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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Democracy Day: Council wants FG to develop single data base

    The Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), on Monday, stressed the need for the Federal Government to develop a single database for the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

    Prof. Allwell Achumba, the registrar of the council, gave this advice in an interview with our reporter in Abuja while reacting to the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari administration since 2015.

    According to Achumba, there is the duplication of functions by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government, especially among those that are data collection based.

    On the government’s efforts to drive science and technology in the past three years, he said the MDAs had tried, stressing that, ”there is always the room to do more”.

    “The awareness on developing science and technology in the area of cyber security and cyber crime, is already in place.

    “There is no country that can develop without information technology and more emphasis should be given to public awareness at the grassroots.

    “My worry is that there is no proper harmonisation of MDAs’ functions; there is a lot of duplication.

    “If we can develop a standard, single database, where each MDA can know who is doing what, it will ease the process of doing business without duplication,” Achumba said.

    Achumda also said that while developing a single database for the country, there was the need to put measures in place for proper protection of such data.

    He, however, expressed the need for better achievements in the next Democracy Day, which would help to boost the citizens’ confidence in government.

  • Experts differ on Buhari’s economic blueprint

    Nigerians are divided as to whether the economy is showing any promise three years after the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration took over the reins of power.

    Speaking with a cross-section of experts they expressed mixed feelings over poor economic indices.

    While some insisted that there was nothing to cheer about considering the worsening poverty situation in the country, a few others observed that things are not all that gloomy as it is being portrayed.

    Firing the first salvo, Mr. Henry Boyo, renowned economist and social commentator said, Nigerians have been subjected to poverty over the years despite growing national income from oil and other resources.

    “I’m shying away from using the popular indices that people talk about like GDP, and all that.  I’m talking now on the impact of the average Nigerian.  you can understand that truly the ordinary man in Nigeria who is constrained to earn the basic salary of N18, 000 or more, has truly been suffering.  So it’ll be unfortunate if we don’t recognise this factor.  I’m not talking of GDP and all.  No. The reality is that the Nigerian citizen has become much poorer,” he stressed.

    Echoing similar sentiments, Oluwole Elegbede, Director of Finance, ActionAid, said it was scandalous to note that in the last three to seven years the country has been reporting about strong GDP yet people are still living in poverty.

    Elegbede who spoke to our correspondent at the weekend on the sidelines during the sensitisation programme to engage the media on the outcome of a baseline study on financing for development, said his organisation “Is worried that people are moving into poverty as reverse to moving into wealth, where their lives will be better.”

    But Otunba Omooba Olumuyiwa Shosanya, founding father of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) has a different view.

    According to him, “Whoever has the opinion that the Buhari administration has scored zero is not been objective. This government came into the being when the situation was really rotten for the country.”

    Waxing philosophical, he said: “It’s like someone who bought a house that was built on a swamp. He has two choices: either he continues to improve on that house which is already sinking or he can decide that the proper thing to do is to demolish the house and have a solid foundation because if he tries to manage the house as it is, the house will eventually sink. This is what this government has been doing. And right now, if you’re using the terminology of a builder, the house has left the level of foundation to lintel level. And it’s solid.”

  • Stop frustrating our anti-graft fight – FG tells Amnesty Int

    The Federal Government has admonished the global anti-corruption body, Transparency International (TI) and local civil society organisations affiliated to it, to stop frustrating its anti corruption fight.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed gave the admonition when he received a TI delegation, led by the Chair of the body’s International Board, Delia Rubio, in Abuja on Friday.

    A statement issued on the meeting  was made available to newsmen on Saturday by Mr Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the Minister.

    The Minister, specifically, told the global anti-corruption body to support, rather than condemn, the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration’s fight against corruption.

    He said TI and the local civil society organisations affiliated to it had not offered the necessary support to the administration, rather, they look at the actions of an aberrant few to condemn the government.

    To buttress his position, the minister said the body alleged bias when the government disclosed that just 55 people stole N1.34 trillion between 2006 and 2013

    He added that when the government published the list of looters, in response to a challenge from the opposition, a section of the civil society was busy parroting the cliche that the allegations were one-sided.

    Mohammed said Nigeria was succeeding in its anti-corruption fight because the fight was being led by a President whose integrity is beyond reproach.

    “As a policy, this government is the most committed to fighting corruption.

    ‘”Nigeria has never had a more transparent, more accountable government than the Buhari Administration.

    “Even his worst critics won’t say he indulges in or encourages corruption,” he said.

