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Tag: presents

  • Wike presents N307bn budget for 2016

    Barely two weeks after the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike sought and got the approval of the Rivers State House of Assembly for a N104.2 billion, the governor yesterday presented an appropriation bill of N307Billion for 2016.

    Wike said that N187Billion will be for Capital expenditure, N120Billion will be for Recurrent.

    The governor also said that the budget will be financed through federation account and Value Added Tax (VAT) by N115 billion; N120 billion from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) while other sources are expected to yield the balance.

    This budget, which he said would be used to consolidate on the policy thrust of his administration, is N31 billion less than that of 2015.

    The former governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi got approval of the assembly to spend N338Billion in January this year. At the time of this report, the lawmakers were making efforts to approve the budget.

  • Okorocha presents N141b budget proposal

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday presented a proposed budget of N141, 291,133,849 at the House of Assembly.

    The budget, tagged: “Budget of Total Rescue and Sustainability”, according to the governor, would lay emphasis on projects and programmes with high capacity for wealth creation, skill acquisition and self employment and socio-economic development.

    He said the budget, which projected 57 per cent for capital projects and 43 per cent for recurrent expenditure, was prepared to achieve concrete and formidable dividends of democracy in the areas of completion of projects and implementation of prioritised projects.

    A breakdown of the budget showed that N119, 698,633,849 of the revenue projection is for recurrent items and N21, 520,500,000 is for capital receipts.

    Explaining the slight increase in the recurrent expenditure in the budget, compared to last year’s, the governor said it was conceived to improve on the welfare of the people, whom he said, endured hard times in the last three years.

    A further breakdown of the budget include: N12,263,433,920, Personnel Costs N12,010,469,311, Subvention Costs 17,728,500,000 and N18,724,170,603 are for Charges (CRFC).

    Speaker Benjamin Uwajumogu, however, regretted that the budget was presented late, but assured of a speedy passage.

    He urged the ministries and departments to turn up for the budget defence, to enable the House conclude the required procedures in time.

  • Jonathan presents N322.6b NDDC budget to Senate

    Jonathan presents N322.6b NDDC budget to Senate

    President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday presented N322.600 billion as this year’s budget proposal of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the Senate for  approval.

    The figure represented 2.1 per cent increase on last year’s budget of the commission which stood at N315.085 billion.

    The proposed budget comprised Personnel  Expenditure of N15.80billion, Recurrent Expenditure of N10.186 billion, Capital Expenditure of N2.281billion and Project Development Expenditure of N295.051billion.

    According to Mr. President’s letter, sources of revenue for the proposed budget include  N23 million brought forward, Federal Government’s contribution of N50million and Federal Government’s contribution of excess crude arrears of N50million.

    Other sources are oil companies contribution of N130million, Ecological Fund of N57 million, internally generated revenue (IGR) of N100million and  unpaid arrears from 2012 approved budget of N12.5million.

  • CAMPUSLIFE man presents book

    CAMPUSLIFE man presents book

    The public presentation of the novel Once upon a hard time by Chidiebere Enyia has been held at the Theatre Arts Hall of the Imo State University (IMSU) in Owerri.

    Chidiebere, a 300-Level English and Literary Studies student and CAMPUSLIFE reporter, is the Assistant Secretary-General of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Imo State chapter.

    At the ceremony were scholars, including Dr Psalm Chinaka, Mr Leon Osu, Mr Kenneth Enesha and Prof Hillary Okorie.

    The chairman of the occasion, Prof Emeka Obinna, advised students to enhance their potentials through intellectual engagements. He recounted how the young author started his literary adventure from secondary school, urging students to believe in themselves and work hard.

    Okorie, who is from the Agricultural Science Department, praised the author and advised students to emulate the young writer.

    “Chidiebere is a visionary young scholar and a member of the Holy Ghostant Chapel. He had a fertile ground for creativity, considering his family background and religious inclination,” he said.

