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Tag: Onyedi Ojiabor

  • Acting Clerk: “I did not reject Sani-Omolari’s appointment”

    Acting Clerk: “I did not reject Sani-Omolari’s appointment”

    • You are a liar, traitor – NASC commissioners

    ‎One of the commissioners, who allegedly rejected the appointment of Mohammed Sani-Omolori’s as Acting Clerk of the National Assembly has denied ever opposing the appointment.

    The commissioners, Idi Adamu Ningi on Monday said that at no time did he reject Omolori’s appointment.

    In a letter made available to our reporter in Abuja, Ningi declared support for Sani-Omolori’s appointment as Acting Clerk.

    The Commissioners in a statement issued yesterday explained the circumstances which led to Ningi’s signature being among those who rejected Omolori’s appointment.

    They noted that signatures of commissioners on the list taken were those from an attendance sheet from a meeting which held between the commissioners and Senate President Bukola Saraki at his residence.

    ‎”On Tuesday, 26th April, 2016, I was informed of a meeting of the Commission with His Excellency, the President of the Senate in his house at 7pm of that day. Myself and one of my colleague – Alhaji Rufai Tuta arrived after 7pm, having missed our way trying to locate the Senate President’s house.

    “On arrival, we met four of our colleagues already seated – Elder Yepwi, Funmilayo Lamuye, Paul Oweh and Joseph Oru. About five minutes later, His Excellency, the Senate President walked in and after exchanging pleasantries, he spoke about the way the issue of the appointment of the Acting Clerk to the National Assembly was handled by the Commission and essentially expressed displeasure about it.

    “My colleagues, who all spoke before me recalled their contributions at the meeting of the Commission where the decision on the appointment was taken. I spoke last and only offered apologies to His Excellency as it was apparent that he was not happy with the Commission; assuring him that we cannot annoy him intentionally.

    “Mid-way into the meeting, the Deputy Senate President walked in and joined us. While I was speaking, one of my colleague (amongst the four we met at the residence) walked towards my seat with a sheet of paper which he gave to my colleague sitting close to me – Alhaji Rufai Tuta to sign and thereafter gave it to me. I noticed the paper was merely to write our name, the zone we represent and signature to indicate our attendance at the meeting and I signed accordingly.

    ‎Ningi continued: “I am therefore shocked and surprised to learn that I signed a document. No document was presented at the meeting and I did not sign any document but an attendance sheet.

    “I could not have signed any document dissociating myself from the decision of the Commission as I had earlier (on the 19th April, 2016) in a handwritten note – attached – expressed my support for the appointment of Alhaji Sani Omolori as the Clerk to the National Assembly in Acting capacity.

    “Let me seize this opportunity to express my deep and sincere respect and loyalty to His Excellency, the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and the Deputy President of the Senate – Mr. Ike Ekweremadu and to pledge my unflinching loyalty to and confidence on the Executive Chairman of the Commission – Dr. Adamu Mohammed Fika,” Ningi said.

    But in a swift reaction, six out of the commissioners who attended the meeting with the Senate President lambasted Ningi saying he lied.

    The commissioners in a counter statement issued on Monday described‎ as unfortunate Ningi’s denial, adding that they were disappointed at his inability to stand by his word.

    The statement reads: ‎”It has come to our attention that a member of the commission, Idi Adamu Ningi, has denied rejecting the appointment of Mohammed Sani-Omolori as Acting Clerk of the National Assembly.

    “It is unfortunate that he could speak from both sides of the mouth, an action which speaks of how much of a liar and traitor he is.

    “We expect that a man of his age and standing should know better than to‎ publicly deny a position he had earlier taken in the last meeting, which held between us and the Senate President in the interest of the commission which has been brought to disrepute owing to the crisis rocking the commission.

    “More so, to think that Idi Ningi could fall so cheap for financial inducement shows that he is not one to call a dependable ally, neither is he in anyway worthy of confidence. His recant demonstrates a lack of maturity that glaringly tells about his character. He is a betrayer and sellout,” the statement said.

