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Tag: Osinbajo

  • Electricity: FG commences payment of N701bn assurance system to boost supply

    The Federal Government has approved the payment of assurance system of N701 billion to break the liquidity of the entire electricity value chain in the country, the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said.

    Osinbajo made the fact known at a roundtable on Nigerian Renewable Energy in Abuja on Tuesday, adding that part of the amount which was approved by the Federal Executive Council had been released.

    He said the second payment of the assurance system would soon be made to further boost electricity supply.

    “We have mentioned several of the plans, the power sector plans and so many of those initiatives.

    “The latest is to break the gridlock in the liquidity of the entire electricity value chain and so our payment assurance system of over N701 billion has been approved by the Federal Executive Council and in fact the first payment has been made. We are onto make up the second payment.

    “We hope that we free up that value chain which has created several problems of its own and we hope that this injection will help.

    “We are also looking at several other reforms in the sector hoping that the market can become self-sustaining, independent and run on its own and free up all of the private sector energy that is waiting to come into the market,’’ he added.

    Osinbajo noted that, as a multi-stakeholder platform, the Nigerian Renewable Energy Roundtable should champion the new vision for renewable energy and ensure that they could translate theory to practice for the greater good of the people.

    In his remarks, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, said the ministry had been resolute in pursuing alternative energy sources.

    According to him, focus on renewable energy will benefit the rural areas and help to create jobs as stated in the government’s Economic Recovery Growth Plan.

    He said that diversification could only be successful in an environment of renewable energy system.

    Majority of Nigerians lack access to electricity and where it is available supply is irregular.

    The interest in renewal energy is expected to accelerate electricity generation and supply to the populace. (NAN)

     

  • Osinbajo, Elumelu, others to attend 2017 National Insurance Conference

    Osinbajo, Elumelu, others to attend 2017 National Insurance Conference

     

    The Chairman, Planning Committee, 2017 National Insurance Conference (NIC), Mr Shola Tinubu, on Tuesday said Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo would declare open the three-day conference to begin on July 9.

    Tinubu, who made this known at a press briefing in Lagos, said that the conference would hold at the Transcorp Hotel, Abuja.

    He said the conference was aimed at removing all inhibitions against growing insurance business in Nigeria.

    “It is insurance practitioners and stakeholders’ pleasure to applaud the Federal Government for the all policy directions, especially against the backdrop of the nation’s recessive economy.

    “There was the dire need for a reversal of the economic trend, and the Federal Government through the promotion and exportation of local products and policies, is gradually leading the economy out of recession.

    “Also, worthy of commendation is the three years Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) from 2017-2020,’’ he said.

    Tinubu said the 2017 conference with the theme: “Nigeria Open for Business’’, was apt in view of the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business Initiatives (EDBI).

    He noted that the EDBI was spearheaded by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

    Tinubu said that this year’s conference would be the third since the conception of the Insurance Industry Consultative Council (IICC) in 2015.

    He said the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kevin Adeosun, would be the Chairman of the technical session of the conference while the Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, would be the chief host.

    ” Mr Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Tony Elumelu Foundation, will be discussing the theme paper with the aim of making delegates to draw from the speaker’s enormous exposure and experience in the nation’s financial services sector.

    “Discussants include Dr Joseph Nanna, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; and Alhaji Kyari Bukar, Executive Secretary of Nigeria Economic Summit Group, among others,’’ he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that IICC is the amalgamation of all the constituent arms of the insurance industry.

    It includes the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) and Institute of Loss Adjusters of Nigeria (ILAN), while the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria serves as the coordinating arm.

     

     

  • No law empowers Osinbajo to jail us for seeking self-determination – IPOB

    Indigenous People of Biafra on Tuesday tackled the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, over his comment to deal with Biafra agitators and hate mongers, saying that the group won’t be intimidated by such utterances.

    Osinbajo had on Sunday warned that persons agitating for secession and the northern groups that issued the ultimatum to Igbo risked jail terms as they violated Nigeria’s laws.

