President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the Ugandan President, Yoweri Kaguta Musveni, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The First Lady of Uganda, Mrs Janet Museveni, was with her husband.
The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.
Details later…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Friday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to take immediate steps to address issues that are beginning to threaten the nation’s existence in the collective interest and unity of the country.
The congress also said that those threatening the nation’s integrity, nationhood and sovereignty should be apprehended and tried in accordance with extant national laws and international conventions without taking any further steps that will create another mayhem like is currently being experienced in the north east.
It also asked the military high command to retrain its officers and men on contemporary ways of handling security challenges under a constitutional governance, saying the military must desist from doing anything that provokes situations that ultimately strengthen the cause, capacities and popularity of the advocates of disunity and inter-ethnic strife in the country.
Reacting to current security situation across the country which has heightened tension across the country, leading to curfew in some major cities, President of Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the unity of Nigeria has been the collective strength of the people, stressing that no part of the country can develop without the other, even on the terms and principles of the subsisting world socio economic order.
Wabba said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that the recent attack on Journalists performing their legitimate duties in Umuahia by armed military personnel was unacceptable and highly provocative, adding that although the Nigeria Army has issued a public statement to apologise to the NUJ and the affected journalists while promising to investigate the incident and ultimately discipline the military personnel involved, we advise that the military high command should re-train its officers and men on contemporary ways of handling security challenges in a country under constitutional governance.
The statement reads: “We have watched with absolute concern, the ongoing skirmishes in some parts of the country where there have been growing trends of agitations that are now clearly leading to inter-ethnic attacks in both physical and verbal terms resulting in the deployment of military and other security personnel and curfews in two major cities in Abia and Plateau states.
“For us, as a pan Nigerian organisation, we have always emphasised the need for peace as a very important item on the table of anyone, organisation or individual interested in the development of the entire country or any part of the country because whatever has led to underdevelopment or decelerated our collective development as a country or community or region could be anything but ethnic revulsion.
“As far as we are concerned, our country’s state of underdevelopment has been occasioned by lack of good governance for which several past governments can be held responsible. No part of the country has deliberately been underdeveloped by any government based on ethnic hatred or anti region dispositions.
“Indeed, as it is clear, most problems in the states are caused mainly by the attitude of the various state governments who receive allocations for infrastructural development of communities in the states and payment of salaries but chose to divert such allocations to other uses or embezzle such funds with impunity.
“There can be no other threat to the lives of the citizens than when workers are denied access to food and qualitative life through non-payment of salaries for months. Those driving the causes that has led to the prevailing challenges are yet to confront their state governors on this.
“We have had several quarterly national dialogues as a labour centre and a major stakeholder on the promotion of peace, security and national development of our country; and have concluded that the challenges we have that has now become references for the advancement of ethnic or regional agitations directed towards disunity and promotion of inter-ethnic discord, including violent attacks and threats is the absence of productive employment, depleting industrial growth, near collapse of major infrastructures among others.
“And every part of the country suffer these and the impact do not differ in regional or ethnic terms. It is therefore unfortunate that some individuals across the country has chosen to use these collective deprivations to advance causes that indeed counter their aspiration for development.
“The unity of Nigeria has been our collective strength as a people and no part of Nigeria can develop without the other, even on the terms and principles of the subsisting world socio economic order.
“While we applaud the Federal Government for the steps taken so far by security agencies to secure lives and properties of all Nigerians in all parts of the country, it is important that the agencies, including the military should not act in any manners that provokes situations that ultimately strengthen the cause, capacities and popularity of the advocates of disunity and inter-ethnic strife.
“It is unaccepted that journalists carrying out their legitimate functions can be so dastardly attacked as has been reported of the incident in Umuahia during a security operation by the Nigeria Army.
“It is the duty of journalists to report, including taking pictures, audio and video recording of incidents anywhere in the country as part of their professional calling. The attacks on them, especially at the secretariat of Nigeria Union of Journalists in Umuahia is not only unacceptable, but unnecessarily provocative.
“Although the Nigeria Army has issued a public statement to apologise to the NUJ and the affected journalists while promising to investigate the incident and ultimately discipline the military personnel involved, we advise that the military high command should re-train its officers and men on contemporary ways of handling security challenges in a country under constitutional governance.
“We also advice the federal government to handle the ongoing agitations, which is fast developing into unimaginable inter-ethnic violence that is spreading to some parts of the country as has been reported of Jos in Plateau state, Port Harcourt in River State, Aba and Umuahia in Abia State with utmost dexterity in the interest of peace, unity and collective interest of the entire country and her citizens.
