No going back on subsidy removal – FG

The Federal Government, Monday, said it is not going back on its decision to remove subsidy from Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol.

Specifically, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, in a statement signed by its Acting Executive Secretary, Mrs. Sotonye Iyoyo, explained that what currently exists is the price modulation mechanism through which price of PMS is adjusted in line with market realities.

She said, “Contrary to reports by a Section of the Nigerian Media, the Federal Government has not reversed its decision to remove subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), moreso, when there is no appropriation for subsidy in the 2016 budget.

“The PPPRA wishes to state categorically that what still exists is Price Modulation Policy, through which it considers and reviews pump price of PMS quarterly.

“The Agency also wishes to assure Nigerians that the funds from Over-Recovery in the first quarter (Q1) shall be duly utilized for whatever noticeable imbalance in April 2016 in line with the Price Modulation Principle. “While appreciating the patience of Nigerians, the PPPRA wishes to reiterate its commitment to ensuring seamless supply and distribution of petroleum products in the Country.”

“While appreciating the patience of Nigerians, the PPPRA wishes to reiterate its commitment to ensuring seamless supply and distribution of petroleum products in the Country.”

No going back on subsidy removal – FG

FG uncovers fresh 11,000 ghost workers

The Federal Government is currently working to expose another 11,000 ghost workers on its payroll in its second batch of staff audit.

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun

This is coming shortly after the government deleted 23,000 ghost workers from its payroll and saving the nation N2.29bn per month.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Wednesday at the end of a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

She was joined at the post-FEC briefing by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal.

The minister said her ministry was using what she called computer techniques to investigate the 11,000 affected cases.

She said as soon as the cases were resolved, Nigerians would be informed of the amount saved and the number of names removed again from the payroll.

Adeosun said, “On the issue of the ghost workers, of the 23,000 that we had removed, our payroll has reduced by N2.29bn per month.

“The update on that is that we are now investigating another potential 11,000.

“Again, we are using computer techniques to identify those who we need to investigate.

“So we are now looking at the second batch and as we resolve those cases, we will inform you of the amount saved and the number of people removed.”

The minister added that the FEC had approved what he called the presidential initiative on continuous audit of Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

Adeosun said the initiative would allow government to extend the work beyond payroll to other areas of expenditure.

According to her, the World Bank has indicated its readiness to support Nigeria in this initiative, noting that it would take about six months to get the required legislation through.

She added, “The FEC deliberated extensively on the need for this and agreed that the control framework over finance and spending of government’s money needed to be strengthened especially in anticipation of the approval of the budget, which is an extended expenditure.

“If we don’t strengthen our controls, then there is a risk that money would leak or be applied to the wrong things and therefore, the ability to go into various agencies without notice and check and do audits and updates to make sure that public money is being spent in accordance with our expectations and objectives.

“FEC approved the setting up of this initiative effectively using an executive order to create internal audit to enable us to continue this work and to extend it to everywhere that federal money is being spent or received so that we can have better oversight.”

Adeosun said the government would not carry out additional recruitment for the exercise.

She said it would use existing members of staff and qualified accountants within the Office of the Accountant General as well as the federal civil service and redeploy them to carry out this function.

FG uncovers fresh 11,000 ghost workers

Falana issues notice to sue FG over foreign loan

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has issued a notice to sue the Federal Government in order to compel it to retrieve about $66.5bn government’s recoverable revenues, royalties and levies from some public and private bodies as well as some individuals.

Femi Falana

Falana, in a letter dated February 12, 2016, which was addressed to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, threatened to file the suit against the Federal Government not later than February 29.

He said his planned suit was necessitated by the minister’s failure to respond to the “serious issues” which he raised in his earlier letter discouraging the Federal Government to go ahead with its plan to obtain $3.5bn loan from the World Bank and the African Development Bank but to instead recoup the recoverable $66.5bn.

His fresh letter issuing the notice of legal proceedings was entitled, ‘Re: Federal Government’s plan to seek $3.5bn emergency loan from World Bank and African Development Bank should be dropped.’

The letter read, “Our letter dated February 5, 2016 in respect of the above subject matter refers.

“Since you have not deemed it fit to react to the serious issues raised in the letter, kindly be informed that we shall commence legal proceedings not later than February 29, 2015 with a view to compelling the Federal Government to recover the said loans, royalties levies and other recoverable revenues of not less than $66.5bn.”

Falana had in his earlier letter to the Minister of Finance, argued that there was no need to obtain a $3.5bn loan to finance the budget when the Federal Government could recover about $66.5bn it was being owed.

The lawyer urged the Federal Government to drop its proposition to obtain the foreign loan, noting that it required the endorsement of the International Monetary Fund, which he said, usually imposes stringent conditions on borrowing countries.

He lamented that the debt profile of the country had now grown to $64bn after it took much effort in 2005 for the country to exit the London/Paris Club after struggling to repay a loan of $12.4bn.

Falana urged the Federal Government to make effort to recover the over $66.5bn accruable to it, rather than obtain loan to finance the 2016 budget.

Falana issues notice to sue FG over foreign loan

FG must create enabling environment to grow economy - Obasanjo

LAGOS — Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, charged the Federal Government to create enabling environment to attract private investment which is needed to grow the economy.

Olusegun Obasanjo

Also, the Senate Committee chairman on Trade and Investment, Senator Sam Egwu, charged industries within the county to operate within the laws of the land as the National Assembly was ready to  make laws that would attract investment in Nigeria.

Speaking at the official opening of British American Tobacco Company Nigeria, BATN, head office in Lagos, Obasanjo said: “Government must partner with private sector to attract both local and foreign investments.

”In 1999, Nigeria emerged as a democratic nation and needs sustenance and support from private sector from within and outside its economy. A few investors were skeptical about the political and economic climate of Nigeria. The government then embarked on reforms programme and intensify calls for investment in Nigeria, bringing various investors and providing them with necessary information and government incentives and opportunity. So, BATN was among the first set of companies to take us serious and believe in the country.

“In the year 2001, BATN was the first tobacco company to sign a Memoradum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Grovernment which led to an investment of $150 million and the modernisation of its Zaria factory.”

He noted that the commissioning of the company’s office complex in Lagos signified continuity of business in Nigeria and it was also in the midst of the economic challenges that the company had showcased its entrepreneur mindset and had continued to play a key role in the social economy of the county, in the area of agricultural development and afrostation, corporate social responsibility, economic development partnership among others.

He pointed out that it was at such a time like this we are reminded of the importance of the role of private sector as the engine for economy growth.

In his remark, Senator Sam Egwu said: “The state of our economy today demands there is need for economic diversification to mineral resources to deliver economic growth.

“As a result, massive industrial development and expansion of existing industries must be rigorously pursuit and BATN seems to be leading in this.

“However, industries in Nigeria must operate within the laws of the country and in line with international best practices, considering the peculiarity of its products.

“As legislators, the Senate, and by extension, the National Assembly Committees on Industry,  are committed to ensuring the creation of conducive environment that will enable the private sector to enhance massive industrial development in the country.”

FG must create enabling environment to grow economy - Obasanjo

2016 Economic Growth: FG, World Bank disagree over budget target

LAGOS — Contrary to the projections of the World Bank that pegged the Gross Domestic Product growth rate at 3.7 per cent, the Federal Government economic agenda as contained in the 2016 budget breakdown insisted on GDP growth rate of 4.37 per cent thus making it ambitious.

Earlier this year IMF cut its growth forecasts for the global economy on the back of a slowdown in China, looming recession in Russia and continuing weakness in the eurozone.

Source: U.S Department of Agriculture

The Washington-based fund, while warning of a significant declines in growth rates across global economies especially among emerging markets including Nigeria’s against the backdrop of crash in oil prices, cut its 2016 forecasts from 4.0 per cent to 3.7 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government’s 2016 budget envisioned an expansionary fiscal measures expected to galvanize the economy to a growth momentum for the forecast GDP rate significantly above 4.0 per cent.

GDP is derived from the value of all goods and services available for final uses and export.

The expenditure approach measures the final uses of, or expenditure on the produced output, as the sum of final consumption expenditure; gross capital formation (investment activities carried out in the economy), and exports less imports.

Though the 2016 target is lower than 5.5 per cent revised projection in 2015 budget it is clearly ambitious in the light of revised figures given by multilateral institutions and several multinational and local financial institutions as well as real outcome recorded so far in 2015 fiscal year.

