President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear to the new ministers-designate that they are coming into his government as drivers of change being envisaged for Nigeria.
The President who declared a two-day retreat for the 36 ministers-designate today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, emphasized that his government is determined to effect the change to the country.
The President addressed the ministers-designate before they went into a closed session>
Buhari asked the ministers-designate to count themselves privileged to be chosen to be the drivers of change among a multitude of Nigerians.
He wanted them to ensure that their determination to succeed must correspond with the nation’s challenges.
The retreat with the theme: ‘Delivering Change from Precepts to Practice’ is organised by the office of Secretary General of the Federation with the United States Agency for International Development, USAID as the facilitator.
The retreat is being attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, all ministers-designate and top aides of the President. [myad]
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, asking it to set aside the judgment of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal which nullified his election on the 24th of October 2015. In a notice of appeal dated November 3, 2015, and filed same day by his lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), the governor raised 26 grounds of appeal upon which he sought to set aside the tribunal judgment. The governor is challenging the entire judgment. He joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate in Rivers State, D.r Dakuku Peterside and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as respondents. He asked the court to allow the appeal and to make an order setting aside the judgment /decision of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal. [myad]
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has announced that the Federal Government has approved the payment of 413 billion naira ($2.1 billion) to oil marketers as outstanding payment for fuel subsidy claims.
NNPC hoped that the payment would ginger the marketers up and help to ensure that the country “remains wet with petroleum products all year round.”
The government had not announced a payment to oil marketers in Africa’s biggest crude producer since July. [myad]
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, today, averted what could have been an embarrassing situation for President Muhammadu Buhari. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had hijacked a deliberation over the high rate of unemployment, by asking President Buhari to start implementing his promised N5,000 to unemployed people in the country. The Senate President, Dr. Saraki, after a heated debate that was based purely on party line, put the question for the Senators to make a voice vote. Despite the raised voices of the PDP senators, the Senate President ruled that those who opposed the move to force the President to begin to pay N5,000 to each of the unemployed people in the country carried the day. [myad]
Former governor of Edo state, Lucky Igbinedion is in trouble over the alleged stealing of the sum of $31 million (about 7 Billion) during his government in the state. The State Executive Council (SEC) meeting presided over by governor Adams Oshiomhole today in the state, resolved to make moves at recovering the money Oshiomhole was said to have directed the Attorney-General of the state to commence legal action in that direction. The state Commissioner for Information, Louis Odion who briefed newsmen shortly after the meeting, said that the meeting discovered alleged fraud while turning the books. “We found that the sum of $31 million was fraudulently taken from state coffers under the administration of Chief Lucky Ogbinedion.” He said that in the coming days, the state government will take legal action to ensure that what was stolen from Edo State Government is recovered. “When you convert $31 million to naira, it fetches you a whooping N7 billion. You can imagine what N7 billion will do in improving the human condition in Edo State.” The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Abdul Oroh also said that $31 million, which was stolen from the people of Edo State for the transaction, was designed clearly for criminal purposes. “This project was called Avrant Cement Company situated at Ekpe, near Ikpeshi in Akoko Edo Local Government. The company was supposed to produce cement to take advantage of the large scale deposit of limestone in that part of the state. The company was registered as Abat Cement Company Limited and this company had three shareholders. “The Abat Cement Company had 75 per cent shares, Edo State Government had 15 per cent shares and 10 per cent shares were reserved for ‘other Nigerians’. “Although Edo State Government was given only 15 per cent share, 100 