  • Herdsmen’s killings: Buhari gives Chief of Army Staff, IGP matching order

    Herdsmen’s killings: Buhari gives Chief of Army Staff, IGP matching order

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Abayomi Olonishakin and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase to take immediate steps to secure communities under attack by herdsmen.
    The President also ordered Olonishakin and Arase to go after groups terrorizing innocent Nigerians in communities and villages.
    The President gave the matching order at the presentation of the book, “Who will Love my Country” written by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in Abuja.
    President Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, warned that his government will no longer allow the attacks to continue.
    He specifically condemned the attacks said to have been carried out by Fulani herdsmen in Uzo-Uwani local government of Enugu State which claimed many lives on Sunday.
    He said, “Let me start by condemning in strongest terms the attacks by herdsmen in Enugu State on Monday.  I deeply sympathize with those who lost their lives as well as those who lost their property.
    “I have directed the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector – General of Police to secure all communities under attacks by herdsmen and to go after the groups terrorising innocent people all over the country. This government will not allow these attacks to continue.”
    On the book, Buhari said that the author saw the need for attitudinal change for the purpose of fighting corruption and impunity and of course the need for Nigerians to love their country.
    He noted that “the author demonstrated in the book that Nigerians can only get the Nigeria of their dreams if they make bold efforts to put the nation’s interest above their individual interest.”
    He said, “We should start with individual attitude of change,  if we change our ways, the society will change for the better.
     “The author urged all tiers of government to undertake programmes and policies that will enhance the living standards of the people and ensure their happiness.
    “The 2016 budget is designed to bring our people out of poverty, enhance their living standards and bring smiles to their faces. The N500billion social intervention fund was designed to among others create jobs for 500, 000 unemployed graduates, provide loans for one million Nigerians including market men and women as well as artisans to start up their business.
    “It also includes feeding of 4.5million students in schools. Nigerians can only have and live in the country of their dreams by shunning corruption and desist from converting public property for personal usage or divert public funds to their private pockets.
    “I commend Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, for investing his time and energy to write the book which is a wake up call and thought provoking.”
    Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) who chaired the event said that from the title of the book, it is easy to determine that Ekweremadu has set out on a journey of self discovery.
    Gen. Gowon said, “It is a journey that is hinged on patriotism. I will want to believe that the motivation to write this book, derives in that part from the circumstances of our nation’s contemporary history. In itself this could be likened to bad times in which new life cannot be brought forward.
    “Many years back we fought a war to remain united, indivisible nation, this was because we believe and still believe that what bounds us is far greater than what divides us.
    “There is no denying the fact that Nigeria is stronger together and that the future remains very bright. Let us continue to move together as one. Nigeria has a great potential to become great, but it is left for each and every one of us to do our best to ensure and hasten the process.
    “Who will Love My Country?  The truth is no one but you and I. The foreigner cannot love our country the way we will love it. Neither can you love other country more than you will like your own.
    “We shall overcome all challenges if the leadership is committed to truly serve the people, and avoid corruption which I believe that the current leadership will tackle.
    “Definitely not insurgency or Fulani herdsmen’s menace will divide us because with the help of God and cooperation of the citizenry and the gallant security forces, we shall soon conquer.”
    Senator Ekweremadu in his speech asked Nigerians to show more love for the country by rising above tribe, ethnic, religious and political persuasions, with a view to subordinate all the aforementioned interests, to the overriding interest of the country.
    He also called on Nigerian leaders to govern effectively and use power wisely, saying that was the only way to safeguard the citizens’ interest.
    He noted that to love Nigeria, would entail Nigerians to critically revise and reexamine their attitudes,  values, and how they treat one another, which “demands of us some sacrifice.”
    He asked: “Are we going to bequeath to our children a banner stained by corruption, bad governance, ineffective leadership, ethnicity, slacking moral values, decadence, mediocrity, and sloth? God forbid!”
    He said Nigeria needed to return to the path of progress and unity charted by the founding fathers.
    He said: “If you are on a journey and you find out that you are travelling the wrong road, the right thing to do is to turn back and take the right path.
    “We must be ready to surrender our perceived narrow advantages to the general good. We must let go, for unless you release the man you are holding to the ground, you would not also be able to move an inch. Now is the time to offer one another a hand of comradeship and together we can move to the Promised Land.”
    He reiterated the fact that he wrote the book, not as the Deputy President of the Senate, nor as a card carrying member of any political party, but as a patriotic Nigerian, who was concerned about Nigeria’s future.
    He added, “I lay no claims to having the solutions to Nigeria’s problems; I simply want to challenge and inspire Nigerians to rise above ethnic, partisan and selfish interests and focus more on how to build a better country for us and our children.”
    Ekweremadu, further charged Nigerian Leaders to “show fidelity to democratic imperatives of accountability and transparency, respect the laws of the land and respect the rights and liberties of citizens.
    “Nobody can save or help Nigeria but Nigerians. As Timi Dakolo rightly pointed out in his thought-provoking song, Great Nation, ‘We are all we have’. That is the message of this book.  There are no problems Nigerians cannot solve if we act in good faith, guided by the nation’s best interest.
    At the event, where a minute silence, at the behest of Ekweremadu, was observed in honour of those who were killed in Uzo Uwani in Enugu State as well as other parts of the country, the Deputy President of the Senate said “the sad incident further reinforces the need for this book and the ideas espoused in the book”.
    “The primary responsibility of government is the security of lives and properties of the citizens. We must rethink our security system to serve us better”, he declared.
    The book presentation had in attendance a retinue of serving and former governors, ministers, party leaders, federal lawmakers, across political divides.
    It also recorded a high turnout of members of the academia, diplomatic corps, and the civil society.
  • 100,000 Nigerians contact cancer annually – Senate panel

