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Tag: Senator Solomon Adeola

  • Siege of underdevelopment is broken in Ogun West, says Adeola

    Siege of underdevelopment is broken in Ogun West, says Adeola

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Ogun West), has stated that the siege of underdevelopment and marginalisation that had been the lots of the people of Yewa- Awori in Ogun West Senatorial District since the creation of the state is over with his representation and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Delivering an address at the Third Session of the 12th Synod of the Diocese of Yewa, The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) with the theme: “The siege is broken” at Rev Fry Memorial Anglican Church, Ishaga- Orile in Ogun State, the senator said that since his coming back home from Lagos two years ago under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu and his complementary delivery of democracy dividends with Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Yewaland people and all parts of the Senatorial district has witnessed unprecedented infrastructural and socio-economic development.

    Senator Adeola, popularly called Yayi by his admirers, said about five years ago, when he was still a senator representing Lagos State, he was similarly invited to chair the Second Session of the 11th Synod at Ilaro-Yewa, adding that waiting on the Lord by the faithful paid off in the end as is the case with the people of Ogun West.

    “At the time of that Synod in Ilaro, I was the Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District in Lagos State. It was a trying time that I made efforts to come back home to render service for my people in Yewaland, Ogun West and indeed, Ogun State. Today, by the special grace of God Almighty and the votes of the people, I am the Senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District in Ogun State. We waited on the Lord and he answered us in his own time.

    READ ALSO; Tinubu’s 2027 landscape: Reform, resistance and the road ahead

    The waiting is over and in the last two years we can sing “Come and See What the Lord has done” in Yewaland and Ogun West.” he stated.

    Reflecting on the text that informed the theme of the Synod taken from 2 Chronicles 20:15-25, Adeola said just as the Lord fought for the people of Israel and Judah against a host of powerful and hostile enemies, Almighty God has been fighting for him, the people of Yewaland and Ogun West since he became their senator two years ago adding that everyone can attest to the tremendous development that the senatorial district and elsewhere has witnessed in the areas of infrastructural development particularly construction of roads, school buildings, healthcare centres, ICT Centres, ultra-modern markets, town halls and Police Stations, electricity and solar lights, among others.

     “Our mega empowerment programmes for our constituents also look like spoils collected by the Israelites after God destroyed their enemies with reference to 2 Chronicles 20: 25. As it is, the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu is yielding positive results and so far, prevented the economic collapse that faced the nation two years ago. The bold and innovative policies of the President like the removal of oil subsidy, floating of exchange rates, student loan, consumer credit and massive infrastructural development, signing the minimum wage law among others, have positioned the nation’s economy on the path of steady and sustainable growth. And to the Glory of God, we are part of the direct beneficiaries of the Renewed Hope Agenda on Infrastructure” he stated.

    While urging the cleric to continue to pray for our nation, our armed forces and all leaders as they seek solutions to the problem of insurgency, kidnappings and other criminal vices assailing our society, Adeola commended the governor of the state Prince Abiodun for his giant strides in bringing development to our people in Ogun in general and Yewaland in particular, adding:  “Our people are witnesses to your rehabilitation of structures in the educational and health sectors, the completed housing projects and more importantly road construction and rehabilitation with references to Ilashe-Koko- Alari Road in Ipokia, Imasayi-Ayetoro Road and ongoing work on Ilaro-Owode Road, Afa Bridge, Ipokia, Oke Ola Road, Imeko, internal road of State Hospital, Ilaro, Renovation of State Hospital, Ilaro and the Atan-Lusada-Agbara Road, among others,”

    Earlier, the  Bishop of Yewa Diocese, The Rt. Revd Michael Oluwarohunbi said Adeola infrastructural interventions and empowerment programmes has helped in breaking the siege of Yewaland adding that the advent of Yayi in Ogun State is God’s answer to the prayers of the people that had changed the narratives.

    “There is an infrastructural revolution in Yewaland courtesy of Yayi. He has brought the first federal university through his representation to Ogun West, a sign of broken siege” the Bishop added.

