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Tag: Senate president

  • Buhari seeks Senate nod for $12.921b World Bank, Chinese loan

    Buhari seeks Senate nod for $12.921b World Bank, Chinese loan

    President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday asked the Senate to approve a loan of $12.921 billion as part the 2016-2018 external borrowing (rolling) plan of the Federal Government.

    The loan approval request was read by Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki in the chamber Wednesday.

    Entitled “Request for approval for Federal Government 2016-2018 external borrowing rolling plan” President Buhari in the a memo dated 21st April, 2017 referred to his earlier letter on the same subject matter.

    It is however speculated that the request for the approval of the loan was part of the $29.96 billion loan request rejected by the Senate.

    The memo read in part, “I wish to refer to my earlier letter in respect of the above subject and to inform the distinguished Senate that the China-Exim Bank has approved our request for a loan to execute the Lagos-Kano Railway modernisation project (Kano-Kaduna segment) for a sum of $1.231billion.

    “The Chinese have also informed us that approval of the Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project (Kano-Kaduna segment) and coastal Railway project, Lagos-Calabar segment, are imminent.”

    The letter listed China-Exim supported project to include 1. Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project, the Lagos-Ibadan segment, $1.231billion; 2. Lagos-Kano railway modernisation project, Kano-Kaduna segment, $1.146billion; 3. Coastal Railway project, Lagos-Calabar segment $3.474billion; making a total of $5.851billion.

    It added, “As you are aware, the funds available under the China/Africa fund are limited and loan applications from all African countries are funded based on first come first serve. And therefore there is an urgent need for us to sign these loans as soon as they are approved or we will lose out in the event that we delay in signing the loan agreement. These loans form part of our overall rail funding strategy.

    “We are already in the process of completing the concession of the Port Harcourt to Maiduguri line to immediately link the eastern part of the nation. We fully intend to source further consessioning funding to ultimately upgrade this critical line to high speed standard guage line. These projects form part of our overall plans to resuscitate the rail transport across the nation and thereby drive inclusive growth.

    “You may also recall my earlier request for the speedy clearance of some emergency projects earmarked for the North East in the 2016-2018 borrowing plan. You will also recall that my request was based on the need to consolidate the relative peace at that time. Since then the situation as you are aware, has changed dramatically and introduced even more urgency to the situation in the zone than ever before.

    “While the capture and destruction of the stronghold of Boko Haram in Sambisa forest was welcome news, the recent and unfortunate incident of the bombing of an IDP camp by mistake with loss of civilian lives, brings to fore the need to resettle the people back to their homes quickly in other to avoid such incidence in the future.

    “However, for us to be able to do this, there is need for urgent consideration of the identified projects, which will enable us to start reconstruction and rehabilitation of the region in other to create jobs for the people and rehabilitate the schools to get the children of the streets into schools.”

    The letter said that the World Bank has approved a sum of $575million to assist the Federal Government in these reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts as well as for the procurement of vaccines and other ancillary facilities for national routine immunisation to eradicate polio after the outbreak in the North East in 2016.

    It said that the projects earmarked for the emergency rehabilitation and reconstruction in the North East are as follows: Previously requested emergency World Bank supported projects.

    1. Polio eradication support and routine immunisation project, $125million
    2. Community and social development project, $75million
    3. Nigeria’s states health programme investment project $125million.
    4. State education programme investment programme investment project $100million
    5. Nigeria youth employment and social support project $100million
    6. Fadama 3 Project $50million; making a total of $575million

    President Buhari also informed the Senate that “our national Social Safety Net programme, which is intended to assist the poor and most vulnerable people in our society nationwide started this January 2017 with the first cash transfer payments in eight states.

    The President noted that “for us to expand the programme to all the states, we need additional resources in addition to our 2017 budgetary allocation.”

    “It is for this reason that I am requesting your early consideration of a proposed World Bank-assisted $500million loan to help expand the assistance and support to the poor, our most vulnerable especially in these difficult times,” he said.

    He listed additional emergency World Bank supported projects to include, “Social inclusion and welfare advancement project $500million”

    President Buhari noted that giving the current state of the country’s economy and the need to urgently address some of the country’s infrastructural deficiencies in other to quickly improve the livelihood of Nigerians, “it has become imperative that we work together in an expeditious way to get our economy out of recession and back to growth.”

