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Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Saraki, Dogara to interface with Buhari over Kaduna killings

    The Senate Wednesday mandated its leadership and the leadership of the House of Representatives to urgently meet with President Muhammadu Buhari over increasing spate of killings in parts of the country.

    Saraki and Dogara were specifically asked to enquire from President Buhari how the recommendations of the National Assembly on ways and means to prevent crisis in the country were being implemented.

    The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a motion on “The wanton killings in Kaduna State, a call for caution.”

    Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) in his lead debate drew the attention of the Senate to the wanton killings in Kasuwa Magani, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis under Chikun Local Government, Kaduna State.

    He expressed concerned over the destruction of lives and property that “have been spiral in the past days of the week.”

    Hunkuyi said that the Senate should note “the indiscriminate and senseless killings and insecurity that have pervaded Kaduna and its environs even with the curfew imposed within the state.”

    He feared that the curfew while necessary to curb unwarranted movement could also be counter-productive when majority of the people of the state were living from hand to mouth.

    He added that “locking people at home can only solve one aspect of the problem, while it can lead to other crimes like robbery and theft.”

    He said that the Senate should be aware that the paramount ruler of Adara land, Angwan Adara has been taken hostage with six of his aides killed during a kidnap and hostage taking on the route from Kaduna to Kachia which is the headquarters of Adara Chiefdom.

    Hunkuyi prayed the Senate to prevail on the Kuduna State Government and the Federal Government to quicken the release of the paramount ruler of Adara who was wished away about a week ago.

    Senator Shehu Sani (Kauna Central) who officially announced his defection form the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) said that the killings were totally condemnable.

    Senator Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South) described what is going on in Kaduna as “most unfortunate.”

    He said that those being killed in Zamfara State were Muslims while those being killed Kaduna State were Christians.

    La’ah criticized the action of the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai for leaving that state without handing over to the deputy governor.

    He said that the governor should be held accountable for the mayhem that befell the state.

    The Kaduna south senators said that it is obvious that those behind the killings were known.

    Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) in his contribution also said that behind the killings were “were well know,”

    Marafa noted that what is fueling the killings was that the perpetrators were never punished.

    The perpetrators, he added “kill and get away with their crime.”

    Senator Philip Gyunka (Nasarawa North) said that the problem should be traced to the door step of the governor of the state.

    He wondered why the El-Rufai should travel abroad with informing the state House of Assembly.

    Gyunka said that El-Rufai should be asked who he handed over to before he travelled.

    He said, “Maybe the governor got wind of what was coming and decided to travel.”

    Saraki said that those who spoke underscored that fact that perpetrators were not held accountable for their act.

    He said there was no doubt that there were problems that needed to be sorted out.

    He said that the Senate should schedule a date to discuss that issue with heads of security agencies.

    Senator Emmanuel Bwacha countered that a head of security agency invited to discuss the issue refused to honour the invitation “and nothing was done to him.”

    Saraki agreed with the suggestion of the Senate leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan that the National Assembly leadership should engage the Executive on implementation of resolutions on national security.

  • Pensioners threaten to embark on nationwide protest

    Issue 21 days ultimatum

    Nigerian Pensioners under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) have threatened to shut down the operation of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and other agencies of government responsible for the delay in their payment if the government failed to pay the balance of their 33 percent pension increase within 21 days.

    Addressing a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, National President of the Union, Dr. Abel Afolayan said the leadership of the union can no longer contain the anger of its members that have been spoiling for a showdown with the government.

    Afolayan said “The payment of the balance of  this arrears is long overdue. We had made several submissions and appeals at different fora to the federal government  through PTAD for this payment but to no avail.

    “The leadership of the union therefore can no longer contain the anger of its members who have been spoiling for a show down with the federal government over the non-payment.