“The governors as chief security officers of their states must be made to take responsibilities for the growing security challenges that ultimately threatens our collective interests and unity as Nigerians.
“Our governments, and indeed none of us as individual or corporate citizens should allow the current situation degenerate any further. Culprits of threats to our national integrity, nationhood and sovereignty must be apprehended and tried in accordance with extant national laws and international conventions without taking any further steps that will create another mayhem as we have been contending with in the north east.”
President Muhammadu Buhari departs Abuja Sunday for New York, to join other world leaders at the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 72).
The high point of the President’s visit will be his participation in the General Debate during which he will deliver the country’s National Statement.
The theme for this year’s Debate is: “Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet.”
President Buhari will join other world leaders at the welcoming reception to be hosted by the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, and also hold a bilateral meeting with the UN scribe.
Equally, the Nigerian leader will hold a lunch meeting with President Donald Trump of the United States of America, along with other world leaders.
During the General Assembly, Nigeria will participate in high level meetings on ‘Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse: Building Momentum for Change,’ the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, a High Level Event organized by the African Union under its Theme of the Year: ‘Roadmap on the Demographic Dividend: from Commitment to Action,’ among others.
At the events, President Buhari and members of his delegation will strive to project Nigeria as a strong moral force and responsible member of the international community.
Nigeria’s commitment to global peace, security and development will also be reaffirmed and where necessary, the need for increased international cooperation in the fight against corruption.
Other priorities for the Nigerian delegation at UNGA 72 include strengthening human rights institutions; the rule of law; support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as a result of terrorist acts and recent flooding, and mitigating the effects of Climate Change.
The Nigerian delegation will also canvass the support of UN member states for the Buhari Administration’s efforts towards combatting illicit financial flows in order to foster sustainable development.
The President will be accompanied by the governors of Zamfara, Ebonyi and Ondo States, and key cabinet ministers.
President Buhari will transit through London on his way back to the country.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sebastine Hon has commended the decision by the military authorities to probe allegation of dehumanising treatment meted out to some captured pro-Biafra agitators by soldiers.
Hon who codenamed the maltreament of agitators, said he was horrified when he said a video recording of what took place.
He faulted the way the Federal Government was handling the Biafra issue and urged South East leaders to also do more in engaging the agitating youths.
Hon said: “The video which has gone viral on the Internet, showing most dehumanising treatment of persons suspected to be Biafra apologists, is horrible and horrifying, to say the least.
“It is unbelievable that the Nigerian Army, once respected globally, would condescend to the level of flogging its hapless captives and compelling them to submerge themselves in thick mud.
“I didn’t believe my eyes when I first watched the video; and I almost became a psychological wreck when I attempted to watch it again.
“What that video has depicted personnel of the Nigerian doing is condemnable in all ramifications. Not even prisoners of war are treated that way!
“The promise by the army to investigate is salutary; but I must caution that this should not be a fluke.
“For goodness sake, even though the renewed Biafra agitation is, responsibly speaking, not well thought out by its protagonists, but the dismissive aloofness of the Federal authorities is not good either.
“I can’t fathom why, in a democracy, the Federal Government is blatantly refusing to meaningfully engage dissidents threatening dismemberment of that same federation, but rather derisively threat them as mere noisy elements. It is never done this way.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, I do not support any separatist agitation in Nigeria now; but at the same time, I do not support the Nigerian Government’s demeaning response to the smouldering crisis.
“I warned the other day that Nigeria is hemorrhaging and even hanging on the cliff. I also advised that President Muhammadu Buhari should use the carrot and stick approach of the President Obasanjo era – which deservedly beat the Niger Delta agitators to their game.
“The actions of the Federal Government and the Nigerian Army are capable of being misinterpreted as anti-Igbo.
“In conclusion, however, I wish to strongly plead for caution, especially on the part of the Federal Government. The apparent depicting of Biafran apologists as arch enemies is improper, with due respect.
“Igbo leaders, political and traditional, should also not just speak up against separatism, they should also engage constructively with the agitators on the need for them to see the futility of their actions. A stitch in time saves nine!” Hon said.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has announced the withdrawal of soldiers from the streets of Aba and Umuahia, the state capital.
Ikpeazu announcing this in a media chat with Journalists in Umuahia on Thursday said that the reason for the withdrawal was as a result of intervention from well-meaning Abians and Nigerians.
The governor disclosed that he was going to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari to urge him to suspend the planned Python Dance II exercise scheduled to commence later this month in the southeast and warned that the state wouldn’t entertain any form of agitation or protest on the streets of the state.