  • Nigeria ‘ll soon begin crude oil extraction in Ogun Tongeji Island – Senator Adeola

    Nigeria ‘ll soon begin crude oil extraction in Ogun Tongeji Island – Senator Adeola

    Senator Solomon Adeola (Ogun West) has assured extraction of crude oil will also begin at Tongeji Island, located in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State. 

    Adeola, who spoke on Tuesday in Otta at a Town Hall Meeting, Mega Empowerment and Thank You train in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, said modalities are being worked out to begin crude oil drilling at the island near the border between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

    The senator attributed the feat to the economic reforms by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration and the investor-friendly government of Governor Dapo Abiodun.

    He hailed the President for taking audacious steps to give the economy a new direction while praising Abiodun for espousing the infrastructural and socioeconomic development of Ogun State.

    Read Also; 2027: Oyo APC endorses Tinubu for second term

    The senator said while President Tinubu has attracted more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigeria under two years in office, Abiodun has transformed Ogun into the best investor destination of choice.

    He, however, noted that when the drilling activities commence in the oil-rich Tongeji Island, Ogun State will witness astronomical economic growth and prosperity while Nigeria’s crude oil production will soar.

    On the empowerment programme, Adeola explained that he decided to decentralise the programme to empower more constituents in the senatorial district.

    He added that the programme was also facilitated to reward the people of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area as one of the five LGAs in the senatorial district, for their support during the 2023 general election.

    Reeling out his achievements as the senator, Adeola said that the largest project he facilitated is situated in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

    He informed the constituents that 15 road projects have been completed as his constituency projects, while 9 road projects are ongoing in different locations in LGA.

    The senator informed  N26billion has been mobilised for the construction of Atan-Ikonga-Alapoti-Ado-Odo Road, submitting that when the road project is completed, it will enhance the socio-economic development of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

    While assuring the people that he will continue to offer qualitative representation at the Senate, Adeola informed that “I moved 10 bills under two years and 70 percent of them have scaled second reading”.

  • Adeola targets 10,000 constituents for free health programme

    Adeola targets 10,000 constituents for free health programme

    Over 10,000 constituents of Ogun West are expected to benefit from the second edition of Senator Solomon Adeola’s (APC – Ogun West) four-day Free Health Outreach Programme, this week, it was learnt yesterday.

    The lawmaker disclosed the details of the programme at the weekend during a meeting with medical personnel scheduled to implement the health initiative.

    The programme, according to him, is billed to take place simultaneously across the five local governments in the senatorial district this week.

    He said the programme, which would hold concurrently in a decentralised format from tomorrow till Friday, would take place at four venues in each local government of the senatorial district, namely Yewa South, Yewa North, Ado-Odo Ota, Ipokia and Imeko Afon councils.

    Adeola said the activities lined up for the programme included free medical consultations, blood pressure screening, malaria infection treatment with free drugs, eye screening and free eye glasses, as well as health talk and counselling.

    He said other aspects of the health initiative included free drugs for anaemia, pain, hypertension, diabetes and arthritis for six months.

    Read Also: Top 10 African countries with highest number of women in parliaments

    The senator stressed that constituents were enjoined to troop out to benefit from the initiative that had been brought to their doorsteps.

    “This health outreach programme is targeted at reaching the highest number of citizens with health care as another dividend of democracy beyond infrastructure and empowerment.

    “Good health is of critical importance to enjoy other dividends of democracy. I have facilitated health infrastructure such as primary healthcare centres (PHC), intensive care units (ICUs), ambulances and provision of drugs for hospitals.

    “But all these can only be accessed with knowledge and bringing services closer to constituents,” Adeola said, according to a statement by his media adviser, Kayode Odunaro, in Abuja.

  • Adeola seeks help for victims

    SENATOR Solomon Adeola popularly known as Yayi on Thursday appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to urgently mobilise to Ijegun to assist victims of the pipeline fire.

    In a statement by his media aide, Kayode Odunaro, Adeola said: “It is quite unfortunate that this kind of explosion is now a recurring decimal in my Senatorial district with regrettable loss of lives and millions of naira in private property without any compensation for victims.

