The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

  • CAC decries dissolution of National Economic Advisory Committee

    The leadership of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide has faulted the dissolution of the National Economic Advisory Council headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    Besides, the Church kicked against the composition of the nation’s security architecture, stressing that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” is being obeyed in the breach”.

    It called on President Muhammadu Buhari to correct the lopsidedness and also declare a state of emergency on the country’s economy.

    Its President, Pastor Abraham Akinosun, who spoke last weekend while addressing over 1000 Pastors from across the country at Babalola International Miracle Centre, Ikeji Arakeji said the removal of Osinbajo from the council was not in the best interest of the nation.

    The programme was to mark the 2029 CAC Annual Pastors’ Conference.

    According the CAC leader: “What would have been cheery news recently was soiled by unnecessary politicking.

    “The President recently appointed an Economic Advisory Council and purportedly dissolved a constitutionally established National Economic Council headed by Vice President Osinbajo.

    “It is true that people have been calling for the composition of a strong economic team to manage our economy which appears to be directionless in the first term of the President.

    “However, no one believes that the President would choose a team that would be unable to implement decisions reached.

    “For instance there is no single government official who is directly in charge of the national economy among those appointed,” he said.

    Akinosun said “to resolve this, it is my candid view that President Buhari should merge his Economic Advisory Council with the constitutionally established National Economic Council, which comprises all government officials directly involved in the economic management of the country and headed by the Vice President.”

    The church leader also advised the federal government to secure all citizens irrespective of tribal, religious or political affiliation.

    According to him: “The spate of security breaches all over the country has not abated.

    “There is no day we don’t read stories of kidnapping, killing, robbery and other violent crimes.

    “I call on the President to expedite action on the promised community policing in order to keep the country safe as economic development feeds directly on national stability and security.”

    Akinosun reiterated his call for creation of employment with a view to reduce the army of jobless graduates and young people roaming the streets because of idleness.

    He suggested an amnesty scheme for criminals turning Nigeria into ‘a killing field, saying “the federal government can extend open invitation to all gun-wielding criminals to surrender their arms for money to set up legitimate business.”

    The CAC President believed that by so doing, the spate of killings and kidnappings across the country would be drastically reduced.

  • Who is after Osinbajo?

    Sir: It is not beyond politicians to sometimes want to make an angel look like a demon, throwing common sense to the wind in the process, but Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s antecedents and mien do not put him in the category of someone who can be successfully tarred.

    It is saddening that dark-minded men and their spin merchants are after that ray of hope – men whose sole devilish pastime is to bare their poisonous fangs to truncate the nation’s progress at every developmental turnaround. They see far more than average Nigerians see and would spill blood to protect the status quo, the chaos from which they feed.

    Unfortunately, they are everywhere, given free rein by those who are yet to see that these characters are our common enemies and the enemies of our children unborn. From one republic to another, they keep metamorphosing and their strategy has always been a further turn of the screw for the economically and mentally ravaged masses.

    They went after Obafemi Awolowo. They went after MKO Abiola. They went Murtala Muhammed. They went after Muhammadu Buhari when he was military Head of State. They are in and around every government. They are in corporate governance as well. Their lifelong duty is to never allow the good of Nigeria and to kill off whoever represents or could represent that good. Yemi Osinbajo is their target now.

    This is the same Osinbajo who tells his aides at their quarterly meeting to never use their office for personal gains. The same Osinbajo who would work for hours on just a roll of bread and black coffee – a man who would ensure you get your dues even when he knows you are his unrepentant enemy; a man who in spite of hectic campaign routines would be back in his office in the dead of the night to work on files.

    He would still get on the plane in the morning, writing his own speech for his next stop on his iPad and would continue to fine-tune it during the event to adjust it to developments at such event. Unbelievably energetic at his age and out-of-this-world humble.

    He exudes the power of his office not with rhetoric or vainness but with in-depth brilliance and wisdom. His person exudes a higher power that only God can give. This is the power that I think he derives his humility, loyalty, integrity and competence from.

    What more can a nation ask for in its vice president? What more can an administration ask for in its number two man? What more can a president ask for in his deputy? This is what the hawks fear and are after.

    • Oladimeji Daniels, <dimejidaniels@gmail.com>

  • Ministers’ score card

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo a few days ago declared at the Annual National Management Conference of the Institute of Management in Abuja that all the ministers recently appointed will render their first performance report to the Presidency in December 2019. Having been given specific mandates, the vice president believes the ministers have their duties cut out for them.

