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Tag: President Muhammadu Buhari

  • Nigeria, Turkey agree to strengthen security cooperation

    Nigeria, Turkey agree to strengthen security cooperation

    President Muhammadu Buhari and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed, after talks, on Thursday in Ankara to strengthen cooperation between the security agencies of both countries to counter terrorism.

    Garba Shehu, the President Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement said the President was ‘very pleased that the defence ministers of both countries held extensive discussions on developing new strategies for counter-terrorism.

    He said, ‘‘We are very pleased with the progress of the meeting so far and we are going to wait for the details of meetings between the two countries”.

    ‘‘We will as a result of the meeting between the ministers and officials of both countries strengthen rapidly whatever their recommendations are,’’ the President said.

    Commenting on the degradation of Boko Haram in Nigeria, President Buhari said the improved security situation in the North East was an eloquent testimony to the efforts of his administration in combating terrorism since he came into office in May 2015

    ‘‘We were very surprised and disturbed by the claim made by Boko Haram on what they have been getting from ISIS.

    ‘‘We know we will be able to contain them and we have proven that we can do it

    ‘‘We are very pleased that Turkey is in a position to assist us and has been strengthening our educational and health institutions,’’ President Buhari said.

    The President said the two leaders also discussed the prospects of increasing their bilateral trade, which has exceeded 779 million USD in the first eight months of 2017.

    ‘‘There are a lot of potentialities in terms of investments and a lot is being done in the educational and health sectors in Nigeria.

    ‘‘These will be strengthened and I assure you that Nigeria is prepared to accept Turkish business people to come and explore more of Nigeria’s potentialities,’’ the Nigerian leader said.

    In his remarks, Erdogan said Nigeria had great potentials and remains “a global actor in terms of economy, demographics and its peacekeeping records.”

    He indicated that Turkey was interested in investing in Nigeria’s electricity, refineries and gas sectors, adding that increasing the flights between Turkey and Nigeria would further improve commercial and people-to-people relationships.

    On the fight against terrorism, the Turkish leader said: ‘‘there is no difference between Boko Haram, Fethullah Terrorist Organisation or Daesh (ISIS), which have all killed, inflicted pain and hardship on innocent people.

    ‘‘All of these organisations are hordes of murderers that feed on the innocent people, and in the fight against terrorism, we will stand with our Nigerian friends, and we are ready to share our experience and provide all kinds of support.

    ‘‘We also expect the same cooperation from Nigeria in fighting against Fethullah that murdered 250 Turkish citizens last year,’’ he said.

  • ‘Reps will not discard APC restructuring committee report’

    ‘Reps will not discard APC restructuring committee report’

    The House of Reps has said it will act on the final report of the All Progressives Congress (APC) committee on True Federalism set up by the ruling Party to articulate its position on the ongoing debate on restructuring and true federalism.

    Speaking on the sideline of the ongoing public hearing by the APC Committee on True Federalism, spokesman of the House of Reps, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas assure that the lawmakers would not discard the report when it is presented to them.

    “We are products of this party. Every lawmaker came to the National Assembly on the platform of various political parties and this committee was put together by our own party. So, naturally we (APC Committee) will collate views of the people here and send it to the party and the reason why we are part of it is that no view can be said to be ‘independent’. It has to come through a legislation.

    “Even the President said in his speech that the only recognized group that can talk about this is the National Assembly. But the National Assembly too is a product of the people. You cannot on your own amend things to suit the people. You have to collate views from them.

    “So, when these views are collated and sent to us, I can assure you that we are going to work on it. I told you that I am a member of the National Assembly Committee on Agitations. We call it agitations but it is restructuring.

    “We realized after we voted that Nigerians are more interested in the devolution of powers and certainly, some of these states are not viable because they cannot get revenue on their own. If you devolve the powers to the states and probably restructure the revenue allocation (template), these states will be viable and they can generate revenue and pay their salaries,” he stated.

    Namdas hailed Nigerian women for coming of age, advising them to organize and translate their numerical strength into tangible political gains.

    Chairman of the committee, Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state restated the commitment of the committee to be fair in compiling its final report as all shades of opinion expressed at its public hearings would be reflected.

