they have come back and they should be able to apply those skills. If they don’t apply the skills they become skilled but then unemployed, then the problem persists.

    “We need multiple tools to deal with the issues. Fortunately for the people to be able to apply the skills that they acquired in the course of the amnesty training, they need an environment that is investment friendly because unless for example if you have skills in underwater welding, you need the oil companies to be doing business to recruit people like that to carry out those kinds of special skill.

    “If you have skill in all sorts of things without economic activity, you cannot deploy your skills. One thing leads to the other. In the first instance the man has no skill, the first challenge is to give him skill.
    That is being done and when he has finished and acquired that skill the final challenge is to get him a place to work to earn money and to develop a lifestyle that is sustainable to add and contribute to the development of his community and the rest of our people they need to see the quality of life improving.

    “What Okowa said was the correct representation of what transpired at the meeting.
    Nigeria is not at war and we cannot be at war with ourselves.

    “If we have conflicts, we will talk through those conflicts. There are laws that have to be enforced. I think that in all of these the whole idea is to find peace that is functional, that creates environment for very decent Nigerians to live their lives.” He added

    Other state governors at the meeting included Bayelsa, Rivers, Ondo and Abia.

    Also at the meeting were the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru.

  • Railway Deaths: FG orders authority to stop people hanging on train

    Railway Deaths: FG orders authority to stop people hanging on train

    The Minister of Transportation Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has ordered railway authority to partner with security agencies and stop people hanging on train across the country.

    Amaechi  who gave the charge yesterday at the first Lagos Traffic Radio Lecture Series held in Lagos said he was terrified by the number of people he saw hanging on a moving train in Lagos.

    The minister said it is the responsibility of the government to protect lives of its citizenry, saying it will be better to allow passengers who cannot afford the transport fare to sit in the train than for them to lose their lives.

    He noted that the process of migrating workforce and people who commute from one location, area, state to another for the purpose of engaging in employment is still very difficult in the country, saying the present government is making frantic effort to make transportation easy in the country.

    According to him, “In fact, as families migrate due to employment purposes, they are compelled to move with children who require transportation to attend schools. Where transportation is lacking, the level of distress for the working parents and children becomes increased.

    “Studies of the travel behaviour of the migrating workforce in the UK and US10   for example show that   Migrants are concentrated in metropolitan areas where public transport provision is high.

    “In the UK in particular, 40 percent of the non-EEA migrant population live in London compared to UK nationals. Researchers in the US on the other hand reveal that migrants’ would prefer residential locations that are well served by public transport. The research further reveals that In developing countries, Migrants’ travel is strongly associated with the use of non-car-driving modes of travel (including public transport including buses, trains, underground/light rail, walking, cycling and car sharing. )

    “Therefore, availability of efficient and affordable transportation in a location   is a major consideration for  the  choice  migrants make   to  look for employment  and places of residence.

    According to him, as far as mass transportation is concerned, there is evidence to show that inadequacy in transport infrastructure and services has contributed significantly to the prevalence of poverty across various Nigerian communities in both urban and rural areas.

    The minster explained that the problems of Nigerian transport system have varied across various sub-sectors including air, water, rail and road transport.

    He urged Lagos State government to make its policy on water transportation known to the Federal Government before it considers numerous proposals from the private sector operators.

    The minister also said the Lagos –Ibadan railway line which is part of the Lagos- Kano railway line will be completed with two and half years, saying the Lagos –Port Harcourt Calabar railway line will be ready within two and half years

    Also, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola in his paper title ‘Exploring Transportation Beyond Roads’, said the strategic transport master plan conceived by Lagos State Government to address the various issues within the sector proposes to push the share of rail transportation to 21 percent adding that the last three years efforts have been directed at establishing a bus route network that will service the state.

    According to him, Lagos needs 450 bus routes 20, 000 buses to service 10 million passenger trips happening daily.

    The Commissioner, while explaining the strategic Transport Master Plan said the aim was to develop a fully integrated mass rapid transit system to cover the activity centers within the megacity region.

    He said six rail lines, 1 mono rail line 14 BRT routes, 3 cable car projects and over 20 water routes are to be developed with implementation strategies being traffic management, ensuring an efficient public transport and transport integration.

