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Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Election 2019: Buhari/Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group flags off campaign

    Election 2019: Buhari/Osinbajo Dynamic Support Group flags off campaign

    The re-election bid for President Muhammadu Buhari has commenced as the South West Zonal office of Muhammadu Buhari-Osinbajo (MBO) Dynamic Support Group, a campaign organization for Buhari/Osinbajo is set for inauguration on Saturday, January 20th.

    The Minister of Communication, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu, revealed the details of the inauguration while speaking to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The Minister also informed he has been appointed the national chairman of the board of trustees of the MBO Dynamic Support Group while describing Buhari as “Saviour’’ of Nigerians

    “Every day since he came into office all his activities are geared towards letting Nigeria know that they have a saviour, a rescuer, somebody who is committed to providing relief for Nigerians in all respects.

    “These include fighting corruption, insurgency; whether in the North East or the Niger Delta; in the area of repairing the economy and providing jobs and providing social stability in the society.

    “You will agree with me that today but for Buhari Boko Haram would have invaded even Lagos,’’ Shittu said.

    The minister, who disclosed that President Buhari was yet to indicate interest on whether he will seek re-election in 2019, said his ardent supporters would continue to pressure him to seek re-election to enable him complete his good works to Nigerians.

    “It goes without saying I mean if you have a child who goes to primary school does well, proceeds to secondary school does well, and you keep asking is he going to university?

    “By the grace of God, we his ardent supporters who appreciate his worth on behalf of millions of Nigerians, would urge him to re-contest.

    “I know he has not made up his mind but I can say that some of us can assist him in making up his mind so that Nigeria can continue to enjoy stability and progress in our land,’’ he added.

     

  • Senate opens chapter for National Conference, demands report

    The Senate on Thursday requested for the submission of the 2014 National Conference report for consideration by the Federal Government.

    ImageFile: Senate demands for National Conference report
    Senate opens chapter for National Conference, demands for Conference report

    The Senate’s decision was sequel to a motion sponsored by the Leader of Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, on the need for National Unity and Peaceful Co-existence in Nigeria, Today reports.

    The National Conference was set up by the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Jonathan had promised to implement the recommendations if he was re-elected.

    However, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was defeated by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which had Muhammadu Buhari as presidential candidate.

     

  • Osinbajo welcomes new ECOWAS chair, pledges Nigeria’s support

    Osinbajo welcomes new ECOWAS chair, pledges Nigeria’s support

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday received Mr Faure Gnassingbe, Togolese President and newly-elected Chairman of ECOWAS at the Presidential Villa, and assured him of Nigeria’s support to the regional body.

    Osinbajo told the visiting leader that “Nigeria will support you in every way and we are very happy with your election.

    “I know that President Muhammadu Buhari will give every measure of support required because he will want you to succeed very much.”

    The acting President added that the Buhari administration was pleased that President Gnassingbe visited Nigeria almost immediately after his election to lead the regional body.

    He gave the assurance that Nigeria would continue to play an active role in ECOWAS.

    He also assured the Togolese President that President Buhari held him in high regard as a person and considered him a friend.

    Osinbajo, who congratulated Gnassingbe on his election as ECOWAS chairman, assured him that Nigeria was concerned about regional issues and would continue to explore resolutions in partnership with other member-states.

    The acting President also welcomed the continued consultations on the issue of Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between ECOWAS and the European Union (EU) while observing also that each country had peculiar challenges.

    He expressed the hope that the spirit of ECOWAS — brotherhood, would be helpful in addressing some of the issues confronting the regional body.

    Earlier, the new ECOWAS leader had told the acting President that he was at the villa for consultation because Nigeria was an important player in issues of the regional body.

    During the visit, Gnassingbe highlighted a number of ECOWAS issues and challenges, including the European Partnership Agreement being discussed by the regional body.

    He said as the ECOWAS chairman, he would be involved in frequent exchanges and consultations with Nigeria, considering Nigeria’s role in the region.

    The Togolese President also said he wanted the relationship between his country and Nigeria to remain very close.

    In a related development, Acting President Osinbajo also received Mr Foumakoye Gado, Special Envoy of President Issoufou Mohamadou of Niger.

    Osinbajo assured the envoy and the country’s petroleum minister of Nigeria’s continued support and cooperation with Niger.

     

  • My relationship with Buhari cordial – Saraki

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has said that his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari remained cordial, despite false claims in some social media.

    He made this known when the National Executive of the Islamic group, Jamaatu Izalatul Bidiah Wa Ikamatus Sunnali (JIBWS) led by its President, Mohammed Jingiri visited him at the National Assembly.

    The President of the Senate debunked allegations that he and the Senate are working against President Buhari.

