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Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • ACLN urges FG to review 2016 Budget

    ACLN urges FG to review 2016 Budget

    The Association for Credible Leadership in Nigeria (ACLN), has shown appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for understanding the current economic situation in the country, which has led to reductions in the 2016 budget.

    The association, in comparing the budgets of recent past years with the 2016 budget, observed some reductions in most sectors in the 2016 budget.

    The ACLN said this in a press release made available to newsmen, noting that the allocation for National Assembly in 2015 budget was N120 billion but reduced to N115 billion in 2016.

    “So too, the allocation for Presidential Amnesty in the 2015 budget was pegged at N63.28 billion but reduced to N43.28 billion.

    “However, like all well meaning Nigerians, we still believe that is not anywhere close to what we need especially with the dire economic situation that we found ourselves in as a country.

    “No doubt that these costs of governance could have been better reduced if a number of things were taken out completely or reduced to minimum.

    “We recall that the President, upon assumption of office, promised to reduce the Aircrafts in the Presidential fleet from about ten or eleven to one.  As far as we know, nothing has been done in that regard and the country spends a lot to run and maintain these airplanes,” the release reads in part.

    According to the Association, of what use is it if Lawmakers must have official accommodations and cars despite having personal ones.

    “Even commissioners have official cars and houses: these we believe are waste of resources. With the present economic situation of the country, all quarters need to sacrifice hence, government officials should cut down the way they spend public funds.

    “We advise that the country deal with corruption and excessive spending among government officials if we want to stabilize our economy and attract meaningful foreign investors.

    “Nigeria needs to learn from a country like Tanzania where the President, John Magufuli is radically ‘changing’ the way things were done among public office holders.

    “The President suspended the Independence Day celebration to save the country 4billion Tanzanian shilling after which the proposed money was converted to addressing the outbreak of cholera that had killed 74 people at the time. He has cancelled foreign travel for most government officials and maintained that when it is compulsory, public office holders must travel by economy and not business class,” it said.

    It noted how one of the lawmakers, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce decried the number of unnecessary luxuries included in the budget that is expected to be funded by borrowing from other countries.

    In the video, the Senator noted that the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, gets 30,000 pounds for the uplift of his official residence. Yet the Great Britain does not have one Presidential jet but Nigeria has multiple.

    “Sadly, Nigeria plans to borrow from Britain, which according to the Senator, leaves Nigeria being a debtor, living larger than its creditor,” Murray-Bruce lamented.

    In furtherance, the ACLN said: “Right in the middle of all these, the National Assembly proposed to splash about N4.7billion on at least 400 vehicles for leaders and members of the Senate and House of Representatives, of which the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has received the delivery of two exotic cars at the cost of N329,515,625.

    “A sum that is larger than the allocations for many government schools as seen in the 2016 budget according to an online news media.”

    The group quoted former President Olusegun Obasanjo to have said: “A pool of a few cars for each Chamber will suffice for any Committee Chairman or members for any specific duty. The waste that has gone into cars, furniture, housing renovation in the past was mind-boggling and these were veritable sources of waste and corruption. That was why they were abolished. Bringing them back is inimical to the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.”

    The ACLN therefore pleaded with the Buhari-led administration to further look into the 2016 budget and remove, suspend or drastically reduce the budget.

    “Another insensitive way of spending that we observed in the budget is the N3.8 billion reportedly allocated to State House Clinic. If Mr President is serious about the budget, this insensitivity needs to be addressed.

    “Therefore, the ACLN join Nigerians home and abroad to say that this sum is excessive for a government that is advocating for a reduction in the cost of governance. There is no justification for such a sum, if this is true.

    “We urge the Federal Government to revisit this outrageous sum having in mind that several clinics and Primary Health Centers in the country are either understaffed, lacking equipment or poorly managed and exposing citizens to different health problems.

    “We must also commend Nigerians for standing up to note and query the supposed excesses observed in the budget, even as we urge every Nigerian to exercise patience with the government as we hopefully expect the changes we voted for to materialize. Nigeria is great and can be greater if government can lead the citizens through the right path, even as we trust that citizens’ interest will prevail in the 2016 budget. We believe in the power of the people; We the people,” it stated.

  • Nigeria will continue to support ECOWAS – Buhari

    Nigeria will continue to support ECOWAS – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said Nigeria would continue to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to enable it to realise its noble objectives.