    Mobereola, who further stressed the benefit of the plan to include carbon emission reduction of 8 million tons per annum, also noted that 80% of transport journeys (less than 25km) will be completed within 60 minutes when plan comes fully on stream.

    He also stated that the State Government will continue to promote water transportation by undertaking the dredging of waterways along the 26 water routes that have been identified.

  • Foundation to FG: Prioritise vocational education in rural areas

    A Kogi State-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), Dove Love Foundation, has called on the Federal Government to emphasis on vocational education and skill acquisition as part of school curriculum in the rural areas.

    The president of the NGO, Mrs. Agnes Achimugu made the call on Thursday, during the graduation ceremony of fresh vocational trainees sponsored by the foundation, at Oguma, headquarters of Bassa local government.

    She opined that adequate attention was not being paid to rural dwellers under the nation’s school curricular.

    She asserted that improvement in human development was imperative for the economic development of any nation, stressing that vocational training remains integral to national development in Nigeria.

    Her words: “The progress of this country lies in the productivity of its citizens and I venture to stress that vocational education holds the key. Unfortunately, previous governments at all levels did not accord this model a deserving attention.

    “Vocational education especially for rural women is highly recommended because on successful completion of such a programme, the graduand becomes not only employable, but she also becomes  an employer. Vocational education makes beneficiaries, especially the women, to develop self-confidence and become self-reliant”.

    The Aguma of Bassa, Chief William keke Jimba expressed gratitude to the foundation, saying it was the first time he witnessed such ‘developmental model’ coming from an NGO to Bassa kingdom.

    He noted that the group was there on 31 October, 2014 “when she paid school fees for 30 secondary school pupils and “pledged to train at least 10 vulnerable people in our area”.

    Some of the beneficiaries including Paulina Gwatana, Yin Dangagra, Ruth Job, Grace Mohammed, Mulikatu Gwatana, Muritala Sherifat, Shaibu Rahmat, Kashe Jimba, Gbaje Patience and Nefisat Suleiman, took turns to express appreciation for the opportunity, saying they will make good use of it.

    The foundation according to the promoters has trained over 200 rural women in various skill acquisition programmes, providing them with working equipments for self-reliance.

    Speaking on behalf of the parents and guardians, Mr. Rufai Mustapha commended the foundation for impacting positively on the people of the area, particularly those in the lower economic strata.

  • FG to inject N6.5b in Capital Market

    FG to inject N6.5b in Capital Market

    The Federal Government is to inject the sum of N6.5 billion into the Capital Market, Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market, Senator Isiaka Adeleke has said.

    The information is coming even as Senators and members of the House of Representatives Wednesday commenced the process of shoring up the dwindling fortunes of the country’s Capital Market.

    At a joint press briefing of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Capital Market, the lawmakers said that they have resolved to rejuvenate the Capital Market to enable it play active role in revamping the economy of the country.

    Senator Adeleke who spoke on stakeholders’ forum on “realizing the full potentials of the Nigerian economy through proactive capital market legislation,” said that the government planned to inject N6.5 billion to shore up the fortunes of the Capital Market as well as to protect investors’ funds.

    He noted that the era of change in the country called for major shift in approaches to seeking solutions to political, social, and economic challenges facing the country.

    Senator Adeleke said that the National Assembly is aware of the dwindling fortunes of the Capital Market and by extension the economy.

    He said, “As a mono-product economy, with oil and gas constituting the life-blood, the global downturn has continued to negatively affect meaningful growth and development.

    “As a parliament we strongly believe that the downward slide of Nigeria’s economy provides the best opportunity for major stakeholders to begin to return the economy to vibrancy. We are confident that the Capital Market can and should perform this role.”

    Senator Adeleke also said that the National Assembly planned to enact legislation that would compel idle funds in bodies like Pension Funds to be used to stimulate the Capital Market to play expected role in the growth of the economy.

    The two chambers of the National Assembly, he said, “came to the jolting realization that the Nigerian economy cannot fully develop without making the capital market the hub or pivot of its developmental strides.”