    The presidential election took place on February 23, 2019. The ministers were inaugurated on August 21, almost four months after the president and the vice president were inaugurated on May 29. The stark reality that virtually all sectors of the Nigerian economy are suffering from endemic management failure was highlighted by the vice president. A good observation, we must agree.

    We totally align with Prof. Osinbajo that the ministers must hit the ground running. We also commend the idea of keeping them on their toes and for them to be subjected to regular evaluation to determine those to continue and the ones to be dropped. Nigeria at this point in time must be treated as though in the economic emergency ward, literally.

    However, we must point out that the lateness in nominating these ministers was a bit worrisome, both to the local and external economic watchers. We are in a world that works with the speed of light and actions and words of policy makers matter every minute. The speed with which the ministers should have been appointed would have made some difference and had some psychological impact on them and equally made them realise the sense of urgency needed.

    Read Also: To new ministers: Start as you mean to go on

    While we applaud the idea of accountability at that level and the need to make ministers responsive and responsibly accountable, we also acknowledge that barely four months on their duty posts might be too short a time for some comprehensive and valid evaluation of their performance. We believe that standing on past administrations’ style of blindly nominating ministers for Senate screening without their knowing their portfolio is an ill-wind that blows no one any good.

    Most of the ministers were posted to territories they have some real learning to do and a December performance card period might not truly show their performance capabilities. This however does not imply we disagree with the proposal. We commend any step that can elicit a sense of purpose and accountability, not only from ministers but from all public servants, including those in the states and local councils.

    Like the vice president rightly observed, there is a total endemic sectoral decay, but a stampeded evaluation might be counterproductive. We suggest that, like the ministers were told during their two-day pre-inauguration retreat, the real economic situation of the country must propel them to swift and committed action. They must be advised to be less partisan and see the country as deserving of their total allegiance and commitment.

    We equally believe that there must be an internal mechanism of monitoring such that immediacy of corrective measures is possible, to save the economy from drowning further. Those ministers that seem too lethargic to move on with the progressive economic rejuvenating steps must be dropped and more dynamic and upwardly mobile people appointed in their stead.

    Nigeria has an abundance of natural and human resources; so, she has no business being the poverty capital of the world. The periodic evaluation is welcome in ways that do not appear like hurrying into perdition. Consistency in policy execution seems to be alien to past administrations in the country. The government must not be permissive with ministers but must not rush the evaluation processes in ways that might be counterproductive.

    Being chosen from more than a hundred million Nigerians must be seen as a rare honour and an opportunity to truly serve and not to be served or be upgraded to untouchables. We urge the Presidency to remain consistent in evaluating the ministers’ productivity transparently. That way, those involved would realise that their image is at stake and might be persuaded to be more focused.

  • Risk of infectious diseases on increase, says Osinbajo

    The risk of infectious diseases has increased tremendously, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said.

    He stated this during the opening of the 55th scientific conference of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientist of Nigeria (AMLSN) in Abuja.

    Osinbajo, who was represented by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, said the global health security agenda arose in response to the risk humanity is facing from the emergence and re-emergence of highly infectious diseases that pose great risk to public health globally.

    “With the world becoming a global village and increased human movement across countries, the risk of infectious diseases has increased tremendously,” he said.

    Global health security agenda was launched in February 2014 and it is a growing partnership of over 64 nations, international organisations and non-governmental stakeholders. This is to help build the countries’ capacities to help keep the world safe and secure from infectious diseases spread, which elevates global health security as a national and global priority.

    “Its aim is to strengthen national and global capacity to prevent, to check and respond to human and animal infections whether nationally or foreign or accidentally or deliberately spread. Global health security agenda brings to fore the need to have a sustainable laboratory system,” he said.

    He pointed out that the conference was apt due to the problem we are experiencing in the country and globally with the infectious diseases.

    Nigeria was confronted with various disease outbreaks with some unpleasant consequences, notably the Ebola virus of 2014.

    The diseases, he said, are of public health interest and affect the socio- economic structure of people and the development of the country. There have been significant improvements in prevention, detection surveillance and response to these diseases of public health interest despite casualties recorded during their outbreaks. Nigeria, with support from relevant partners, has adopted and strengthened the structure and process required in the management of these diseases’ threat and their impact on the nation. Nigeria is a signatory to the international resolution on global health security, which includes the international health regulation, integrated disease surveillance and response and global health security agenda.

