The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Osinbajo

  • Corruption, injustice responsible for Nigeria’s security problems – Osinbajo

    Corruption, injustice responsible for Nigeria’s security problems – Osinbajo

    Acting president Yemi Osibanjo on Tuesday attributed the nation’s increasing security problems to corrupt practices and injustice.

    He also said inability of government to provide the basic needs of the people gave rise to incessant agitations by ethnic groups in the country.

    Osinbajo spoke at the 50th Conference of Nigerian Law Teachers Association held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.

    He stressed the need for the three arms of government to provide a conducive environment for enhancement of quality of lives of Nigerians.

    The acting President said: “A lot of these agitations centered on the failure of the states to create an inclusive society, a failure to guarantee the security of lives and property by the agencies charged with the responsibility and failure to build trust around the law and justice administration.”

    He charged the law teachers to use the conference to deliberate and find lasting solutions to key issues confronting Nigeria’s legal system and jurisprudence.

    The Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, in a goodwill message, said the nation has been bedeviled by chaos and lethargy.

    He said Nigeria’s laws has not been charged and galvanized to effectively serve justice.

     

     

  • N7.44tr budget ’ll deliver prosperity, says Osinbajo

    N7.44tr budget ’ll deliver prosperity, says Osinbajo

    •‘Increment by National Assembly ’ll make implementation difficult’

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday signed the 2017 Appropriation Bill into law.

    President Muhammadu Buhari presented in December 2016 a N7.28 trillion estimate, which was raised to N7.44 trillion by the lawmakers.

    The Budget includes N1.84 trillion for debt servicing, N177.4 billion for sinking fund, N2.97 trillion for recurrent expenditure (non-debt) and N2.177 trillion for capital expenditure.

    Details of the budget also show that N434.4 billion is appropriated for statutory transfers to the National Judicial Council (N100 billion); Niger Delta Development Commission (N64.02 billion); Universal Basic Education (N95.2 billion); National Assembly (N125 billion); Public Complaints Commission (N4 billion); INEC (N45 billion); and National Human Rights Commission (N1.2 billion).

    Osinbajo said the budget would deliver positive economic growth and prosperity as it would be implemented in line with the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    The acting president said the increment by the National Assembly would  make it difficult for the executive to implement some of the projects. He however said virement would be sent to the legislature to augment what would be needed to complete critical projects.

    Such critical projects, he said included the railway standard gauge projects, the Mambilla Power Project, the Second Niger Bridge and the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway.

    He said efforts would be made to send next year’s budget proposal to the National Assembly by October so that it could be passed this year in order to return to the January – December budget cycle.

    Osinbajo said the process for completing this year’s budget was smoother than that of 2016.

    According to him, the executive did not make allegations of errors or mistakes in this year’s budget.

    He said: “The process of preparing and processing this Bill was much smoother than the 2016 Appropriations Bill. On the executive side, there were no allegations of errors, or mistakes, and there was a significant improvement in the quality of the preparation, as well as the presentation.

    “I wish to commend the Ministry of Budget and Planning for such a remarkable improvement over a single budget cycle. On the side of the National Assembly, I wish to commend the collaborative spirit of the engagements our MDAs had with their various committees, and with the leadership, during the budget defence sessions. There were far fewer reported cases of acrimony, or hostile wrangling this year, than in the past.

    “From the reports we received, the sessions were generally conducted in a friendly atmosphere. There is no doubt that our democracy is maturing.

    “However, the final presentation and the signing of the budget has been considerably delayed. This was largely due to disagreements we had about the changes introduced to our 2017 Budget proposals by the National Assembly.

    “The executive took the view that the changes fundamentally affected some of our  priority programmes and would make implementation extremely difficult and, in some cases, impossible.

    “I must say that the entire leadership of the National Assembly, led by the Senate President and the Speaker, adopted a commendably patriotic and statesmanlike approach to our engagements on resolving these critical issues.

    “In sum, the engagements yielded acceptable results . The most important being that the leadership of the National Assembly has given us a commitment that the National Assembly will re-instate the budgetary allocations for all the important executive projects, such as the railway standard gauge projects, the Mambilla Power Project, the Second Niger Bridge, the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway etc. which they had reduced to fund some of the new projects they introduced.

    “This re-instatement will be by way of an application for virement by the Executive which they have agreed will be expeditiously considered and approved by the National Assembly.

    “It is as a result of that understanding and the outcome of our detailed engagements that we feel able to sign the 2017 Appropriations Bill into law today.

    “I am also pleased to mention that, in our discussions with the leadership of the National Assembly, we have jointly resolved to return to a predictable January to December fiscal year.

    “It is a particularly important development because this accords with the financial year of most private sector companies, underscoring the crucial relationship between government and the private sector.