    He appealed to the Senate, for an expeditious consideration and approval of the requests, which he said will go a long way in bringing stability to the North East and improvement on the infrastructure and by extension a great improvement in the economy and livelihood of our people.

    “In view of the above, the Distinguished Senate is invited to urgently consider and approve all the above projects totaling a sum of $6.926billion to enable us commence the construction and rehabilitation of the North East, provide for the poor and most vulnerable people and commence rail projects in ernest,” he said.

  • No apologies for calling for transparency of National Assembly – El-Rufai

    No apologies for calling for transparency of National Assembly – El-Rufai

    …Buhari implementing issues in my memo, says el-Rufai

     

    Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai on Friday said that he has no apology for any National Assembly member offended by his call for transparency.

    According to him, he has the right as a Nigerian to call for such transparency.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after observing the Jumaat prayer with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he said that it would be in the interest of the lawmakers to make public their earnings in the face of the bogus salaries allegations.

    He said “There is nothing like falling out with the National Assembly, first of all I am a state governor and do not have any direct relationship with the national assembly. They don’t legislate for me specifically. I don’t have any relationship that is negative or positive with the National Assembly.

    “The National Assembly is the legislature of the federation and we have very good relations with the legislators. There are senators from my state and there are representatives and I meet regularly with those of them that are ready to meet with me. Here, beside me are Senators Abu Ibrahim and Marafa.

    “If I have problem with the National Assembly they will not be standing beside me. So there is no problem. The issue is what I did last Friday was to ask the leadership of the national Assembly to fulfil the promise that they made themselves to publish the details of their budget and asking for that is my duty as a citizen. Every Nigerian is entitled to ask that question,” he said.

    He went on “It is in the National Assembly’s interest to actually publish it because there are rumours of bogus amounts of money that they are getting which I do not believe is true. I think that the best way to kill that rumour is to publish the details of their budget but some people took exception to that call for transparency and I have no apologies because as citizens we have the right to demand for transparency for how resources are being spent.

    “This one hundred billion or so budget of the National Assembly is money belonging to the people of Nigeria and every Nigerian has the right to ask and I am exercising that right as a citizen not even as a governor.”

    He explained that he had no problem with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

    “I have no problem with the Speaker. He is my kid brother, he respects me and I respect him, I have no problem with the Senate President, we worked together in the past and I am confident that we will work together in the future in the interest of Nigeria.

    “But demand for accountability is not a problem and should not be construed to be undermining or any such thing. It is only someone who has something to hide that will do things like that and I don’t believe that the National Assembly has things to hide,” he added

    The Governor also maintained that there is no rift between him and President Buhari.

    He said “There is no strain in my ties with the President. The villa is a bigger place. Within the villa there are people that like me and there are those who don’t and it is normal. My relationship with the President has never been strained in anyway.

    “I met with him last night, I did not talk about things like that but our relationship with him is like that of father and son and it is privilege for me. I told him I will come today for the Jumaat and I did.”

    On how he was received by the President, he said “As usual with great warmth and graciousness and I am grateful for that.

    Asked why he wrote such a letter to the President, he said that it was a well-meaning memo aimed at ensuring development of the country.

    Even though he faulted those who leaked the private memo to the public, he said that most issues raised in it are already been implemented by the government.

    He said “It was a private memo and it is not a letter. If you want to ask any question about it you ask those who leaked the memo because I wrote it seven months ago. I have written similar memos to the President in the past and none of them got leaked. He knows that he can count on me to give him my views of what is out there that he may not hear and to give him sound advice without any interest on my part.

    “If anyone reads that memo he will see that there is nothing in the memo that has anything to do other than the success of Mr. President and progress of the country. That is my goal, my motive and I am driven by that. I stand behind the President to the very end.

    On whether his views in the letter have changed since he wrote it, he said “Yes, I believe that since September last year when I wrote the letter, there have been significant improvement in the delivery of services at the federal level as I said some of our federal programmes have started
    in earnest.

    “Social protection for instance, the N-Power, budget releases has been accelerated, this is an unprecedented move, the minister of finance has released up to about a trillion naira of capital budget. In September last year, little or nothing had been released and that was part of my concern, since then the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan has been done and published.

    “At the time I wrote the memo there was no five year plan for the country, since then the government has moved ahead to change some of the appointees of President Jonathan in parastatals. This is something that we were worried about, many of us in APC felt that we were in office but not in power because the people that Jonathan appointed were still running most of our key agencies.

