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Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari to sign executive order on transparency in govt – Malami

    Buhari to sign executive order on transparency in govt – Malami

    Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN on Monday disclosed that, as part of his efforts to entrench his fight against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari will soon sign an executive order on transparency and efficiency in government.

    Speaking at the National open government partnership retreat in Kaduna State, the Minister said “Corruption remains one of the biggest impediments to National development. It is illegal and illegitimate. It concerns actions that are often clandestine and practices that those who perpetrate it always try to conceal.”

    He continued that, “Numerous scholars insist that many of the political, social and especially economic problems we face in Nigeria is still traceable to the problem of corruption.”

    Malami also commended the Kaduna State Government, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying “We settled for hosting this event in Kaduna for many reasons including the fact that Governor Nasir El-Rufai has made significant efforts in engaging with the citizens and In the publication of Budget information as well as his desire to fast track the development of open government partnership principles in Kaduna State. It is my hope that Kaduna State can become a pilot state for the purpose of implementing OGP principles at the sub National level.”

    “The open government partnership is a multi-stakeholders initiative focused on improving transparency accountability citizen participation and responsiveness to citizens  through technology and innovation. OGP was formally launched in 2011 when the 8 founding governments Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Norway, the Philippines, South Africa, the United Kingdom among others, saying Nigeria formally joined in in July 2016. 

    “Let me reiterate that the FGN will continue to pursue reform program on transparency and accountability through targeted measures based on the commitments that we have made to promote fiscal transparency open procurement open contracting access to information asset disclosure citizen engagement and empowerment.”

    However he said “dwindling oil revenue government is desirous to continue to provide an enabling environment to attract foreign investors in order to diversify the economy. President Buhari has made it clear that Nigeria is open for business and has assured the world that illicit finance will have no hiding place in our country. 

    “In the coming weeks, the president will sign an executive order on promoting transparency and efficiency for the creation of an enabling business environment in Nigeria that will mandate all ministries, agencies and department to adopt openness in contracting procedures and publishing of contracts.”

    In his own remarks, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, represented by his Deputy Barnabas Bala Bantex said, “This government believes that the governance standards embodied in the Open Government Partnership are very helpful in advancing the implementation of transparent and result-oriented government.

    “In Kaduna State, we are cooperating with BudgIT on budget transparency, and everyone already knows that we insist on open competitive bidding for our contracts. Hardly a week passes without us publishing tenders in the newspapers. We have also established a platform for citizen engagement, with the Eyes and Ears project that confers on citizens the capacity to engage in real-time monitoring of our projects.”

    According to him, “these efforts towards open government are being acknowledged by our development partners.”

  • ‘How to pull economy out of recession’

    ‘How to pull economy out of recession’

    A lecturer at the Pan Atlantic University, Dr. Austin Nweze, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to explore the options of crashing interest rate, stimulating local production, sustaining the ban on the importation of products for which there are local substitutes and rework the fiscal and monetary policies of the economy.

    Speaking in Lagos at the weekend, the and Politi-
    cal Economist said recession does not happen in an economy overnight, arguing that it must have given policy makers enough warning before unleashing its venom on the economy.

    Nweze blamed the administration for applying the wrong economic therapy to the bad policies of the previous administrations by rejecting some of their policies, arguing that the government should be a continuum.

    He also argued that what led to the suddenness of the recession was the wrong policy choices made by the  administration, especially in its fight against corruption. He explained that the concept of the “unholy trinity” of interest rate, forex and inflation all work together and regretted that the government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been pursuing a policy of ‘inflation targeting’which he said is not the right approach to adopt as a nation, especially in the face of volatile oil prices and dwindling economy. Interest rate, he argued, has a way of affecting the economy.

    He said: “What I expected the government to do was to crash the interest rate to a manageable level. During the global financial crises, many developed nations such Britain and the United States, operated a zero interest rate. What this does is to give money to businesses at a cheaper rate for them to expand. This would lead to employment of more people and then production will increase.”

