The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SGF

  • Buhari: provide corruption evidence against any official in my govt

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday night charged Nigerians that have evidence against any corrupt persons in his government to make it available to his administration.

    He gave the charge while answering questions during a live programme tagged ‘The Candidates’ debate for the 2019 general elections.

    Buhari was reacting to the allegations that his government’s anti corruption war was selective and against the opposition, while shielding members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The President was asked why the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir David Lawal, and other persons in his government have not been persecuted inspite of the fight against corruption.

    Buhari said that the onus was on the person making allegations to provide evidence why the accused should be prosecuted.

    He said, “That is not fair criticism of the government. I don’t think there is anybody that is being pointed out as corrupt in the last dispensation which we looked the other direction.

    “I told you why I have to be careful and the public should help us, if there are strong allegations that is backed up with evidences, bank accounts, names of companies floated, contracts awarded, then we take them before the courts through EFCC and ICPC and we have to trust the system and allow them to complete investigation.

    Read also: FG moves for final forfeiture of Badeh’s 6 houses, $1m

    “If we just take people in as we did during the military and lock them up, the present democracy a multi party democracy does not approve that.

    “If you accuse any person, you have to provide evidence in court for him to be prosecuted, So, if there is strong allegations, the government may decide to ask people to go like the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation we asked him to go.

    “The matter is already before the EFCC and I believe that a directive has been issued to charge him and all persons who have cases before the EFCC.” he stated

  • SGF: Fed Govt attracts investors to maritime industry

    The Federal Government said at the weekend that it was doing everything possible to attract local and foreign investors as part of efforts to reposition the nation’s maritime industry.

    Speaking during the the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Corporate Dinner and Merit Awards held in Lagos, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, who was represented by Minister of Budget Udo Udoma, said the Federal Government was determined to harness the vast potential of the maritine industry to boost economic growth.

    The event, tagged “NIMASA Merit Awards and Corporate Dinner,”  was  hosted by  Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and chaired by the SGF.

    At the event was former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd); business mogul Aliko Dangote, the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi and other top dignitaries.

    Mustapha said the efforts put in place by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration made the maritime sector a new attraction for investors.

    The SGF  also said the current Management of NIMASA had in about three years turned around the agency and placed it on a good position to continue to contribute to the growth of the economy.

    He congratulated and urged the awardees and the industry players to remain focused on supporting the Federal Government’s drive to take Nigeria’s economy to a greater height.

    “The DG and his team and the Board are doing well in NIMASA. They have transformed the organisation. I will also like to congratulate the Minister of Transportation because it is through his guidance and supervision that all these transformations have taken place. He is an action man, somebody that makes things happen.

    “I will like to congratulate all the award winners; you should all keep up the good work,” Mustapha said.

    The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, reiterated the fact that the maritime industry remains the backbone of international trade and that the Nigerian maritime sector has made remarkable achievements in

    “The Nigerian maritime sector is on a journey, we are not where we are going yet, hence we need the continuous support of our stakeholders in our quest to realise a robust maritime sector so that we can compete favourably with our counterparts in other maritime climes,” Peterside said.

    Peterside urged the awardees  to redouble their efforts in the discharge of the duties.

    He also applauded the Minister of Transportation for consistently providing direction for the transportation sector and gave the assurance that NIMASA will continue to champion the growth and development of the shipping industry in Nigeria.

    “We cannot do it alone, we will continue to collaborate and partner our stakeholders so that we can fully realize our mandates of promoting and regulating shipping activities in Nigeria,” he said.

    The Agency bestowed awards on outstanding maritime companies; Maersk Nigeria Limited, Gulf Agency Company (GAC) Nigeria Ltd, Charkins Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre among others, alongside some employees of the Agency who have demonstrated commitment to the sector over the years.

    The categories of awards bestowed includes; Shipping Company of the Year 2018 Vessel Traffic (Foreign), Shipping Company of the Year 2018, Cargo Throughput (Foreign), Maritime Education and Training Institute of the Year 2018, Manning Agent of the Year 2018, Seafarers’ Employer of the Year 2018 as well as the Agency’s best staff for the year

  • SGF in last-minute meeting with APC Reps Caucus

    •Mustapha regrets call for boycott of budget presentation

    SECRETARY to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha was locked in a closed door meeting with members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the House of Representatives yesterday evening, less than 24 hours before the presentation of the 2019 Appropriation Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Mustapha regretted alleged call by the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) that opposition members in the National Assembly should shun the presentation by the President.

