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APC holds ‘make or mar’ NEC meeting

The much talked about National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is scheduled to hold on Tuesday at the party National secretariat with President Muhammadu Buhari in attendance.

The meeting is the third meeting of the body since the inauguration of the APC led federal government with the last meeting taking place in March 2016 against the mandatory quarterly meeting.

The NEC meeting has been postponed on two previous occasioned after invitations had been sent out, but as at the time of this report, security details were seen putting finishing touches to security Arrangement around the APC secretariat.

Ahead of the meeting, the National Working Committee were said to have held a meeting with state Chairmen of the party on Sunday apparently to drum up support with a view to averting the alleged plot to unseat the chairman.

Women leaders of the party were also seen a meeting with the National Women Leander ahead of the meeting at the party secretariat probably to agree on a common position to be presented to the meeting.

Those who are statutorily expected at the NEC meeting include President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Suleiman Yusuf Lasun, members of the National Working Committee and their deputies, Leader of the Physically challenged, Zonal Secretaries, zonal organizing secretaries, zonal women leaders and State Chairmen.

Others include State Governors who are members of the party, Majority Leader, party Whips and their Deputies in both the Senate and House of Representatives, two serving Senators from each of her six geopolitical zone, three members of the House of Representatives from the six geopolitical zone, six ex-officio members and Serving Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

However, since the inception of the party, it has not inaugurated its Board of Trustees, while the last NEC meeting mandated a review of the party constitution to change the name of the BOT to Elders Council with a view to trimming down the membership to what it termed manageable size.

Article 25 (B) of the party constitution states that the National Executive Committee shall meet every quarter and or at any time decided by the National, Chairman or at the request made in writing by at least two third of the members of the National, Executive Committee provided that not less than 14 days notice is given for the meeting to be summoned.

The quorum for the meeting, according to the APC constitution shall be one-third of its members.

The meeting may deliberate on the crisis in various states of the federation with a view to rectifying or upturning the suspension of some members of the party such as National Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank, Senator Shehu Sani, Chairman of APC In Bayelsa state among others.

The Nation learnt that at a recent meeting of the National Working Committee and state governors, the governors present expressed concern over the absence of south-west governors and their apathy to the party meeting, suggesting that something is done to placate them.

The governors were said to have also expressed concern about the absence of most of the governors from the north from the meeting.

It is also expected to consider the recommendation of the National Working Committee to merge the non-elective convention with the elective convention in view of the expiration of the tenure of the Oyegun led leadership in April 2018.

The National Working Committee is reported to have suggested that in view of the financial situation of the party and the closeness of the two conventions, both be merged and held between February and April 2018.

The poor state of the party’s finances, complains of marginalization especially from key members of the party and supporters as well as the direction of the party ahead of the 2019 elections is expected to top the agenda of the party.

State governors of the party are said to be complaining that they are not being carried along in the running of the country by the President, especially when it comes to making appointments from their states.

Plateau state governor, Simon Lalong who spoke the mind of the governors at a recent outing in Abuja said the government is making appointments from their states without seeking their input, adding that those who do not have the capacity to defend the actions of the President have been the ones benefiting from the federal government to appointments.

The governor said the government must be made aware that things are not working the way they should, saying “If things are wrong they are wrong, if they are right they are right. But it requires very courageous people to come out and say these thongs are wrong or they are right.

“Let the Mr. President be aware that this is the time to do it because even as governors we are also complaining in our various state, we are saying it. We complained in our states that we sit down and we hear appointment made and then people start asking you as the governor where is this man coming from?

“But when we turn right and turn left, we don’t know where such a person is coming from. Many people have complained. I’m sure governors have complained that we should be able to know who and who will Protect Mr. President and his administration.

“When I heard that BSO is coming back again, I said is it not too late because if you allow people to grumble too much, you will see a fight in several states and some of them are for a just course.

“Somebody suffered for the party, the person is not rewarded and you wake up to see another man who even fought you, the man who made you to lose your job is now being appointed and the one who suffered is sitting down.
Sometimes he will be looking for tears to cry and the tears will not be there because they are dry.

“Like our chairman said to me, it is not too late. This is the time to start because this is the time you will hear a lot of things coming. People who have not serve will come back and say I had served this way, I had served that way but the records are there. The records can not tell lie. If it is true that they served this way, they served that way let the record.”

October 30, 2017
Buhari meets Tinubu, Saraki, Dogara, Yari, Oyegun in Aso Rock

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with some top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House, Abuja.

Those he met briefly with included the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

Also at the meeting are the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari and the National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun.

At the end of the meeting, they declined to speak on the purpose of the meeting.

