The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Olusegun Adekunle

  • FG constitutes 2019 Presidential Inauguration Committee

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the Constitution of the 2019 Presidential Inauguration Committee.
    This was contained in a statement by Permanent Secretary (General Services Office) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Olusegun Adekunle.
    He said that the date of Inauguration of the committee is Thursday 14th March,  2019 at the SGF Conference Room.
    While the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha is the Chairman of the committee, members include Minister of Information & Culture, Minister of Interior, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of FCT.
    Other members are Minister of Defence, Minister of Health, Minister of Education, Minister of State (Aviation), National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Inspector General of Police, Director General (Department State Service), Commander, Brigade of Guards, Permanent Secretary (State House), Permanent Secretary (General Services Office) – Member and Permanent Secretary (Political & Economic Affairs Office) will serve as member/secretary of the committee.

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    The Terms of Reference, according to the statement, include:
    “To plan, organize and execute all approved activities for the 2019 Presidential Inauguration.
    “Co-opt any organization(s) person(s) relevant towards the successful execution of the programme;
    “Document for posterity, all planned activities for the Inauguration; and
    “Carry out any other assignment as may be required towards the successful implementation of the programme.”

  • N-PoD Summit: ‘Buhari’s anti-graft fight has made looting of public funds impossible’

    President Muhammadu Buhari has made looting of public funds impossible through the anti-corruption fight of his administration, a former Military Governor of Lagos State, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) has said.

    Marwa stated this in his keynote address delivered at the National Policy and Development Summit (N-PoD), on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said the change agenda of the All Progressives Congress – led Federal Government has delivered infrastructure and social investment on an unprecedented scale.

    Marwa, who was represented by Yakubu Muazu, said the Buhari administration had been able to deliver on its campaign promises despite inheriting an empty treasury.

    He said: “Anti-corruption for us is not all about arrest and prosecution of the corrupt. Anti-corruption is much more than that. It is the sum total of actions taken by government or private organizations to put a wedge between people that are interested in converting resources meant for specific public purpose into private use.

    “For instance, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) alone has consistently saved government N42million monthly since its implementation. This is in addition to ensuring that unutilized funds remain with government at the end of each fiscal year.

    “My understanding of governance confirms to me that governance model office of this government is capable of placing Nigeria on the path of fulfilling its manifest destiny if we are patient enough. Public funds must be available for substantial development in infrastructures that supports businesses.

    “In governance, what absence of funds means is that government capacity to deliver on its campaign promises has already been challenged from the very beginning. But because the government of President Muhammadu Buhari promised change, and our people yearn for it, the President has been able to deliver; however difficult and challenging this may be because it is the contract he has with Nigerians.

    “My submission here is this: If these herculean obstacles to governance and development had not been tolerated by past governments, and used as a conduit pipe to drain public fund, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari would not have inherited empty treasury in the face of these daunting challenges.”

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Barr. Boss Mustapha, said that change was introduced to address anomalies in the social and economic spheres of the country.

    Represented by Permanent Secretary (General Services Office), SGF office, Mr. Olusegun Adekunle, Mustapha said the summit presented a platform to evaluate the change agenda of the present government.

    “The promise of change was introduced to address anomalies in the social and economic spheres of the country.

    “We are here to review the strength and weaknesses of this administration’s change agenda, and work together to make Nigeria the trigger of the continent,” he said.

  • Buhari approves new appointments

    President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed the appointment and re-appointment of some heads of parastatals.

    This was disclosed in a statement issued by Olusegun Adekunle, Permanent Secretary (General Services Office), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on Friday in Abuja.

    He appointed Mr Folashodun Shonubi as the Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria with effect from Oct. 17 for an initial period of five years.

    Others are Mr Banire Adeyemi as Part-Time Chairman, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) with effect from Oct. 17 for an initial period of five years.

    Mr Sule Bassi was appointed Secretary, Nigerian Diaspora Commission with effect from Oct. 19 for an initial period of four years.

    Sen. Abba Ali and Mr Mohammed Sagir were appointed as Members (Non-Legal Practitioners), Federal Judicial Service Commission for an initial period of five years with effect from Oct. 24.