per cent of the revenue invested in the company, $31 million, was taken from the account of Edo State Government. This money was withdrawn from the account of Edo State Government under Afribank. “As the money was withdrawn, construction of the company started and all the major structures were in place, 90 per cent completed, machines were installed but there was no other contribution from any other source for the construction and procurement of these equipment. “So everything invested in that company came from Edo State Government. “It is on record, according to the shareholders agreement, those who claim to be first share holders, Abat Holdings were given 75 million shares representing 75 per cent, the second share holders were given 10 per cent and the third share holder, the Edo State Government, was given 15 million shares representing 15 per cent. The agreement was signed by Fashunu and Governor Igbinedion, who signed on behalf of the shareholders. “The fruit juice processing company in Ehor was established in 2001 by the Lucky Igbinedion’s administration. The cost of establishing that company was N368,458,195 (Three hundred and Sixty Eight million, four hundred and fifty eight thousand, one hundred and Ninety Five naira) was invested in this company by the Edo State Government. The company was owned 100 per cent by the Edo State Government. The materials for the company were imported from England from a company at a sum of £310,000. “The company was now sold, including the land and the three hectares pineapple farm, which was also developed by the Ministry of Agriculture for N283.8 million. The company was completed and there was a test run. There was no reason to privatise it and it was sold out at a give-away price, which only could have been influenced by criminal intentions. “There is also the one at Ikpeshi, the Solid Mineral Processing Industry. This company which was also owned 100 per cent by Edo State Government was established in 2003 at the sum of N85 million. This company was sold to a company called Copex Solid Mineral Processing Company owned by Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, the then Deputy Governor, for N56 million. “There were other criminal transactions. If you look at the fertilizer company in Auchi, most of the equipment installed at the point of commissioning were all fraudulent because they were outdated and not useful and fertilizers were procured from somewhere and released as being products of the company. “At Okpella Cement Company, they manipulated the transactions to the detriment of the people of Edo State and to the adversity of the state economy. When the Comrade Governor came in, in 2009, the Governor had to re negotiate the whole process of the Okpella Cement. As we speak, the company that is running the Cement Company now has invested about $500 million and very soon, they will be producing cement in the new plant and in the old plant that has been re activated.” [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that all efforts to achieve political stability and maintain peace in Africa will continue to receive Nigeria’s full support. Speaking at an audience with Special Envoys of President Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi today, President Buhari said that under his leadership, Nigeria will remain at the forefront of efforts to achieve enduring peace, security and progress in all African nations. This, the President said, was because whatever happens elsewhere in Africa affects Nigeria directly or indirectly. President Buhari declared that African leaders must all do their best to achieve greater peace, political stability and security within their countries so that they can give more attention to the urgent task of improving the living conditions of their people. Thanking the envoys, Major General. Evariste Ndayishimiye and Ambassador Dieudonne Kwizera, for briefing him on recent political developments in Burundi, President Buhari expressed the hope that all stakeholders in the country will resolve their differences peacefully and learn to work together for the development of their country. He welcomed ongoing efforts by President Nkurunziza towards peace and national reconciliation in Burundi. [myad]
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has named 65 Senate committee chairmen and their deputies to oversee various ministries, departments and agencies of government. Senator Saraki gave All Progressives Congress (APC) 41 committee headship while Peoples Democratic Party PDP) has 24. The list of the committee chairmen and deputy chairmen is reproduced below:
1.Committee on Rules & Business,
Babajide Omoworare, Ali Ndume 2. Senate Services Committee Ibrahim Gobir
Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi 3. Committee on Ethics & Privileges Samuel Anyanwu
Bala Ibn Na’allah 4. Committee on Public Accounts
Andy Uba
Gbolahan Dada 5. Committee on National Security & Intelligence Shaaba Lafiagi
