The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari orders payment of Falcons’ arrears

    Buhari orders payment of Falcons’ arrears


    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered the full payment of all 
    outstanding accruable to the Super Falcons. 
    The Falcons had won the African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) trophy a fortnight ago. 
    The team, which had been protesting non-payment of their allowances and 
    bonuses arrears, had refused to leave their hotel rooms in Abuja to their various bases.     
    Speaking with State House correspondents on Wednesday, the Chief of Staff 
    to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari said that the issue had been 
    resolved. 
    He said: “The problem has been resolved. They have done us proud and we 
    congratulated them. The Ministries of Sports and Finance have been directed 
    to pay tomorrow. 
    “I don’t know the details of the arrears. But they have been directed to pay,” he added.  
    Kyari, who earlier spoke with the players on Wednesday during their protest to Aso Villa gate, had urged them to return to their hotel rooms and that their arrears will be settled.  
    The players led by team captain Rita Chikwelu had expressed their displeasure on the non-payment of their allowances and bonuses.
     
  • Super Falcons’ allowances to be paid Thursday

    Super Falcons’ allowances to be paid Thursday

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the immediate payment of all outstanding allowances and bonuses being owed the Super Falcons, an official said on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The Falcons had earlier on Wednesday embarked on a protest march against the non-payment of their allowances by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    The footballers, who won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON) for the eighth time in Cameroon, had initially refused to leave their hotel rooms at Agura Hotel in Abuja.

    They had, upon returning from the competition which they won on Dec. 3, been waiting for the payment at the hotel where they were accommodated by the NFF.

    But on Wednesday they staged a protest march, carrying various placards with inscriptions along the roads between the National Assembly and the secretariat gate of the Presidential Villa.

    Speaking later, the Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Abba Kyari, told State House correspondents on Wednesday that the issue had been resolved.

    He said the government had since directed appropriate authorities to settle the players’ allowances and bonuses.

    “The problem has been resolved. They have done us proud and we congratulated them. The Ministries of Sports and Finance have been directed to pay tomorrow (Thursday).

    “I don’t know the details of the arrears. But they have been directed to pay,” the presidential aide said.

    Kyari, who earlier spoke with the players on Wednesday during their protest march to the Aso Rock Villa gate, had urged them to return to their hotel rooms.

    He had assured them that their outstanding payment would be settled within 24 hours.

    The players, led by team captain Rita Chikwelu, had during the protest expressed their displeasure at the non-payment of their allowances and bonuses.

  • Corrupt politicians asking for Jonathan’s second coming – APC chieftain

    Corrupt politicians asking for Jonathan’s second coming – APC chieftain

    Former Interim Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State, Chief Richard Kpodo, Monday, said that corrupt politicians were behind the call for former President Goodluck Jonathan to return for his second term in 2019.

    Kpodo slammed politicians clamouring for the second coming of Jonathan describing them as ignorant and paid sycophants.

    He said such persons were only on a mission to further institutionalise corruption and bad governance following their inability to have their way in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

    Kpodo, who is a leader of the APC, also cleared Buhari of any blame in the nation’s current economic woes.

    He expressed confidence that the ongoing war against corruption and economic policies of the present administration would return Nigeria to the part of prosperity.

    Kpodoh, a former Security Adviser in the state, contended that despite a drastic fall in oil prices, the Buhari’s administration had made steady progress returning stolen funds belonging to states to assist in paying salaries of workers.

    He further said the current administration embarked on developmental projects, noting that a Buhari’s giant strides were strange to Jonathan’s government.

    Kpodo said: “Jonathan’s administration was corrupt and he has enjoyed cover up from political jobbers.The Obasanjo’s administration earned N17trn from crude oil sales within eight years and left behind $45bn external reserves and $3.348bn external debt.

    “Late President Umaru Y’Adua grew the reserves to $64bn within just one year and the administration was able to finance 15 months of imports despite the 2008/2009 world economic meltdown.

    “Hence, Nigeria survived the meltdown because of the political will of Yar’Adua’s administration to save. Despite the tough economic reality at that time, Yar’Adua left $47.7bn in reserves and an external debt of $3.94bn. Meanwhile, the administration earned only N9trn from crude oil sales within that short period.

    “The Goodluck Jonathan administration witnessed an oil boom when Brent crude sold for over $100 per barrel, with the regime earning N51trn within a period of five years. But because of corruption, the administration did not only squander the oil revenue but even depleted the reserves.

    “The same Brent crude sold for as low as $35 per barrel at a point shortly after Buhari took over power and had only managed to climb to about $48 just recently.That was how he left Bayelsa indebted before handing the state over to Chief Timipre Sylva.”

