CBN Announces Release Of N689.5 Billion To States As Salary Assistance Loan

April 21, 2016

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele has announced the release of N689.5 billion as salary assistance loan to States.
This is in addition to N310 billion disbursed as Excess Crude Account-backed loans to States.
The CBN boss made these revelations today, Thursday, while briefing the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, made up of the governors of 36 states and other stakeholders. The meeting was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Highlights of the NEC meeting are as follows:
REPORT ON EXCESS CRUDE PROCEEDS
* Minister of Finance told the Council that the Account has a balance of $2.3 billion.
UPDATE ON CONSTITUTION OF EXECUTIVE SEARCH COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF NIGERIA SOVEREIGN INVESTMENT AUTHORITY (NSIA) WAS MADE BY MINISTER OF FINANCE
· Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun gave an update to the Council on the progress regarding the constitution of the NSIA Board.
· The Minister told the Council that nominees have been selected to form a Search Committee that will bring up names of potential Board members of the NSIA.
RECONSTUTION OF BAORD OF NIGER DELTA HOLDING COMPANY (NDPHC)
· The Vice President and Chairman of Council informed the Council of the reconstitution process of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, with representatives from States based on the six geo-political zones as follows:
(i) North-Central – Plateau State
(ii) North-East – Adamawa State
(iii) North-West – Kebbi State
(iv) South-East – Anambra State
(v) South-West – Lagos State
(vi) South-South – Edo State
UPDATE ON STATES THAT HAVE RECEIVED BAILOUT FUNDS
· CBN Governor reported to the Council that a total sum of
N689.5 billion has now been disbursed as salary assistance loan to States and additional N310 billion disbursed as Excess Crude Account-backed loans to States.
· Regarding the salary assistance loans, the Finance Minister informed Council that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the suspension of monthly deduction at source for this month, and no such deductions would be made this month from the FAAC allocations to the States.
· This is meant by the President to give the States some financial relief at a time the FAAC allocations are dwindling due to the drop in oil prices.
·The Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo added that the President will continue to review the situation of the States on an ongoing basis and take appropriate relief measures as necessary and possible.
NIGERIA ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY DOCUMENT (NRSS)
· FRSC Corps Marshall Boboye Oyeyemi was also in attendance to present the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy Document (NRSS – 2014-2018) to the Council.
· The document serves to address current overlaps, streamline the role and responsibilities of all participants in order to maximize the benefits of investment in road safety management activities.
NEC endorsed the Strategy at today’s meeting.

Buhari Describes Number Of Internally Displaced Persons In Nigeria As Frightening

Greenbarge Reporters

April 21, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as a result of Boko Haram insurgents as frightening.
“We have frightening indices of the number of people and the situation in the IDP camps across the country. And in spite of the government’s efforts and the hospitality of individuals and organizations, the situation needs better handling.
“A large segment of the IDPs are mostly women and children. Some of the children are orphaned and don’t know where they came from.”
President Buhari spoke when he received the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Samantha Power, at the Presidential Villa.
President Buhari said that his government is compiling a reliable data on the IDPs and refugees and is being handled by designated Federal Government agencies, the military and other security agencies.
“Now we are working on getting a comprehensive data of all the people in the camps so that the government and NGOs will be properly briefed on where and how to support them,’’ he said.
The President said that IDPs, who were into farming before they were displaced by the Boko Haram, will be mobilized and assisted by the Ministry of Agriculture to return to their farms.”
Ambassador Power commended the Federal Government for always being the first and highest responder to the IDPs in various camps in the country.
Power, who had earlier visited Nigerian refugees in Cameroun, said the situation in the camps could be improved with more information on the number of people in the camps and their areas of need. [myad]