    The former Minister of Health, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, who chaired the conference, warned that the spread of infectious diseases can be used as an instrument of terror. He added that infectious diseases now spread quickly more than ever, while the new emerging and existing bacterial are becoming resistant to available anti-biotics. The former minister hinted that as people travel freely across borders, there is high possibility that infectious diseases can be used as instrument of terror.

    “I want to remind you of something already known. Infectious diseases spread more quickly than they have ever been and also, we have new bacterial, we have existing bacterial that are becoming very resistant to the available anti-biotics.

    ‘’Also, diseases spread crazy because of so many things; the way we travel round the world right now promotes easy spread of diseases. Then, there are other threats and we cannot rule out the possibility of the uses of disease as an instrument for terror. We know that given our experience, particularly in West Africa, the impact of serious outbreak is something that we can recollect. The impact is on socio sphere, the economic sphere and even the political sphere.

    “The security agenda acknowledges the essential needs for a multilateral and multi-sectoral approach to strengthen both the global capacity and the capacity of nations to prevent, to detect threats and to respond to infectious diseases. The crucial roles of the medical laboratory scientists in not only achieving the visions and goals of the GHSA, but also in ensuring the provision of GHSA services anywhere in the world, including my dear country Nigeria is in-contestable,” he said.

    AMLSN President Bassey Iyang stressed the importance of laboratory tests to global health and security, adding that early detection of diseases requires a rapid testing capacity.

    He described global health security as activities required to minimise the danger and impact of acute public health events that endanger the collective public heath of populations living across geographic regions and international boundaries.

  • Community policing is panacea for insecurity, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has declared that community policing remain the only solution to tackling the country’s insecurity.

    Osinbajo spoke to reporters after a meeting with over 80 traditional rulers and security chiefs in Osogbo, Osun State.

    The traditional rulers include Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Owa Obokun of Ijesaland Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran and Oluwo of Iwo Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi.

    They were also joined by Assistant Inspector General of Police for Zone II Mr. Leye Oyebade and the Commissioner of Police Mrs. Abiodun Ige.

    Osinbajo said the traditional rulers and local communities must be involved in the fight against insecurity.

    The vice president, who described the traditional rulers as important component of security architecture in communities, said the Federal Government would keep consulting with critical stakeholders across the country.

    He said: “We are meeting purposely to understand the security architecture of the region; you know we have already had consultations with state governors from the Southwest.

    “We are meeting with traditional rulers because they are important components of our security architecture, particularly because we are working on community policing.

    Read Also: We’re tackling insecurity, human trafficking with quality education, says Obaseki

    “Community policing remains one of the methods of policing we have adopted, and I am sure you heard the Inspector General of Police talking about recruiting police locally from their local governments; those who understand the environment, the language and the culture of the people they are policing.

    “We are confident that this method will work with these men and women on ground in all our communities.”

    Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola explained the effort of his administration in tackling insecurity in some parts of the state.

    Oyetola, who was represented at the meeting by his deputy, Gboyega Alabi, said: “We held security meeting with all stakeholders in the state in Osogbo and followed it up with another meeting in Ife-Ilesa Zone, the mining-rich area, to address the influx of criminals into the communities.”

    He added that the Southwest governors also held a security summit and decided to work together to tackle the menace.

    The governor said: “We have collaborated with the neigbouring states, mobilised vigilance groups and local hunters to police the flashpoints and other parts of the state. I have visited mining sites to assess the security situation there and the extent of environmental degradation.

    “I have visited the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the State Security Service to solicit support for our security plans. The General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army has visited us in Osogbo on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff to pledge support for our security plans, including the joint patrol by security agents. Government has increased logistics support for security agencies in the state.

    “Mr. Vice President, your visit today is another vista in the relentless search for adequate security for our people, because the security of the people and their welfare are the main constitutional responsibilities of government.”

    The governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration for being pro-active and for showing interest in the security of Osun State and the Southwest.

  • Technology: Nigeria ‘ll surprise the world, says Osinbajo

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said the effort being made by Nigerians in technology can enable the country roll out indigenous technology solutions that can transform the global space.