    He gave the warning at a consultative meeting with traditional rulers from the South-East at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Abuja. In a statement made available to newsmen in Awka, Anambra State by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group said there was no law empowering Osinbajo to jail any group in the country who would seek self-determination.

    It said the group was empowered by charters and conventions under international law to seek self-determination as an indigenous people.

    It accused the acting President of standing the law on its head, adding that domesticated charters and conventions were binding on member countries.

    The group’s statement read in part “acting President Yemi Osinbajo has warned that persons agitating for secession and the northern groups that issued ultimatum to Igbo risked jail terms as they violated Nigeria’s laws.

    “For such a statement to escape the lips of a learned fellow like Prof. Osinbajo confirms the widely held view that African leaders lack the mental capacity and discipline to operate a constitutional democracy in a modern world.

    “If the corrupt ruling class in Nigeria cannot distinguish between those rights that are sacrosanct, such as freedom of association and freedom of expression under which IPOB operates, then the entire political edifice in Nigeria is a monumental mess.

    “It is very shameful that a professor of law cannot situate the Nigeria constitution within the context and meaning of the right to self-determination as recognised in international law.

    “Somebody should please draw the attention of Professor Yemi Osibanjo to the provisions of the Africa Charter on Human and Peoples Rights which Nigeria ratified and went ahead to domesticate into her local laws.

    “How can a professor of law threaten jail term for those exercising their right to self-determination under laws adopted and ratified by Nigeria? This confirms again the widely held view that legal practice in Nigeria is one almighty joke.

    “We are challenging Prof. Osinbajo to show the whole world how, where and when IPOB committed this offence he alluded to since the inception of the current phase of the agitation.

    “Nigeria must understand how ready we are to go to prison. They should build more illegal detention facilities because we cannot stop agitating for our right to self-determination until the Nigerian government accepts the need for a date for referendum on the question of Biafra.

    “Professor Yemi Osibanjo should have consulted superior legal minds to advise him before coming on air to make such misleading comments. The Nigerian Constitution and its provisions cannot supersede international charters and treaties freely entered into by the Nigerian state where such treaties appear to render null and void the obnoxious provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

    “United Nations charter on the rights of indigenous people and African charter which was ratified and signed by Nigeria is still in place till today and overrides the Nigerian Constitution on the rights of the indigenous people to the self-determination.

    “We are warning the vocal few rented saboteurs and uneducated public commentators in Nigeria to stop the perverse insinuation that Biafra agitation is all about war. IPOB is not asking for war, rather what we are asking for is self-determination and the only way to achieve that is through the internationally recognised instrument of referendum or plebiscite.”

  • We all agree our nation should remain one – Osinbajo

    We all agree our nation should remain one – Osinbajo

    Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo gives an overall view, so far, of his ongoing consultations over ethnic agitations and exchanges between groups in the North and South-East at Iftar dinner he hosted earlier tonight at the Presidential Villa with Northern Traditional Rulers.

    The way that we see things developing around our nation today (obviously as you said, even within families, you have disputes, you have controversies) is worrisome.

    All of us have however agreed that our nation must remain one. When we spoke yesterday with traditional rulers from the South-East; despite the issues that were raised here and there.

    I think that there is clarity as to that one thing, that our country ought to remain, must remain a united country.

    FULL REMARKS BY THE ACTING PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON AT IFTAR WITH TRADITIONAL RULERS FROM THE NORTH AT THE OLD STATE HOUSE BANQUET HALL, ABUJA ON JUNE 19, 2017.

    PROTOCOL Let me first say how honoured I am by the visit of all of your royal highnesses today for this Iftar. And just as you-(Sultan of Sokoto) said, it involved a bit of movement back and forth; the Sultan just arrived this morning from a trip abroad and he is still able to make it here.

