The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhar

  • Buhari ‘ll bridge gap between rich and poor, says Olokesusi

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption drive and economic reforms will bridge the gap between the rich and poor, an elder statesman Chief Gilbert Olokesusi, has said.

    He hoped that the President would surpass his first term achievements and tackle corruption with renewed vigour.

    Olokesusi said: “The thoughts of President Buhari are that when the greed of the rich few is curbed, the interest of the poor larger majority can then be addressed. Between now and 2023, the gap between the rich and the poor must have thinned out.”

    The elder statesman, who described himself as “the most senior Apostle of Buharism nationwide”, explained that the concept of Buharism does not mean dictatorship.

    “What is Buharism? Buharism is about Nigeria. It represents integrity, honesty and hard work, where religious bigotry, tribalism and nepotism vanish.

    “We should step up Buharism campaign after Buhari leaves office. But, for now, it is commonsensical for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt Buharism as her ideology. Buharism is the only antidote that can make a southern presidential candidate win in 2023.

    “The giant broom in the city gate in Abuja must be carried by the effigy of President Buhari. This is the symbol called Buharism,” he said.

    Chief Olokesusi accused a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman Buba Galadima of betraying Buhari.

    He said Galadima, a founding member of the President’s former party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), abandoned Buhari when it really mattered and was not consistent.

    “Galadima was never a loyal member of the CPC. He was prominent during the formation of the party in 2002 because we started the CPC in his house in Upscale Bangul Wuse2 Area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    “This was because General Buhari, as we called him then, had no house of his own in Abuja. At a point in time, I asked why he Galadima gave us his house as our temporary secretariat and he said ‘General Buhari made me when he was in the military. All I have today is through Buhari.’

    “I later caught Galadima red handed floating another party,” Olokesusi added.

  • Requiem for the vote robber

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s blunt order, that electoral robbers trying their luck next Saturday, could stake their lives, has turned the polity to a tizzy, especially in the opposition camp.

    The reason is rather not clear: why should that order, conditional on brazen electoral robbery, worry anyone? Or are they putative vote robbers?

    To be sure, the emotive hyperbole (orchestrated hysteria over dire consequences) and euphemism (no less orchestrated down-playing of the crime) has been rather sweet, in the protesting camp.

    Hyperbole: Why would the president order fellow citizens to be “shot”, in a democracy?

    Well, a vote robber is no “fellow”, law abiding citizen; and no could could have ordered anyone “shot” in a democracy, except that citizen constitutes himself into a danger to all, who must be stopped before he stops everyone else.  That is what a vote robber is — an armed brigand. He would kill: first, to steal the vote; and then rob the people of their will.  The state would be damned to helplessly stand by and watch such brazen crime happen.

    Euphemism:  Should a citizen “die” for “electoral infraction”?

    A smart tone-down.  But no one is deceived.  Brigandage isn’t part of the electoral process.  It’s a high crime against the electorate.  In any case, the lawful and decent citizenry eschews such crimes.  If you don’t stray into that dangerous zone, that warning is null and void.

    Besides, it’s such brazen vote robbery that has brought Nigeria to its present woes.  Fiddled votes enthrone irresponsible leaders, who account to no one.  The result is there for everyone to see: government turned into personal bazaars and the resultant mass poverty.  That is the present sorry pass.

    In 2007, sitting President Olusegun Obasanjo boasted the election would be “do or die”.  He got his way: the result was the worst election in Nigerian history.  But that was only the beginning.  The ultimate result was the meltdown under President Goodluck Jonathan by 2015.  By then, almost every facet of good governance had vanished.  The looters, enthroned by electoral robbers, were too busy looting the treasury to care.

    It’s amazing — isn’t it? — that the same Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under whose tenure these robbers and looters held sway, appear championing the democratic right to steal the vote, with their hysterical reaction to the presidential warning.  In their cant, they posture to love democracy.  But really, what their taste buds crave is carrion of democracy — snuff out the people’s will to gain illicit power..

    On the run-up to Saturday, let everyone behave themselves.  Follow the law, vote whoever you like and let the vote count.  But whoever wants to crookedly tweak the process can’t claim greater right to citizenship than other law abiding citizens.