    El-Rufai who was represented by a member of the committee and former governor of Edo state, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor APC said the committee has also resolved to forward the report to the lawmakers as well as forward a framework of its implementation to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    A cross-section of women groups at the hearing advocated the greater inclusion of women in Nigeria’s restricted and patriarchal political space, saying for every position occupied by a man, a woman must be made to deputize and vice versa.

  • World Bank: APC supports Buhari on Northeast

    World Bank: APC supports Buhari on Northeast

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governors on Wednesday backed the request from President Muhammadu Buhari to the World Bank to focus its development attention on the North-Eastern part of the country.

    The party said the President’s request was not meant to give preferential treatment to any section of the country above others.

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi told newsmen at the end of a meeting between that the President’s request was made in view of the specific attention that the northeast need as a result of the devastation caused by the Boko Haram activities in the area.

    “It was not a statement meant to give special preference to any section of the country against the other. So, the APC throws its weight completely behind Mr. president’s decision and we believe that as long as the north east of Nigeria continue to suffer the devastation that it has suffered, and continue to represent a very dark spot in human development indices for Nigeria, there is a need to direct special attention to that part of the country.”

    Bauchi state governor, Barrister Mohammed Abubakar dismissed claims that the President accused governors of not paying salaries, saying that the President’s statement to the governors at a meeting on Tuesday was part of his usual concern for the plight of workers.

    He said state governors have judiciously utilized the federal government intervention in the payment of salaries and pensions, but was quick to add that the governors were not begging the federal government for money, but demanding what belong to them.

    Governor Abubakar said: “I was at the meeting with the President. Mr President, in his usual faction, has always expressed his concern on the plight of workers and the downtrodden. He did not direct any accusation at the governor’s because the governors have actually utilized mist of the intervention of the federal government for payment of salaries.

    “Take Bauchi state, for example, my salary bill is N5.1 billion, including states and local government. If you count the number of months that I came to FAAC and collect anything above N5 billion, it will not be more than five months in my two and half years in office.

    “But because of the intervention today, I am proud to say that I am not owing single kobo salary or pension. We have in the main, utilize this intervention towards payment. Don’t forget, this is money belong to us. We are not begging for anything, but demanding what belongs to us and that it should be paid to us. I was at that meeting and Mr. President did not level any allegation against anybody.”

    On why most governors of the south-west were absent from the meeting, he said: the Bauchi governor said “there is no communication gap. Two other deputy governors send words that their flights was cancelled because of weather problem. The same thing applied to the governor of Sokoto state who sent words that his flight was cancelled due to difficulty in weather.

    “So, there is no communication gap whatsoever. In the past, the governors have been attending. Governors are very busy people and it is always very difficult for us to have time to be on the field in addition to running our states.”

    On the recent statement credited to former interim Chairman of the party that the 2019 presidential election was open to all members of the party, he said “the meeting has not deliberated on that. The APC has a constitution and in fact. That is one of the items that was discussed, how to amend the constitution of the APC with a view to strengthening the party in line with democratic principles. We will abide with the tenets of the constitution.”

    Speaking at the opening of the meeting, National Chairman of the party said previous editions of the meeting has been extremely useful not only in stabilizing the party, but also contributing immensely towards handling various challenges that have appeared before us as a nation and as a people.

     

    Seven governors and four deputy governors attended the meeting which is the sixth in the series of consultative meetings between the National Working Committee of the party and the governors.

    Apart from the House Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, other leaders of the party in the two chambers of the National Assembly who were supposed to be a party of the meeting stayed away without sending any form of apology.

    The governors include, Nasir el Rufai (Kaduna), Mohammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Rochester Okorocha (Imo), Godwin Obaseki (Edo)  and Abdullahi Jibrilla Bindo (Adamawa) who was attending the meeting for the first time, as well as the Deputy Governors of Ondo, Kano, Kogi  and Nasarawa states.

  • Buhari approves payment of pension to retired Biafra Police

    Buhari approves payment of pension to retired Biafra Police

    Succour has come the way of police officers who served in the defunct Biafran Police during the 30 months Nigeria Civil war as President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the payment of pension to the police officers who were granted presidential pardon in 2000.

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) Wednesday announced that about 162 of such retired police officers and 57 Next of Kin of those who have died will be paid their pension benefits in the first phase of the payment with effect from Friday, October 20, 2017 in Enugu.