You Did A Good Job Of The Council Polls, FCT Minister Pats INEC On The Back

Greenbarge Reporters

April 21, 2016

Minister of the Federal Capital Commission (APC), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the successful exercise devoid of rancour.
The Minister spoke today, Thursday, at a brief presentation of certificates of return to the newly elected FCT Area Councils Chairmen and Councillors. The presentation was made at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Musa Bello, who was represented at the occasion by the Acting Secretary, FCT Area Council Services Secretariat, Hajiya Amina Abubakar also congratulated all the newly elected Councils’ Chairmen
and Councilors.
The Minister made it clear to politicians however that the elections are over and that while the winners have won and the losers cannot be ignored in the society, but that every resident must be carried along.
“There is need for all the elected officials to put
the election behind and work for the success of the Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory”.
His words: “I hereby enjoin each and every Chairman to work with all residents of the FCT to move the FCT forward. You need to work hard and know that we have the Nigerian Constitution and you must work according to the Constitution.”
He assured that the FCT Administration would work together with all the six Area Councils’ Chairmen to move Abuja to greater heights.
The FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Jacob Jatau said that the event is for those that won in the just concluded elections to collect their instrument of power.
The Commissioner assured that the Commission is committed to ensuring sanity of the electoral environment as well as deepening of democracy in Nigeria and therefore calls for support of all stakeholders in its
bid to enhance the electoral process.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) won five out of the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, while All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won the remaining one.
The elections were fought and won as follows:
1. Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Abdullahi Adamu of APC got 27, 482 votes while
Kura Bitrus Tanko of PDP got 21,965 votes.
2. Abaji Area Council, Abdulrahaman Ajayi of APC got 13,515 votes as Yahaya Garba of PDP got 10,632 votes.
3. Bwari Area Council, Musa Dikko of APC polled 18, 066 votes while PDP Andrew S. Gwani Igu of PDP polled 13,279 votes.
4. Kuje Area Council of APC, Adullahi D. Galadima polled 15, 175 as Ishaku Tete Shaban of PDP polled 13,650 votes.
5. Kwali Area Council, Hon. Joseph K. Shazin of the APC polled 15,309 votes as. Daniel Ibrahim of PDP polled 13,673.
6. Gwagwalada Area Council, Danze Mustapha Adams of APGA got 15,95 15,950 votes while Abubakar Jibrin Giri of APC got 14,569 votes. [myad]

Economic Crunch: Federal Government Defers N10.9 Billion States’ Debts

Greenbarge Reporters

April 21, 2016

Federal Government has deferred a total sum of N10.9 Billion, restructured loan obligations of the 36 states of the federation for the current month.
This is coming on the heels of the sharing of less than N300 Billion at the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, held yesterday and has seen as the lowest FAAC in over 5 years, in revenue driven by the impact of the historically low oil prices in January and February.
A statement from the office of the minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun today, Thrusday, said that sum also reflects a seasonally low collection period for the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The statement said that the federal was also informed by the fact that about 27 states are currently experiencing challenges meeting their salary payments.
“This is to ensure that the states are in a better position to meet their salary obligations. We are not able to guarantee that all states will be able to meet their salary obligations, as each state’s situation is dependent on its own cost profile and other obligations it may have, but this initiative is to better position them to do so.
“All states will receive the relief this month. However, further deferrals will be subject to the agreement of a Fiscal Restructuring Plan to be prepared by each state with clear measurable objectives. “The Federal Ministry of Finance is keen to ensure that the programme of Financial Discipline being driven by the FG is replicated in all tiers of government, including elimination of payroll fraud and increased spending efficiencies in overhead.
“Enhanced financial transparency by the publication of audited accounts and submission of debt profile may also be required. Moving states towards fiscally sustainable practices is a key objective of the FG to ensure that Nigeria recovers from the current economic challenges.” [myad]

We Are Determined To Rescue Chibok Girls, America Vows

Greenbarge Reporters

April 21, 2016

The United States of America has expressed its determination to partner with Nigeria and neighbouring countries to rescue demale students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno who were abducted from their school by members of Boko Haram on April 14 2014.
The U.S Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Ambassador Samantha Power told news men shortly after she had a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Presidential Villa, Abuja today, Thursday insisted that the issue of the Chibok girls and others who have been abducted by Boko Haram is huge priority to the U.S.
“And it was the issue I discussed at length with president Buhari today. We had moved to provide the information and intelligence needed to the Nigerian authorities. We have, in recent months, been able to allocate additional information sharing platforms and additional surveillance to aid the fight against Boko Haram.
We will not rest: we will continue to deepen our partnership and be more effective with our partners on the ground. We are determined to support Nigeria and other neighboring countries efforts to secure more rescues of abducted people and releases in the days and weeks ahead.”
She said that America is concerned that mechanism should made in pursuing the rescue of the Chibok girls, adding: “what we talked about was the importance of pursuing every need related to the Chibok girls and making sure we have mechanism whereby parents and family members who have been abducted by Boko haram can be given information whereby videos can be examined and family members offer their feedbacks on their impression on the videos to have a process by which family of those who are missing work more constructively with the government and indeed with those involved in the operations in trying to rescue the girls
“So, that was the nature of our discussion with the president .
The recent video was one part of our discussion and the larger puzzle that will need to be assembled.” [myad]

