Magu Rejected Again by the Senate, seizes to be Acting Chairman of the EFCC Says the Senate

Nigerian Senate today again rejected Ibrahim Magu as the substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The Acting EFCC Chairman was rejected by a majority of the Senate membership after over an hour of grueling screening at the National Assembly in Abuja.

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki said with the rejection of Magu, he seizes to be Acting Chairman of the EFCC.

Obasanjo: Beacon of National Unity, Says Saraki

*Congratulates Ex-President At 80

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Saturday congratulated former President Olusegun Obasanjo on attaining the age of 80 and described him as a "beacon of national unity, peace and progress."

Saraki in a tribute to mark Obasanjo's 80th birthday anniversary on Sunday, March 5, 2017, said he is delighted, on behalf of the 8th Senate, to join family, friends and numerous well wishers of Chief Obasanjo, in celebrating his entry into the elite club of octogenarians.

CCT trial : WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN SARAKI ASSET TRIAL, CCB AGENT TELLS COURT

The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has said that it had no case of false assets declaration against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki until the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed the criminal charge against the former Governor Kwara State in 2015.

The bureau which has the legal responsibility of vetting assets forms submitted to it by public office holders held that there was no petition or complaint of false asset declaration against the Senate President hence his assets forms were not subjected to probe by the CCB.

KWARA@50: Kwara for SALE or SOLD?

#WhosoldKWARA?

KWARA STATE FOR SALE. It is very worrisome to hear that the proposed dubious LIGHT UP KWARA PROJECT CONTRACT .

IT IS REALLY A PITY. The said contract is worth 6 billion and payable to the contractor in ten years time. However, I believe the term of agreement of ten years is just to appease to those who might think that it is a good deal.

Haba, the so called leader of those who can't reason beyond their noses. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Where on earth are you taking all these money to. Haba! Haba! Haba!. If your target is the Presidency come 2019, then u have so many issues to contend with and the heads of millions of Kwarans that you have cheated will religiously work against u insha Allah.

National Assembly Leaders, Saraki, Dogara off to London to see Buhari

A Profile Picture of
President Buhari and  National
Assembly Leaders, Saraki, Dogara, 

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara have reportedly travelled to London to see President Muhammadu Buhari. A very reliable source confirmed that the two principal officers of the National Assembly travelled on Wednesday to meet with Buhari who is on extended vacation for medical reasons.

After the initial ten-day vacation President Buhari earlier requested for which was to end on February 6, he wrote the Senate on the eve of resumption that he will be staying back in London to complete some required tests.

OFFICIAL: PRESIDENT BUHARI EXTENDS VACATION, WRITES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the National Assembly today, February 5, 2017, informing of his desire to extend his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors.

The President had planned to return to Abuja this evening, but was advised to complete the test cycle before returning. The notice has since been dispatched to the Senate President, and Speaker, House of Representatives.

Armed Forces Remembrance Day: We Appreciate Contributions of Armed Forces to Nation Building, Says Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has commended officers and men of the nation's armed forces for their tremendous contributions to the survival and development of the country. Speaking today (Friday) at the National Mosque, Abuja, where he represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the Jummah service held to commemorate the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Saraki said the nation and her leaders will continue to appreciate the military and provide for the welfare of its members.

"Apart from the fact that the military symbolises the unity, strength, relevance and sovereignty of Nigeria, the men of the armed forces have helped to keep the country safe and help to ensure that our various diversities are sources of strength rather than division.

Saraki Calls For Collective Efforts To Grow Economy in New Year

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has congratulated Nigerians for witnessing the New Year in spite of the hard times and called for collective efforts to end the current recession and grow the economy.
Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the nation's challenges are surmountable "but we need to approach them with unity of purpose, focus and single-mindedness."

Saraki Promises to Intervene in Aviation Sector Facility Crisis

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Saturday pledged to intervene in the nation's aviation sector, which has suffered major setbacks, with the purported non-calibration of all 30 Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and VHF Omnidirectional Ranges (VHFs) that are operational in the country.

In his response to a social media user, Adamu Taiwo Haruna, who tweeted at the Senate President’s @BukolaSaraki handle saying “SP @bukolasaraki all 30 Instrument Landing Systems & VORs in Nigeria are all out of calibration. This is a serious safety issue Sir,” Saraki responded that he would personally take up the issues with the aviation minister, SenayorHadi Sirika and heads of other agencies concerned.

