Tag: tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of the Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Civil Service Commission (CSC).

 FCT Minister Nyesom Wike five months ago announced that the President had been consulted about the development and will soon make a pronouncement.

The appointees are: Engr. Emeka Ezeh as Chairman, Hon. Ahmed Mohammed – North West, Chief Anthony Okeah – South-South, Mohammed Magaji Ibrahim – North East, Miskoom Alexander Naantuam  – North Central, Hon. Jide Jimoh – South West, Barrister Martin Azubike – South East.

Tinubu also approved Abdulkadir Zulkarfi as Coordinator Satellite Town Development Department (STDD), Chief Felix Obuah – Coordinator Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) and Oladiran Olufemi Akindele – Coordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Council (AIIC).

Mr. Atang Udo Samuel who was the most senior director of the FCTA  is now appointed as the Head of the Civil Service.

The President also approved the appointment of 10 persons as Permanent Secretaries.

Read Also: Tinubu reaffirms commitment to enhancing security of Gulf of Guinea

According to a statement by the Director Officer of the FCT Minister, Anthony Ogunleye: “Also, to strengthen the bureaucratic structure of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mr. President equally approved the appointment of the Head of the Civil Service and Permanent Secretaries in the FCT Civil Service.

“Mr. Atang Udo Samuel is appointed as the Head of the Civil Service and the following as Permanent Secretaries: Dr Adam Babagana – North East, Wanki Adamu Ibrahim – North East, Asmau Mukhtar – North West, Dogo Aliyu Wadata Bodinga – North West, Olusa Olusegun – South West, Adetoyi Rabiu Kolawole – South West, Grace Adayilo – North Central, Olubunmi Olowookere – North Central, Ibe Prospect Chukwuemeka – South East, and Okonkwo Florence Nonubari – South South.

The appointees, Ogunleye said, will be sworn in on Monday March 18, 2024.

He said the appointments take immediate effect.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved nominees for the positions of permanent secretaries, head of service and members of board of FCT Service Commission.

In a letter dated 11th of March, 2024 addressed to Tinubu, Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike said: “I have the honour to respectfully submit for Your Excellency’s kind consideration and approval, the nominees listed in paragraph 2 below for appointment as Chairman and Commissioners of the Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission as provided for under Section 2 (2) (a & b) of the Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission (Establishment) Act, 2018.

“The Act provides for the appointment of a chairman and six other members representing each of the geo-political zones of the country.

“Following extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders, I hereby humbly nominate the following individuals for consideration and appointment as Chairman and Commissioners of the FCT Civil Service Commission viz; Engr. Emeka (Chairman) Ezeh; Hon. Ahmed Mohammed (North West); Chief Anthony Okeah (South-South); Mohammed Magaji Ibrahim (North East); Miskoom Alexander Naantuam

(North Central); Hon. Jide Jimoh (South West); Martin Azubike (South East).”

Wike urged the President to approve names of other nominees.

“In the same vein, I respectfully propose for Your Excellency’s consideration and approval, the appointment of the following individuals to fill existing vacancies in some critical Agencies of the Federal Capital Territory Administration viz;

Abdulkadir Zulkarfi, Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development Department; Chief Felix Obuah, Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council; Oladiran Olufemi Akindele – Coordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Centre.”

Read Also: Tinubu reaffirms commitment to enhancing security of Gulf of Guinea

Also proposed to strengthen the bureaucratic structure of the Federal Capital Territory Administration is the appointment of the Head of the Civil Service and Permanent Secretaries in the FCT Civil Service viz:

Atang Udo Samuel being the most senior Director in the FCT Civil Service is proposed for appointment as Head of the Civil Service of the FCT.

Similarly, the following serving Directors of the FCT Civil Service are also nominated for appointment as Permanent Secretaries based on competence and geographical spread.

They’re Dr. Adams Baba Gana, North East; Wanki Adamu Ibrahim North East; Asmau Muhktar North West; Dogo Aliyu Wadata Bodinga North West; Olusa Olusegun, South West; Adetoyi Rabiu Kolawole South West; Grace Adayilo North Central; Olubunmi Olowookere North Central; Ibe Prospect Chukwuemeka South East; Okonkwo Florence Nornubari South South.

A body of independent policy analysts under the aegis of the Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has applauded the Federal Government for allocating more funds to capital expenditure than recurrent in this year’s budget for the first time in 24 years.

The group also hailed the decision to buck the 24-year trend with the 2024 budget as a reflection of the government’s sincerity in driving real economic growth.

The commendation was contained in a statement by IMPI Chairman, Chief Niyi Akinsiju in Abuja.

The policy thinks tank noted that the country has a lot of positives to derive from an N28.7 trillion spending plan that seeks to correct years of budget imbalance between capital and recurrent expenditures.

