The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • I won’t mismanage Kogi’s funds – Bello

    Kogi State Gov.Yahaya Bello of Kogi has condemned those describing his administration as non-inclusive, saying their criticism stems from his insistence not to share the state’s little resources to few elites.

    Bello stated this while fielding questions from State House correspondents after joining President Muhammadu Buhari to perform the weekly Jumat prayers at Presidential Villa Mosque, Abuja on Friday.

    According to him, contrary to such insinuations, the resources of the state are being utilised for the general good of the people of the state.

    He expressed satisfaction that President Buhari was recuperating very well since he came back from vacation, adding that Nigerians should not relent in their prayers for him.

    “We followed Mr President to perform Jumat prayers and we are happy that he is getting stronger and stronger by the day.

    “We can only thank Almighty Allah for this wonderful job that he (Buhari) has done for this country.

    “I only urge all Nigerians to continue to pray and give him all the necessary support. Nigeria is going to be better,’’ he said.

    The governor revealed that the cases of kidnapping and armed robbery, which used to characterize the state, had been brought under control.

    He said the state, under his stewardship, had changed drastically as a result of responsible leadership.

    ” Kogi is changing from the dark days to the present economic prosperity;  we are following our economic blueprint and things are changing, infrastructurally.

    “The civil service is being reformed, pension too is being reformed and investors are coming in because we have largely secured the state,” he added.

    On the nomination of Prof. Steven Ocheni as Minister to represent Kogi in the Federal Executive Council, Bello said the renowned professor would make Nigeria, people of Kogi and President Buhari, proud.

    He thanked the president for nominating Ocheni, whom he described as “a versatile and workaholic’’ professor.

    Similarly, Gov.Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state lauded President Buhari for bringing peace and stability to Nigeria, especially for fighting the insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country.

    Ganduje, who equally performed the Jumat prayers at the Presidential Villa together with the president, announced that with the restoration of peace, Kano state would be hosting an economic summit on April 24, to boost socio-economic activities in the state.

    According to him, Kano, being a commercial town, will use the summit to explore other economic opportunities.

     

  • Senate welcomes Executive peace initiative

    Senate welcomes Executive peace initiative

    …Says ‘Nothing personal about Magu’s rejection’

     

    The Senate Thursday expressed its readiness to work with the Presidential Committee on Executive-Legislature relations constituted by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, in a statement, described the setting up of the peace committee as a welcome development.

    Entitled “The Executive Peace Initiative is a Welcome Development” Abdullahi said that the Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general, is ready to co-operate with members of the committee to work and resolve grey areas standing on the way of smooth working relationship between the two arms of government.

    It read in part: “We have heard about the initiative by President Muhammadu Buhari in setting up a Presidential Committee on Executive-Legislature Relations to be headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    “This initiative is a welcome development. It is a good step in the right direction. The Senate, in particular, and the National Assembly, in general, is ready to co-operate with the group and work with them to resolve all grey areas standing on way of the smooth working relationship needed to deepen our fledgling democracy and ensure good governance for the benefits of Nigerians.”

    Throwing more light on their understanding of the peace initiative, Abdullahi noted that since a committee had been set up it meant there were some grey areas between the Executive and Legislature hindering cordial relationship between the two arms.

    Asked whether the National Assembly has been officially informed, he said that the leadership of the Senate asked him to react which was indication that Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki must have been communicated.

    He added that when details of the committee are released, they would know the members and the number of National Assembly members that would be constituted to work the committee.

    Asked whether the olive branch by the Executive would make the Senate to soft pedal on the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, Abdullah said that before the Magu issue, the Senate has always worked in the best interest of the country.

    He said, “We have worked to support Mr. President. From what I have seen as somebody speaking for this institution, whatever we do, we put the interest of the country first. There was no personal thing about Magu and the decision we took. Other members of the commission sent to us were screened and confirmed. Senators are just doing their job. There was nothing personal about Magu. Nobody should be happy that presidential aides are quick to abuse senators.”