    Kpodo also described the poor handling of the 13 per cent derivation by the Niger Delta governors as criminal.

    Kpodo added: “The people should allow the present administration to investigate arrest and recover monies stolen from the 13 per cent derivation funds. Some of the governors immediately they collect the money, they head for outside the country”.

  • Buhari congratulates Ghana President-elect

    Buhari congratulates Ghana President-elect

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Nana Akufo-Addo, on his historic win of the December 7 Ghana presidential election.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also felicitated with the Government and people of Ghana, the National Electoral Commission, and candidates of political parties, for the decorum, maturity and peaceful conduct of the election that produced a winner from an opposition party, who was contesting for the third time.

    As a scion of one of the biggest political families in Ghana, and with the lessons learnt from previous unsuccessful attempts preceded by years of service to the country, most notably as foreign affairs minister, President Buhari believed Akufo-Addo is widely experienced and skilled in leadership to build on the legacies of President John Dramani Mahama.

    The Nigerian leader extolled the statesmanship and great leadership qualities of Mahama, who came into power at a trying period for the country with the passing away of former President John Atta-Mills, and kept pushing for a better life for all Ghanaians, and strengthening diplomatic relations with countries in the sub-region, especially Nigeria.

    He particularly commended the incumbent President for the great courage to call his opponent and concede defeat, stressing that leaders must always honour their pre-election pledge to accept the results of polls as the will of the people.

    President Buhari was also optimistic that the future of African development rests on building strong political, democratic institutions, ensuring free, fair and credible elections, and respect for the sanctity of the ballot.

    He urged the President-elect and other winners of the parliamentary elections in Ghana to be magnanimous in victory while losers should explore peaceful and legal mechanisms to challenge the outcome of the polls where necessary.

    The President noted that the greater interest of the country and the stability of the sub-region should be uppermost in the minds of all stakeholders.

    He wished Ghana a smooth transition of power, and looks forward to working with the new President.

  • Buhari not a religious bigot – Group

    Buhari not a religious bigot – Group

    Pro Buhari organisation, the Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) said Friday that President Muhammadu Buhari was not a religious bigot and never exploited religion to win the 2015 Presidential election.

    Reacting to allegations by a former House of Representatives Member, Dr. Junaidu Mohammed, the group described the allegations as “uncharitable and baseless, false and  misleading, because they didn’t reflect the realities of the political career of President.

    Chairman of the group, Mohammad Labbo said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that ‘if Buhari was a religious bigot, he wouldn’t have repeatedly chosen Christians  as  his  running mates and resisted the idea of a Muslim/Muslim ticket.

    According to him, apart from choosing a Pastor, Professor Yemi Osinbajo as his Vice President, he also appointed another Pastor, David Lawal,  as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, adding that these facts contradict Junaidu’s claims which portrayed President Buhari as a religious bigot.

    The group commended the APC National Leader Chief Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the change agenda of the party, adding that Tinubu’s reassurances that he won’t quit the party is good news for the  party, adding that the Jagaba  was one of the brains behind galvanising Nigerians for change and therefore his services are always invaluable.

    The group also applauded the President for his visionary leadership through the creation of new jobs as well as several measures being implemented by the administration, especially in the construction industry, housing and in particular the ongoing revival in the agricultural sector have started yielding positive results.

    It maintained that in a deliberate bid to stimulate the nation’s economy and cushion the effects of the recession, the government paid contractors part of the debts which accumulated since 2013.
    The government, if said also channeled over N800 Billion into capital expenditure with over N500Billion to the construction sub sector, which has enabled construction companies to mobilise to abandoned sites, recall laid-off workers and recruit new ones.

    It appreciates the efforts of the President Buhari administration to complete several roads across the country abandoned by the previous administrations. This will further enhance productivity and ease movement of goods and services across business and trading arteries of the country.

  • Buhari calls for peaceful elections in Rivers

    Buhari calls for peaceful elections in Rivers

    …Charges security agencies to deal with trouble-makers

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday called for peaceful and orderly conduct in the federal and state legislative rerun elections billed for Saturday in Rivers State.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President also urged all political parties, their candidates, other stakeholders and the people of the state to ensure that the polls are conducted without rigging, violence and intimidation of opponents and electoral officials.

    He reminded politicians and their supporters in Rivers State to put the higher interest of the people of the state in mind, as they go to the polls on Saturday.

    “The rerun elections should not be seen as a do-or-die affair to the extent that people will be killed, maimed and property destroyed in a mindless display of crude primitive instincts. Innocent blood should never be sacrificed on the altar of political contest for temporary power,” the President warned.