    Mohammed noted that the Administration was not just fighting corruption with laws and prosecution, but also with education and inclusiveness in government.

    He cited the government’s ‘Change Begins With Me’ programme as an example of efforts being made to achieve attitudinal change among the citizenry.

    The minister also explained that Nigeria operates a federal system of government under which the federal government has no control over the actions of the federating states.

    He alleged that corrupt persons were using looted funds to mount a virulous campaign against the administration, especially in the social media, because they know that the re- election of the President will spell doom for them.

    The Minister, therefore, tasked TI and its affiliates to show more understanding for the sociological complexities of fighting corruption in the country.

    He also solicited the support of TI and its affiliates in the area of advocacy and capacity building.

    For her part, the TI global chair said she decided to visit Nigeria, her first-ever visit to Africa, because the country could set the tone for the continent in the fight against corruption.

    She said TI’s mandate is to offer support through civil society organisations and the private sector to foster the fight against corruption.

    She said while the government was  doing a lot to fight corruption, it should ensure more transparency and more efficiency in service delivery.

    ”We are not an opposition anywhere in the world.

    “We are just an NGO working in over 100 countries of the world. We are not enemies. We are here to help,” she said.

    NAN

  • Jonathan to Buhari: Don’t rig Ekiti poll for APC

    Says Hersdmen menace has brought global ridicule to Nigeria

     

    Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari against rigging the July 14 Ekiti State governorship election for his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Jonathan said based on the experience he had during his time in the Presidency, there would be pressures from certain quarters for an incumbent President to rig election for his party.

    To the Bayelsa State-born statesman, if a free and fair election is conducted in Ekiti State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) joint ticket of Prof. Kolapo Olusola and Mr. Ayodeji Ogunsakin, would coast home to victory.

    He said their victory would be made possible by the performance of Governor Ayo Fayose whom he described as an “exemplary leader and a loyal party man.”

    The ex-President spoke Friday night shortly he inaugurated the 1.3 kilometer Ado-Ekiti Flyover where an all-night party was held with fireworks lighting up the skyline. He had earlier in the day witnessed the inauguration of the new Governor’s Office.

    Jonathan also lamented that the Fulani herdsmen crisis and the depreciating value of the Naira have turned Nigeria to a butt of joke and ridicule in the international community.

    He urged Buhari to protect his good name by allowing the conduct of free, fair and transparent governorship poll in Ekiti and resist the temptation to use the state machinery to rig in favour of the APC.

    Read Also: Jonathan to leaders: Make sacrifices for Nigeria’s democracy

    Jonathan said: “I don’t believe anybody can defeat the PDP in Ekiti if election is going to be held. I want to advise President Buhari not to deploy power to truncate Ekiti election.

    “I use this opportunity to call on Mr. President because I was there before. When you are there, there is so much pressure on you to use your power to subjugate democracy.

    “Don’t do that because when you are going; the only thing you leave behind is your good name. If you use it wrongly, posterity will haunt you. I call on Mr. President to use his power to strengthen democracy.

    “Though as a president, you have the power but don’t do that because of posterity. History will record whatever you do and the power of a leader is determined after leaving office and not when he is in the office.

    “The will of the people must be allowed to stand at all times, because power belongs to them and we must respect their verdict through the ballots.”

    On the alleged negative image of Nigeria, Jonathan said he was ashamed that Nigeria is now being used as a negative example in the international community.

    He cited recent instances when the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, mocked the poor state of security in Nigeria and the naira’s weakening status.

    Jonathan added: “He (Akufo-Addo) said Ghana is not like Nigeria where cattle roam the streets. At another occasion in the United Kingdom, he made scathing remarks about Nigeria’s currency.

    “I feel ashamed as a former President that the president of a neighbouring country used Nigeria as negative examples.

    “If a neighbouring African president will use Nigeria to make negative examples, then we as leaders must know certain things are wrong in the country. That means we as leaders must change the way we do things.”

    The former President, therefore, urged Nigerian leaders to show serious concern, noting that many things had gone wrong in the country.

    Jonathan also defended Nigerian youths, saying they were one of the best in the world and should not be branded lazy as recently remarked by Buhari.

    “We must encourage young people to work hard. I don’t think Nigerian youths are lazy, I have worked with some of them in my cabinet as governor and president. Nigerian youths are great people with intelligence,” he said.

    Fayose said the 77-member election committee raised by the APC for the Ekiti governorship election showed the desperation of the party to win at all costs.

    “I will defeat them by the grace of God,” he said.

