The Nation Newspaper

Tag: VP

New VP’s residence

•The plan to build a N16billion edifice for the VP is unacceptable and should be urgently reviewed by the Buhari administration

The proposed new residence for the Vice President within the Aso Villa has generated angry response from the public and calls for a quick decision by the Buhari administration.  The Jonathan administration had planned to expend N16 billion of the scarce federal resources on building and equipping the house. Already, N7 billion has been reportedly spent on the white elephant project and the contractors are demanding another N9 billion if they are to return to site.

The house is a reminder of the profligacy of that administration that abandoned so many areas of national life to pursue such luxury projects at a time the same government was commending austerity to the people.

When the project was conceived, the Jonathan administration’s response to the outrage it generated was that it was not out of place as the country required a befitting edifice for the second citizen and that it would enhance the country’s image. Officials of the Federal Capital Territory that were  saddled with the task of executing it were quick to point out that the American Vice President’s residence is even more grandiose. They were however unable to relate such plans with a comparison of the relative sizes of the Nigerian and American economies and the levels of development.

We recognise the dilemma of a more serious government in deciding what to do with the house which is said to be almost 80 per cent completed. Should it simply be abandoned; scaled down or converted to a more purposeful use? The onus is on President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to decide within their plans to turn around the national fortunes, what to do with the project. It is our view that abandoning it is not a viable option. It is unacceptable that any project on which N7 billion has been expended should be shelved.

We recommend that a review of the design, contract procedure and construction so far be instituted immediately. Second, the terms of the contract should be scrutinised by legal experts with a view to determining if the national interest was put in jeopardy.

A Federal Government that won the hearts and votes of Nigerians on the promise to transform the country and revamp values within the shortest possible time frame cannot afford to spend another N9 billion on a house for the vice president.

The Aguda House which officially houses the second citizen is adequate for the purpose. None of Mr. Namadi Sambo’s predecessors, military or civilian, ever complained about the residence. It is even more outrageous that the new plan was put in place after the former vice president had got the administration to spend more than N2 billion on his residence. In 2011, about N900 million was committed to refurbishing and furnishing the house to meet the taste of Mr. Sambo, an architect.  Such profligacy should have no place in our national life, and officials who have shown such proclivity should be shut out of high offices by a more discerning electorate. Since former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, made the unfortunate comment that Nigeria’s problem was not money but how to spend it, no government had given practical effect to the statement as the Jonathan administration.

In a few months, the Buhari administration would be presenting its first budget to the National Assembly. The government owes it a duty to walk its talk. We want to see a drastic reduction in estimates for feeding by the presidency which in the past years gulped an average N1 billion yearly, furnishing the official residences of the president, the vice president and other Federal Government officials. This would give the government the moral right to query any attempt by the National Assembly to ignore public opinion on its spending.

Millions of Nigerians who live below the poverty line, deprecate the ostentatious lifestyle of many of our public officials. The time to effect a change of attitude is now.

August 21, 2015
N7bn gone as VP’s new residence is abandoned

N9b extra vote stalls project

It was meant to be a worthy edifice housing the Vice President and one of the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration’s star projects. But, with N7billion already spent, the number two citizen’s official home now seems abandoned, subdued by weeds.

The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has abandoned the project, following the refusal of the 7th Senate to accept the inflation of the contract sum by N9 billion.

The builders have not been fully paid despite the release of the N7billion, The Nation learnt. Why they were shortchanged was not clear yesterday.

The project is yet to reach 80 per cent completion, contrary to the facts presented to the Senate by the FCDA.

The contract was awarded in 2009 at N7billion. But in 2012, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Sen. Bala Mohammed, came with a request for N9billion more to complete the project.

The variation was expected to accommodate a helipad. There was public outrage.

FCDA Executive Secretary Adamu Ismail later told the Senate Committee on FCT that the proposed additional N9 billion was slashed to about N6 billion by the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP).

He said the variation was also meant to provide furniture, fencing, two additional protocol guest houses, a banquet hall and security gadgets.

The then Senate Committee on FCT, led by Senator Smart Adeyemi, however, rejected the request for the variation, which was more than 100 per cent.

Adeyemi said either N13 billion or N14 billion or N16 billion for the project was “indefensible”.

The abandoned residence has been overtaken by weeds.

Reptiles are moving freely at the site.

Although the weather-beaten red gate was under lock at the weekend, it was learnt that no fresh work had been done on the site since 2013.

A source said: “The construction of the VP’s residence has been abandoned by the FCDA since the Senate turned down the demand for variation.

“Despite the Senate Committee’s position, the former FCT Minister presented a memo to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) but ex-President Jonathan said the nation cannot afford 120 per cent variation.

“The former FEC resolved to complete the project within available budget. This is why the project is stalled. Definitely, we have a case of abandoned contract at hand.

“The same abandonment is applicable to the new residences of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

A representative of the construction company, Julius Berger Plc, refused to speak with our correspondent last night.