Budget Breakdown

The growth rate projection, according to the breakdown, would be achieved through alignment of fiscal, monetary, trade and industrial policies.

Also the government intends to enhance the realization of this target by ensuring job creation on every aspect of the execution of the 2016 budget.

Its inclusive growth strategy would entail a reduction in tax rates for smaller businesses as well as subsidized funding for priority sectors such as agriculture and solid minerals.

However a breakdown of the 2016 spending plan showed that non-debt recurrent expenditure was cut by 9.1 per cent to N2.59 trillion indicating that the expenditure approach to GDP will point downwards.

To offset this scenario capital expenditure was increased by 223 per cent to N1.8 trillion which is 30 per cent of total budget.

Works, Power and Housing got the biggest capital votes of N433.4 billion, followed by transport (N202 billion), Special Intervention Programs (N200 billion), Defence (N134.6 billlion).

Economy analysts believe these allocations would add to GDP rate more significantly.

Also budget deficit of N2.2 trillion which translates to 2.16 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and an overall debt to GDP of 14 per cent, is expected to further stimulate growth.

The economy has witnessed one of its worst declines in the out going year with GDP initially projected at 6.4 per cent revised by the Federal Government to 5.5 per cent and subsequently revised further down by various multinational organisations including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, Renaissance Capital, one of the world’s leading private sector financial institutions as well as Bloomberg, world’s leading financial media giant and African Development Bank, AfDB, Africa’s multilateral financial institution.

Nigerian-based financial institutions such as FSDH Economic Research, an arm of the FSDH Merchant Bank, Afrinvest Group, a Lagos based investment house, among many others have also analysed the economic trend.

Cumulatively, all these organisations brought down the forecast GDP growth rate for 2015 to between 2.5 and 2.8 per cent by year end 2015.

Real GDP growth rate has been largely in the negative this year declining to 3.38 per cent in the first quarter and further down to 2.57 per cent in the second quarter but it made slight improvement in the third quarter to 2.84 per cent, thereby giving an overall picture close to the forecasts by international and local financial institutions.

In the medium to longer term, the Buhari administration intends to pursue economic diversification through import substitution and export promotion.

The policy thrust of the budget included stimulating the economy and making it more competitive by focusing on infrastructural development; delivering inclusive growth; and prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians.

2016 Economic Growth: FG, World Bank disagree over budget target

Budget 2016’ll revive economy, says Buhari

ABUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, apologised to Nigerians over the persistent and biting fuel scarcity in the country and attributed the problem to market speculators and stakeholders who are resistant to change. He assured that the government was working hard to end the shortages urgently.

President Buhari who begged Nigerians while presenting the N6.08 trillion 2016 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly, said the government has not increased fuel price and that the pump price of fuel remains N87 per litre.

Buhari arrived the Chambers at 10.01am. Apologizing to Nigerians for the pains occasioned by the continued fuel scarcity across the country, he said: “The  current fuel scarcity with long queues at petrol stations all over the country causing social dislocation is very unfortunate. Government profoundly apologizes to Nigerians for this prolonged hardship and misery. It is as a result of market speculators and resistance to change by some stakeholders. Government is working very hard to end these shortages and bring fuel to the pumps all over the country.”

Meanwhile, the Senate, yesterday, amended the Appropriation Act of 2015 to extend implementation of 2015 budget from December 31, 2015 to March 31, 2016.

The President who started his address at 10.17am and ended it at 10.51 am, disclosed that 30 per cent of Nigeria’s annual budget will be committed to capital expenditure, even as he raised Capital Expenditure from N557 billion in 2015 to N1.8 trillion in the 2016 budget.

Having reviewed the trends in the global oil industry, he said the government decided to set a benchmark price of $38 per barrel and a production estimate of 2.2 million barrels per day for 2016, with plans to  focus on non-oil revenues by broadening the tax base and improving the effectiveness of revenue collecting agencies.  The government is projecting to realise N1.4 trillion as non-oil revenue.

President Buhari, who noted that the present administration projected a revenue target of N3.86 trillion for 2016 and recurrent expenditure of N2.43 trillion, said that the Federal Government also proposed to spend N1.66 trillion on foreign and domestic debt servicing.

The President also declared that his administration would fight corruption no matter how long it takes.

To borrow N1.9 trillion

In the budget, there is a projected foreign and domestic borrowing of N900 billion and N986 billion respectively.

On recurrent sectoral allocations, Education received the highest recurrent vote of N369 billion; followed by Health, N296 billion; Defence, N294 billion; Ministry of Interior, N245 billion while the merged ministries of Power, Works and Housing received budgetary allocation of N433 billion for 2016.

The speech read in part: “The Budget was based on a benchmark oil price of $53 per barrel, oil production of 2.28 million barrels per day and an exchange rate of N190 to the US$.

“The projected revenue was N3.45 trillion, with an outlay of N4.49 trillion, implying a deficit of N1.04 trillion. Due largely to under-provisioning by the previous administration for fuel subsidy and the costs required to support the military operations in the North East, the Government had to obtain National Assembly’s approval for a supplementary budget of N575.5 billion. I take this opportunity to thank all members of the National Assembly for the prompt passage of that Bill.

“To deliver our development objectives, we have increased the capital expenditure portion of the budget from N557 billion in the 2015 budget to N1.8 trillion, in the 2016 budget. Distinguished and honourable members of the National Assembly, for the first time in many years, capital expenditure will represent 30 per cent of our total budget. In future years, we intend to raise the percentage allocation for capital expenditure.

“This is a fulfillment of our promise to align expenditure to our long-term objectives, and a sign of government’s commitment to sustainable development. This increased capital expenditure commits significant resources to critical sectors such as Works, Power and Housing – N433.4 billion; Transport – N202 billion; Special Intervention Programs – N200 billion; Defence – N134.6 billion; and Interior – N145.3 billion. These investments in infrastructure and security are meant to support our reforms in the Agriculture, Solid Minerals and other core job creating sectors of our economy.

“We will invest to safeguard lives and property. We will invest in equipping our farmers with the right tools, technology and techniques. We will invest in empowering and enabling our miners to operate in a safe, secure and humane environment.  We will invest in training our youths, through the revival of our technical and vocational institutions, to ensure they are competent enough to seize the opportunities that will arise from this economic revival.

“Indeed, the future looks bright. And I ask that we all work together to make this vision a reality. The 223 per cent year on year growth in capital expenditure demonstrates our desire to make Nigeria more competitive, and start the journey to deliver sustainable development in our country.

“In fulfillment of our promise to run a lean government, we have proposed a nine per cent reduction in non-debt recurrent expenditure, from N2.59 trillion in the 2015 Budget to N2.35 trillion in 2016. Furthermore, we have budgeted N300 billion for Special Intervention Programmes, which takes the total amount for non-debt recurrent expenditure to N2.65 trillion.

Reduces  overhead cost

“The Efficiency Unit set up by this Administration together with effective implementation of GIFMIS and IPPIS will drive a reduction of overheads by at least seven per cent,  personnel costs by eight per cent and other service wide votes by 19 per cent. Distinguished and honourable members, this budget will be executed to provide optimum value by ensuring every naira spent by this Government, counts.

“We will devote a significant portion of our recurrent expenditure to institutions that provide critical government services. We will spend N369.6 billion in Education; N294.5 billion in Defence; N221.7 billion in Health and N145.3 billion in the Ministry of Interior. This will ensure our teachers, armed forces personnel, doctors, nurses, police men, fire fighters, prison service officers and many more critical service providers are paid competitively and on time.

“Our 2016 borrowings will be principally directed to fund our capital projects. Furthermore, the sum of N113 billion will be set aside for a Sinking Fund towards the retirement of maturing loans; while N1.36 trillion has been provided for foreign and domestic debt service. This calls for prudent management on our part, both of the debt portfolio and the deployment of our hard earned foreign exchange earnings.”

Buhari who noted that government was aware of the harsh economic situation presently being faced by Nigerians, however, blamed the situation on unbridled corruption and security challenges, adding: “We have demonstrated a strong will to fight corruption. I am sure you will agree that the sheer scale of corruption and impunity of the past explains in part, the economic challenges we now face. On these initiatives, and the many more to come, we shall not be deterred. We will pursue the recovery of everything that belongs to the people of Nigeria. No matter where it is hidden. No matter how long it will take.”