    The president gave the assurance when he received the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Amb. Kadre Desire Ouedraogo at the State House, Abuja.

    The President said the pursuit of the laudable goals of the regional economic bloc aimed at regional integration and peaceful co-existence that inspired its creation on May 28, 1975, would always remain a top priority for Nigeria.

    “Nigeria, by its size and resources, has no alternative than to back ECOWAS to the hilt.

    “We are part of ECOWAS. Indeed, we are at the very heart of it, so we will continue to play our role,’’ he added.

    Buhari said the gains recorded so far in collectively providing peace in the sub-region and curtailing health challenges were major achievements of ECOWAS that must be sustained.

    ‘‘Now, we have to get more reliable intelligence and support from the international community, and utilize the gains for the development of our countries”, he said.

    The President, who commended Ouedraogo for his diligence and visionary leadership, wished him well in his future engagements.

    Ouedraogo recounted some of his achievements over the four-year period of serving to include peace and stability in the region.

    He mentioned the resolution of crises in Mali, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso and the tackling of the Ebola scourge as some of his major achievements.

    ‘‘We signed trade agreements with China, U.S and Japan. The biometric identity card has been approved and is due for launch in 2016. A single currency by 2020 is on course.

    On behalf of all ECOWAS institutions, I express my sincere thanks to Nigeria for all her support,’’ he said.

  • Buhari felicitates with Pastor Adeboye at 74

    Buhari felicitates with Pastor Adeboye at 74

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, as he turns 74 years on March 2, 2016.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, believed that the revered Christian leader, who paid him a courtesy call at the Presidential Villa on February 16, 2016 and whom he had interacted with many times before, epitomizes the virtues of honesty, peace, patience, contentment, humility and diligence, which are the trademarks of a good believer.

    As a Christian leader, the President commended the relentless efforts, sacrifices and the grace of God upon the life of the General Overseer, who has over the years propagated the gospel around the world, organized large gathering of Christian worshipers and consistently counseled leaders and their citizens on living right before God.

    Besides preaching the gospel, President Buhari saluted the social and humanitarian interventions of the RCCG leader in providing health and educational services to complement the efforts of governments.

    The President prayed that the Almighty God will grant Pastor Adeboye long life and more strength to carry on the good work.

  • FCT Capital Budget: Senate extends implementation of N144bn

    FCT Capital Budget: Senate extends implementation of N144bn

    The Senate on Tuesday approved a request from President Muhammadu Buhari for the extension of the implementation of the N114 billion FCT capital budget to March 31.

    The Senate acceded to the request of the president and gave the bill accelerated hearing as it was considered for second reading, third reading and passed.

    However, in his remark, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, directed the Conference Committee of the Senate to harmonise its figures with the House of Representatives.

    Earlier, while presenting the bill for second reading, the Leader of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, noted that the 2015 FCT budget was approved on May 28, 2015, allowing only seven months for its implementation.

    He said that in order to meet the obligations of the FCT and as requested by the president, the Senate should give accelerated passage to the request for extension.

    He said that in view of the seven months period, the FCT budget implementation only stood at 40 per cent, hence the need for the extension.

    It would be recalled that Buhari on February 23 requested the Senate to extend the implementation of the budget to March 31.

  • Photos: Buhari at Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar

    Photos: Buhari at Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari visits the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar
    President Muhammadu Buhari visits the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar

    IMG_20160301_095150 IMG_20160301_095154 IMG_20160301_095157

  • Don’t blame Buhari for going back on N5,000 promise – Al-Makura 

    Don’t blame Buhari for going back on N5,000 promise – Al-Makura 

    Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura on Monday urged Nigerians to remain calm and not challenge ‎President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to fulfill his government’s pledge of paying N5,000 to unemployment citizens.

    According to him, Buhari reserves the right to change his mind or review the promise based on prevailing realities in the country.

    The President had at the weekend in Saudi‎ Arabia declared that the N5,000 stipend was not on his priority list and that he would rather channel resources into the building of infrastructure, education, agriculture and mining to create employment opportunities for able bodied young men.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Al-Makura said: “The president is the person that can tell you precisely how he is working on promises and interventions that he has created by his ingenuity. And if at any point in time the president is reviewing that issue, I think he is the only person to that because what he is doing is in the best interest of the country. And so, it is not challengeable by anybody whatever his position.”

    Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Rochas Okorocha, after meeting with the Vice President however said that the promise will be implemented one way or the other.