    On the suspension of the consideration and confirmation of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners sent to the Senate, Abdullahi said it was informed by the disdain resolutions of the Senate are treated by the Presidency.

    He said, “We passed resolutions, our resolutions are rubbished. If the resolutions are rubbished what are we doing with the consideration of Resident Electoral Commissioners.  If we reject any of them what happens.

    “We therefore mandated the Senate President to convey our worry to Mr. President. We needed a response in order for us to know exactly what we are doing. We did not say we will not confirm the RECs. What we need at this time is understanding of how democracy works. If we do, democracy will work better.”

     

  • Reps to Buhari: You can’t extend civil servant’s year of service 

    Reps to Buhari: You can’t extend civil servant’s year of service 

    …ask Permanent Secretary to return illegally acquired emoluments

    The House of Representatives has upturned President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on the extension of a Permanent Secretary whose year of service was extended by the President.

    The lawmakers directed that Jamila Shu’ara, until now a  Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education cease to be a civil servant with immedite effect.

    The Head of Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Winifred Oyo-Ita was directed to carry out the order and ensure that all emoluments enjoyed till date by Shu’ara since February 2016 when she was formally disengaged were returned.

    The directive was handed down yesterday at the ongoing investigative hearing on the issue between the Zakari Mohammed-led Committee on Basic Education and Services and the HoCSF.

    The lawmakers said  the President has no power under section 171(2)(d) of the 1999 Constitution or any other existing law to extend or elongate the tenure of Permanent Secretary whose tenure has expired be refluxion of time or age, whichever comes first

    Following its investigation, the Committee, without recourse to the defense of Shu’ara by the HoCSF resolved  that “The Head of Service should invoke relevant rules to recover all the emoluments paid to Mrs Jamila Shuara for the period of the extension.

    “That the Government should ensure that Civil service rules and procedures be strictly followed in future

    “That the retirement date of Dr Mrs Jamila Shuara remains 20th Feb.2016

    “That Dr Mrs jamila Shuara should vacate office immediately as her retirement date remains 20th Feb.2016 and

    “That the Head of Service should ensure compliance to this subject matter,and report back to the House in four weeks’ time”.

    The HoCSF in her written defense insisted that the President had the power to appoint or disengage any civil servant citing Section 171 (2) (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    Oyo-Ita said though she called for the record of service of Dr Shuara from the Civil service Commission but yet to get a reply, she however insisted that the President derived such powers for such an extension.

    In her letter of defense to the Committee dated 29th March, 2017 the HoCSF stated that, “I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter Ref: No NASS/HR/CT./.017/1013/230 dated 28th March, 2017 received today 29th March, 2019, and to respectively furnish the Chairman with the following:

    “I did not write any letter dated 17th March, 2016 with Ref. No. HCSF/1013/1 on the tenure of Dr (Mrs) Jamila Shuara as Permanent Secretary, rather the last letter wrote on this matter dated March 17th, 2017 with Reference No. HCSF/1013/1 was to Chief of Staff to the President.

    “I have sought Mr President’s permission to release a copy to the Committee and I am awaiting His Excellency’s response”.

    On the extant laws and rules guiding appointment, extension or appointment, Section 171 (2) (d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) vests the President with the power to appoint and remove Federal Permanent Secretaries, and by virtue of Section 11(1) (a)(c) of the implementation Act Cap 123 laws of the Federation 2004, whoever has the power to appoint can re-appoint or reinstate.

    “It is instructive to note that personal files of all of all civil servants employed into the Federal Civil Service through the Federal Civil Service Commission are with the Commission, I have requested for the personal file of Dr (Mrs.) Jamila Shuara from the Commission and I’m expecting the response”.

    Notwithstanding, the Committee went ahead with its resolution that Mr President lacked the powere to ask Shu’ara to stay on.

     

  • 2015 budget: Saraki gives marching orders to committees

    2015 budget: Saraki gives marching orders to committees

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday gave marching order to Senate standing committees to submit their reports on the 2017 budget proposal to the appropriations committee.

    Saraki who gave the order during Senate plenary, noted that compliance by committees yet to turn in their reports would hasten legislative work on the budget proposal.