President Buhari assured Nigerians that his administration was poised to rebuilding the economy and restoring public confidence in the government. He said although the nation has series of problems to contend with, the challenges were not beyond the country to tackle, adding that  the 2016 budget was designed to stimulate the economy and make it more competitive, while focusing on infrastructural development; delivering inclusive growth and prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians.

Buhari also assured that the budget would address problems associated with youth unemployment and general poverty in the land, with particular emphasis on the deplorable conditions of most vulnerable Nigerians, adding, “I know the state of our economy is a source of concern for many. This has been further worsened by the unbridled corruption and security challenges we have faced in the last few years.

“From those who have lost their jobs, to those young people who have never had a job, to the people in the North East whose families and businesses were destroyed by insurgents, this has been a difficult period in our nation’s history, lessons that we must not forget or ignore, as we plan for the future.

“By June 2014, oil prices averaged $112 per barrel. But as at today, the price is under $39 per barrel. This huge decline is having a painful effect on our economy. Consumption has declined at all levels. In both the private and public sectors, employers have struggled to meet their salary and other employee related obligations. The small business owners and traders have been particularly hard hit by this state of affairs.

“Fellow Nigerians, the confidence of many might be shaken. However, I stand before you today promising that we will secure our country, rebuild our economy, and make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger than it has ever been.

“The answers to our problems are not beyond us. They exist on our farmlands; our corporations; in the universities in the hearts and minds of our entrepreneurs; through the gallantry of our Armed Forces; and the resolute spirit of Nigerians, especially the youth, who have refused to give up despite all the obstacles confronting them.

“This Budget proposal, the first by our Government, seeks to stimulate the economy, making it more competitive by focusing on infrastructural development; delivering inclusive growth; and prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians.

“We believe that this budget, while helping industry, commerce and investment to pick up, will as a matter of urgency, address the immediate problems of youth unemployment and the terrible living conditions of the extremely poor and vulnerable Nigerians”.

The President who reiterated that the administration would diversify the economy through import substitution and export promotion, said that such economic strategy would build resilience in the economy and guarantee that the contemporary challenges did not confront the nation’s future generations, adding, “In the medium to longer term, we remain committed to economic diversification through import substitution and export promotion. This will build resilience in our economy. It will guarantee that the problems we have today, will not confront our children and their children. This shall be our legacy for generations to come”, he stated.

According to him, despite the general global economic downturn in 2015, Nigerian economy was able to grow by 2.84 per cent in the subsisting fiscal year, just as he promised that the present administration would continue to evolve and implement strategies that would maintain micro-economic stability, while managing the oil price shocks currently aching the country.

He said: “Today, it is widely acknowledged that the global economy has slowed down. This is particularly the case with emerging markets such as Nigeria. However, despite the weak emerging market growth rates, our domestic security challenges, declining oil prices, and the attendant difficulties in providing foreign exchange to meet market demands, the Nigerian economy grew by 2.84 per cent in the third quarter of 2015. We have, and will continue to implement strategies that will maintain macroeconomic stability and manage the oil price shocks we are experiencing.”

President Buhari was accompanied by All Progressives Congress, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie- Oyegun; his ministers including Rotimi Amaechi; Senator Chris Ngige; Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Chief Audu Ogbeh;  Ogbonnaya Onu; Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Lt.Gen.  Abduulrahman Dambazau; Alhaji Lai Mohammed; Amina Ibrahim Mohammed; Babatunde Raji Fashola; Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu; Abubakar Malami, SAN; Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan; and Mrs Kemi Adeosun among others.

During his presentation, President Buhari got encomiums from the gallery as they clapped 20 times  with the last one at 10.52am and even when the President paused to drink water at 10.36am, the audience also clapped for him.

Buhari’s Budget a big fraud, he will mortgage Nigeria’s future — PDP

Meanwhile, the National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, picked holes in the budget..

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh,  the party described the N6.08 trillion budget as a big fraud and executive conspiracy tailored towards mortgaging the future of the nation.

The party while querying President Buhari’s decision to borrow N2 trillion, which it termed the biggest in the history of the nation, said that it was the height of recklessness and deceit from a government that trends on propaganda. PDP also berated the Federal Government for trying to use its bogus welfare programme and phantom capital projects as cover and conduit to siphon the funds to satisfy partisan interests, particularly to settle huge campaign debts.

Metuh said: “It is obvious that this budget is an extension of the campaign promises of the APC government, presented as a manifesto filled with bogus promises which implementation will be inconclusive, thereby allowing the APC to once again deny their promises.

“There has never been any known economy in the world where government deliberately mortgages the future of its nation by borrowing excessively to finance partisan interests while hiding under bogus welfare programmes. This is moreso important as the APC in reeling out their bogus campaign promises never informed Nigerians that they would mortgage their future through excessive borrowing.

“We have it on good authority that this is the first in the series of APC borrowings which would leave the future generation of Nigerians under the burden of huge debts after four years.”

Metuh who noted that the budget clearly shows that after seven months in power, President Buhari and his party, the APC were yet to differentiate between governance and campaign propaganda, said: “By all standards, the 2016 budget, the first major economic policy outing of this government, is completely unrealistic and duplicitously embellished with impractical predications, a development that confirms fears by economy watchers and investors that this administration is obviously ill-equipped for governance.

“We are indeed shocked that President Buhari and his minister of information have come up with two different reasons for the current fuel crisis in the country. While we appreciate the President’s apology, we think it is high time he called this minister to order as his excessive propaganda and blame game are ridiculing this administration and the image of the nation.

“Furthermore, it is instructive to note the official endorsement of Mr. President to the devaluation of the naira as against his campaign promise of firming up the value of our currency even to the much vaunted one naira to one dollar. Does it mean that Mr. President lied his way to power, or that he did not understand the complexities of governance when he was making his false promises to Nigerians?

“In future, there is need to regulate campaign promises so that we will not end up with a government that promises to climb Mount Everest with bare hands and end up mortgaging our future with orchestrated borrowings.’’

Lawmakers hail proposal

Reacting to the budget, shortly after the Senate and the House of Representatives adjourned till January 12, 2016, Senate Deputy Majority Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, APC, Edo North, described the budget as that of hope, just as he urged Nigerians to be patient with the government as things will be better soon, adding that President Buhari meant well for Nigeria and Nigerians.

In his reaction, Senator Bukkar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe South), said the promise of free education by the president was laudable, describing it as budget of hope.

Also commenting, Senator Kabir Marafa, APC, Zamfara Central who described the budget as that of hope, however promised that the Senate would ensure that the bill was given attention and passed for the interest of Nigerians

Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West) in his reaction said it was cheery to see the budget take care of social interventions such as school feeding and social welfare for the unemployed.

Senator Bassey Akpan (PDP, Akwa Ibom North-east) who described it as people-centred and an indication that the president means well for the country,  said that National Assembly would look at assumptions in it and ensure that the implementation was in line with the way it is passed.

Reacting to the budget, Rep Austine Chukwukere, APC, Imo State who described the 2016 Appropriation Bill as presented by President Muhammadu Buhari as a fruitful budget, said that the budget would stimulate and engineer the economy in such a way that the infrastructure deficit that had been the order of the day in previous administration had been given a boost.

Rep Chukwukere said that the increment in the capital expenditure would lead to improvement on the dilapidated infrastructure in the country as well as the industrial re activation.

Chukwukere who is the Deputy Chairman of Finance Committee said that if the budget would be fully implemented it would re-kick start the economy for the good of Nigerians.

On the $38 benchmark in which the budget was premised despite that the oil price per barrel had fallen to $32, he explained that the projection was that before first quarter of next year, the oil price must have appreciated going by some indices.

He expressed the optimism that the benchmark would not affect the effective implementation of the budget.

Also commenting on the budget, Rep Philip Shaibu representing Etsako Federal Constituency of Edo State on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, said that the budget will make poverty history in 2016.

He said that the emphasis on job creation and improved education was a welcome development, adding that creation of employment will empower Nigeria youths.

Shaibu who was a former Majority Leader in Edo State House of Assembly and a one time president of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS said there was a departure from what was obtained in the previous administration where the government borrowed money to finance the recurrent expenditure.

According to him, President Buhari had increased the budgetary allocation to the capital expenditure and assured that the money to be borrowed would be used on capital expenditure and not on recurrent.