    He added that in the long term, both factors would merge somewhere and would trigger a drop in inflation because production would have increased. He said the production output has not increased due to the continued closing down of factories that are supposed to drive the economy.

    He said to get the economy out of recession required short, medium and long term measures. He lamented that the Federal Government was only looking at just one aspect of the economy, when a holistic approach ought to have been designed.

    According to him, there are always two sides to an economy- the fiscal and monetary side. The fiscal policy side, he said, would make the government to decide on what it wants to do, such as deciding on how to improve the industrial base while the monetary policy side, the CBN would come up with policies to complement the fiscal policy side.

    He added that there has been disconnect between the two.

    He called for a return to the fundamentals of economics which is to knock down interest rate, encourage local entrepreneurs. These, he maintained, has become necessary because the economy is not in the hands of Nigerians. “No foreigner can develop Nigeria except Nigerians. So, we need to go back and encourage local entrepreneurs and make funds available to them; relax some of the forex policies for the short term and eventually the economy will grow. We need to begin to produce; 75 per cent of what we consume should be developed and sourced from Nigeria. We should encourage science and technology. Science and technology should be well funded because that is what holds the key to the economy of the country,” he said.

    He said until these are done, the government may be embarking on a wild goose chase. “They (government) are just looking for quick fixes to get out of the recession, whereas they should not bother about getting out of recession hurriedly because recession must run its full course. For us to get out of this recession, we are looking at 2018 to 2019,” Nweze said.

    He however urged the government to take advantage of the opportunitiesthe economic recession has opened up to correct the imbalance in the system, which would, ultimately, lead to economic growth.

  • Buhari cautions universities on wasteful spending

    Buhari cautions universities on wasteful spending

    • Says recession will soon be over
    • As UNILORIN Ph.D graduate dies on graduation day

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said that the era of wasteful spending in Nigerian universities is over.

    He therefore counselled managers of the universities to plough back every available fund into teaching, research and productive activities.

    President Buhari added that government is optimistic that in the near future the country’s universities should be self-reliant or be in a position to provide a substantial portion of their needed funds.

    The president said this in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the 32nd convocation ceremony of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).

    The president, who was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof Chinedu Mafiana, added that “the universities have a role to play in the effort at revitalising the economy and building a solid foundation for the nation. As catalyst for change, the universities should not only be producers and disseminators of knowledge, but also creators of wealth.

    They should be in the vanguard of re-orientating our people to espouse the ideals of good citizenship.  In tune with the laws establishing them, our universities should relate their activities to the social, cultural and economic needs of the people of Nigeria.

    “They are expected through research, to identify the problems and needs of society and find practical solutions within the context of national development.  As purveyors of knowledge, universities should be committed to the pursuit of excellence. A technologically productive economy is dependent in great measure on research inputs from the universities. I therefore challenge the universities to give of their best as the nation expects much from you.  Government on its part will continue to fund our universities to the limit of its available resources.

    “Let me quickly say that our dream to have world-class universities and centres of excellence among the community of nations cannot be realised if our universities open and close their gates to students at every whim.  Our Universities must remain focused and committed to their tripartite functions of teaching, research and community service in order to justify the huge government investment on them.

    The president assured that Nigeria would soon overcome its current economic recession, saying it is a universal phenomenon.

    Said he: “It is no longer news that our country is passing through a difficult period of economic crises; the economic recession is not peculiar to Nigeria as many countries in the world are facing similar challenges.

    “This socio-economic situation has been brought about by our collective failure as a people, dependency on oil exports to the exclusion of other products, insatiable appetite for foreign goods and services including importation of food, corruption and lack of proper planning for tomorrow.  My administration is doing everything possible to restructure the economy and change our ways of doings things.

    He said “These measures include fiscal discipline, formulation and implementation of well thought-out economic policies, diversification of the economy and elimination of all practices inimical to the wellbeing of the country. Government is poised to remould the country into a self-reliant nation where the future of all shall be held secure.

