The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

  • We’ve credible plans to get Nigerians out of poverty, Says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday night maintained that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has credible plans to get Nigeria out of poverty in spite of limited funds available to the country.

    He made the remark at a town hall meeting tagged: ‘The Candidates’ organised by the MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with NTA and DARIA Media in Abuja.

    According to him, the APC administration was dealing with poverty in many ways including monthly payment of N5,000 to the poorest Nigerians, home grown school feeding programme and the Tradermoni, where market women are given N10,000 each to start business.

    He said “As of 2012 Nigeria had 112 million people living in extreme poverty. Today Nigeria has about 86 million people who are poor but it is higher than India.

    “From 2010 to 2014 Nigeria earned  the highest revenue in oil. Nigeria earned $383 billion. Poverty figure went from about 82 million people  to about 112 million in 2012. That is  the reason why we have the poverty problem.

    “Unfortunately, with all this money we had poverty was not addressed, nothing was done about it.

    “In three years of our own government $94 billion is what we made from oil revenue compared that to$383 billion, but we started the largest programme to tackle poverty in the history of this country,’’ he said.

    The government, he said, was feeding 9.2million children daily under the school feeding programme to address the issue of malnutrition.

    He said that no credible beneficiary could be traced to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) SURE-P Fund.

    Osinbajo also said that the APC was different from the PDP because the APC manifesto was about social development of the country.

    The Vice also said that the Federal Government’s fight against corruption is on course and that all monies returned to government by those who looted public treasury will be judiciously utilised to develop the country.

    Read also: All returned looted funds will be judiciously utilised – Osinbajo

    The vice president, however, said that the federal government had been able to block channels of looting the nation`s treasury through the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    He said that all returned looted funds would be used following budgetary process, saying that, in the case of properties, ones there was a final forfeiture, such property (asset) become the property of the state unless where there was a legal claim to it.

    He, however, said that the mere fact that someone returned monies acquired through illegal means while holding public office did not make him a free person.

    Speaking on the farmers’ herders clashes especially in Benue, the vice president attributed the development to climate change.

    He said the development was getting worse because of desertification, adding that the federal government was collaborating with the country`s neighbours to address it.

    He said the federal government was making efforts to recharge the Lake Charge which he noted was shrinking.

    The vice president said that the long term plan to address the development was to create ranches, saying that water dams were presently being created by the federal government as a short term measure.

  • I feel very sad, says Osinbajo on Onnoghen

    President Muhammadu Buhari did not know about the plan to arraign Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen, until Saturday evening, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday.

    Prof Osinbajo, who spoke at the third Online Publishers Association of Nigeria (OPAN) conference in Abuja, said he was sad about the development.

    The CJN is accused of false assets declaration, following a petition written against him by the Dennis Aghanya-led civil society group – the Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI) – to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

    He was absent when the trial began on Monday at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    Osinbajo, who spoke on the development for the first time, said: “I feel very sad that is going on at all.”

    He said President Buhari had asked that no individual should interfere with the institutions.

    His words: “President Muhammadu Buhari, his whole approach is that institutions should just do their work. I can tell by fact that he did not know about this until Saturday evening.

    “He did not know that there will be any kind of arraignment till Saturday evening. He has said categorically, ‘don’t interfere with what the institutions are doing’. Sometimes, it has consequences like we have today.

    “My take is that I’d rather not have a situation where members of my profession are being tried for an offence. I don’t feel good about it. As a matter of fact, I feel very sad about it, that it’s going on at all. That is my position on it but I want to say that this is the way it works.”

    “In the case of the Code of Conduct Bureau chairman, where these things are reported to, he is new, he is barely three weeks on the job but the specific instruction is that if you receive a petition, however it is (you have to) go through the process,” Osinbajo said.

    “Justice is slow and, unfortunately, and it is interfered with it. I will like the online publishers to go into facts of the matter,” Osinbajo said.

  • Code of Corporate Governance will minimise waste, corruption – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says implementation of Code of Corporate Governance will promote success and economic growth, lower cost of capital and help to minimise the wastage and corruption.

    Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, in a statement, said Osinbajo communicated this at the unveiling of Code of Corporate Governance on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Osinbajo commended the governing board of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and other stakeholders that contributed to the code.

    He also thanked captains of industry, heads of regulatory agencies, development partners and others that contributed to the process of developing the code.

    “We are all familiar with the journey that has culminated in today’s ceremony and I am pleased that we now have a widely accepted National Code of Corporate Governance ready for use.

    “The code has been long awaited and I believe that it will satisfy our desire for higher standards of corporate governance and ethical practices in our business environment and help to rebuild public trust and investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.

    “The implementation of the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018 is important and will promote corporate success and economic growth, lower cost of capital and perhaps, help to minimise the wastage and corruption.