    Mustapha, who also assured the APC lawmakers in the House of Representatives that they have no reason to be worried about threats from opposition parties in the National Assembly, said the party has the numerical strength to see through its legislative demands.

    He, however, denied insinuations that his meeting with the APC caucus was out of uncertainty over the budget presentation.

    He said the presentation of the Appropriation Bill is a constitutional responsibility of the President that should not be politicised.

    “It will be totally out of place to boycott the budget presentation. This is a national responsibility; the President has to present the budget as demanded by the constitution and he is going to do exactly that,” he said.

    Mustapha, who spoke with reporters immediately after the meeting, denied insinuations that it was meant to rally the support of the caucus for the President during the budget presentation.

    He said the meeting was in continuation of routine dialogue with the caucus.

    “I’ve come here to attend the caucus meeting with our members.

    “It has nothing to do with the strike action and it is not about the budget presentation, it was about the party matter. We discussed matters that are very germane to the party. I have been attending caucus meetings with them because this is a larger House.”

    Leader of the caucus and Majority Leader of the House Femi Gbajabiamila said the meeting was routine and a “family affair”.

  • SGF to Wabba: Buhari committed to workers’ welfare

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has told the new President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, that President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to workers’ welfare.

    He urged Wabba to be a good ambassador of the country as he presides over the affairs of workers across the world as ITUC chief.

    Mustapha said the election of Wabba was a true reflection of the leadership he has offered Nigerian workers since assuming office and a clear indication that the country can always be called upon to offer leadership.

    He said President Buhari would not do anything to undermine workers’ welfare, adding that the administration would offer assistance for him to succeed in his new office.

    Speaking at a dinner in Wabba’s honour, Mustapha said  Buhari was of the firm believe that Nigerian workers deserve the best treatment.

    He said Wabba’s election to lead over 200 million workers across the world was a confirmation that Nigerians can provide quality leadership anywhere they are upon to do so.

    He said: “I want to assure you that as a government, we will give you all the support that you desire to succeed because we believe that from this elevation,  you have become ambassadors of Nigeria to the international arena.

    “They will watch you as they will watch the President of Nigeria because by extension,  every decision you take there within the context of the fact that you are first a Nigerian before leading the world class of the entire world.

    “I plead with you that in your representation, let  the spirit of excellence with which you have led in this country be reflected in your leadership so that for once it will be adjudged by the entire world that Nigerians are competent, efficient and effective when it comes to the provision of leadership.

    “I have no doubt that you are going to succeed because you have demonstrated it in this country and I think that the entire world must-have used it’s own binoculars invite search for leaders to lead the world at this point in time. I believe you will not fail us and you will not disappoint us.”

    He said that the President received the election of Wabba as the first African and first Blackman to occupy the the position of President of ITUC with great delight, adding that the government was not unaware of the fact that in attaining such position, Nigerians have always had stiff opposition.

    He said: “It is not easy to attain this position because when  it comes to region elections, we have always had resistance.  But for the whole world to come to the logical conclusion that we desire a Nigerian to lead at this time, or to occupy this strategic administrative post at the regional level,  I believe we have come of age and we will continue to give effective leadership to the different organisations to which you have been appointed. Be confident that your own government is solidly behind you.

    “When the President heard of the election of Comrade Wabba  to the office of the President of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) global and that Comrade  Safiyanu Mohammed as Africa regional Secretary of the International Transport Federation, it came to him as a pleasant delight that despite what we think our country is,  the entire world have come to acknowledge and recognise the excellence with which we lead as a nation.

    “I want to congratulate Comrade Ayuba Wabba and Comrade Safiyanu Mohammed for attaining these very important offices in their individual way. When I told the President,  he immediately ordered that a congratulatory message be issued in recognition of the leadership that Comrade Wabba has offered to workers in Nigeria which has taken him higher to the international level.”

    Wabba urged workers to pray for him to succeed in the new assignment as it was a huge responsibility. He added that he was conscious of huge responsibility the new position put on his shoulders.

     

  • Jonathan, SGF, Fasanmi, others greet Buhari at 76

    FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, Afenifere leader Senator Ayo Fasanmi and Voice of Nigeria (VON) Director-General Osita Okechukwu have congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his 76th birthday anniversary.