    “From September till date even up until yesterday there has been significant improvement. So there is improvement and I believe that part of what I recommended to the President is being implemented, whether because of my memo or not, it is being implemented and the country is moving forward and I am grateful to God for it.” he said

    On how he felt about the leakage of the letter in contrast with secrecy oath of office, he said “I am disappointed that a private communication to the highest office in the land can be leaked and it was leaked from the Villa, I am told by those that published it, but this is a fact of life. We live in an
    age where anything you write or say can be leaked. It is ok, my intentions are clear, I have no ill motive but I wanted to communicate with the President what many Nigerians are talking about and what steps can be taken to improve governance of the country and move the country forward.

    “That was my motive and if tomorrow like I said I see anything that the President needs to know I will discuss with him and I will articulate and put it into writing and on the record for him to
    have a reminder document to work on. I have no regrets and I have no apologies.”

    Against the belief that he was stopped for some months from coming to the Villa, he said that he was not stopped and that nobody can stop him.

    He said “No, no one ever stopped me from coming to the villa and no one can stop me from coming to villa. As a governor I come here, I have blank cheques, no one checks me at the gate but I believe what the President needs is for those that love him to keep away from him and allow him to rest.

    “The President needs quality time to rest because it is meeting too many people that strains leadership. I am a governor and I know that when I meet 10 people in a day I get really tired, it is not the paperwork, it is not really the memos approving them or asking questions that strain a leader, it is the stream of visitors.

    “I do not want to contribute to the President’s problem by coming here every day. I am in touch with him, I know everything going on and I do not think I should add to his burden. Most of the time I come to visit the President I do not come to the office, I go to see him at home.

    “I think and I appeal to all of us that love the President to please allow him some space so that he will recover. We need him and the country needs him, it is in our interest for the stability of the
    country, we should just let him be. It is absolutely necessary lets us leave him to do his work in the privacy of his room or his office without strings of visitors. Visitors stress leaders,” he said.

     

     

  • Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki since 2015

    Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki since 2015

    Olubukola Abubakar “Bukola” Saraki (born December 19, 1962) is a Nigerian politician who has been President of the Senate of Nigeria since 2015 and Chairman of the 8th National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria. He disclosed commitment to Transparency and Accountability.

    In 2003, he ran for the office of governor of Kwara State on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and won. He was sworn into office in May 2003. He ran again for re-election in 2007 and won his second term.

    As governor of Kwara, he led reforms in agriculture, health, education, power, finance and environment policy. One of his major achievements was inviting displaced white farmers from Zimbabwe to Kwara State and offering them an opportunity to farm. This led to the establishment of Shonga Farms programme, which is now being replicated across Nigeria. His charisma among his fellow governors got him appointed the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum.

    Under Saraki, Kwara became the first state to complete the Nigeria Independent Power Project. In collaboration with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Saraki re-energised the Ganmo Power Station at Ilorin and connected over 375 rural communities to the national grid through the development and installation of 725 transformers and 7 substations. Kwara also completed 4 electrification projects which meant power became stable 18–22 hours a day. 90% of people living in Kwara have access to electricity, compared to a national average in Nigeria of 30%.

    He was first elected to the Senate in April 2011, representing the Kwara Central senatorial district, and re-elected in the March 2015 elections. He is a current member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and previous member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    In 2012, Saraki was appointed onto the leadership council of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, an initiative led by the United Nations Foundation supporting public-private partnerships to create a market for clean cookstoves and fuels. In 2013, Saraki established GLOBE Nigeria as an affiliate of the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE International), establishing a platform for legislators to advance environmental and sustainable development laws in Nigeria. He currently serves as GLOBE Nigeria’s President. Saraki has also spoken and campaigned internationally on issues such as better governance, deforestation and economic development.

    The Code of Conduct Bureau cited a 13-count charge of corruption against Mr. Saraki. In charge number ABT/01/15, dated September 11, 2015, and filed before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Saraki is accused of offences ranging from the anticipatory declaration of assets to making false declaration of assets in forms Saraki had filed with the Code of Conduct Bureau while he was governor of Kwara state. He was also accused of failing to declare some assets he acquired while in office as governor, acquiring assets beyond his legitimate earnings, and accused of operating foreign accounts while being a public officer.

