OSINBAJO: PRESIDENT BUHARI AWARE OF FRUSTRATIONS BUSINESSES HAVE WITH GOVT AGENCIES & WANTS TO END THEM

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE VICE PRESIDENT, PROF YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON AT THE MEDIA LAUNCH OF MSME CLINICS AT THE STATE HOUSE BANQUET HALL, ABUJA ON TUESDAY JANUARY 24, 2017

Protocols

I am pleased to be here at this media launch of the MSME Clinics.

Sometime in July 2015 Mr. President spoke to me about the frustrations of anyone who has to do business with government agencies.

He gave the example of an NGO that wanted to install a cancer screening equipment donated by a friendly government several years ago, and it took 7years to finally install it. He said how does the economy function when government agencies are prepared to deliberately or unwittingly frustrate economic agents.

PRESIDENT BUHARI PROCEEDS ON VACATION

President Muhammadu Buhari leaves for the United Kingdom today on a short leave, which is part of his annua vacation. He is expected to resume work on February 6, 2017.

During the vacation, the President will also undergo routine medical check-ups.

In line with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the President of the Senate, and Speaker, House of Representatives, have been duly communicated.

While away, the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, will perform the functions of the Office of the President.

CLOSE TO $15B, MORE THAN HALF OF NIGERIA'S CURRENT FOREIGN RESERVES, WAS LOST TO FRAUDULENT SECURITY EQUIPMENT SPENDING - VP OSINBAJO

Nigeria lost about $15B to fraudulent and corrupt practices in the security equipment spending during the last administration, Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has disclosed, even as he spoke of hope that the implementation of the 2016 budget would commence soon.

"By the grace of God in the next few days we will begin the implementation of one of the most ambitious budgets in our history. Ambitious not just in its size but more in its broad range of fiscal and other socio-economic policies," according to the Vice President.

The Vice President spoke today at the book presentation of the Ibadan-based elite group, House of Lords, which just published an indepth analysis by different experts titled "Nigeria: The Challenges of Growth and Development, " at the University of Ibadan.