    The President appointed Mr Kasali Yomi as the Director/CEO National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Ilorin for initial term of four years with effect from Oct. 28.

    Also appointed was Dr Olufemi Oladunni as the Director/CEO, Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute (ARMTI), Ilorin for initial term of four years with effect from Oct. 28.

    Mr Clement Nze was appointed as the Director-General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency with effect from Oct. 28.

    Mr Clement Isong was appointed to replace Mr Thomas Olawore as Member, Board of the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) with effect from Oct. 28.

    Mr David Nyikyaa was appointed as the Secretary, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission with effect from Nov.1.

    Buhari also appointed Mr Obinna Ogwuegbu as the Secretary, Special Investigation Panel for Recovery of Public Property with effect from Nov. 2.

    Dr Akinrinola Akintunde was appointed as the Provost, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State for an initial period of four years with effect from Nov.6.

    He re-appointed Prof. Emmanuel Fasakin, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State for a second and final term of four years with effect from Nov. 6.

    The president also appointed Mr Obadiah Nkom as the Director-General/CEO, Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office for an initial term of four years with effect from Jan. 12, 2019.

    Buhari enjoined the new appointees to serve the nation with all sense of responsibility, honesty, diligence and promote good governance in the discharge of their duties.

  • Buhari seeks collaborative efforts to fight human trafficking

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called for collaborative efforts among nations to fight human trafficking and smuggling of persons.

    Buhari made the call at the 16th INTERPOL Conference on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling on Monday in Abuja.

    He was represented by Mr Olusegun Adekunle, Permanent Secretary, General Service Office, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    “Human trafficking requires our collective efforts to eradicate which destroying the future of our youths,” he said.

    The President said that Nigeria was among the first set of countries to domesticate United Nations relevant protocols on trafficking in persons and smuggling of persons.

    Buhari said that the protocols were at various times domesticated, resulting in the country’s enactment of the trafficking in persons prohibition law enforcement Act and eradication Act 2003 and the 1963 Immigration Act.

    He said that the Immigration act empowered the service to combat the smuggling of migrants.

    The president said that the country had recorded a landmark in the fight against trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.

    He said that the collaborative efforts of the country’s security agencies had resulted in several interceptions, arrest and prosecution and conviction of 359 traffickers and smugglers.

    He urged the INTERPOL and relevant agencies to deepen already established collaboration in order to combat this modern day slavery to a standstill.

    Read Also: Forum begins campaign for Buhari’s re-election bid soon

    Buhari said that collaborative efforts across the international borders would go a long way to identify arrest and prosecute traffickers and smugglers in their countries of origin.

    He called on the INTERPOL to consider Abuja, Nigeria for the location of the proposed Strategic Service Centre.

    “Nigeria is ready to play host to the centre and we will avail you with all the necessary assistance within the provisions of the law,” he said.

    The president said that unless the country fight corruption, the little resources budgeted for development would be stolen by few elites, exposing the youths to poverty and becoming vulnerable to trafficking and smuggling.

    In a remark, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, said that the force was at the forefront in the fight against the ugly trend.

    Idris, who was represented by DIG Agboola Oshodi-Glover, said that trafficking and smuggling in persons posed a threat to both the victims and the countries of the world.

    He said that recently the force upgraded the anti-human trafficking section with the appointment of a Commissioner of police.

    Mr Jurgen Stock, Secretary General of INTERPOL said that trafficking in human beings and smuggling remained a prominent cahhlnge for law enforcement.

    He noted that the trend had opened the door for the exploitation of those simply seeking improved well-being and opportunities.

    Stock urged other participating countries at the conference to prioritise the fight against human trafficking and smuggling in persons.

    He said that INTERPOL had launched a platform consisting of 110 countries and 150 specialists from immigration, customs and investigative units to exchange information.

    News Agency of Nigeria reports that 500 participants from 70 countries are attending the conference.

    News Agency of Nigeria also reports that more than 500 specialists from security agencies, non-governmental and international organizations, public and private sectors are also participating.