    They spoke yesterday in their different goodwill messages.

    Jonathan, in a personally signed message, thanked God for blessing Buhari with the grace of a long life.

    He noted that the President has contributed so much to Nigeria’s growth, having served the nation in different capacities, and always giving his best whenever he is called upon to serve.

    The ex-president said: “Yours has been a life of great service to our dear nation, having served as a brave soldier, governor, Minister of Petroleum, Head of State and now President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”Jonathan, who also highlighted Buhari’s patriotism and deep commitment to Nigeria’s growth, prayed to God to grant the President good health and more productive years.”

    He added:  “I join you, your family, well-wishers and fellow Nigerians to give thanks to Almighty God for the gift of a long life.

    “I wish you good health and more productive years, as you continue to lend your skills and energy to the task of building a Nigeria of our dreams.” he said

    Mustapha, in his message, said: “Consistency. This is the hallmark of a great leader. You say what you ‘ll do. And you do exactly as you’ve said.

    “You have matched your consistency with good vision. You have said that Nigeria, under your watch, will be great. Like the great leader you’ve always been, you are leading the charge from the front in spite of grave distractions and gang-ups. We, your followers, are proud to join you to build a united and prosperous Nigeria.

    “As you attain the 76th year landmark, we pray that your strength be renewed. When the job is done, posterity will know that President Buhari did his best for Nigeria the way only a true patriot could have.

    “Happy birthday, Mr. President.”

    Fasanmi prayed God to grant the President good health and wisdom in his strive to take Nigeria to the next level.

    The statement reads: “As our great leader Awo taught us, tough time do not last, but tough people do. You have come, you have seen and by the grace of God you will conquer. As we look forward for your re-election in February, 2019, God will grant you the strength and wisdom to lead Nigeria to the promise land. I wish you many happy returns.”

    Okechukwu saluted former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida for vindicating Buhari’s disciples on his laudable achievements since assumption of office in May 2015.

    Okechukwu, while reacting to IBB’s birthday statement to Buhari on his 76th birthday, said he and others were in the same league with IBB that Buhari’s administration has achieved tremendous success in war against corruption, terrorism and other forms of insurgency, as well as bringing the country out of economic recession.

    The VON boss, who is an ardent supporter of Buhari, also noted that Buhari has embarked on massive growth of critical infrastructure and revolution in agriculture sector towards self-sufficiency in food production.

  • Boards can’t suspend agencies’ CEOs, says SGF

    SECRETARY to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha yesterday declared that governing boards of federal agencies or parastatals have no power to remove Chief Executive Officers appointed by the President.

    But he said boards may articulate infractions, investigate wrongdoing and make recommendations to government through the supervisory ministry.

    He spoke during an induction programme for governing board members of federal parastatals, universities and medical centres organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, in conjunction with the Department for International Development, a United Kingdom (UK) government department responsible for administering overseas aid.

    His clarification came few days after the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Governing Board suspended Prof. Usman Yusuf as the scheme’s Executive Secretary.

    Yusuf had rejected the suspension, claiming that only the President can suspend him.

    Even though Mustapha did not specifically mention the NHIS issue, Mustapha said the Federal Government was concerned that most governing boards have not understood their roles in the corporate governance of the agencies they superintend.

    Noting that the government has noticed some infractions on the side of some boards, he listed the infractions as including what he called the board chairmen’s undue interference in the day-to-day activities of their parastatals and agencies and blatant disregard for extant regulations guiding the conduct of board meetings.

    Other infractions are: interference in the function of the CEOs; issuing directives to members of staff without recourse to the CEOs; imposition of disciplinary measures against the CEOs in flagrant violation of the laid down rules; and using labour unions as agents of distractions in the agencies.

    Mustapha reiterated his position that the roles of the boards of government agencies are limited to setting operational and administrative policies for their agencies in consonance with government’s policy directives.

    He told the board members to take their appointments seriously, warning that government would not hesitate to enforce disciplinary actions on anyone who goes contrary to the terms of the appointment.

    Acting Director-General of the BPSR Mr. Dasuki Arabi said the induction was timely.

    He said the objective of the induction was to enable board members to understand their roles and responsibilities and the behaviours required of them.

