On President Buhari: We Watch, We Wait!

Without a shred of doubt, President Buhari is VERY ILL. We are humans and our body is programmed to deteriorate and decay. Here is a 74 year old man, who has a lingering health issue. Unfortunately, his incompetent and arrogant media team feeds the frenzy. I read Femi Adesina's puerile statement on the extention notice and I could only exhale.

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.

President Buhari writes NASS, Notify lawmakers of his resumption to duties after a ten-day vacation

The Nigerian President, Mr. Muhammadu Buhari has written a letter to National Assembly informing the lawmakers of his resumption of duties on June 20, 2016 after a ten-day medical vacation to the United Kingdom.

President Buhari who formally resume work yesterday Monday, a day after he returned from London where he travelled to for vacation and ear evaluation, says it is good to be back at work.

Directives on the Economy: Buhari Orders Full Exploration of Solid Minerals in the Country,

At a time oil volatility seems to be hampering the ‎full implementation of the 2016 budget, President Muhammadu Buhari, has demanded for a full exploration of solid minerals in the country, in order to enhance revenue.

The President who made this known through the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, said the Federal Government is committed to tapping iron ore in the country.

Presently, Nigeria is the 12th largest iron ore resource country in the world, and second largest in Africa.

Nigeria has about 2 billion metric tonnes of iron ore reserves.

AT LAST: Buhari Signs 2016 Appropriation Bill into Law

After weeks of controversies, President Muhammadu Buhari has finally signed the 2016 budget.


The signing of the budget was witnessed by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker, House Of Reps, Yakubu Dogara, Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun, Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Budget ,Udo Udoma and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Danjuma Goje and his counterpart in the House Of Reps, Abdulmumuni Jibrin.

President Buhari assented to the Appropriation Bill after the National Assembly submitted a clean copy to him. The president earlier withheld after discovering some “grey areas” in the Appropriation Bill.

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.

WE ARE NOW IN THE ERA OF GETTING THINGS DONE – VP OSINBAJO

Nigerians have never lacked ideas, but the time has come for the nation to transform brilliant ideas into reality by diligently following-up on plans and coming together to achieve objectives.


This view was expressed today by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, while receiving at the Presidential Villa, a delegation of Nigerian CEOs who attended the Indian Manufacturing Conclave - an industrial conference- last month in New Delhi.

"Almost all of us are certain about what the country needs to do but the critical problem is the capacity to get things done. What is important is what we do with all the ideas,” according to the Vice President.

Aregbesola, Others Get Relief As President Buhari Suspends Deductions

Osun and Edo States Governors

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun had during her reports to the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting said President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the suspension of monthly deduction at source for this month, and no such deductions would be made this month from the FAAC allocations to the States

According to Adeosun: "Regarding the salary assistance loans, the Finance Minister informed Council that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the suspension of monthly deduction at source for this month, and no such deductions would be made this month from the FAAC allocations to the States."

"This is meant by the President to give the States some financial relief at a time the FAAC allocations are dwindling due to the drop in oil prices."

· The Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo during the NEC meeting added that the President will continue to review the situation of the States on an ongoing basis and take appropriate relief measures as necessary and possible.

PRESS RELEASE: OUTCOME OF NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL MEETING PRESIDED OVER BY VP OSINBAJO

21 April 2016: OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT PRESS RELEASE

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 66TH NEC MEETING – THURSDAY, 21ST APRIL, 2016, PRESIDED OVER BY VICE PRESIDENT, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN.

A. REPORT ON EXCESS CRUDE PROCEEDS
* Minister of Finance told the Council that the Account has a balance of $2.3 billion.

B. UPDATE ON CONSTITUTION OF EXECUTIVE SEARCH COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF NIGERIA SOVEREIGN INVESTMENT AUTHORITY (NSIA) WAS MADE BY MINISTER OF FINANCE

· Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun gave an update to the Council on the progress regarding the constitution of the NSIA Board.

Aminu Tambuwal Must Defect To APC To Remain Speaker – Nwagwu

A Public Affairs Analyst and former Vice President, Transparency Nigeria, Ezenwa Nwagwu, has called on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to either defect to the opposition party or lose his position as the All Progressives Congress (APC) now boasts of having majority of the members in the House.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had obtained a judgement from a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja stopping the House of Representatives from changing its leadership pending the determination of a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to restrain the lower chamber from altering the composition of its leadership.

There have been agitations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a result of mass defection of member lawmakers who cross carpeted to the APC. The party had also gone ahead to seek redress in the court of law to deter more members from decamping, as well as to ensure that the court declares seats of the decampees vacant.

Nwagwu, who is the Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform, told Channels Television that the Speaker, a PDP member, has no choice in the matter. “You have a PDP speaker now, if majority of the members are opposition. It’s common sense. You can’t continue to be speaker. There’s no magic, all you need to do to retain that position is to defect,” Nwagwu said.

Nwagwu, who noted that the PDP’s decision to go to court is “immoral,” said that the party had benefitted from similar events in the past.

“The PDP as it stands now, going to court is immoral” because “you’ve benefitted from this process in time past, you are still benefitting really.” The PDP “swallowed up majorly most of the smaller parties, in our recent history” and so “to begin to worry now that there’s a change that looks like it’s going to be a vista of hope for serious democratic practice is worrisome.”

The struggle put up by the ruling party “is about contest and leadership. It’s about who controls the leadership of the National Assembly in both Houses, he said, adding that “the agitations of the PDP are not fuelled by principles but by power.

He traced the history of the culture of defection to the 50’s during the “AG and NCNC saga, where members of the then NCNC had to move to the Action Group, which had consequences (till date),” he said, and also noted that the defection “affected the relationship between followers of Nnamdi Azikwe and those of Obafemi Awolowo,”who are still alive.

“That debate is still on as to what really happened. Some said the AG bought over the members of the NCNC,” he said.

He berated PDP’s agitations and further noted that the “The Peoples Democratic Party had benefitted immensely from defections in this democratic dispensation.” He cited instances including the defection of Governor Ikedi Ohakim, “who got his ticket under the PPA and moved to the PDP, with almost all the members of the House of Assembly.”

He also mentioned the case of the governor of Bauchi state (Isa Yuguda) who “did not just marry the PDP. He also married the President’s daughter to cement that relationship.” Also, “In the Senate, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe who moved from AD.”

“It was exciting for everybody and the PDP lapped all of that up.”

Mr Nwagwu, who was on Channels Television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, expressed hope that the rise in cases of defection would lead to “a situation where the opposition will be leading an arm of government.” “If it truly becomes opposition, then Nigerians would be in for (truly) what democracy is about, which is about checks and balances.” he said.

Responding to claims that the Senate President (SP) will take action against defectors, Mr Nwagwu said the SP cannot do such as he is only ‘primus inter pares” and not the ‘Senate.’ “You can’t by yourself say you would stop people,” he added.

He continued by saying that: “The majority of your colleagues need to stand up to you and show you and show you this history. That’s the point that I’m making.” “I think if democracy is about majority rule, then if in the House of Representatives, you have opposition having the number, it’s just important that you allow them have their way.”

“My expectation as a citizen is that I would want to see a situation in which you have true opposition.”

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