    “The last time was about a year ago in Alagbado area with massive loss of property.

    Read Also: Victims of Benue tanker explosion get mass burial

    “As a temporary measure, I call on NEMA to send relief materials for residents of the area now displaced and suffering from the trauma of early hours of the day explosion and conflagration. ”

    The senator asked the NNPC, Petroleum Products Marketing Company, (PPMC) and owners of private tank farms in the area to work out modern methods of securing and monitoring their facilities, particularly the several kilometres of pipelines which are susceptible to vandalism.

    “In the interim, NNPC should reconsider the use of local security/ vigilantes and communities to monitor and secure pipelines from sabotage by vandals,” he said.

  • You have right to query me, Adeola tells constituents

    Senate Committee on Local Content Chairman Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West) has stated that his constituents are free to question and correct him in any areas of shortcoming in the performance of his legislative and representative duties.

    He spoke while addressing members of his campaign team, comprising 20 Local Government Areas/ Local Government Council Development Areas (LCDAs) coordinators,33 social media volunteers, 185 ward coordinators and posters posting gang at a “Thank You Party” in his Senatorial District Office in Ikeja.

    Lagos West is adjudged the largest senatorial district in Nigeria in terms of population.

    Adeola urged his constituents to bring germane issues relating to bills of interest, motions and petitions to his notice with the assurance that they would be expeditiously attended to.

    He added that henceforth his senatorial office would be more operational with assigned days for constituents to have face-to-face interactions with him.

    “I want to urge all my constituents to visit my social media handles for information on my performance and issues that affects my representation in the Senate. I will have special days for attending to my constituents and this will be on a first come first serve basis.

    “As a senator representing over 14 million constituents, the queue may be long but it will be strictly to address constituent concerns and suggestions,” the senator stated.

    The senator thanked members of the campaign team for their work during the campaign and also hailed the electorate for voting the APC.

  • $16bn Egina project: Senate seeks suspension of further variations

    …To recommend deportation of SamSung MD

     

    The Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Investigation of Local Content Element on Egina Oil Field and other Related Project has directed the stoppage of further variations on the Total Upstream Nigeria Limited $16.3 Billion Egina Deep Sea Oil Project.

    The committee said that the recommendation followed the submission of its interim report presented to the Senate.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Solomon Adeola, disclosed this at a stakeholder’s meeting on the Senate resolution to pay consultants to do a”Value for Money Audit” of the Egina project.

    Adeola noted that after $2billion variation on the project as contained in the interim report there are proposal for another $1billion variation/

    He insisted that there is need to get detailed explanation of the variations by various sub-contractors to Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, the major operator of the project.

    He said that the audit will last for 16 weeks by consultants paid for by the Senate to ensure independent account instead of such being carried out by NNPC/NAPIMS as required by the contractual agreement adding that over the five year period of the project no audit of any kind has been carried out.

    Read Also:Senate queries Total over Nigerian content of Engina $16b project

    Adeola also indicated that the committee will detail the alleged “illegal status of a foreigner, one Young Ho Jo, who claimed to be the managing director of Samsung Nigeria Limited and has been working in Nigeria for the past two months without fulfilling legal requirements for such as testified by the Nigeria Content Development Monitoring Board (NCMDB) to the Ministry of Interior for possible deportation as an illegal alien.”

    “The man came to us to say he is the MD of Samsung and his documentation could not be completed because of the breakdown of the machines of NCMDB but the NCMBD wrote to us that their machine had never broken down in the period claimed showing that the man has contravene the Local Content law,” Adeola said.

    He said that Mr. Nicolas Terraz, the managing director of Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, stated that as the major operator of the project he will continue to assist the committee in its investigations.

    He said that Tarraz told the committee that the goal of Total Upstream is to deliver the project expected to produce 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day while its FPSO have a holding capacity of 2million barrel.

    He said that Eng. Gbolahan Okesanya, the representative of NNPC/NAPIMS told the committee  that they will ensure that maximum cooperation is given to the audit team of the Senate when it commence work.