    Chidiebere thanked his parents, friends and course mates for making the launch possible. Michael Adiba, 300-Level Education English student, described the author as inspiring. Eberechukwu Prisca, 100-Level English and literary Studies student, said: “Chidi is a visionary young writer in the department. He is always teaching us and we are happy to celebrate one of his literary works today.”

    Chidiebere said his journey into literature was borne out of his passion to be an agent of social change in the society.

  • Ajimobi presents three APCs to police

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has presented three Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to the police and four patrol vans to the state’s security outfit, Operation Burst.

    Ajimobi, who made the presentation weekend at the Governor’s Office Car Park in Ibadan, said the vehicles would help security personnel discharge their duties.

    He said: “The Oyo State Joint Security Patrol Squad, Operation Burst has deployed more security personnel in zonal headquarters across the state. We should remember that peace is the irreducible minimum any government must offer the people. Infrastructure and growth can only be built upon the superstructure of peace.

    “To ensure effective service delivery by security agencies, equipping them with sophisticated security gadgets is necessary. This prompted this administration to provide tools for their operations.”

    Ajimobi said his administration would support security agents.

    He praised the Operation Burst team for maintaining peace, adding: “We are harvesting the fruits of our peace. Investors are now trooping into the state. This administration was able to achieve this as a result of its objective and dispassionate approach to security issues. “Our administration will transform Oyo State, restore cherished values and institutions. Our goal is to achieve an economically prosperous, politically-stable and just society, where the security of life and property is guaranteed.”

    The governor earlier received the report of the Steering Committee on the Security of Oyo State from the Chairman, Brig.-Gen Laz Ilo, who also commands Operation Burst.

    The committee was constituted last year to determine the causes of incessant cases of robbery, suggest ways to prevent them and propose how the government and the private sector could synergise to combat crime.

    The committee recommended the provision of satellite trackers and helicopters as well as the establishment of a central security control room for easy communication.

    Ajimobi later inspected a guard of honour mounted by officers and men of Operation Burst.

  • Okonjo-Iweala presents budget today

    Okonjo-Iweala presents budget today

    After weeks of negotiations, the Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday agreed on $77.5 crude oil benchmark for 2014 budget.

    The budget will, however, be presented to the National Assembly today by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

    Some governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were also alleged to have secretly directed their Senators and members of the House of Representatives to support the $77.5 benchmark.

    The governors said budget benchmark was more of economic interest than political issue.

    The consensus benchmark was a departure from the position of the Presidency, which has been unyielding on $74 benchmark.

    Investigation by our correspondent showed that the affected governors are from the North-East, South-South, North-Central.

    According to a member of the Joint Conference of the National Assembly on the benchmark, the $77.5 per barrel oil benchmark was a consensus position.

    It was learnt that while the House of Representatives had insisted on $80 per barrel, the Senate opted for $77.5

    The source said: “When we met on Wednesday, we decided that $77.5 per barrel benchmark is a fair deal. So, the budget will be based on this benchmark.

    “The executive arm also prevailed on us to reach a reasonable consensus on the benchmark. I can tell you that this $77.5 will be acceptable to the executive too.

    “With this, the 2014 budget will be given accelerated consideration by the National Assembly.”

    When contacted, a Principal Officer of the House said: “Well, when we had our Executive Session on Wednesday, the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal announced to us that the Joint Conference had decided on $77.5 per barrel benchmark.

    “All Representatives commended the decision of the Joint Conference and agreed that it was time to move forward.

    “At this with jack up, states would be able to meet up with some financial challenges.”

    A top source said: “The curious thing to note is that governors friendly to Mr. President have also prevailed on their members in the National Assembly to accommodate the 2014 Budget within either $79 or $77.5 benchmark.

    “According to some of the governors, they have been unable to pay salaries in their states as a result of piece-meal release of the allocations from the Federation Account.