    So, I am really grateful for your consenting to come to join us at this Iftar but also to wait till tomorrow despite the plans that you may have made. Our nation requires the kind of maturity, the kind of leadership that you have displayed and I want to thank you for that leadership and for that maturity.

    It is heartwarming to know that we have leaders especially traditional leaders, who are prepared to make sacrifices, who are prepared to make concessions and compromises for the good of our nation and I want to thank you for that great leadership. In particular, I want to thank the Sultan for always being there, for always being ready to offer advice and in many times to offer an alternative view to what might appear to be the popular view and I am extremely grateful to you for all of that support.

    The way that we see things developing around our nation today (obviously as you said, even within families, you have disputes, you have controversies) is worrisome. All of us have however agreed that our nation must remain one. When we spoke yesterday with traditional rulers from the South-East; despite the issues that were raised here and there. I think that there is clarity as to that one thing, that our country ought to remain, must remain a united country.

    Just as I said to them yesterday, a lot of blood has been shed on account of the unity of our country and our faithfulness even to the lives of those who have made the supreme sacrifice to this country, demands that we do everything on our part to keep this country together.

    And in any event, the greatest nations in the world are those nations who have the size as well as the human resources in particular to make the best of that size, and I think our nation has that and the mere fact that we have such a large nation and so well-endowed, in terms of human resources. I think that we are in the best position not only to be truly great but to ensure that all of our people benefit from the greatness of our country.

    So, I want to thank you again for your kindness and for doing us this honour of attending this Iftar and for sharing the love of the season. I pray that the almighty God will bless you and keep your kingdoms safe and also extend your own lives so that you will rule your kingdoms for long and you will rule your kingdoms in good health. Thank you.

  • 2017 Budget: Osinbajo played into the hands of NASS – Jibrin

    Suspended member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, took a risk by signing the 2017 Budget.

    In a statement released on Monday, Jibrin described Osinbajo’s action as the “most generous concession in budget negotiation by a president since 1999”.

    The lawmaker recalled that last year, President Muhammadu Buhari refused to sign the document, until all “grey areas” were resolved and corrections effected by the House.

    “He (Osinbajo) further stated that he agreed to sign the budget after the assurance of commitment from NASS to restore the lifted funds. That demonstration of faith in NASS was unprecedented, and the most generous concession in budget negotiation by a President since 1999,” the statement read.

    “No President has ever agreed to sign the budget into law on the basis of extracting a commitment from NASS. In this case of Ag President Osinbajo, perhaps beyond the respect he enjoins, he must strive to also be feared, through resistance to compromising settlements in his relationship with NASS.

    “The reason isn’t far-fetched; all attempts to flatter and hoodwink President Buhari into signing the 2016 budget, by assuring to make corrections later, met an impenetrable brick wall. He saw through the smokescreen, and thus even refused to be blackmailed by threats of possible backlash from NASS if the budget is not signed before corrections are made and also the need to save time.

    “No President was ready to take the risk with NASS but Osinbajo did, as it appeared like striking a deal with an untrustworthy partner. Whether this seeming pact is calculated or not, is left for time and the scrutiny of vigilant and critical Nigerians to determine. What is obvious, however, is the Ag President has played into the hands of NASS.

    “What the Ag President has given to NASS is a victory it has never had in the budget process since 1999, understandably to strengthen the relationship between the two frequently hostile arms of government. And so, he deserves a reciprocal gesture and unmistakable friendship from the lawmakers, not attacks and threats.”