    “Consequently,  and having been pushed to the wall, we are compelled to issue a 21-day ultimatum to PTAD in compliance with the extant labour laws after which if no payment is made,  pensioners would embark on a protest to picket PTAD and other relevant offices connected with this payment.

    “I do hope that immediate action would be taken to effect the payment in order to make such a course of action unnecessary, and as a mark of respect for us the elderly and senior citizens of this country.”

    While commending the Minister of Finance, Hajia Zainab Ahmed for releasing N22.4bn to settle the long-awaited pension liabilities of the defunct Nigeria Airways Staff in liquidation, he wants the government to ensure that pensioners are given equal treatment t with workers in arriving at a new minimum wage for the country.

    “This gesture has in no small measure put smiles on the faces of the beneficiaries. Equally, this gesture goes to attest to the fact that the federal government under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is indeed a listening government.”

    He said further that there was the need the union to press for the consideration and approval of the National Minimum Pension for pensioners by the federal government alongside the on-going negotiation for  the approval and  implementation of a National Minimum Wage  for Nigerian workers.

    Read Also: Federal pensioners protest over non-payment of 36 pension arrears

    He said “Suffice it to say our request is in line with the provisions of sections 173 (3) and 210 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which unambiguously states that “pensions shall be reviewed every five years or together with any Federal Civil Service salary reviews, whichever is earlier”. The last pension review was in July 2010. The next one, in line with the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) was due  in July 2015.

    “Despite our efforts and submissions, nothing has been done in compliance with the above constitutional provisions.  This is the reason why the union has been very vocal and unrelenting  in restating its position on the call and demand for a new minimum pension alongside the on-going negotiation for a  new minimum wage which by all indications will soon be implemented by the federal government.

    “It is therefore our humble request, in accordance with the above constitutional provisions that a uniformed national minimum pension be approved for Nigerian pensioners to be the same as any minimum wage.

    “In other words, whatever amount is approved as minimum wage for workers should also apply as minimum pension for pensioners. We believe that whatever is good for the Goose is also good for the Gander,  as both workers and pensioners go to the same market for their daily needs.

    “Regrettably and pathetically too, many pensioners today earn as low as N4,000 per month which is nothing to write home about. With the present economic situation in the country, it is unacceptable and in fact inhuman for a pensioner  to earn less than N30,000 which is not even enough to cater for his needs.

    “We would like to emphasize again that  whatever is finally approved as the national  minimum wage should equally  apply to pensioners as national  minimum pension with a  corresponding circular,  clearly stating  minimum pension (QED),  and  not  after the release of the minimum wage circular the union would  begin to run helter skelter in pursuance of  the release of the pensioners circular as experienced  in the case of the  2010 minimum wage  and pension review.

    “It is also important and imperative  to add here  that  state governments should take a cue  from  the federal government  that whatever  is the final agreement reached  by the tripartite committee as minimum wage, same should apply to all state pensioners as minimum pension in accordance with section 210 (3) of the 1999 Federal  Constitution (as amended).

    “For justice and fairness, and in line with the spirit and letter of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, sections173 (3) and 210 (3),   minimum wage and minimum pension should be the same. This is our position, this is our demand.”

  • Buhari: Nigeria, Benin to work closely on joint border facility  

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Seme pledged that Nigeria will work closely with the Republic of Benin to ensure the success of the newly inaugurated Seme-Krake joint border post between both countries.

    Speaking at the official handing over ceremony of the joint border post, President Buhari described the project, aimed at enhancing the free movement of persons and goods in the region, as “a symbol of integration that brings together the peoples of Nigeria and Benin.”

    Read Also:PDP queries Buhari’s alleged protection of Yusuf

    ”Indeed, the Seme-Krake joint border is one of the busiest boundary lines not only in West Africa but the whole continent, daily recording huge movement of persons, goods and services.

    ”Permit me therefore to congratulate my brother, President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin on the successful completion of this magnificent project.

