The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Secretary to the Government of the Federation

  • SGF seeks associations’ support on renovation of schools

    SGF seeks associations’ support on renovation of schools

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha on Saturday solicited the support of old Students Associations’ in improving and sustaining infrastructure development in schools across the country.

    Mustapha made the call at the second Annual General Meeting of Hong Old Students Association (HOSA) held at Government Secondary School, Hong in Adamawa.

    The SGF, a member of the association, said that the schools had inspired as well as molded the characters of boys who passed through the school to great men.

    He urged old students who had succeeded in their social endeavors to contribute to the growth and sustainability of both academic and infrastructure development of schools across the country.
    According to him, government cannot do it alone.

    He called on the HOSA to support in renovating the school in order to restore its past glory for posterity.

    Earlier, Dr Louis Mandama, the Head of Service of Adamawa State, commended Gov. Mohammed Bindow for choosing the school as one of the first schools to benefit from the ‘state of emergency’ declared in the education sector.

    Mandama, also the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the HOSA said the governor had renovated hostels, classrooms, parameter fencing, supplied books, provided mattresses and seats for the school.

    He announced that some members of the association had contributed more than four million naira for the renovation of the school’s hall.

    According to him, the renovation is valued at N7 million, and only few members have paid the dues levied on them.

    He called on members to pay up their dues to enable the association carry out the renovation project.

    While congratulating Mustapha, Mandama called on members to pray for him to succeed.

    In his remarks, Mr Andrew Yamtashara, the Principal of the school commended the state government for the renovation of some facilities within the school.

    Yamtashara, however, called on the state government to employ more security guards to protect the school from being vandalised.

  • SGF seeks better executive, legislative cooperation

    SGF seeks better executive, legislative cooperation

    •Mustapha visits Saraki, Dogara

    SECRETARY to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha yesterday assured Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the full cooperation of the Presidency with the National Assembly.

    Mustapha, who visited Saraki and Dogara at the National Assembly, told them that he came to extend hand of friendship and to solicit the support and cooperation of the National Assembly to ensure the smooth running of government.

    The SGF noted that the Presidency was not in competition with the National Assembly, especially when it was realised that the duties of the two arms of government are specified in the constitution.

    He said the two arms of government are joint partners in governmental enterprise and should work to complement each other.

    Saraki described the visit of the SGF as a new phase of cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature.

    He said: “Let me on behalf of my colleagues welcome you to the Senate and let me thank you for your visit.

    “I think your visit is very symbolic. It is truly a new phase of cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature and a good omen  for our democracy and for our government.”

    Dogara stated that contrary to beliefs in some quarters, the Legislature and the Executive are not rivals but partners in progress.

    He described the appointment of Mustapha as “a round peg in a round hole, or a square peg in a square hole”, and stated that the president “hit the nail on the head”.

  • Defunct CPC group wants Tony Momoh, Buba Galadima as next SGF

    Defunct CPC group wants Tony Momoh, Buba Galadima as next SGF

    Members of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), one of the legacy parties the makes up the All Progressives Congress (APC) Monday asked the Nasarawa state governor Tanko Al-Makura and the National Assembly to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to consider either former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh or Engr. Buba Galadima as the next Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    While Prince Momoh was the National Chairman of the defunct CPC, Galadima was Director General of the Buhari Campaign Organization.

    The defunct CPC members operating under Southern Mandate of Nigeria (SMN) said their advocacy was about the empowerment of core members of the defunct CPC and “our collective political and economic survival of the members who stake their lives and properties to deliver 2.5million votes for the now President Mohammadu Buhari in 2011.”

    In a statement in Abuja signed by the National Coordinator, Comrade Ikonomwan Francis, the group called on its members nationwide to form a united front “to resist these strangers who now form cabals to hijack Buhari administration.”

    The statement read in part: “There is  no doubt that Nigerians are in dear need of capable hand to man the office of SGF that will join the President to bring smiles to their faces in the second half of this Administration.

    “Prince Tony Momoh and Engr. Buba Galadima are personalities who will never compromise in an issue that is for good of Nigeria people and so, will ensure that such laudable program is fully implemented.”

    He said Nigerians were suffering because some people in President Buhari’s government are aliens to the programmes he promised Nigerians, adding that “for instance where was the current Chairman and Managing Director of NDDC, Managing Director of Nexim Bank, Chairman of NPA and Host of others when we were labouring to build for Mr. President?

    “We must unite to resist these handful political monsters who are hell bent in making every one of us to play a second fiddle role in a government we laboured to build for years.

    “We make bold to say that there is serous hunger and starvation in the land, the exchange rate of dollars has sky rocketed, prices of goods and services are on the increase on daily basis, all because the cabals are alien to the 14 years developmental plan of the defunct CPC.

    “Imagine what is happening to the much publicized Anchor Borrowers Programme in various State today? How about the Social Investment and Empowerment Program, has it been able to achieve it’s set goals?”

     

  • Osinbajo, SGF in closed door meeting 

    Osinbajo, SGF in closed door meeting 

    Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday afternoon held closed door meeting with the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal.

    The meeting started few minutes after the official statement announcing his suspension.

    Osinbajo had been named as Chairman of the committee to investigate the allegations against him.

  • Senate resolves to begin screening of ambassadorial nominees

    Senate resolves to begin screening of ambassadorial nominees

    —Ebonyi, Ondo, Plateau candidates failed appointment criteria, says Senate report

    The Senate on Wednesday resolved to commence immediate consideration and screening of 47 career ambassadorial nominees sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The list of the ambassadorial nominees was submitted to the Senate on June 9th, 2016 for consideration and confirmation.