     

  • Where the Acting President goofed (Part 1) – By Sam Akpe

    Where the Acting President goofed (Part 1) – By Sam Akpe

    By Sam Akpe
    A fight between the National Assembly and the Executive has always been of interest to me. This is partly because I covered the National and the Villa for a few years; and partly because such a fight usually brings to the understanding of the public what the relationship between the two arms of government should be; by the dictates of the constitution.
    The current face-off between the House of Representatives and the Executive over the passage of the Appropriation Act is quite interesting and requires a little, harmless analysis.
    It is unbelievable that the distinguished professor of law, the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State and now the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo, could have said that the National Assembly has no constitutional right to alter any bill sent to it for passage into law. He has been quoted as making direct reference to the Appropriation Act which has just been signed into law.
    It is consoling to believe that the Acting President was misquoted. But let us assume that he was not; because no statement has come from his office to the contrary. If this assumption stands, then the response by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, must be taken seriously. The Speaker had on Thursday come short of saying that such a statement, credited to Osinbajo, was an attempt by the Executive to rewrite the constitution to suit itself.
    For purposes of clarity, let me quote a part of what Dogara said: “From the very pedestrian interpretation of the functions of the three arms of government, one makes laws, the other executes the laws, the other interprets the laws. So a declaration as to which of the arms has the powers and the rights, in as much as it is related to the interpretation of the law, is the function of the Judiciary and not the Executive.
    “I don’t want to believe that the Acting President made that statement; I don’t want to believe that, sincerely speaking. Because when it comes to the issue of the budget, I think we better say this thing and make it very clear so that our people will have a better understanding. When it comes to the budget, the power of the purse in a presidential system of government rests in the parliament.
    “The reason why (sic) the constitution designers made it that way is because the Executive is just one man; it is just the President. Every other person in the Executive is acting on behalf of the President. So the relationship between the President and every other person there is that of servant and the master. It is only in the parliament where we have representatives of the people that there is equality and you can say your mind on any issue; you can bring matters of priority the way you like. The only time you can be cautioned is when you go outside the rules of debate. But in the Executive, it is not the case.”
    In specific terms, the Speaker noted that “In the case of the budget, for instance, if it were the case that parliament disagrees with the Executive on the budget; the worst the Executive can do is to say that they will not sign; and after 30 days, if we can muster two-thirds, and it doesn’t have to be two thirds of the entire membership, once the quorum is formed, two third of the members sitting and voting, we can override the veto of the President and pass it into law.”
    Before we even get to this point of argument, it is imperative to remind the Acting President that there is a constitutional provision requiring that every bill must be presented to the National Assembly so that members can make laws out of them. Regarding the Appropriation Bill in particular, Section 81 is very clear on what should be done. Nothing in this section suggests that when the bill is laid before the lawmakers, they should just read it and return the document and its content to the Executive for implementation without any alteration.
    Even between individuals or colleagues, without the backing of the constitution, the mere fact that you have submitted your proposal to another person to read implies that he has a right to correct both factual and typographic errors. It is impossible to assume the Executive is perfect in all it does. That is why the constitution, which Osinbajo swore to uphold, makes it clear that the bill be laid before the lawmakers.
    The mere fact that the constitution demands that the bill be submitted to the National Assembly means that such a bill is subject to scrutiny by the lawmakers. By its very nature, the Legislature is the only arm of government that must seek the opinions of the people or the masses before taking any decision on issues of national importance; particularly in the all important area of lawmaking. Historically, the Appropriation Bill is the regarded as the most important bill to be passed by any Legislature because its implementation naturally affects every segment of the society.
    It is based on this that the bill must be subjected to public scrutiny and inputs from the public taken into consideration during its passage into law. The Executive lacks such freedom of consultation with the larger society. That explains why the lawmakers have to examine and where necessary alter the bill to appropriately reflect the feelings, demands and interest of the people. It must be understood that this is different from the so called padding of the budget.
    To be continued

  • Anti-corruption fight must start from churches, says Osinbajo

    The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Sunday said for corruption to be completely eradicated in the country, the fight against the menace must start from churches.

    He said it was only when church leaders resolve to ostracise and expose corrupt members of their congregation that the problem could be solved.

    Osinbajo spoke at a special service organised to mark this year’s Father’s Day at the Aso Villa Chapel located inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Acting President, who himself is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, said church leaders must begin to talk more on honesty, unlike the current situation that more emphasis is placed on giving.

    “Every time that we come to church, we are told about giving. But we need to talk more about honesty. We need to talk far more about honesty.