    ”I want to assure you of the good cooperation between the legislative arm and executive led by President Muhammudu Buhari.

    ” Since the commencement of this Senate, I think we had about 196 requests from President Buhari for confirmation of his nominees and we have confirmed 185.

    “I think, we have only rejected 11. By Mathematics, that is over 90 per cent.

    “I want to assure you there is a lot of noise, you will see in the newspapers, radio and social media, please, be assured that the two arms of government are working closely together, more than in past sessions of the Senate.

    ” In January, I went to see him and assured him of our cooperation and we have continued to work closely.

    “I want to assure you as we always say, let us be judged by our actions and not by talk

    ”I want you to convey the same message to your followers, who because of social media and the fake news they hear over radio, they get wrong impression that we in the Senate are working against the President.

    I assure you that we have a very cordial relationship with the Executive,” he said.

    Saraki also reaffirmed the commitment of the Senate in ensuring good governance, economic stability and creation of jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.

    He promised to ensure that all Bills to be passed by the Senate would ensure that religious sentiments of Nigerians were taken into consideration.

    The Senate President told the group that the Gender Bill currently before the National Assembly would be fair to all religious groups.

    ” I want to reassure you on our greatest concern, particularly in the issue of Gender Bill. Here in the National Assembly, we pass laws and whatever law we pass, we take into consideration the religious aspects.

    ”There is no law that can disregard the religious sentiments of the citizens.

    “So, we have discussed that whatever final version of the law that will come for discussion, because it is still for discussion, it is just a proposal, it should not be one that would have conflict with religion. I want to assure you of that”, he said.

    According to him, the final version of the gender bill will be such that all religious sentiments are taken care of and Nigerians would be proud of.

    Saraki pledged that the senate will continue to play its roles by bringing political balancing and stability into consideration.

    “We will do what we know is best for this country. We will strive to work to keep this country together”, he said.

    Earlier, the leader of the group, Mohammed Jingirr, commended the Senate President on his role in the arrangement that led to the rejection of the Muslim-Muslim Presidential ticket for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 presidential elections.

    He added that Nigeria was not ripe for such an arrangement, which did not take into consideration the need for religious balance in the country, as all religious interest must be represented at all times, including elections.

    According to him, religious balancing must at all times be respected in Nigeria as only this will ensure harmony.

    The Islamic cleric also commended the National Assembly for rejecting same sex marriages and capital punishment, describing them not in line with Islamic injunctions.

    He also urged the Senate President to ensure that the current Gender Bill reflects the tenets of all religions.

    Sheik Jingiri called on the Senate to ensure equality of representations in political appointments in line with the population of states.

    He also called for cordial relationship between all arms of government for the benefit of the people.

    The leader of JIBWS prayed for the quick recovery of President Buhari, who is currently on medical vacation in London.

  • “Oh Lord deliver Nigeria”, Christians declare prayers for Buhari’s administration

    An interdenominational praise and prayer team has declared an extraordinary night of prayers with the view to liberate the country Nigeria from the shackles of the prevailing economic realities for June.

    In a chat with TheNewsGuru correspondent in Sapele, Delta state, the host of the programme, Akporero Emmanuel Best, said, “We believe Nigeria is in bondage — beyond the control of the leadership — and we believe only prayers can set Nigeria free from the satanic manipulations”.

    ImageFile: “Oh Lord deliver Nigeria”, Christians declare prayers for Buhari’s administration
    “Oh Lord deliver Nigeria” organizers mounting banners in preparation for the interdenominational church programme

    Akporero stated it is become imperative and inevitable to praise and pray the nation out of the prevailing economic bondage that reached all time low in the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, adding that only divine intervention is needed if the country must surmount the prevailing challenges.

    “With what we all understand in Nigeria, things were better than what we are experiencing today; the government seems not to have bearings. The leaders do not care about the welfare of citizens whether they are faring well or not.

    “We have all the resources God has blessed us with but we still pass through hard times in what they have called economic recession.

    “They said the economy is recovering but nothing has proved that the economy is actually recovering.

    “Nigerians who graduated long ago are still jobless. The unemployment rate wasn’t like this in the 70s, 80s and early 90s.

    “People are dying of poverty, no money for proper medical treatment, no quality health care delivery, no good roads, no stable light, no good water supply and companies are folding up,” Akporero said.

    “We need to pray and praise God like Paul and Silas did while in the Prison. Nigeria is nothing but a prison, and as God intervened to set Paul and Silas free, God will be merciful to set us free.

    “I pray God delivered us because we need God’s hand in this Country Nigeria. If we are delivered Nigeria is delivered,” he added.

    He conclusively advised that “Nigerian leaders should have the mind of love and feel the pains of the masses, and embark in projects, and enact and implement only policies that will benefit the citizenry,” adding: “If the citizens are liberated, it will affect the overall fortune of the nation”.