    The resolution of the upper chamber followed the recommendations of its committee on Foreign Affairs which considered as series petitions alleging irregularities and lopsidedness in the appointment of the nominees.

    The Senator Monsurat Sunmonu headed committee which considered the petitions recommended that the screening of the nominees should begin immediately.

    Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Shehu Sani presented the report of the committee to Senate in plenary.

    The reported stated that from the presentation of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal who appeared before the committee to clarify issues surrounding the criteria for the appointment, candidates from states that were not represented in the list of 47 did not meet the requirements for appointment.

    The report also said that some senior officers from the omitted states either did not meet the required minimum of 30 months to their retirement or fell short of other criteria used for the appointment.

    The committee said that from its findings due process appeared to have been followed in the appointment of the nominees.

    The report said that the SGF assured that President Buhari would to address the seeming lopsidedness with the appointment of non-career ambassadors.

    The committee said that its findings informed its recommendation that the Senate should proceed with the screening of the nominees.

    It however urged the Federal Government to quickly submit the list of non-career ambassadors to assuage the feeling of marginisation  by some states.

    It asked the government to sustain the tradition of submitting the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominees at the same time.

    The upper chamber adopted all the recommendation of the committee and resolved to begin the screening of the nominees.

    Senators from Bayelsa, Benue, Kogi, Ondo, Plateau, Taraba had raised objection to the list because their states were not represented.

    After the resolution, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa State) insisted that “fairness is fairness.”

    Paulker said that he expected that with 47 appointments, at one would go to each state of the federation while the remaining 11 may be used to favour some states.

    He said that Bayelsa has many level 16 officers in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

    He added that the Federal Character principles should have been adopted.

  • Buhari wades into Edo APC crisis

    Buhari wades into Edo APC crisis

    There were indications Thursday that President Muhammadu Buhari may have directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir David Lawal to interface with stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in Edo state with a view to resolving the crisis in the party.

    Sources close to the party told journalists that the President has asked the SGF to meet with all the aspirants in the last governorship primaries and other stakeholders within 24 hours.

    The Edo State APC governorship primaries which was held on June 18 and won by Mr. Godwin Obaseki is being challenged by two of the aspirants who alleged irregularities in the conduct of the primary.

    In his petitions to the Appeals Committee, Ogiemwonyi alleged over voting at the primaries, while Imansuagbon claimed that the primary was rigged electronically.

    It was gathered that the two aggrieved aspirants have threatened to drag the party to court if they fail to nullify the primary.

    The source said, “The two aggrieved aspirants are waiting the recommendation of the Committee, threatening to go to court and work against the party in the event of any last minutes endorsement”.

    Chairman of the Primary Committee and  governor of Katsina, Aminu Bello Masari who was invited to appear before the committee was said to have been represented by a Director at the National Secretariat of the party.

    Chairman of the Appeal Committee, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele stated that the committee was compiling its recommendations, adding that all the stakeholders invited met with the Committee members and made oral presentations of the primaries.

    He however deny knowledge of the proposed meeting between the aspirants and the SGF.

  • Over speeding caused Ocholi’s death – FRSC

    Over speeding caused Ocholi’s death – FRSC

    The death of the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Barr. James Ocholi has been majorly attributed to over speeding.

    Ocholi died alongside his wife and son on Sunday in an auto crash on Kaduna-Abuja road.

    The verdict was given by the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi while presenting the accident’s Road Traffic Crash Investigation Interim Report to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He also said that the investigation revealed that the impact of the accident was more on Ocholi and his family members who were seated at the rear seats because they were not using seat belts.

    According to him, the driver of the vehicle was unlicensed

    Six ministers from the geopolitical zones on Wednesday paid tribute to the late Ocholi.

    All cabinet members will also visit Ocholi’s family immediately after FEC meeting.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal gave the tentative burial arrangement for 16th to 18th of March, 2015.

  • FG receives 2015 Christian Pilgrims report

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engineer Babachir David Lawal on Wednesday commended the Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission (NCPC) for the innovations introduced by the body to fund its activities and inspire Nigerians who perform the Christian holy pilgrimage in 2015.

    He made the remarks while receiving the 2015 Report of the Commission in his office in Abuja.

    The SGF, in a statement by the Director (Press) in the office of the SGF, Bolaji Adebiyi, assured the body that government will do all within its powers to address the key challenges of the Commission and ensure that the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) signed with Israel becomes operational and that debts owed the Commission are recovered.

    He also noted with admiration the small size of the staff nominal roll of the Commission and declared that it will ensure that the recurrent expenditure of the Commission remains reasonable and that more funds are available for capital projects.

    Advising the Commission to ensure that it does not run foul of government policy on the Treasuring Single Account (TSA) despite its commercialization program, he urged the Commission to at all times, remain non-partisan in the discharge of its responsibilities.

    The Chairman of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission, Reverend Nicolas Okoh, earlier, told the SGF that four pilgrimages were conducted in 2015, including the Easter, Youth, Family and Main Pilgrimages.

    According to him, during the pilgrimages, there was neither abscondment nor mishaps.

    The Executive Secretary, Mr. Kennedy Opara, in his comments confirmed that for the Main Pilgrimage, pilgrims, apart from visiting Israel, were also taken to Greece and Rome.

    He said youths who performed the pilgrimage were exposed to Skill Acquisition Programme in Agriculture to serve as additional incentive to perform the holy pilgrimage, as well as prepare them for employment.