    Presenting his graduates for the award of doctoral degree, Dean, Faculty of Post Graduate Studies, UNILORIN Prof. Badmas Olanrewaju Yusuf, said one of the doctoral graduates, Dr Abdulhafeez Adedimeji, died that same morning.

    The late Adedimeji who bagged Ph.d degree in Arabic was among the 166 doctoral degree students the university graduated.

    Until his death, Adedimeji was a lecturer at the Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State.

     

  • Niger Delta youth leaders give Buhari condition for peace

    Niger Delta youth leaders give Buhari condition for peace

    Youth leaders from 19 ethnic nationalities from the Niger Delta region, Saturday, demanded their inclusion in the ongoing dialogue between President Muhammadu Buhari and stakeholders for peace to reign in the region.

    In a communique after their meeting in Warri, Delta State, the youths insisted that any dialogue without them would be an exercise in futility.

    The youths maintained that they remained a critical factor in the desired solution to the contentious issues of the region.

    The youths, who gathered for the meeting were the President, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Worldwide, Mr. Udengs Eradiri (IYC), Comrade Egbo (Isoko Youths Council), Mathew Dighi (Ogoni Youths Council), Edward Odum (Ikwerre Youth Council) and Esimaje Awani (Itsekiri Youth Council).

    Others were Imoh Stephen Okiko (Ibibio Youth Council), Mazi Okechukwu (Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Council), Damige Pharry (Kalabari Youth Foundation) and Capt. Bassey Henshew (Efik Youth Council).

    Also in attendance were Okodugha Aluyah (Edo Youth Council), Etemma Effiong (EFUT Youth President), Idemudia Daniel Nosakhare (Benin Youth Progressive Forum), Victor Uyot (Oro Ethnic Nationality), Ahanmisi Edeki (Owan Youth Council), Prince Ndiyo Ndiyo (Ukwe Ebunitu), Ebhotemen Innocent (Esan Youth Council), Ezekiel Alfred Ekpeikot (Eket Youth Council), Eric Oluwole (Yoruba Youth Council) and Terry Obieh (Urhobo Youth Council).

    They described the proposed dialogue with the Niger Delta elders as commendable.

    But they said: “The youths are the most vulnerable stakeholder in the economic, security and political issues affecting the region.

    “We commend the present move by Mr. President and the leaders of the Niger Delta region to dialogue, in quest to address critical issue affecting the good people of the region.

    “There should be an inclusion of all the ethnic nationality youth leaders in the proposed dialogue process.

    “The Federal Government should ensure a high degree of transparency and sincerity in the process of dialogue and negotiations. And we call on the agitating groups to shield their swords and give peace a chance.”

    The youths at the meeting reviewed the proposed economic, security and political solutions to the problems of the region.

    They called on Buhari and the government to develop an economic engagement for the youths through the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Delta and Cross Rivers states, the Maritime University in Delta and the Brass Fertilizer project in Bayelsa State.

    They said: “There should also be the reactivation of the Calabar, Warri and Port Harcourt Sea Ports, the construction of the Lagos/Calabar Railway, the completion of the East-West road, Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene, Aba-Ikot Ekpene,Owerri-Port Harcourt, Isoko-Onitsha, Benin-Abuja and Calabar-Itu expressways.

    “The government should adequately fund the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Presidential Amnesty Programme(PAP) and the Niger Delta Ministry.

    “We believe this project will generate well over five hundred thousand jobs opportunity for the youths of the region”.

    The youths further commended the Federal Government for securing the release of some of the Chibok girls but demanded the release of other leaders in detention in the spirits of true reconciliation.

    “We request that in the spirit of genuine reconciliation and national unity, the IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu, the Shiite Leader, El Zakzaky should be released.

    “The Federal Government should nominate and work with young persons of the ethnic nationalities.