The source said: “Go to those who gave out the job please.”

A presidency source, said: “The uncompleted residence of the Vice President was not included in the handover note on the pending issues at the Presidential Villa.

“I think it might be part of the report of the FCDA. But it is sad that we have to cope with an abandoned project even at the seat of power.”

The Jonathan administration left N8.185, 575,211.50 debts at the Presidential Villa.

The report said the N8.1billion liabilities were outside the expenses on the renovation of the Defence House, the main residence/ president’s office, Aguda House/ Vice President’s office and guest houses under the transition programme.

The report said: “The primary challenge facing the State House has been the inadequacy of successive budgetary appropriations. The State House annual appropriations do not match its actual activities, thereby leading to regular recourse to additional funding from Intervention Fund from the Federal Ministry of Finance.

“About 283 of the temporary staff not found eligible for regularisation were with the approval of His Excellency, the President given contract appointments renewable annually, based on performance and fitness.

“However, payment of their salaries (an average of N8million per month) is from State House overheads provision, which remains a huge challenge to State House.

“The existing infrastructure for mechanical, electrical and associated components have aged and are performing well beyond their design lives.

“The proposal for their replacement/ upgrade has been reviewed and certified by the Bureau of Public Procurement in the total sum of N3,647,793, 305.76. However, due to paucity of funds, phased implementation is being adopted for the most vital and critical works, starting with Phase I in the sum of N693, 119,509.55.”

August 17, 2015
Photo: Osinbajo with IDPs in Maiduguri

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday paid a surprise visit to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria.

During his visitation to Maiduguri, the Vice President made an Emotional Speech when he came in contact with little Aishat Ibrahim.

Inside the camp of Internally Displaced People in Maiduguri, Northeast-Nigeria

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo checking on little Aisha Ibrahim

The VP in the IDP camp in Maiduguri

July 1, 2015
Why we made our students vegetarians, by Babcock VP

Students of Babcock University, Ilishan Remo in Ogun State who may have been hoping for a reverse in the decision by the university management to introduce meat in their meals, again have had their hopes dashed.

The management emphasised that it will not back pedal on its decision hinging same on the tradition of the owner of the university. The seventh Day Adventist Church, which abhors meat consumption for its members.

According to the Vice-President (VP) of the university, Prof Iheanyichukwu Okoro, meat diet exposes people to cancer, and other diseases and above all, shortens life.

Okoro, who spoke with The Nation in his office, said the church felt it should introduce vegetarianism in all its institutions because the church has adopted vegetarian diet officially, therefore its institutions also must follow suit.

“The seventh Day Adventist Church, owners of Babcock, is not just only concerned about the spiritual well being of people but the physical and it has been shown without doubt in all scientific literature that vegetarian diet is superior to any meat diet. I can tell you with the vegetarian diet that they are taking, they look healthier than when they go home,” he said.

According to Okoro, members of the church are allowed to eat only ‘clean meat’ in accordance with Biblical injunction. “They are not allowed to eat pork, dog, camel or vulture meat because they are unclean meat,” he said.

For students who are complaining, he said management understands their point of view because that is what they eat in their homes. “But ask them if they are not healthier with what they eat here than what they eat at home. If they will not say it, their parents say it all the time,” Okoro added.

He also spoke on dress culture in Babcock.

“Students generally like to do whatever they want, but this is a Christian institution. We believe in modesty in everything we are doing. If you look at a Muslim woman, she believes her body must not be expose, so she dressed decently. What the church is saying is dress well, not expose parts of your body that should not be exposed. Don’t expose parts that will stimulate the opposite sex to rape you. Both for boys and girls we want decent dressing,” he added.

He said students can go out of the school with an exeat. He said if a student must go out, his or her parents must be contacted to know if they are aware that their ward is going out. If parents respond in the affirmative, the student will then tell the school authority where he or she is going and when he or she will be coming back. “It has to be weekend because if you must miss the class the process is very long. They should just know that it is for their own good.”

On the fee structure of the school, which ranges from N700,000 to N2million (for Medicine) per session, Okoro denied that the fees are outrageous, considering the cost of providing quality education.

“The fee is okay if you look at what we give to them. We bought computer equipment for N130 million and we used N150 million for Medical School accreditation. The money that students are paying cannot be too much for what we are giving them,” he added.

July 17, 2014
2015 poll: Jonathan camp splits on VP slot ahead of declaration

•First Lady insists on Shema, Dickson adamant on Sambo

Ahead of the declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan for second term, there is a split in the President’s camp over the Vice-President slot.

The choice has been narrowed down to either the retention of Vice President Namadi Sambo or Governor Ibrahim Shema.

The President is however expected to break the ice when he declares for second term in office.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that in spite of repeated moves to suppress the division within the Jonathan camp on the VP slot, it is still a major hurdle to cross.