    100,000 Nigerians contact cancer annually – Senate panel

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Dr. Lanre Tejuoso, on Monday said that between 50,000 and N100,000 Nigerians contact cancer annually in the country.
    Senator Tejuoso spoke as stakeholders at a one-day public hearing on a Bill for an Act to Establish National Centre for Cancer Research and Treatment in Nigeria expressed concerns over the spread of the disease in the country.
    Tejuoso underscored the World Health Organisation (WHO) report that cancer is a major cause of global deaths with seven million being recorded every year and 72 per cent of such deaths occurring in middle income countries such as Nigeria.
    He noted that the rate of deaths caused by cancer in the world is about13 per cent.
    The Ogun State lawmaker noted that the Cancer Research Centre will foster scientific improvement to cancer prevention, treatment and care and as well co-ordinate and liaise between the wide range of groups and health care providers with an interest in cancer.
    Tejuoso listed other objectives of the centre to include making recommendations to the government about cancer policy and priorities; overseeing dedicated budget for research centre; assisting with the implementation of government policies and programmes in cancer control and providing financial assistance out of money appropriated by the National Assembly for research and treatment.

    He noted that one out of every eight women expect to be diagnosed of breast or cervical cancer in their lifetime.
    According to him, two of every 10 men expect to be diagnosed for prostate, lungs and colorectal cancer.

    He said: “It is also well known that the various forms of cancer disease have been more felt in Africa and Nigeria in particular where resources and awareness are not readily available for prevention, diagnose and treatment. This bill seeks to provide for establishment of the National Centre for Cancer Research and Treatment to research into cancer and to provide treatment to patients in Nigeria.”

    The Ministry of Health represented by a director in the ministry, Dr. Patience Osinubi, noted that instead of narrowing the handling of cancer disease to establishing a research centre, the bill should embrace a holistic approach to the disease by establishing National Agency for the Control of Cancer.
    She also highlighted the need to focus on every area related to the ailment, noting that cancer is treatable if it is detected earlier.
  • Don’t separate offices of Minister of State Petroleum, GMD NNPC – Group

    Don’t separate offices of Minister of State Petroleum, GMD NNPC – Group

    The Niger Delta Youths Coalition on Tuesday opposed the call for the separation of the office of the Minister of State for Petroleum from that of the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

     

    The NDYC in a statement made available to our reporter in Abuja said that the insinuation that the combination of the two offices as presently constituted is too demanding for the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, lacked substance and is not founded on facts.

     

    Endorsed by Comrade Ebipade Jackson (Bayelsa), Comrade Eghosa Idehen (Edo State), Comrade Tony Gbemudu (Delta State), Comrade Amezhinim Ekiye (Rivers State), Comrade Aniebiet Nsikan (Akwa Ibom State) and Comrade Odey Christopher (Cross River State) statement said that the merger of the two offices is also not the cause of the current fuel scarcity.

     

    NDYC said that it is on record that the relationship between the two offices when they were separate, was characterized with friction, power tussle and policy inconsistency.

     

    It added that fuel scarcity had been a perennial occurrence in the country’s history at those times when the offices of Minister of State for Petroleum and the GMD of NNPC were under separate management, as was the case in the era of Funsho Kukpolokun, Austin Oniwon, Andrew Yakubu, Joseph Dawha, and others.

     

    “We wish to condemn in strong terms the call by the President of the Trade Union Congress, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama for the separation of the office of the Minister of State for Petroleum from that of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC because, according to him, the office as presently constituted is too demanding for Dr. Kachikwu.

     

    “Such an argument lacks substance and is not founded on facts. The merger of the two offices era of Funsho Kukpolokun, Austin Oniwon, Andrew Yakubu, Joseph Dawha, and others.

     

    “It is common knowledge that the cause of the present fuel scarcity is as a result of the inability of fuel importers to source enough foreign exchange for the importation of fuel.

     

    “The Central Bank should as a matter of urgency grant these fuel importers access to foreign exchange to alleviate the pains being experienced by all as a result of the scarcity of petroleum products.

     

    “We wish to utilize this opportunity to call on the ordinary Nigerian to rally round Ibe Kachikwu.

     

    “It is on record that Dr. Kachikwu has made some far-reaching changes since assumption of office.

    “His re-engineering of the NNPC to make it more profit oriented and a veritable revenue earner for Nigeria is a great feat which past administrations failed to achieve.