He said that one of the essential feature of the budget was the deviation from oil to solid minerals and agriculture, noting that over reliance on the oil sector has brought the economy to the present poor state as a result of the fall in the price of oil.

He further said that with the transparency introduced by the government, there was hope that it would be implemented to the fullest.

Adding, “I see our economy booming, I see the economy being restructured. Poverty issue will be totally addressed. I am optimistic,” he stated and commended on the two leadership of the house for taking the decision to ensure effective oversight function

Also in his reaction, Member representing Bali/Gassol federal constituency of Taraba state,  Hon.  Garba Chede, said the budget  is a product of deep thinking based on realities of the nation today.

“This is the first time APC administration was presenting a budget and this budget,  undoubtedly, is a creation of deep thinking based on realities, which was obvious to all Nigerians.”

Budget is fueled by insincerity –  Fani- Kayode

However, former Spokesperson of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani- Kayode, said  the 2016 budget is fueled by insincerity.

According to him, it was ironic that former governor Asiwaju Tinubu; Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Governor Nasir El- Rufai, who kicked against deregulation during former President Jonathan’s administration, have suddenly become great supporters of deregulation.

In a statement, Chief Fani- Kayode who accused  Buhari’s administration of spending money like a drunken sailor, alleged that the government  was  borrowing as if there was  no tomorrow and thereby  ‘’mortgaging the future of Nigeria, Nigerians  and our children.’’

“The 2016 budget is fueled by insincerity, shrouded in fantasy, built on tall dreams and spawned by deceit, ignorance and the illusion of change. It is bloated, unrealistic, expensive, cosmetic and it will not result in anything good.  In order to fund part of the budget the government intends to borrow money and this will throw our country into even greater debt. What a tragedy this is given the fact that in 2007 Nigeria was debt-free. The Buhari administration is spending money like a drunken sailor and they are borrowing as if there is no tomorrow, mortgaging the future of our nation and our children.

“We need far more fiscal discipline and seriousness than that if our government really wishes to improve the economy and better the lives of ordinary people.

“Meanwhile the Federal Government has said that President Goodluck Jonathan is responsible for today’s long fuel queues even though he left office seven months ago. They seem to have forgotten that in 2012 it was their group, led by Bola Tinubu, Nasir El Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi and President Buhari himself that aggressively opposed deregulation and almost brought the whole country to a standstill with protests and riots all over the place in their efforts to prevent the government from removing the oil subsidy.

“Had it not been for their pettiness, lack of understanding, shortsightedness and double standards the subsidy would have been removed three years  ago and fuel queues would have been a thing of history. Sadly they lacked the foresight to appreciate the virtues of that policy and today they have the nerve to blame Jonathan for the mess that they themselves essentially created.

“They have been in power for 7 months now: it is time for them to step up to the plate, start taking responsibility for their own actions, do a better job and stop blaming Jonathan for their own miserable and avoidable failures.”

 

Budget 2016’ll revive economy, says Buhari

Governors have no right to reduce N18,000 mininum wage

ABUJA — THE Federal Government said, yesterday, that the governors have no legitimate right to reduce the national minimum wage from the present N18, 000 because it was a product of agreement.

President Buhari

This came on the heels of the rejection by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, of the recent proposal to remove fuel subsidy in 2016, the increment in the electricity tariff and the proposed re-introduction of toll gates on the federal roads.

Warning against any plan to reduce the minimum wage at the meeting with the leadership of NLC, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said the governors were only playing politics with the issue of minimum wage.

Ngige said instead of contemplating to reduce the minimum wage, the government would want workers to be paid higher when the economy improves.

The minister, however, blamed the organised labour for allegedly heating up the system by joining issues with the governors in talking about reduction or increment in minimum wage.

According to him, “when the NLC joined the governors in talking about minimum wage, with the governors saying we can’t pay N18,000 minimum wage and NLC says it is time for us to ask for increase, we now know that these are talks that are heating up the system.

“The NLC knows better that the governors are playing politics. This is one matter that you cannot play politics with because it is a matter of rule of law. The law in place now is the Minimum Wage Act enacted by the National Assembly and the National Assembly derived their power from the Exclusive List of the constitution which gives them power to make laws on labour related matters including minimum wage.

“So, anybody who wants to talk about minimum wage should go to the National Assembly or ask the President to send an executive bill which can be discussed and it will be a tripatite discussion, involving public hearing.

“Please let a sleeping dog lie, because this country is going through a very difficult time now and requires your prayers and support. Nobody can reduce wages now. If anything, if you have more money, you pay higher.

 

On corruption, unemployment

“The third thing which is also one of the pillars of government is the fight against corruption. Corruption has eaten so deep into the fabric of the Nigerian system that if you are not corrupt, you look abnormal.

“The labour laws need some tinkering because some of them are very old. Even the penalty that are prescribed in them are very old. You see some laws which says that if people abuse expatriate quota, they pay a fine of N2000. It doesn’t make sense.

“As a ministry, we will look at all these laws and with the Attorney General of the Federation, we will make sure that we fast track some of these laws so that the necessary penalties that are commensurate with labour offences committed are meted out to the offending parties. We will be needing your input.

“We want to reinvigorate our laws and give the Nigerian workers a decent work environment as prescribed by the ILO conventions.”

He emphasised the commitment of government to employment generation, adding that the government was aware that unemployment is the easiest gateway to instability and insecurity.

He said that the government, in a bid to show the seriousness of empowering the youths, has budgeted N500 billion to address the issue of unemployment, and poverty alleviation.

 

NLC kicks against removal of fuel subsidy

Speaking at the occasion, the Ayuba Wabba-led faction of NLC, said the national interest had always been the driving force of the congress.

Comrade Wabba stressed the need for the government to respect collective bargaining process and commended the intervention of the minister on the issue of outsourcing of jobs and casualisation.

He stated that Nigerian workers should not be treated like slaves in their country.

At the emergency Central Working Committee meeting at the Labour House, the organised labour said the recent proposed removal oil subsidy was an attempt to punish the masses and that the labour would resist it.

He expressed the fears that the pump price of petroleum product could be increased by 2016 instead of being reduced because of the fall in the international market, adding that he would mobilise the workers to resist any increase.

Wabba also advised the government to put the refineries in place instead of refining the product outside the country.

 

On electricity tariff

He said labour opposes the recent plan to increase electricity tariff, adding that the issue of other charges outside the consumption charges was abnormal.

He said the removal of fixed charges on electricity tariff was long over due as according to him, the masses were paying for services that were not provided.

“We want pre-paid metre and not this estimation bill. People should pay for what they consumed,” he said, adding that the process of privatisation had not delivered any result, “all of us had been deceived.”

NLC also backed the planned strike by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, over the removal of staff of universities staff schools from the government pay roll.

He said, SSANU as an affiliate of NLC, has the right to make demands and that the position of SSANU was the position of NLC.

Governors have no right to reduce N18,000 mininum wage

Boko Haram: Nigerian soldiers cries for minesweepers from FG

There are reports that troops fighting the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east are experiencing serious hardship following the inability of the Federal Government to provide them with minesweepers.

Nigeria soldiers fighting Boko Haram

Saturday Vanguard investigations showed that Boko Haram insurgents planted mines along major roads and bush paths which impeded troops’ movements.

It was gathered that for troops to move from one location to another, they had to resort to the use of hand-held mines detectors.

A soldier who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on the condition of anonymity said that they lacked minesweepers which saved more lives unlike the hand-held mines detectors currently in use.

It was also learned that the troops lacked helicopter gunships needed to fight in deserts.

Another soldier who has spent two years at the war front said that most of his colleagues were “suffering from war trauma” as they had not seen their families for a long period. As he put it, “we have been in the battlefield for two years or more without being changed and war trauma has set in. “Our families are ruined and many of us have been deserted by our wives. The thought of our wives deserting or our children getting involved in crimes is enough to trigger trouble for some of us.

“Again, not much has changed since former President Goodluck Jonathan left office in case of arms supply.

“Sometimes, we borrow arms from other units which are not involved in any operations to fight the insurgents.

“If you borrow such arms and go to fight the enemies, such units will stay without any arms to defend themselves in case of sudden attacks and only God knows what may happen in the event of such circumstances occurring.” the source said.

Confirming the report, a top military source said yesterday that the use of hand-held mines detectors, though slow, was the safest way for now, of dealing with the mines threat especially at the Gulak, Madagali, Gwoza axis of the north-east that stretches to Cameroon.