As soon as the meeting ended, the President and the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu also started another meeting around 3:28p.m

The second meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

October 30, 2017
Cancelled Dinner: Buhari apologises to lawmakers

President Muhammadu Buhari has apologised to the leadership of the National Assembly over the cancellation of the planned dinner for the lawmakers in the State House.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President was to host the lawmakers to dinner at the new Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, by 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.

He, however, met behind closed doors at his official residence with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara with the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and some presidential aides in attendance.

Related Post: DINNER: Saraki, Dogara angered by Aso Rock security checks

Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, told State House correspondents on Thursday night that the President offered the apology after the closed-door meeting with the Senate President and the Speaker.

President Buhari with L-R: Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Senior Special Assistants Nass Matters Senator Eta Enang as he hosts Leadership of National Assembly to Dinner at the State House Residence on 26th Oct 2017.

He said the President rescheduled the dinner with the lawmakers for Oct. 31.

NAN reliably learnt that the Thursday’s planned dinner failed to hold due to a misunderstanding between security officials at the main gate of the Aso Rock and the lawmakers.

According to sources, the lawmakers were asked to come down from the bus conveying them to the Villa in order to be issued visitor’s tags, but they were said to have turned back.

The President was to use the opportunity of the dinner to discuss some national issues including the approved draft 2018 budget.

The draft budget was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on October 26.

October 27, 2017
Saraki commends Buhari for signing NEDC Bill into law

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Wednesday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing into law the North East Development Commission (NEDC) Bill.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu described the Presidential Assent as a “major development in the efforts by the present administration to restore peace and normalcy in the North East and making the harrowing experience of the people as a result of the insurgency a thing of the past”.

He said, “I applaud President Buhari for signing the North East DevelopmentCommission Bill into law. Now, that the NEDC Act has the full force and effect of the law, it is my hope that we can collectively work towards the rehabilitation, reconstruction and rebuilding of the North East.

“I believe the NEDC Act will help alleviate the suffering of the millions of Nigerians whose lives have been affected by the insurgency in the zone”, the Senate President stated.

“You will recall that when I visited Maiduguri, I promised that the National Assembly will work and pass law to alleviate the suffering of the people. I thank God, Mr. President, my colleagues and members of the House of Representatives for making the promise a reality.”

October 25, 2017
Senate to probe Etisalat $1.2bn debt crisis

The Senate Tuesday resolved to investigate the management and utilization of the $1.2 billion loan facility obtained by Etisalat (Nigeria) from 13 Nigerian banks.

The upper chamber mandated its Committees on Banking, Communications, Capital Market and National Security and Intelligence to probe the deal.

It also asked the joint Committee to make recommendations on ways the country’s Financial Governance Structure could be strengthened by legislations to prevent any future similar reoccurrence of such crisis.

The Senate urged relevant financial intelligence agencies of the Federal Government to investigate the management of Etisalat (Nigeria) and hold the defaulting parties accountable for their actions.

The resolutions followed the adoption a motion on “the need for Senate’s intervention in the recent ETISALAT (Nigeria) $1.2 billion debt crisis” sponsored by Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West)

Adeola in his lead debate noted that Etisalat Nigeria, a Telecommunication Company operating in Nigeria has in recent times been in the public eye over it’s $1.2bn loan crisis.

The lawmaker said that he is aware that the syndicated loan was acquired in 2013 as a medium-term, seven-year facility to fund expansion of the network from a consortium of 13 Banks in Nigeria.

He said that Etisalat ownership comprises of three shareholders, the United Arab Emirates Sovereign Wealth Fund through Mubadala Development Comp Abu Dhabi (45 /u), Emirates Telecommunications Group Company (40%) and Myacinth (15%) through Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services.

Adeola said that as of 2016, the company had started defaulting on its $1.2 billion loan obligations leading to a few bailouts from its Parent Company in Abu Dhabi.

He noted that only about 42% of the loan has been repaid, remaining an outstanding debt of $696 million representing 58% of its Capital, which Etisalat has failed to service since 2016.

He said that “since this year, the Banks have been moving to take over the Telecommunications Company in order to recover their funds.”

The Lagos West senator said that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have intervened and raised issues of regulatory compliances in trying to prevent a takeover by the banks, but the intervention has failed to produce an agreement on the debt restructuring.

He observed that all UAE shareholders of Etisalat Nigeria, including state-owned investment fund Mubadala, had exited the company coupled with the resignation of top key management officers of the Company the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Matthew Willsher, Chief Financial Officer Mr. Wole Obasunloye, Director and the 3rd Shareholder/PartnerMr. Hakeem Belo Osagie;

Adeola regretted that although it should ordinarily not be the duty of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to wade into individual debt crisis of private sector businesses; but the Senate is convinced that if this situation is not pr0perly handled, it will have negative implications for the Nigerian Business Environment and on Foreign Investments in Nigeria in general

He also regretted that a loan of this magnitude has the capacity of setting off another Banking crisis in Nigeria, with Banks looking for bailout funds once again.