    He said that Okesanya added that the goal of the audit team tallies with that of NNPC/NAPIMS in its regulation of the oil industry.

  • Senate seeks forensic audit of $16bn Egina oil field variation

    The Senate on Wednesday resolved to demand for full audit of the 16 billion Egina oil field contract.

    The upper chamber said that value for money audit be approved for proper examination by reputable firms in the areas of technical, financial and project management aspects of the contract.

    This is contained in the interim report of the senate ad-hoc committee that investigated the local content elements and cost variation of the Egina oil field contract.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Solomon Adeola, presented the interim report of the ad-hoc committee for consideration of the senate.

    The Egina Oil Field projected is located on OML130 and covering an area of about 500 sq. miles is said to be the largest oil and gas development project currently in the country.

    The project was launched in 2013, with a target to commence operation in 2018.

    Read Also: Total’s Egina FPSO arrives

    The committee noted that at inception, the project was estimated to cost $6 billion but had under gone several cost variations first to $13.352 billion and currently $16.352 billion without proper record of how the huge sum had been spent or the reason for the variations.

    It said that since inception of the project in 2013 (at almost 90% completion now) it has not been audited in any form despite incessant cost variations.

    It said that allegations of corruption embroiled in the project that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) ought to have called for audit under the term of its contract.

    The report said that the following variations were observed from the initial contract value:

    SAIPEM contracting Nig. Ltd initial contract sum $2,941,615,322; Variation from the contract sum $805 million; FMC Technologies/TECHNIP initial contract sum $1,459,441,885; variation from the contract sum $33.07 million; Duco Ltd initial contract sum 4125,638,728; variation from the contract sum $4.5 million; SAMSUNG Heavy Industries Nig.Ltd initial contract sum $3,143,499,498, variation from the contract sum $33.5 million; Bell Oil and Gas Nigeria Ltd initial contract sum $42,876,268; variation from the contract sum $3.6million; Nov Oil and Gas Ltd initial contract sum $163,780,326, variation from the contract sum $52 million.

    It gave the total variations as $1, 235,67 billion

    On the use of local content, it said “For example, BELL Oil & GAS NIG.LTD bided for and got a line pipe contract of over $42 million, all the pipes used were directly imported by TOTAL itself and about N20 million was paid to Bell as training fees.”

    On discrepancies in contract documents, the committee observed that most of the contract documents signed with Total and various contractors differed from those submitted to NAPIMS.

    Its said, “Also there was documentary evidence from TOTAL showing that the value of the contract sum under the contract of SAIPEM Contracting Limited to be $3,200,000,000, however from a document before the committee derived through the Federal Government via NAPIMS/NNPC showed the contract sum as $2,700,000,000.

    Contract payment ratio, it said that the least contract payment ratio by TOTAL was 80% US dollar and 20% Naira.

    It said that “it was discovered that other major contractors paid their sub-contractors less to the ratio received from TOTAL thereby putting devaluation and inflationary pressures on the Naira.

  • I have no grudges against Amosun – Adeola

    I have no grudges against Amosun – Adeola

    A  2019 governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, on Thursday said he has no grudges against Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
    Adeola who is popularly called Yayi said what exist between him and Amosun are just differences in “political ideology and political belief,” explaining that what he found disagreeable about the Governor is his mindset that someone coming from Lagos should not govern Ogun State.
    The Senator who hails from Agosaga Pahayi in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, but currently representing Lagos West at the National Assembly, added that it was this Amosun’s attitude of “how can he come from Lagos to rule us” that has remained the source of contention between him and the governor.
    Adeola made the clarification while fielding questions during an interactive session with members of the Ogun West Consultative Forum at Ilaro, the Headquarters of Yewa South Local Government Area.
    He recalled that each of the first civilian Governor of Ogun State, Bisi Onabanjo, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Amosun himself had all worked or done business in Lagos for years before returning home to become governor in the state.
    The Senator wondered why a strange and different yard stick should now be introduced into the political field of the state by the incumbent Governor because  the Ogun West people have become more determined to produce a Governor in 2019?
    Adeola noted that he “wants to be Governor of Ogun State but not desperate” about it, stressing, however, that he remained unflinching in his resolve to pursue the ambition to a successful end.
    He also denied rumours to the effect that he was stalling the efforts of the Governor to obtain the $350m loan facility which requires clearance by the Senate.
    Adeola said he would not stand in the way of what would bring development or progress to the state, adding that the request for the loan facility came up at the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.
    He explained that nobody was working to frustrate the Governor from seeking the $350m facility, saying he recognises the rights of states to source for financial package but it shouldn’t be a routine thing.
    He said he would resuscitate the Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency(OGROMA) to address the constant road problems in the state, revisit the abandoned Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas(OKLNG) located in Ode – Omi in Ogun Waterside and  leverage on the proximity of Ogun to Lagos to boost the socioeconomic fortunes of the state.
  • ‘I have no grudges against Amosun’