The source hinted Saturday Vanguard that a European nation recently visited by President Muhammadu Buhari had concluded plans to send mines-sweepers to Nigeria.

“I can assure you that as soon as these sweepers arrive, the story will change and with strategies already in place, Boko Haram will have no place to hide,” the source said.

Boko Haram: Nigerian soldiers cries for minesweepers from FG

FG stalls Orubebe’s trial, CCT adjourns till Jan. 27

The Federal Government again on Thursday stalled the commencement of the trial of a former Minister of Niger Delta, Godsday Orubebe, with a proposal to amend the four counts of N70m bribery and false asset declaration preferred against him.

Orubebe

Earlier on November 9, the prosecution had asked for two weeks to prepare its witnesses when asked to commence the trial shortly after the accused pleaded not guilty to the four counts.

The Danladi Umar-led tribunal had then adjourned till Thursday for the commencement of trial.

On Thursday, however, the prosecution, led by Mr. Peter Danladi, rather than call its first witness, proposed to orally amend counts two, three and four, an application which the defence lawyer, Mr. Selekowei Larry (SAN), opposed.

Danladi, while applying for the amendment of the charges, cited section 216 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which he said allowed the prosecution to amend or alter the charges it filed at any time before judgment was delivered.

He said, “The matter was adjourned till today for hearing. But before we proceed, we are applying to amend counts two, three and four.

“The application is brought pursuant to section 216 of the ACJ Act and pursuant to the inherent jurisdiction of this honourable tribunal.”

The prosecuting counsel was about to give details of his proposed amendment when Larry raised an objection.

In opposing the application, Larry said it could only be done through motion on notice and not orally.

He said, “This is a serious business. You can’t just jump up and say you want to amend the charges. You have to notify us about what you want to do. You have to do it through a motion on notice. You cannot come and take us by surprise. We have to know what you are doing.

“This is a court of record. Whatever they (prosecution) want to do, let them do it properly by way of a motion on notice.”

In response, Danladi said the use of the word, “any time” in section 216 of the ACJ Act showed that an application for amendment of charges by prosecution could be done orally.

While the tribunal chairman agreed that the prosecution had the right to amend the charges as it wished, it needed to put the defence on notice.

Danladi then asked for two weeks to file the necessary processes for the amendment.

Umar noted that since the year was already winding up, the tribunal would only be able to entertain the case in January.

The matter was then adjourned till January 27, 2016.

Orubebe, in counts one and two of the charges preferred against him, was accused of failure to declare his assets at Plot 2722, Kyamu and Plot 2059 in Asokoro District both in Abuja on assumption of office as a minister on September 26, 2007.

In count three, he was accused of accepting a N50m bribe from one Pastor Jonathan Alota on September 19, 2012 for the award of a contract in favour of his (Alota’s) company, Chemtronics Nigeria Limited.

In count four, he allegedly accepted additional N20m bribe from Alota in 2013 for the award of a contract to Chemtronics Nigeria Limited for the construction of a N1.8bn skill acquisition centre in Edo State.

Orubebe is said to have committed the offence of false asset declaration under section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The arraignment of the former minister took place on November 9 amid a solidarity jamboree by a large number of his supporters, who were restricted to the gate of the tribunal in Jabi, Abuja.

The supporters, with a band that played outside the gate throughout the period the proceedings lasted, gave Orubebe a heroic welcome as he arrived for the proceedings.

FG stalls Orubebe’s trial, CCT adjourns till Jan. 27

Payment of N5,000 to unemployed youths begins next year - FG

ABUJA — The All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government, yesterday, said the payment of the N5,000 stipend to the unemployed Nigerian youths will commence next year.

It regretted that the payment could not take off immediately because it was not included in this year’s budget.

Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalong, revealed this yesterday in Abuja when he paid a condolence visit to the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, at the national secretariat in Abuja on the demise of Prince Abubakar Audu, the late governorship candidate of the party in Kogi State election.

Dalong, who spoke with journalists, assured that APC government would also create more jobs to fulfill its campaign promises.

The party, during the electioneering campaigns, had pledged to pay N5000 stipend to unemployed youths monthly.

Said he: “I would want the youths to understand that every promise must be backed up by budgetary provision and our promise to pay N5000 is not contained in the 2015 budget. So, definitely, it is going to begin in 2016 as we have made budgetary allocations for that.

“We are committed to the campaign promises of creating jobs, providing wealth creation and combat poverty. We have embedded in our manifesto things that we are translating to reality.

“We are busy reviewing some of the youth empowerment programmes that are ongoing,  to ensure that they are more viable and people oriented. We are also looking at the possibility of realigning some of them to our vision so that in the final analysis, it can add value to the people”.

The minister also said that he would soon convene a stakeholders meeting to help re-orientate the Nigerian youths.

In his remarks earlier, the National Chairman of APC, Chief Oyegun, expressed optimism in the performance of Dalong as Youths and Sports minister.

Payment of N5,000 to unemployed youths begins next year - FG

Soludo faults TSA implementation, says Jonathan’s govt bankrupted economy

LAGOS — Former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Chukwuma Soludo has said that the former President Goodluck Jonathan had the worst economic management team in history because he left Nigeria with an unprecedented rate of debt accumulation.

Charles Soludo

While speaking at the third anniversary lecture of the RealNews magazine titled ‘Can a New Buharinomics Save Nigeria?’ Soludo said “First, I supported President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) over Jonathan not because I was convinced about the credibility of the APC manifesto (and I said so in my article in January this year) but for three reasons. I was convinced that the last economic team was bankrupting the economy and had no clue as to how to fix it,” he said.

“Second, PMB is the first president of Nigeria under a democracy to have seriously desired the job and struggled for it for over 12 years. To me therefore, he must have a few points to prove, and I was willing to bet on a man who purposefully wanted the job than otherwise. “Third, I was convinced that it would be in the enlightened self-interest of the APC, once in power, to do their utmost to keep power by delivering on the economy unlike the PDP which had taken power for granted. I am still confident that PMB can deliver change (although as I had indicated in my article in January, I didn’t believe that any of the two parties could deliver on their manifesto) but he and his team now need to run at the speed of a 1000 km per hour.

“We must support them to succeed by contributing when we can, and criticising when we must — tough love! I am enjoying my status as ‘an independent’ (I don’t belong to APC or PDP) and I therefore have the liberty to say it as I see it from the balcony! “As at 1999 when PDP came to power, Nigeria was largely a pariah state still lucky to have survived as one indivisible sovereign, especially in the context of the struggle by NADECO and restiveness in many parts of the country. On corruption, Transparency International scored it 1.6 out of 10 and ranked 98 out of 99 countries in 1999.”

He added that “After 16 years, several challenges remain and some have even worsened (especially insecurity). Although President Jonathan’s regime had the worst economic management relative to the resources at its disposal, it must be stressed that tremendous progress was made in the aggregate 16 years of PDP government.

He said: “For the better part of this year, the external shocks to the economy have been complicated or accentuated by a gamut of the ‘tried and failed’ command and control policy regime: de facto fixed exchange rate, largely fixed CBN monetary policy rate, crude capital controls, veiled form of import bans through a long list of ‘ineligible for foreign exchange’, de facto scrapping of domiciliary account established by law, etc.

Interest groups lobbying to make policy shift permanent

“At first, I thought this was the usual knee-jerk response of policymakers to a ‘sudden’ shock. We tried a milder variant of this for a few months during the 2008/2009 unexpected/unprecedented global crisis (with global liquidity squeeze and massive capital flight) but even then, it was communicated as a ‘short-term crisis response’ and it was quickly dismantled. We now know what works and what doesn’t, even at a time of crisis.

“As one reads the confusing statements from government in the media: ‘We won’t devalue’, ‘we won’t devalue for now’, and the emotional debate about ‘nationalism’ around issues of import ‘bans’ and capital controls, one wonders whether it is still a ‘short-term crisis response’ or a permanent shift back to the old policy regime of pre-1986.

“Even if the government initially intended it as a short-term measure, interest groups have emerged and are lobbying to make the policy shift permanent. To add to the confusion, the policy is communicated as a ‘directive’ from PMB as widely publicised in the media.

“In the specific case of Nigeria currently buffeted by terms of trade shock with micro imbalances, especially fiscal and current account deficits as well as supply side constraints and with the economy skidding to a halt with rising inflation and unemployment, the question is: how should relative prices or asset prices including exchange rate and interest rate adjust to reflect as well as shape whatever economic fundamentals?