    In the same way we talk about giving, we need to talk more about honesty,” he declared.

    Osinbajo said church leaders must be ready to confront their members who are living above their means.

    He said once the church took its rightful place and decided to expose treasury looters, the nation’s problems would be solved.

    Osinbajo said, “If the church says you are not allowed to steal and we will ostracise you in our midst if you did -if what a man has does not measure up to what he earns; if we found that a man has more money than he should have, if a man is earning a salary of a civil servant or a public servant and he has houses everywhere, we have to hold him to account.

    “He must be held to account in the church. He must be told first in the church that ‘we will not allow you here.’

    “If the church says ‘we will not accept you here’ or that ‘we will expose you if you are stealing the resources of the country or stealing the resources of a private company or other establishment where you work,’ then we would not have the type of problem that we have in this country. If only the church does so. Just the church.”

  • Boko Haram: Osinbajo reaffirms commitment to transparent aid distribution in North East

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has assured that the Federal Government remained determined to deliver humanitarian aid to victims of insurgency in the North East through a transparent and effective process.

    He gave the assurance when he received a situation report on the distribution of humanitarian aids to the victims of insurgency from the implementation team of the Special Relief Intervention programme.

    A statement by the Acting President’s Spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, on Saturday noted that the team had been involved in the distribution of the aid since June June 8, when the programme was inaugurated in Maiduguri, Borno.

    Osinbajo hailed the new delivery system for humanitarian aid in the region as “a unique operation that promises to deliver on a well laid out plan”.

    The Acting President noted that there was considerable progress in the implementation of the Special Relief Intervention, having captured no fewer than 12,691 households in Borno since the exercise began.

    He gave the assurance that the process would remain transparent and the objectives fully actualised.

    The Acting President added that besides the emergency food distribution, “government will deliver on a holistic plan that includes empowerment’’.

    According to him, empowerment is an important feature of the relief intervention.

    The Acting President said the humanitarian aid was huge in relation to available resources.

    Osinbajo solicited the support of the National Assembly, especially from members representing the region, to enable government to realise its objective of maintaining an effective humanitarian service delivery.

    According to him, “we must support this team because a lot of attention is focused on us, especially from the international community.”

    “We need to be responsible and do this efficiently, and monitor performance on a regular basis.

    “It is a good opportunity to prove that we can handle these efforts very well,’’ Osinbajo added.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the humanitarian programme is to deliver food to persons displaced by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East.

    The initiative, which was part of a broad plan to address food shortage in the camps and other settlements of displaced persons, was also to curb alleged diversion of food meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    According to the update presented by the implementation team, the issue of diversion of relief materials has been removed.

    About 1,000 trucks are being used to deliver the assorted grains to beneficiaries.

    Also 656 armed police personnel are involved in the movement of the grains from various reserves across the country to designated NEMA warehouses in the North-East for distribution to beneficiaries.

    Another 1,376 military personnel were deployed to escort the grains to some IDPs in the hinterlands across Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.

    The acting president received the brief from the team overseeing the Special Relief Intervention at the Presidential Villa in the company of National Assembly members from the North East.

    Some of the lawmakers called for the integration of empowerment and provision of agricultural inputs as part of aid provided to the IDPs.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • We’ll realign our operations with Osinbajo’s Executive Order – FRSC

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) ha said it will reorganise its operations for better transparency and efficiency in line with the recently signed Presidential Executive Orders.

    Its Corps Marshal, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, said this at a strategic session with Zonal Commanding Officers of the FRSC at its headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had on Thursday, May 18 signed three far-reaching executive orders expected to ease business, fast-track budget submission and promote made in Nigeria products.

    Oyeyemi said the FRSC had a critical role to play in the implementation of the Orders given its status as the country’s lead agency in road traffic administration and safety management.

    He said; “the Executive Order has made it imperative that FRSC aligns its operations for effective and efficient service delivery through re-orientation of all segments of the corps.

