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Tag: Yusuf Buratai

  • Senate to probe appointment of new NYSC DG

    The Senate Tuesday mandated its committee on Sports and Youth Development to investigate the appointment of a new Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Shuiabu Ibrahim.

    The Chief of Army Staff, General Yusuf Buratai named Ibrahim few days ago to replace Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure.

    The committee was given a deadline of one week to report back to the Senate.

    The upper chamber mandated the committee to establish if any law was violated in the appointment of the new NYSC boss.

    The mandate followed a point of order raised by Senator Dino Melaye on the appointment of the new NYSC DG.

    The Kogi West senator in his point of order claimed that there was an infraction by the Chief of Army Staff in the appointment of Kazaure.

    He insisted that the appointment appeared to be contrary to the Act establishing the NYSC.

    Melaye said: “NYSC Act Section 5 says there shall be a service to be heard by a person called the director-general to be appointed by the president.

    “Surprisingly, the Chief of Army Staff removed the director-general through signal and through another signal appointed another one.

    “The law doesn’t confer the power of appointing him on anybody, but the president. The last person and all other past persons were appointed by the presidents.

    “If we allow this, the announcement of the Senate President can come from the Road Safety and replacement may come from the same Institution.”

    Also a mild drama ensued in the chamber Tuesday between Saraki and Ahmed-Baba Kaita (Katsina North)

    Observers said that the seeming clash was “a clash of interest” between the duo.

    Senator Shehu Sani raised a point of order on the alleged kidnap of over 40 people along Kaduna-Abuja high way on Monday.

    Sani told the Senate that the victims included the Chairman of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar and his daughter.

    He said, “Monday around 3:30.pm, bandits along Kaduna-Abuja expressway blocked the road and kidnapped over 40 people, including UBEC chairman.

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    “The incident is a pointer to the fact that all the actions taken against kidnapping on that road are not working. We must note that the IGP launched Operation Puff Adar. That too seemed to have failed.”

    He said that it appeared that all measures to deal with insecurity along Kaduna-Abuja expressway had failed.

    Sani relied on under Order 42 of the Senate Standing Rules which deals with personal explanation.

    The information by Sani appeared not to have gone down well with Kaita.

    The Katsina North lawmaker sharply disagreed with Sani’s position on the issue.

    He attempted to speak by also relying on the same Order 42 under which Sani spoke.

    Saraki cut him short by insisting that he did not secure necessary approval from him (Saraki) in line with the laid down Senate standing rule and procedures.

    Kaita who could not take Saraki’s ruling on the issue accused him of deliberately preventing him from speaking in the chamber.

    He said, “This is the second time you (Saraki) are preventing me from speaking on this floor. I think this is deliberate and I will not take it Mr. President.”

    Saraki fired back and insisted that he will only allow him (Kaita) to speak if he follows laid down procedure.

    Saraki said: “The rules say that you should send the details of what you’re to discuss to the Senate President. If you follow the rules, I will allow you to speak. Gentleman, educate yourself with the rules.”

    Kaita explained that he only wanted to point out that nobody should be allowed to play politics with the issue of security.

    He noted that there was no doubt that the security situation in the country is degenerating by the day “but the Senate should pay more attention to ways and means to solve the problem.”

  • Shaibu advocates more budgetary allocation for military

    Edo State Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, has called for more budgetary allocation for the Nigerian military to enable it effectively combat the security challenges confronting the country.

    The acting governor made the submission during a courtesy visit by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, to the Government House, in Benin City, on Monday.

    He noted that the Nigerian Army has restored hope to Nigerians as a result of their role in sustaining peace and stability in the country, noting that their effort has contributed immensely to the peace enjoyed across the South-South.

    “Thank you for what you have done in the North-East and we also appreciate you for the peace in the South-South.

    “Your leadership has ensured a cordial relationship between the Army and civilians. You have reinforced the rules of engagement in our system and it has given us a good image in  the international community,” he said.

    On budgetary provision for the Army, the acting governor urged members of the National Assembly to increase funding for the military to enable them discharge their duties effectively.

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    “Edo State Government joins in the appeal to members of the National Assembly to increase the military budget so they can effectively deal with the security issues confronting the country,” he noted.

    He assured that the state government will contribute to ensuring a successful burial ceremony for late Gen. David Ejoor, who served as the sole administrator of old Bendel State (now Edo and Delta States).

    Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Yusuf Buratai, said he is on a visit to the state to deliver an inaugural lecture at the Center for Security Affairs, in Igbinedion University, Okada.

