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Tag: Osinbajo

  • 2017 Budget controversy: Buhari’s aide, Enang, retracts statement, says ‘Osinbajo can sign’

    2017 Budget controversy: Buhari’s aide, Enang, retracts statement, says ‘Osinbajo can sign’

    The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, (Senate) Ita Enang, has said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo “is now the president here” and will duly assent the 2017 budget.

    Enang stated this while speaking to State House correspondents, after the 2017 Budget was delivered to Osinbajo on Friday.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that his remarks were to clarify his initial statement that “Mr President will assent the budget”.

    “The budget as passed by the National Assembly has just been transmitted to the Acting President. I just delivered it,” Enang said.

    “Let me use this opportunity to clarify an issue. The Acting President has the power to assent to the budget and he will assent to it when the processes are completed.

    “The Acting President has the power to assent to the budget. In February, he assented to 7 or 8 bills. Those that he didn’t agree with, he wrote the Senate and House of Representatives that he had withheld his assent from them.

    “He has the power of the president to assent to it. But the assent to the Appropriation Bill will be after the completion of the standard operation process.

    “The bill has 30 days within which it will be assented to but the process can be completed within two or three days. So, it is not possible to say it will be assented to in so, so and so day or in two or three days.

    “It’s upon the completion of the process that it will be assented to by the president and the president here now is the acting president.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Enang had in an interview on Wednesday said President Muhammadu Buhari and not Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo will sign the 2017 Budget.

  • BREAKING: Acting President, Osinbajo receives 2017 Budget from NASS

    The Presidency on Friday confirmed the reception of the 2017 Budget from the National Assembly leadership.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President, Mr. Laolu Akande, confirmed this on his Twitter handle, @Akandeoj.

    He said the document was formally received in the office of the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday.

    Akande added that the bill is currently undergoing diligent consideration by the Executive arm of government.

    “2017 Budget -Appropriations bill now officially received in the Acting President’s office and undergoing very prompt and diligent consideration,” he wrote.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had on Wednesday told reporters that upon receipt of the document, copies would be made available to ministers to compare what their ministries sent to the National Assembly and what was returned.

    He had told the reporters that a decision on who would sign the document between Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently in London, the United Kingdom for medical consultation would be taken at the appropriate time.

    But Akande had stated that Osinbajo will sign the document once he is satisfied with what was transmitted back to the Executive from the National Assembly.

    However, in another twist, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang​ said the President and not the Acting President will assent the budget despite being on medical vacation.

  • Osinbajo signs 3 executive orders to ease business

    Osinbajo signs 3 executive orders to ease business

    The Acting President on Thursday signed three executive orders to open up the choked business environment in the country.

    The signing was the climax of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) meeting at the Conference Hall of the Presidential Villa meant to engage government officials who would be implementing the orders and the new instructions.

    The orders are to ease business, fast track budget submission and promote Made-in-Nigeria products.

    The orders would promote transparency and efficiency in the business environment, support local contents in public procurement by the Federal Government, and ensure timely submission of annual budgetary estimates by statutory and non-statutory agencies

    The executive orders also stipulate sanctions and punitive measures meant to address violations.

    On the promotion of transparency and efficiency in the business environment every Ministry, Department and Agency (MDA) should publish a complete list of all requirements or conditions for obtaining products and services.

    The mandate includes permits, licenses, waivers, tax related processes, filings and approvals which include all fees and timelines required for the processing of applications for the products and services.

    The MDAs are required to henceforth conspicuously paste such on their premises and publish same on their website within 21 days from the date of issuance of the order.

    It shall be the responsibility of the head of the relevant MDA to ensure that the list is verified and kept up-to-date at all times.

    The order stated that where the relevant agency or official failed to communicate approval or rejection of an application within the time stipulated in the published list it shall be deemed to have got default approval.

    As a result, all applications for business registrations, certification, waivers, licenses or permits not concluded within the stipulated timeline shall be deemed approved and granted.

    However, where applications are rejected within the stipulated timeline, all rejections shall be given with reasons clearly stated.

    Rejections of applications shall be tracked and accurate records kept at all times for each MDA and shall be submitted to the head of the MDA on a weekly basis.

    Failure of the appropriate officer to act on any application within the timeline stipulated, without lawful excuse, shall amount to misconduct.

    Such act would be subject to appropriate disciplinary proceedings in accordance with the law and regulations applicable to the civil or public service.

    On the One-Government-Directive an MDA that requires input documentation, requirements or conditions from another MDA shall only request for photocopy of the original document.

    Also Service Level Agreements shall be binding on MDAs and shall be relied upon by MDAs in the issuance of published stipulated timelines for processing of applications for the products and services.

