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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • NAPS faults rejection of Peace Corps Bill

    NAPS faults rejection of Peace Corps Bill

    Adeyinka Akintunde

     

    National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari for refusing to sign the Peace Corps Bill, passed by the National assembly in 2017. The body believes that this decision has dashed the hopes and hard work of Nigerian youths.

    In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Eneji Mohammed and the Public Relations Officer, Comrade Olasunkanmi Ijaduoye, the body said that refusal to assent to the Peace Corps bill is denying Nigerian youths a means of livelihood, as youth empowerment is the pathway to the future.

    “This move had killed millions of hope and hard work. It took some people’s effort nationwide to come together and task themselves on the creation of a security platform for the benefit of the government and it citizens (especially the youths).

    “The President needs to reconsider his stance and assent to the bill, so as to save millions of Nigerian youths who had hoped that the Peace Corps of Nigeria would provide means of livelihood for them.

    Read Also: Buhari misled over Peace Corps Bill, says commandant

    The President, in a letter read last Tuesday by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, had cited security concerns and financial implications amongst reasons for his decision, but the body insists that “the country cannot spend too much on security.”

    The body further urged the National Assembly to call a parliament where a two-third vote will be gotten in favour of the bill, and it will be passed into law, regardless of the President’s position.

    NAPS also spoke against the Nigerian police for shutting down the Peace Corps headquarters for a long time. According to them, “We are aware of two court orders asking the Police Force to open the building. We believe that the Police should be the first organization to have respect for the rule of law.”

     

     

  • Stakeholders beg Buhari over Peace Corps bill.

    Stakeholders beg Buhari over Peace Corps bill.

    Stakeholders especially have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to rescind his decision on the withholding of assent for the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) bill.

    They said the action would deprive the teeming youths the opportunity to secure targeted employment.

    A public analyst, Thomas Ikugbese at a news conference in Akure, the state capital said signing the bill would have boosted the image of Buhari’s administration.

    He expressed fear on possibility of more youths who were disappointed on the development not to go on suicide mission like it reportedly happened recently in Gombe state.

    Buhari had declined to assent to the Nigeria Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill passed in 2017 by the National Assembly.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara read the letter from the President who cited security concerns and financial implication as parts of the reasons for declining to sign the bill.

    Read Also: Attack on aid workers godless, despicable – Buhari

    Ikugbese who is a Presidential Candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) noted that the refusal of President Buhari to sign the bill would affect many youths who had hoped that the Peace Corps of Nigeria would provide them employment.

    He urged President Buhari to save youths from committing suicide by rescinding his decision and assent to the PCN’s bill.

    In the alternative, Ikugbese urged National Assembly to recall the bill to the parliament and muster two-thirds of the membership of the House of Representatives and Senate to pass it into law.

    Ikugbese said that Nigeria with the population of 186 million and police numbering about 370, 000 need effective policing.

    He said, of the 370, 000 a staggering 80 percent of this number are assigned to private citizens, politicians, businessmen and private enterprises while leaving only 20 percent for the core police duties of peace and security.

    According to him, there are people in the security agencies and in the presidency frustrating efforts of President Buhari to append his signature on the bill.

    He said that the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) was not in a competition with the police or other security agencies.

    He explained that the Presidency should not be scared of monthly remuneration that the Peace Corps of Nigeria will gulp from the scarce resources of the nation.

    The NCP Presidential aspirant noted that the fund to run the corps should not necessarily come from the federal government as those who required its service could pay.

  • Nigeria responsible for collapse of our rice mills – Thailand

    Nigeria responsible for collapse of our rice mills – Thailand

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbeh says Thailand has accused Nigeria of being responsible for the collapse of its seven rice mills following the drastic fall in rice importation from the country.

    The minister made this known at a meeting of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative ( PFI ) and leadership of the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers of Nigeria ( FEPSAN ) held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.

    The meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ogbeh said Thailand’s Ambassador to Nigeria made the “accusation’’ when he visited him in February.

    According to the minister, the ambassador lamented that the collapse of the rice mills has increased the unemployment rate in his country from 1.2 per cent to 4 per cent.

    “Just like two weeks ago, the Ambassador of Thailand came to my office and said to me that we have really dealt with them.

    “But I asked what did we do wrong and he said unemployment in Thailand was one of the lowest in the world, 1.2 per cent, it has gone up to four per cent because seven giant rice mills have shut down because Nigeria’s import has fallen by 95 per cent on rice alone.

    “So, Mr President we thank you for the support and we thank all the agencies and those of you in the private sector for your resilience,’’ he said.

    The minister, however, alerted the nation on what he described as alarming smuggling of fake fertilizer and rice along the western borders of the country.

    He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to take drastic measures to check the trend as all previous diplomatic measures had failed to address the menace.