    He said: “Well you see to be honest with you it is a great idea, but there are many ways to give that support, sometimes it could be in cash which has its own challenges. Handling of that is also in itself a wonderful and great idea.

    “Take for instance, in Imo State now I have introduced what is called empowerment, they buy motor cycles and give people N5,000 or N 10,000, for me that is not my style. My style is to declare free education, from primary, secondary to university; nobody pays one Naira in Imo state.

    “The very poor people who have to ensure a lot of social inconveniences to pay school fees are no longer dong that, what has happened is that he has saved that money to produce further wealth, so if you keep money through that system, it creates more impact than physical cash.

    “Physical cash sometimes creates more problems, so it is great idea, we have to do it one way or the other as time comes,” he said.

    He supported President Buhari’s anti-corruption battle, stressing that any money stolen out of the treasury will always have adverse effect on development of infrastructure in the country.

    Earlier, Al-Malkura also disclosed that he discussed with the Vice-President the incessant violent clashes between farmers’ ‎and Fulani herdsmen in Nasarawa which spilled over to neighboring Benue State.

    Attacks by the herdsmen on Agatu communities in Benue state last week had left hundreds dead and several building and farms destroyed.

    ‎Al-Makura said he was liaising with the Benue State government to end the clashes and that the Vice-President was quite understanding and cooperative as he promised federal government’s quick intervention.

    He said: “Secondly, I have also discussed with Mr. Vice President about the security situation in my state and what effort we are making to bring everything to sanity.

    “Also, I am making effort with my colleague the governor of Benue state in having a joint effort to see what we can do to ensure that these long standing communal clashes between Fulanis and farmers and Agatus in Nasarawa and Agatus in Benue to see that we find a lasting solution to it.” He said

    He also lamented that since 1978 when the state was connected to the national grid with 33KVA transmission lines, no improvement had been made despite growing population and energy needs in the state.

    According to him, he discussed with Osinbajo the need to connect the state with 330KVA transmission lines.

    He said: “Basically, I spoke with the Vice President about the issues of power and energy in my state.  And as you must have known, Nasarawa State being very close to the federal capital territory, and I raised a lot of demands for power and energy for domestic and industrial purposes. And given the sophistication of this area in terms of different kinds of activities.

    “And ironically, the state which was first connected to power in 1978, is still within 33KV which is not even enough for the state capital not to talk about other local government councils.

    “So, I have come specifically to request and plead with Mr. Vice President and the chairman of NIPP about the impending power initiative in the country to consider Nasarawa State as one of the states that will benefit from the 330KV which is the robust infrastructure for power that comes all the way from Enugu to Benue and to Plateau States. It just passed beside the Government House but Nasarawa State has not been able to benefit.

    “I have been on this struggle since 2012, but up till this time the state is still terribly deprived of power and he has listened to me. I believe that the people of Nasarawa State will heave a sigh of relief once the 330 Kva is done and another 132kva is connected to it for easy distribution,” he added.

    On the Vice President’s response, he said: “It was very fantastic and he assured us that they will see what the federal government can do to quickly ameliorate the problem and about the power, I got assurance from the Vice President that we will succeed.”

  • CAN Presidency: Buhari can’t impose a Northerner – Cleric 

    CAN Presidency: Buhari can’t impose a Northerner – Cleric 

    Following speculation that President Muhammadu Buhari might be planning to install one of his loyalists as the President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the presiding pastor of Living Spring Chapel International, Femi Emmanuel has described such claim as a mere speculation, noting that CAN is respected denomination with a viable constitution.

    He spoke Wednesday while addressing journalist at the Dominion city, headquarters of the church in Ibadan.

    According to him, CAN cannot be bought over by politicians and nobody can impose its favourable candidate without following the rules in the constitution.

    “CAN is an old institution with capable hands and respected men of God. I believe when the time comes they will follow the constitution, but I believe it’s only a mere speculation, because I know President Buhari is a man of honour and integrity,” he said.

    Emmanuel while commending President Buhari on his anti-graft war, he said in order to tackle corruption effectively the country must amend its constitution.

    The cleric said: “Anti-graft agencies only arrest and prosecute petty thieves. Our laws cannot fight corruption and even President Buhari has testified to this fact that the judiciary was his main obstacle to tackle corruption. In order to be able to tackle corruption effectively there is need for our judiciary and legislature to amend our constitution.”