    On the Entry Experience of Visitors ordinary tourist and business entry visas to Nigeria shall henceforth be issued or rejected with reason by the Consular Office of Nigerian Embassies and High Commissions within 48 hours of receipt of valid application.

    The timeline shall be notified to the public by pasting a notice conspicuously at every Consular Office and by publication on every website of Nigerian Embassies and High Commissions.

    In that regard, a comprehensive and up to date list of requirements, conditions and procedures for obtaining visa on arrival, including estimated timeframe, shall be published on all immigration-related websites in Nigeria, abroad and all ports of entry into Nigeria.

    The order directs that there shall be no touting whatsoever by official or unofficial persons at any port in Nigeria while on-duty staff shall be properly identified by uniform and official cards.

    Similarly, non-official staff shall be removed from the secured areas of airports while officials of FAAN, Immigration, security agency or Ministry of Foreign Affairs or any other agency are barred from meeting any non-designated dignitary at any secure areas of the airport.

    The order stipulated that any official caught soliciting or receiving bribes from passengers or other port users shall be subject to immediate removal from post and disciplinary action as well as prosecution.

    The order requires that each port in Nigeria shall assign an existing export terminal to be dedicated to the exportation of agriculture produce within 30 days of the issuance of the order while the Apapa Port shall resume 24-hour operations also within same 30 days.

    With respect to registration of businesses, the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) shall within 14 days of the issuance of the order ensure that all registration processes at the CAC are fully automated.

    On support for local contents in public procurement by the Federal Government, all MDAs shall grant preference to local manufacturers of goods and service providers in their procurement of goods and services.

    Made-in-Nigeria products shall be given preference in the procurement of Uniforms and Footwear; Food and Beverages; Furniture and Fittings; Stationery; Motor Vehicles; Pharmaceuticals; Construction Materials; and Information and Communication Technology.

    In all items at least 40 per cent of the procurement expenditure shall be locally manufactured goods or local service providers.

    On budgets, all Agencies, whether or not listed in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, shall, on or before end of May every year, prepare and submit to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Budget and National Planning their schedule of revenue and expenditure estimates for the next three financial years.

    All Agencies shall, on or before the end of July every year, also, prepare and submit their annual budget estimates, which shall be derived from the estimates of revenue and expenditure as projected in their three-year schedule.

    A joint committee of the Ministries of Finance, and the Budget and National Planning shall review such estimates and ensure their conformity with the national plan and the financial and budgetary regulations before processing them for approval and early transmission to the National Assembly.

    The order stipulated that except with the consent of the President, no payment shall be made in respect of any capital or recurrent liability of an Agency other than payment of due salaries and allowances, unless the Agency has an approved budget and the payment conforms with the approval.

    Heads of Agencies and Chief Executive Officers of Government owned companies shall take personal responsibility and be subject to appropriate sanctions for any failure to comply with the executive order effective May 18.

  • Osinbajo orders consumption of Nigerian foods, drinks at state banquets

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said to grow the economy Nigerians must patronise locally made goods and services including the consumption of Nigerian foods and drinks at public and private functions.

    The acting President said this on Thursday at an interactive session with top government officials on the ease of doing business at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said government would work out incentives for performance by building reward system that punishes malfeasance and that preference must be given to indigenous providers of goods and services to strengthen the system.

    Osinbajo said, “I agree that a system of rewarding performance, and punishing malfeasance is key. We must work out incentive schemes even as we tighten up sanctions regimes.

    “We hit 70 percent quickly on the 60 days of ease or doing business target because of the cooperation of all the agencies like ministry of interior, immigrations, customs etc and that is why the remaining 30percent we will also achieve and deliver. I will hold myself accountable to it and I will also hold you accountable. “Usually, we blame the system. But the system is men and women not machines. So we can and must reform it. These proposed executive orders present a unique opportunity to perform. Ladies and gentlemen let us perform.

    “The President has laid out a cornerstone policy of this administration. We must grow what we eat and make what we use. The President again enunciated this principle in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. Buy Nigerian, Use Nigerian.

    “So we must now insist that at state banquets we eat and drink Nigerian.”

     

  • Confusion in Presidency: ‘Buhari not Osinbajo will sign 2017 budget’

    Sequel to Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s spokesperson, Laolu Akande statement that his principal will sign the 2017 budget when it is transmitted and satisfactory to him (Osinbajo), Senior Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on National Assembly matters, Senator Ita Enang​, has reacted saying that President Muhamma​​du Buhari, and not the Acting President will assent the budget despite being on medical vacation.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Laolu Akande had early stated via Twitter: “Just so we are clear: when the time comes, everything is set, & he is satisfied, Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo will assent to the 2017 Budget.”