    To be fore-warned, is to be fore-armed.

  • We’ve made progress on all fronts, Buhari tells Nigerians

    Global and local challenges nothwithstanding, Nigeria has made progress on many fronts, President Muhammadu Buhari said yesterday.

    Against the backdrop of insinuations of non-performance and negative narratives on economic development, the President insisted that, through perseverance, his administration lifted the economy from recession waters. The economy, he noted, has enjoyed six quarters of growth after its recovery from recession.

    The President spoke at the presentation of the N8.83 trillion 2019 Appropriation to the joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja yesterday.

    He was hacked by some lawmakers who he advised to “behave” because the world was “watching us”. But Buhari remained cool and calm as he read his speech.

    He said that contrary to the allegation of bias by the opposition in the allocation and implementation of infrastructural projects, no part of the country was neglected in the distribution of capital projects.

    “We have done more work with less resources in agriculture, infrastructure and social investments.  We have built better understanding between the Federal Government and the states on non-partisan lines, in particular, intervening several times to support states to meet their obligations, including the payment of salaries and pensions.

    “Sustained development is difficult, if not impossible, in an atmosphere of insecurity and poor governance.  We have therefore made strenuous and successful efforts to overcome the insurgency in the Northeast and to resolve inter-communal misunderstandings elsewhere.

    “The last three and a half years have been challenging, both at home and abroad. Commodity prices, both oil and non-oil, have been volatile.  Global trends, be it security, trade or politics, have also been unpredictable. Here in Nigeria, we have had to cope with disruptions in oil production and exports, security challenges and devastating floods.

    Weathering the storm

    “Through hard work, and by the special grace of God, we have weathered these storms and made progress on many fronts which is why we have cause to be optimistic about the future.

    “The economy has recovered from recession and we have had six quarters of growth since then.

    “The Federal Government and the National Economic Council (NEC) have been working in a unified and patriotic manner to tackle the underlying causes of tension between pastoralists and sedentary farmers. These conflicts have a long-standing history caused mainly by competition for increasingly scarce resources occasioned by rising population and erratic weather conditions – a product of climate change.”

    Buhari praised members of the Armed Forces and Security Services “for their courage, sacrifice and patriotism in protecting our collective safety and security”.

    “The Federal Government has also sustained its efforts to fight grand corruption and improve public financial management, and its efforts to improve public financial management through the comprehensive implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFIS) and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS),” he said, adding:

    “You will also recall that as part of our commitment to improved governance, we joined the Open Government Partnership (OPG) in 2016 with the aim of enhancing public service delivery, promoting business opportunity, enhancing government efficiencies, preventing corruption and building trust in government.

    “We remain committed to these, and other institutional reforms that will enhance transparency and accountability in public service delivery.”

    Economic gains

    The President listed “several successes in economic management”.  Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth stood at 1.81 per cent in the third quarter of 2018 compared to 1.17 per cent in the third quarter of 2017.

    “We have had a sustained accretion to foreign exchange reserves from a low of $28.57 billion in May 2015 to $42.92 billion by mid-December 2018.  This has contributed to exchange rate stability and will provide a buffer against any unanticipated external shocks. Inflation has also declined from a peak of 18.72 per cent in January 2017 to 11.28 per cent in November this year,” he said.

    Buhari said: “In the area of trade, Nigeria has moved from a deficit to surplus in our trade balance. As at the third quarter of 2018, the trade balance was a surplus of N681.27 billion representing a significant improvement from the deficit of N290.1 billion in 2016.

    “This reflects the rebound in crude oil exports, increased non-oil exports and a reduction in the importation of food and items that can be produced locally.

    “Foreign capital inflows, including direct and portfolio investments, also responded to improved economic management. Capital importation to Nigeria in the third quarter of 2018 stood at $2.86 billion, which is a 56.7 percent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2016.

    “Trading is a significant contributor to our economic development but we must continue to focus on strengthening actual production. From farmers to miners to processors to digital entrepreneurs to players in the entertainment industry, all hands must be on deck to ensure the country succeeds.”

    According to him, “crude oil production continues to increase steadily towards budgetary targets and will receive a further boost when the 200,000 barrels per day Egina oil field starts operations”.