    The announcement was said to be part of the decision of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives that met in Saraki’s house on Wednesday.

    A source said that part of the resolution of the joint leadership meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives was to ensure that the 2017 budget was passed earlier than that of 2016.

    He said that committees were to submit their reports to the appropriation committee latest yesterday failing which the appropriation committee would be free to adopt what the executive submitted.

    The 2016 budget was passed end of March, 2016. It was however rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari and returned to the National Assembly.

    The second passage of the same budget proposal was passed April ending 2016 and assented to by President Buhari on May 6th 2016.

    He insisted that should any committee fail to comply to submit its report before the end of work Thursday, the appropriations committee would go ahead to consider and adopted the original proposal made by the executive.

    Saraki said: “All committees yet to complete work on the 2017 budget proposal are hereby requested to submit their reports unfailingly today to the appropriations committee.

    “The committees numbering over twenty or thereabout should endeavour to submit their reports, or the appropriations committee will be left with no option but to consider original estimates sent in by the executive.”

    Most of the defaulting committees had claimed that their inability to submit their reports was due the refusal of the MDAs under them to appear to defend their budgets.

     

     

  •  APC must mediate in Senate, Presidency face-off – Don

    A Professor of Political Science, Femi Otubanjo, said on Thursday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) must mediate in the current face-off between the Senate and the Presidency.

    Otubanjo, who works with the National Open University of Nigeria, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

    According to him, APC, being the ruling party has a role to play in ensuring that the process of governance in the country is not thwarted by the face-off.

    The don was reacting to decision of the Senate to suspend legislative approval for 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners forwarded to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    However, the Senate at its sitting presided by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, suspend consideration of the request by two weeks pending when the President removes Ibrahim Magu, as Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Otubanjo said that the APC should not allow the face-off to adversely affect governance.

    ”There is a ruling political party and fortunately, the majority of the people in the National Assembly are APC members including the President, and the Federal Government is APC government too.

    ”There ought to be a platform for discussing and reconciling whatever proposal or nomination the executive is bringing to the legislature for approval.

    ”We saw President Trump when he was trying to repeal the Obamacare, he called his party members in the parliament to a breakfast table to discuss his proposal, though, it did not work, but that is how things are done.

    ”The party leaders have a role to play to ensure smooth working relationship between the Senate and the Presidency.

    ”The party leaders should initiate mediation by calling their members in the Senate and the Presidency to a round table to talk and settle their disagreement.

    ”By doing so, they will be able to succeed and smoothly deliver their campaign promises to the people,” he said.

  • Osinbajo departs for France over anti-corruption, integrity forum

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday left Abuja for Paris to attend the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum.

    According to a statement issued by the Vice President’s Spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande in Abuja, Osinbajo is one of the speakers to feature at the global conference.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Vice President left for the forum after attending the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

    The forum is scheduled to hold from March 30 to March 31.

    The OECD forum brings together global leaders, ministers, business leaders and civil society representatives to discuss issues of governance.

    Such issues include “the cost of corruption to society, the use of political donations to buy influence, developments in corporate liability for graft and the role of export controls to counter bribery”.

    During the conference, Osinbajo would hold bilateral talks with the Secretary-General of the organisation Angel Gurria.

    The talk would review and explore relationship between Nigeria and the body, including how to further strengthen mutual cooperation in areas of good governance, integrity and anti-corruption efforts.

    While in Paris, the Vice President would also hold a number of meetings with the French Minister Mr Bernard Cazeneuve.

    Founded in 1961, OECD’s mission includes the attainment of global economic development through supporting sustainable economic growth, boosting employment and raising living standards.

    The mission includes contributing to the growth of world trade and maintaining financial stability among other objectives.

    Osinbajo is expected back in Abuja at the weekend.

     

  • Why we won’t reveal Buhari’s health spendings – Lai Mohammed

    Why we won’t reveal Buhari’s health spendings – Lai Mohammed

    …F.G sets up panel to smoothen Executive, Legislative relation 

    The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed on Wednesday said that disclosing how much President Muhammadu Buhari spents on his medical vacation in the United Kingdom may jeopardize national security.