    Akporero, also known as Federal Evangelist, revealed the interdenominational programme, which he said is packed full with anointed men of God, and praise and worship leaders to intercede for the nation, will hold 9th June 2017 at the Cathedral Church of St. Andrews Sapele beginning at 0020GMT.

  • Ex-NIPOST Boss lauds FG’s achievement in telecoms sector

    Former General Manager, Corporate Communications, Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) has commended the administration of President Muhammodu Buhari on its achievements in the telecom sector in two years, especially on the reform of postal sub-sector.

    Mr Taiye Olaniyi, now a telecom consultant, made the commendation in an interview in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Olaniyi described the public hearing on the postal reform by the Senate Committee on Communications as a good development.

    “For the first time in the history of the country, we heard a public hearing by the Senate on bills concerning the sector.

    “This has not been the case before now, but this government has made it possible for the public to come to the senate, have a second reading on the postal reform bill and make their own inputs.

    “So, the government has really done well and should be commended for creating an enabling environment for the sector to flourish, making policy on postal reform and even creating a roadmap for the sector to work with.

    “The hearing made it possible for a heighten awareness on the part of the public on the purpose for the postal bill, the reforms planned in the sector,’’ he said.

    According to Olaniyi, the government has succeeded in creating greater awareness among the citizenry on optimal utilisation of telecom facilities available.

    “You know now the number of people that are using telecom facilities, once upon a time, we only knew about postal services and land phones to communicate with others.

    “But now nearly every member of the family has an android or one smart device or the other because this government continued with the programmes started by the previous administration.

    “Government is a continuum and this government should be commended for continuing the programmes of former government and we can see it in the improvement that is going on in the telecom sector.

    “In as much as there has been much talk on fighting corruption and probing the past government but personally I believe the change that the government is calling for must start with itself, however, relatively there is an improvement in governance,’’ he said.

    He said that since government was a continuum, any government that was able to leverage on what the previous government had done must as of necessity progress.

    Olaniyi said that if the government continued in this spirit in all areas, the country would be better for it in the coming years.

  • 10 things you must know about 2017 budget passed by NASS

    The National Assembly (NASS), yesterday, passed the 2017 Appropriations Bill, raising the budget from N7.28 billion earlier proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari in December last year, to N7.44 trillion.

    Here is a compilation of 10 Significant things you need to know about the 2017 budget passed by NASS.

    1. The budget has been raised from N7.30 billion earlier proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari in December last year, to N7.44 trillion.
    2. The increase in expenditure came with a significant mark up in the benchmark crude oil price to $44.5 per barrel from the N42.5 per barrel proposed by the President.
    3. It is a 33 page document and it will be scanned and uploaded online after the passage by the president.
    4. 30 per cent or N2.18 trillion was allocated to capital expenditure, while recurrent expenditure (non-debt) and debt service received N2.987 trillion and N1.84 trillion respectively.
    5. debt service allocation comprise N1.488 trillion to service domestic debt; N175.88 million to service foreign debts, while N177.46 million is to retire maturing loans.
    6. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, the full details of the National Assembly’s budget are in the appropriation bill.
    7. NASS raised its budget by N10bn from N115bn to N125bn.
    8. The breakdown shows that out of the N125 billion approved by the National Assembly, the management has a vote of N14,919,065,013, the Senate has an allocation of N31,398,765,886 while the House of Representatives will spend N49,052,743,983. The breakdown of the management is N6,714,696,986 will be spent as personnel cost, N6,192,052,825 as overhead costs and N2,011,315,202 as total capital.
    9. The Senate will spend N1,856,510,517 on personnel costs; N25,111,332,147 as total overhead costs and N4,430,923,222 as total capital .The House of Representatives will spend N4,923,743,127 as total personnel costs; N39,635,756,179 as total overhead costs and N4,493,244,677 as total capital.
    10. The total Budget for 2017 stands at N7.441 trillion.

    ***Nigerians will now wait for the president to sign the long-awaited budget into law in a few weeks.

    Some other allocations are as follow:

    Debt Service (Local & Foreign): N1,663,885,430,499.
    Sinking Fund: N177,460,296,707.
    Recurrent Non-debt expenditure: N2,086,176,493,860
    Federal Executive Bodies: N1,413,441,659.90

    Service wide Votes &Pension: N191,631,846,958

    Other service wide votes: N138,700,000,000
    Reforms to Special Acts: N40,000,000,000
    Special Intervention recurrent (Heads):N350,000,000,000

    Presidential Amnesty Programme Stipends: N766,700,000,000
    Total Recurrent: N987,550,033,000
    Capital Expenditure: N1,710,580,601,619.