    “Therefore, on the understanding that we will be submitting the 2018 Budget to the National Assembly by October 2017, the leadership of the National Assembly has committed to working towards the passage of the 2018 Budget into law before the end of 2017.

    “The 2017 Budget, which I have signed into law today, is christened “Budget of Economic Recovery and Growth” and reflects our commitment to ensure strong linkage between the medium-term Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) recently launched by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari and the annual budgets.” he added

    The 2017 Budget, he said, is also designed to bring the Nigerian economy out of recession onto a path of sustainable and inclusive growth.”

    Osinabjo said: “The budget has a revenue projection of N5.08 trillion and an aggregate expenditure of N7.44 trillion. The projected fiscal deficit of N2.36 trillion is to be financed largely by borrowing.”

    To the Acting President, there is no cause for alarm over public debts.

    He said: “Let me assure those who have expressed concern about the growing public debt that we are taking several actions to grow government revenues as well as plug revenue leakages. This is because, notwithstanding the fact that our borrowings are still within sustainability limits, we are determined, in the medium term, to reduce our reliance on borrowings to finance our expenditures.”

    Stressing that the Nigerian economy is already signalling a gradual recovery, Osinabjo said that growth was already headed towards positive territory.

    According to him, the first quarter GDP, at -0.52% compares favourably with -2.06% in the first quarter of 2016.

    Inflation, he said, is declining, down to 17.24% from 18.74% as at May 2016.

    He added “Our external reserves are now US$30.28 billion as at June 8, 2017 up from US$26.59 billion as at May 31, 2016.

    “We are also gradually instilling confidence in our exchange rate regime. This improvement in GDP growth and other macro-economic indicators is largely attributable to our strategic implementation of the 2016 Budget as well as stronger macroeconomic management and policy coordination.

    “I am confident that the 2017 Budget will deliver positive economic growth and prosperity – one that is self-sustaining and inclusive. In this regard, the 2017 budget will be implemented in line with our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

    “Over the 2017-2020 plan period, we are focusing on five (5) key execution priorities, namely: *Stabilizing the macroeconomic environment; *Agriculture and Food security; *Energy sufficiency in power and petroleum products; *Improved transportation infrastructure; and *Industrialization through support for micro, small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs).”

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan and Senator Danjuma Goje, among others, witnessed the ceremony.

    There were also Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Ita Enang.

    Before the ceremony, a statement by Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said it was in the interest of the nation for Osinbajo to accent to the budget.

    He said: “Following the receipt of a full brief on the 2017 Appropriation Bill as passed by the National Assembly, and to buttress the unity at the highest level of government, President Muhammadu Buhari has indicated that it is in the interest of the nation’s economy for the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to sign the Appropriation Bill into law.

    “In a letter dated June 10, 2017, which he personally signed and addressed to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, the President also said he was “pleased by the joint resolution that the Executive  would submit next year’s budget proposals by October 2017 and the National Assembly will conclude the Appropriation process by December 2017, so that the country can return to a normal fiscal period from next year onwards.”

     

  • Osinbajo approves chairman, members for Conduct Bureau 

    Osinbajo approves chairman, members for Conduct Bureau 

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has approved the appointment of a chairman and members of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    A statement by Mohammed T. K. Nakorji, who is Assistant Director (Press), Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said the appointments are for first term of five years.

    According to him, the appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate.

    The new chairman is Dr. Muhammad Isah, Jigawa (North-West Zone)

    Members include Murtala Kankia, Katsina (North-West Zone), Emmanuel E. Attah, Rivers (South-South Zone), Danjuma Sado, Edo (South-South Zone), Ubolo I. Okpanachi, Kogi (North-Central Zone).

    Others are Ken Madaki Alkali, Nasarawa (North-Central Zone), Prof. S. F. Ogundare, Oyo (South-West Zone), Ganiyu Hamzat, Ogun (South-West Zone), Sa’ad A. Abubakar, Gombe (North-East Zone) and Dr. Vincent Nwanli, Ebonyi (South-East Zone).

  • Osinbajo: security problems caused by poverty

    Osinbajo: security problems caused by poverty

    •VP opens law teachers’ golden jubilee in Anambra

    ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has declared that the security problems facing Nigeria emanated from poverty.

    He spoke yesterday in Awka, Anambra State at the 50th Golden Jubilee Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU).

    Opening the event, Osinbajo said the issue of Boko Haram, Niger-Delta militants and clashes between the herdsmen and communities were as a result of poverty.

    According to him, “a lot of these agitations centered around the alleged failure of the state to create an inclusive society, a failure to guarantee the security of lives and property by the agencies charged with that responsibility and to build trust around the rule of law and justice system.”