External shocks don’t kill economy

“External shocks do not kill an economy. How you respond will determine whether you worsen it or meliorate the terms of trade shocks. That is what we are facing, the classic one. And how you respond to terms of trade shocks depends on whether the shock is from the monetary, nominal shock or whether it is from the real side shocks.

“And I would say on this micro economic theory and evidence around the world are pretty much unambiguous. That faced with terms of trade shocks, countries with flexible exchange rate regime adjust faster and adjust better with less negative impact on growth and employment than those with fixed exchange rate.

“This is global evidence, pretty much unambiguous for countries facing terms of trade shock, that countries that allow relative pricing including exchange rates to become the key adjusters when faced with terms of trade shock have always almost done better than those that resorted to exchange rate fixing and distorting controls.

“In theory, if you don’t allow prices to adjust, quantities will adjust and the quantities that will adjust are output and employment. That is the experience we have had in Nigeria over the years. And that is what is happening today. Output and employment are adjusting with vengeance.

Policy regime inconsistent with objectives of creating jobs

“My thesis is that from Nigeria’s own evidence, that the current policy regime is inconsistent with the objectives of creating jobs, growing income and reducing poverty. Nigeria since 1973 can become a laboratory. Since 1973, we have become episodes of positive and negative price shocks.

“If you divide the episodes of positive oil price shocks, episodes of negative price shocks and also match them with responses of policy regimes, the evidence is that, in all cases, fixed exchange rates with controls, the economy has always done worse in that regime than in under flexible regime.

“From Nigeria’s evidence, current policy regime is inconsistent with objective of growth, job creation and poverty reduction. The current economic hardship is largely our choice and not just oil price shock: The current slump of the economy was predictable and largely avoidable. Just as it happened in 1981-85, the economy has been on a tailspin.

“There is now about four per cent growth shortfall relative to past trend, and this cannot be explained by fall in oil prices alone. For the first time since 1990s, per capita growth rate (on annualized basis) is now negative implying that poverty is also escalating; capital market has lost trillions, inflation and unemployment are on the rise.

“JP Morgan has delisted our local currency bonds and Barclays is threatening same, while the cost of borrowing for Nigeria rises. Foreign capital is on the run, while domestic savings is miniscule. It was ‘headline news’ when FG paid October salaries, while states are steeping in massive debt.”

“Policy choices entail costs and benefits, but the preference of one to another should be based on the ‘net positive effects’, depending on the stated objectives. To sustain the current arbitrarily pegged exchange rate will require a steep rise in interest rate and squeezing of bank credit to the private sector.

“Alternatively, intensifying the ever opaque and distorting controls and ‘bans’ will also severely harm the private sector. I will be surprised if the productive sector is not already feeling the heat. The irony is that it is the small businesses (which have no voice or power) that are suffering the most. Many are simply being choked to death by the ‘controls’.”

Soludo faults TSA implementation, says Jonathan’s govt bankrupted economy

FG to start N5000 unemployment benefit in 2016

The Federal Government has started the process of fulfilling its promise to pay N5,000 monthly allowance to 25 million unemployed youths in the country with 2016 as the take-off date, The PUNCH investigation has revealed.

APC campaign group chides Jonathan over Immigration tragedy compensation

The All Progressives Congress, which defeated the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the March 28 presidential election, had promised during its campaign that if elected to the central government, it would pay N5,000 monthly to 25 million jobless youths as well as introduce a free school feeding programme.

A motion to compel the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to fulfil the campaign promise of paying the unemployed youths was recently rejected in the Senate.

Our correspondents learnt on Monday that the Federal Government had, however, commenced plans to start the payment of the allowance while it had also taken steps to capture the free school feeding programme in the 2016 budget.

It was further learnt that the government had saddled some officials with the task of ascertaining the number of the unemployed youths, who would benefit from the scheme.

A top government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity on Monday, told one of our correspondents that the compilation of data was necessary in order to ensure that the programme was not sabotaged.

The source said, “You know that if the scheme is left open-ended, even Nigerians, who are employed and are by no means vulnerable, will still struggle to benefit from it.

“You also know that if not properly handled, politicians will hijack the scheme and it will become a means of settling their constituents, whether they qualify to benefit from it or not.

This is why the government will come up with data on the beneficiaries very soon.”

The source added that the fund meant for the scheme would be built into the 2016 budget.

He explained that it was only when a decision had been reached on the number of people that would benefit from the scheme that the government would have an idea of how much it would spend on the programme.

He agreed that as a result of the process to get ready the 2016 budget and passed it into law, the scheme might not take off either in January or February, 2016.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, confirmed that work was ongoing on the identification of beneficiaries, saying it was the desire of government to ensure the commencement of the programme in 2016.

Akande stated, “Work is ongoing on various aspects of the implementation of that social investment plan, including the identification of those that will benefit from it. Very soon, we shall be concluding work on that; that is a very important aspect of the programme.

“The plan of the government is to start as much as possible in the area of social investment, and conditional cash transfer is part of it.

“It is the plan of the government to explore how to start this with the 2016 budget.”

Cash transfer scheme to gulp N125bn monthly

Investigations at the Ministry of Finance as well as that of Budget and National Planning showed that the process for the payment of the allowance to the unemployed had started with the compilation of the 2016 budget.

According to analysis, the cash transfer programme, when fully implemented, will cost the Federal Government N125bn monthly and a total sum of N1.5tr annually.

This is amidst dwindling oil price, which has led to a reduction in government revenue by about 50 per cent.

This development has led to the government recording fiscal deficit of about N676.47bn within the first six months of 2015, according to statistics from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Top government officials, involved in the preparation of the budget, confided in one of our correspondents that both initiatives had been identified as part of the six priority programmes that would be implemented under the social development sector of the economy.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said apart from the cash transfer and school feeding programme, other social protection and welfare schemes were being planned to take care of Internally Displaced Persons.

Details of the initiative for IDPs were still sketchy as of the time of filing this report.

The official said, “We have started working on the budget since September this year at the Ministry of Budget and Planning.

“Since the ministry is the one coordinating the plans of government, what we did was to identify six priority programmes by pillars which have already been communicated to all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

“So while preparing the medium term plan, what we did was to look at the manifesto of the APC and prepare our plan based on what its campaign promises were to Nigerians before the elections.

“And since social development is a key aspect of its campaign, we identified social protection schemes such as the conditional cash transfer and the school feeding programme as key to the programmes for 2016.”

The spokesman for the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Salisu Haiba, could not be reached for comments as calls and text messages put to his number did not connect as of the time of filing this report.

Shortly after the Senate shot down a motion meant to compel Buhari to fulfil the promise, the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, had appealed to the ruling party not to renege on its campaign promise of paying N5,000 to the 25 million unemployed youths.

She also urged the party to fulfil its promise of giving schoolchildren one free meal a day.

FG to start N5000 unemployment benefit in 2016

Civil servants want Jonathan’s illegal appointments reversed

Friday Olokor, Abuja

Public workers under the aegis of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse all the alleged illegal recruitments conducted during the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan or risk trade union dispute.

President Jonathan

They also demanded an increase in their salaries, in line with what they described as “the declining value of the naira.”

The PUNCH had on June 22, 2015 exclusively reported that the crisis in the federal civil service appeared to have worsened with career civil servants protesting against the absorption of Jonathan’s 530 aides and cronies into the civil service in the last days of his administration.

The new recruits into the service were said to have been deployed to senior officers’ positions, starting from assistant directors upward.

The President of ASCSN, Mr. Bobboi Bala Kaigama, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by its Secretary-General, Mr. Alade Lawal, made these demands at its National Executive Council meeting in Kaduna.

According to him, the upsurge in arbitrariness and bias in the way and manner the Federal Civil Service Commission carried out its oversight functions in the name of recruitment was becoming worrisome.​

Kaigama said while cases of illegal recruitments into the service had continued to rise, the FCSC had allegedly destroyed the recruitment process into the civil service on the flimsy excuse of acting on the directive from higher quarters to grant waivers to some states.

He said, “Our take is that the commission cannot continue to hide under the guise of spurious waivers for some disadvantaged states to import and impose unqualified and incompetent persons into the federal public service over and above qualified serving officers.