David Jonah Jang 6 Standing Committees Committee on Agriculture Abdullahi Adamu
Theodore A. Orji 7. Committee on Air Force Duro Samuel Faseyi,
Ali Wakili 8. Committee on Army George Akume Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba 9. Committee on Anti – Corruption & Financial Crimes Godfrey Chukwuka Utazi Sani Mustapha 10.Committee on Appropriations Danjuma Goje Sunny Ogbuoji 11.Committee on Aviation Hope Uzodinma Bala Ibn Na’allah 12.Committee on Banking, Insurance & Other Financial Institutions Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim Achonu Nneji 13.Committee on Capital Market Isiaka Adeleke Ogola Foster 14.Committee on Communications Gilbert Nnaji Solomon Adeola Olamilekan 15.Committee on Cooperation & Integration in Africa & NEPAD Abubakar Sani Danladi Baba Kaka Garba 16.Committee on Culture & Tourism Matthew Urhoghide Abubakar A. M. 17.Committee on Customs, Excise & Tariff Adamu Aliero Samuel Anyanwu 18.Committee on Defence Ahmad Lawan Jeremiah Useni 19.Committee on Diaspora & Civil Societies Rose Oko 20.Committee on Drugs & Narcotics Joshua Lidani Phillip Gyunka 21.Committee on Downstream Petroleum Uche Ekwunife Jibrin Barau 22.Committee on Ecology & Climate Change Bukar Abba Ibrahim Achonu Nneji 23.Committee on Education (Basic & Secondary) Aliyu Wamakko Rose Oko 24.Committee on Employment, Labour & Productivity Suleiman Nazif 25.Committee on Environment Olaka Johnson Nwogu Oluremi Tinubu 26.Committee on Establishment & Public Service Emmanuel Paulker Suleiman Nazif 27.Committee on Committee on Federal Capital Territory Dino Melaye Mohammed Hassan 28.Committee on Federal Character & Inter Governmental Affairs Salihu Hussain Egye Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi 29.Committee on Finance John Owan Enoh Umaru Ibrahim Kurfi 30.Committee on Foreign Affairs Munsurat Sunmonu Shehu Sani 31.Committee on Gas Bassey Albert Akpan Abubakar Ahmadu Moallahyidi 32.Committee on Health Lanre Tejuosho Matthew Uroghdide 33.Committee on Housing Barnabas Gemade Francis Alimikhene 34.Committee on I.C.T & Cybercrime Buhari Abdulfatai Ogola Foster 35.Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission Abubakar Kyari Olusola Adeyeye 36.Committee on Information & National Orientation Enyinnaya Abaribe Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba 37.Committee on Interior Georgeb Sekibo Bayero Usman Nafada 38.Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs Bayero Usman Nafada 39.Committee on Industry Sam Egwu Buhari Abdulfatai 40.Committee on Judiciary Human Rights & Legal Matters David Umaru Godswill Akpabio 41.Committee on Land Transport Olugbenga Ashafa Phillip Aduda 42.Committee on Local & Foreign Debts Shehu Sani Phillip Gyunka 43.Committee on Marine Transport Ahmed Rufai Sani Ighoyota Amori 44.Committee on Media & Public Affairs Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi Murray Bruce 45.Committee on Public Procurement Abdulsalami Ohiare Joshua Dariye 46.Committee on National Identity & National Population Marafa Kabir Abubakar Sani Danladi 47.Committee on National Planning & Economic Affairs Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Yele Omogunwa 48.Committee on Navy Isa Hamma Misau Osinachukwu Ideozu 49.Committee on Niger Delta Peter Nwaboshi Abubakar Abdulrahman 50.Committee on Police Affairs Abu Ibrahim Stella Oduah 51.Committee on Power James Manager Bukar Mustapha 52.Committee on Primary Health Care & Communicable Diseases Mao Ohuabunwa Nelson Efiong 53.Committee on Privatisation Ben Murray Bruce Abdullahi Yahaya 54.Committee on Science & Technology Robert Ajayi Boroffice Marafi Bashir 55.Committee on Solid Minerals Joshua Dariye Rilwan Adesoji 56.Committee on Special Duties Murtala Nyako Sunny Ogbuoji 57.Committee on Sports Obinna Joseph Ogba Marafa Kabir 58.Committee on States & Local Government Abdullahi Gumel Kashamu Buruji 59.Committee on Tertiary Institutions & TETFUND Binta Masi Garba Tijjani Yahaya Kaura 60.Committee on Trade & Investment Fatimat Olufunke Raji Rasaki Sabo Mohammed 61.Committee on Upstream Petroleum Donald Omotayo Alaosaodura Bassey Gershom 62.Committee on Water Resources Mohammed Ubali Shittu Emmanuel Bwacha 63.Committee on Women Affairs Oluremi Tinubu Stella Oduah 64.Committee on Works Kabiru Gaya Clifford Ordia 65.Committee on Poverty Alleviation & Social Welfare Ali Wakili [myad]
One interesting fact about today’s Nigeria is the level some of its politicians have reached in self-delusion and the subtle attempt to mislead the rest of us. The new buzzword is “change” and it is now being used to drive fear into those who insist it is a smokescreen. The word was first used before the 2015 polls, to create the illusion of a new paradise in Nigeria. The promoters of this misleading political gimmick hijacked the voices of the poor men and women, while preaching the gospel of Nigeria’s end coming closer – unless a new political party took control of power.