    An official of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Peter Danladi, stated in a court affidavit that the investigation of the various petitions of corruption, theft, money laundering, among others, against Saraki in 2010, was conducted jointly by the officials of the EFCC, CCB and the DSS. “The EFCC conducted its investigation on the various petitions and made findings which showed that the defendant/applicant abused his office, while he was the governor of Kwara State and was involved in various acts of corruption as the governor of the state. The defendant/applicant borrowed huge sums of money running into billions from commercial banks, particularly Guaranty Trust Bank, and used the proceeds of the loan to acquire several landed properties in Lagos, Abuja and London, while he was the governor of Kwara State.

    Saraki is very active on Social Media through his Official Twitter Handle: @bukolasaraki

  • Lawyers group decries Senate’s failure to swear-in senator elect

    Lawyers group decries Senate’s failure to swear-in senator elect

    • Threatens to drag Saraki to court for contempt

    Human Right Lawyers and civil society groups on Monday asked Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to respect court order directing him to swear-in senator-elect, Bassey Etim, in the interest of rule of law.

    The group threatened to drag Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, to court for allegedly refusing to inaugurate Etim despite a court order for him to do so.

    The Human right lawyers who spoke in Abuja at a press briefing described as an unacceptable alleged refusal of Saraki to swear-in Etim even with a duly issued certificate of return for Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District.

    Coordinator of Human Right Lawyers, Frank Tietie told reporters that Saraki was trampling on rule of law for allegedly refusing to swear-in Etim.

    He recalled that on 27th, February 2017, the Federal High Court, Uyo Division in a well-considered judgement ordered among others that a certificate of return be issued to Senator-elect Bassey Etim by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    He said that the same court nullified the certificate of return issued to Senator Bassey Albert.

    Tietie noted that INEC in obedience to the court order issued Basset Etim a fresh certificate of return on March 6th, 2017.

    He said that the Senate President has however delayed the swearing-in of Senator-elect Bassey Etim without any justifiable reason or excuse under the law.

    He said that on 31st March 2017, the Federal High Court in Uyo dismissed the application for stay of execution filed by Bassey Akpan to stop swearing-in Senator-elect Bassey Etim as the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East.

    He said: “It has come to our knowledge that series of letters have been written and advice given to the Senate President to swear-in senator-elect Bassey Etim but the Senate President has refused to do the needful.

    “It is worthy to mention that all relevant documents have been put before the Senate President. These include enrolled court order from Federal High Court, Uyo order for striking out of the application for stay of execution, order for the refusal of the injunction by the Federal High Court Judge in Abuja, Certificate of return from INEC.”

    Tietie noted that it is obvious that precedent has been set in the swearing-in of senators who have won pre-election matters and issued with a certificate of return.

    He said, “Just to mention but a few is the case of Kogi East in a case between Senator Isaac Alfa vs Senator Atai Aidoko. In this situation, stay of execution was pending in court and appeals were also pending in both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. We believe that their swearing-in was right because appeal does not in law operate as the order for stay of execution.”

    Tietie insisted that in view of the precedent already set by the Senate similar to the instant case of Etim, Senate ought to be consistent and swear-in Senator-elect Etim immediately.

    He said that they have been duly informed that the delay to swear-in Etim is predicated upon giving Senator Akpan opportunity to procure an order of injunction to restrain the swearing-in Etim.

    According to him, “since Albert Akpan has failed to produce injunctive order to restrain the swearing-in of Senator-elect Etim, we hereby call on the Senate President to swear-in Senator-elect Etim forthwith in accordance with the rule of law for the sustenance of our nascent democracy.”

  • Saraki Tasks GLOBE Nigeria on Climate Change Bill

    Saraki Tasks GLOBE Nigeria on Climate Change Bill

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Monday tasked the Global Legislators Organisation (GLOBE) Nigeria, to tackle the challenges of climate change, gas flaring and others affecting sustainable development goals in Nigeria.

    The Global Legislators Organization (GLOBE) is an international organization comprising national parliamentarians from over 80 countries committed to developing and overseeing the implementation of laws in pursuit of sustainable development.

    According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, Saraki urged the members of the organisation not to relent in their effort to address the challenges posed by climate change, gas flaring and sustainable development in Nigeria through the provisions of purposeful legislations.

    Saraki urged the group to fashion out legislations that would address issues of climate change as is the situation all over the world.

    He said: “A lot of pronouncements have been made by the government, and by the last National Assembly without legislative backing and we will just continue to see this as mere pronouncements. Am aware that as legislators that meet and discuss issues on Climate, we are the first country in West Africa and am happy with the kind of report the network is receiving.