    Agric value chain

    “In agriculture, we are seeing increased investment across the entire value chain from agricultural inputs to farming and ultimately, food processing,” Buhari said, adding:

    “Barely three years ago, Nigeria was spending $5 million dollars a day on rice importation. Today rice imports have virtually stopped. Indeed, we are on course to achieve food security in major staple foods in the not too distant future.

    He spoke of “a lot of progress” in “infrastructure development”, stressing: “Our approach was a logical one. We simply prioritised the completion of critical on-going projects over the introduction of new ones.”

    “For example, in the Ministry of Water Resources, we identified 116 abandoned or uncompleted projects relating to irrigation, dams, drainage and water supply.

    “To date, we have completed and/or commissioned a number of these projects, including: Central Ogbia Regional Water Project, Bayelsa State; Northern Ishan Regional Water Supply Project, Edo State; Sabke Water Supply Project, Katsina State; Takum Water Supply Project, Taraba State; Ogwashi – Uku Dam, Delta State; Shagari Irrigation Project, Sokoto State; Galma Dam, Kaduna State; Mangu Water Supply Project, Plateau State; and Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi Water Supply Project, Benue State.

    “In the railway sector, we completed and commissioned the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Line and the Abuja Metro-Rail Project. Similarly, the previously abandoned Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail Line is undergoing test runs and will soon be commissioned.

    “We are also on track for the Lagos – Kano rail line as significant progress has been made on the Lagos to Ibadan segment of the project.

    “We remain committed to rebuilding and expanding our road network.  In 2018, an additional 1,531 kilometers of roads have been constructed and 1,008 kilometers rehabilitated across the country.

    Priority projects

    “Priority projects, such as the Abuja – Kaduna – Kano highway, as well as the Second Niger Bridge are well underway through the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund.

    “In every state today, there is a major federal road project going on. For instance, in the Northcentral, long neglected roads like the Ilorin-Jebba Road, a stretch of 93 km that took a number of days to travel has been completed to provide a critical link between the North and South of Nigeria over a few hours.

    “We have awarded the dualisation of this road to expand it all the way to Mokwa, as we have done to the Abuja – Keffi-Lafia -Makurdi roads where work recently commenced.  Similarly, work has resumed on the Suleja – Minna road after years of inactivity.”

    Buhari listed projects in the Southsouth. He said: “We have recently completed the 60 km section of Alesi to Ugep in Cross River State, and awarded the 72km section from Odukpani Junction to Ugep which will reduce a journey that used to take 3 days a few years back, to 3 hours.

    “Work has also commenced on the Calabar – Itu – Odukpani Road that links Akwa-Ibom to Cross River State, as we have started work on the long-neglected Bodo – Bonny Bridge to connect these long separated communities.”

    Federal Presence in regions

    “In the Southeast, a critical section of Umunya linking Awka to Onitsha, a stretch of 18 kilometers, is being constructed now and one side of it should be ready for use before June 2019. Roads like Arochukwu – Ohafia – Bende are also receiving our attention.

    “In the Southwest, long neglected and abandoned roads like the Badagry Expressway have been awarded for construction along with the Apapa – Tin Can Island, Mile 2 – Oworonshoki road to ease the congestion currently being experienced in Lagos, while interstate roads linking Ogun through Ikorodu to Sagamu, and Ipaja to Otta and Abeokuta are being repaired with payment to contractors.

    “In the Northwest, we have completed the Sokoto to Tambuwal – Jega Road comprising 135km out of the entire Sokoto to Yauri stretch and sections of Kaduna Eastern bypass and Kano Western bypass are also progressing.

    “In the Northeast, we have started work on the long-neglected Mayo – Belwa – Jada Road, and the Gombe – Numan – Jalingo Road and recently awarded the reconstruction of bridges damaged by insurgency.

    “In addition, thanks to the N100 billion Sukuk Bond raised in Nigeria, work is on-going in 25 road projects. They incllude: construction of the Oju/Loko-Oweto bridge over River Benue; dualisation of section of Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja Road; dualisation of section of Suleja-Minna Road; dualisation of section of Lokoja-Benin Road (Obajana – Okene); dualisation of section of Kano – Maiduguri Road linking Kano-Jigawa-Bauchi-Yobe; dualisation of section of Kano-Katsina Road; dualisation of section of Kano Western By-Pass; construction of Kaduna Eastern By-Pass; rehabilitation of outstanding section of Onitsha-Enugu Expressway; rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt Road and the dualisation of a section of Yenegoa Road junction.