    “We call for political inclusion of youths in governance and we request that the Federal Character as stipulated by the constitution be adhered to in all employment and appointments in the face of socio-economic, financial, political and ethno-religious crisis that continue to plague our country with disastrous impact on our nation’s economy, social lives and which have also posed grave danger to the peaceful co-existence of our region and country.

    “This will ultimately resolve all issues plaguing the region and allowing greater participation of people in governance.”

  • Niger Delta crisis: Avengers write Buhari

    Niger Delta crisis: Avengers write Buhari

    The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is not keen on meeting with security agents who may be representing the Federal Government at the proposed peace talks over the crisis in the zone.
    The NDA, in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, said it is not proper for a democratically elected government to conduct such talks through security agents.
    It was responding to what it called the president’s “continuous disparaging remarks since the cessation and suspension of hostilities by our fighters for the liberation of the Niger Delta from economic colonialism of Nigeria.
    “We are curious of comments like ‘Niger Delta militants objective is to colonize Nigeria economically’ and ‘Niger Delta militants are sponsored by economic looters’ during the Passing Out Parade (POP) of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) 63rd Regular Course,” NDA said in the open letter signed by ‘Brig. Gen’ Mudoch Agbinibo. 
     The letter further stated that, “You personally issued misleading statements and threats of decisive military action – if necessary – to deal with Niger Delta agitation because you have purportedly opened up channels of talks through security agencies/agents and the Multinational Corporations.
    “Mr. President, do democratically elected governments open channels for talks in situations like we have in the Niger Delta through security agencies/agents or you are assuming the Niger Delta as a conquered colony in your 1984 Era?”
    The militant group also expressed dislike for the President’s constant reference to the recently flagged off clean up of Ogoni as part of government’s program to salvage the ravaged environment. 
    It said the pollution of Ogoniland was caused by successive governments, adding:”How can you justify Ogoni clean-up and at the same time constitute a Task Force Called “Operations Delta Safe” that is embarking on environmental pollution with the burning and bombing of petroleum products in the guise of fighting oil theft? 
    “Does that amount to lack of genuine ideas or sincerity? 
    “Or at least, is there no relationship between environmental pollution and the ongoing indiscriminate burning and bombing of petroleum products by operatives of the so-called Operations Delta Safe?
    “Mr. President, basically, some other factors fueling the Niger Delta conflict are corruption engendered by successive government that you served since oil becomes the commonwealth of the nation Nigeria.
    “Whilst you start the Ogoni clean-up process, what is wrong in reviewing the Sir Henry Willinks Commission Report of 1958? The Ogoni Bill of Rights, The Kaiama Declaration document of the Ijaw Youths Council, The General Alexander Ogomudia Committee Report, and The Leedum Mitee-led Niger Delta Technical Committee Report?”
  • Release of 21 Chibok girls excites Lagos women

    Release of 21 Chibok girls excites Lagos women

    • As group marches for President Buhari

    The African Arise For Change Network, a coalition of women groups on Friday expressed joy with the recent release of 21 Chibok girls, saying President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Military have indeed restored happiness to the homes of not only the Chibok girls’ families but every concerned mother in the country.

    The women who held what they described as a thank you rally for the release of the girls in Lagos urged Nigerians to continue supporting the government to ensure that the last of those being held by Boko Haram – other than the Chibok Girls are safely returned to their families.

    The group led a peaceful rally from Ikeja City Mall at Alausa to Lagos State governor’s office. addressing the rally, Executive Director of the group, Mrs Oluwatosin Bolarinwa commended the Nigerian military as well as the intelligence agencies that were instrumental in degrading the Boko Haram insurgency to the point where negotiation became possible, which eventually paved way for the release of the girls.

    Addressing the rally, Executive Director of the group, Mrs Oluwatosin Bolarinwa commended the Nigerian military as well as the intelligence agencies that were instrumental in degrading the Boko Haram insurgency to the point where negotiation became possible, which eventually paved way for the release of the girls.