    “But one last request Mr President, we have to take one strong measure against our neighbour to the West. The smuggling is really compromising our capacity on our result.

    “Too much rice, too much fake fertilizer is still coming across the borders into this country in spite of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) we have with them they are not listening.

    “Maybe if the Federal Government take one tough action, they will come and renegotiate the terms because good neighbourliness means reciprocity.

    “We can’t be allowing them to survive at our own expense and I believe that we will do something about it,’’ he said.

    Ogbeh appealed to FEPSAN to adjust their blending formula using little more micro nutrients for some crops like cocoa, cashew, plantain, banana and others that would soon be revived by his ministry.

    The minister noted that the agricultural sector had created millions of jobs for Nigerians in the last two years.

    He said: “People may say what they like about jobs. Recently I heard that we lost four million jobs. Nobody has calculated the millions and millions of jobs created on the farms.

    “So, this programme as it grows can only make us stronger.

    “As soon as more dams and lakes are put in place, you begin to sell fertilizer all year round and not wait for the rainy season alone.”

    NAN

  • Pay your dues promptly – Buhari tells ECOWAS member states

    Pay your dues promptly – Buhari tells ECOWAS member states

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Member States of the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) to pay their annual contributions as and when due for the Commission to operate effectively.

    The President made the call when he received the new President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Jean Claude Brou at the State House, Abuja, on Friday

    He also maintained that the sub-regional body must run a leaner organisation by cutting costs and becoming more efficient so as to achieve its objectives.

    President Buhari said a lot of work had already been done toward cutting running costs, following the recommendation of a committee set up by the Commission on the reduction of the number of commissioners.

    “We must work toward limiting costs, keeping the number of statutory positions low and running the organisation more efficiently,” he said.

    While welcoming the new President of the ECOWAS Commission to Abuja, the President pledged the full support of the government of Nigeria in ensuring that his tenure was successful.

    “The task is enormous. The job is not easy, given the many challenges facing the sub-region, ranging from issues of security and that posed by the environment, including the shrinkage of the Lake Chad,’’ he noted.

    He, however, pledged the full commitment of Nigeria to work with other ECOWAS Member Countries toward finding lasting solution to the problems.

    In his remarks, Brou said he was at the Presidential Villa to inform Buhari that he had assumed office at the ECOWAS Secretariat in Abuja, and was fully prepared to address priority issues.

    According to him, such issues include the common currency, restructuring of the organisation and the pending issue of new memberships.

    He also presented a special message from the Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara to Buhari and condoled him on the recent death of two members of his family members.

    NAN

  • Decongestion of courts: Lagos judiciary to refer 376 old cases to ADR

    Decongestion of courts: Lagos judiciary to refer 376 old cases to ADR

    Lagos state judiciary has commenced the process of decongesting the high courts of old cases.

    About 376 of such cases, most of which dated back over 20 years, have been identified for review in the state high courts and may be referred to Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR).

    The Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke disclosed this yesterday at a news conference held to announce the commencement of the court decongestion process.

    Justice Oke said the move, was not just to decongest the courts, but also to ensure speedy dispensation of justice in the state.

    She said the fact that the Lagos judiciary has the highest number of pending old cases was not heart warming.

    “It is on record that the Lagos State Judiciary has cases that date back to 20 years and beyond and this image, if it persists, is hazardous to the economic wellbeing of the State and Nigeria ultimately.

    “In fact, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, while declaring open the Bi-Annual Conference of All Nigeria Judges of the Superior Courts held between 20thand 24thof November, 2017 and organized by the National Judicial Institute, Abuja noted the fact that Lagos State Judiciary has the highest number of pending old cases. This situation apparently damages the brand of a “Global Lagos” and one which I do not intend to see continue. Global Lagos requires and truly deserves a world class judicial system”.

    To correct the situation, she said the state judiciary will be undertaking a review of all pending matters on a case-by-case basis for the purpose of determining the suitability of each case for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

    The Chief Judge said a review of the 376 cases which commenced  January 22 revealed the probable causes of delay and classified into three.

    According to her, ” Inefficient Case Management by Counsel accounts for 45per cent; Court Indisposition and Interlocutory Appeals account for 20 per cent whilst the cause of delay of the outstanding 35 per cent

    has been ascribed to other factors which include numerous indulgent interlocutory applications, Courts going on national assignments in Election Tribunals and official assignments for conferences and trainings for months, protracted Case Management Conference, Multiplicity of interlocutory applications, Long adjournments, Trial having to commence de novo when a Judge is elevated or retires, amongst others”

    She disclosed that certain remedies have been put in place to eradicate the delays impeding the progress of the cases.

    She stated for instance that trials need not commence de novo again as options shall be included in  new rules to allow judges to rely on certified transcript of trial proceedings already commenced or completed before an elevated or retired judge.