“Cases abound in the service of some officers who were appointed to positions without the requisite qualifications, as provided for in the scheme of service, FCSC guidelines on appointment, promotion and discipline, public service rules and establishment circulars. Graduates with eight to 12 years post-graduation experience are being appointed as directors. It is as bad as that.

“We have made our case known to the commission and the Presidency on this vexed issue and we are still waiting for a reversal of all illegal recruitments made in the past five years in order to return sanity into the system. We make bold to say that if the reversal is not effected as being demanded, the ASCSN will have no alternative than to adopt other trade union measures to seek redress.”

Speaking on the demand by civil servants for pay increase, the ASCSN President said that although no amount had been fixed, the organised labour movement, including the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and the Nigeria Labour Congress, had set up two committees to determine the percentage.

According to him, the upward review of workers’ salaries was necessary going by the current economic realities vis-à-vis the poor salary being paid to civil servants in Nigeria.

“What we collect as salaries can no longer take us to the bus stop, let alone take us home. We have endured for so long and it is time for the government to look into our direction.

“We are therefore calling on the Federal Government to enter into negotiation with labour with a view to creating a new salary regime that will be realistic enough to improve the quality of lives of workers and at the same time bridge the salary gap between the core civil service and other sub-sectors of the federal public service,” Kaigama stated.

The TUC, he said, had not resolved on the amount, but had been receiving submissions on it from its affiliated unions.

He said, “The TUC will collect theirs and the NLC will collect theirs. We will then come together and harmonise our positions and come up with one demand that we will present to the government because the salaries review are long overdue. It is supposed to be after five years; we are in the sixth year.”

Civil servants want Jonathan’s illegal appointments reversed

Nigeria Refuses To Participate At Milano Expo Due to Lack Of Money

By Ehi Ekhator, United Kingdom

Nigerian government refused to participate in the ongoing Milano Expo in Italy due to lack of fund, NAIJA CENTER NEWS learnt on Monday.

President Buhari

Expo Milano 2015 is the Universal Exhibition that Milan, is hosting from May 1 to October 31, 2015. Over 140 countries were invited to show the best of their technology that offers a concrete answer to a vital need: being able to guarantee healthy, safe and sufficient food for everyone, while respecting the Planet and its equilibrium.

The Expo also involves international organizations, and expects to welcome over 20 million visitors to its 1.1 million square meters of exhibition area.

Investigation carried out by NAIJA CENTER NEWS, revealed that Nigeria was invited but the government claimed that there was no money to participate.

A source who was privy to the arrangement but refused to be named since he is not authorised to speak on the issue said” I can assure you that Nigerian government was invited, but they said they don’t have money to participate. we heard meeting with them close to one and half years, officials from Nigeria came here, December to February this year, we couldn’t find the money.”

 

Responding to NAIJA CENTER NEWS email,Domenico Repaci  frompress office explained that it was at the discretion of the Nigeria government to participate or not.

Repaci said” Please note that during the promotional campaign of Expo Milano 2015, every country was approached at the governmental level.

“Every government decided whether to participate or not at the universal exposition. Therefore, Nigeria was invited too to participate at the exposition.”

Nigeria Refuses To Participate At Milano Expo Due to Lack Of Money

FG to stop importation of rice in 2017

ABUJA – Federal government Wednesday said it has plans to stop the importation of rice in the next two years, however stating that the policy would not be enforced until it has developed local industries to produce maximally for local consumption.

Jonathan at the Rice mill

The plan was communicated to State House Correspondents by Zamfara State Governor and Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari after a joint meeting with the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele and permanent secretaries of federal ministries at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Yari stated that with the emerging political will power of the present government and the availability of arable land, Nigeria can sustain itself with rice production.

He regretted that so much money had gone into rice importation which he said could be produced locally.

“The meeting was on the new policy on agriculture and food sustainability. We discussed how we can boost rice production in Nigeria and start thinking about how we are going to put policy in place on how rice importation will be banned in the country.

“We have the potential. We have the human resources. We have the arable land to grow rice. In the next two years, we will not need to bring rice from outside Nigeria. We are going to ban it.

“It is only in Nigeria, a country of millions of people, that there is no food security. We discussed the policy with the relevant permanent secretaries and CBN governor.

“The policy is going to be in place and we gave our commitment that we are ready to support the government policy in ensuring that Nigeria becomes self-sufficient in food production in the next two years.

“Nigeria is currently a major importer of rice. Now, the political will is in place to stop it. We in about nine states are going to be seriously engaged in massive rice production.

“We are hoping that in the next two years, rice importation into Nigeria will be banned. We are committed and the political will is in place”, Governir Yari said.

FG to stop importation of rice in 2017

Buhari"s administration most unprepared in Nigeria history - PDP

ABUJA- NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has again lampooned the All Progressives Congress, APC led government, saying it was now clear to Nigerians that the administration was completely bereft of ideas needed to effectively manage the nation.

Olisah Metuh

According to PDP, the action of government in the last five months has led to a sudden decline in the economy, general anxiety, prevailing unhappiness and grumbling among Nigerians across board.

In a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party noted that APC’s citizens’ disenchantment has been a cause for serious for Nigerians, just as it decried what the PDP termed, APC’s arrogance and insensitivity to Nigerians.

According to Metuh, the prevailing widespread disenchantment being expressed by Nigerians over the inept handling of governance and insincerity so far exhibited by the APC -led Federal Government has become a huge source of worry for the health of the nation.

Metuh said: “The party notes that the attitude of the APC administration to governance in the last five months and the feelings of a cross section of Nigerians underscore the fact that the PDP, notwithstanding the setback of the last general elections, remains the only true pan-Nigeria vehicle that guarantees the unity, stability and prosperity of the nation as well as the welfare of individual Nigerians, irrespective of class, creed and tribe.

“It now manifest to all that the APC administration is completely bereft of ideas needed to effectively manage the nation, a consequence of which is the sudden decline in the economy, general anxiety and prevailing unhappiness and grumbling among the citizens across board.

“The apparent lack of capacity and ingenuity by this APC government to run the affairs of our dear nation has become evident in the myriads of political and economic glitches that have bedeviled the polity since it took office on May 29.

“Nigerians, going by their comments, are deeply disturbed that instead of focusing on issues that directly touch on their lives, especially given its long list of campaign promises, the APC administration has remained high on propaganda, violating the constitution for partisan capital, hounding perceived political enemies; while at the same time continuing in their trick of hoodwinking the populace, using their so-called body language theory in the attempt to appropriate achievements of the previous PDP administration.

“In the last five months under the watch of the APC, the polity has become shambolic, with official reports showing sudden decline in the economy with spiral rate of inflation, stagnation in domestic and foreign direct investments, halt in infrastructure development projects in most parts of the country, with investors scared away due to the prevailing uncertainty arising from government’s inability to articulate a precise economic policy direction.

“Even more pathetic is the fact that this government has been unable to pursue any investment in any of the critical sectors, eliciting public fears of serious economic crisis in the coming years. This is in addition to the heart-breaking fact that the APC administration, in its apparent insincerity, has been attempting to disown its list of campaign promises upon which it rode to power.

“Instead, what we witness is an appalling cosmetic governance, where endless drama and theatrics of the APC government have reduced governance to an unproductive reality show, which lack even the basic production quality of regular Telemundo shows.

“This administration has shown itself to be the most unprepared government in the history of our country since independence, be it military or civilian. This is a verifiable fact and we challenge the APC to prove us wrong by showing Nigerians any government that they are better than, in terms of organization, direction, performance or any other indices within the period of their first five months in office.

“We now have a situation where routine and mundane duties and appointments by government have become subjects of major national discussions, while the main business of governance suffers, with persons claiming closeness to the seat of power perpetuating financial sleazes in the system under the so-called “New Sherriff”.

“Unfolding events are beginning to show to Nigerians that the APC is indeed not the desirable alternative to the PDP, but a band of power grabbers, who swindled the electorate to get into office using false promises and propaganda. This is more so as it has become obvious, given its arrogance, that the APC has no predisposition to change from the insincerity, ineptitude and undemocratic tendencies it has exhibited in the last five months.

“It is on this note that we charge all our members to close ranks and remain committed to the ongoing rebuilding effort in our great party in the interest of our nation and the welfare of all citizens.

“As a party built on the strength of the people as the driving force of democracy, our interest, at all times lies on the overall wellbeing of the citizens. We are therefore reengineering and addressing all issues that led to our temporary setback while assuring Nigerians that we will, at the end of the day, present a stronger and more focused platform to rescue our dear nation from the APC and return power to the people, to whom it rightly belongs, come 2019.”