    He said while top-level federal civil servants like the permanent secretaries grow though the federal civil service and acquire wide public service knowledge and experiences in the conduct of government businesses, most CEOs and governing board members of federal agencies, to some extent, lack such knowledge and experience.

  • Southwest PDP to Atiku: We want more than SGF

    The Southwest Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has told the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to give more key positions to the zone should he win next year’s election.

    The vice-chairman of the party in the zone, Dr Eddy Olafeso, made the demand in Lagos on Friday night, at a meeting of key members across the six states in the zone.

    He said though the promise of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) slot by Atiku was a good development, the zone deserved more key political and government positions.

    The vice-chairman said that the zone had been schemed out in the power arrangement of the party for the past few years.

    Olafeso said for Atiku to give the zone a sense of belonging and compensate “for the years of abandonment”, he should zone key positions of the Chief of Staff to the President and Attorney-General of the Federation to the Southwest in addition to the SGF.

    He said the zone had the second highest voting population in the country and would demand its fair share of political positions if PDP wins in 2019.

    “We have been denied for too long. In 2011, the country under the control of our party zoned the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the zone and it was taken away.

    “And from 2011 to 2015, we were left just like that and the reverberating effect of that abandonment is the reason why we are still having the hangover of neglect till today.

    “Now we are here again, the party is working with a zone with 14 million votes, the second largest in the country.  We refuse and we will not accept where we finish the job in the next election and for one reason or the other, we will not be considered.

    “We don’t have to wait till after the election before we say what we want. We want to let the party and our candidate know that certain positions are strategic to governance and we want them.

    “Yes, the SGF is great, but there is nothing wrong with having the Chief of Staff and Attorney-General on top of it to compensate us for the denials of the past, so that all of us can work as a united front.

    “We will continue to fight for it, we will speak with a loud voice. We give so much, so the zone deserves a lot,” he said.

    While congratulating Abubakar on his emergence as presidential candidate, Olafeso said the zone was pleased with the choice of Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, as his running mate.

    He said the country was faced with serious economic challenges, and Obi had the pedigree that could realise the party’s economic vision for Nigeria.

    Olafeso said the zone was concerned about the travails of former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over a case.

    He urged members of the party to stand with Fayose in his trying moment, saying the former governor was paying for being truthful and standing against injustice.

    “I was in the court the last time and I am glad to tell you that he has been granted bail.

    “We will do our best to ensure that he perfects his bail conditions and he is released soon,” he said.

    The meeting, according to the  News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), had in attendance a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George; the current Deputy National Chairman (South),Chief Yemi Akinwonmi; and a former National Vice Chairman of the party, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo.

    Also present were former Minister of State for Defence, Mrs Sola Obada; a former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaja Makanjuola Badru; and a member of the National Assembly, Sen. Abiodun Olujimi.

    The party’s governorship candidate in Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde; the governorship candidate in Ogun, Mr Ladi Adebutu; and a former governorship aspirant in Osun State, Chief Akin Ogunbiyi, were also at the meeting, among others.

     

  • Buhari running on records, say SGF, Bello

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s scorecard took the spot yesterday at various events by government officials in the countdown to the February 2019 presidential election.

    Responding to the request in various quarters for the campaign to be issue-based, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha declared that Buhari would run on his rich scorecard, unlike in 2015 when he ran on promises.

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello also described the president’s performance in superlative terms.

    At a town hall meeting in Ibadan, two ministers handling the critical areas of infrastructure development – Babatunde Fashola and Rotimi Amaechi –  said the Buhari administration had done more in three years than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration did in 16 years.

    The President himself blamed the PDP for wasting  the nation’s commonwealth during their regimes.

    Speaking at a dinner for youthful political appointees at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Mustapha said: ”If we have to make a comparison of what has been achieved in the last couple of years, the 16 years of PDP administration will not constitute one-tenth of what we have been able to achieve in the last three and half years.

    “We went to the 2015 elections with promises, but we will go to the 2019 elections with our scorecard.”

    He added that “as a government arm, we have achieved so much and I am going to make available to you a document that we have put together, which captures what the government has been able to achieve in just about two and half years; what I call a mid-term report.”

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, at the same event, said: “President Buhari is a good product we know, but we must go out to sell him to Nigerians. Perception is very critical in times like this. If we fail, God forbid, the ugly narrative of PDP will overtake the land.