    ”As we all know, Nigeria and Benin share many things in common. Hence, the establishment of the Joint Border Post will certainly promote our brotherliness and emphasize our common interest, ” he said.

    On the benefits of the joint border post, which sits on 17 hectares of land, the President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, noted that it would enhance trade facilitation by combining border clearance activities in a single location, increase cooperation and coordination of controls, in addition to fostering data and intelligence sharing between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

    ”The Border Post is strategically important and lies on the Lagos-Cotonou-Lome-Accra-Abidjan corridor, which accounts for about 70% of the entire transit traffic in the sub-region.

    ”The corridor is also part of the Trans-African Highway network.  This Joint Border Post with modern enabling facilities is a flagship project in ECOWAS and a good example of regional public assets with a spill-over range of benefits,’’ he said.

    He also expressed optimism that the facilities at the border post will improve the working conditions of border officials and make them more efficient and effective in carrying out their duties.

    He, therefore, urged border officials of both countries to ensure that their operations are carried out within the guiding principles of ECOWAS.

    ”I am aware that a Joint Committee with membership from Nigeria and Benin has been established for the coordination and management of this facility.  I would like to call on the members of the committee to note the complex task ahead of them.

    ”The committee must ensure that border officials are sensitized on the mode of operation of the Joint Border Post concept which is a big departure from the traditional mode of operation. I call on the ECOWAS Commission to continue to provide the needed support to this Committee, ”he said.

    Appreciating the financial commitment of the European Union Commission to the project and the contributions of the ECOWAS Commission towards its successful completion, President Buhari noted that inadequate transport infrastructure and inefficient services were some of the major bottlenecks to the attainment of socio-economic development and integration in the region.

    ”ECOWAS is a region where ports, roads, railways and airports still remain a constraint despite significant recent progress made.

    ”Nigeria has embarked on major investment programmes covering these sectors to improve the competitiveness of our economies and accelerate growth.  We are therefore delighted to welcome such initiatives aimed at boosting the economic integration of our member States in West Africa,’’ he said.

    In his capacity as the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Buhari also thanked the EU for supporting two other joint borders at Malanville (between Benin/Niger) and Noepe-Akanu (between Ghana/Togo).

     

  • Island club urges unity of Nigeria

    Vice Chairman of Lagos Island Club Oladiji Veracruz had said the club’s impact on the development and unity of the country is its major priority.

    Addressing a conference on the club’s coming 75th anniversary in Lagos, he said the topics for discussion during the event would reflect of issues that promote, security, economy and harmony.

    He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other notable Nigerians would grace the event.

    He said: “The club provide veritable platform to discuss issues of national interest. I can authoritatively tell you that topic on restructuring will be given attention, security and other germane national issues.

    “The discussions will affect policy which the club had often done from time to time. It is important to note that internally displaced people is of major concern, the club is equally interest in the matter.”

    He added that the club was in the vanguard of fighting colonialism, stressing that had not deviated from the old path.

    “In view of that when we realised that the country is facing challenges, it club steps forward to offer help in every possible ways.

    “In furtherance of the course of learning, as done severally in the past, we are organising school debate among a number of public secondary schools in Lagos where Laptops, Ipads, Note pads, exercise books among other will be given out.”

  • Tunde Idiagbon was a rare example of loyalty – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said that his deputy as a military head of state, the late Major General Tunde Idiagbon, was a very rare example of what loyalty to fatherland and to a superior should be.

    He made the remark while receiving APC governorship aspirants and members of the party from the three senatorial zones of Kwara State at State House, Abuja.

    “Tunde was strong, loyal and extremely committed to the cause of positively changing the narrative about Nigeria, which the administration set out to do at that time,” the President said.