     

    “As a matter of fact, the NNPC has been running at huge losses over the years and was mostly dependent on the finances of the country for sustenance.

     

    “Another major feat recorded by Dr. Kachikwu is the jettisoning of the fraud called fuel subsidy which had served as a drain pipe on the resources of this country for years.

     

    “Available records show that fuel subsidy payments gulped over N5 trillion between 2011 and 2015. With the recent down-grading of the fuel subsidy regime, the system is now free for fair and competitive businesses that can grow the economy unlike in the past where a very few held the system hostage and continually made false declarations on the quantity of products brought into the country.

     

    “Dr. Ibe Kachukwu has been very proactive in the management of the Petroleum sector since assumption of office and we urge him not to be deterred because  President Muhammadu Buhari’s change agenda as is being brilliantly prosecuted by Dr. Ibe Kachikwu through revolutionary policies geared towards revamping the oil and gas sector.

     

    “We also want to use this opportunity to thank and commend His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari for finding in Dr Kachikwua worthy change agent who has the capacity and skills to deliver on the determination of his administration to restore hope to Nigerians.

     

    “We therefore thank Mr President for his unwavering support for Dr. Ibe Kachikwu’sprogrammes in the petroleum sector since assumption of office and urge him to discountenance and disregard all negative insinuations which without doubt, are borne out of greed and mischief.

     

     

    “South South people are solidly behind Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and we remain profoundly proud of his outstanding achievements in life, including the giant strides he has already recorded in the Nigerian oil and gas sector where, on resuming office, he has characteristically grabbed the bull of corruption and inefficiency by the horns, and began a transformation of the NNPC to a modern and more efficient oil company.

     

    “We finally urge Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to remain focused and unrelenting in his commitment to justify the confidence placed on him by Mr President.

     

    “Dr. Ibe Kachikwu remains one of our best brains in the Niger Delta region and we are glad to note that this administration recognizes the importance of engaging our best unlike in the past, to head sensitive positions in government and thus bring good governance to bear not just on the Niger Delta region but in Nigeria as a whole.

     

    “For the avoidance of doubt, it must be put on record that for the first time in the history of this country, the era of profligacy in the management and administration of the oil sector is now over and this is as a result of the dexterous application of the world acclaimed professional skills of a sincere and honest administrator, against all the odds placed on his way by devious persons in the industry who are opposed to the change agenda.”

  • I’ve fully complied with law on asset declaration, says Saraki

    I’ve fully complied with law on asset declaration, says Saraki

    Senate President,  Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on said that he has fully complied with the provisions of the law on declaration of assets by public officers.
    Saraki in a  reaction to the claim contained in the Panama-based offshore provider, Mossack Fonseca and shared by the International Consortium of Investigation Journalists (ICIJ) that he failed to declare assets belonging to his wife, Mrs Toyin Saraki, in secret offshore territories, noted that  he has in his different asset declarations included properties owned individually by himself and his wife.
    The statement signed by his Special Adviser Media and Public Affairs, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said that the property in question formed part of Saraki’s wife family asset.
    It said: “The property in question forms part of Dr. Saraki’s wife’s family asset. It is public knowledge that Mrs. Saraki comes from a family of independent means and wealth with numerous and varied assets acquired over decades in family estates and investments.
    “Furthermore, the law only requires a public officer to declare both his own assets and those held by his spouse and his children under 18 years of age. The law does not require a public officer to declare assets held by the spouse’s family.
    “It is not expected by the law that a public officer should declare such assets held in the spouse’s family estate.
    “Indeed, the Code of Conduct form does not make provision for the declaration of spouse’s family assets,” he stated.
  • Fuel scarcity: Kachikwu apologises to Nigerians

    Fuel scarcity: Kachikwu apologises to Nigerians

     

    Says “I’m not a magician” comment was exaggerated

    Explains how stoppage of fuel subsidy payment led to scarcity

     

    Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, on Tuesday apologised to Nigerian over the lingering fuel scarcity in the country.

     

    Kachikwu who appeared before the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources, (Downstream) noted particularly that his comment that he is not a magician to cause fuel queues to disappear overnight was not meant to insult Nigerians.

     

    The “I’m not a magician” comment he insisted, was made jocularly and was never intended to slight Nigerians.

     

    The minister said that he shares the pains Nigerians were going through to get fuel as well as working round the clock to find solution to the problem.

     

    He rejected the call for him to resign over the biting fuel crisis but assured that the fuel queues would disappear within the first two weeks of April, 2016.

     

    “Let me thank the Senate for taking time out from your recess to come to dialogue this issue. It shows the importance you attach to the petroleum industry and the feelings of Nigerians.

     

    “Let me just digress. I share the pains of Nigerians. I feel that pain everyday when I walk the streets. On Easter day I was in Lagos monitoring fuel distribution and the depots, I have given 24 hours attention to the problems.