    “In power, we are working on over 90 transmission projects across the country; major power transmission stations like Mayo Belwa in Adamawa, Ejigbo and Odogunyan in Lagos, Apo in Abuja, Ikot – Ekpene Switching Station Akwa Ibom, Maiduguri in Borno, Damaturu in Yobe have been completed to support electricity transmission.

    “For effective delivery to critical areas, we decided that we had to decentralize power supply leveraging off-grid solutions especially solar based systems.  We are pushing more “willing- buyer willing –seller” arrangements. Already, this has brought more reliable off-grid power to markets and economic clusters around the country.

    “The projects being implemented right now include the Ariaria Market in Aba, the Sabon Gari Market in Kano, the Sura Shopping Complex in Lagos, to mention a few. Our hope is to roll out such programmes to 300 such economic clusters across the country.

    “In addition to economic clusters, we are also looking at rolling out similar off grid solutions to universities and medical centers across the country.

    “As we develop our infrastructure and power sector, we have not lost sight of the adverse impact climate change has to our economy, food and national security agenda. “The recent floods, farmer-herdsmen conflict and aggressive desertification are all effects of climate change. We have seen our forests, lakes, arable land and grazing areas gradually disappear over the decades.

    “As a government, we took a long term view on tackling the effects of climate change which must be contained and ultimately reversed. We have stepped up our afforestation efforts. In the past two years, we have planted over 2.3 million seedlings in 21 states.

    “We also successfully launched the Green Bond which will focus on developing environmentally friendly projects and other green programmes across the country. Nigeria is also actively participating in international efforts to tackle climate change.

    Stakeholders’

    partnership

    “Furthermore, working with key stakeholders, including the National Assembly, state governments and the private sector, we intensified our drive to remove obstacles, reduce processes and lower costs of doing business.

    “The fact that over the past three years, Nigeria has gained 24 places in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business rankings is a clear indication that we are moving in the right direction.

    “We are confident that improvements arising from on-going work will result in another quantum leap in the 2019 rankings.  The states have also keyed into efforts to improve the business environment, and the sub-national Doing Business Report for Nigeria showed that 32 out of 36 states recorded overall improvement”.

    Buhari spoke of efforts made in human capital development through some initiatives to boost the economy through entrepreneurial empowerment

    According to him, in line with the commitment of the government to creating a fairer and more inclusive society, efforts were made specifically through the N-Power scheme, 500,000 graduates have been employed to date.

    Others, he said,  include: the National Home-Grown School Feeding programme under which 9,300,892 pupils are being fed in 49, 837 schools in 24 states. The programme empowers  96,972 cooks. There is also the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme under which 1,378,804 loans have been disbursed to small businesses and farmers in all states including the FCT.

    The Presidentr went on: “These are interest-free loans that will be paid back; and 297,973 households in 26 states across the country are benefiting from the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme.”

    It was not all kudos. Buhari identified an area of concern, despite “the improved performance of the economy since we started implementing our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP)”. “That has to do with our unsatisfactory revenue performance, adding:

    “Although we have sustained efforts at boosting tax revenues, our progress has been constrained by the relatively low level of growth, having just emerged from recession. This has restrained our tax revenue drive.

    “Furthermore, the volatility in oil prices, and disruptions in oil production, delayed our plans to recover past due oil licence and royalty charges as well as restructuring of the Joint Venture Oil Assets.

    “As we have returned to the path of growth, I have directed that action on all our revenue initiatives be expedited.

    “I have already issued a number of Presidential directives on the disposal of recovered assets, deployment of the National Trade Window as well as the immediate recovery of past-due oil royalties, including by crude seizures, if necessary.

    Those who have been asking about the whereabouts of recovered assets got a reply. The President said:

    “On asset recovery, in order to put to use for the benefit of all Nigerians monies and assets stolen from the public treasury, we have since the 2016 Budget created a revenue line in the budget for stolen and recovered funds.