    ​However, ​in an interview with Channels TV​ also on Wednesday, Enang stated that the budget would be transmitted to President Buhari who will sign it and then transfer it to acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.

    He ​also ​confirmed that the Presidency received the budget on Wednesday afternoon.

    “The 2017 budget will be transmitted to Mr president and the President will assent to the budget.

    ​”​The acting President is in office and when the budget is transmitted, it will go through the processes and all those other questions will answer itself,” he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had earlier said there is no decision yet on who will assent to the 2017 budget.

    He said this Wednesday afternoon while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

    Reacting to a question on whether the budget will be signed by Osinbajo or taken to Buhari in London, the minister said: “When it (the budget) is transmitted to the Presidency, that decision (on who to sign) will be taken‎.”

    Mohammed also stated that if there were any discrepancies in the budget presented and the one passed, the executive would report to Udoma for harmonization.

    Enang also said: “In respect on the budget, it was only this morning that the Minister of National Planning informed the council that the budget has been passed. He has not sent to us individually, copies of the passed budget.

    “We now need to look at it against what we sent, and if there is any discrepancies, we will report back to the Minister of Budget and National Planning on harmonization.”

    See video below:

  • We’ll play our parts to end crisis in Cote d’Ivoire, Osinbajo assures Ouattara

    We’ll play our parts to end crisis in Cote d’Ivoire, Osinbajo assures Ouattara

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday expressed readiness of the Federal Government to work with ECOWAS and West African leaders to work towards quick resolution of the crisis in Cote d’Ivoire.

    This was contained in a statement by spokesman to the Acting President, Laolu Akande, in Abuja.

    In the statement, the Federal Government decried recent developments in Cote d’Ivoire in which a small fraction of the country’s Armed Forces mutinied against the government.

    It stated that Osinbajo had been engaged in phone discussions with the Ivorien President and the President of Liberia, Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the current ECOWAS chairperson, seeking ways to peaceful resolution of the conflict.

    “”In a series of conversations with both Presidents since Monday, May 15, Prof. Osinbajo expressed Nigeria’s support for the government and people of Cote d’Ivoire’’, the statement announced.

    It added that Osinbajo also expressed the hope for the sustenance of peace, security and democracy in the country.

    “”Nigeria expresses strong and unflinching support for the Government of President Alassane Ouattara and welcomes ongoing efforts to resolving the crisis.

    “”The Federal Government urges the parties to the crisis to exercise maximum restraint, remain calm and continue with dialogue and negotiations with the government of President Ouattara.

    “”Nigeria also urges the mutineers to return to their barracks and to refrain from any action capable of undermining the peace, security and democracy in the country’’, the statement said.

    The Federal Government further urged the people of Cote d’Ivoire to remain steadfast in their support for the government.

    It urged the people to refrain from giving support to the mutineers in the overall interest of peace, tranquillity, good order and prosperity of the country.

     

     

     

     

  • I will sign 2017 budget when satisfied with content – Acting President, Osinbajo affirms

    The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has said he will assent the 2017 budget when the Senate transmits it to the Presidency and its content are satisfactory enough.

    This was revealed by the acting President’s spokesperson, Laolu Akande in apparent reaction to some newspaper reports quoting Minister of Information and Culture that the government was not sure of who to sign the budget.

    “It’s absolute rubbish,” said Mr. Mohammed, dismissing the report on Wednesday.

    The minister’s aide later distributed a statement, further denying the report.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a story in a section of the media quoting the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as saying ”we don’t know who will sign the 2017 budget”.

    “This quote is a malicious misrepresentation of what transpired at the post-Federal Executive Council Meeting press briefing on Wednesday, 17 May 2017.

    “When the minister was asked a question relating to the signing of the
    2017 budget, his response was: ”When it is transmitted to the Presidency, the issue will be addressed.”

    “Anything beyond that response amounts to deliberate mischief and should be ignored.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that there has been apprehension in the country over whom to sign the 2017 Appropriation Bill especially with the President’s recent medical trip to London.

    However, Osinbajo’s spokesperson, Akande, stressed that his principal would sign the budget into law in due course.

    “Just so we are clear: when the time comes, everything is set, and he is satisfied, Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo will assent to the 2017 Budget,” tweeted Akande.

    TheNewsGuru.com that the National Assembly had last week passed the budget, increasing the total sum by N143 billion compared to what was sent by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the lawmakers are, however, yet to transmit the budget to the presidency.

  • BREAKING: Another Chibok girl rescued – presidency

    BREAKING: Another Chibok girl rescued – presidency

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday confirmed that another Chibok schoolgirl had been found, barely 12 days after the release of the 82 abducted girls by their captors.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, who made this known to State House correspondents in Abuja, said the recovery of the girl was announced by the acting president during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.