    Read Also:My father’s pedigree will work for me, says Idiagbon’s son

    He recalled how his former deputy, who, while on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia when the administration was overthrown in 1985, insisted on returning to the country despite the political uncertainty especially as he had learnt that he, as Commander-in-Chief at that time, had not been killed in the take-over.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, added that the late Idiagbon rejected the offer from the King of Saudi Arabia to bring members of his (Idiagbon) family from Nigeria to the Kingdom, as he was his guest at that time, and eventually returned to Nigeria to suffer arrest like he (Buhari) did.

    Buhari further enjoined Nigerians to remain faithful and loyal to the country in all their dealings.

    “You don’t have to be in uniform to be loyal.  What I said long ago in 1984 is still valid today. We have no other country but Nigeria. Others who feel they have another country may choose to go. We will stay here and salvage it together,” he said.

    The President thanked the APC stakeholders for the position they have taken to continue to support the party regardless of the outcome of the primaries.

    He assured them that, with the unity displayed so far, APC will form the government in Kwara State after the 2019 elections.

  • No cause for alarm, says Oshiomhole 

    …Says 90% APC members happy

     

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday said that there was no cause for alarm on the speculated moves to remove him from office.

    He was reacting to reports in the social media of plans by some APC governors to storm Abuja towards gathering signatures to remove him from office.

    Read Also:Vote of no confidence claim: Oshiomhole denies aide’s statement

    Speaking with State House correspondents after a delegation of APC politicians from Kwara State met President Muhammadu Buhari, Oshiomhole said that only one or two out of the 23 APC state governors are not happy with him.

    The former Edo State Governor, who said that he is presently having his finest moment, said that nothing less than 90 percent of all APC members are happy with him at the helm of affairs.

    He said that those not happy with him in the party were aggrieved because he insisted on following due process.

    Also speaking, the Kwara State APC Governorship candidate, Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, said that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and his camp are no threat to his ambition in 2019.

    According to him, Saraki is history in Kwara politics.

    Details Later…

  • APC to critics: Stop playing politics with reform in oil sector

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that Nigerians, especially critics of the President Muhammadu Buhari led government should stop playing politics with the ongoing reform in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

    Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena told newsmen in an interview on Sunday that the current administration’s efforts to sanitise and reform the oil sector deserve the support of all well-meaning Nigerians.

    Read Also:Opponents of reforms in APC ganging up against me, says Oshiomhole

    Nabena said it was a courageous move by the current administration to reform the oil and gas sector through the introduction of a new price regime which has led to what he described as the technical liberalization of petrol price.

    He said the move was to reposition the country’s downstream oil sector and in particular ensure that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) becomes a fully run commercial entity.

    He said “this administration’s efforts to sanitise and reform the oil sector should be supported by all well-meaning Nigerians. It is important that we don’t succumb to the temptation to play politics with the reforms in view of the strides that have been achieved so far.

    “In a general appraisal of the oil sector reforms undertaken by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, an often downplayed achievement is the fact that in a long time, Nigerians no longer have to waste valuable man hours queuing for fuel on account of scarcities.

    “The positive effects of the oil sector reforms have been instant and visible. Fuel shortages and resultant queues which were a recurrent issue in the sector due to our limited refining base are now in the past.

    “As the NNPC works to wholly meet the national petrol requirement due to the inability of private sector players to meet their supply quota, the increased private participation in our energy sector, is set to increase our local refining base with the near launch of privately-owned and high-capacity refineries. The resultant effect will be an end to the costly importation of refined petroleum products.”

    Reacting to the $3.5billion Subsidy fund being probed by the Senate, Nabena said: “The achievements of the oil sector reforms brings to fore erroneous insinuations of a $3.5billion Subsidy fund allegedly in the NNPC’s custody which the Senate has reportedly resolved to probe.

    “In NNPC’s bid to stem petroleum product supply hiccups, the corporation initiated a revolving National Fuel Support Fund of $1.05billion, since the corporation is literally the sole importer and supplier of products in the country.

    “The Fund has been domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) ever since. NNPC has not independently spent a dime of the fund which is to ensure stability in the petroleum products supply in the country.