    Fayose declared that he would land in Abuja Presidential Villa at the end of his tenure while Olusola will continue with his legacies in Ekiti as governor.

  • Those resigning from my govt. don’t want change – Bauchi Gov.

    Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, on Friday said that those resigning from office under his administration don’t want to embrace change.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He also said that there was nothing wrong between him and his deputy that resigned from office.

    He said “What transpired is in the letter of the deputy and I think people should read that letter. Read the entire letter and you will see that there was nothing bad that transpired between us.

    “His final paragraph is that he remains loyal to his leader and his brother. In my response I eulogized him and wished him the best in his future endeavour and assured him of the support of the good people of Bauchi State. There was no problem whatsoever.”

    On why it was easy for him to accept his resignation, he said “The word resignation connotes a will on the part of the person who has offered, he offered his letter willingly and there is no way you can force him to accept an employment when the time has come for him to look elsewhere.

    Read Also: Bauchi gets new judge

    Speaking on the working relationship between them, he said “We had the most fantastic working relationship. In his words and you can ask him, he has said several times that he is the most pampered deputy governor in Nigeria.

    On why other officials are leaving his government, he said “Because I have come to Bauchi state to endanger change and change is very very difficult for people to accept.

    “People are used to a certain way of doing business and I have come to change that way of doing business. Because, that way was destroying Bauchi State. So, we had to put a stop to it, we had to bring Bauchi state out of dungeon. I give people a chance and if you think you can go at my pace you stay and if you can’t go at my pace you resign.”

    When asked if his deputy resigned because he couldn’t go at his pace, he said “I don’t know.”

    Reminded that the spokesman to the deputy governor said on television that he resigned because he was not being treated as part of the government, Bauchi Governor said “I see. I think he is wrong. Go to the House of Assembly and check, I went on official leave twice since I took over and each time I transmitted a letter to the House of Assembly making him the acting governor of Bauchi.

    “Moreover, I gave him the most important ministry, ministry of education where I have been allocating the largest share of the budget of Bauchi state since 2008. That should answer your question.” he said

  • Jonathan, PDP leaders demand credible election

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan and other PDP leaders have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to allow the conduct of a free, fair and transparent election in the country in 2019.

    This was said on Friday during the inauguration of the 1.3 kilometer Ado-Ekiti Flyover.

    The leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) also demanded a credible governorship election on July 14.

    Sounding the battle cry ahead of the next set of elections were Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Uche Secondus.

    Also at the inauguration were Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel and Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu where they canvassed support for the PDP candidate for Ekiti governorship poll, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    The setting was the inauguration of a new Governor’s Office constructed by the Governor Ayo Fayose administration.

    Jonathan arrived the scene at exactly 2.22 pm when Wike was making his speech and was welcomed by other guests who were seated before his arrival.

    Although the former president did not make any speech, he is expected to speak during the inauguration of the flyover which commences at 7.00 pm.

    Read Also: Ekiti Deputy Speaker, Chief Whip removed over alleged disloyalty to Fayose

    Secondus who noted that Ekiti has been witnessing positive development under Fayose urged the people of the state to vote at the next governorship election and the 2019 general elections.

    The PDP boss warned the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government against any attempt to rig the Ekiti poll and general election stressing that “rigging the election would have dire consequences.”

    Secondus said: “The PDP has demonstrated that it can conduct free and  fair primary; all we are asking for is that the coming elections should be free and fair.

    “We are asking the Federal Government to allow the coming elections to be free and fair for the world to see that Nigeria is moving forward.

    “Any attempt to rig is a recipe for crisis, I hope it will not start from Ekiti. The 1983 crisis started from Ekiti and the (77-man APC) Committee should show us what they have done.

    “They should not come and rig election here. We are asking them that it should be one man, one vote. President Buhari should allow one man, one vote.”

    Wike said: “This loyal and humble deputy governor (Olusola) will continue with the good work of Fayose. Ekiti people will vote for him because of what he can offer.

    “The only thing they (APC) have is to rig election, they have told us the election will be free and fair. When election comes, don’t give them any chance, go and protect your votes.

    “They said they have set up a Committee of 77, what is our business with that? If you say they will not intimidate you, it is a lie but I want to charge our security men to allow for a free and fair election.”

    Dankwambo said: “If politics is about development, we need not to campaign in Ekiti State. Politics is about development and that is what we stand for.

    “I believe the person that has emerged as our candidate here will do more and more than Fayose. He is experienced and he has learnt a lot and he will deliver.”