    He said, “This market has long been neglected and denied its rightful and strategic role in our march towards economic recovery. The Capital Market is a veritable institution for the mobilization, allocation and utilization of long term funds, not just by the federal but also for states and local governments.”

    He added that the forum which intends to create an enabling legal environment for the achievement of the recommendations of the Capital Market Master Plan (2015 2025) is primed towards the rejuvenation of the economy.

    According to him, “the desire of the Joint Committee on the Capital Market and Institutions in this direction is to focus its legislative work in making the recommendations of the Master Plan the catalyst for achieving the infrastructural and development needs of a diversified national economy.”

    He said that the Joint Committee on the Capital Market will be interested in legislations that will encourage Nigerian entrepreneurs to have access to long term funds for productive activities as well as enhance their capacity to create employment opportunities.

    He also said that the committee would work to create liquidity and investment opportunities for both foreign and local investors as well as facilitate the translation of pension funds into investments for national economic development.

    “Laudable as these objectives are, we reason that they can only be achieved when stakeholders in the capital market are able to discuss issues and challenges that will bring about an optimal use of the capital market and mainstream the Nigerian capital market as a critical component in national economic policy.

    As legislators, we are ready to retool the laws guiding capital market operations or make new ones that would accelerate the relevance of the capital market in national economic development. Therefore, we seek to grow the Nigerian capital market to be in a position to contribute meaningfully to economic growth and development.

    “This will make the capital market spearhead development in key sectors of the national economy such as oil and gas, agriculture, tourism and hospitality,” Adeleke said.

     

     

  • 2016 Budget: FG strengthens monitoring and evaluation process

    2016 Budget: FG strengthens monitoring and evaluation process

    The Federal Government is now strengthening its monitoring and evaluation framework towards ensuring effective monitoring of ministries, departments and agencies’ compliance with the objective of the 2016 budget, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed has said.

    Speaking while receiving Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El Rufai who paid a courtesy call to her office, she emphasized the Federal Government’s determination to achieve all the laudable goals of the 2016 budget.

    “We are now strengthening our Monitoring and Evaluation Department, especially through staff training and retraining, including the application of accountability and transparency principles in our operation; DFID, UN and the World Bank are giving us support in this exercise.

    “We have started the strategic implementation plan on 2016 budget, developed the Medium Term Expenditure Frame Work (MTEF), working very hard towards economic diversification and infrastructural development,” Mrs Ahmed stated.

    Proudly recollecting the capabilities of El Rufai who is her foster brother, she noted that the governor has consistently outperformed many others, adding that her ministry will always solicit for his advice and guidance towards managing current economic challenges.

    “Wherever you have worked, no one surpassed your standard; since you left Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , no one has measured up to  your achievements.
    “Kaduna State today, you have ranked it as a state to be copied in development strides, as a useful resource person,” she added.

    Earlier, Governor has revealed plans to restructure his state’s Ministry of Budget and Planning into a Budget and Planning Commission, under an arrangement whereby the staff will enjoy better remunerations and excluded from posting to other ministries while their professional budget and planning skills will be enhanced.

    Governor El- Rufai further described both Senator Udo Udoma and Mrs Zainab Ahmed as ministers, noting that the Ministry of Budget and National Planning is in good hands under such ministerial functionaries.

  • Uduaghan to Buhari: Dialogue with Militants

    Uduaghan to Buhari: Dialogue with Militants

    Former Delta state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has advised the Federal Government to consider engagement and dialogue as an option towards arresting the upsurge of militancy in the Niger Delta.

    Recent attacks by the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers has crippled oil and gas production from Delta/Bayelsa axis of the Niger Delta and the ex-governor said peaceful engagement is the best option available.

    The former governor who was a key player in the offer amnesty to former militants, said the engagement should be between regional leaders on one hand and another between the leaders and the Federal Government.

    Uduaghan, who spoke in the wake of unrelenting attacks on facilities in the Warri area, especially those of Chevron Nigeria, lamented the devastation and environment damages resulting from the attacks.

    “The bombings are damaging our environment and it will take several years to rebuild.

    “I want to advise the Federal Government to take the issue of dialogue very seriously because I believe that is the solution to the current crisis.

    “The leaders of the Niger Delta should come together and engage ourselves to find solution to the problem.”