    The President, who returned to Nigeria on March 10th, had spent about 50 days in the UK where he carried out some medical tests.

    He had also in June last year embarked on medical trip abroad.

    Even though the President’s health status and ailment is yet to be made public, the President had disclosed on his return to the country on Friday 10th March that he received blood transfusion during the vacation.

    The Minister, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, was reacting to the calls for the President to disclose the amount spent on his medical treatment abroad.

    He was with the Minister of Interior, Abdulraman Danbazzu and the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun

    According to Mohammed, it was too sensitive to disclose the amount spent on the President’s health.

    He said: “This matter has come several times and our position on the matter is quite straight forward.  What are the President’s conditions of service? What are his entitlements in terms of his wellbeing and health care? The state is supposed to take responsibility for these.

    “We believe that asking for how much has been spent on the health of the President is an issue that we should weigh very well both for national security and also for moral issues.

    “I don’t know why we must divulge such very sensitive information. I might be wrong but I don’t have experience elsewhere that the President of any country will be ill and be forced to disclose how much the state has spent on his health.

    ‘Yes, there is Freedom of Information Act but it is also carved in such a way that when such information is likely to endanger national security, I think it is an area that is not covered.” he said

    He also said that the executive is concerned that the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government is not as smooth as it is supposed to be.

    Although he noted that it is a continuous struggle in any democracy for balancing between the Executive and the Legislature because each of them are creatures of the law.

    With the not too cordial relationship between the two arms of government due to issues concerning the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, the Minister said a committee is already working to smoothen the relationship.

    He said “We must strive at all times to ensure that there is that balance, amity and smooth relationship.

    “Just today at the Federal Executive Council meeting, the issue was discussed and a committee is already working on ensuring that we resolve all these outstanding issues.

    Speaking on the protest by unions in his ministry, Mohammed said that it is not unusual for unions to call for the removal of ministers.

    He said “They are complaining about welfare but there is a limit to what government can do within the available resources.

    “As much as we sympathise with them on the situation, the economy is simply not healthy enough to accommodate what it used to accommodate in the past.

    “If anybody is concerned and worried about expenditures in my ministry, they should go and check because it is open.

    “We have appealed to them several times but we met a culture that we cannot sustain.” he said

    The Minister promised that the Ministry will look into some of the grievances that are genuine when the economy improves.

    “We listen to them, they always meet with the Permanent secretary and directors. But once the resources are not there, there is little we can do. We will just continue to plead with them to be patient with us.” he added

    Dambazzau said that the Council approved the procurement of some water carrying vehicles for the Federal Fire Service.

    He said “This is in an attempt to further revamp the federal fire service which has experienced dearth of equipment for a very long time and that with the challenges we have in terms of fire incidents all over the country, the last time I spoke I told you the government is making every effort to make sure that the fire service is revamped so that we have the necessary euipment, training and personnel to be able to face the challenges.

    “Today as part of it FEC approved what is remaining of the 2016 budget, the procurement of 15 water tankers that have the capacity to be used as fighting trucks. This is costing the government N403 million out of the budget that was appropriated in 2016.

    ‘The totsl budget is about 5.5 billion naira for the procurement of firefighting equipment and we have already procured a lot from that.” he said

    The Minister of Finance, on her part, said that the Council approved the ratification for the establishment of the West African Tax Administration forum which is a platform to promote mutual agreement and cooperation among West African tax authorities.

    While disclosing that Nigeria is the host of the body, she said that Nigeria has already rectified the project.

    She said “The effect of it is that there will be better information sharing and cooperation between countries within West Africa on tax administration. This is really part of our tax reform efforts.

    “As you know Nigerians own properties in Ghana and other neigbouring countries, now for tax purposes they will be able to have access to that type of information.