    “We want Nigeria to become the major hub of Globe Worldwide, to provide leadership in Africa.  Some of the things we see here, even in the sub-Sahara Africa, countries have gone so far in some of these legislations on the Climate  Change and sustainable developments.

    “Am very happy of what I heard today on the close work between the Senate and the House of Representatives to see that Climate Change is addressed through  legislative processes.

    “In Nigeria, we need to know that we have lots of work to do and I think that it can only be done with an organisation like this which is non-political or seeking the interest of one party, so that we can do what is best for our country”, Saraki said.

    President of the Globe Nigeria, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, appealed to the Senate President  to support the Climate Change Bill which will be introduced concurrently soon at both chambers of the National Assembly.

    Ibrahim said:  “You may recall our unique and desperate situation regarding the effect of Climate Change on our people. Very recently, Nigeria recorded more than 300 deaths as a result of meningitis outbreak; this epidemic cannot be unconnected to our worsening climate and heat waves.

    “As a purpose-driven caucus of the Nigerian parliament, we have a responsibility to protect our people through effective legislation and oversight on climate-induced diseases, migration, conflicts and food insecurity.

    “Climate Change is one of the flagship issues the GLOBE Organization has been advocating support for since its establishment and we will be happy to pull some political support from you for the upcoming Climate Change Bill”, he stated.

    Other bills lined up for the Senate President’s support, he said,  includes the Gas Flaring Prohibition Bill, Access to Clean Energy Services and Technology Bill as well as an intervention on natural capital and sustainable development.

    Senator Ibrahim assured the Senate President that the vision with which he established GLOBE Nigeria would be pursued with utmost dedication and commitment.

    He said that the GLOBE Nigeria would  ensure that funds approved and released to the group  is judiciously used and in the spirit of engaging with only the things that will uphold the Nigerian legislature and associated social impact on the lives of the people.

     

  • We obeyed party’s directive to remove Ndume – APC senators

    We obeyed party’s directive to remove Ndume – APC senators

    A caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators on Wednesday told the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun that they obeyed the directives from the Party to replace Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as Senate leader.
    This was disclosed at the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Chief Oyegun while Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, led APC Senators to the closed door meeting.
     
    A source who attended the meeting told The Nation that “the meeting was not as smooth as Chief Oyegun painted it.”
     
    Oyegun had sued for a ceasefire in what he referred to as “the kind of abuse being used on one institution of government or the other.”
     
    He also told reporters that the meeting was “robust and addressed salient issues” affecting the smooth working relationship between the Senate and the executive arm of government.
     
    Findings showed that the Senate caucus blamed the party leadership for the frosty relationship between it and the Presidency.
     
    It was learnt that the caucus pointedly accused the party leadership of “double-standard” in its dealing with the relationship between the two arms of government.
     
    It was also gathered that the removal of Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume as the Senate Leader and his subsequent suspension featured prominently at the meeting.
     
    The APC caucus, it was learnt, told Oyegun that he was in a position to defend the removal of Ndume since the caucus merely obeyed party directive to effect leadership change.
     
    The source noted that it was the position of the caucus that “instead of defending the removal of Ndume and replacing him with Senator Ahmed Lawan as directed by the party, what the Caucus has been receiving are unwarranted attacks and attempts to run down the institution of the Senate.”
     
    APC Senators loyal to Saraki, it was learnt, used the opportunity of the meeting to poor out their indignation and frustration against Oyegun.
     
    On the suspension of Ndume, the source said that there may be “no going back” on Ndume’s suspension going by the body language of the majority of the caucus members.
  • I can’t reverse Ndume’s suspension, Says Saraki

    I can’t reverse Ndume’s suspension, Says Saraki

    …Crisis inevitable for development, says Dogara

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday said that he has no power to reverse the suspension of Senator Ali Ndume from the Senate.

    Ndume was recently suspended for six months by the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Saraki said that the issue of Ndume’s suspension was beyond him.

    He said “We should try and understand how the parliament works, I wish I had such powers these powers you give me I wish I had them, the President or Speaker is first among equals they are just presiding officers but unfortunately you know the legislative arm is the youngest people don’t understand, people give us this powers that we have, decisions that are taken in plenary is decision of all but I have a role to be able to convey the message.

    “I will convey the message of the visit of the Governor of Borno and the Senate is one, we are all one family there will be issues like that, there is nothing that is sacrosanct or rigid.” he said

    He also disclosed that the National Assembly is working hard on the 2017 Budget.