    Speaking on rumour that there are external forces involved in the latest attacks, he said, “I do not think so because there is enough of issues in the region to cause what’s happening.

    Dr Uduaghan also advised his successor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa to step up dialogue, engagement and improve on intelligence gathering to assist the Federal Government I dealing with the situation.

    “No segment should in isolation; the state should assist the FG to tackle the situation.”

    He further advised those behind the attacks to rethink their action because of the economic challenges it is posing for the nation and ecological destruction to their region.

     

  • Reps ask FG to stop sale of refineries

    Reps ask FG to stop sale of refineries

    The House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation has asked the Federal government to stop the proposed privatisation of the nation’s three refineries with immediate effect.

    Slated for sale by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are the Port-Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri refineries.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the disclosure by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) that it was not aware of the proposed sale.

    The lawmakers said the proposed sale failed to follow due process with NNPC acting without the involvement of other stakeholders as contained in the BPE Act.

    The House said NNPC action violated Section 11 of the BPE Act, 2009.

    The directive was handed down Wednesday during an interactive session between House Committee on Privatisation, NNPC and BPE on the subject matter.

    In his presentation, NNPC’s Group Executive Director (Refineries), Anibor Kragba, who represented the Minister of State (Petroleum Resources) and NNPC’s Group Managing Director (GMD), Ibe Kachikwu, had told the Committee that the exercise was not privatisation.

    According to him, rehabilitation of the refineries is capital intensive which was responsible for sourcing for core investors that can undertake the project and revive the refineries.

    However trouble began when the GED was asked about who authorized the exercise under whatever name without the input of the National Assembly.

    At this juncture, Kragba responded that he would need to clarify from his superiors, since he was barely a month in office having been appointed a couple of weeks ago.

    When asked if BPE was involved in the process, its acting Director General (DG), Vincent Akpotarie denied the knowledge and participation of his agency in the proposed sale.

    Kragba’s response to seek clarification from higher office however drew the ire of the Committee that called his competence to question.

    The Committee regretted that it was the action of NNPC that the whole country is suffering, while noting that there was no reason for the continuation of the session since the GED is incapable of giving authoritative answers to questions thrown at him.

    The Committee also wondered whether there was handover notes that the GED could refer to in response to the queries of the Committee since assumption of office.

    The Committee expressed disappointment that it deferred to accept the representation of Kragba on the basis that he claimed to have the mandate of the corporation to make pronouncements on its behalf but failed to live up to the expectation of the Committee.

    On being told that he was incompetent to handle the matter at hand, Kragba responded  saying, “With due respect to this Honourable Committee, I was appointed into the office by  Mr President who believed my competency”.

    The Committee would have none of that from the GED for using such a language on the House.

    Before aborting the hearing due to the shouting bout, the Committee ruled that the NNPC should stop the exercise with immediately for gross violation of the BPE Act.

    Chairman of the Committee, Ahmed Yerima warned Kragba to be mindful of his choice of words before the parliament, “I am sure if  Mr President reads this BPE Act, he  will not be happy with what you are doing.

    “We are preaching change, change in our ways of doing things for the betterment of the Country and yet we the leaders are doing things ,the other way round, impunity is still rampant, am a member of the All Progressive Congress and we promised the people real change before they gave us their votes,” he stated.

    The hearing was abruptly adjourned with a caveat that the Petroleum Resources Minister, Kachikwu must appear before the Committee.

     

  • FG declares Monday public holiday

    FG declares Monday public holiday

    The Federal Government has declared Monday, May 30 as public holiday to celebrate the 2016 Democracy Day.

    The Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government on Wednesday in Abuja.

    A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Bassey Akpanyung, quoted the minister as wishing Nigerians happy democracy day celebration.

    He assured Nigerians that with the signing into law of the 2016 Appropriation Act, the country would witness a “New Deal” with its full implementation.

    The minister noted that the 2016 Appropriation Act was laced with social intervention programmes aimed at improving the living conditions of the populace.

    Dambazau congratulated Nigerians on the attainment of one year in office of President Muhammadu Buhari and enjoined all to continue to support the President in his sustained effort to build a peaceful, enduring and democratic legacy