Buhari"s administration most unprepared in Nigeria history - PDP

Poverty Alleviation: Buhari signs $2.3bn Assistance Agreement with U.S

The Federal Government has signed a $2.3bn assistance agreement aimed at fighting extreme poverty with the United States Agency for International Development.

Buhari and Obama

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

Akande said the agreement would help the government to combat extreme poverty among Nigerians over the next five years.

He said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government while the USAID Head of Mission in Nigeria, Mr. Michael Harvey, signed on behalf of the US government during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last week.

He quoted Osinbajo as noting that since President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the US President Barack Obama in the White House in July, the Nigerian government had seen better cooperation from the US.

The Vice-President also noted that there had been great deal of interaction on how the present administration intended to implement its agenda, saying the interaction was because the US wanted the government to succeed.

“The issue of the extreme poverty of a vast majority of Nigerians is a very important issue for us. It is at the heart of our economic policy. You can’t have that vast number of poor people and don’t plan around that and for us this is crucial and absolutely important,” Osinbajo was reported to have said.

The Vice-President also lauded the inclusion of the North-East among the areas of focus in the agreement, adding that there was a consensus in government to address the problem of out-of-school children and the observed drop in enrolment figures in parts of the nation.

He promised that the present administration would continue to lead a transparent and an open government, clean up the business environment and emphasise a bottom-up approach to economic planning.

The $2.3bn assistance will cover activities from 2015 through 2020, with the objective of helping Nigeria reduce extreme poverty in a more stable and democratic society.

It is expected to stimulate inclusive economic growth, promote a healthier, more educated population and help strengthen good governance.

The USAID director said the agreement would provide a solid foundation for the two countries to partner to reduce inequalities across the country.

Poverty Alleviation: Buhari signs $2.3bn Assistance Agreement with U.S

We are winning war against Boko Haram, FG insists

The Federal Government on Monday insisted that despite the isolated violence being witnessed in some parts of the country, Nigeria is winning the war against the Boko Haram sect.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Aliyu Ismaila, said this in an interview with journalists on the sideline of the ongoing 70th United Nations General Assembly holding in New York.

Ismaila said the nation’s security agencies were battle ready more than ever before to end insurgency in the country within the deadline given to them by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We are winning the war. We have put machinery in place to meet the presidential deadline handed over to us and we are sure that the nation’s security agencies are up to the task,” he said.

Ismaila also expressed the conviction that Buhari’s participation in the UNGA would also attract benefits to the country.

He said, “The President is attending the UN General Assembly for the first time and he had created a great impact on issues concerning security, trade and investment as well as climate change.

“Nigeria is doing very well and we are very proud that we have a President who is very focused and who world leaders have tremendous confidence in.”

Ismaila also faulted the criticisms that have trailed Buhari’s absence at a meeting on Friday on the Boko Haram sect and internally displaced persons.

The permanent secretary insisted that the meeting was not in the President’s schedule.

He said if the country was aware of the parley, there was no way the President or his officials would not have attended, especially with the importance attached to the terrorism war.

He added, “It is most unfortunate that people just say whatever they feel like saying.

“Before we left Nigeria, there were meetings that were penciled down for the President to attend.

“On arrival here, these meetings were reviewed and some others were added.

“To the best of my knowledge, that meeting on Boko Haram was never included in the agenda.

“Nigeria is one country that is addressing this issue of Boko Haram. It is very important to the country and if it was included in the agenda, the President or his officials would have attended.”

We are winning war against Boko Haram, FG insists

Treasury Single Account scheme takes off today

THE new initiative of the Federal Government to harmonise its revenue accruals through the Treasury Single Account (TSA) takes off today.

President Buhari

This means that the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other revenue earning establishments of government have by now accustomed themselves with the unique account number, which the Head of Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, designated “Accountant General: 300002095.”

Recently, President Muhammadu Buhari had reinforced his determination for the initiative by setting the September 15 deadline for the full compliance/implementation of the directive that would ensure that all revenue due to the Federal Government are gathered in the designated account to be manned by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Before the new directive, according to The Guardian’s report, all the country leadership had flouted the constitutional mandate, which spelt out the collection and management of national earnings.

The law, first enacted in 1954 under the Oliver Lyttelton Constitution, was bridged not too long after passage and since then was passively observed under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Since the new resolve by the Buhari to implement the law on the subject matter to the letter, stakeholders from the civil society groups, financial market operators/analysts, lawyers, among others have expressed hope that the development would bring about positive results, despite dissenting opinions.

Some have expressed reservations over the modus operandi of TSA, noting that while it is a great idea, there was also the need to look into the peculiarities of various agencies to ensure that their calls for funding are urgently met to forestall hitches.

From the academia, a don who pleaded anonymity, said “the issue of implementing the TSA is not optional, especially as it is a clear instruction, with specific date of compliance. For those of us whose monies were mopped up from the commercial banks to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), we had no option but go along with the process.”

“I am optimistic that if things are done the way it should, the initiative holds great benefit for the country. Many would be exposed. All the government’s idle funds, used for round tripping through public officers’ collaboration with banks will end tomorrow (today). But we should not expect hitch free operations, particularly at the onset.

Treasury Single Account scheme takes off today

Fed Govt goes tough on visa issuance to stop terrorists

•Foreign missions to adopt strict policy
•Boko Haram fighters found in Libya, northern Niger

To ensure that undesirable elements do not enter the country, the Federal Government has directed it missions to adopt strict visa issuance policy.

Buhari

The directive followed the botched attempt by the Chief Imam of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Ahmed  Al-Assir, to enter Nigeria.  Visa applicants from marked areas will, henceforth, be subjected scrutiny, sources said.

Security agencies have already  stepped up investigation into Al-Assir’s possible contacts  in Nigeria.

There will also be increased profiling of Nigerians travelling to suspected ISIS strongholds and visiting foreigners. An agency report yesterday said that Boko Haram has dispatched between 80 and 200 of its members to team up with ISIS in the Libyan city of Sitre.

The report added that Algerian security forces believe that Boko Haram members are currently fighting in northern Niger Republic.

There were concerns that some ISIS members might have sneaked into Nigeria to Boko Haram.

A government  source said yesterday that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed all Nigerian missions abroad to “be strict with visa.”

“The end of carefree issuance of visa is gone, all the missions have been directed to subject applicants to thorough screening before they can enter Nigeria,” a source said.

“Special attention will be paid to ISIS prone areas and allies in some countries. We have records of the operation areas  and affiliates of ISIS.

“Those coming from suspected areas will henceforth provide comprehensive details of their contacts, hosts and itinerary to the Nigerian Immigration Service(NIS).

“These are preemptive measures we have in place pending the conclusion of investigation into the visa row of Al-Assir.”

It was also gathered that  security agencies have been analysing the preliminary report from the Nigerian Embassy in Lebanon on how the ISIS Chief Imam obtained visa with a fake Palestinian passport.

The probe is being handled by the Department of State Services (DSS), National Intelligence Agency, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) , Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the NIS.

A source familiar with the development said: “We cannot afford to take things for granted; we are studying the supposed  itinerary of Al-Assir based on the decoy documents he used to apply for visa.

“There is a way we can track down his network in Nigeria. Definitely, it is obvious that he has some links in the country.

“The clues we are investigating border on whether some ISIS members have arrived in Nigeria or if Al-Assir was on a mass recruitment mission.

“You know he is also being interrogated by security agencies in Lebanon, we are going to compare notes with them.”

Al-Assir was arrested on August 15 at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport,Lebanon on his way to Nigeria through Egypt.

He has been  on the watch-list of Lebanon’s security services since 2013.

At the time of his arrest, Al-Assir was holding a fake Palestinian passport with Nigerian visa.

Prior to his disguise, the Lebanese government had accused him of alleged involvement in the death of 17 Lebanese soldiers.

He had also been sentenced to death in absentia by a Lebanese Court.

Before Al-Assir’s ill-fated trip, the NIS had barred no fewer than 4,916 Nigerians from traveling out of the country between January and March.

Some of those affected were suspected to be travelling to enlist in some terrorist movements, including the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq and the Taliban.

Also, 12,152 foreigners were refused entry into Nigeria because they had no genuine reasons for visiting the country.

Fed Govt goes tough on visa issuance to stop terrorists