    Head of sub-total Federal Executive Bodies: N7,248,944,788
    Head of Federal Executive Bodies:N1,717,829,446,407.

     

  • President Buhari appoints NPHCDA Head

    ImageFile: President Buhari appoints NPHCDA Head
    Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Head of NPHCDA

    Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has on Wednesday appointed Faisal Shuaib as the Executive Secretary of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

    Shuaib, a medical doctor and public health specialist, is a Senior Program Officer (Africa) for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) at Seattle, USA.

    At the BMGF, Shuaib is responsible for developing and implementing strategies on polio outbreak response activities in Africa.

    Prior to joining the foundation, Shuaib coordinated Nigeria’s successful response to the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) as the Incident Manager of the Ebola Emergency Operations Centre in 2014.

    He was also a member of the six-man panel established to assess the response of the World Health Organization (WHO) to the global Ebola outbreak in 2014 and provided technical advice to the Federal Ministry of Health and NPHCDA in areas of immunization and polio eradication activities between 2012 and 2015.

    Dr. Shuaib had in the past also worked as a research associate at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

  • Aisha Buhari champions ‘Merck More than a Mother’ campaign in Nigeria

    Aisha Buhari, the wife of Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, is championing Merck More than a Mother campaign in Nigeria, an initiative to break the stigma around infertility and to empower women who suffer infertility.

    Merck More than a Mother was first implemented in Kenya in 2015 followed by Uganda, Cote d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, and Nigeria in 2016.

    The launch, which held in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of the country, Abuja is in partnership with Senate Commission on Health; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, and Future Assured organization.

    The wife of President Buhari who was present at the launch pledged her support and the support of Nigerian Governors’ wives in the implementation of Merck More than a Mother’s activities in Nigeria.

    Aisha Alhassan, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, who was also present at the launch said “In Nigeria we have been advocating for the end of harmful traditional practices including the stigmatization of women which is prevalent all over the country”.

    “Women have not been coming out openly because they are traumatized. With this campaign we will encourage them to speak out and we pledge our support and collaboration,” the Minister added.

    Isaac Adewole, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, also present, emphasized government readiness to enact policies that will ensure the improvement of fertility healthcare in Nigeria.

    “We are responsible for policy at the Ministry level and this is where we can make a difference in improving access to fertility care in Nigeria. We will work through training institutions we are responsible for to strengthen fertility management by making it a sub-specialty.

    “We will also as a Ministry work with private sector, the Senate and the National Assembly to improve governance and quality of care to provide standards to protect infertile men and women seeking treatment,” the Health Minister stated.

    Earlier, Merck Healthcare Chief Social Officer (CSO), Dr. Rasha Kelej has said “Merck More than a Mother campaign is a great initiative to break the stigma around infertility and to empower an unprivileged category of women in Africa, women who suffer infertility,” stressing that “Infertile women have been neglected, mistreated and discriminated because they cannot bear a child, yet 50% of infertility is due to male factors”.

    “We can together improve access to education, information, awareness, health care and change of mind-set and culture to stop these women’s suffering” the CSO said.

  • FG begins verification of ex-militants

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme Office in Nigeria has commenced the verification of ex-militants to ascertain their exact number.

    The Coordinator of the Programmme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd) made this known in Abuja on Saturday, saying the exercise is part of the exit plans.

    Boroh, who is also the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta, reiterated government’s commitment to the training and empowerment of all beneficiaries listed on the programme.

    He said that more than 3,010 ex-militants who recently exited the programme have been empowered.

    “Exiting from the programme is as a result of empowerment and delegates are given starter packs for their businesses.

    “The office trains the ex-militants in various vocational skill centres and educational institutions in Nigeria and abroad,” he said.

    According to Boroh, the mandate of the office is not to provide jobs, but to train and reintegrate the ex-militants.

    “Well, some people could argue that getting jobs for them is part of reintegration. We have to look into that to see how we can get these persons properly reintegrated,” Boroh said.

    The presidential aide said that 200 ex-agitators had graduated from advanced agriculture training at the Bio Resource Centre in Odi, Bayelsa State.

    “We will explore the opportunity provided by the Federal Government so that our delegates that had been trained can be gainfully employed,’’ he said.

    Also read: FG succumbs, pays Niger Delta ex-militants outstanding stipends

    Boroh said that agriculture should be encouraged at all levels of national life so that the country could become a multicultural economy that depends less on oil.

    He said youth unemployment remained a major challenge in the Niger Delta, and assured that the government would resuscitate the moribund industrial complexes in the region.

    According to him, some of the industries include the Aluminium Smelting Company in Akwa Ibom and the Aladja Steel in Delta state.

    “These would provide employment for tens of thousands of youths in the Niger Delta,” Boroh said.