    She said new practice directions are in draft stage to guide and regulate the court decongestion process.

    “Also, since the Civil Justice System involves conducts and activities both inside and outside the Court, a Practice Direction on Pre-Action Protocols to provide a Code of Practice outside the court will issue, just as there exists Rules of Court to provide a Code of Practice inside the Court.

    “The Pre-Action Practice Directions will be expected to guide conduct prior to the commencement, as a last resort, of legal proceedings in Court.

    “The failure of parties or their counsel to comply with Pre-Action Protocol obligations elaborated under the Practice Direction, prior to commencing litigation, would attract significant or punitive cost penalties, inside the court, where such non-compliance is determined to be unreasonable or disproportionate especially in respect to refusals to accept or participate in offers or attempts at ADR or amicable settlement, even where the Party eventually wins the case”, she stated.

    Justice Oke said an ad-hoc task force committee on old cases led by Justice S.B.A Candide-Johnson, has been constituted in furtherance of the backlog elimination programme (BEP).

    She added that a good number of law firms have also volunteered to participate in the forensic screening of the old cases.

  • PHOTO: Buhari receives former Emir of Qatar

    PHOTO: Buhari receives former Emir of Qatar

    President Muhammadu Buhari today welcomed the former Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Althani and former Prime Minister of Qatar H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassin Bin Baber Althani to the State House. Other senior government officials attended the Meeting that followed.

    Buhari with former Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Althani and former Prime Minister of Qatar H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassin Bin Baber Althani at the State House
    Buhari with former Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Althani and former Prime Minister of Qatar H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassin Bin Baber Althani at the State House

     

    Buhari receiving Emir of Qatar and other senior govt. officials
    Buhari receiving Emir of Qatar and other senior govt. officials
    Buhari receiving Emir of Qatar and other senior govt. officials
    Buhari receiving Emir of Qatar and other senior govt. officials
  • Senate to probe non-passage of Disability Rights Bill

    Senate to probe non-passage of Disability Rights Bill

    The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has promised to probe those behind the delay in the passage of Disability Rights Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The bill is to ensure full integration of Nigerians with disabilities into the society and eliminate all forms of discrimination against them.

    Saraki in a Facebook post said, “Today, ahead of my courtesy call with the Kpakpando Foundation for Physically Challenges Persons, led by its Founder and Chairman, Senator Osita Izunaso, I called the Clerk to find out about the status of the ‘Discrimination Against Persons Living with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill, which is also known as the Disability Rights Bill.

    “I was very disappointed to learn that due to some administrative mishaps, this Bill, which passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and should have already been on the President’s desk for his signature, has failed to make its way out of the National Assembly system. I have therefore directed the Clerk to query all involved.”

    Disability Rights Bill

    Stressing the importance and fierce urgency with which the bill should be treated, he said, “make no mistake, both the Senate and the House feel very strongly about the impact of this Bill. This is because its passage will further empower people living with disabilities (PLWDs) and ensure that they are not discriminated against in anyway.

    “Moving forward, I would like to make this promise: 30 days from today, this Bill will be sent to Mr. President for his assent.

    “We will fast-track the harmonization process in both houses, because there is no doubt that once this Bill is passed, it will transform the lives of millions of Nigerians across the country, hence, the sooner that we start implementing the act, the better for all of us.”

  • Era of undermining states’ economy is gone – Osinbajo

    Era of undermining states’ economy is gone – Osinbajo

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said that the Federal Government would continue to encourage partnership among states for their development.

    Osinbajo spoke in Epe at a 2-day Lagos-Kano Economic and Investment Summit with theme: “States Partnership as a Tool for Sustainable Economic Development.”

    Osinbajo said that the Federal Government would not undermine the economy of any state, adding that the era of doing so was over.

    “On our own part, the Federal Government will support the efforts of all state governments to reform their economies, to attract investment and to collaborate with one another.

    “The days where the Federal Government will sit to undermine governors and their administrations are now behind us,” he said.

    He said that the state governments could attest to the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari was deeply committed to helping every state achieve its full economic potential.

    “As a government, we have been careful not to hold back information from the states, because we realised that development can only happen in an atmosphere of trust and collaboration,” Osinbajo said.

    The Vice-President noted that if the nation’s economy must be reviewed, there was need for states to leverage and synergise on their comparative advantages to improve their economy.

    “This development will as well rub on the nation’s economy and in the overall benefit of the citizenry,” he said.

    He commended both state governments for the initiative, saying that it was in line with the federal government’s economic recovery growth plan.

    He said that the Federal Government would pay serious attention to the outcome of the summit to help guide and direct its engagement with the two states.