    “I, therefore, encourage companies, regulators, the media, to be publicity agents in spreading the news of the release of the code and the imperatives of its implementation.

    “To our business leaders here gathered, let me reiterate that the government very much looks forward to your enthusiastic implementation of the code and to your being corporate role models in this regard,’’ he said.

    He expressed optimism that business leaders would find the principle-based approach and the constructs in the code helpful and consistent with the focus on making it easier to do business in Nigeria.

    The vice president said that the event was big stride in Nigeria’s efforts to be a preferred investment destination.

    Osinbajo said that the unveiling of the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance was not just a symbolic presentation, but also a presentation of an internationally accepted best practice standards for business conduct in Nigeria.

    He said that the benefits would be enjoyed by investors, the entities applying the code and Nigerian economy.

    “Finally, as we promote and imbibe best practices in corporate governance, I am hopeful that given the constant flow of talents from the corporate world to the political space and vice versa, we would also be promoting and demonstrating high standards of governance in the political space over time.

    “I hope and wish we could extend this code of corporate governance to political players; at least it might help a bit in stemming defections and counter defections,’’ he said.(NAN)

  • Buhari promises to secure Nigeria

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to secure the country for the future.

    Buhari stated this at the All Progressives Party (APC)presidential campaign rally on Tuesday in Akure.

    The president, who asked the electorate for votes for his re-election, noted that if he re-elected, he would get rid of corruption in the country.

    According to him, those found culpable in corrupt acts would be prosecuted.

    He added that his 2015 campaign promises of revamping economy, security and fighting corruption had been fulfilled.

    “Boko haram is no longer occupying those places it was in control of before our administration came in in 2015, though they are now using young girls to attack soft targets.

    “But we are reassuring you that we will revamp our economy and we are making fertiliser available to farmers in all Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country.

    “Those found culpable of corruption will be prosecuted.
    “We will secure the country and rid it of corruption,”he said.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the present administration had taken youths engagement seriously, hence the introduction of NPower initiative.

    Osinbajo added that the initiative had engaged 500,000 youths, promising that the number would be increased to 1.5 million youths.

    The vice president stated that the planned railway line to Akure would create job for different strata of people.

    According to him, more power distribution companies will be engaged to supply power and that that the Federal Government is partnering with some solar power suppliers to provide electricity to some parts of the state.

    Osinbajo recalled the federal government had partnered with Brazil to supply farm equipment that would make farming attractive to youth.

    He warned electorate not to vote for another party’s candidate that would take the country back to era of corruption, saying “it was corruption that took us back”.

    Comrade Adams Oshiomohle, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Party (APC),said the difference was clear between Buhari and other candidates.

    Oshiomole noted that Buhari’s policy was to liberate children of the poor and ensure that Nigerian workers got the best, hence the reason for bailout funds to all states.

    According to him, the APC led government is ensuring that Nigerians must produce what they eat and stop exporting job to Europe.

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, assured the president of landslide victory come Feb. 16 poll.

    Akeredolu said that if the party could win in 2015 general election when it was in opposition, it would handsomely win in the coming election.

    Read Also:Army repels Boko Haram attack in Yobe

     

    Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the APC National Leader, said the Buhari administration was rebuilding the country for the future.

    Tinubu added that the administration had created enabling environment for the economy to thrive.

    He asked electorate to vote for Buhari, saying that the president represented honesty and accountability.

     

     

  • PDP, Atiku know Buhari is honest – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says that members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar know that President Muhammadu Buhari is an honest man.

    Osinbajo stated this while addressing the `Drive 4 Buhari-Osinbajo’ rally organised by the `I am Ready’ campaign group alongside other support groups on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Referring to an earlier remark by Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Osinbajo said that with Buhari Nigeria’s wealth is safe.

    Bello had earlier posed a question to crowd on whether they would rather deposit their monies in an Atiku Bank or a Buhari Bank.

    “I will not speak much, I will only give you certain examples and then you will make your choice.  Because the difference is clear between APC and any other political party.

    “Anywhere you go, you ask them this simple question—there are two banks; one is Buhari bank; another one is Atiku bank, where will you deposit your money?

    The crowd erupted in laughter. Shouting Buhari bank.

    “The talakawas know that their money is safe in Buhari bank; even Atiku knows that his money is safe in Buhari bank,’’ Bello said.

    Osinbajo, who was beaming with smile while acknowledging cheers from the enthusiastic crowd, chanted APC campaign slogans while the audience responded.

    He told the audience that Bello had said it all.

    The vice president said the major problem of Nigeria was corruption- stealing of the resources of the people, adding that Nigeria would never give looters chance to return to power.

    “We will not allow them to come back. I think that the very right question has been asked; where will you rather put your money?