     

    “I have continued to work with one sole purpose which is that every problem must have a solution and I think that is the reason I was picked.

     

    “I do apologise for the comment that I made jocularly with my friends in the press about being a magician and it offended Nigerians. It was not meant to be, it was a side jocular issue.

     

    “I did go on to explain what needed to be done. I did not know that it would create the kind of hyperbole that it did.

     

    “Let me first admit that I am not a typically experienced politician. I am a technocrat. I come to work.

     

    “Some of the phraseologies that I may use, while being acceptable in the arena in which I play obviously will not be acceptable in the public political arena.

     

    “So if any body’s sensibilities were offended by those, I totally apologise.”

     

    “I share the pains of Nigerians. I feel that pain every day. I worked the streets and those who are following my trajectories since I resumed office would see that even on the Christmas day,  I was at the refineries.

     

    “Like I said on the Easter day, I was in Lagos, monitoring fuel distribution at the depots. I have given 24/7 attention to the problem in this industry which were unbelievable.

    “I have continued to work with one sole purpose in mind, which is that every problem will have a solution.

    “I do apologize if a comment I make jocularly with my friends in the press about being a magician offends some Nigerians, it wasn’t meant to be. It is a side jocular issue and I did go ahead to explain what needed to be done.

    “I didn’t intend to create this kind of hyperbole that it did.  Let me admit that I am not a typically experienced politician. I am a technocrat, I came to work.

    “Some of the phraseologies that I may use while being acceptable in the arena in which I play, obviously will not be acceptable in the public political arena. If anybody’s sensitivities were offended by that, I totally apologise.

    “I am a very humble person even imagining the thought that I dictate to Nigerians. I am not somebody like that.”

    On the reason for the current fuel scarcity he said, “Let me put the reasons for the scarcity in three categories. First, what did I meet? When we came in August, this country had arrears of unpaid subsidy claims that were in excess of N600 billion which were not paid for over a year.

    “So, progressively over a period of eight months, prior to my coming on board, people have been staying away from importation not at a heavy level but by about 10 to 15 percent of allocation were not being met. But there was hope that ultimately, if the subsidy regime continues, they would get paid. So, some people continued to import, but by the time we came in, people had reached a breaking point and most of the companies didn’t have the liquidity even to go to the banks and open letters of credit and that became a major issue, and we succeeded in paying, late October last year, the N500bn subsidy.

    “Some element of the subsidy like the foreign exchange components remained unpaid, which has been carried into this year’s budget. It became clear to me that having regards to the difficulty that we faced in terms of paying for the subsidy,  the country can no longer, quite frankly, afford subsidy payment.

    “We were faced with the challenge of ensuring supply of petroleum products without the need for a subsidy regime. As of January 1 this year, the country is no longer paying subsidy, saving us a cumulative of over N1trillion in a one year period. That was the first major issue.

    “Second major issue was that once the N600bn subsidy money was paid, the ability of marketers to import the product became a challenge because they could not raise letters of credit and up to this point that still remain a major issue.

    “So even if they wanted to import, they needed letters of credit and adequate foreign exchange cover. Some of them were owing arrears of liabilities as a result of commitment I had made on petroleum importation prior.

    “So, whatever money they had was taken by banks to offset certain obligations. Going forward now, they didn’t have money to import fuel again. What that meant was that by late August last year, we moved from the expected obligation of the NNPC to bring in 50 percent of the national consumption of about 45 to 50 million litres per day but we now have to cover a 100 percent platform because nobody was bringing in the product, the consumption was still static and we needed to cover the gap.

    “We took up that challenge without increase in crude allocation, without any excess allocation as it were and we have to work exceedingly hard from August last year to cover the gap but we didn’t cover it 100 percent because we didn’t have the ability to do so. So, the gap we could not cover was responsible for the queues. That was responsible for the 80 percent of the problem.

    “Third issue is that of pipeline vandalism. We met pipelines that were in comatose, for instance Mosimi was not working. This morning, after a three months intensive work with private partners, we just been able for the first time, to recover the Escravos to Warri pipeline and about a month ago,  we recovered the Brass to Port Harcourt pipeline. For the first time, we will be able to pump crude to the refineries without the need to use vessels which are extremely expensive which I stopped as soon as I came. For the first time in six years, we are trying to recover the pipeline.

    “We have 18 depots across the country. 90 percent of them are not in a state of use. They have not been maintained. They have been abandoned for years. Money was needed to work on them. But we have advertised for joint partners to come in and work with us to put in the required facilities to get depots working and get pipeline repaired. But through hard work we have been able to recover some pipeline from Mosimi up to Ilorin but with a few punctured points. The crude pipeline from the South to the North again being recovered. The absence of the pipelines, makes movement of the products from Lagos  taking up to a week.