Related: IPOB’s agitation a joke – Gov. Okorocha
Ikpeazu who warned members and sympathizers of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB to stop spreading false rumors urged residents to abide by the curfew throughout the period it would last. This is as he called for
Part of his address read “Dear brothers and sisters, the security situation in the state in the past few days, which led to the deployment of soldiers into our state ahead of the Operation Python dance 11, has become of great concern to both the government and the citizenry.
“After several interventions, I want to inform you that by tomorrow morning, there will be withdrawal of solders from the streets at Aba and Umuahia, apart from the pre-existing military checkpoints at various location in the state.
“With the expected exit of soldiers from the streets, we must warn that we will not tolerate agitators and protesters taking over the streets for any reason at all.
“I will also be meeting the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, to discuss possible ways of relaxing the Operation Python dance 11 in the state for now.
“Our attention have been drawn to ugly incidences of attacks on police stations and military posts at Aba and Umuahia and we hereby warn that we will no longer tolerate that, and all other acts that are capable of causing insecurity in the state.
Also: Video: IPOB agitators begin stop, search for Northerners
“We have also observed illegal acts of throwing petrol bombs and setting up of bonfires to obstruct free movements along some roads by suspected miscreants and wish to warn that such acts should stop forthwith.
“To mischief makers who want to use Abia as their base, let me announce to you that henceforth, Abia will be too hot for you to carry out your wicked acts as the government will work with security agents to ensure the protection of lives and properties in the state without fear or favor. There will be no hiding place for you.
“At about midnight yesterday, we received security reports that hoodlums and miscreants, some of whom were allegedly brought into the state by unscrupulous individuals, were mobilizing around Uratta road at Aba with a view to converging at Ariaria International Market to burn it down. Their aim was obviously to take advantage of the security situation in the state to cripple the economy of the state and cause widespread suffering.
“It was this group that originated the rumors of attacks and counter attacks around the area and also tried to create panic to force people out of their homes to enable them execute their evil intentions under the cover of orchestrated crises.
“Thankfully their plan was nipped in the bud by the combined team of soldiers and policemen that promptly moved to the area and later positioned around Ariaria market to protect the lives and properties of our people.
“We have it on good authority that the same group of hoodlums attempted to burn down the police station at Ariaria market early today and security agents are currently on the hunt for them and those outside the state who are sponsoring their evil actions. Not even one of them will escape the full weight of the law.
“Members and sympathizers of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) should henceforth desist from spreading false rumors capable of throwing our state into disorder. Those spreading such falsehood will be dealt with, according to the Law.
“My fellow Abians, it is in the interest of all our citizens and residents for full and total peace and security to return to our state immediately. No meaningful progress can be made in an atmosphere of violence and and anarchy.
“Those at Aba are therefore advised to fully observe the current curfew in the city and ensure that they cooperate with security agents to maintain peace and order.
“I swore to protect lives and properties of all Abians and residents and that I must do. I therefore call on all to support our efforts at making sure that lasting peace prevails in our dear state.”
Director General, National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), Dr. Ladi Hamalai, Wednesday faulted the over N7 trillion national budget of the Federal Government for the 2017 fiscal year.
The NILS boss said that there was no reason why the budget should be as high as N7 trillion when the revenue projection was a little N4 trillion.
The Federal Government ear marked N7.44 trillion for the 2017 fiscal year.
Hamalai who spoke at a media interaction on “Reforming the budget process in Nigeria” noted that the 2017 budget should have been at most N5 trillion in line with revenue projection for the fiscal year.
The DG wondered the logic that informed adopting a budget of over N7 trillion when the revenue projection did not support the figure.
Over bloated budget, she said, is the reason capital budget is hardly implemented.
The DG said that over the years the implementation of the capital budget had remained at about 8.1 per cent.
She insisted that it is obvious that the gap between the amount appropriated to be spent and the projected revenue too large to be bridged.
Lamenting that the country still has a long way to go in perfecting its budget process, the DG said that there is too wide gap between budget projection and available resources.
The DG also faulted the consideration of budget as a political tool rather than an instrument for development.
She said, “Although government budget is very important tool of economic management and promoting growth and development, it has not generally met the expectations of improved service delivery and development in Nigeria unlike in most other countries.
The situation has given rise to the compelling need for a comprehensive reform of the budget process to address the various flaws and challenges bedeviling the nation’s budgeting system in tandem with the current dynamics.
In line with this, the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki inaugurated a technical committee on budget reforms to produce a budget reform strategy and draft reform bill.”