  • Falling oil prices: We’ll develop agriculture, other sectors –  Buhari

    Falling oil prices: We’ll develop agriculture, other sectors –  Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night said that his administration was fully committed to increasing the productivity of Nigeria’s agriculture and solid minerals sectors to save the nation from the harsh effects of lower crude oil prices.

    Speaking at a meeting with leading members of the Council of Saudi Arabia’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry, President Buhari said that with declining revenues from crude oil exports, Nigeria’s hopes of economic resurgence now lie in the rapid development of its immense agricultural and solid mineral resources.

    Inviting Saudi Arabian businessmen to invest in both sectors, the President said that his administration will welcome greater foreign investment in support of its efforts to rapidly diversify the Nigerian economy.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that Nigeria had regrettably depended too much on crude oil exports to the neglect of other resources and was now paying a harsh price for failing to diversify its economy early enough.

    He said: “With the downturn in the global prices of oil, we now have to prospect our solid minerals. We have to return to agriculture. Mining and agriculture are our hopes now.

    “We will welcome investments in these areas. We will appreciate an in-flow of more resources and expertise to help us achieve our objective of economic diversification,” the President said.

    The governors of Osun, Ogun, Katsina, Borno, and Zamfara states, who were part of the President’s delegation, took turns to address the Saudi Arabian businessmen on investment possibilities in their states, assuring them of good returns.

    The Chairman of the Council of the Saudi Arabian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Dr Abdulrahman Al Zamil said that agriculture was a very important area of investment for its members, adding that they were already in Brazil, the United States of America and Sudan, “where we have huge farms.”

    Declaring that they were willing to invest in Nigeria Dr. Abdulrahman Al Zamil said that the Saudis were the leading investors in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya and Ethiopia.

  • Buhari vows to punish distorters of 2016 Budget

    Buhari vows to punish distorters of 2016 Budget

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night vowed to severely punish all those involved in the “padding” of the 2016 National Budget.

    He made the remark while addressing the Nigerian Community in Saudi Arabia.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, condemned the distortion of the budget proposals by entrenched interests.

    According to him, the unauthorised alterations had completely changed the document from the one he presented to the National Assembly.

    He said: “The culprits will not go unpunished. I have been a military governor, petroleum minister, military Head of State and headed the Petroleum Trust Fund.

    “Never had I heard the words “budget padding”. Our Minister of Budget and National Planning did a great job with his team. The Minister became almost half his size during the time, working night and day to get the budget ready, only for some people to pad it.

    “What he gave us was not what was finally being debated. It is very embarrassing and disappointing. We will not allow those who did it to go unpunished,” President Buhari vowed.

    The President also assured members of the Nigerian community that his administration was working diligently to fulfill its campaign promises, particularly on security, unemployment, and corruption.

    He reaffirmed his government’s zero tolerance for corruption, stressing that the war against corruption was a monumental task that he is determined to tackle successfully.

    “We have zero tolerance for corruption and other unethical practices. We will deal decisively with anybody found wanting,” he promised members of the Nigerian community.

    President Buhari also used the opportunity of the gathering to brief Nigerians in Saudi Arabia on his administration’s efforts to end the Boko Haram insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria.

    “Our armed forces have done a great job of dealing decisively with Boko Haram. We are collaborating with our neighbors in the operations of the Multinational Joint Task Force to handle security threats in the sub-region and we have significantly destroyed the capacity of the insurgents,” the President said.

    He also spoke on efforts being made to diversify the Nigerian economy, stressing that more opportunities are now open for local and foreign investors in the country.

  • Buhari appoints visually-impaired as SSA

    Buhari appoints visually-impaired as SSA

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday appointed a visually impaired man, Samuel Inalegwu Ode Ankeli as Senior Special Assistant with responsibility for his dealings with persons living with a disability.

    It would be recalled that Dr. Ankeli headed the Directorate of Persons With Disability during the 2015 Presidential election campaign for Buhari/Osinbajo.

    He led a team that successfully mobilized more than 24 million disabled persons in the country to support President Buhari and his running mate in the election campaign.

    An indigene of Benue State, Dr Ankeli studied veterinary medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and worked with the Benue State government before quitting to focus on his activist role in the promotion of the well-being of the blind and people with all kinds of disability.

    Dr. Ankeli’s appointment marks the first of such department in a political party in Nigeria.