    “Because the importers are not bringing in the product, the logistics of the NNPC had been expanded, creating great nightmare for us. Not only do we bring in the product but we also lighten it and take it to the storage tanks of the majors and some cases if you notice,  we also are taking intervention trucks and taken products into the stations of this individuals because if they do not sell and the stations are empty,  it is a challenge. NNPC basically over extended itself in terms of what it was set up to do and what it has the capacity to do.

    “Lack of infrastructure too is affecting us because we are moving up to 3,000 trucks round the country everyday this is not the best way to circulate or distribute products in a civilised world but that is the only option that we had. NNPC was losing N40bn every month when we came but this had been reduced to N3bn by December last year. We met a company with a debt profile of N4trn and with that of NPDC which is about N1trn. The access to open up letter of credit continues to be a challenge.”

    On diversion of products by marketers he said, “Marketers are diverting the product, some days we load 300 trucks from Lagos coming to Abuja and one third of that, are dissipated into areas where people could make quick returns and so they won’t get to Abuja. We do not have a computerized system that will enable us to track every truck that is loaded from our depots. We are however working on this; it has not been there for 20 years.

    “We are currently working very collaboratively with the oil majors that is upstream producing companies to see how they can sell us foreign exchange for the naira components they would require for their local operations. When they bring in the foreign exchange, they give us the first call.  We are using that module to cover up the foreign exchange gap. We are also working collaboratively with the CBN within the limits of what it can tolerate to give us a little bit of foreign exchange.

    “Additionally we also brought in the DSDP programme because the number of litres of consumption as a nation was spectacularly false. We were carrying figure of 55 million litres per day that was geared towards creating opportunities for people to make more money during the subsidy regime. We did analysis and we discovered that we were consuming 45 million litres which means that we are saving about 10 million litres per day.
    “April begins the DSDP programme which will save us $1bn a year. This means that the contract upon which we were importing fuel in the past was extremely faulty. Once that begins from April 2, we have commitment of much more arrival of the product. That covers the 60 percent that our crude allocation can deal with. There is still that 40 percent gap which importers had got to bring in. That is being worked on through the collaboration of oil majors and the CBN.

    “We are also setting up, for the first time, strategic reserves for the first time in this country of close to about two million tonnes to provide products always. That would be operational as from May. It would contain between five to seven cargoes of fuel as a reserve. Once we do that we should be away from the incessant fuel crisis that we have.

    “We expect that between now and about the 6th to 7th of April, the fuel queues will disappear, the DSDP will begin and the foreign exchange allocation will see us smoothly through the track.

    “The refineries will be working and the volumes they would be producing will be sent to the strategic reserves to address difficult times. In April we are expected to get to get 150 percent of the volumes that would be needed. A lot of that will go to storage tanks. Hopefully that should sort out the problem.”

  • National Assembly wants special funding for health‎ in 2017 Budget

     

    The National Assembly is asking for a special funding package for the health sector in 2017 budget.

     

    The legislative body on Thursday declared its support for a report by the National Institute for Legislative Study (NILS)‎ which demanded a special funding for maternal and child health in the 2017 budget.

     

    It advised the Federal Government among others, to make provision for resources towards training healthcare workers across the country as a means of improving health care services in Nigeria.

     

    The position of the National Assembly was conveyed at the presentation of a research report on Government Funding Obligations on Child and Family Health by the NILS to the Senate and House Committees on ‎National Planning and Economic Affairs, Health, and Appropriations.

     

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, Senator Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso said the poor situation in the health sector could be addressed if government embarked on training to boost capacity of health workers‎ as a way of resolving problems arising from shortage of experienced personnel at healthcare institutions across the country.

     

    He said: “I think government needs to look critically at ensuring that it provides special funding for health in the 2017 budget.

     

    “If provision is made in that regard, government will be able to train health care workers so as to make up for the shortage of experienced hands which most of our health care institutions are complaining about.

     

    “If that is done, I think a major part of the problems we have in striving to attain quality healthcare will be taken care of.”

     

    ‎In its policy brief on Maternal and Child Health in Nigeria, the NILS, while asking for special funding for the health sector in next year’s budget, noted that the National Assembly plays a pivotal role towards winning the fight for improved Maternal and Child Health.

     

    According to the Institute, the apex legislative body could achieve the feat by prioritizing the core areas of Maternal and Child Health in the budget, and ensuring effective tracking, monitoring and evaluation‎ of budgetary provisions for the components of MCH such as nutrition, reproductive health and immunization.

     

    “The current economic downturn portends serious challenge to adequate funding of MCH. Nevertheless, there is need to meet promises and obligations through improved budgetary provision and effective mechanisms of accountability.

