Leader of the Senate, Ali Ndume, has said that the National Assembly is broke and experiencing difficulties in meeting its financial obligations.
Ndume told news men in a chat that the situation is so bad that legislators are not receiving their allowances as and when due.
“I know that the whole country is in financial difficulty, not only the National Assembly.
“I have been in the National Assembly since 2003, but things keep getting worse. I think they paid us last month’s salary on the 16th of the following month or thereabout.”
He, however, said that the situation is not peculiar to the legislature, adding that other arms of government, including states, are facing similar problems.

“It is not only with the National Assembly; some states have not been able to pay salaries for six months, one year.
“Some states were even asking their workers to go and farm for two days and work for the other three days in a week. Even in the Presidency, they have tightened their belts on their expenditure and so, it’s a general phenomenon in the country.
“We used to receive running costs or allowances quarterly but now it is monthly and it doesn’t come as and when due.”
The Senate leader complained that Nigerians have had a wrong impression of the workings of the legislature, adding that Nigerians appear to see the legislators as corrupt which he said is not true.
“If the National Assembly is so corrupt and you can make much money, then tell me one National Assembly member that is living in luxury after leaving office. Some of my colleagues who lost out in the 2015 election are struggling to pay their children’s school fees; some of them are even struggling to take care of their health.
“If the National Assembly was where you come and make a lot of money, how come one year after leaving you cannot meet your basic needs,’’ he asked rhetorically.” [myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowedd that the anti-corruption crusade in the country will be deepened and institutionalized to last beyond the life of his government.

The President who received in audience on Wednesday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the American Secretary of State, Mr. John Kerry said: “we will insist on the standards which we are establishing. We are laying down administrative and financial instructions in the public service that must be obeyed. Any breach will no longer be acceptable.

“We will restrain our staff, so that they understand the new orientation. And those who run foul of these rules will be prosecuted, no matter who is involved. But we will be fair, just and act according to the rule of law. Anyone perceived corrupt is innocent till we can prove it. We will work very hard to establish documentation for successful prosecution, and those in positions of trust will sit up.”

President Buhari appreciated the intervention of the U.S before the 2015 polls, demanding free and fair elections in Nigeria, saying: “America did not do it because of what it stands to benefit from us. You did it for the Nigerian people. It tells so much what the U.S stands for in the world.”

On the Boko Haram insurgency, President Buhari thanked the U.S for both hard and soft military help.

“The training and intelligence that we could not muster ourselves, we received. The training has made Boko Haram less of a threat to Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region, while the military hardware has given our troops added confidence.”

Buhari said that though militancy in the Niger Delta has impacted negatively on the economy and affected the positive intentions of international and local investors, but that government is showing restraint not to use real force, “except when constrained to do so.”

On the economy, the President assured that the focus of his administration is on the diversification of the economy having learnt our lessons from years of over dependence on oil.

In his remarks, Mr. Kerry commended the courage of President Buhari in fighting corruption, saying: “we applaud what you are doing. Corruption creates a ready-made playing field for recruiting extremists.  You inherited a big problem, and we will support you in any way we can. We will work with you very closely. We don’t want to interfere, but will offer opportunities as you require.”

The American Secretary of State also pledged to assist in tackling the humanitarian challenges in the North-east, adding that his country would get the UK, France, and others to augment the support.

“Nigeria is priority for us. We won’t miss the opportunity to work together, because you are making significant progress,” Mr. Kerry said. [myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the war against terrorism as a most unconventional one.

“The enemy is essentially an insane nuisance because he revels in un-cowardly attacks. He does not obey the rules of warfare, kills the defenseless including prisoners, uses children as human guns and considers the killing of anyone at all as a victory.”

The President, who spoke through Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday, at the launching of the Revised National Counter Terrorism Strategy at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja, made it clear that the team in his government should not only review the strategy, by “we must remember that to permanently win the physical battle,  we must win the battle of the minds of the often impressionable  young men who sign up to join Boko Haram. We must also educate the millions of other young men,  through the leadership of our faiths.”

President Buhari recalled that since May 29 2015, his government had committed itself to the absolute defeat of the terrorists and to re-equipping and rebuilding the morale of the nation’s armed forces.

“The gallant men and women of our armed forces have in a few months freed many from Boko Haram-held territories and fatally degraded their fighting capacity. Our neighbours in the Lake Chad Basin area have also been tremendous allies in the various military engagements.

“But like all evil, the vestiges of their activities and warped ideology still linger. Through personal contact, the social media, and even personal contacts, capture and intimidation, men women and even children are induced, persuaded or forced to engage in acts of terrorism.

“This is why a robust and dynamic Counterterrorism strategy is crucial in the fight against terrorism, and must be constantly reviewed for relevance to contemporary challenges.”

Buhari said that the revised part of the strategy underscores the fact that terrorism has numerous iterations, adding that since their strategy is not static, “our response must be dynamic and versatile.

“We must let them know that Islam or any other religion we know, does not endorse the slaughter of any one. That anyone who kills the innocent and shouts that God is great either does not know the meaning of those words or is deranged.  We must work hard to provide opportunities for these young men and women who for years have lacked education and a real chance of doing well.

“Our Social Investment Programmes and Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, our vocational and technical training for graduates and non-graduates, our Teacher Corp programme are all designed to create real opportunities for young people.”

President Buhari stressed that his government is determined to ensure that the safety and security of every single Nigerian is its priority which is why he had repeatedly ordered the law enforcement agencies to ensure that perpetrators of violence in any shape or form are arrested and made to face the law.

“The activities of armed herdsmen and host farmers, kidnappers, and criminal militants all threaten our peace, security and the stability of our nation. We will not allow anyone under any guise whether it is politics, culture or religion to violate the physical person, lives or property of other citizens. This is the oath to which I swore and I will uphold it at all costs.” [myad]

Nigeria Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has suggested the creation of a bilateral economic council that can bring business interests from Nigeria and Liberia together.

Osinbajo, who spoke when he received in audience, Vice President of Liberia, Mr. Joseph Nyumah Boakai in his office at the Presidential Villa Abuja on Monday, stressed the necessity for African nations to work together, especially in developing their economies for the benefit of their people ahead of other forms of international cooperation.

“We have to help ourselves first before others come, we should look for ways we can benefit each other.”

Professor Osinbajo said that there are Nigerian business people that can invest in Liberia, even as he said: “we must engender stronger relationships between our countries that are what Africans need.”

He stressed the important task for African governments to create enabling environments for agricultural and industrial development, saying: “our people depend on what government is able to do for them.”

Vice President Boakai of Liberia described Nigeria as a very important big brother to Liberia, adding: “you have made a lot of sacrifices to our country, including through ECOMOG and the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL.”

He acknowledged that Nigerian businesses are helping the West Africa country in sectors like aviation, banking, insurance and investments.

He said that there are teachers and doctors from Nigeria who are currently helping to set up schools and health infrastructure in Liberia.

“We are grateful to our brothers and sisters here. We want this relationship to go on; this is the way Africans should go.” [myad]