    Osinbajo stated this during an interactive session with  investors and foreign policy experts on Nigeria’s economic prospects and related matters at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, united States.

    During an question and answer session, Osinbajo was asked about the on-going international dispute by some global technology firms on 5G.

    Osinbajo, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, explained that though Nigeria was yet to roll out 5G, “we do not have those complications (comparatively) in taking decisions in that regard.

    “But, we practically welcome every company that wants to do business with us in Nigeria. Huawei is in Nigeria and so are all the other technology companies.

    Read Also: Osinbajo tasks forum on expansion of pharmaceutical sector

    “We haven’t gone through any kind of decision making for rolling out the 5G technology; as a matter of fact we are going to roll out 5G ourselves. Talking about the equipment and technology; how did the Chinese get it? How did anyone else get the technology? We will do it ourselves.”

    Speaking further, the Vice President, who was optimistic about the possibility to developing homegrown capacity in the technology space, said the government would leverage the efforts and resourcefulness of youths to actualise its potentials in the sector.

    “Our potential in technology and entertainment has been attracting huge attention. First, is the market; at 174 million GSM phones, we are among the top 10 telephone users in the world, and we have the highest percentage of people who use internet on their phones in the world,” Osinbajo added.

    Continuing, he said: “We are also number two in mobile internet banking in the world, and 17 million Nigerians are on Facebook. Microsoft has announced that it will establish a $100 million  African Development Centre in Nigeria.

  • We’ll defend trust reposed in us, VP Osinbajo assures Nigerians

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has assured that he and President Muhammadu Buhari will defend the trust Nigerians reposed in them.

    He gave the assurance on Wednesday night during the Presidential inauguration state banquet organised for him and the President at the old Banquet Hall, State House, Abuja.

    Osinbajo said that the best days just begun with the inauguration of the Next Level  administration.

    He said: “We will defend the trust Nigerians reposed in us. The best years of Nigeria begins today (Wednesday).”

    Osinbajo who disclosed that between 12 midnight on Tuesday to 10:30am on Wednesday, there was no President and Vice President, commended Senate President, Bukola Saraki for not taking advantage and trying anything funny.

    The vice president said: “From 12 last night (Tuesday) to 10:30am on Wednesday, there was virtually no President and Vice President. We were happy that there was no problem.

    “I will like to thank Mr. Senate President for not doing anything funny.” he said

    Many guests had difficulty accessing the venue of the dinner due to traffic jam.

    Some diplomats attended reception, where a toast to the Federal Republic of Nigeria was led by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole.

    Oshiomhole said that those who thought Nigeria will be insurmountable were already having a rethink, adding that no matter the challenges, it is incontrovertible that Nigeria is bigger than its problems.

    The guests at the banquet included the vice president’s wife Dolapo; former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan; House of Representatives Leader Femi Gbajabiamila; Service chiefs, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), royal fathers and members of the diplomatic corps.

  • Osinbajo submits assets declaration forms

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has submitted his assets declaration forms to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande said that the submission is ahead of the oath-taking ceremony and in compliance with the requirement of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    READ ALSO: Photos: Buhari obtains assets declaration form

    He said: “The submission by the Vice President follows right after President Muhammadu Buhari submitted his forms.

    “The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Research, Legal and Compliance Matters, Office of the Vice President, Dr. Balkisu Saidu, submitted the completed forms to the Chairman of the CCB, Professor Mohammed Isa, on behalf of the Vice President.

    “Compared with the assets Prof. Osinbajo declared in 2015, the forms show no significant changes in his assets; as there are no new real properties, shareholding or bank accounts.” he stated

  • Govs laud Osinbajo’s leadership, problem-solving skills

    Governors have paid glowing tributes to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for his leadership and values as chairman of National Economic Council (NEC).

    Osinbajo, who chaired the valedictory NEC on Thursday, thanked members of NEC, comprising of governors of all the states of the Federation, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and others.

    He also thanked them for their solid support and cooperation over the past four years and their commitment to the socio-economic development of Nigeria regardless of party or geopolitical zone.

    In their remarks, council members representing each geopolitical zone, including Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, commended the Vice President for his chairmanship and leadership style, and humility, noting that the VP treated all equally regardless of party affiliations,

    The Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, noted that the VP “led a strong team through various areas requiring attention in the economy. He made robust efforts in security giving direction, confidence and comfort.”