    Fayose boasted that the APC candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, would be defeated at the Ekiti governorship election despite the instruments of coercion to be deployed in his favour.

    He said: “Whether they like it or not, you (Olusola) are the next governor. If they like, let them their Army and Police, they are wasting their time.

    “It is your time to shine, battles are not won by the strength of the Army, you are a divine candidate on a divine assignment. I am proud to say I believe in you.”

  • Buhari approves four appointments in Federal Government agencies

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved new appointments for four Federal Government Agencies in the country.

    In a statement by the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office) at the Office of the Secretary to the Government Federation (SGF),  Olusegun A. Adekunle, the President charged the appointees to deliver selfless, exemplary and socially impactful services.

    He also urged for strict observance of the extant policies, guidelines, rules and stipulations guiding the discharge of their offices.

    The new appointments included Dr. Anasa Ahmad Sabir as Chief Medical Director (CMD) for Usman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto.

    Read Also: Buhari applauds Nigeria’s rising role in World Craft Council

    His appointment is initial period of four years with effect from 17th May, 2018.

    Dr. Theresa Obumneme Okoli was appointed as Provost for the Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze, Anambra State.

    His appointment also is for initial period of four years with effect from 17th May, 2018.

    For the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku, Rivers State, Dr. Emmanuel Ikenyiri was appointed as the Provost for initial period of four years with effect from 17th May, 2018

    Dr. Pius Olakunle Osunyikanmi was appointed as the Director/CEO of Directorate of Technical Aid Corps.

    His appointment, in accordance with section 9 (2)b of Directorate of Technical Aid Corps Act, 2004, is for a second and final term of five (5) years with effect from 10thAugust, 2018.

     

  • Coalition threatens to force Amnesty International out of Nigeria.

    The Coalition of Civil Society Groups against Terrorism in Nigeria have asked International right group,  Amnesty International (AI) to quit its operation in Nigeria or face a possible Mass Action by the Nigerian people, over what it termed as the  “covert and clandestine operations of the AI, meant to undermine Nigeria’s National  security and foreign policies, through deliberate inciting and false allegations against the Nigerian Military”

    At a Press briefing in Ibadan on Thursday, Convener of the  group, Comrade Odeyemi Oladimeji said “We have observed that AI  activities in Nigeria are undoubtedly  covert and clandestine operations meant to undermine our security and foreign policies, by deliberately, inciting and making false allegations against our Military,  especially the Nigerian Army.  Whereas, we have gathered from close monitoring that this covert operatives of AI are also working with some local collaborators who are politically exposed including  a former Nigerian president,  who is hell bent on bringing down the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for selfish and self serving reasons.”

    According to the group, the AI through many of its actions in Nigeria, especially it frequently released reports, have constituted itself as an agency, that embolden the activities of  terror groups such as Boko Haram by continuously portraying the Nigerian security agencies as the aggressors.

    “We wish to emphatically state, that Nigerians have had enough of the absurdities and campaign of calumny by the Amnesty International and therefore demand, that it quits its operations in Nigeria, with immediate effect, as we can no longer allow such self serving organisation like AI, to continually undermine our National security, at the detriment of the lives and properties, of our innocent citizens.”

    “Having constituted itself as a clog in the wheel of progress of our gallant security forces, who have continued to give their best, including sacrificing their lives, for our protection and that of our territorial integrity, we wish to state, that we shall no longer tolerate  these deliberate acts of sabotage and  compromise of national security by the Amnesty International.”

    Odeyemi further said that failure of Amnesty International to quit Nigeria, as demanded by the group, would leave the Coalition, with no other option than to employ any legitimate means, to force Amnesty International out of the country.

  • Why Buhari’s minimum wage may not work, by don

    A senior Lecturer at the Federal University Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Dr Philip

    Adetiloye has said the newly proposed National Minimum Wage being proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari may fail to address the economic problems of the Nigerian citizens because of the activities of those he branded as cartels in the Nigerian markets.

    Adetiloye, who is a Professor of Agriculture said Nigerian traders are incurably engrossed to increasing prices of goods and commodities when wages are reviewed upwardly, saying this may hinder the proposal of the Federal Government.

    He further said the naira has consistently been depreciating since 1986, when the Military Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida devalued the currency in line with the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) policy, a scenario he described as very disturbing and which has affected the economy adversely.

    The academic suggested that the only way the naira could be invigorated is for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to print high denominations such as N1, 000, N500 and N200 to be denominated in kobo notes.