Findings by our correspondent showed that some stakeholders loyal to the First Lady and some ministers are pushing for Shema as the next Vice President, but Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and other stakeholders from Bayelsa State have pitched their tents with Sambo as Jonathan’s running mate for second term.

Some ministers were also said to be supporting Sambo underneath since they do not know the mindset of the President.

A few ministers are however in favour of Shema as the next VP, based on their reading of some loyalists of the First Lady.

One of the anti-Sambo ministers is said to be lousy and eyeing a governorship seat in 2015.

The recent victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has also buoyed the rating of Sambo for the slot because he coordinated the campaign for the Governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose.

A reliable source, who spoke in confidence, said: “As the President prepares to declare, there is still a crack in his camp on the VP slot.

“Some forces in the presidency are still pushing for a change. They are making a case for Shema, who is gradually getting the ears of the President again after initial dust over the jostle for VP ticket in 2015.

“In fact, the President recently conceded the office of the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to Shema where his godfather heads the board of the agency.

The source added that UBEC is one of the agencies planned to be used as war chest for the 2015 poll. The Almajiri project being handled by Sambo is also under the management of UBEC.

He continued: “The same forces encouraged the President to visit Katsina State to have first hand information on the achievements of Shema and why he is being recommended.”

But the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, is uncomfortable with moves to upstage Sambo.

“Dickson has made his position known to those who matter in the Presidency why Sambo should be retained for his loyalty, patience and stabilization of the Presidency.

“To demonstrate his commitment, the governor has led a delegation of stakeholders from Bayelsa State thrice to Sambo on solidarity visits.

“During one of the visits, the governor went with traditional rulers and all members of the National Assembly from the state.

“The successful privatisation of the power sector is a major argument the backers of Sambo have been advancing for his retention.

“The recent political mileage of Sambo in Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Kaduna was said to have also encouraged Sambo’s adherents like Dickson.

“To prove that he has got the right political rhythm, Sambo also went to Lagos with about 100 Northern leaders and politicians for the commissioning of new coaches for the Nigerian Railway Corporation.”

The source further revealed that some pro-Sambo leaders in the cabinet and PDP are also warning against the danger of dropping the VP; the implication being that the President will be admitting that he has no competent assistant.

“This can be politically fatal to his success at the poll in 2015,” he said.

July 5, 2014
Reps seek to ease removal of President, VP

A bill to ease the process of impeaching a president and vice-president scaled the second reading yesterday in the House of Representatives.

The debate on the bill was hot as members took divergent positions.

Majority of the lawmakers, however, voted in favour of the bill to make the constitution amendment process less cumbersome.

The lawmakers are also seeking powers to solely initiate and execute impeachment proceedings against the president and the vice-president.

The bill, sponsored by Yakubu Dogara (PDP, Bauchi), was intended to amend Section 143 of the Constitution (as amended) that elaborately provides for the procedure of impeaching the President and or the Vice-President.

Section 143(11) reads: “In this section, ‘gross misconduct’ means a grave violation or breach of this Constitution or a misconduct of such nature as amounts in the opinion of the National Assembly to gross misconduct.”

Section 143(5) makes provisions that following a motion supported by at least two-thirds majority of members of each houses of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice of Nigeria shall at the request of the Senate President, appoint a panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegations.

Dogara said: “The essence of the bill is to hold the executive accountable so that checks can be created, and it is not meant to target this term but rather make the process less ambiguous on grounds of misconduct.

“Let’s all look at this and do it in the interest of Nigerians.”

The lawmaker cited the United States (US) and other countries that have vested the powers to impeach a president exclusively in the parliament,

“One of the defects in the provision is that the only basis to initiate impeachment proceedings against the president as enshrined in the Constitution is for ‘gross misconduct’ that is not clearly defined,” he added.

Emmanuel Jime (PDP, Benue) said the amendment was aimed at addressing difficult constitutional challenges being faced by the lawmakers.

“For instance, how can the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who himself is an appointee of the president, be the one to set up a panel to investigate the allegations”.

Bimbo Daramola (ACN, Ekiti) and Kamil Akinlade (ACN, Oyo) among others also spoke in support of the bill.

Opponents of the bill included Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers), who said the timing was wrong as it would send a wrong signal to the executive.

Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN, Lagos) said there was no need for any amendment since gross misconduct could be redefined.

He said: “I will very quickly go on to shoot the bill down. The timing of the bill is wrong and people will read meanings into it. We must be mature about it.

“The United States House of Representatives were caught up in something similar when the impeachment of the President Bill Clinton was going on in respect of his affairs with an intern.”

Majority Leader Mulikat Adeola-Akande (PDP, Oyo) said the bill was totally undemocratic. She said the Nigerian democracy should not be compared with older democracies, like that of the US.

Deputy Leader Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) also noted that the bill negates the principle of fair hearing, “In this case, the House would be the judge in its own case, rather than the arbiter it is expected to be,” he added.

The bill, however, scaled the second reading when it was put to voice vote.

June 5, 2013