    “Thus every government project today benefits in one way or the other from recovered looted funds. I have also directed all the relevant authorities to liquidate all recovered, unencumbered assets, such as landed properties, buildings  and vehicles, so that these funds can be available to help in the funding of the budget, particularly the important infrastructure projects.”

  • Photos: Tinubu meets Buhari

    Photos: Tinubu meets Buhari

    Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressing the Journalist during his Courtesy Visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari in a handshake with APC Chieftain, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his Courtesy Visit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN

     

  • Buhari to governors: no excuse on workers’ pay

    Buhari to governors: no excuse on workers’ pay

    • There are Nigerians who haven’t been paid for six months, says President
    • Governors got yesterday a subtle rebuke from the President.
    • He urged them to ensure payment of salaries to workers and pension to retirees.

    The Federal Government has released N760.17 billion in two tranches of the Paris Club loan refund to states for outstanding salaries and pensions but some governors are believed to have spent the cash on other things.

    President Muhammadu Buhari told traditional rulers at a meeting in Abuja that he was “living with the problems of this country day-by-day, and mostly those of the ordinary people”.

    “There are Nigerians that haven’t been paid for six months; there are Nigerians that have not been paid their retirement benefits for years.

    “I’m appealing to the governors (that was why we voted money; we borrowed money), please make sure anybody under you, pay them because most of them depend on that salary to pay rent, school fees,’’ he said.

    He stressed that the mismanagement of the national revenue over the years was responsible for the economic challenges facing the nation.

    Buhari promised to pursue programmes and projects that would better the lot of Nigerians. Nigeria, he said, should use its huge population to advantage.

    The President spoke also on security, saying all hands were on deck to secure the country.

    On unity, he said: “We know our limitations, we have to continue to strengthen our constitution, to strengthen the resolve of our people to live together, work together.

    On agriculture and this year’s planting season, Buhari said: “We are lucky this year than last year and this year the rainy season is good. If it were not good I must confide in you that I was considering which country to run to.

    “But God answered the prayers of many Nigerians. The rainy season last year was good and this year, with the report I’m getting, it is good. We thank God for that; otherwise, there would have been a lot of problems in this country.”

    Members of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria were led to the meeting by Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar III, who thanked God for bringing the President back in sound health. He urged the President to tighten his belt and take on the mantle of leadership.

    He said with a monarch from each of the gropolitical zone assuring Buhari of their support, the President should take their comments as honest and the tonic he needed to work hard for the nation.

    He said: “We will continue to preach peace and stability, justice, transparency and accountability and anti-corruption.”

    One traditional ruler each from the six goe-political zones spoke at the meeting.

    For the Southwest, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwunsi, thanked God for the President’s safe return and for restoring him to good  health. Buhari was away in London for medical reasons. He spent 103 days.

    He said: “From the Southwest, we thank God for your life and we pledge  to support you from our communities because we are closer to our people. We will continue to preach to our people that we should continue to foster peace in our country. We will continue to caution our youths against hate speeches.

    “We cannot leave the development of the country all to the government but we have to work hand in hand. We assure you that we will support all your initiatives.”

    For the Northwest the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said the traditional rulers identified with Buhari’s commitment to national security.

    For the Southsouth, the Jaja of Opobo said: “We express our commitment to your programmes.

    “We know there is tension here and there, but as traditional rulers, we don’t eat politics. The economy has to be fixed. Coming from the region that produces the mainstay of the economy, even though the country will soon diversify the economy, before we diversify let’s protect the one that we still have.

    “We are pleased to work for peace and stability of the region so that we can all see the benefits of the commodity.”

    For Northcentral, the Gbom Gwom Jos, Jacob Buba Gyang, also thanked God for  bringing the President back to celebrate Sallah with fellow Nigerians.

    He said: “The issues of health and security are not issues to play politics with, but issues in which we should put heads together so that the country can progress.

    “We commend your efforts on security and agriculture.

    “Few days ago, just when we thought peace had returned to the plateau up, it was truncated with the attack on Ancha village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, leading to 20 deaths.”

    Gyang praised the President for ordering the security agencies to fish out those responsible for the attacks.