    The acting president believed that the inability to provide basic needs of lives to the largest number of people remained the greatest source of tension in the policy.

    He maintained that youth unemployment made them vulnerable to being recruited by kidnappers, for anti-social agitations and violence.

    He added that the constant agitation for natural resources was a product of individual deprivations, adding that the individual deprivation was taken up by the ethnic nationalities as a group of agitation.

    Osinbajo said it was the failure of the state to deliver on the basic needs of the people that threw up individuals to run to their tribal groups to seek ways to finding succour.

    He noted that the political class failed the people though wastages of resources and embezzlement, which were at the forefront of trying to make the people believe that the situation was caused by depriving them what belonged to them.

    However, he agreed that the poverty of the Igbo man, the Hausa man and Yoruba man was caused by hunger, adding that it was the business of the Executive, the Legislature to provide the enabling environment for the quality of life that people expected.

    He, however, asked whether the legal system of the country could survive and serve its purposes in the society without incisive reconsideration.

    Anambra state Governor Willie Obiano frowned at the rate with which criminals were granted bail by courts.

    He, therefore, called on the lawyers to use the conference to solve such a problem.

  • Osinbajo to NASS: we’ll engage, not confront

    Osinbajo to NASS: we’ll engage, not confront

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, said the executive would continue to engage the legislature in line with democratic principles to ensure that Nigerians enjoyed dividends of democracy.

    He stated this at the House of Representatives activity to mark the second anniversary celebration of the 8th National Assembly yesterday in Abuja.

    Represented by Sen. Ita Enang, Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Osinbanjo said that the executive would not confront the legislative arm in their dealings.

    “We appreciate the powers of the legislature; we will in our relationship with you, continually relate on the basis of honour for each other. We will only engage, we will not confront you.

    “We thank you, we congratulate you for the two years of your existence, and we wish you the best in the remaining years of your service,” he said.

    In his address, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, described the Senate and the House of Representatives as two inseparable twins.

    Saraki, who was represented by Sen. Dino Melaye, said that both chambers would continue to work together for the progress of the country.

    He said that he was proud of the House, saying that it had done very well in the last two years.

    He said that the chambers would continue to collaborate as functions of legislation would not be effectively achieved without a synergy.

    The 8th National Assembly was inaugurated on June 9, 2015.

  • Osinbajo receives ECOWAS Chair

    Osinbajo receives ECOWAS Chair

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo last night received the Togolese President and newly elected Chairman of ECOWAS, Mr. Faure Gnassingbe, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, said Osinbajo assured him of Nigeria’s support to him and the regional body.

    Osinbajo said: “Nigeria will support you in every way and we are very happy with your election.

    “I know that our President, President Buhari will give every measure of support required because he would want you to succeed very much,’’ Osinbajo added

    He said that the Buhari administration was pleased that President Gnassingbe visited Nigeria almost immediately after his election to lead the regional body.

    Osinbajo said that Nigeria would continue to play an active role in ECOWAS.

  • Buhari seeks support for Osinbajo, says First Lady

    Buhari seeks support for Osinbajo, says First Lady

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to keep supporting Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
    He also urged Nigerians to continue to be strong in the face of challenges, supporting the Federal Government’s agenda.
    First Lady Aisha Buhari, who returned to Abuja yesterday morning from the United Kingdom where she visited the President, who is on medical leave, brought the message
    A statement by the Director of Information in the Wife of the President’s Office, Suleiman Haruna, said Mrs. Buhari conveyed the appreciation of the President to Nigerians for their prayers.
    The statement quoted her as saying the President would soon return to Nigeria as he is recuperating fast.
    “Mr. President thanked the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for his loyalty and called on Nigerians to continue to support the acting President in his effort to actualise the mandate of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC),” she said.
    Mrs. Buhari travelled to the UK last week to spend some time with the President.

  • Nigeria’s market profitable for investors, says Osinbajo

    Nigeria’s market profitable for investors, says Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said  Nigeria is one of the most profitable places in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region for business and investment.

    He spoke at the Presidential Villa while receiving the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Mrs Retno L. P. Marsudi.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, yesterday, the Acting President said  with the country’s large population and size, it has a prerequisite market for profitable returns on any investment and business.

    Citing the success of Indomie, one of the products by an Indonesian company in the market, Prof. Osinbajo said: “There is much room to increase the volume of trade between both countries.

    “Nigeria is one of profitable places for business and investment because there is always market for them and government is creating a good and friendly environment for investment to thrive.”

    He said Indonesia should take advantage of the on-going economic diversification process, especially in the agricultural sector, adding that Nigeria could be exporting agro-allied products to Indonesia.