Senator Ohiare, APC Chairman Embarrassed Us, Adavi Local Government Complains

Greenbarge Reporters

April 21, 2016

Stakeholders and Elders of the All Progress Congress (APC) in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi state have accused the embattled State Chairman of the party, Alhaji Haddi Ametuo and Senator Mohammed Ohiare of embarrassing them by their alleged attempt to smear the name and office of the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello with the purported vote of no confidence letter to the National Secretariat of APC.
The APC stakeholders are said to be working on the possibility of suspending the two political leaders in the area.
The Secretary of the party in the local government, Comrade Banabas Oyibo told the supporters and party faithful at the stakeholders meeting that Adavi people are fully in support of governor Yahaya Bello contrary to the impression created in some media organisations.
He said that the local government chapter was disturbed by the anti-party activities of their two sons who supposed to be good ambassadors of the Ebiras and the entire senatorial District.
“We have put machinery in motion to investigate them and once the report is out and they are found guilty, we will outrightly suspend them from our party because they have brought shame to our land.”
One of the Chieftains of APC who spoke at the meeting at Ogaminana, the head quarters of the Local government, Alhaji Abdulmumuni Okara said the council has produced eminent politicians in the past and as well suffered untold hardship, occasioned by the incessant political crises.
He said that people of Adavi can not afford to pass through another round of crises even as he appealed to the stakeholders to call the duo of Haddi Ametuo and Senator Ohiare to order.
He stressed that their actions are against the progress of Ebira people and is capable of causing endless crises in Adavi and the entire land.
Okara who is the Special Adviser to the governor on MDGs, appealed to the party supporters and loyalists to always work harmoniously and give their unalloyed support to the governor to enable him transform the state.
The Local government council, Chairman, Alhaji Salihu Adaviriku described the governor as a man of transparent character, adding that he had done creditably well by granting Local government autonomy, fighting the dreaded ghost workers sydrome, rehabilitating of Ekuku dam as well as constructing Agassa/Upogoro road.
Political Appointees from Okene, the heart of Ebira Land, insisted that governor Yahaya Bello in keeping to his principle of equity and fairness, has been spreading appointment to four different districts of the local government and is determined to bring the dividends of democracy to all parts of the State.
They wondered why some few individuals in the area are opposed to the good intentions of the Governor, saying that they will not sit and watch some selfish politicians destroy the blessing which God had brought to them in the person of governor Yahaya Bello.
They called on party faithfuls to spread the good work the governor has already started. They assured that all antics by self seeking politicians will be resisted and enjoined right thinking people of Ebiraland to support the governor whose desire and focus is to see a new Kogi State.
The APC stakeholders said thet the solidarity meeting was to demonstrate their support for the present administration to enable it actualise its lofty programs for the people of the State.‎ [myad]

2 Policemen Allegedly Steal Trailer With Goods Worth N30 Million, Get Dismissed

Greenbarge Reporters

April 21, 2016

Two policemen, Inspector Durojaiye Taiwo and Sergeant Victor Omorokai of the Strike unit of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, have been alleged to have led two other policemen to hijack a trailer which contained goods worth N30 million.
The two policemen who were alleged to have committed the offence in Sagamu, Ogun State, according to information reaching us, have been dismissed and would be duly prosecuted.
Omorokai was said to have been arrested at Okokomaiko in Lagos with the help of the tracking device installed in the trailer.
The Lagos State Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni confirmed the story and said: “We did not deny the story; it was all over the media. Some bad fellows committed a crime and it is the stand of the Inspector-General of Police that all bad eggs in the Force be exposed and made to face the law like other ordinary criminals.
“We arrested them and the ones that are on the run, we are going after them. Exhibits have been recovered.
“The crime was committed in Ogun State Police Command and we have handed the ex-policemen to that command to prosecute them in the court of law.
“In the same vein, I want to state that we have not covered anyone of them. They would be tried. The Nigeria police would not spare those who are not worthy of wearing the police uniform.”
Owoseni added that the suspects have been handed over to the Ogun State Police Command which has jurisdiction over the location where the crime was committed.

Source: The Nation. [myad]

Saraki’s Lawyer Attempts To Dictate To Code Of Conduct Tribunal Chairman

Greenbarge Reporters

April 21, 2016

One of the counsels to Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, who is standing trial for false declaration of assets, Rapheal Oluyede, provoked the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Umar Danladi today, Thursday when he insisted that his motion must be accepted by the Tribunal.
The counsel, who was appearing for the second time at the tribunal had risen up shortly after appearances were announced to introduce a motion which he said had been communicated to the tribunal on Wednesday.
The lawyer’s motion was the one asking the tribunal’s chairman to disqualify himself from the case. But the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, objected strongly to the motion and interrupted Oluyede.
The tribunal chairman dismissed the motion swiftly, saying: “that motion as far as the tribunal is concerned is of no consequence; not worthy to be entertained and is hereby thrown away.”
But lawyer Oluyede refused to obey the order which led to a shouting match.
In the heat of the argument, an angry Justice Umar ordered police officers at the tribunal to throw his “challenger” out.
The courtroom immediately broke into murmurs, and tension was palpable. However, the presence of security men stopped the situation from degenerating any further. [myad]

Sani-Omolori Becomes National Assembly Clerk

Greenbarge Reporters

April 20, 2016

Mohammed Ataba Sani-Omolori has been appointed acting Clerk to the National Assembly. The appointment was made today, Wednesday in a letter signed by the Executive Chairman of the National Assembly Service Commission, Adamu Fika.