    Speaking for the Southeast, South East Traditional Council Chairman Eberechi Dick  said: “Our hearts are full of joy that you are back. You shook our hands when you came in and that shows you believe in one Nigeria. We prayed for you and you are back. We prayed for you because your agenda for Nigeria is good.

    “As your children, when we cry, it is for you to ask us to stop crying, that you will fix whatever is making us cry like the bad roads.”

    Speaking for the Northeast, the Lamido Adamawa, said Nigerians were happy to have the President back to the country hale and hearty.

    “God brought you back to Nigeria and we are all very happy. We will continue to pray for God to strengthen you more and give you the courage to continue to do more for the country,” he said.

  • Buhari to work from home as office under renovation 

    Buhari to work from home as office under renovation 

    …Sends resumption letter to NASS

    A Presidency source on Monday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari will work from his official residence till renovation work is completed in his office.

    The source, who pleaded anonymity, said that the President has actually resumed work at home.

    Buhari, who had been in the United Kingdom since May 7th on medical ground, returned to the country on Saturday.

    On Saturday, Buhari had met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and security chiefs at his official residence.

    Speaking with State House correspondents on Buhari’s resumption in office, the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed that the President has communicated his resumption to office to the National Assembly.

    He said: “Yes, some few minutes past 11, the President signed the letter notifying the National Assembly of his resumption. A copy has been sent to the Senate President and also has been sent to the Speaker, House of Representatives, so the President has resumed.”

    On what his resumption will do to Nigerians, he said, “It means the President they voted into office, who has been serving them and who was indisposed for some time and who came back on Saturday, is ready to continue with the work he has been doing.”

    Asked to speak on Nigerians criticising that the President’s broadcast message was not explicit enough, Adesina said, “That broadcast was just one step of many steps that are going to be taken in the days and weeks and months ahead. So you can’t expect that everything will be said in one day.”

    A statement he later released reads: “In line with constitutional provision, President Muhammadu Buhari has written the National Assembly, notifying the legislature of his return to office, after returning from medical vacation in London.

    “President Buhari had returned to the country on Saturday, August 19, 2017, and in a letter dated August 21, 2017, he told the Senate as well as the House of Representatives, that he was resuming office.

    “The letter stated in part: ‘In compliance with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I write to intimate that I have resumed my functions as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from Monday, 21st August, 2017, after my medical follow-up in the United Kingdom.”

    “President Buhari had left for London on May 7, 2017, and handed the reins of government to the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who functioned as the Acting President,” it stated.

     

  • Leave Buhari alone, Youths tell Fayose

    Leave Buhari alone, Youths tell Fayose

    The Buhari Youth Organisation, Lagos State Chapter, has urged Gov. Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State to stop negative comments about President Muhammadu Buhari’s health.

    The State Coordinator and the General Secretary of the organisation, Mr Waheed Odunuga and Mr Adekunle Aderibigbe, respectively, made the appeal in a statement they jointly signed on Friday in Lagos.

    According to them, the governor should have left behind the 2015 Presidential election outcome and move forward in the interest of the nation.

    “It is obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari is receiving treatment.

    “The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has further reassured Nigerians that President Buhari would soon be back. So, there is no need for Fayose to create a hospital album for himself’’.

    “The governor should desist from wasting time and resources to shop for pictures for the album of the ailing president that adds no value to his people,’’ he said.

    The organisation urged Fayose to harness the inherent natural resources of his state and facilitate mechanised farming with well-irrigated lands to produce various cash crops.

    According to them, that will attract investors from within, like Kebbi partnered Lagos State, to produce LAKE Rice.

    The duo said that every State Governor should be concerned about the welfare and security of the people.

    “Every state Governor should be saddled with the responsibilities of providing health care facilities, education, security of lives and properties and conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

    “Most essentially, states need to generate revenue as the people; especially the poor, are looking up to them for dividends of democracy.”

  • National Assembly slashes 2016 budget by N17b

    National Assembly slashes 2016 budget by N17b

    The Senate Wednesday passed the 2016 controversial budget with a reduction of over N17 billion.

    President Muhammadu Buhar had on December 22, 2015 presented to the joint session of the National Assembly Appropriation Bill of N6, 077,680,000,000 for consideration and passage into law.