Despite this confusion, many Nigerians are gradually coming back to their senses. They have begun to ask the promoters of “change sharp-sharp” the daunting question: “where is the change you promised?”
They are asking, how come the naira came down to N266 to the dollar at some point? They have started asking, how come many of the electioneering campaign promises are turning into excuses? The unemployed graduates are asking questions about a certain N5, 000 monthly allowances that now appear to be a mirage. Before now, the promise that Nigerians would get to hear an open declaration of the assets of those at the top echelon of power, beginning with the President, has turned out to be something else. Indeed, it took extreme pressure on the new government for the president to make a controversial declaration of assets, which made millions of Nigerians skeptical about the sincerity of the promoters of change.
The next stage was for the promoters of change and their government to go after perceived enemies, as a form of venting their frustration caused by their inability to redeem the important promises they made out of campaign frenzy. Expectedly, the targets are all those who have consistently stood by the much-maligned PDP. First it was former Governor Sule Lamido, followed by Gabriel Suswam, Godswill Akpabio and Usman Dakingari. This was extended to former minister Abba Morro, months after Diezani Allison-Maduekwe suffered serial media attacks by the promoters of change. Now, Nigerians are coming face-to-face with real impunity.
It took few weeks for previous governments to get cabinet of ministers in place, but the promoters of change kept Nigerians guessing for nearly six months. The list of the ministerial nominees became a closely-guarded secret. Inventing excuses for the unwarranted delay, the promoters of change said the man had already got the best brains in the country and that was why it took so long. To the shock of many, the list was full of familiar faces. Millions of Nigerians described the much-awaited list as a great disappointment. This came after the first set of appointments, which consisted of 75 per cent Northerners! It is foolhardy to assume that the remaining 25% would ever balance the equation. Indeed, a few weeks ago, some eagle-eyed analysts drew the attention of Nigerians to the truism that majority of the new cabinet members belonged to selected Nigerian families. The analysts said the entire process of choosing ministerial nominees was, to say the least, patronizing.
The promoters of change now tell us that every good thing in the country was the result of a presidential ‘body language’. How ridiculous can it be, that they now see governance as credit-buying process? That is an issue for another day, but what worries me is the self-deceit of the new band of Nigerian politicians in power. All the bad people in Nigeria today are the PDP leaders and their loyalists, while the saints are all those who shout change. The promoters of ‘change’ now talk about themselves as if they fell down from the sky. They seem to have conveniently forgotten that the PDP was the ladder they used to climb to the top. They are now burning that ladder, which they used in climbing to the top. They seem to have forgotten that politics is a revolving door – it goes around and comes around. The APC is about a year old and all the bigwigs of the former PDP who exploited the fortunes of the party and created the rot, were those who decamped overnight.
Bottom-line is that the APC blame game in today’s Nigeria is the outcome of a clash of ambitions. That their selfish ambitions led to a split does not absolve the ‘change’ advocates of a bigger share in Nigeria’s multiple tragedies across all spheres: worsening insurgency, decline in the value of our naira; avoidable separatist tendencies like Biafra; alarming levels of poverty and hunger in the land. And I just wonder whether the shouts of ‘change’ before and after the 2015 general elections are worth it. Change my foot!