    Delivering a paper entitled “Nigerian Economy: Naira Value and Revaluation”, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti Council penultimate Monday, Adetiloye said President Buhari ought to have introduced the minimum wage policy immediately he devalued the currency two years ago.

    He pointed out that the preponderance of brain drain and penchant for corruption that had pervaded the country were buoyed by poor remunerations to Nigerian workers.

    He said: “The proposal may not been impactful because immediately the wages are increased, the market cartels will react to it by increasing the price of goods.

    “Under an ideal economic situation, when currency is devalued, the wages must increase because such policy always brings about inflation. That was why prices of commodities such as rice that was sold for N8, 500 is now sold for N16, 000.

    “So, I expected the Federal Government to have increased the wages immediately they devalued the naira. So, if they do it now, the prices will automatically go up and render the policy useless”.

    For currency to be revalued effectively, Adetiloye said: “If the naira notes are printed in kobo notes, this intervention will make a dollar to exchange for 360 kobo or three naira and sixty kobo. Government needs this drastic intervention to uplift the currency”, he advised.

    For Nigeria to fully recover from these debilitating economic situations, the Prof. of Agriculture advised President Buhari to improve productivity in agriculture, stop dependency on foreign goods, stop creating white collar jobs for graduates and end steady devaluation of the currency.

    Other reforms suggested by the academic were: injection of money into science and technology, enforcement of single digit interest on all agricultural loans, stoppage of monetised politics and apportioning more resources to the 36 states and 774 local government areas for radical development at the grassroots.

    The Prof. appreciated the efforts of President Buhari in the war against insurgency by his administration; saying curbing stealing of public money had helped in stabilising the economy better than before.

  • 2019: Buhari will have an easy ride – Lai Mohammed

    President Muhammadu Buhari will have an easy ride to the presidency in the 2019 general election, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said.

    This is because the Administration has continue to deliver on its campaign promises, the minister posited.

    Mohammed made the declaration on Tuesday during an inspection of the section 2 of the dualisation of Ibadan- Ilorin road which covers between Oyo-Ogbomoso road.

    The minister noted that government is undertaking projects that impact directly on the lives of the people and this has further ender the administration to the heart of the general populace.

    According to him: “There is only one way you can get the electorates to vote for you and that is simply by keeping your promises, delivering your promises and embarking on projects that will touch their lives. And I am confident that our re-election will be easy because either its in terms of infrastructure or in terms of social intervention we are everyday working for the common man in the country”.

    “As of today we feed 8.2million primary school students across the country, we have employed a total of 7000 cooks in about 24 states covering 62000 primary schools just in the area of social intervention. Our response to critics is not to exchange banters with them, but by showing them what we have done”.

    The funding for the road project the Minister said was accessed through the Sukuk loan, where it was able to draw N100bn, which is divided  into 6 equal parts, for the six geopolitical zones in the federation.

    Read Also: Catholics ask Buhari to resign over killings in Benue

    He explained that the share for the Southwest region is used to complete the Oyo- Ogbomosho section of the road.

    He also stressed that “funding will no longer be a challenge to many of our critical road projects” adding that if at all there is any challenge the N199bn presidential infrastructure fund has been set aside for the benefit of those projects.

    “The road is significant in the sense that the average traveller from Lagos or Ibadan to Ilorin cannot see this construction for the singular reason that it is a bypass which will not go through Oyo town. At the time Lagos, Ibadan Ilorin was built the rail was working then so a lot of traffic which we now have on the road used to be by rail but clearly when the rail failed, traffic came back to the road. I am happy that you can see it yourself that it is not a paper project and we are confident we are not going to encounter any funding challenge”.

    On his part, the federal controller of works Oyo state, Engineer Omotayo Awosanya said the section 2, of the Ibadan-Ilorin dualisation road was awarded in June 2010 with an initial completion period of 40 months but could not be achieved for lack of funds.

    Engr. Omotayo also noted that if funding is sustained the road will be completed between mid and end of next year, as it is 58% completed.

    This funding hiccup he however said has become a thing of the pass as work is ongoing as government has paid more than half the contract sum.

    He said the contract sum of the project is N47.5bn and that contractors have been paid N26bn so far.

    He also noted that about 700 workers have been employed on site.

    Speaking on the importance of the road, the Engineer said, “The road is a corridor of the extension of Lagos- Ibadan road and the traffic that is generated in Oyo, going towards the north will pass through this road so the importance of the road cannot be over emphasized”.