Believes the Nigerian Business Environment must be protected and insulated from all forms of fraudulent dealings in order to advance the Government’s drive towards promotion of genuine investments in Nigeria;

Regrets that about 4000 jobs are at stake as a result of these suspicious dealings;

He noted that the decision of the core investors to pull out of Nigeria raises issues of suspicion, on the intent of a Company in obtaining a loan facility, defaulting and then pulling out of the country, hoping that their shares would be used to write off the debts.

He said that he is aware of allegations that the loans have been diverted to other uses not related to the business for which the huge loan was obtained, as there was no evidence of what the Company did with the loans,

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said that the Senate must do what it could to protect jobs in the country and work to ensure that the right thing is always done.

October 24, 2017
$25bn contract: Senate postpones probe of NNPC GMD

The Senate Tuesday postponed the planned probe of the Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, over alleged award of $25 billion contract without due process.

The upper chamber also resolved to investigate Baru over alleged insubordination and abuse of office as contained in the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu leaked letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who announced the postponement, said that the investigation will now commence next Tuesday.

The investigative panel to be chaired by Senator Aliyu Wamakko ought to have started Tuesday.

Ekweremadu who presided over the plenary did not give any reason for the sudden postponement.

Sources said that the court case praying the court to stop the Senate from conducting the investigation might have been the reason for the shift.

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki constituted the adhoc panel last week following a resolution of the Senate and public outcry over the award of the alleged shady contract.

The committee was given four weeks to submit its report.

A source said that earlier meeting scheduled last week by the chairman, Wammako, was also called off at the last minute.

Wamakko is yet to address the press about the modalities his committee would adopt to conduct the investigation.

Kachikwu’s letter, addressed to President Buhari was leaked to the press last two weeks.

In the memo, Kachikwu alleged lack of due process in the award of contract valued at over $25 billion by NNPC.

In the August 30, 2017 letter, Kachikwu attributed the slow growth in the oil and gas sector to illegal practices by the departments and agencies under his ministry, especially the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) headed by the GMD of Baru.

He told President Buhari that the country’s petroleum industry would have recorded tremendous progress, but for Baru’s alleged inaction.

Kachikwu who also presented five prayers to the President to save the oil sector from collapse, said he was always being blocked from seeing the President. He said he was disturbed that $25 billion contracts were awarded by Baru without his input and that of the board.

October 17, 2017
Senate criminalises secret recruitment

The Senate Wednesday took steps to stamp out secret and backdoor recruitment of staff into ministries, department and agencies of the Federal Government.

The upper chamber insisted that recruitment process in MDAs must be streamlined to reflect the principles of Federal Character.

It is proposing two year jail term or payment of N300, 000 for any person found guilty of engaging in recruitment without advertisement.

This followed the consideration and passage for second reading a Bill for an Act for regular publication of existing vacant positions in Federal Government offices to ensure transparency and equal opportunities to all Nigerians in the recruitment of new personnel.

The Bill entitled: “Existing Vacancies in the Federal Civil Service (Publication) Bill” is said to be in line with the determination of the 8th Senate to create an enabling environment through legislation that would not only generate but ensure that all qualified job seekers are given access to take advantage of employment opportunities in the country.

It would be recalled that the Senate on Monday, held a roundtable on youth unemployment in the country during which representatives of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of government as well as civil society organizations (CSO) identified root causes of unemployment in the country and proffered a way forward.

The sponsor of the Bill, Senator Biodun Olujimi, in her lead debate said the Bill seeks to mandate the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) to compile and publish a complete list of all vacant positions in the Federal Civil Service and its parastatals once every quarter.

The lawmaker representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, said the Bill when passed into law would make it an offense to fill any vacant position in any Ministry, Parastatals, Corporation and Government department unless it is in accordance with the provisions of the Act under consideration.

She said, “It is common knowledge today that employment in Government parastatals in most cases is not based on merit as god-fatherism, favouritism, nepotism and ethnicity have taken the front burner,” Olujimi lamented.

She noted that “Millions of Nigerian men and women are denied equal opportunities in recruitment today, as most vacancies are not advertised publicly.”

Olujimi insisted that the failure to publish existing vacancies by government agencies has given rise to corruption and fallen standards of education due largely to the fact that educational qualifications are no longer criteria for employment.

“Similarly, the unemployed seek short cuts to gain employment because of the lack of trust in the system,” she stated. “Nigerians engage in all sorts of vices to get their relatives, friends and loved ones into vacant positions and this has been accepted as the general norm. This is unacceptable and should not be allowed to continue.”