    “A few other PDP states are backing the $79 or $77.5 benchmark because after managing to pay salaries, they have little left for capital projects and payment of debts.

    “What they have done is to mount campaign secretly for $79 or $77.5 benchmark in order not to offend President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the national leader of the party.”

    There were indications that President Goodluck Jonathan might not be physically present based on security reports.

    There were fears that the President may be heckled at following the increased strength of the opposition in the National Assembly.

    A member of the House said: “We have been told that Okonjo-Iweala may lay the budget before the National Assembly instead of the President.

    “To us, it does not matter whoever is making the budget presentation to us.”

     

  • Senator presents food to Muslim women in Enugu

    A Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Gilbert Nnaji has presented food items to Muslim women in his constituency.

    Presenting the items, which consist of 100 bags of rice and 100 cartons of tin tomatoes, in addition to cash at the Islamic Centre, Uwani, Nnaji said Ramadan is important not only to the Muslims but to all the Abrahamic religions.

    Nnaji said he acknowledged the tediousness of the Ramadan period, hence “I am making the presentation for the adherents in my constituency to have something to break their fasting.”

    He sued for continued peaceful co-existence, saying that the peace in Enugu is due to the understanding between the Muslims and Christians.

    He urged Muslims in the state to continue to be law abiding and strengthen the bond between them and the Christians.

    Receiving the items on behalf of the women, the Secretary-General of Muslims in the state, Alhaji Musa Ani, thanked the senator for his gesture which he said came at the right time.

    He said it was the first time a senator is extending such gesture to them and assured Nnaji of their ceaseless prayers for him.

  • Council presents budget

    The Chairman, Ikeja Local Government, Hon Wale Odunlami, has presented a budget of N890,389,401,25k to the Legislative arm.It is tagged: Budget of Stability.

    The council chief emphasised that the budget was christened Budget of Stability due to the fact that it was deliberately tailored to maintain and sustain the infrastructural and socio-economic gains achieved by the previous budgets and equally to make unique in-roads into new areas.

    He stressed that the 2013 budget strives to consolidate on the gains of the recent year’s budget.

    A look at the capital expenditure profile revealed that the work and infrastructural section took a lead with N247m followed by the education sector with N65m.Health will take N24m .

    The council chair further said that renewed effort would be made to increase the revenue profile of the local government, calling on the stakeholders present to cooperate further to meet their expectations

    Responding, the Leader of the Legislative House, Hon Edward Arangbonfoh, promised to promptly look at the proposal and facilitate arly passage.He equally urged the stakeholders to respond appropriately by paying all necessary rates, dues and levies in order to prove their support for the local government.

     

  • Senator Tinubu presents N108m to LASU

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu, (ACN Lagos Central), yesterday presented a cheque of N108 million to the Lagos State University (LASU) as grant from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

    Mr Jerry Olatunbosun, Media Officer of the institution, disclosed this in a statement made available in Lagos.

    Olatunbosun said the money was meant for the development of the institution.

    Senator Tinubu is a member, Senate Committee on Education.

    The statement said Senator Tinubu decided to give the grant, despite the fact that the university was located outside her constituency, as a sign of love.

    Quoting Senator Tinubu, it said: “The bond between us– the senators representing the state at the National Assembly– is a strong one that cannot be thwarted by allocations.

    “We agreed on the grant; it could be the turn of another senatorial district to make concession for my district or another tomorrow.“

    The statement added that Senator Tinubu hailed her colleagues, who she said supported her to ensure that the special intervention grant was given to LASU.

    Olatunbosun said that Sen. Ganiyu Olarewaju, (ACN Lagos West) accompanied Senator Tinubu to present the cheque. He said the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Obafunwa, assured that the fund would be spent judiciously.

    The statement identified specific projects the university plans to undertake to include the Language Laboratory and TOS Benson Hall.