     

    “This calls for harmonization through National Health Account, effective monitoring and oversight using costless innovative approaches. These have potential of boosting access to and utilization of MCH services in rural communities,” NILS added.

     

  • Senate receives 2016 budget, AGF audit reports

    Senate receives 2016 budget, AGF audit reports

    The Senate on Monday received the 2016 budget and the 2014 Auditor-General of the Federation audit reports.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, presented the 2016 budget report marked “2016 Appropriation Bill, 2016 (SB.212).

    The report was not debated and no date was assigned for its debate and passage into law.

    Insiders however said that the budget is likely to be passed Wednesday.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Babajide Omoworare, had assured on Monday that the controversial 2016 budget report would be laid on Tuesday.

    The Osun East lawmaker said that the report blights in the fiscal document had been cleaned up by the National Assembly.

    Also, the Senate received the annual report of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

    Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume presented the report entitled “Accounts of the Federation of Nigeria.”

    Ndume asked the Senate to “receive the Annual  Report of the Auditor-General for the Federation on the accounts of the Federation of Nigeria for the year ended 31st December, 2014 in accordance with section 85(2) and (5) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    The weighty report, submitted to the National Assembly by the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura, indicted several ministries, departments and agencies including the National Assembly management.

    The report claimed that more than N3.3 trillion was misappropriated by the MDAs and the National Assembly.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, had assured that the Senate will investigate every bit of the audit report.

    Abdullahi told reporters in Abuja that consideration of the audit report is part of the statutory function of the parliament.

    He said that the exposures in the audit report are queries raised by the Auditor General which cannot be conclusively classified as fraudulent acts until proven by investigation.

    He added that the queries raised in the report by the Auditor General are not necessarily indictment.

    The Senate Committee on Public Account, he said, would dig into the report, invite those queried to ask for clarification before coming to conclusion.

    He said that the Eight Senate had elected to make the difference by painstakingly considering the report to establish the veracity of the report.

    He asked Nigerians to wait and see what the Senate would make out of the audit report.

    He said: “The Eight Senate has chosen to be different as we have stated severally since we came on board and for which we came up with our legislative agenda to make us different from the past because we are in the season and period of change and we want to seriously key in to that.

    “Along that line, you could see the courage that we have to make some differences from what has obtained in the past and to this note, we have passed reports of some committees like the Treasury Single Account (TSA), which is a classical example.

    “Through that exercise, we were able to save the country, N7billion. There are similar works that has been done.

    “We want to say that since we have chosen to be different, we urge Nigerians to wait and see what we will make out of the investigation.

    “Without holding forth for the past assemblies, I want to say that it is not as if they did not do anything about the past Audit Reports.

    “But perhaps they have not taken their action up to the scale that would have made a huge impact that people want to see. If that is what the Auditor – General means, I agree with him.

    “The Auditor – General is raising a query, it is not an indictment. So when he raises his queries, the essence of the Public Accounts Committee is to invite those parties involved in the query and through the instruments of their own work, investigate all the issues by seeking for clarification and at the end of the day, where they have infractions, or infringement on certain procedures, they met out appropriate sanctions as stipulated by extant rules and regulations.

    “When there is a process and someone has done one part, until we conclusively finish that process, it will be wrong to accuse anyone of being guilty.

    “These are administrative procedures and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has made it clear that we would take oversight functions far more serious than what it used to be in the past.

    “If oversight functions are carried out properly, some of these queries that we talk about will begin to reduce because the essence is to see infractions before they happen.

    “We as lawmakers will stop it before another institution discovers the anomalies and bring them to our notice.

    “These are the powers of the National Assembly through oversight functions. We are committed to ensuring that a thorough job is done this time.

    “We have demonstrated our capacity to match our words with our actions. Wait and see, it is a promise and we have four years to prove that we mean business.”

    Also on Tuesday the Senate received report of the conference committee on Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator John Owan Enoh prayed the Senate to receive the report of the conference committee on the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

    The consideration and adoption of the MTEF and FSP pave the way for the passage of the Appropriation Bill.

    After the receipt of the reports, the Senate adjourned plenary in honour of a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Musa Baba Onwana, Nasarawa/Toro Federal Constituency, Nasarawa State, who died last week.

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”Budget” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • Saraki to ACF: All zones must contribute to GDP for national stability

    Saraki to ACF: All zones must contribute to GDP for national stability

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday appealed to all geopolitical zones in the country to contribute equitably to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in order to ensure national stability.

    Saraki according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu in Abuja, made the appeal when the Chairman of the National Executive Council of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), former Inspector General of Police, Dr. Ibrahim Coomassie, led other executive members of the Forum to visit the Senate President at the National Assembly.