She listed weak revenue base, late enactment of budget, limited realism of the budget, untimely and irregular release of funds, preponderance of unplanned projects, weak implementation capacity on the part of MDAs and weak budget monitoring by the executive and poor legislative oversight, as part of the problems hindering capital budget implementation.
She noted that stakeholders have expressed concerns about oversight performance by the National Assembly.
Speaking specifically about the 2017, she said that the late submission of the 2017 budget did not help matters.
She also identified weak linkage between the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the 2017 budget.
According to Hamalai, “Despite being a recession budget, the content of the budget does not differ from previous budgets-; it is characterized by opaqueness, frivolous spending, inadequate prioritization to mobilize resources to critical sectors such as health, education and infrastructure.
“In some countries all non-essential spending and third party contracts were completely done away with.”
The NILS DG also highlighted lack of continuity segmentation in capital projects which leads to opaqueness
She said that Nigeria could adopt 25 per cent annually for heavy projects while light projects could be budgeted for within one year.
The NILS DG who said that the fragmentation resources continue in the 2017 budget said that resources should be aggregated to key projects rather than diffused.
The problem, she said, will persist as long as the current budget template subsists.
The NILS DG acknowledged that undoubtedly the 2017 budget is a significant improvement on the 2016 budget with drastic cuts on wasteful spending.
“However, more can be done to limit spending on controllable expenditure particularly during recession. This underscores the need for economic frugality as espoused by the APC led government of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
…Moves against agencies not remitting full revenue
The Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday directed the Ministry of Finance to immediately recover moneys not remitted to government coffers by some agencies.
The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun briefed State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting.
She said that some of the government agencies of have been uncovered to be diverting their revenues.
JAMB, which she said has been remitting N3 million annually, has remitted N5 billion for this year alone and has disclosed that it still has N3 billion more to remit to government purse this year.
According to her, NIMASA is among other agencies, which are high offenders.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) said on Tuesday that it was prepared name and shame state governors who failed to utilize the Paris Club refund for the purpose it was meant for, insisting that the President demand the state governors to account for the money before any further release is made to them.
Reacting to a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari accusing the governor of misdirecting the Paris Club refund, NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said it was unfortunate that despite their promises to use the money to pay workers salaries and pension, the governors have refused to live by their words.
He said that some of the state governors have even refused to disclose how much they received and how it was utilized, pointing out that the Chairman of the Governors Forum who made a commitment on behalf of his colleague has, himself not utilize the money judiciously.
Wabba said the President was actually reacting to its letter asking him not to approve the release of the third and last tranche of the fund to the governors until they account for what they have received.
He said: “It is our letter he was reacting to. At our CWC meeting, we called on him not to release the last tranche of the Paris Club refund to the states because the governors have not kept their word.
“You remember that Chairman of the Governors Forum alluded to the fact that they are committed to using the money to address the issue of liability of pension and salaries. Unfortunately, the Chairman of the Governors Forum has not lived up to those words.
“As you are aware, our workers in Zamfara have shut down the state. He himself that ,are the pronouncement could not honoured the words that he pronounced on behalf of his colleagues. That is to show the level of deceit that is actually in the system and that is why we decided to write to the President to ensure that, there is a level of accountability to show that he is actually on the same page with the governors.
“Before the second tranche was released, they made commitments and used the payment of workers salaries and pensions as a bait to get the President to approve and get the money across to them. But immediately they got the money, majority of them diverted the money. Right now, we have a standard data as to what the situation is in all states of the Federation.
“Let me make the point that some has actually judiciously untilise their own, but states like Ekiti, Kogi, Benue, Zamafara among is even refused to make available how. Ugh they received.
“You remember what happened at the Kogi state House of Assembly where a member raised a motion to demand accountability on the issue of the Paris Club refund and that resulted in the chaos we witnessed in the Assembly. That member had his head broken and the Speaker removed. That is the level of decay that is prevailing in some of those states.
“It means that Mr President is in touch with the real issues that is happening in every state. The fact that he is aware that some of the governors have not utilized the money in the direction that he appealed to them means that he is aware of what is happening.
“So, I think that going forward, we must demand for accountability. We are also aware that a lot of information is already in the public domain where a lot of them resorted to the use of consultants.
“We learnt that about 5 percent was deducted from source and used for the payment of consultants which eventually ended up in peoples pocket. We are also aware of those that diverted the money to build hotels and pay mortgages. It is really a bad situation.
“If we must fight corruption, those issues are issues that we must follow up and fight the, to their logical conclusion. Having made that pronouncement, I think k he should be commended, but we must also demand accountability from these people.