    “Linked to that is the directive of the FEC to the SGF to remind companies that there is an existing provision in the law that companies are supposed to have on their letter headed papers the names of their directors and their registered offices but what we have seen is that many bodies that are transacting business with government simply have the names of the company and no details of who the directors are.

    “So for tax purposes it is quite difficult to trace them, so the SGF will be issuing a circular reminding agencies and ministries of government that it is the law and therefore they are at liberty not to treat any document that doesn’t comply with the law.

    “And equally the Accountant General is being advised that payment will only be effected to companies that are fully in compliance with the law just to make sure that all those who are doing business with government and making from government are paying the right taxes.

    “The other memo was the 500 million Eurobond, remember that the National Assembly had approved and council was also required to approve and that was done,” she stated.

  • Don wants Paris Club loans refund channelled to education, agriculture

    A lecturer at Federal  University  of Technology, Minna, Dr Thomas Arabi  has advised state governors to channel the  Paris Club loans refund to the development of education, agriculture and health care delivery.

    Arabi, Head, Educational Services, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Minna.

    NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari directed the release of the money to the governors.

    Buhari told the governors to use part of the money to pay the arrears of workers’ salaries and benefits of retirees.

    The don said that it was only through the diversification of such funds to the sectors that Nigerians would feel the impact of the loans.

    Arabi said that provision of basic drugs and improved atmosphere for learning would enable the public to feel the impact of the political change mantra of the present administration.

    According to him, part of the funds should be used to procure assorted farming inputs for sale to farmers at subsidised rates.

    He said the provision of farming implements would encourage more Nigerians to venture into farming.

    “Nigerians should thank God almighty for making the Paris Club loans refund available at this crucial stage of the economic recession.

    “Our governors should judiciously invest the refunds in the areas of agriculture, education and prompt payment of salaries,’’ Arabi said.

    He said that proper investment of the funds would also attract foreign investors and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.

  • Senate to FG: Release bailout funds N174bn for pension arrears

    Senate to FG: Release bailout funds N174bn for pension arrears

    The Senate on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to order the immediate release of N174 billion voted in the 2016 budget for payment of pension arrears.

    The upper chamber said that fund was a bailout created in the 2016 budget to redeem all federal government pension indebtedness amounting to over N174billion.

    The lawmakers said that the provision for the bailout for pensioners was seen as a viable alternative to save the ugly plight of the country’s retirees.

    The Senate noted that “if the Federal Government could release bailout funds to pay outstanding workers ‘salaries in the states, similar gesture should be used for the payment of pension arrears, which is its direct primary responsibility”.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion entitled, “The untold hardship of pensioners occasioned by federal government’s failure to contribute its statutory share of five per cent to the Pension Redemption Fund” sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Paulker,

    Senator Paulker, in his lead debate noted with concern “the untold hardship our retired senior citizens occasioned by the non-payment of their pension arrears since 2015”.

    He said that pensioner under Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS who retired since 2015 have not been paid their pensions due to the failure of the federal government to contribute its statutory share of five per cent to the Pension Redemption Fund in line with the Pension Reform Act, 2004 amounting to a total sum of N285, 946, 669, 881.

    The lawmaker also disclosed that “about N50billion was appropriated for in 2016 to upset part of the pension arrears, but only a paltry sum of N18billion was released”.

    He further lamented that the pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, DBS which include the Police Pensions, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Prisons Service, Civil Service and other parastatals are yet to be paid their 33 per ecent accrued arrears amounting to N174billion.

    “The delay in payment of pension arrears has put pensioners across the country in a very precarious situations where they wallow in penury, sickness, hopelessness and regret for serving their fatherland diligently only to be abandoned by the government upon retirement”, he said.

    Paulker therefore warned that if urgent steps are not taken to pay the outstanding arrears within the current fiscal year, the much applauded Contributory Pension Scheme may collapse, leading to unimaginable consequences for the pensioners and the country in general.