    But the Senate passed N6, 060,677,358,227 as the 2016 budget, a reduction of N0, 017,002,641,773.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje who presented the report of his committee noted that in view of the revenue and general economic challenges confronting the country, “the committee, has in a landmark decision, not witnessed since the advent of the present democratic dispensation in 1999, reduced the size of the aggregate expenditure and consequently reduced the total recurrent, deficit and borrowing plan.”

    Part of the highlights of the budget as passed included  Aggregate Expenditure N6,060,677,358,227; Statutory  Transfers  N351,370,000.000 (retained); Debt Service N1,475,320,000,000 (retained); Recurrent Expenditure reduced from N2,648,600,000,000 to N2,646,389,236,196; Capital Expenditure also reduced from N1,845,540,000,000 to N1,587,598,122,,031; Fiscal Deficit N2,204,936,925,711.16 while Deficit/GDP is 2.14%.

    Senator Goje arrived at the highlights after due consideration of the submissions by sub-committees and interaction with several stakeholders.

    The Senate adopted a bench mark price of $38 per barrel on crude oil based on the recommendation of the Senate on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework/ Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP)

    The same benchmark of $38pb adopted by the Senate was also proposed by the Executive.

    The Executive proposals of crude oil production of 2.2 million barrels per day and an exchange rate of N197 to $1 were also adopted

    The committee observed that the late presentation of the budget affected its timely passage.

    The committee also said that the 2016 Appropriation Bill, after its presentation to the National Assembly, was seen to be “fraught with some inconsistencies from ministries, departments and agencies, given the subsequent reference by them to different versions of the budget.”

    Goje who said that the inconsistencies in the fiscal document were also noticed at the level of the sub-committees, described them as “strange and goes against proper budgetary procedures and processes with attendant implications.”

    The committee chairman told the Senate that they observed that the available revenue for appropriation was grossly inadequate to meet the huge demand of MDAs to prosecute needed programmes for national development across all spheres in the economy.

    Goje said, “The 2016 (Appropriation) Bill seeks to stimulate the economy by the recurrent expenditure as compared to the capital component at a ratio of 30:70% is still very high. This takes away from the infrastructure-stimulus funding that the country so desperately needs for development.”

    He noted that the Appropriation Bill contained a number of omissions particularly in the area of personnel cost.

    Goje added that “though the Appropriation Committee has filled some of the gaps, there are many outstanding cases which could raise serious concern in the course of the year.”

    The committee recommended among others that subsequent budgets should be submitted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act to enable the National Assembly conduct proper engagement and to conclude the budget in good time.

    The committee also said that there should be proper engagement in future between the Budget Office and MDAs on the budget contents in order to avoid  what appeared to be a disconnect between them in the processing of the budget proposals.

    Goje specifically referred to a situation where some MDAs disowned their budget before the Appropriation Committee.

    Some statutory transfer allocations included National Judicial Council N70b; Niger Delta Development Commission N41,050b, Universal Basic Education N77,110b; National Assembly N115b; Public Complaint Commission N2b, Independent National Electoral Commission N45b and National Human Rights Commission N1210b.

    Debt Service: Domestic debts N1, 307,400,000,000 while N54, 480,000,000 was allocated for Foreign Debts service.

    Presidential Amnesty Programme stipends and allowances of 30,000 Niger Delta ex-militants was allocated N7,875,000,000, Presidential Amnesty Programme operational cost N1,834,149,261 while N10,290,850739 was voted for Presidential Amnesty Programme reintegration of transformed ex-militants.

    Other allocations Ministry of Agriculture N46,175,963,859; Ministry of Defence N130,864,439,542; Ministry of Education N35,433,487,466; Ministry of Health N28,650,342,987, Ministry of Information and Culture N6,071,503,956; Ministry of Interior N61,713,279496; Ministry of Justice N879,736,744; Ministry of Solid Mineral Dev N7,332,623,257; Ministry of Niger Delta N19,440,328,551; Ministry of Transportation N188,674,679,674; Ministry of  Works, Power and Housing N422,964,928,495.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki said that what is unique about the exercise of passing the budget was that for once there was no bickering over benchmark.