    While calling on security and law enforcement agencies to exhibit professionalism and non-partisanship in the discharge of their constitutional duties even in the face of extreme provocations, President Buhari directed them to deal decisively with trouble-makers and those bent on violating the sanctity of the electoral process.

    He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to do all within its powers to give transparency and fairness to the electoral exercise in Rivers State.

    The President restated the commitment of his administration to deepening democracy in the country by enthroning a legacy of respect for the wishes of the people through free, fair and credible elections devoid of intimidation and violence throughout the federation.

  • Reps to Buhari: Suspend ban on importation of cars through land borders 

    Reps to Buhari: Suspend ban on importation of cars through land borders 

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged by the House of Representatives to suspend the ban on importation of new and used cars through land borders.

    The ban that was announced on  December 5, 2016 by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) was due to take off from January 1, 2017.

    The lawmakers however said the policy was too harsh as it is bound to pile more economic miseries on the majority of Nigerians that are already groaning under the prevailing economic recession.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion by Abdulahi Salame (APC, Sokoto) who noted that the percentage of Nigerians who can afford cars has declined drastically following the decline in the value of naira, inflation, unemployment and high cost of living that has bedeviled Nigeria where over 80 percent of the population live below $200 a day.

    Salame noted that, “With its powers under Section 18 of the Customs and Excise Management Act, the government can restrict the movement of goods into and out of Nigeria by land or inland waters and to appoint customs stations, but similar exercise of such powers on rice importation through the land borders in April 2016, has led to untold hardships on Nigerians as a bag of rice now sells for between N20, 000 and N23,000  as against N8,000 few months ago.

    “We are also aware that the government has not put in place alternative measures to ensure that Nigerians will have access to cars since it is cheaper to buy cars from neighbouring countries and still generate revenue by ensuring that our borders are secured to prevent smuggling and also that there will not be job losses.

    “Meanwhile, some of those making these policies have failed to patronize made-in-Nigeria goods, especially Nigerian assembled vehicles which are, in any case unaffordable to over 80 percent of Nigerians who can only afford fairly used imported cars.

    “It is of concern that despite the pitiable state of most Nigerians occasioned by unemployment, lack of funds for survival and high cost of living which has sent many to their early graves, the government is adopting a policy that will further increase the sufferings of the masses at this critical time the country is in recession.

    “It is equally worrisome that the ban will cause more harm than good as it will certainly lead to increase in smuggling, deprive poor Nigerians of access to acquiring vehicles, skyrocket the price of cars cleared at the wharf, increase inflation and further mount pressure on the already weak naira and lead to idleness, insecurity and criminality at the border points”.

    Lawmakers that spoke in favour of the motion noted that it is the masses that would be affected more by the new policy.

    According to them, the reason put forward about payment of duties was not enough to punish the entire country because non-payment of duties was carried out with the active connivance of security officials at the borders.

    The lawmakers also argued that the ban was against the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocols on movement of goods and services.

    The lawmakers said to implement the policy at a period of recession amount to Nigerians paying for the irresponsibility of agencies that should collect port duties on imported cars.

    The lawmakers that supported the policy however noted that most policies of the administration of President Buhari were aimed at correcting fundamental and structural anomalies inherent in the system.

    While they regretted that policies of this administration were often misunderstood and attacked, the antagonists of the bill recalled that three decades ago, Nigeria was the hub of economic activities in the sub-region, an advantage that has now been eroded due to reckless importation of unnecessary goods and services.

    According to the lawmakers, this has reflected in job loss, with Nigeria not only becoming a dumping ground but also losing its technological development potentials to her neighbours.

    They noted that as long as the government refused to do what it supposed to do by taking hard decisions, the country will remain on the path that has taken Nigeria nowhere so far.

    As part of their resolution, the lawmakers urged the Federal government to ensure that the law enforcement agencies, especially those working at the borders, are diligent in their duties by ensuring that import charges through the land borders are paid when due and remitted to the government.

    The House also urged the Federal government to install border security and surveillance equipment for effective monitoring to address the recurring menace of smuggling and ensure a maximum revenue generation on all lawfully imported goods.

    The lawmakers equally urged the Federal government to expand its plan on youths empowerment programs by developing skills acquisition centers in border areas so as to enable the youth to acquire skills necessary for the type of businesses that are being carried out in the border areas and also employ more people from those areas into the border security agencies as they have relevant experiences on how goods are being moved in and out of the country.

    Committees on Governmental Affairs and Customs and Excise were mandated to ensure implementation of the resolutions and report back within six weeks for further legislative action.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

  • Magu’s confirmation moved to Dec. 15

    Magu’s confirmation moved to Dec. 15

    The screening and confirmation of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),Mr Ibrahim Magu, was on Thursday, rescheduled to Dec. 15 by the Senate.

