The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, has given an indication that President Muhammadu Buhari may not sign the controversial 2016 budget soon.
The minister, who spoke to news men shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting today, Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, said that talks on the grey areas in the budget are still in progress.
He said: “on the 2016 Budget, we are still talking. On the expectation that we will soon have a budget, the monitoring and evaluation mechanism are designed to make sure that the budget delivers what it promises. That mechanism was looked at by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and approved.”
Udoma said that the meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari also took a look at he 2017 budget, adding that a timetable had been approved.
He said that the purpose of drawing up time table for the 2017 budget is enable the executive to present it to National Assembly and ensure its passage this year.
According to the minister, the Council took a look at the report of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group which in partnership with the National Planning Commission (NPC) organized an economic summit last year and made various recommendations. [myad]
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa who is set to bow out of the assembly, come May 14, 2016, has strong characters which some of his admirers acknowledge, have endeared him to them. Some of such characteristics are his openness, kindness, transparency and doggedness when faced with daunting challenges. Maikasuwa has been able to lead a solid team that had invariably succeeded in implementing his re-orientation programme for over 5,000 workers of the assembly. He has also been able to build productive relationship with the lawmakers. He is a determined person who has attained a lot of accomplishments that have remained unbeatable in the history of the assembly’s bureaucracy since 1999. As a blue-blood prince and a top ranking bureaucrat, he runs with the kings smoothly and also interacts freely with the peasants and subordinates without losing the common touch. Among the landmark achievements of Maikasuwa-led team include complete reorganization and reorientation of the entire civil service of the assembly’s bureaucracy to enable them perform their jobs as expected of them. Maikasuwa and his team have tried to ensure that civil servants function as effectively and efficiently as humanly possible in line with the demands of the much more enlightened and highly sophisticated lawmakers through the introduction of new ideas and improved competencies of the civil servants through constant trainings and the enforcement of laws and rules relating to discipline and performance without any discrimination. He stands above his peers and usually receives commendations due to his sterling attributes. He is a man of compassion and kindness apart from his strong sense of justice which has endeared him to thousands of people. He has touched the lives of a lot of people within and outside Nasarawa state. As a detribalized bridge builder and an individual with an intimidating credentials, it is expected that the CNA would reach the highest peak. As Maikasuwa prepares to take a bow, the National Assembly will long remember him as the CNA who took the assembly’s bureaucracy to new heights of achievements and injected into its governance, the spirit of compassion and progress with a human face. But there is a converse side to Maikasuwa’s story. He has fought tough battles to reach were he is now. At times the battles were even ugly and fierce. But he trudged on and finally destiny was on his side and the entire episode has now become just another story to be retold many times both now and in the future. He has publicly acknowledged the ferocity of the battles but like the good leader that he is, Maikasuwa has also publicly told those involved that he has forgiven them long ago and has moved on to other issues. That is the real Maikasuwa that I know. Anybody who has followed with keen interest the antecedents of Maikasuwa would know that the implementation of all the promises he had made in 2010 when he took over from Prince Ogunyemi were just a matter of time as they have all been attended to one after the other. He is a sincere and God fearing leader who has built his integrity over these years on solid foundation of truth, honesty, fairness and sincerity in all he does at both official and personal level.
The Senate dropped the amendment of the Code of Conduct Bureau/Tribunal Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act. It shelved it for further legislative business. The Senate took the decision after a closed door session, which started by 11:05am and ended at 1:43pm today, Wednesday. The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, also called off the summon issued to the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Justice Danladi Umar. The lawmakers, however, expressed their resolve to stand by the embattled President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, during his trial by the CCT. Ekweremadu also set up a committee of two of each geopolitical zone to resolve the remaining issues dividing the Senate. [myad]
The operations of Nigeria’s largest indigenous airline, Arik Air, were disrupted by members of several aviation unions today, Wednesday over an alleged N12.4 billion debt owed the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Scores of passengers were left stranded at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Arik Air’s operational base in Lagos, as early as 6.30 am as placards-carrying unionists grounded the operation of the airline.
Some of the passengers were seen demanding a refund from the airline staff while others were making alternative arrangements.
According to a travel news website, the Nigerian Travel Flight Deck, the union members said they resorted to blocking the airline from operating this morning after years of negotiating with the airline over the debt failed to yield any result.
Some of the placards have captions like: “Arik Pay Your 12.4bn Debt”, “FAAN can no longer pay salaries, pension, staff claims due to your debt.” “Debtors pay all you owe FAAN now.” “Arik if you can’t pay don’t fly”, “Arik pay your debt 12.4bn is too much.”
The General Secretary of the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) Olayinka Abioye, in a statement stated: “We are engaged in picketing exercise against Arik Air over its indebtedness to FAAN in the sum of N12.5b”.
FAAN’s spokesperson, Yakubu Datti, confirmed the picketing of the airline but said that he could not provide additional information as the action was a union affair.
The spokesperson of Arik Air, Ola Banji, described the claim that it owed FAAN N12.4 billion as “spurious.”