    “Our score card is very rich and very rich enough. We must market the incredible accomplishments of Mr. President and of his administration to every voter and in a language he or she understands.

    ”If we don’t market our product very well, a tough and progressive victory against a terrorist threat, which continues to cost the lives of our brave military and law enforcement agencies, will be mistaken for inaction.

    “If we don’t market our product very well, try our politically exposed offenders using long extant laws, which previous leaders were not willing to deploy against cronies, accomplishments will be mistaken for extra-judicial measures and disdain for the rule of law.

    “If we do not put Mr. President’s achievements before our people so that they can sight it themselves, we will be agreeing with the PDP that in fighting corruption, which he is offering again, is somehow better than the alleged incompetence of the APC which has accomplished everything I have enumerated above.”

    Bello, however, warned his party not to underrate the PDP in the election.

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    He said: “All that the crooked PDP is offering Nigerians is that corruption is better than incompetence in quote. 2015 was about change, 2019 will be about progress.

    “As members of the APC, we will not deny that our party has a huge task in the 2019 general elections; the election will never be a walk-over; the PDP will not be a push over.

    “And we must take nothing and no one for granted. If we cannot defeat PDP, maybe we should not be influencers or we should not even go to politics.” he said

    The President expressed disappointment that the media had not highlighted the massive achievements recorded by his administration in agriculture.

    He again challenged the PDP over the power generated after claiming to have spent $16billion, Buhari added:   ”I’m very disappointed with the Nigerian press. They didn’t give this government the credit of the go-back-to-land programme. We have cut down the importation of rice by at least 90 per cent.”

    He said the country had achieved food security and remarked that he appointed Mr. Audu Ogbe as minister of agriculture because “he is somebody who has suffered in that sector.

    “Ogbeh went to a bank, borrowed money and invested in agriculture. He suffered but eventually he paid the money. So, you cannot have a better person (for the job).”

    Executive Director at the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) Jasper Azuatalam, one of those hosted at the ceremony, said: “The worst thing we can do to this country, Nigeria, is to allow PDP to come back to power in 2019. It is the worst thing we can do to Nigeria.

    ”I will liken PDP to a lion that has been put in the cage for a long time. I have interacted with their members and I know how hungry they have become because they don’t see free money as before.

    ”If we loose this lion again in 2019, then Nigeria is going to walk more than 1,000 steps backward.

    ”Like we always said in those days we lost elections, Mr. President will always get 11 to 12 million votes whether he operates from a party or not. That’s the goodwill we had that time.

    ”But that is because a lot of people believed that by Mr. President’s integrity and his anti-corruption, he is going to do magic when he resumes office as President. That in two months, Nigeria will change. They don’t know how it would happen.

    ”But the truth is that most of these have been disappointed because they didn’t see the magic. That is why we need to do the real work.”

  • Buhari meets Anyim, Uduaghan, Marafa in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, former Governor of Delta State and senatorial candidate in the 2019 election, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan at the State House Abuja.

    Also meeting with the President after the Friday jumat service at the State House mosque is Senator Kabiru Marafa who is a governorship aspirant in Zamfara State.

    The three came separately and were still at the President’s office at the time of filing this report.

     

    Details Later…

  • SGF inaugurates committee for establishment of National Peace Commission

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Mr. Boss Mustapha has inaugurated a committee on the establishment of a National Peace Commission (NPC).

    Acting Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) Dr. Bakut tswah Bakut is the chairperson of the committee.

    It has three months to turn in its report.

    In a statement by Mr. Abu I. Michael, the Resident Information Officer (RIO), National Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (NIPCR), Mustapha said the National Economic Council (NEC) recommended the establishment of the commission and peace agencies for states after reviewing the security situation of Nigeria in August 2017, adding that the NEC identified ethno-religious crisis as one of the sources of insecurity, which must be addressed.

    The SGF, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Dr. Amina Bello, urged the committee to take cognisance of the security challenges across the country, citing terrorism in the Northeast; armed banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping in the Northwest; farmers and herdsmen’s crisis in the Northcentral; secessionist agitations in the Southeast; pipeline vandalism, oil bunkering and theft and cultism in the Southsouth as well as adverse activities of electricity vandals and oil bunkerers in the Southwest and Southsouth.

    Mustapha said the peace index indicated that all parts of the country were engrossed in one security challenge or the other, hence the essence of the committee.