    The Deputy Leader of the Senate,Bala N’allah, made this known while addressing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said the postponement of the exercise from Dec. 8 to Dec. 15 became necessary to allow for a full house to convene.

    According to him, lawmakers who travelled out of Abuja for official assignments requested the postponement pending their arrival to enable them to participate in the confirmation process.

    “The Senate is normally guided by the time frame of the work. We agreed that today will be the confirmation of the EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu.

    “But we received a lot of calls from senators who are away, who want to participate.

    “When we looked at the demand and the number we felt it will be wrong for us to proceed, disregarding those calls.

    “We decided to fix it for Tuesday but we were not sure if the President will declare Tuesday as Public Holiday, so we agreed to fix it for Thursday.

    “We have since written an official letter to the acting chairman fixing Thursday as the day for the confirmation hearing of his appointment,’’ he said.

    On why Magu’s confirmation had lingered for more than five months, N’allah said the senate had other matters of priority to attend to.

    “Anybody who is familiar with the normal procedure of governance would have known that there are certain procedures that need to be taken for candidates to be confirmed.

    “Whatever we do is always subject to interpretation but what is important is that a date has been fixed,” he said.

    The Presidency had in July written the Senate seeking the screening and confirmation of Magu as substantive chairman of the commission.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had appointed Magu as acting chairman of the EFCC after the removal of Ibrahim Lamorde on Nov. 9, 2015.

    Before his appointment, Magu was the Head of Economic Governance Unit of the commission.

    If confirmed, Magu will be the fourth head of the anti-graft agency, after Nuhu Ribadu, Farida Waziri and Ibrahim Lamorde.

  • Senate abolishes state joint local govt account

    Senate abolishes state joint local govt account

    …Create office of elected Mayor for FCT

    …Removes CCB from Executive

     

    If the recommendation of the Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution is accepted by the House of Representatives and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, the state joint local government account will be a thing of the past.

    The abolition of the state joint local government account is one of the highlights Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, presented to the Senate Thursday.

    Ekweremadu also said that the Senate constitution committee adopted the recommendation to create a mayoral seat for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

    He noted that the committee, inaugurated on 13th January, 2016 had a clear mandate to reprocess the aspects of the Fourth Alteration Bill that had gained national consensus and enjoyed huge good-will from the general public, states, non-governmental organizations and international development organizations.

    On local government administration, Ekweremadu said that Section 7 of the Constitution was amended essentially to strengthen local government administration in Nigeria by elaborately providing –    A uniform 3-year tenure for elected local government council officials; That Local Governments without a democratically elected council shall not be entitled to any revenue from the Federation Account.

    Members of the committee, he said, believed that amendments will ensure effective service delivery and insulate local governments from undue and counter-productive interferences from state governments.

    On distributable pool account, he said that Section 162 of the Constitution was amended to – Provide for national savings of 50% of   oil revenues above the bench mark for a particular year and 10% of any non- oil revenue paid into the Federation Account; Or such other percentage not less than that provided in this section as the National Assembly may determine in the Appropriation Act of a particular year.

    To provide that any such savings as stipulated in this section will be distributed in accordance with the prevailing revenue sharing formula and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution provided that the savings shall not be distributed in any period less than ten years from the date of a particular savings; and to      abrogate the State Joint Local Government Account and paying monies due to Local Government Councils directly into their respective accounts

    The amended section, he said, also defined the fund of the State government; “that is, internally generated revenue from which a portion shall be paid into the Local Government Allocation Account.”

    On authorization of expenditure, Ekweremadu said that Sections 82 and 122 of the Constitution were amended to reduce the period within which the President or a Governor may authorize the withdrawal of monies from the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the absence of an appropriation act from six months to three months.

    The amendment, he explained was essentially to compel early presentation of budget proposal by the Executive arm of government thereby giving the legislature sufficient time to scrutinize such proposal.

    On political parties and electoral matters, he said that Sections 134 (4) & (5), 179 (4) & (5) and 225 were amended to – Extend the time for conducting presidential and Governorship re-run elections where no clear winner has emerged   from seven to 21 days to give INEC sufficient time to plan, considering the logistics that is required such as printing and transporting new ballot papers for the elections;

    To empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-register political parties for non-fulfillment of certain conditions such as breach of registration requirements and failure to secure/win either a presidential, governorship, Local Government chairmanship or a seat in the National or State Assembly elections.