“I am writing you that the National Assembly Service Commission at its 440th meeting held on Wednesday, April 16, 2016, has approved your appointment as Acting Clerk to the National Assembly.”

“The appointment which takes effect from 13th May, 2016 to 15th August, 2016 is in exercise of its powers as provided in the Section 6b of the National Service Commission Act 2014.”

Sani-Omolori will succeed Salisu Maikasuwa who will commence his pre-retirement leave May 14, 2016. The new clerk currently serves as the Clerk to the House of Representatives.

He is the Ciroma of Ebira land, Kogi State, and son of the immediate past Ohinoyi and paramount traditional chief of Ebira.

Born June 7, 1961, in Okene, Kogi state, Sani-Omolori is a 1982 Law graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

He joined the service of the National Assembly in 1992. Before 1992, he had worked as legal officer at the Ajaokuta Steel Company and now defunct National Electric Power Authority.

He was at the Royal Institute of Public Administration, London, where he took a course in Legislative Drafting in 1992.

He also attended Legal Drafting Courses at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in 1991 and the Public Law Centre, New Orleans, Luciana USA in June 2001. [myad]

Deputy Senate President Angry With EFCC

Greenbarge Reporters

April 20, 2016

Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu is angry with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which had denied that the agency decorated him as its Anti-Corruption Ambassador.
Senator Ekweremadu said that the denial by the EFCC which came in two different statements all within a few hours is baffling, inexplicable, and contradicitory.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on media and publicity,Uche Anichukwu, the Deputy Senate President referred to the EFCC claim that it had never and could not have decorated anybody as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador, since, according to him, “the Commission is not in the habit of awarding titles to individuals” and referred the agency to December 7, 2007, when the Nuhu Ribadu-led EFCC conferred the Role Model Award in the Fight Against Corruption, on certain persons, including a former President of the Senate, a taxi driver, and a former Justice of the Federal High Court at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
Senator Ekweremadu wondered whether Mr. Bakari who gave the award could have acted on his own or read from a prepared text without recourse to the Commission, which he represents, especially as the visit and decoration was never solicited for in the first place.
Part of the statement read:
Our attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by the spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Wilson Uwujaren.
We want to put it on record that the EFCC Liaison Officer to the National Assembly, Mr. Suleiman Bakari, and his team, applied for and susbsequently paid a courtesy call on the Deputy President of the Senate in his Office on Tuesday, April 19, 2016.
Mr. Bakari, amongst other issues he raised, solicited the support of the Senate and National Assembly towards the anti-corruption crusade of the present administration, and even presented a frame with a bold picture of President Muhammadu Buhari, bearing the inscription: “If we dont kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.”
Mr. Bakari also, on behalf of the Acting Chairman, management, and staff of the EFCC decorated Senator Ekweremadu as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador of the EFCC.
His words: “It is, therefore my honour, Your Excellency, to on behalf of my Acting Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Mustafa Magu and the entire management and staff of the EFCC, decorate you as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador and formally present this frame, as a token of our appreciation to your person and office, and as a symbol of institutional partnership between the EFCC and the National Assembly”.
It is also a fact that the visit and decoration was captured in both pictures and video.
As for the purported claim by the EFCC spokesperson that the agency has never and could not have decorated anybody as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador, since, according to him, “the Commission is not in the habit of awarding titles to individuals”, we wish to refer him to December 7, 2007, when the Nuhu Ribadu-led EFCC confered the Role Model Award in the Fight Against Corruption, on certain persons, including a former President of the Senate, a taxi driver, and a former Justice of the Federal High Court at the Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
That the said denial by the EFCC is coming in two different statements all within a few hours is, therefore, baffling, inexplicable, and contradicitory.
Taking cognisance of the command structure of the agency, we also wonder wether Mr. Bakari could have acted on his own or read from a prepared text without recourse to the Commission, which he represents, especially as the visit and decoration was never solicited for in the first place.
We leave the rest to discerning members of the public to read in-between the lines and make their own judgments.
However, Ambassador or no Ambassador, the Deputy President of the Senate will not back down from his legislative efforts and advocacy as captured in his several pulbic statements and lectures over the years, pushing for legal and institutional reforms such as Special Anti-Graft Courts; security of tenure and financial autonomy for the EFCC and related agencies. Only such reforms would fast-track justice and insulate the anti-corruption agencies from external interferences and self-reversals.

Uche Anichukwu
Special Adviser (Media) to Deputy President of the Senate
20/04/16. [myad]

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