    A statement from the management of PTAD said after their pardon, a verification exercise was conducted for them by the defunct Police Pension office and recently by PTAD and the Police Service Commission.

    The statement reads: “The general public would recall that Nigeria witnessed an ugly civil war between July, 1967 and January, 1970 and as a result of that unfortunate period in our history, some members of the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police and paramilitary officers who took part with the Secessionist were dismissed from the service.

    “The dismissal of those officers was commuted to retirement in the year 2000 through a Presidential Amnesty granted on 29th May, 2000 by the Administration of the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “A verification exercise was conducted for the pardoned officers by the defunct Police Pension Office and recently PTAD on one hand and the Police Service Commission on the other.

    “Despite the Presidential pardon and verification of these officers, many of them remained unpaid years after the pardon.  However, the present administration under the able leadership of President, Muhammadu Buhari has graciously given approval for the payment of pension entitlements to these officers and their Next of Kin.

    PTAD is commencing the payment of pension benefits to the retired war affected police officers on Friday October 20, 2017 in Enugu.  162 officers will be payrolled and 57 Next of Kin who have also not been paid their death benefits will be paid in the first batch.

  • Buhari commended for signing bill establishing University of Petroleum Resources

    Buhari commended for signing bill establishing University of Petroleum Resources

    Chairman, Governing Council, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the bill establishing the institution into law.

    Mr. Zuru, who is a professor of petroleum law and policy gave the commendation at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Prof. Zuru said the university had been struggling in the past 10 years because past leaders failed to pass the bill establishing the university into law.

    He also identified special funding from the oil and gas industry as another reason why the bill was not passed in the past.

    According to him, the passage of the bill into law would bring development to the university and the Niger delta region.

    He commended the National Universities Commission (NUC), Minister of Education, Minister of Justice and other stakeholders for their roles in the passage of the bill into law.

    He said: “This achievement is our collective feet as a university. The survival of this university was actually hinged on the passage of this bill into law. We are very optimistic that a lot will be tricking in.

    “The university has been struggling for the past 10 years to have this bill signed into law. It didn’t happen. It is a huge development for the university. Rivalries from conventional universities delayed the passage of the bill into law in the past.

    “It will enable the university to draw from the experiences of similar specialized centres globally. It will also enable the university to build strategic partnership with development partners.”

    He said the university has secured N1.2 billion from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund as special intervention project to develop the university.

    Prof. Zuru added that the university currently runs 13 programmes which are fully accredited by the National Universities Commission.

  • Buhari remains only credible candidate for 2019 Presidential election

    Buhari remains only credible candidate for 2019 Presidential election

    Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue says President Muhammadu Buhari deserves to stand for re-election in 2019 because he remains the only credible person with capacity to deliver up to 2023.

    The governor stated this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

    According to him, as of now, there is no credible person capable of taking Nigeria out of its current challenges apart from President Buhari.

    “I believe that what God brought him to achieve in this country he will definitely achieve it.

    “Now we see him bouncing every day to the glory of God, we appreciate this and we look forward that God will help him to take us through 2015 to 2019 and then 2019 to 2023 – that is our prayer because for now there is no credible candidate as far as I know that has the capacity to take Nigeria out of where we are today.

    “I believe that Mr President has the capacity,’’ he said.

    The governor, who expressed delight over the current state of the President’s health, said he briefed him about the ecological problem in Benue and his major challenge of payment of workers’ salaries.

    He noted that the inability of the state government to pay outstanding salaries to workers in the state was not deliberate.

    Ortom also dismissed the insinuation that his administration diverted the bail out fund received by the state.

    He said: “It is not deliberate and we have not diverted money whether bail out or Paris club anywhere, the records are there for anyone to scrutinize and see.

    “The situation is that I inherited N69 billion arrears on pensions, gratuities and salaries.

    “Then, over N70 billion contractual obligations and so it has been a huge burden on our finances and so Mr President too has promised to find ways that the state can also get support.’’

    The governor noted that the state wage bill of N7.8 billion monthly was one of the highest in the country.