On two occasions, President Muhammadu Buhari had made it known that not all the ministers-designate would be given portfolios in the about-to-be-constituted Federal Executive Council (FEC). Of course, no sane person can fault the President especially, on the account of the nation’s battered economy. As a matter of fact, for the President to admit and continue to insist that the nation is broke shows the extent to which the nation’s economy had been plummeted by the previous regimes. The President’s position could also be understood from the point of view of several aides and officials that each minister would engage to ease their work. One cannot but sympathize with the President on the basis of the fact that he who feels it knows it: being on the steering for this past four months. The period is enough for him to fully understand and feel the pinch of the devastated economy. He met and is contending with the near collapsed economy that had all along been covered with fine grammar by the past leaders. However, for the President to say that not all the ministers-designate would be assigned portfolios amounts to taking the matter to an entirely different level; the moral one in particular. Indeed, the constitution appears not to make it mandatory for him to assign anyone appointed as minister in the ministerial office, but how would it look like for a man or woman to have gone through the joy of being nominated by the President, the hassle of going through senate screening and the expectations of friends and well-wishers only for such approved ministers to be benched? Which of the states would accept to have its minister-designate benched, giving an indication of inferiority? In other words, what is the criteria the President would use to determine who among the ministers should be assigned portfolios and those that would be left in the limbo? Even at the point of view of the constitution, subject however to expert’s interpretations, ordinarily, it does not seem to envisage a situation where a man would be made a minister without portfolio. Does it make any political sense that the constitution would put emphasis on minister being nominated from each state and leaving the choice as to whether to assign portfolio or not to the President? In any case, what is the joy in being a minister if it is just to answer the name? What would a man be doing as a minister around the corridors of power? The humming around the country now, just a few hours before the President assigned portfolios, has been that any minister-designate that ends up not being given an office would be called ‘papalolo’ or sitting-minister.’ Why would any adult want to be so dehumanized, as if his life depends on the position?
Obviously, if the constitution is forthcoming on the fact that those who are to be ministers should possess the same qualifications and requirements as those contesting election as senators, it should also follows that as the senators are entitled to all the paraphernalia of office, so should the ministers. To stem the embarrassment and carry every minister along, the President should kindly give all of them portfolios, for, it is not really the salaries of the ministers that drained the nation’s economy, but the terrible corruption: awards of fake contracts and so on. The President could prune down the salaries of the ministers, reduce the number of their aides and limit the amount of contract they can award, with full monitoring mechanism. This is more honourable, acceptable in today’s civilised world and above all, make the position of minister a thing of joy for the few lucky ones. So, please, Mr. President, give them all, portfolios. [myad]
Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom has cause to be happy with the introduction of Amnesty for the restive youths that have been shedding blood all over the place. The governor told newsman shortly after a private audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today that over 700 youths have embraced the programme. According to governor Ortom, the youths have surrendered thousands of various type of weapons to the government in return for the welfare package his government has prepared for them. He said that before he took permission from President Buhari to introduce amnesty, the state was a theatre of armed robbery, kidnapping, raping, bloody ethnic conflicts, ritual killings and other violent crimes. The governor said that a few months after the introduction of the amnesty, greater security and peace have returned to the state, paving the way for proper development. Ortom said that in prosecuting his predecessor, Gabriel Suswam, he had made sure to strictly follow due process, constitutional and legal provisions. According to him, several questions have been begging for answers as regard the manner in which the former governor managed the financial resources of the state, which he said, led him to set up two judicial enquiries. “He (Suswam) went to court to stop the enquiries and won, but we are still going to pursue the matter legally until the people of the state are satisfied that the former governor dispensed their resources in accordance with the rule of the law.” Governor Ortom confirmed that his state has already accessed the N28 Million federal government bailout fund and had used it to settle some arrears of backlog of workers salaries. “We are already paying the interest on the bailout, which is a loan that is payable over a period of 20 years.” [myad]
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