    ‘I have no grudges against Amosun’

    A front line 2019 governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, on Thursday revealed that he has no grudges against Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Adeola who is popularly called Yayi said what exists between him and Amosun are just differences in “political ideology and political belief,” explaining that what he found disagreeable about the Governor is his mindset that someone coming from Lagos should not govern Ogun State.

    The Senator who hailed from Agosaga Pahayi in Ilaro, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State, but currently representing Lagos West at the National Assembly, added that it was this Amosun’s attitude of “how can he come from Lagos to rule us” remained the source of contention between the duo.

    Adeola made the clarification while fielding questions during an interactive session with members of the Ogun West Consultative Forum at Ilaro, the Headquarters of Yewa South Local Government Area.

    He recalled that each of the first civilian Governor of Ogun State, Bisi Onabanjo, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Amosun himself had all worked or done business in Lagos for years before returning home to vie for and won the position of a Governor in Ogun State.

    The Senator wondered why a strange and different yardstick should now be introduced into the political field of the state by the incumbent Governor because the Ogun West people have become more determined to produce a Governor in 2019?

    Adeola noted that he “wants to be Governor of Ogun State but not desperate” about it, stressing, however, that he remained unflinching in his resolve to pursue the ambition to a successful end.

    He also noted that there were many rumours flying about to the effect that he was stalling the efforts of the Governor to obtain the $350m loan facility which requires clearance by the Senate, and said there was no truth to it.

    Adeola said he would not stand in the way of what would bring development or progress to the state, adding that the loan facility even came up on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.

    He explained that nobody was working to frustrate the Governor from seeking the $350m facility, saying he recognises the rights of states to source for a financial package but it shouldn’t be a routine thing.

    He said he would resuscitate the Ogun State Road Maintenance Agency(OGROMA) to address the constant road problems in the state, revisit the abandoned Olokola Liquefied Natural Gas(OKLNG) located in Ode – Omi in Ogun Waterside, leverage on the proximity of Ogun to Lagos to boost the socio-economic fortunes of the state.

  • Senate probes FIRS, NPA, others over alleged misuse of funds

    Senate probes FIRS, NPA, others over alleged misuse of funds

    The Senate Tuesday resolved to investigate alleged misuse, under remittance and other fraudulent practices in the collection and accounting of internally generated revenue by revenue generating agencies.

    The investigation, the Senate agreed, will cover all revenue generating agencies including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Customs Service and others from 2012 to 2016.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion which prayed the upper chamber to “constitute a high powered ad-hoc committee to investigate the alleged misuse, under remittance/non remittance and other fraudulent practices in the collection, accounting, remittance and expenditure of internally generated revenue by all revenue generating agencies of government from 2012 to 2016.”

    A six-member panel of investigators to be headed by Senator Solomon Adeola, (Lagos West) was mandated to submit its report to Senate in plenary in six weeks.

    Senator Adeola who sponsored the motion in his lead debate noted that Section 80,subsection 1-4 of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly stipulated that all revenue, moneys raised or received shall be paid into and form on consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

    He further noted that the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 was enacted to ensure transparency, accountability and prevent corrupt practices in relation to public revenues and expenditure.