    He said he will also pay a condolence visit to the family of late Gen. David Ejoor, who served as Chief of Staff, Nigerian Army, between January 1971 to January 1975, adding, “The loss of late Gen. Ejoor is a sad moment not only for Edo and Delta states or the Army but for Nigeria. We request the full participation of the Edo State Government to ensure a successful burial.”

    Buratai noted that he will use the opportunity to tour some military formations and units in the South-South region to review their general administration and operational capabilities.

     

  • Exempt us from envelope system of budgetary allocation – Army

    The Nigerian Army (NA) has requested to be exempted from the envelope system of budgetary allocation by the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

    While the Army is proposing N472.8bn for the 2019 fiscal year, the Ministry of Budget is proposing a reduction of the amount to N232.4b.

    According to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, the envelope system of allocation cannot aid its immediate response to crisis situations taking into consideration Army’s on-going structural changes, volatile security environment and massive engagement of troops in virtually all the 36 states of the Federation.

    The COAS appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Army yesterday where he also asserted that the Army deserved whatever budgetary allocation it requested for because it performed almost 100 percent on all its 2018 budget implementation.

    He said: “The National Assembly should prevail on the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to exempt the Nigerian Army from the existing budget ceiling or envelope allocation system in view of the on-going structural changes, volatile security environment and massive engagement of troops in virtually all the 36 states of the Federation.

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    “The National Assembly should change the 40 percent second Instalment Payment for purchase of 3 x LUH AS-350 for NA Aviation with the procurement of Armoured Personnel Carrier “A” Vehicles.

    “The Nigerian Army has for years grappled with fund insufficiency; however it has remained resilient and ever dedicated to the discharge of its constitutional roles.

    “It was able to cope with the financial constraints due to the relative peaceful environment across the country prior to the re-emergence of insurgency and other hostile activities of Violent Non-State Actors.

    “You may recall that since the beginning of 2015, the activities of the Violent Non-State Actors have exacerbated in various regions across our dear country.

    “In response to these, the Nigerian Army has expanded from 5 Divisions to 8 Divisions and is currently engaged in war against Boko Haram Terrorists and Internal Security operations in virtually all the 36 states of the Federation.

    “It is also pertinent to note that the Nigerian Army has established Nigerian Army Special Forces Command, Nigerian Army Cyber Warfare Command, Special Intelligence Command, Land Forces Simulation Centre and Nigerian Army Aviation amongst others.

    “These commitments have extended our core constitutional role, and have impacted significantly on our human and material assets. This is in addition to inadequate budget allocation and the subsisting envelope budget system.

    “In 2018, the percentage performance of Nigerian Army Budget Personnel Emolument was 100 percent, Overhead was 100 percent and Capital was 91.69 percent. It is in the light of this that I make bold to say that the budget has performed reasonably well”.

    On the 2019 budget proposal, the Army boss said, “In preparing the 2019 budget, the Nigerian Army is requesting for the sum of N472.8bn but the Ministry of Budget and National Planning proposed the total sum of N232.4b only.

    “Accordingly, the following are my humble prayers: The sum of N350.5b should be approved for Nigerian Army Personnel Emolument in 2019 Budget; N43.6b Overhead; and N78.5b for Capital Budget”.

    While imploring the lawmakers to assist in timely and complete release of Army’s budget allocations, Buratai assured of Army’s total commitment to its statutory duties to the country.

    “The timely and complete implementation of 2019 Budget will thus enhance the fulfilment of this mandate.

    “Let me reiterate here that the Nigerian Army is committed to securing the territorial integrity of Nigeria from any violation, as the clearance operation to rid our country of the remnant of Boko Haram Terrorists and other criminal groups are currently ongoing”.

    While the Committee commended the Army for its role in tackling insurgency and other crimes around the country, it however questioned the COAS on the deponent of technology in tackling insurgency, kidnapping and other crimes across the country.

  • Buhari meets Security Chiefs in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with Service Chiefs and security heads at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting was expected to deliberate on the security situation in the country.

    The security heads are also expected to present regular briefing to the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces.

    The Service Chiefs at the meeting were Chief of Defence Staff General Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete IIbas and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar.

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    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai and the Director of National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ahmed Abubakar were represented at the meeting.

    Also present were the National Security Adviser Major Gen. Babagana Monguno; Director General, Department of Security Service DSS Yusuf Bichi; the Acting Inspector General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu; Chief of Defence Intelligence and the Minister of Defence, Brigadier Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report