    The Senate President said the only way for the North to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the nation’s GDP and the diversification of the economy is for its leaders to methodically focus on mining and agriculture.

    Saraki said: “My appeal is that in all countries that have gone through similar economic challenges like ours, recovery does not happen overnight. There will be initial pain, but eventually, the future will be bright. It is this journey that we should have embarked upon many years ago. We cannot run away from it.

    “We cannot continue to depend only on oil. We must look at agriculture. Specifically for those of us from the North, agriculture is key. I also want to say that for the stability of any country, it is important that every part of the country is seen to be contributing to the economy of the country. A country where it is only one part that contributes to the economy is a recipe for disaster.

    “For the stability of this country, it is important that we from the North must play our own role to contribute significantly to the GDP of this country. It is then we come to the table on equal terms and then we will be able to ensure the stability of this country. The only way for us to make our contribution is to go back to mining and agriculture. We must talk to our people that it is time for hard work to do that.”

    Saraki noted that the 8th National Assembly is already looking at laws to improve the business environment, address infrastructure deficit and, ensure private participation in construction and maintenance of roads, ports and even railway systems in the country.

    He told the northern elders that the National Assembly is committed to supporting President Muhammadu Buhari so that he can achieve success in his fight against corruption and bad governance.

    He said: “I think we don’t have much choice because a lot of Nigerians spoke at the last election and said goodbye to impunity and bad governance. They want leadership based on transparency and accountability and the 8th Senate is going to work tirelessly to ensure that we give them just that.

    “In doing that, we need your support, because we are going to step on toes. In doing that we are going to be seen to be doing things that have not been done before and of course those that do not want change will fight back. That is natural. But our distinguished Senators are committed and no amount of intimidation and blackmail will stop us from doing what we know is in the interest of the good people of Nigeria.”

    Saraki reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to pass the 2016 budget on March 17, 2016, adding that after the passage, the National Assembly would focus on the amendment of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    “It is our intention that as soon as we pass the budget, the constitutional amendment committee that we have set up will begin to meet. I have told them that I will like to see that by June, they have finished and the proposed amendment should go to the State Houses of Assembly.”

    Coomassie told the Senate President that the visit was meant to sustain and consolidate the cordial relationship that exist between the ACF and the Senate since 1999.

    He congratulated Saraki on that inauguration of the 8th Senate and described the National Assembly as an epitome of democracy.

    Coomassie said: “May I also acknowledge the support and cooperation the executive arm of government enjoys from you as clearly demonstrated by the speedy screening of the Ministers by the Senate and the consideration of the 2016 Appropriation Bill which the National Assembly has pledged to pass before the end of this month.”

    He reminded the Senate that their role does not end in legislation alone, but also to ensure the “effectiveness of oversight functions and transparency for the benefit of Nigerians…. ACF shall continue to support you to legislate well…”

  • Senate vows to enforce federal character principles

    Senate vows to enforce federal character principles

     

    The Senate on Wednesday said that it is determined to enforce the principle of Federal character in all appointments and distribution of economic and social amenities in the country.

    It warned the Federal Character Commission (FCC) against allowing skewed appointments into the Federal Civil Service.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character, Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura (Zamfara North), gave the warning at an interactive session with the Acting Chairman of the FCC, Dr. Shettima Bukar Abba and commissioners of the commission.

    Kaura noted that the Senate through his Committee, would enforce a strict observance of the Federal character principle in appointments to ensure that there was no bias and breach of the 1999 Constitution in the number and manner of appointments.

    He said: “We will ensure the promotion and enforcement of equitable and proportional distribution of infrastructural facilities and socio-economic amenities among the federating units of Nigeria.

    “Our mandate therefore is to stick strictly to these principles as outlined above and discourage executive and administrative arbitrariness.

    “You are all aware that none compliance with these principles is a punishable offence under the law or Act establishing the Federal Character Commission.

    “I want to categorically state here that the Committee will ensure enforcement of this provision. The Federal Character Commission was established through the Act in 1999.

    “It was entrenched in section 14 of the 1999 Constitution as amended stressing ‘the composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity and also to command national loyalty, thereby enduring. That there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or in any of its agencies.”

    Kaura pledged that the National Assembly would improve its oversight function on the Commission to “ensure effective oversight in the light of the Constitutional provisions on Federal Character as stated above and the very important Legislative Oversight functions of the National Assembly must ensure through effective oversight and adherence by all governmental agencies.”

    He also assured that the “Committee will collaborate with the Federal Character Commission to spread the principles of Federal Character”.

    He also warned that “the jurisdiction of enforcement of Federal Character principles is not limited to the agencies and parastatals under the Committee, but to all other ministries, departments and agencies, military and paramilitary organisations”.