     

  • Tinubu a working made-in-Nigeria product – Ambode

    Tinubu a working made-in-Nigeria product – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has described the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a true example of a working made in Nigeria product.
    Governor Ambode who made the remark yesterday at the well-attended Colloquium held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, to commemorate Tinubu’s 65th birthday, said Tinubu political success transcend the length and breadth of the country.
    Addressing the large turnout of dignitaries from all walks of life, including Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, past and serving governors, ministers, members of National and State Assemblies, members of the diplomatic corps, among others.
     Ambode explained that like the Coconut, the APC stalwart has continued to be fruitful, creating more products and by-products from his political dynasty than any other living made-in-Nigeria political product in recent history.

    • [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#dda34b” bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]Related Post: Tinubu, a great builder – Obaseki[/quote]
    •Ambode

    He said Tinubu, who was governor of Lagos from 1999 to 2007 contributed immensely to the success story of the State, adding that he was one of Nigeria’s shining examples in the political terrain.
    The governor said: “Like the coconut, some by-products/fruits will get bad along the way or after being sold in the market; in actual fact, the political product may not be the favourite of some other people.
    “The bottom line, however, is simple; If Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, were a coconut; I dare say, with all simplicity, I would be among the forefront liners that will eat, drink and sleep B.A.T. 24/7.
    “The test of a successful leader is the number of leaders that he has created.  Using this globally accepted parameter, Asiwaju, at 65, is, without a doubt, a winner in this category.
    “There is no doubt the Asiwaju political dynasty is a made in Nigeria product.  The foundation laid and blueprints developed during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State which cuts across all sections of the State’s economy have actually simplified the process of governance till date.
    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#ddbc89″ bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]His blueprint has continued to serve as a road map to achieving the Lagos of his and our dreams.  This same political product, without a doubt, traverses the Nigerian landscape and that is evident with the emergence of the APC at the centre in 2015.
    Asiwaju, on behalf of the First Lady, my entire family, all your admirers at home and across the world, we say a big thank you for your large-heartedness, benevolence and visionary leadership that you have unleashed on this nation. You are a Statesman par excellence, my leader, our leader – Ambode[/quote]
    Describing the theme of the Colloquium, ‘Make it in Nigeria – Use What We Make-Make What We Use”, Ambode said he was an unrepentant convert of the ideology, noting that Lagos state has demonstrated it with the successful partnership with Kebbi state on Lake Rice.

    • [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#dda34b” bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]Also Read: Tinubu: A dogged fighter for democracy – Dogara[/quote]

    He assured that his administration would continue to improve on the indices of the ease of doing business to ensure that more products are made in Nigeria for the development and growth of our nation.
    President Muhammadu Buhari in his remarks described Tinubu as an outstanding politician, great mobilizer, effective in conceiving and planning governmental policies.
    “Chief Bola Tinubu is an outstanding Yoruba politician of his generation,” he said.
    Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau said that the Federal Government was already putting policies in place to encourage and facilitate Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to promote made in Nigeria goods, adding that same was part of his administration’s overall national economic policy.
    In her remarks, Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun assured Nigerians that the country would soon be out of the economic recession, revealing that the Federal Government was already copying the Lagos template to revive the economy.
    She said the Federal Government recently released N1trillion for capital expenditure to make the economy productive, adding that measures were being taken to bring about multiple streams of revenue.

    • [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#dda34b” bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]Also Read: Tinubu raised the bar for political leaders Nigeria – Buhari[/quote]

    “The economic template we copied from you (Lagos) is now being implemented for an economic recovery of the country and we are not ashamed to say it. The impact of that template is that many of the states are now copying it especially in the area of IGR,” Adeosun said.
    Also speaking, the celebrant (Tinubu) said it was time for the Federal Government to press forward with its national industrial policy and national infrastructural plan, especially by creating infrastructural funding from financial institutions.
    Tinubu, who commended the present leadership of the country, also advocated the need to embrace other forms of power generation and incentives to bring back some of the manufacturing companies that hitherto left Nigeria due to unfriendly business environment
     Among those who attended the event included; former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, South West Governors of Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Ondo; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeshola, Abiola Ajumobi, Ibikunle Amosu and Rotimi Akeredolu; serving governors, Senators, politicians, entrepreneurs, among others.