    According to him, one of the reasons for visiting the President is to let him know how far the National Assembly has gone on the 2017 budget.

    He said “We are on course as you note last week we did ask all the sub committees to submit their reports to appropriation all that has been done now, it’s now collation and review then hopefully it will be passed very soon.

    On the suspension of screening of Resident Electoral Commissioners, he said “As I said this is a routine meeting, there are many things that is important but there are other things that is even more important to do which is the budget.

    “We talked also about the INEC bill that we have passed I took the president through some of the areas, very important areas because you know the President over many years is somebody that has gone to many elections and seen, so that was something he was really excited about, some of the new amendments like electronic voting, talks about electronic process for collation, those are landmark achievements that we hope that very soon the House will concur and will all come here for the President to assent.

    “Some of these other issues it will happen but I don’t think it’s a major issue, but we are still moving ahead and still consulting.” he said

    On his views on the reconciliatory committee set up, he said “Good development, but like I said there will always be issues on one or two things, it doesn’t mean that it is the foundation of it, when you have an arm of government that has to do with confirmation there will always be, for example the NDDC bill we rejected 3 people from NDDC we keep on moving, we are all part of one government that is why despite all these, still major decisions are taken, like I said we did a critical amendments on INEC by Tuesday or Wednesday. For the first time in the history of the legislature, we are going to lay a report on the PIB for consideration, it has never happened, for the past 20 years it has not gotten to this stage, so its work in progress for the interest of Nigeria.

    “Don’t let us get distracted by one or two infractions, it’s bound to happen, even America that we are copying even today as we are watching, see what is happening on the Supreme court these are things that happen on the part of democracy but I can reassure Nigerians that it’s just a drop in the ocean, it is not an issue that should stir the whole nation, be rest assured.

    Asked if the relationship between legislature and executive is cordial, he said “It is cordial, you cannot examine it based on NDDC, based on EFCC, we have other issues, we have ministerial nominees that we are going to be working on, we have the budget that is more important, we have INEC, PIB we have so many important things and I think it’s a mixture of all that should guide us, don’t let us over heat on some of these issues.”

    Speaking further on his visit to the Villa, he said “As you know this is a routine, it’s part of the consultation and collaboration that we observed that has helped in improving the workings together, it’s just a routine and review, most important issue now is the budget.”

    Also speaking with journalists, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu ‎Dogara, said that his visit to the seat of power was routine.

    He said “It baffles me when people see you visit Mr. President they will think something is wrong, nothing is wrong, it is routine visits‎.

    According to him, the face-off between the executive and legislature over the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, is not a crisis.

    He said “You might look at it as crisis but I don’t look at it as crisis. You know I have always said this that as a government our value will be the problems we have solve.

    “We can’t be remembered for avoiding, we can’t be remembered for running away from problems, it is only when‎ we provide solution to some of the things you refer to as crisis and we look at it as opportunities to begin the new that people will now remember us for putting down enduring legacies.

    “But when we run away from everything that appears to be trouble we will not make it.

    Asked whether he has solved the problem from the meeting,  he said “I tell you they will overcome it. I’m not in the Senate and I am not the Spokesperson for the Senate so the Senate will speak for themselves.

    On whether the planned protest against the National Assembly was manipulated from outside, he said “I wouldn’t know, this is a democracy we are running and we have to open the space to civil society, to everyone who feel aggrieved to be able to air his grievances.

    “So, if they have grievances against the institution of the legislature we will take it. You see the point is we should never run away from crisis, crisis are always wonderful opportunities for us to begin the new, for us to set new boundaries, for us to begin to examine things in a new way.

    “So we should welcome crisis, they are the engines that always propel growth and progress. So if anyone think he has issues with the national assembly let him come and we will have the opportunity to explain, that is the beauty of democracy,” he said.

  • Buhari, Dogara meet in Aso Villa

    Buhari, Dogara meet in Aso Villa

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    It was also gathered that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki was expected to join the meeting.

    Dogara arrived the Villa at exactly 12 noon.

    The meeting may not be unconnected with the face-off between the Executive and the legislative arms of government.

    The grey areas included the summons of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, who was to appear in uniform, the rejection of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the extension of tenure of a Permanent Secretary by the President which the House of Representatives is currently kicking against.

    The Presidency last week set up a committee to meet with the leadership of both Chambers of the National Assembly to reach a compromise on the issues.