He added that the airline is already challenging the claim of the union members at a Federal High Court in Lagos, adding that by blocking its operations, the workers were taking laws into their hands.
“The action by the workers’ union is connected with the long-standing and unsubstantiated claim by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) of spurious indebtedness of the airline to the agency which is now before a Federal High Court in Lagos at the instance of FAAN.
“For several months, the management of Arik Air and FAAN have been meeting to reconcile payment accounts between the two institutions. The reconciliation process is still ongoing until the latest actions by the union.
“This is not the first time that FAAN workers’ union will be taking the laws into their hands by disrupting operations of Arik Air.
“The current situation is deeply out of control of Arik Air and the management of the airline has been compelled to suspend all domestic operations for today. This will remain in force until such a time the unfortunate situation is resolved.” [myad]
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has exited his chair for his Deputy Ike Ekweremadu as Senate plenary continues today, Wednesday. This was to enable Senator Saraki to face his 13-count corruption trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
At today’s sitting, the Senators exchanged pleasantries as Senate President, Bukola Saraki handed over Ekweremadu after taking the official opening prayer of the Senate. [myad]
The Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has contradicted itself with its top officer awarding the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu Anti-Corruption Ambassador while the acting chairman of the agency came out to disown such award.
In a statement today, Wednesday by the agency’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC made it clear that the award, conferred on Ekweremadu by National Assembly Liaison Officer of the agency, Suleiman Bakari, would not hold.
Part of the statement goes thus:
Our attention has been drawn to some reports in the print and online media, on April 20, 2016 claiming that the anti-graft agency has decorated the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, as “Anti-Corruption Ambassador.”
According to a statement issued to the Press by the Special Adviser to the Deputy Senate President, Uche Anichukwu, the purported decoration, was carried out by the EFCC National Assembly Liaison Officer, Suleiman Bakari who was quoted to have said: “ 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 the institutional partnership between the EFCC and the National Assembly”.
The EFCC totally dissociates itself from the purported action of Sulaiman Bakari as he acted entirely on his own. He clearly acted outside his brief as a liaison officer as the management of the Commission at no time mandated him to decorate Ekweremadu or any officer of the National Assembly as Anti- Corruption Ambassador.
The statutory mandate of the EFCC is the investigation and prosecution of all economic and financial crimes cases, which does not include the decoration of individuals as anti- corruption ambassadors.
The Commission is not in the habit of awarding titles to individuals. And those enamoured of titles, knows the quarters to approach for such honours, not the EFCC
Members of the public and stakeholders in the fight against corruption are enjoined to disregard the so-called decoration.
The Secretary General, Supreme Council of Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), Mallam Nafiu Baba Ahmed, has described the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shi’ite as being more dangerous than the Boko Haram terrorists.
Ahmed who testified at the judicial commission of inquiry set up by the Kaduna State government to investigate the December clashes between the Nigerian Army and the Shiite members in Zaria said that failure of the government to deal decisively with the alleged excesses of the Shi’ites may be catastrophic for the peaceful coexistence of the country.
He said that the late leader of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf had some relationship with the Shi’ites prior to forming his own group, adding that both Mohammed and the Shiite leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky had similar attitudes in holding onto their respective doctrines, which, according to him, were contrary to Islamic principles.
He alleged that the the Shi’ites had recently started adopting Boko Haram strategy of intimidation and elimination of Ulamas, who were opposed to their doctrines, pointing out that many had refrained from testifying before the commission for fear of the unknown.
Ahmed, who lamented the initial government handling of Boko Haram, noted that small fires would become huge conflagrations if not tackled in an effective and timely manner.
He urged the government to learn from its experience with Boko Haram by dealing decisively with the Shi’ite members to avoid another threat to the fragile peace in the country.
“Failure to act will spell catastrophe for Nigeria,” he added.
The SCSN scribe also emphasized the need for the society to be involved in checkmating the Shi’ite members, pointing out that government decisions were usually dictated by “political expediency”, which may not always reflect the best interest of the people.
According to him, the Shiite leader was attending Kaduna State government Security Council meetings during the administration of former governor Ahmed Makarfi because the former governor regarded El-Zakzaky’s participation as politically expedient due to his large followership.
He attributed the alleged disregard to constituted authorities by the Shi’ite members to the policy of “appeasement and complicity” adopted towards them by successive administrations in Kaduna state with the exception of Col. Hamid Ali (rtd) who, according to him, did not condone their activities.
Ahmed further attributed the Zaria clash to “divine retribution” against the Shi’ite members for their alleged blasphemous utterances, especially their insults on the companions of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Also in his testimony before the commission headed by Justice Muhammed Lawal Garba, Prof. Isa Mohammed Maishanu of the Usumanu Danfodio University Sokoto (UDUS), said the Shiite members had a penchant for violence.
According to him, the series of violent clashes between the Shi’ites and the majority mainstream Muslim population in Sokoto State was as a result of the group’s penchant for provoking the sensitivities of the people in the seat of the Caliphate.