“In some of the states, our members used the freedom of information act to demand how these money were utilized, but there has been no responses and I think that is most unfortunate. We have records of those states. We have also promised that we are going to name and shame those states that has not adequately utilized the bail out.
“We are working on the data and once they are ready, we will make the, available and we are going to engage states that has not transparently utilized the bail out fund for the purpose that it was meant for and for the benefit of their people. That is where we are now and it is not a good situation at all and that is why the situation of workers have not improved.
“Despite the fact that some efforts have gone in, the situation of workers have not I proved because there has been no transparency in some states in the utilization of those funds. Let me emphasized that some states have done extremely well and we are going to point this out very clearly.”
The first group of 24 of the escaped Chibok Girls who are undergoing studies at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) under the Education Initiative have celebrated their 3rd anniversary.
The occasion recognized outstanding achievements among the first group of 24 who arrived at AUN in 2014 and have been on automatic scholarship.
A statement issued by the Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Mr. Daniel Okereke, said AUN President Dr. Dawn Dekle and Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, Maryam Uwais, were among the special guests of honor.
Mr. Okereke said the initiative, also called New Foundation School (NFS) started in 2014 to cater specially for the kidnapped Chibok girls who braved an escape from the captivity of Boko Haram.
He said eight of the initial intake have graduated from the NFS and are enrolled in AUN to pursue their university education.
“Among them are three in the University’s pre-med program, Natural and Environmental Sciences, and two in Accounting. The rest are studying Law, Computer Science and Journalism.
“There were awards for the most punctual, best behaved, the most outgoing, and the best public speaking student.
“For athletics, there were awards for students in specific skills, as well as the overall best athletic participant. In the academics category, there was an award for the best student in every subject in both the intermediate and the advanced classes,” he said.
AUN’s President, Dekle was quoted in the statement as saying: “I took special care looking at everything you have done, and I couldn’t be more proud.
“You really do live out our virtues of excellence, integrity, and service.”
Dr. Dekle promised to continue to work with the girls and to make the word “Chibok” become synonymous with positive virtues, with courage, integrity and knowledge.
“This year, I want you to work with me and everyone in this room to make Chibok the latest word in the Oxford English Dictionary. Do you remember when I said we are going to make it something else besides a village? C-Character, H-Honesty, I-Intelligence, B-Bravery, O-Openness, and K-Kindness,” she said.
Ms. Uwais, noted that her invitation was an opportunity to really get to know how AUN is transforming the girls.
“I am delighted to be here. Moreover, I am very inspired by what I have seen….This is just an awesome experience for me….This is really a worthwhile endeavor and I am very hopeful that this is just the beginning for all of you….You have come this far and you are going to go much farther because you all have some steel in you,” she said.
Ms. Uwais said through the empowerment that they receive at AUN the students would go on to do great things in life.
She charged the young women to remain focused in their studies.
“Even though what happened to you should not have happened to anybody, I am a firm believer in ‘everything-happens-for-a-purpose.
“What has happened is that a vast opportunity has been created for you all here. I expect that you will take advantage of it and be true to yourself and your faith. And just reach out for the stars,” she added.
Also, Assistant Vice President, Community Engagement, Reginald Braggs, who coordinates NFS, said: “This is always the special evening for us. We highlight our students and all of the things that they have done in the last year academically, socially, and athletically.”
Mr. Braggs noted that AUN, being a development university, felt obligated to do something about the tragedy that had befallen the kidnapped girls.
“We offered these students the opportunity to turn tragedy into triumph,” Braggs added.
According to the statement, NFS grouped the students on different scholastic levels–basic, intermediate, and advanced– starting with English Language, Mathematics, General Knowledge, and Spelling.
“Five more courses were then added and it became an eight-subject program. They needed to get into a pipeline towards their dream.
“We really want them to have an overall general type of education, not only focused on academics but also on activities such as basketball, bike riding, art class, game night, movie night, karaoke night, spelling bee contest, and music class,” Mr. Braggs added.
The Administrator, NFS, Jimoh Abubakar, said the program is transforming the young girls.
“The NFS is a highly organized group of intellectuals, saddled with the responsibility of teaching, nurturing, loving, mentoring, and perfecting the young ladies into a set of confident, academically sound, behaviorally upright, athletically fit, and active women capable of developing themselves and the society at large,” Abubakar added.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting started at 3:25 p.m. when the Ghanaian President arrived the Presidential Villa.
The meeting was held at the new Banquet Hall of the State House.
The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.