    “About 10 days ago, we signed Executive Orders for Ease of Doing Business, we have a 48-hour visa regime and all that. There is a friendly business environment,” he assured.

    Earlier, the Foreign Minister said she came to the country with 200 business people and had visited Lagos as her country is ready to kick-start business relationship with Nigeria.

    Mrs. Marsudi also solicited the establishment of Palm Oil Producing Council between Nigeria and Indonesia, stressing that countries producing palm oil should work together in order to benefit maximally from the market.

  • Communications’ bank underway, says Osinbajo

    Communications’ bank underway, says Osinbajo

    THE Federal Government has perfected plans to establish a Communication Bank to finance ICT Companies in Nigeria and rapidly improve the development of infrastructures in the sector, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday.

    Speaking at the opening of the 2017 Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, he said the move was aimed at enhancing business in the sector considering the significance of ICT towards the diversification of the economy.

    The Vice President, who was represented by Communications Minister Adebayo Shittu, at the conference with the theme: “The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Getting Africa Ready”, noted that the government would not allow the country to become a dumping ground for ICT products and services in the coming digital revolution.

    The conference was organised by Digital Africa.

    He said: “I strongly agree with those who say that the fourth industrial revolution is within the control of all of us as long as we are able to collaborate across geographies, sectors and disciplines to grasp the opportunities it presents.

    “We should be able to know the place of man in all of this, empower him and always remind ourselves that the new technologies are tools made by people for people.

    “The Ministry of Communications has the mandate of the Federal Government to promote and facilitate the development of the ICT industry and increase its contribution to GDP; utilise ICT to drive transparency in governance and improve the quality and cost effectiveness of public service delivery in Nigeria, among others.

    “We therefore, share the same vision with the organizers of this conference. We are committed to supporting Digital Africa conference & exhibition in its laudable endeavour and vision to bridge the gap between Africa and the rest of the world in ICT. We extend our goodwill to Digital Africa Conference and Exhibition 2017.

    “Let me reiterate that Nigeria should no longer be a dumping ground for ICT products and services. Therefore, the Ministry will support the establishment of companies or organisations in the areas of hardware and software by ensuring that they are protected through regulations or other means. We will assist them to grow.

    “We have accepted that Nigeria must take the leadership role in Africa’s ICT ecosystem. Therefore, we are amenable to PPP relationships to drive the Ministry’s projects; 2017 must be a year of action.

    “It was part of government’s preparation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which is predicted to happen globally in the very near future, that the Federal Government had conceived a national ICT Park and Exhibition Centre in the Federal Capital Territory.

    “The establishment of the centre will encourage investment in the ICT sector and complement the proposed ICT University which will also produce the required skilled manpower for Africa to partake in the inevitable fourth industrial revolution.

    “In a bid to enhance business in the ICT sector, the Nigerian government is contemplating on the need to establish a Communications Bank which will be a development bank that will assist in the financing of ICT companies based in Nigeria.”

  • Buhari’s new vision ’ll develop Niger Delta, says Osinbajo

    Buhari’s new vision ’ll develop Niger Delta, says Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday that the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is promoting a new way of thinking and engagement that will secure the growth of Niger Delta and the country.

    The new approach, he said, involves an active and effective collaboration between the government, the private sector and the communities.

    He assured Nigerians that the new approach would ensure that the government complete whatever is started in the region.

    Osinbajo spoke during a meeting with members of a delegation from Bayelsa State regarding the $3.6 billion Brass Fertiliser & Petro-Chemical Company that is expected to come on steam soon.

    The delegation, which included executives of the company, was led by Governor Seriake Dickson.

    Osinbajo, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, lamented that only 12 per cent completion rate was recorded in several of the projects undertaken by the Niger Delta Development Commission in the past years, while the rest were abandoned.

    According to him, some of the projects were not designed to succeed, but just for some people to make money.

    Stressing that a new way of thinking is emerging, he gave instances of effective collaboration with the private sector.

    He named the NLNG as an example of such effective collaborations.

    “The Buhari administration is committed to finishing whatever we start. At the end of the day, we shall ensure that,” he affirmed, adding that the oil-producing communities have tremendous potentials.

    Hailing the governor for his proactive efforts, the Acting President commended the collaboration regarding the Brass company.

    He said: “This is what we describe as the New Vision: partnership between the Federal Government, the states, the communities and the private sector. This is the new way of thinking that is emerging, the New Vision.”

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Ibe Kachikwu described the idea of the Brass Fertiliser & Petro-Chemical firm as “a game changer that we need to encourage”.

    He said such ideas have the potential to change the economic model in the Niger Delta.

    The Acting President also received a delegation from the Seed Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN) led by its President Mr. Richard Olafare and the Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council, Dr. P.O.Ojo.