He said based on the activities of the Shiite, it was obvious that they were not interested in peaceful coexistence.
Prof. Maishanu suggested the provision of separate institutions for the Shiite members and other Muslims as practiced in Pakistan, which also has a high population of Shi’ite members, amidst other Muslims.
He however, urged that the “door for dialogue” should not be shut against the Shiite members since they were Nigerians and had nowhere else to go as long as they are ready to avoid provocative attitude and respect the laws of the land. [myad]
The Government of Japan has extended a grant of US$4.5 million (N1.4 billion) to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the provision of life-saving emergency work to assist people affected and displaced by the conflict in northeast Nigeria.
The grant will cover assistance in the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene facilities; health, nutrition and child protection services and education. It will focus primarily on assistance for children, with special attention given to populations trying to return to where they lived before they were forced to flee the violence.
According to a statement by the UNICEF, the seven years of conflict in northeast Nigeria, especially in the states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, have caused massive human suffering, with children and women bearing the brunt of the difficulties. The conflict has triggered major population movements, with most recent estimates of people displaced by the conflict in the four most severely-affected states at over 1.7 million – more than half of whom are children.
“The people of Japan are strong supporters of UNICEF’s work to help children and women,” said Jean Gough, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria. “This generous grant will help to make a tangible difference in the lives of children who have suffered so much. It will help them to recover physically and psychologically so that they can be children, can go to school and have a brighter future.”
The statement said that with a similar grant last year from the Government and people of Japan, UNICEF and its partners were able to boost primary health care services for people affected by the conflict in more than 100 health facilities in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Funding from Japan provided more than 65,000 people with clean water and more than 25,000 people with access to safe sanitation. Education was improved through creating temporary learning spaces for children in camps for the displaced; malnourished children were provided with life-saving treatment. Special support has been given to children who have been separated from their families by the conflict, and traumatised children have been given psychosocial support.
“The Government of Japan believes that primary education, health and nutrition are some of the basic rights of every child anywhere in the world and in this regard, Japan has and will continue to make efforts to ensure that no child is denied these basic rights, no matter the situation,” said Sadanobu Kusaoke, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Since 2000, the Government of Japan has been a major donor supporting child survival activities, prevention of infectious diseases in children and emergency assistance in Nigeria, through the UNICEF/Federal Government of Nigeria Programme of Cooperation. [myad]
Information reaching us indicates that the leadership of the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) are still diverting the sum of N558.2 Million monthly and sharing the money amongst themselves.
A former Director of Finance and Accounts at the NAF, Air Commodore Salisu Yushau (retd.), who is an EFCC witness, had revealed before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, that all past air chiefs diverted N558.2m monthly from funds meant for the payment of salaries of Nigerian Air Force officials.
The EFCC source confirmed the statement and added that the commission had reason to believe that the diversion of funds at the NAF is still ongoing
“We were told that over N558.2m was diverted by the office of the Chief of Air Staff monthly and the money was converted to dollars. We were told that air force officers from the rank of air commodore and above, all benefited from the money.
“We were told that even in February (this year), these illegal deductions were still made. In due course, our findings will be made public.” [myad]
Just as the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki is embroiled in corruption legal battle, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu has been named an Anti Corruption Ambassador by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The National Assembly Liason Officer, of the EFCC, Mr. Suleiman Bakari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the Deputy Senate President, Uche Anichukwu, made this known when he led a team of the anti-graft agency on a courtesy visit to Ekweremadu.
Bakari said: “As an Anti-Corruption Ambassador, It is therefore 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.”
Bakari, appealed to the National Assembly to ensure adequate funding for the agency and advocated speedy passage of all the anti-corruption Bills before it.
This was even Ekweremadu called for the establishment of Special Anti-Corruption Courts to reduce the burden on regular courts and fast-track trial of corruption cases.
He explained that setting up Special Courts, was one of the surest ways to help the fight against corruption, as it would ensure speedy adjudication of corruption cases.
“I have been an advocate of special courts for the trial of corruption cases and I believe that other countries, who have enacted laws establishing such, are not fools because there are benefits to be derived therefrom.
“The idea is to expedite trial to make sure that those who are involved in corruption matters will have their day in court.
“When we have special courts, just as we have the National Industrial Court, such courts will do better than they are doing now. The establishment of special courts is not just something that will be done by an Act of the National Assembly.
“We have to amend the constitution to bring it about under section 6, for the purpose of trying corruption cases.”
Ekweremadu advocated value reorientation of Nigerians at all levels, with a view to returning to the good old days, and also cautioned the EFCC to ensure that in fighting corruption, it must respect the rule of law and ensure that the provisions of the constitution regarding fair hearing and treatment of an accused are also respected.
He commended the EFCC for decorating him as an Anti-Corruption Ambassador, and assured them that he would live up to the trust reposed in him.
He said that the National Assembly would do everything within its powers to ensure that the Bills before it, aimed at strengthening the fight against corruption, got speedy attention. [myad]
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The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, has given an indication that President Muhammadu Buhari may not sign the controversial 2016 budget soon.