    She paid special tribute to the families and loved ones of military personnel who paid the supreme price in the course of fighting the insurgents to ensure the girls regain their freedom.

    She said with this achievement, the federal government as led by President Muhammadu Buhari has turned around what many Nigerians had given up hope about.

    She said, “Our rally today is for no other reason than to say thank you to Mr President, you promised to bring the girls back and some of us were already losing hope when it was taking time but today we are beginning to see the wisdom of focusing on getting the girls out safely as opposed to applying brute force.

    “Thank you to the military, whose members sacrificed on countless occasions to keep the operation against the terrorists going. Thank you to the parents and families of the Chibok Girls for the many months of patience with Nigeria while their girls were held, hostage. Nothing is enough to compensate for countless nights of uncertain vigils.

    “This thank you rally will not be complete without us asking for more. We appeal to the government not to relent at this point. It should quicken the pace at which the remaining girls are freed from the terrorists.”

    According to her, the recent attacks by Boko Haram terrorists on soft targets are to create fear in the minds of our peoples that they are still around. She, however, said Nigerians are no longer afraid of them as our military has demonstrated enough capacity to be equal to any uprising by any unscrupulous element that rises up to challenge our humanity.

    She further appealed to the government not to bring the military operations against the insurgents to close simply on account of the girls being freed. According to her, some of the fighters are known hardliners who will not sign up to the peace deal.

    They were received by Mr Taiwo Ayedun, the Special Assistant to Ambode on civic engagement, who spoke on behalf of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, saying: “We also want to say a very big thank you for your concern. It is a collective responsibility and we want to assure Nigerians that very soon the remaining girls will join their parents at home.

  • Buhari approves ecological fund projects in 11 states

    Buhari approves ecological fund projects in 11 states

    President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved a number of Ecological Fund Intervention Projects for the 4th Quarter of 2016.

    A statement by the Director (Press) in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Bolaji Adebiyi, said that the approved projects spread across the 6 Geo-Political Zones are located in 11 States.

    The projects and their various locations included erosion and flood control project of rice fields in Suru, Bagudu and Shanga Local Government  areas of Kebbi State, remediation of sludge at Kaduna Refinery and  Petrochemical Company (Phase II), Kaduna State.

    Others include Flood and Erosion Control Works in Abeokuta Township Ogun State, Channelization and De-Silting of Okoko and Ogbagba Rivers in Osogbo Township, Osun State, Adiabo Okutikang Beach Gully Erosion Control Works, Odukpani Local Government Area in Cross River.

    Also approved are Remediation of Sludge Pit and Oil Spillage at Warri Refinery (Phase II), Delta State, Mubi Flood Erosion Control Works and River  Yadzaram Training (Phase I) in Adamawa State,

    Others are Erosion and Flood Control Works in Bogoro Towa,  Bogoro Local Government Area and in Gadon  Toro/Market Road, Toro Local Government Area in Bauchi State, Erosion Control Works at Nda, Nnobi and, Agbor, Idemili Local Government Area in Anambra, Owalla – Avuvu Erosion Control Works (Phase II) in Imo State, Amper Flood Hazards and Erosion Control Works;  Gully Erosion Control Works at Federal Government  College, Itobi in Benue State.

    The statement said that the execution of the projects will address the challenges of gully and soil erosion, incessant flooding and air pollution that have ravaged the impacted communities and caused loss of lives in certain instances.

    “When these projects are completed, the sufferings of the affected communities will be ameliorated.  There will be increased food production which will stimulate the economy and lead to the creation of jobs.” It stated

  • Arewa youths rally support for Buhari on terrorism, corruption

    Arewa youths rally support for Buhari on terrorism, corruption

    Northern youths under the aegis of Arewa Youth Leaders Forum (AYLF) have urged Nigerians to rally support around the President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration and not join the cabals who are bent on destroying the country for selfish reasons.