    According to him, the affected girl has been brought to Abuja to join her colleagues who were rescued from captivity.

    “Yes, at the Federal Executive Council’s meeting, the Vice-President broke the cheering news to members of the cabinet and after that I have also spoken to defence people who confirmed it.

    “The details are yet to fully unravel . But in terms of is it true- yes, it is true. I learnt she is already being brought to Abuja, but I have not seen her

    The presidential aide expressed the hope that the remaining Chibok schoolgirls and other Nigerians in captivity would soon be rescued.

    He also dismissed the assertion that members of the Boko Haram sect had started regrouping in the Sambisa forest, saying that the Federal Government had the capacity to confront any security challenge arising from any part of the country.

    “One thing you can be sure of is that this government has the capacity to confront any security challenge that arises.

    “So, if they are regrouping they will be flushed out again.

    “I believe that we have seen the worst of that insurgency. We are in a mopping up process and I believe the mop up would be completed.’’

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 82 girls were recently released by their captors in exchange for five Boko Haram (commanders) suspects held by the federal government. Twenty one others were released in October last year and another three also regained their freedom, in separate circumstances.

    They were released to international negotiators who have been working in collaboration with the federal government for their safe return since they were kidnapped in April 2014.

  • Osinbajo yet to receive 2017 Budget from NASS – Presidency

    The Presidency on Wednesday said the 2017 Appropriation Bill passed into law week is yet to be transmitted to it by the National Assembly.

    This was revealed by the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    Mohammed however, said the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, was in possession of an “advanced copy” which ministers would use to check if there are discrepancies between what they sent to the National Assembly and what was returned.

    The minister spoke with State House correspondents after the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the National Assembly had earlier promised to transmit the budget to the presidency today (Wednesday).

    “It has not yet been transmitted but at least the Minister of Budget and National Planning‎ has received an advanced copy of what was passed and that is what we need to look at and compare to what we sent. It has not been transmitted officially to the Presidency,” the minister said.

    He said all ministers would be required to look at the document against what they sent to the federal lawmakers and report back to Udoma for harmonisation.

    “In respect of the budget, it was only this morning that the Minister of Budget and National Planning informed the council that the budget has been passed.

    “He has not sent to us individually, copies of the passed budget. We now need to look at it against what we sent and if there is any discrepancies we will report back to the Minister of Budget and National Planning on harmonisation.

    “The Ministry of Budget and National Planning‎ will make the implementation of the 2016 budget public. They have told us that about N1.2tn has been released for capital,” he added.

    When asked who will sign the budget between the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo and President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently in London, United Kingdom for medical consultation, the minister simply said, “when it is transmitted to the Presidency, that decision will be taken‎.”

    He also assured Nigerians that the two ministers recently confirmed by the National Assembly -Stephen Ocheni (Kogi) and Suleiman Hassan (Gombe) would be inaugurated in due course.

    He was not specific on when the inauguration will take place.

    On Ebola virus, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said the Federal Government had put in place a standby team of 10 health care workers that can be deployed wherever they are needed.

    “We already have a standby team comprising 10 frontline health ‎care workers that would be moving to any location they are needed. It is only then that we will require more money, but now, we don’t need additional money,” the minister said.

  • ‘Osinbajo cannot replace Buhari if PMB dies…’ Says northern elders

    ‘Osinbajo cannot replace Buhari if PMB dies…’ Says northern elders

    Chairman of Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi, has maintained that should President Muhammadu Buhari’s failing health prevents him from seeking re-election in 2019, the North must retain the presidency.

    Abdullahi stressed that the region must be allowed to field a presidential candidate through the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2019 should Buhari fail to seek re-election.

    The don said in the situation of any eventuality, the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo should be allowed to complete the current tenure but will not be allowed to contest in 2019.

    Speaking with New Telegraph, Abdullahi said, “The constitutional provision says that in the event that the president dies in office or becomes incapacitated for one reason or the other and cannot perform the duties of his office, he will be succeeded by the Vice president.

    “But no one is in a position to know at what point he is going to recover fully and come back to office, or whether the unexpected could happen.The northern elders insist that Osinbajo cannot replace Buhari in 2019

    “If the worst case scenario happens, and Buhari is not back on seat, the constitution is very clear that the vice president takes over.

    “And what we then expect is that he will take that tenure to its logical end and from there, the politics of power sharing will take precedence over anything else.

    “When the unexpected happens, in 2019 we will be back to our position that the north should be treated equitably and fairly.

    “And we expect that another northern candidate will emerge as presidential candidate on the platform of APC.”