    “Accordingly, this session will be devoted to identification of areas requiring alignment to the Executive Order in the nation’s continuous search for excellence in all fields of endeavours.

    “We must strive to ensure that our processes and procedures are continually built in oerder to maintain a deserved leadership role in Road safety in Africa.

    “There is no area in which suitable development is more important than this Executive Order in terms of human welfare that is transportation.’’

    Oyeyemi said the goal of the FRSC under the Order was to ensure free and safe movement of goods and services, including farm produce to their destinations.

    He added that the Corps would display its services, including the process of obtaining and renewing driver’s licence at its formations nationwide in line with the Executive Order 001.

    The Special Guest of Honour and Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr Okechukwu Enelamah, urged officers and men of the Corps to take the Executive Orders seriously.

    Enelamah, represented by the Director of Inspectorate in his ministry, Mr Battah Ndirpaya, took the FRSC officials through the contents of the Executive Orders, whose implementation had begun,

    “The first requirement under transparency is that all MDAs shall publish a complete list of all fees, timelines, conditions and requirements for obtaining permits, licenses and approvals.

    “The head of MDA must ensure that the list is verified and kept up to date at all times. If there is conflict between a published list and an unpublished list, the published list shall prevail.

    “So, you cannot hide anything any longer. All information must be given to the public and the public must know,’’ he said.

    The minister said that Order 001 required all MDAs to set timelines for approval or rejection of applications from members of the public.

    Enelamah explained that an applicant not approved or rejected by an agency or official within the agency’s specified timeline shall be assumed to have been approved.

    “The applicant whose application is deemed granted may apply to the minister in charge to issue a document or certificate as evidence of the grant within 14 days of the lapse of the dateline.

    “What happens here is if they come here for their driver’s licence after the expiration of the date set by you, and they did not get it, they will go to the Secretary to the Government of Federation to demand for the licence.

    “How does that portray the Corps Marshal Failure? When you are putting your timelines, you must be sure you will be able to meet it.

    “If not the tendency is that you will shoot yourself in the foot and the whole agency blacklisted.’’

    He also warned that failure by desk officers to act on application within stipulated time without lawful excuse would amount to misconduct and disciplinary actions would be taken.

     

    (NAN)

  • IPOB frowns at Osinbajo over meeting without Kanu

    IPOB frowns at Osinbajo over meeting without Kanu

    Indigenous People of Biafra on Thursday berated the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for holding a South-East peace and conflict resolution meeting without involving its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

    In a statement in Awka, Anambra State, by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, on yesterday, IPOB said those who attended the meeting had no major stake in the conflict intended to be resolved.

    Osinbajo had on Wednesday held a meeting with leaders of thought from the South-East at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he warned those who had been engaging in hate speeches across ethnic lines in all parts of the country to always take into consideration that wars sometimes start with words and not necessarily with bullets.

    IPOB, in the statement, faulted Osinbajo’s meeting and described it as of no effect.

    It said “This meeting, we understood, was convened at the instigation of the Nigerian acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, following the political fallout from the hugely successful IPOB sit-at-home order of 30th of May, 2017.

    “From time, we firmly resolved that nobody among the governors or politicians can set an agenda for IPOB except our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

    “Therefore, any meeting without the consent of our leader or those nominated by him in a representative capacity, is a complete waste and is unacceptable to IPOB.

    “With one or two exceptions and with the greatest respect to the attendees at this Nigeria-sponsored gathering in Abuja, the so-called South-East delegation is in no way representative of the views of the leadership of IPOB worldwide, neither can they claim with any degree of sincerity to be speaking for the masses.

    “Therefore, all that Professor Osinbajo has succeeded in achieving with this meeting is to waste scarce resources that could have been channelled towards more useful purposes.

    “None of those that attended this meeting with Osinbajo gave the order for people to sit at home on May 30th. So, we are at a loss to understand the justification for their invitation to the meeting to discuss something they knew nothing about.”