PHOTO NEWS: Aisha Buhari Celebrates Christmas with Patients in Lagos State

Yesterday (25TH, DEC. 2017) Wife of the President, Aisha Muhammadu Buhari celebrated Christmas with patients at Massey children’s Hospital Lagos and Island Maternity Lagos.

Mrs. Aisha Buhari was represented by the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki.

SP Saraki On 2017 Draft Appropriation Bill Presentation By President Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari presented the 2017 Draft Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly. Please find below the speech of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki!

Saraki and President Buhari

Protocol:

1. It is my pleasure on behalf of my Distinguished and Honourable colleagues to warmly welcome you Mr. President and your entourage to this joint session of the National Assembly.

2. Mr. President, while we may have struggled with key aspects of our budget process in the past, I am happy to note that we have made some important progress.

To start with, we are seeing the budget presentation coming slightly earlier this year. Though, we hope tosee an even greater improvement on this in the coming year. But more importantly however, is that so far this year’s budget process has benefitted from greater cooperation and consultations between the National Assembly and the Executive.

Armed Forces Remembrance Day: Senate Donates N12m To Ex-Servicemen

The Senate today donated N12 million to the Nigerian Legion towards the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations.

Announcing the donation while being decorated with the remembrance emblem, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said the gesture was to appreciate the sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces in providing and maintaining peace and security in the country.

Apart from the N12 million, Saraki, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Mohammed Isa, said each Senator will make an individual donation to the Legion, since nothing is too much towards supporting the nation's retirees and keeping the memory of fallen heroesalive.

SP Saraki Seeks Media Partnership to End Economic Recession

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Wednesday urged the media to collaborate with the upper chamber in its efforts aimed at pulling the nation's economy out of recession.

Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, in Abuja, while presenting a keynote address at the 2016 Awards/Dinner for Senators and Journalists covering the Senate, organized by the Senate Press Corps.

While commending the awardees and organizers of the event, he urged the media to always ensure truth and objectivity in their reportage of events so as to adequately inform and educate the people about the activities of the parliament.

The Senate President stated that the 8th Senate has put adequate processes in place not only to ensure that the 2017 budget is passed in record time but to see a product and quality that Nigerians can be proud of.

Saraki Celebrates Dream Team VI, Urges for Honest Reappraisal

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Saturday celebrated with Nigeria's Dream Team VI for winning the bronze medal in the men's football event at the Rio Olympics and called on Sports authorities in the country to embark on honest reappraisal.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, also congratulated Nigeria for the feat achieved by the team.


He extolled the doggedness of the Coach Samson Siasia-led boys and their ability to bounce back from defeat to claim a bronze medal for the country.

Saraki Lauds Yusuf Alli's Appointment As UNIOSUN Pro-Chancellor

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, applauded the appointment of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Alli, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, stated that he was particularly pleased to identify with the legal Icon on the recognition and achievement in view of his exemplary lifestyle and professional pedigree.

He said: "Your recent appointment as the chairman of the Governing Council of a citadel of learning like UNIOSUN did not come to those of us that have keenly followed your pursuit of excellence in both your personal and professional life.

"Your commitment and doggedness in fighting to ensure that injustice has no place in our national life requires no emphasis. Besides, your choice demonstrates that like the proverbial golden fish, your character, positive disposition and good conduct are visible to all.

"The many landmark cases you have successfully handled, your numerous philanthropic gestures towards ameliorating the plight of the downtrodden in society and your contributions to the development of academic knowledge make your appointment both valuable and commendable.

"I am convinced that your chairmanship of the UNIOSUN Council would not only mark a watershed in the success story of the institution, it will turn around the academic, administrative and financial fortunes of the school for better. I expect nothing but the best from you in this new assignment. Congratulations," Saraki stated.

SP Saraki Tasks ECOWAS Parliament On Regional Integration, Security

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament to work towards deeper integration and effective security for persons in the sub-region.

Saraki who made the call when the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Mustapha Cisselo, led other management staff of the parliament on a courtesy call on him in Abuja
also commended the leadership qualities exhibited by Cisselo since his election and urged him to do more in promoting the aims and objectives of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Saraki said: "As I said in my speech at your inauguration, we must continue to ensure the economic integration of the West African sub-region. We must ensure that we do our best to enhance the powers of the ECOWAS parliament so that it becomes effective and not just a place for talk-shop. We must also play our role in seeing that terrorism which is one of the greatest threat to our people gets the necessary collective approach to solve the problem and danger in our region.