     On financial autonomy of state legislatures, he said that Section 121 of the Constitution was amended to guarantee a first line charge funding of State Houses of Assembly from the consolidated revenue fund of the State.

    On status of the Federal Capital Territory, he noted that Sections 256, 299, 300, 301 and 302 of the Constitution were amended to Create the Office of an elected Mayor for the FCT with powers to administer the FCT as if it were a State of the Federation by exercising all functions presently administered by the Minister of the FCT.

    On nomination of ministers and commissioners, he said that Sections 147 and 192 of the Constitution were amended to –   Ensure that the President and Governors designate and assign portfolios to persons nominated as ministers or commissioners respectively prior to confirmation by the Senate or State House of Assembly;

    Provide a period of 60 days within which such nominations shall be forwarded to the Senate or State House of Assembly following inauguration; and

    Provide 35% representation for women in the appointment of ministers and commissioners.

    On the Legislature, he said that Sections 51, 67, 93 and 315 were amended to – Create the National Assembly Service Commission and the State House of Assembly Service Commission and empower the National Assembly and State House of Assembly respectively to provide for the powers and structure of the Commissions through subsequent legislations, and

    To make it mandatory for the President to attend a joint meeting of the National Assembly once a year to deliver a State of the Nation Address.

    Remove the law-making power of the Executive arm of government under S. 315 because “the extant provision is starkly contrary to Section 4 of the Constitution which confers law-making powers exclusively on the legislature.”

    On the Judiciary, he said Sections 233, 237, 247, 251 and Part I of the Third Schedule of the Constitution were amended to- Provide for all appeals from the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court to be by leave of the Supreme Court except in the case of Interpretation of the Constitution, death sentences and fundamental human rights.

    Allow two justices of the Court of Appeal sitting in chambers to dispose any application for leave to appeal after considering the records of proceedings if the justices believe the interest of justice does not require an oral hearing of the application.

    Establish a criminal division of the Federal High Court to try electoral offences, terrorism cases, economic and financial crimes cases etc.

    Provide for appeals from the decisions of the National Industrial Court to the Court of Appeal.

    Provide for 12 Justices of the Court of Appeal to be learned in Labour and Employment Matters for the purpose of hearing appeals from the National Industrial Court.

    Improve the quality of representation in the National Judicial Council.

    Put the Code of Conduct Tribunal under the control of the judiciary instead of the executive.

    On devolution of powers, he said that the Second Schedule, Part I and II of the Constitution were altered to decongest the Exclusive legislative list to give more powers to states. This enhances the principle of federalism and good governance. It substituted “Post and Telegraphs” with “Post and Telecommunications”, and moved Pensions, Prisons, Railways, Stamp Duties and Wages from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List and added Arbitration, Environment, Healthcare, Housing, Road Safety, pensions, Land and Agriculture, Youths, Public Complaints to the Concurrent List.

    The committee also effected local government change of name by amending the First Schedule to change the names of local governments as follows:

    “Afikpo North” and “Afikpo South” to “Afikpo” and “Edda” respectively;

    “Egbado North” and “Egbado South” to “ Yewa North” and “Yewa South”;

    “Obia/Akpor” to “Obio/Akpor”.

    Ekweremadu noted that the Senate committee had concluded its assignment; they agreed to wait for the House of Representatives on Constitution review to conclude so that the two committee would harmonize before presenting the final report to the two chambers.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, asked the committee to work to beat the January 2017 deadline slated for the passage of the Bill.

  • Buhari orders probe of death of NYSC member

    Buhari orders probe of death of NYSC member

    …Condoles families of dead NYSC members

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered independent investigation of the death of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Miss Ifedolapo Oladepo in Kano State.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President’s fresh probe is to unravel the true circumstances surrounding her death.

    The President also commiserated with the families of three NYSC members who lost their lives recently during the 2016 Batch ‘B’ Orientation Programme in three States of the Federation, including Ifedolapo.

    He described the demise of the young Nigerians as “shocking, sad and unfortunate,” noting that they died in the course of answering the national call to serve.

    He urged the families, friends and associates of the deceased to be consoled by the knowledge that their loved ones paid the supreme price while on national service and not for ignoble reasons.

    President Buhari also extended condolences to the Director-General and Management of the NYSC over the transition of the youth corps members, Chinyerum Nwenenda Elechi, Ifedolapo Oladepo and Monday Asuquo Ukeme, in Bayelsa, Kano and Zamfara States respectively.

    While enjoining the Management to do all within its powers to protect the lives of those under its charge, the President called on parents and guardians of current and potential NYSC participants not to panic over the recent tragic deaths.

    He prayed that God will grant the souls of the departed youths eternal rest.