  • Fashola presents N497.277b budget

    Fashola presents N497.277b budget

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday presented a N497.277 billion budget for 2013 to the House of Assembly.

    The budget comprises a recurrent expenditure of N228.913 billion and capital expenditure of N268.364 billion.

    The proposed appropriation exceeded this year’s budget by 1.08 per cent and requires a deficit financing of N40.537bn, which is 0.3 per cent of the state’s GDP.

    Among those who witnessed the event were former Governor Lateef Jakande, Oba Rilwan Akiolu I of Lagos; captains of industry, members of the state executive council.

    The overhead costs of N139.173billion comprise dedication expenditure, N21.753 billion, subvention, N31.892 billion, debt charge, (External), N0.609 billion, debt charges (Internal), N15.938 billion, debt charge (Bond), N1.989 billion.

    Also, capital receipts for the 2013 Budget is estimated at N22.912 billion, comprising Grants of N3billion, Investment Income, N0.332 billion, and N19.580billion for other capital receipts.

    The proposed capital expenditure of N268.364 billionn consists of Core Capital, N237.209billion, Capital Development (Dedicated), N19.580billion, Grants, N3.000 billion, counterpart funding, N2.500billion, special expenditure, N5.000 billion, risk retention fund, N0.075 billion, and contingency reserve, N1.000bn.

    The governor gave the sectoral breakdown of the budget as: General Public Service, 14.076billion, Public Order and Safety, N18.799 billion, Economic Affairs, N156.273billion, Environmental Protection, N44.131billion, Housing and Community Amenities, N46.149billion, Health N42.498billion, Recreation, Culture and Religion, N5.749billion, Education, N64.343billion, Social Protection, N3.259billion, and Contingency, N2.000 billion.

    He said the government required about N40 billion for a shoreline protection plan designed to save the some communities from ravaging coastal erosion.

    A team of consultants from Holland, he said, had designed the plan that would stretch for about seven kilometres along the shoreline.

    In the past two years, communities like Kuramo, Victoria Island extension, Oniru Estate, Goshen Beach Estate and Alpha Beach have been hit by ocean surges, claiming lives and properties.

    He said the project would be implemented in phases because the government does not have the financial requirement to execute the project in one fiscal year.

    “In order to do this and start immediately, I have proposed a re-ordering of this year’s budget as approved by the state executive council to defer other projects till 2013 while we focus on this life threatening environmental risk,” he said.

    The governor acknowledged the receipt of N400million from the Federal Government as emergency relief fund due to states grouped in Category B of flood prone states.

    He said his administration recognised the risk posed by the state’s geographical location and promised to deploy the best available solution to tackle the attendant problems.

    Fashola noted the horror and devastation of lives and properties over the last 24 hours across the North Atlantic in the East Coast of America, adding that the state has been advised to be ready for the impact of rising water levels.

    Fashola unveiled plans to erect a cenotaph at Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos suburb, where a Dana plane crashed on June 3 in memory of the victims.

    He praised the victims’ families for their trust in government, which he said helped in the management of what was “a very difficult process.”

    He said: “Our agreement to dedicate the crash site as a memorial in honour of the victims is being implemented on our side as clear directives have been given to the appropriate ministries and organs of government.”

    He expressed gratitude to all the first responders and rescue team from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Police, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the fire service who braved the odd to recover 150 bodies.

    Fashola said: “Our gratitude goes to all our health personnel from the Honourable Commissioner for Health and members of his team, especially the Vice-Chancellor of LASU and the Medical Director of LASUTH, who worked with other experts to painstakingly sort, tag and process the bodies and prepare forensic samples for overseas analysis which led to the positive identification of 141 (One Hundred and Forty One) bodies that have been released to the bereaved families for burial.

    “I believe that this identification of over 94 per cent of the victims – and we are still working to conclude the rest – helped us to avoid a mass burial for the first time in our history of such human tragedy and I hope it will bring the bereaved families nearer to relief.”