    In the same vein, the Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said, the Vice President “provided leadership and in the past four years, he exhibited humility, giving everyone a sense of belonging.”

    Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode said VP’s leadership produced a “robust and purposeful NEC group, consistently stayed together pursing same goals, adding that subsequent governors would have to emulate their predecessors.”

    He also thanked the VP for the payment of backlog of salaries when they just got into government.

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel noted that “Governors never had cause to be known by party lines, because VP provided quality leadership and encouraged freedom of expression. He accommodated every comment made, contributions in the past four years.

    “The Unity in the council is unprecedented. He showed concern during the pipeline vandalism, brought peace and happiness in the region and his visit back then is still fresh in their memories.

    “Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria is also a success recorded by the Council,” he added.

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha said the VP “is a patriotic Nigerian, who smiles over issues when one expects him to react negatively.

    “The humility he displays is very rare. There’s great difference between NEC of the past and NEC under VP’s leadership.

    “The speed with which issues regarding the country were handled were second to none. NEC became a family under the leadership of the Vice President.”

  • Corruption: Osinbajo calls for collaboration among agencies

    There is a need for more collaboration among the anti-graft agencies and other stakeholders in the fight to curb corruption in the country, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said.

    Besides, Osinbajo also advocated for a new national re-orientation and attitudinal change for the country to  prevail in the corruption fight.

    He spoke yesterday at an anti-corruption summit organised by the Office of the Vice President and the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), in Abuja.

    He said: “Our struggle against corruption is one for the soul and substance of our Nation.

    “The battle must be a collective one, corruption fights back with venom, guile and force, it is relentless and unashamed we who fight it must meet it with greater resolve and force.

    “We can only win by working together with a common vision.”

    The vice president also stressed the negative impact corruption has had o  the country’s development saying that it has been Nigerian formost enemy.

    Read also: Buhari praises Osinbajo for driving Social Investments Programmes

    Osinbajo  also made reference to a recent Pricewaterhouse Coopers’ study, which concluded that Nigeria’s 2030 GDP could be up to $534 billion or more if it reduces corruption, pointing out that the country’s high revenue could not translate to development if corruption is not checked.

    He stressed, “It doesn’t matter how much revenue a country makes or how transformative its plans are corruption will ensure that the majority of the people do not benefit from it or simply truncate the plan.

    “Which is why despite the highest oil revenues in our history debt doubled and poverty figures rose.

    “It is for these reasons that President Muhammadu Buhari famously warned that if we don’t kill Corruption Corruption will  kill us, which is why a major pillar of our government’s socio economic agenda is the fight against corruption.”

    Osinbajo therefore explained that  it was  for the purpose of tackling corruption headlong that the administration set up  PACAC in 2015.

    He however submitted that  there is still a long way to go to stem corruption in the country.

    The Vice President said the policy of the administration has been to tackle grand corruption first, using various strategies.

    ”The enforcement of TSA, the Presidential Initiative on  Continuous Audit, and even ensuring that most civil servants are on the IPPIS electronic  platform have  helped greatly to control official theft of public funds.

    “The judiciary also moved the needle in recent times. The Supreme Court in a lead judgment of Akaahs JSC,  recently held that forfeiture under Section 17 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act is a civil matter which neither requires the criminal conviction of the property owner nor his innocence.

    “This opens the door for forfeiture of assets that the purported owner cannot explain, whether or not an allegation of Corruption is made.”

    Osinbajo said the administration was now poised to deal with the wider problem of systemic corruption, which affects “our people the most.”

    According to him, this type of corruption occurs especially where the average person interacts with government, including corruption in the issuance of contracts, licenses and other government approvals.

    “There is no reason why any Nigerian should have to pay bribes to law enforcement agents for obtaining drivers licenses or passports, or to clear goods at our ports.

    “All of the relevant government agencies have shown a serious commitment to eradicating these forms of corruption.

    “Our next level is to create the environment for collaboration  between our agencies, civil society and other stake holders.”

    In his address of welcome, the Chairman of PACAC, Prof. Itse Sagay, said the anti-corruption information and intelligence roundtable organised by committee on June 1, 2016, recommended short-term and long-term approaches for the successful collaboration among anti-corruption agencies.

    According to him, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, structure would be adopted for the sharing of information and intelligence on corruption in the short-term.

    He said the long-term measure would require the National Assembly passing an intelligence reform bill into law.