    “The Fund has been jointly managed by the NNPC, CBN, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OGF), the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF).”

     

  • IYC to FG: Identify, deal with politicians importing arms 

    The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has urged the Federal Government and Service Chiefs to quickly adopt all necessary measures to stop importation of arms and ammunition for electoral purposes.

    The umbrella body of Ijaw youths said the first step should be to monitor the borders, close all the porous areas to stop the merchants from brining illegal weapons into the country ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also:2019 is a referendum for Niger Deltans, says IYC

    Reacting to the fears of influx of arms raised by the security chiefs in their recent meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Secretary-General, IYC, Alfred Kemepado, said all politicians involve in the dastardly act should be arrested and dealt with no matter their political leanings.

    Kemepado asked the service chiefs to use all the intelligence available to them to find out those sponsoring the importation and deal with them in accordance with the law.

    He said their were possibilities that some security heads knew the importers but chose to collude with them against the state.

    He blamed the culture of deploying illegal weapons in elections on the body language of most governments in power adding that politicians are always in the habit of training and arming thugs without facing the required repercussion.

    He said: “We blame the stockpiling of arms for election culture largely on the body language and policies of most administrations. The thugs in an election don’t fund themselves. They are always funded and armed by the so called political elite.

    “The thugs used for elections are like the proverbial smoke; the real smoke is the elite. Security agencies should expand their intelligence to deal with these so-called political elite no matter how highly placed or which political party they belong, even if they belong to the ruling APC.

    “This cleansing can only be effective if it is done without bias. However, it is also good to involve the civil society organisations to increase advocacy condemning the acts and pointing the dangers and this should be done at communal levels.

    “But let me make bold to say that the chances are very high that security agencies know the importers of these arms, but some are colluding to prosper these crimes against the Nigeria people”.

  • We are focused on securing nation, stabilising economy – Buhari 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja said his administration will work harder to improve on the gains recorded in securing the country from the onslaughts of terrorists and criminals, and ensuring that Nigerians enjoy a better livelihood by stabilising the economy.

    The President, who received Tijjaniyya Shura Council at the Presidential Villa, said the government continues to review its interventions and projections on security and the economy, with the hope of bringing peace and improved economy to all.

    Read Also:Boko Haram’ll soon be history, Says Buhari

    The President in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also commended religious bodies and Nigerians for the encouragement shown to the administration through prayers.

    According to him, a peaceful and prosperous country is realisable with collective vision and shared effort.

    “I am grateful for the prayers and words of encouragement,’’ he said,

    “Nigeria’s unity is strong and must be sustained. It is instructive to note that Nigeria preceded all of us in age, and we must do our best to keep the country together.’’

    In his remarks, leader of the Tijjaniyya, Sheikh Ibrahim Shiekh Maihula, said, “our desire is to live in a country that is peaceful and economically vibrant, and we will keep praying for you and members of your administration.’’

    Shiekh Maihula said peace and economic prosperity were not negotiable for the unity of the country, urging the president to remain focused and steadfast in pursuing the policies he had outlined.

     

  • Buhari congratulates Nda-Isaiah on conferment of Chieftaincy title 

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Chairman of Leadership Group, on the conferment of chieftaincy title, Aare Baaroyin of Akure Kingdom, by Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi,Odundun I I.

    Read Also:Debtors’ list: Heritage Bank apologises to Nda-Isaiah

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, felicitated with the publisher of Leadership Newspapers on the recognition, which is obviously inspired by his contribution to the development of the media industry, business world and support for the underprivileged.

    He believed Nda-Isaiah’s foray into journalism in spite of a background in Pharmacy was divinely ordained to serve the country with his strength in writing, deep thinking and philosophical outlook on life.

    President Buhari commended Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi,Odundun II and his kinsmen, for selecting the publisher for recognition, affirming that it will give further fillip to his appetite for serving the nation and humanity.