    “If it is me, I will put my money in Buhari bank because even Buhari’s worst enemies know that he is an honest man; even the thieves know that he is an honest man.

    “Even the enemies will put their money in his bank because they know that their money will be safe in his bank; we have today an honest man as president, a man who will use the money for what it is meant.

    “Even his worst enemy knows that he is an honest man and that he will use the money. I pray for our country that our country will be great.

    “And the only way our country would be great is if you and I vote for a man who is honest, for a man who is truthful, a man we know, even his opponents know, everybody in PDP knows that he is an honest man.

    “Even Atiku knows that Buhari is an honest man; and he can never deny that; nobody can deny that; that is the kind of leader we want for our country today.’’

    Osinbajo said that the Buhari-led administration had made giant strides in the last three years.

    According to him, for the first time, the country is spending money on roads and railways.

    The vice president listed some completed and ongoing projects as the Lagos-Kano railway; Itakpe—Warri railway and second Niger Bridge.

    “In every state of Nigeria, we are building a major road.  We are going to do the Lagos-Calabar railway. We are going to complete that by the grace of God. Port Harcourt-Maiduguri we are going to complete it.

    “When we came into office, after 16 years, 3000mw of power was all that we had. Today, we have 7000MW,’’ he said.

    Osinbajo thanked the campaign coordinators for working so hard across the country to drive home the APC campaign.

    On his part, Festus Keyamo, Director of Media of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, said that the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme was the first since 1960 aimed at improving the lives of the poor.

    Earlier in his remark, Dr Abudallahi Bafa, Coordinator, One 2-Tell-10 Support Group said that the rally was organised to push the Next Level agenda.

    More so, Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation (N-Power Scheme), highlighted the impact of the scheme on young Nigerian; hence the need for another four years for the administration.

    The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, who spoke on behalf of other ministers at the event, urged Nigerians to vote for continuation so that Buhari would consolidate on his feats.

    Afterwards, Osinbajo proceeded to the UTC Market, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, where he addressed the artisans and urged them to vote for Buhari in the forthcoming presidential election. (NAN)

  • Buhari won’t abandon Nigerians, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Buhari administration is for all Nigerians, despite social class and status, and remains committed to improving their welfare so they can lead better lives.

    Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Thursday during the Family Chats where he visited the Sanwo Olatunji-David family at  Games Village and interacted with Nigerians in New Kuchingoro Village and the Wuse II Neighbourhood Centre, all in the FCT, Abuja.

    The Olatunji-David family runs a foundation called Life Builders Initiative for Education and Societal Integration, which runs a free education project called school without walls.

    During the visit, the Vice President, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said that the Buhari administration remains focused on improving the lives of Nigerians.

    He highlighted the administration’s social investment schemes, including the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme which currently provides a free, nutritious meal daily to over 9 million pupils in 26 states.

    Shortly after interacting with the Olatunji-David family at Games Village, Prof. Osinbajo proceeded to the neighborhood park where he bought some local meat delicacy popularly known as Suya and interacted with some residents of the area.

    “You’re the best Vice President,” excited Nigerians in the neighbourhood park said delightedly as he interacted with them.

    At New Kuchingoro Village, near Games Village, the Vice President was also welcomed amidst singing and dancing by the residents.

    Through an interpreter, Prof. Osinbajo assured the people there of the Federal Government’s commitment to address the challenges confronting them, adding that the Buhari administration remains committed to their welfare and that of all Nigerians.

    “I want you to understand that this government is for you and will not abandon you. We will support you so you can live better lives by doing something for yourselves. That is what I can assure that we will do,” the Vice President said.

    The VP added: “I have been informed of your challenges and I can assure you that the government of President Buhari has programmes that will address some of your immediate needs.

    “Those of you who are into farming, we are going to support you with the necessary things that will make you less dependent – to feed yourselves, cloth yourselves and send your children to school. Those who want to trade, we are going to assist you through the TraderMoni scheme.”

    Citing the introduction of the N-power programme and the tech hubs initiatives, Prof. Osinbajo said Nigeria’s youths would be better placed if they leveraged on opportunities provided through the administration’s technology initiatives and the economic empowerment schemes.

    Read also: Much ado about Osinbajo’s pitch

    While interacting with Nigerians at different points in the neighbourhoods he visited, and engaging them on issues, Prof. Osinbajo assured them of the Buhari government’s commitment to address the needs of all Nigerians, especially the poor.

    During the visits, Prof. Osinbajo emphasized that the Buhari government was committed to ensuring that young people were empowered through the various initiatives introduced by the government since 2015.

    At Wuse II Neighbourhood Centre, the Vice President visited Luxor Barber’s shop and interacted with customers and staff. Excited Nigerians in the neighbourhood also thronged the vicinity to take photographs with the Vice President, amidst cheers from the crowd.