    The youths said it made this appeal in the belief that the economic progress Nigerians desire to end the current recession will amount to nothing if we are still plagued with corruption and terrorism.

    Addressing journalists on Thursday in Abuja, national president of the group, Alhaji Abubakar Abubakar
    said the support Nigerians give to Mr President should be extended to the military to win the war against terrorism.

    He also called for the same support to be given to the anti-corruption agencies to succeed.

    According to him, despite the  current challenges, Nigerians need to be able to appreciate that things could have been worse but that thanks to a forward-looking leadership we have been saved from a worse outlook as a country.

    He said Nigerians need to appreciate the risk our military men put themselves fighting the insurgents to enable us to have a safe country.

    He commended President Buhari for his towering credentials in the war against terrorism and extremism that has manifested in the release of 21 Chibok Girls and other persons once held hostage by the dreaded Boko Haram terror group.

    According to him, the degradation of Boko Haram that ensured it was possible to negotiate the release of the girls has also created the scenario in which the unrepentant components of the group carried out  the recent attacks on Nigerians troops and other locations.

    He said Most of the now infrequent attacks are on soft targets, which justifies the confidence Nigerians have in the ability of the military leadership to curtail and turn the tide quickly in line with Mr President’s directives as Commander-in-Chief.

    According to him, that the country has not sunk completely on account of this corruption is due, largely, to the timely intervention of President Buhari

    Abubakar also commended the President for his commitment to democracy in the country, saying it is unprecedented that the wife of a sitting President should publicly criticise his administration, yet he did not flinch.

    He said: “No doubt, several things are wrong. A lot of things can be better. But notwithstanding our lot is not entirely bad neither is our outlook bleak. Part of what we need is perspective.

    He said despite the criticisms that have trailed the President’s anti-corruption war, the results have been positive.

    According to him, “the clamp down on senior judges alleged to be corrupt is a testament that Mr President will stop at nothing to ensure that corruption does not deny citizens of their rights. A land where justice is for sale cannot be adjudged democratic so Mr President has in essence strengthened democracy.

    “We recognise that criticisms trailed this beaming of the anti-corruption searchlight on the judiciary. The array of comments, commendation, condemnation and other positions – whether positive or negative  are indicative of a government that allows the greatest dividend of democracy, the freedom to be part of governance through vibrant contributions.

    “Even family members, as was the case with Mrs Aisha Buhari’s recent BBC interview, are part of the criticism. We salute Mr President for this unrivalled democratic precedence that allows everyone to make the intervention in governance. We hail Mr President for his democratic posture and respect for rule of law and all the basic norms of democracy.

    “This is bearing  in mind that it takes a true Democrat like President Buhari not to flinch when members of his family criticise his activities. This is what many African leaders lack and our president has shown recently that it is exactly what is needed to move any democratic society forward.”

  • Buhari mourns Saro-Wiwa Jnr

    Buhari mourns Saro-Wiwa Jnr

    President Muhammadu Buhari has extended condolences to the Saro-Wiwa family, the government and people of Rivers State on the death of Ken Saro-Wiwa Jnr.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also commiserated with the people of Ogoni Kingdom over the passage of their illustrious son, author and environmental activist, who was an ardent believer in the unity, progress and stability of his community.

    He joined them in mourning the sudden and painful passing of a promising Nigerian whose willingness and dedication to the clean-up of Ogoni land inspired a healing process in Nigeria after the death of his father, Ken Saro-Wiwa.

    Buhari believed that the commitment of the journalist in serving three Nigerian presidents in various capacities clearly exemplified his patriotism, statesmanship and foresightedness.

    Buhari, who has initiated the process of cleaning up of the Niger Delta region, urged family, friends and associates to honour Saro-Wiwa’s memory by making his dream of an environmentally safe, secured and prosperous Ogoni land a reality.

    He prayed that the Almighty God will comfort all who mourn the deceased and grant his soul eternal rest.

  • Video: Buhari meets released Chibok girls