Presidency Seeks Confirmation of Magu as EFCC Boss

PRESIDENCY SENDS LETTER SEEKING MAGU'S CONFIRMATION AS EFCC BOSS. 

News from the National Assembly has it that the presidency has sent a letter to the Senate seeking screening of Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of EFCC. 

The letter requesting Magu's confirmation was read by Senate President, Bukola Saraki at plenary today, July 14, 2016.‪#‎Ibrahimmagu‬. ‪#‎EFCC‬

JUST IN: Senate in closed-door session over the bid by FG to file fresh charges against its principal officers, others for forgery

Set to Amend standing Order of the Senate 2015!

Senate Summons AGF

The Nigerian Senate is currently in a closed-door session over recent events & bid by FG to file fresh charges against its principal officers and others for forgery.

The FG has failed to arraign the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekwerenmadu, before an Abuja High Court on charges of forgery of the Senate Standing Rules used to conduct the election that brought them into office, as principal officers.

PRESIDENT BUHARI WILL LEAVE NIGERIA CLEANER AND SANER--FEMI ADESINA

Shortly before the one year anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, spoke to PREMIUM TIMES’ Festus Owete and Sani Tukur, on the achievements of the administration, how the president spends his time outside official hours, his family life, and capacity to govern Nigeria.

Read the interview below:

PT: One year after, how has the journey been?

Adesina: So far so good, I will say. Because, if you recall how our country was this time last year and compare it with how it is today, you will see that there is a big difference, particularly in the area of security, in the area of the anti-corruption war, you can say that this government has done very well. The third one is the economy. That one is still tricky and it is work in progress. Then you take it one by one because there are three key promises APC made while campaigning. The president believes that you cannot administer a country you have not secured. And that is why he has gone all out to try and secure the country. You recall that by this time last year you weren’t quite sure where Nigeria was headed. Boko Haram was not just in the north east, it was in the north west, it was in north central and it could go down south anytime. That was the fear in the country. After some time the military pushed them back, got them circumscribed within the north east and as we speak they are even in the narrower area which is the Sambisa Forest. You can say other battlefronts have been opened in Niger Delta, herdsmen, kidnapping. Those are issues but one thing that is not in doubt is that this government has the capacity to deal with all the issues. I am not saying they are all going to be by armed conflict or by force of arms. Where they need to dialogue, they dialogue and where they need to negotiate, they negotiate. But this government does not lack the capacity to secure this country. So that gives us a lot of hope. Security wise, the government has done very well. On anti-corruption, of course we know what has been uncovered in this country. I remember in the UK about two weeks ago, one foreign media asked the president – did you know it was this bad? He confessed that he knew it was bad but he didn’t know it was that bad. It has turned out very, very bad. But it is also something that the government is tackling and the president is determined to leave a saner and cleaner Nigeria in terms of accountability and probity by the way he is going. No matter what anybody says about this corruption war, no friend no foe, no retreat, no surrender. Anybody, irrespective of who he is, if he has questions to answer on corruption, he will have to answer. I hear people say that it is selective. They need to prove. He who alleges must also prove. The anti-corruption war is going on and going on very well and it has earned Nigeria a lot of respect in the international community. The third promise he made was to revive the economy. Like I said earlier, that one is still key and touchy but it will be done because when the economy collapses as Nigeria’s did, it is not something you bring back by a snap of the fingers. It takes a lot of re-tooling and re-engineering to bring it back. It is work in progress and we will get there. No doubt, jobs will come from agriculture and solid minerals and other policies will stimulate the economy. It is a N6 trillion budget for instance for the first time. If it is properly implemented, and there is no reason why it will not be properly implemented, it will stimulate the economy. There will be more spending money at the disposal of Nigerians. So, I will say so far so good, the government is on course. I have used this illustration before, and I will use it again. Nigeria is like a plane that has taken off and is gaining altitude, with its nose in the air. As long as its nose is in the air, it is climbing. If the nose is down it is a danger signal.

Farmers, Herdsmen Conflict: Senate to Find Solutions, Says Saraki

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has appealed to herdsmen and farmers across the country to maintain peace as the National Assembly is ready to proffer lasting solution to the perennial clashes over grazing by cattle.

Speaking yesterday when a group of herdsmen from Kautal Hore Socio-Cultural Association Jigawa state branch visited him, the Senate President who described the perennial clashes between the farmers and herdsmen as unfortunate, also appealed to the herdsmen to maintain peace at all times.