    It would be recalled that last week Sunday, the Vice President had visited the leader of the Hausa community in Agege, Lagos, Alhaji Musa Muhammed Dogonkadai.

    Similarly, on the Christmas Eve, the Vice President continued the Family Chats in Wuse and Garki, Abuja, where he visited the families of Col. Ahmed Zubair (rtd) and Mr. Abdulwaheed Yusuf.

    At the Family Chats, the Vice President meets with Nigerians in their homes and neighbourhoods, engaging them on issues and the Next Level plan of the Buhari administration.

  • Nigeria suffered major infrastructural deficit in PDP`s 16 years of rule – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria suffered major infrastructural deficit in the 16 years of the Peoples Democraty Party’s (PDP) rule.

    He stated this on Friday in Abuja at the 2019 Vice Presidential Debate organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group in collaboration with the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and Civil Society Organisations.

    He added that corruption is the major course of the country`s current challenges which must be tackled head-on.

    The said the country`s Gross Domestic Product had consistently gone up under the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration which he added was building the country`s infrastructure, especially the road and rail sector.

    While acknowledging issues of poverty in the county, Osinbajo said the administration’s social investment programmes were put in place to address poverty in the country.

    He said the administration was investing heavily in power distribution to address problem of electricity in the country

    Dr Peter Obi, the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, however, said that job creation remains the key to addressing insecurity and other anti-social vices in the country.

    He decried inequality, poverty and high crime rate in the country which he said was caused by unemployment.

    Obi stressed that the country`s main problem is its economy which he said is under the preview of the Vice President, adding that he would do all it takes to set the country`s economy on the right footing if his party is voted into office in 2019.

    “The vice president has a role to build the economy and make the country work, fighting corruption is not a policy,” he said.

    He assured that he would remain loyal to the President and Nigerians, adding that he had never had issues working with people.

    Obi further said there was need to review the country`s subsidy regime in the interest of the nation, adding that if the right thing was done, the price of petroleum products would drop.

    He said the PDP government would properly support Small and Medium Enterprises in the country as well create enabling environment to attract foreign investors.

    Also speaking at the debate, Mrs Umma Getso, Young Progressives Party Vice Presidential Candidate said the girl-child education and women empowerment was her priority.

    She stressed that her party had all it takes to move the country to the next level, adding that subsidy in petroleum productes was a scam and should be removed completely.

    She emphasised the need to rebuild the country`s economy which she said is all encompassing, adding that her party would ensure constitutional restructuring and electricity redistribution.

    Alliance for New Nigeria Vice Presidential Candidate, Khadijah Abudullahi-Iya said her party if voted into office, would ensure transparency in government`s institutions, diversify the economy and address issues surrounding petroleum subsidy.

    She also said that her party had in place policies that would address unemployment, and encourage free trade to grow the economy.

    Alhaji Ganiyu Galadima, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria Vice Presidential Candidate said his party would work with technocrats to develop the country`s economy and make her the envy of other nations.

    He said his party would privatise all government business to make them more productive.(NAN)

  • VP Debate: Why we can’t remove oil subsidy

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday explained why the Federal Government cannot afford to remove the oil on fuel subsidy.

    He spoke at the Vice Presidential debate of the 2019 election held in Abuja.

    He said the pump price of fuel could go up to as much as N220 if the subsidy is removed.

    He said, “If petroleum subsidy is removed, the price of fuel could go up as high as N220 per litre. There is no country in the world that does not run one subsidy or the other. If you have a petrol subsidy, and I am not saying that it must be there forever, but petrol subsidy helps because the moment you remove the subsidy, prices go up. For example, America subsidises agriculture, subsidises production, subsidise all sorts of things.  We experienced it earlier on in the regime. Prices went up from 86 to 145 naira per liter”.

  • Osinbajo to chair extended NEC meeting Friday 

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will on Friday chair an extended National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.

    According to media statement issued by Arukaino Umukoro, Special Assistant to the President, Communication Projects, Office of the Vice President, the meeting will start at the old Banquet Hall in the State House from 9.00a.m

    Read Also:Compulsory health insurance scheme coming, says Osinbajo

    “In line with the Buhari administration’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) for inclusive growth human development nationwide, there will be an extended session of the National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

    “The extended National Economic Council, comprising of Governors of all the States of the Federation, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, will focus on the Human Capital Development Programme of this administration hinged on “investment in our people.”

    “The Human Capital Development Programme’s is hinged on 3 main thematic areas i.e. Health and Nutrition, Education and Labour Force Participation, while the programme has identified 7 outcome areas and a considerable number of interventions designed to drive change nationwide.”