    “We have said it specially when the leadership of the labour congress came and we dialogue and we have set up technical committees comprising technical team from labour congress and technical team from my government, they will look at it and review wage bill and ensure that leakages are eliminated, salary padding and ghost workers and all that.

    “I want to assure you that we are going to prosecute anyone who is found culpable in the salary inflation.

    “Honestly, N7.8 billion wage bill for Benue is out of place and there is no way we will continue in this manner.

    “We have looked at the wage bill and compare with what people are collecting elsewhere in the country and we have done to an average of N4.5 billion that we just have to review it to that,’’ he added.

    He disclosed that the average income for Benue both from federation account and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) stood at slightly above N6 billion.

    “So, if you are paying salaries alone, you have a deficit of N1.8 billion a month. It is impossible and we have security issues to tackle and several other things that government must run and so it becomes a big problem.’’(NAN)

  • Ortom seeks arrest of Meyetti Allah leaders in Benue 

    Ortom seeks arrest of Meyetti Allah leaders in Benue 

    …Briefs Buhari on security situation in Benue

     

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Tuesday called for the arrest of leadership of Meyetti Allah group in the state.

    The group is opposed to the Anti-Open Grazing Act expected to come in force on the 1st of November, 2017.

    Speaking with State House correspondences after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Ortom said that the leadership is posing a threat to lives and properties in the state.

    He said “I came to brief and Mr. President about the security situation in my state, about the threat about Meyetti Allah that have even taken us to court. The threat that they will make the Anti-Open Grazing Act impossible for the people of Bennie State. I intimated him and also generally the security situation in the state.

    “Commonalities we have brought it to its nearest minimum and we believe that the security agencies that are working with us will sustain the tempo. We will do everything to provide security to protect lives and property.

    “Well, I am a law abiding citizen and a governor, Benue people are law abiding that is why in the midst of the provocation from herdsmen attack, we took time to ensure that we put the law in place, sign it and we are going to start implementation 1st of November and we hope that people will comply.

    “And everyone in Benue State should appreciate the fact that it is the law that is giving us protection. It is the intention of this government to ensure that we give protection to lives and property through the rule of law.

    “So, anyone staying in Benue State must comply. One thing I must say is that the law protects herdsmen and farmers. We are against cattle rustling; those who are caught will be penalized. Those who want to stay in Benue State and do cattle business must ranch their cattles, this is what we are saying.

    “As far as we are concern, the law is not targeted at any individual, group of people of ethnic group, it is meant to protect everyone who is living in Benue State.” he said

    Stressing that Meyetti Allah has taken the government to court, he said that it is not possible for Meyetti Allah to overrun Benue and make it ungovernable.

    He added “It is not going to be accepted. We stand by what we have done, we have done our legitimate, lawful role as governor as citizens of the state, so, we don’t see how somebody will sit somewhere and say that we should not implement a law that has restored peace in our place.

    “If you want to bring confusion I want to assure you that I have directed the security men to arrest those people. I am calling for the arrest of the leadership of Meyetti Allah, to be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent.

    “We have for a long time celebrated impunity in this country, we cannot continue like that. And so if they come out with this kind of threat, the evidence are there, they did a world press conference, so what is the security agencies doing? These people must be penalized.” he said

    According to him, there is enough land in the state for ranching of cattles.

    “Those who want to apply to get land to ranch they should do it, there are couple of ranches around. We are also going to provide land in designated places in the three senatorial zones, these have been approved by the state executive council and as many that are interested in having these ranches, we will give them the land.” he stated

    The governor said that he also briefed the President about the ecological problem in Benue State and his major challenge of salaries payment.

    According to him, it was not intentional that salaries are being owed.

    “It is not deliberate and we have not diverted money whether bail out or Paris club anywhere, the records are there for anyone to scrutinize and see.

    “The situation is that I inherited N69 billion arrears on pensions, gratuities and salaries. Then over N70 billion contractual obligations and so it has been a huge burden on our finances and so Mr. President too has promised to find ways that the state can also get support.

    On measures being taken to stop corruption in the state’s wage bill, he said “The issue is that we must admit that Benue State Wage Bill is one of the highest in this country, N7.8 billion. My predecessor admitted that there was mistake in negotiating with them but they resisted attempts to bring it down, now we have no choice.