    The committee chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has membership including ex-lawmakers in the cabinet.

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

  • Police nab impersonators of Tinubu, Saraki, Amaechi, others

    Police nab impersonators of Tinubu, Saraki, Amaechi, others

    The police have arrested five suspects for allegedly impersonating the All Progressives Congress leader, Ahmed Tinubu, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and others.

    The suspects have also allegedly defrauded their victims of over N20million in the last six months.

    The suspects arrested are; High Chief Ovie Ogo, Abdullazeez Eragbe, Babatunde  Oshamoto,   Samuel Idah and Prince Attah a.k.a Maurice who is based in United Kingdom and currently at large.

    Items recovered from them include 14 assorted G.S.M sets, all with sim cards registered with the names of top Government officials and other prominent Nigerians, several extra registered sim cards and a diary containing phone numbers of several top government officials and prominent persons in the country.

    The police noted that the suspects confessed to the crime admitting to have impersonated several prominent citizens.

    Speaking on how the arrest was made, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood said: ” On 28 of March, the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on the of cracked and arrested the notorious suspected criminals who posed as chief of staff to President, Senate President, National Security Adviser to President, Minister of petroleum, Minister of Finance, Minister of Transport, Chief Bola Tinubu, and many other prominent Nigerians.

    “In a coordinated operation in synergy with the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) after a painstaking and sustained surveillance by IRT the suspects were arrested.

    “The four man gang notorious syndicate led by one High Chief Ovie Ogo ( Eze Ireoma of Omoku-Rivers state) was arrested in an Hotel in Kaduna State.”

    Highlighting the roles they played, Moshood said: “High Chief Ovie Ogo (Eze Ireoma of Omoku-Rivers state) 47yrs native of Omoku Rivers State who impersonates Prominent Citizens from the South-South and Southeast.

    “Abdulazeez Eragbe 40yrs impersonates prominent citizens from the North, born and brought up in Kaduna speaks Hausa fluently and Babatunde Oshamoto 49yrs impersonates prominent citizens from the South West and North Central.

    He added: “Samuel Idah 25yrs supplies them with Sim cards registered with the names of the prominent Citizens.”

    On some of their operation, the Force Spokesman said: “Chief Ovie Ogo confessed that he posed as the National Security Adviser and collected ₦13,000,000 from a Ghanaian who wants to get an Oil block in Nigeria.

    “The gang also posed as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and collected ₦4,000,000 from one man who is seeking Federal appointment.

    “They equally posed as Chief of Staff to the President and collected ₦2,500,000 from another individual, who is looking for contract.

    He added: “The suspects again posed as the Chief of Staff to president and collected #700,000 from one young man who is also seeking Federal appointment.”

    The police while noting that investigation is being intensified to arrest other suspects at large added those arrested will be charged to court on completion of investigation.

    The police also urged members of the public to be careful and verify the identity of those they may wish to transact business or relate with.

     

  • 2015 budget: Saraki gives marching orders to committees

    2015 budget: Saraki gives marching orders to committees

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday gave marching order to Senate standing committees to submit their reports on the 2017 budget proposal to the appropriations committee.

    Saraki who gave the order during Senate plenary, noted that compliance by committees yet to turn in their reports would hasten legislative work on the budget proposal.

    The announcement was said to be part of the decision of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives that met in Saraki’s house on Wednesday.

    A source said that part of the resolution of the joint leadership meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives was to ensure that the 2017 budget was passed earlier than that of 2016.

    He said that committees were to submit their reports to the appropriation committee latest yesterday failing which the appropriation committee would be free to adopt what the executive submitted.

    The 2016 budget was passed end of March, 2016. It was however rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari and returned to the National Assembly.

    The second passage of the same budget proposal was passed April ending 2016 and assented to by President Buhari on May 6th 2016.

    He insisted that should any committee fail to comply to submit its report before the end of work Thursday, the appropriations committee would go ahead to consider and adopted the original proposal made by the executive.

    Saraki said: “All committees yet to complete work on the 2017 budget proposal are hereby requested to submit their reports unfailingly today to the appropriations committee.

    “The committees numbering over twenty or thereabout should endeavour to submit their reports, or the appropriations committee will be left with no option but to consider original estimates sent in by the executive.”

    Most of the defaulting committees had claimed that their inability to submit their reports was due the refusal of the MDAs under them to appear to defend their budgets.