Other senators in their contributions bemoaned the rampant incidence of secret recruitment into the Federal Civil Service in the guise of ‘replacement’ and said that the Bill would help restore transparency and equity in federal employments.

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, in his contribution stated that the Bill when passed into law would give millions of Nigerians a sense of belonging in matters of state.

“For the unity of this country, everybody must know that they have a sense of belonging,” Saraki said

The Bill was subsequently referred by Saraki to the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service to report back in four weeks.

October 11, 2017
FG seeks FRA amendment to off-set N2.7 trillion obligations

The Federal Government (FG) is seeking a legal framework for the issuance of promissory note and bond to settle some financial obligations amounting to N2.7 trillion.

This is contained in a letter to the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki written by Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

The letter dated August 4, 2017 and addressed to the Senate President was written when Osinbajo was Acting President.

Saraki read the letter on the floor of the upper chamber on Tuesday a copy of which was obtained by our reporter yesterday.

Entitled “Request for the amendment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act by the National Assembly to give effect to the proposed promissory note and bond issuance programme,” Osinbajo sought expedited treatment of the request by the Senate.

The letter read in part: “I forward herewith, for your kind consideration and passage into law, the Fiscal Responsibility (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

“The proposed amendment is necessitated by the need to commence the programme of promissory note and bond issuance to provide a final solution to the long standing issue of outstanding obligations of the Government that have been quantified at a gross amount of N2.7 trillion.

“This programme has become imperative in view of the seriousness of the accumulation of these obligations, which are inimical to Government plans to revive the economy through the provision of improved and modernised infrastructure; and, at a human capital level, the issue of pension and promotional arrears, which go back as far as 2012, is causing untold hardship among those who have served. It also adversely affects the morale of those currently in service, and on whom we depend to implement Government programmes.

“However, as you are no doubt aware, pension and salary arrears are recurrent expenditure and the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 (FRA) clearly stipulate in section 41(1)(a) and 44(2)(b) that the proceeds of borrowing by Government shall be applied solely towards capital expenditure.

“In this regard, I request that the National Assembly approves the proposed amendment to FRA to provide legal backing for the use of the use of the mentioned instrument in the satisfaction of the accumulated obligations.”

September 28, 2017
Saraki reshuffles committees

Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday rearranged some standing committees of the Senate.

Saraki, who announced the committee alterations on the floor of the upper chamber, named Senator Andy Uba, as chairman, Senate Committee on Interior.

Senator Uba (Anambra South) was formerly chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts before he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Public Accounts committee is statutorily meant to be chaired by the opposition party.

Saraki also named Senator Mathew Urhoghide (Edo South) to replace Uba as chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts.

The outspoken Senator Urhoghide was before the new appointment chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism.

Other appointments included Senator Sabo Mohammed, chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment with Senator Mohammed Sani Mustapha as Vice Chairman; Senator Raji Rasaki, chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism and Senator Solomon Adeola, chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content with Senator Godswill Akpabio as vice chairman.

Senator Adeola was formerly Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications.

The local content committee was extracted from the Committee on Petroleum.

Saraki named Senator Stella Oduah, chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration. Senator Buka Mustapha was announced Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market.

The newly inaugurated Senator Nurudeen Adeleke (Osun West) was named vice chairman, Senate Committee on Communication while Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun East) was named vice chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

The committee rearrangement was in line with Saraki’s promise before the Senate went on recess that the committees would be reshuffled to ensure effective performance.

September 27, 2017
Saraki reshuffles committees

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Tuesday rearranged some standing committees of the Senate.

Saraki who announced the committee alterations on the floor of the upper chamber, named Senator Andy Uba, as chairman, Senate committee on Interior.

Senator Uba (Anambra South) was formerly chairman, Senate committee on Public Accounts before he defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Public Accounts committee is statutorily meant to be chaired by the opposition party.

Saraki also named Senator Mathew Urhoghide, (Edo South) to replace Uba as chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts.

The outspoken Senator Urhoghide was before the new appointment chairman, Senate committee on Culture and Tourism.

Other appointments included Senator Sabo Mohammed, chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment with Senator Mohammed Sani Mustapha as Vice Chairman; Senator Raji Rasaki, Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism, Senator Solomon Adeola, Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content with Senator Godswill Akpabio as Vice Chairman.

Senator Adeola was formerly Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications.

The local content committee was extracted from the committee on petroleum

Saraki named Senator Stella Oduah, chairman, Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration while Senator Buka Mustapha was named Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market.

The newly inaugurated Senator Nurudeen Adeleke (Osun West) was named Vice Chairman, Senate committee on Communications.

Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun East) was named Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

The committee rearrangement was in line with Saraki’s promise before the Senate went on recess that the committees would reshuffled to ensure effective performance.

September 26, 2017