When President Muhammadu Buhari, prior to his departure for medical treatment wrote to the Senate that Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo will coordinate the affairs of the nation as Vice- President in his absence, many Nigerians had condemned the move saying it is a calculated attempt to deny the Professor of Law the power to serve as Acting President but the Bukola Saraki-led senate said there is no cause for alarm as the president through his letter has vested him with full authority to act in his stead.
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The president’s letter reads “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), I wish to inform the distinguished Senate that I will be away for a scheduled medical follow-up with my doctors in London. The length of my stay will be determined by the doctor’s advice.
“While I am away, the Vice President will coordinate the activities of the government. Please accept, the distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Speaking on the controversial letter, a lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa said the letter sent by President Buhari to the Senate limits Osinbajo’s powers to act. According to him, going by Buhari’s letter, Osinbajo has no powers as coordinator of the country’s activities.

“A coordinator is a Person of equal status with others. So, the VP cannot make appointments or sack anybody while the President is away. He cannot discipline any erring minister. He is limited in policy decisions, as a coordinator
“He has no power of control over the Cabal to whom the president has handed over power, albeit illegally. The chief of staff was recently reported to have moved vital documents away from Aso Villa”.
“In effect, Nigeria has no leader presently. The existing office of VP is no more. The constitutionally created office of Acting President has been circumscribed by the President. The President is away on an indefinite medical trip abroad.

Continued Delays In Swearing In Of Ministers

However, recent events in the country since the president’s departure may have proven Nigerians like Adegboruwa right. Two weeks after two ministerial nominees were screened and cleared by the National Assembly; they are yet to be sworn into office and assigned portfolios.

President Buhari had last March submitted the names of Mr. Stephen Ocheni (Kogi State) and Suleiman Zanna Hassan (Gombe State), to the Senate for confirmation as ministers.

While Ocheni replaces James Ocholi, former Minister of State for Labour and Employment, who died in an auto-crash in 2016, Hassan takes over from Hajia Amina Mohammed who resigned as Minister of Environment to assume office as Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN).

The expectation had been that Acting President Yemi Osinabjo would administer the oath of office on the confirmed nominees since Buhari left for London Sunday May 7th for follow-up medical consultation with his doctors.

Usually, new ministers are sworn into office on Wednesdays, being the day the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) holds but Osinbajo has presided over two FEC since the ministers were cleared, yet has not sworn Hassan and Ocheni in raising concerns over his powers as Acting President.

It is believed that Osinbajo was yet to get the green light from Buhari to swear in the new ministers and assign them portfolios in his absence.

However, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, assured State House correspondents after yesterday’s FEC meeting that the new ministers “will be sworn in due course” although he was not forthcoming on what is causing the delay.

Former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has demanded for explanation on why the Acting President has not sworn-in the new ministers. According to him, it was high time the people knew what has been stopping the Acting President from exercise his power.

“Why has Acting President Osinbajo not been allowed to swear in the new Ministers that were cleared by the Senate? Who is stopping him?” he asked.

When INDEPENDENT sought clarification from Laolu Akande, the spokesperson of the Acting President on what is responsible for the delay, he declined to comment.

Who Assents To 2017 Budget?

Another issue that is generating controversy is who signs the 2017 budget? When asked this question, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had said the issue will be addressed when the budget is sent to the Presidency. His failure to give a categorical answer on whether it is President Buhari or Osinbajo led some sections of the media to suggest that he said the presidency is unsure of who signs the budget.
The minister had to quickly issue a rebuttal debunking media reports credited to him that the Presidency is still confused about who would assent to the 2017 budget even with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in charge of the country’s affairs. According to him, all he said was that the issue of who will sign the budget will be addressed once the budget is sent to the presidency
“ No, I never said we are confused on who will assent to the budget. What I said was that when the budget is sent to the Presidency, the issue of who will sign it will be addressed.

In a development that has set tongues wagging, the Information Minister said the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, has received an advance copy of the 2017 Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly, without the document being formally transmitted to Acting President Osinbajo, who is standing in for Buhari.
The tradition had been for the National Assembly to forward the passed Budget to the President, who in turn directs his Finance and National Planning Ministers to crosscheck the documents against or does so himself along with the two officials or others as may be required before he signs it into law.

“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 are 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.

However, Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang, on Wednesday, May 17, was very categorical when he said the budget would be signed by Buhari.
“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,” Enang said.
However, Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in his response said that the acting president would be the one to sign the budget.
“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,” Akande said via Twitter.
http://independent.ng/question-mark-osinbajos-authority-acting-president/

The acting president does not have to make decisions that can wait for PMB's return.

And he knows it!

I wish this guy will just sack some people to send a strong note; that he is incharge. Keeping quite doesn't put you in anyone's good books. Being humble is generally interpreted as weakness in this side of the clime; meekness is not a good trait for a Nigerian, its alien to our culture and not part of our DNA. Nobody stoops low in Nigeria to conquer, once you stoop low, you will be matched upon, traded on, squashed and blown out.

Sir, there's nothing to be meek and humble about. Start firing some people! Start with that Sen Ita Enang!

MaziOmenuko:
I wish this guy will just sack some people to send a strong note; that he is incharge. Keeping quite doesn't put you in anyone's good books. Being humble is generally interpreted as weakness in this side of the clime; meekness is not a good trait for a Nigerian, its alien to our culture and not part of our DNA. Nobody stoops low in Nigeria to conquer, once you stoop low, you will be matched upon, traded on, squashed and blown out.

Sir, there's nothing to be meek and humble about. Start firing some people! Start with that Sen Ita Enang!

dnt worry he z doing underground work,silent z more deadly dan action.

Remember president Buhari treats him like a son according to Osinbajo

MaziOmenuko:
I wish this guy will just sack some people to send a strong note; that he is incharge. Keeping quite doesn't put you in anyone's good books. Being humble is generally interpreted as weakness in this side of the clime; meekness is not a good trait for a Nigerian, its alien to our culture and not part of our DNA. Nobody stoops low in Nigeria to conquer, once you stoop low, you will be matched upon, traded on, squashed and blown out.

Sir, there's nothing to be meek and humble about. Start firing some people! Start with that Sen Ita Enang!