    “We have said it especially when the leadership of the labour congress came and we dialogue and we have set up technical committees comprising technical team from labour congress and technical team from my government, they will look at it and review wage bill and ensure that leakages are eliminated, salary padding and ghost workers and all that.

    “I want to assure you that we are going to prosecute anyone who is found culpable in the salary inflation. Honestly, N7.8 billion wage bill for Benue State is out of place and there is no way we will continue in this manner.

    “I and my council, we have looked at the wage bill and compare with what people are collecting elsewhere in the country and we have done to an average of N4.5 billion that we just have to review it to that. Because an average income for Benue State both from federation account and IGR stands at slightly above N6 billion.

    “So, if you are paying salaries alone you are have a deficit of N1.8 billion a month. It is impossible and we have security issues to tackle and several other things that government must run and so it becomes a big problem.

    “I don’t have problems with my workers because they understood it, we are transparent, everybody has seen what we are doing but we have to find a way around it. I can assure you that in the next few weeks that is what we are working on and by the grace of God we will come to a reasonable figure that we will be able to pay salaries as at when due.” he said

    He added “I came to appreciate the President him and to encourage him to be steadfast and committed to his leadership. I believe that what God brought him to achieve in this country, he will definitely achieve it. Now we see him bouncing every day to the glory of God. We appreciate this and we look forward that God will help him to take us through 2015 to 2019 and then 2019 to 2023.

    “That is our prayer because for now, there is no credible candidate as far as I know that has the capacity to take Nigeria out of where we are today. I believe Mr. President has the capacity and let God sustain his health and consummate his healing so that Nigeria can be on the right path,” he said.

  • Buhari, state governors meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, state governors meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari is meeting with some state governors inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The governors who are attending the meeting includes; Zamfara, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, Ondo and Kwara States.

    Details later…

  • Agbakoba to court: Disqualify Buhari as Petroleum Minister

    Agbakoba to court: Disqualify Buhari as Petroleum Minister

    A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr Olisa Agbakoba has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to disqualify President Muhammadu Buhari from holding office as Petroleum Minister.

    Agbakoba prayed the court to declare that by Section 138 of the 1999 Constitution, the holder of the office of President of Nigeria cannot simultaneously, legally hold another executive office, such as that of a petroleum minister.

    The court is yet to fix a date for hearing of the suit.

    Read Also: FG lauded by Ekweremadu on 41Km Enugu-Ebonyi road rehabilitation

  • Buhari receives three young admirers in Aso Rock 

    Buhari receives three young admirers in Aso Rock 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday received three young admirers in the State House, who have shown high interest in his administration, and prayed for his recovery during ill-health.

    They included three-year old Maya Jammal, who became an internet sensation when her videoed prayer for the President’s recovery went viral, and 10 year-old Aisha Aliyu Gebbi, who penned a personal letter to President Buhari describing herself as his “biggest fan’’.

    The third person is Nicole Benson, 12 years old, who contributed N5,785 to the President’s campaign in 2015, which was all saved up from her lunch and pocket allowance.

    In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said: “I am very impressed by what the children have been able to do,’’

    “I can see Maya is shy. I watched her video where she was praying for my recovery when I was ill.’’ he added

    The President attributed his victory at the polls to the contributions of good hearted Nigerians, like young Nicole, who is from Lagos State, and showed her support by sending her personal savings.

    “Nicole, I congratulate you, and myself for being here today. Your contribution made a great impact. As you can see, I am here in the Presidential Villa. Thank you,’’ he said.

    President Buhari told Aisha that her letter was heart-warming, noting that he felt re-assured knowing he had fans amongst the children.

    “Thank you very much for the letter,’’ he said.

    The President said he looked forward to more visits from the children.

    “I am hoping that it will not be the first and last time we will be meeting while I am here. We will continue to meet even after I have left here.’’ he said

    Speaking on behalf of the parents, Hon. Aliyu Ibrahim Gebbi, said the President’s gesture of inviting the children to the Presidential Villa was a dream come true.

    Gebbi said the invitation also added to the President’s long standing record of good heartedness and fairness.

    “In a nation with few legends and accuracy of truth, we look up to you, Mr. President, and our children are looking up to you,’’ he added.

    Maya lives in the FCT, while Aisha came in from Bauchi State.