    The Lagos West lawmaker said that he is aware that Section 21 -23 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 clearly limited  corporations, agencies and government owned companies listed in the Schedule to the Act to the expenditure of only a fifth of its operating surplus with the balance paid to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government.

    He expressed concern that the Acting Chairman of Fiscal Responsibility Commission Mr. Victor Muruako on November 8, 2016 “raised the alarm over leakages in revenue and remittances which he said has assumed alarming proportion in the last 5 years with some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) producing two different statement of accounts in an attempt to manipulate their operating surpluses and losses.”

    Adeola said that he is also aware that at “the last National Economic Council meeting, the Federal Government specifically accused  revenue generating agencies of raising over N1.5 trillion and expending over 90 per cent on recurrent expenditure mostly in paying bloated salaries and controversial allowances above Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Committee, monetization of medical allowances, unapproved overseas travels, lavish training allowances and excessive personal loan approval all amounting to financial misconducts.

    He expressed worry that “these corporations, agencies and government owned companies have over the years grossly violated the letters of the 1999 Constitution and the Fiscal Responsibility Act in relation to their revenue generation activities and expenditure.”

    Adeola said that he is disturbed that various audit queries against the agencies over the years further indicated possible mismanagement of public funds against the spirit of the Constitution and Fiscal Responsibility Act.

    He noted that it is a matter of concern that in view of Federal Government dwindling revenue from the traditional crude oil sector and the on- going recession, “these government bodies are continuing in short changing government of needed revenue through various illegal practices.”

    He thereafter prayed the Senate to resolve to constitute a high powered ad-hoc committee to investigate the alleged misuse, under remittance/non remittance and other fraudulent practices in the collection, accounting, remittance and expenditure of internally generated revenue by all revenue generating agencies of government from 2012 to 2016 and submit a report in six weeks.

    Adeola added that there was no doubt that all revenue generating agencies including the NPA, FIRS, Customs, have been misappropriating generated revenue.

    The agencies, he said, have largely ignored the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act that compelled them to remit all generated fund to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in his contribution noted that most Nigerians were concerned about how to share the cake without bothering about how to bake the cake.

    He said that it is time  for the Senate to take a second look at the law regulating activities of the revenue generating agencies to determine whether there was need to review the laws in order to bloc leakages.

    Ekweremadu said, “Every day we talk about how to share the cake but today we have the privilege and opportunity to discuss how to bake the cake and I think there is enough cake to go round except that we have a lot of leakages and some of these leakages were created by us.

    “I think that we must admit that when those laws were made they were made with the best of intentions but just as they say the road to hell is also made with the best of intentions. I believe that since they have been abused it is for all of us to look back and have a second look at those laws and ensure that they are appropriately amended or put appropriate measures to ensure that these leakages are fixed.”

    Senator Ahmed Lawan, in his contribution stressed the need for the Senate to do more and if possible to reduce the number of the agencies “because we don’t actually need all of them.”

    Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah said that issues raised in the motion should be given the seriousness they deserve in the interest of the country.

    Before the prayer to set up a committee to probe the alleged misuse of funds by agencies was unanimously adopted, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki underscored the importance of independent revenue to the economic health of the country.

    Saraki noted that if the Senate was able to block leakages in the agencies, it would help the funding and performance of the 2017 budget.

    Saraki said, “I want to join others in thanking Senator Solomon Adeola for this very important motion. As I keep on harming on our independent revenue and non-oil revenue is a very important area of our budget. This independent revenue is 37 percent; you remember last year it was almost N1.5 trillion and am being told now that this year is likely to come down to N500 billion because they could not meet the target.

    “Inability to meet the target is not that they don’t have the capacity to meet the target and there is too much abuse on this operating surpluses where people spend right up to the last naira in all. I think the best way forward as you said it would even help the 2017 budget if we address this issue in blocking this leakages and I believe that in constituting the ad-hoc committee we would just take the best hands and still bring people from finance and public accounts and capable people who would be able to address this.”