    Osinbajo said that going by the current and projected rate of urbanisation, cities, not countries would propel the economy of the future.

    “Cities around the world existed longer than the countries to which they belong.

    “Lagos and Kano are as much cities as they are states. Long before Nigeria existed, both cities existed as important regional centres of trade and commerce,” he said.

    He said that the summit would provide the opportunity for both states to accept themselves economically.

    Osinbajo said it would also give room for them to see rapidly emerging opportunities, as well as ride the ways of investments and innovation to become truly globally competitive, and to show the way to other states.

    In his remarks, Gov. Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State called for more inter-regional trade and cooperation among states.

    According to Ambode, Nigeria should start thinking ahead, because the country’s economy still remains dependent on oil.

    He said that Lagos State would partner Kano State in areas of transport infrastructure, road, rail lines, education, market development, security, among others.

    His Kano state counterpart, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, who listed several similarities between his state and Lagos, was optimistic that the summit would generate perspectives that would lead to future prosperity for the two states.

    The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos, Gov. Abubarkar Bagudu of Kebbi State, were among dignataries at the summit.

    NAN

  • Buhari Re-appoints Awolowo NEPC Chief Executive Officer

    Buhari Re-appoints Awolowo NEPC Chief Executive Officer

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the re-appointment of Mr Olusegun Awolowo as Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

    According to a letter signed by Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the appointment lasts for four years.

    Mr Awolowo, a lawyer and scion of the Obafemi Awolowo family, was first appointed to the NEPC position in 2013.

     

     

  • APC has stabilised the country – Buhari

    APC has stabilised the country – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja, said the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) -led Federal Government had stabilised Nigeria in spite of obvious challenges.

    He stated this at APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

    “I am happy to report that slowly and steadily, we have managed to stabilise the country and redirect the ship of state.

    “We have restored prudence to the management of resources and confidence in Nigeria.

    “We have stabilised the Naira and increased our foreign reserve from 20 billion dollars to 40 billion dollars. Inflation rate is down.

    “With considerably less resources available to the country, we have improved all the indices towards a stronger economy,” the president said.

    He added that credit should be given to governors of APC-controlled states, chairmen of the party in the states for contributing to stabilising the polity.

    Buhari also commended the Armed Forces, the police and other security agencies for stopping Boko Haram and driving them from their bases.

    He said that though the government was poised to defeat acts of terrorism in the country, it was difficult to completely isolate such act.

    “No country, no matter how well secured can isolate acts of terror as we have seen in the United States, Europe, Asia and here in Africa.

    “We must support our security agencies to safeguard our country so that the job of development as outlined in our manifesto can proceed without too much interruption.

    “We cannot afford to fail in reminding Nigerians where we came from in 2015,’’ he stressed.

    He particularly appreciated the party’s leadership and governors for their stewardship and for steering it to success.

    The president noted that from the party’s resounding electoral victory in 2015, it had won elections in Edo, Kogi and Ondo states and had improved performance in the November, 2017 governorship election in Anambra.

    According to him, the APC has moved from the party in government to the party of the Nigerian people.

    He paid tribute to Nigerians who supported the government in spite of distractions from what he called “proponents of business as usual”.

    Buhari charged APC members not to relax and take things easy because, according to him, elections are looming in the horizon.

    He, therefore, urged the members to get their acts together and to cooperate with the Sen. Bola Tinubu reconciliation team to succeed.

    This, he said, was critical to resolve existing differences among party members in affected states, restore order, manage differences and strengthen the party.

    “It is perhaps inevitable that there will be differences of opinion within the party. If we resolve them, then we can build a genuinely democratic party.

    “But, we must not lose sight of our common purpose as a party to break the mule of Nigerian politics and take the country to new heights,” the president stated.

    While acknowledging that the “face of government has not met the expectations of many within the party”, he said that only a few appreciated the depth of the wrath when APC assumed power.

    He explained that the APC government had spent the last two years trying to bring the country out of the mess it met it.

    Buhari admitted that the stand-off between the Executive and the National Assembly slowed down the process of government within the period.

    He, however, added that efforts were being made to resolve the differences so that the country could move forward.

    Earlier, National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odegie-Oyegun, had thanked the president, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, governors elected on the party´s platform and its leaders for being supportive and available always in spite of challenges.

    He noted that the party had a very tough year ahead, because of the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun coming up in July and September, respectively.

    “These elections are precursors of the national elections. It is therefore necessary that we treat them with great seriousness because they are elections we should do everything to win.

    “They are signals and signposts, indicators of what is to come in 2019. Preparations are also well underway for those elections,” he said.

    He pleaded with party members to do everything possible to minimise stresses and crises within the party and to remain in fighting shape ahead of 2019.

    The chairman reiterated the support of the party´s leadership to the Tinubu reconciliation team.

    NAN