According to the group, “From an analytical point of view, a budget with higher capital expenditure than recurrent is not only a driver of economic growth, it also impacts individual citizen’s quality and way of life. 

Read Also: Nigeria’s VAT system not working, EU warns

“In this regard, we concur with the 2019 submission of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) that the only way to bring about a meaningful influence on the economy is to monitor and evaluate funds that are specially intended for capital expenditure and capital projects.

“It would, however, appear that the disequilibrium between capital and recurrent expenditures has been eventually corrected. For the first time in the current democratic dispensation, the 2024 budget, which is the first in the tenure of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, has more funds allocated to capital expenditure than recurrent. 

“The budget of N28.777 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year has a recurrent expenditure of N8.7 trillion with N9.9 trillion allocated to capital expenditure.

“Granted that what was passed by the National Assembly was N1.28trillion more than the original N27.5 trillion spending plan, there are indeed good signs and prospects for a budget that is to be financed through a non-debt revenue of N19.6 trillion and a deficit of about N9.18 trillion. 

“This is something to build on for an administration that has, since assuming office, embraced economic reforms that are not only courageous in the face of historical resistance to their implementation but are also expected to yield long-term transformative benefits to Nigerians,” it said. 

The group recalled how previous administrations failed to capitalize on two oil booms to boost infrastructural development in the country through higher capital votes.

“Between 2006 and 2013, the national economy grew at an average of between 6 and 8 per cent according to World Bank figures yet the increased revenue was channelled into feeding public servants. The recurrent expenditures in those years were always bigger than the allocation for capital expenditure.

“Nigeria’s recurrent expenditures which include spending on personnel expenses such as wages and pensions as well as overhead costs and service-wide votes have regularly consumed over 65% of total budgets and a huge chunk of revenue.

“We consider it even more depressing that despite the incongruent budgetary imbalance, the country has, since 2009, been recording yearly budget deficits that average N3.3trn in recent years aggravated by oil price volatility and post-COVID economic debilitations.

“Budget Office data show that between 2011 and 2021, the Federal Government of Nigeria spent N29.3 trillion on (non-debt) recurrent expenditure while it earned N33.2 trillion in revenue during this period. This means that what went into capital projects was extremely negligible,” It added.

Expressing optimism that cost-cutting measures approved by President Tinubu will ensure that more funds are freed for the capital component of the budget.

The group noted: “In addition to this is the decision to implement the 12-year-old Stephen Oronsaye’s report on public sector reforms which is expected to reduce the cost of governance by at least N2 trillion even as the federal government is set to increase the minimum wage. The challenge ahead lies in ensuring a better budget implementation in a country with a record of poor budget performance. 

“We, however, feel sanguine over the prospect of attaining a 100 per cent implementation of the capital expenditure aspect of the 2024 federal government budget premised on freed revenue from the civil service reforms to be channelled into funding capital projects for the good of the larger percentage of Nigerians.”

• Ensure impartiality, Akpabio tells panel members

Senate President Godswill Akpabio yesterday inaugurated an ad hoc committee to investigate the N30 trillion Ways and Means Advances released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to fund projects under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The fund, which passed through the National Assembly, was without details, despite the commitment of the Executive to do so.

Inaugurating the ad hoc committee, Akpabio urged the members to be impartial, uncompromising, and confidential in handling the investigation.

The inauguration of the committee followed the adopted a resolution of the Senate Joint Committees on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions; Finance; National Planning; Agriculture; and Appropriations.

The Senate President said the 10th Senate believed in transparency, accountability, and good governance.

He directed the committee members to prove their commitments as Nigerians waited to know how the huge sums of money were used.

The committee, which has 17 members, is chaired by Jibrin Isah, representing Kogi East.

Read Also:Tension as Senate meets over N3tr alleged padding of 2024 budget on Tuesday

Akpabio urged the committee to keep its findings away from prying eyes of journalists.

He said: “The constitution of this committee is a testament to the Senate’s unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance. It reflects our dedication to addressing the concerns of the Nigerian people and upholding the principles of democracy.

“To the members of this esteemed committee, I implore you to approach your responsibilities with the utmost sense of patriotism, professionalism and integrity.

“Your investigation demands impartiality and fairness, always keeping the public interest and the welfare of our nation at the forefront.

“We must leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of the truth. Therefore, conduct thorough inquiries and dig out information that will assist the Senate in making laws for the betterment of our country.”

Isah assured the Senate of the committee’s commitment to do a thorough job.

The inauguration of the committee was attended by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso; the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein; the Auditor-General of the Federation, Shaakaa Chira; the Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Patience Oniha; beneficiary ministries, departments, and agencies and institutions.