₦airaland Forum

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THE PREMISE OF THIS STORY IS INCORRECT....

President Obasanjo did NOT give the principal officers of the National Assembly any “leave” to purchase their official quarters, not least because the National Assembly is a DIFFERENT CO-EQUAL branch of the federal government that is not controlled by the executive, and also because it is the National Assembly that controls the power of appropriation.

Rather, the Obasanjo administration, noting that up to 85% of public sector expenditure went to overheads, instituted the Public Sector Reform Program pursuant to which the administration introduced the following specific programs: (1) the Contributory Pensions Scheme; (2) the Rationalization Policy; (3) the Service Compact (SERVICOM); and (4) the Monetization Policy.

The Monetization Policy provided that some benefits enjoyed by most political officeholders and senior public servants (including houses and cars) should be monetized and transferred from the public purse to such persons, with adjustments to their wages. The policy was codified into law by the National Assembly as the Certain Political, Public, and Judicial Officers (Salaries and Allowances) Act of 2002.

The National Assembly (no doubt with their own self-interest in mind) provided in the new law that all the political officeholders and public servants affected by the Monetization Policy shall be granted the right-of-first-refusal to purchase their official quarters (at what many argued were below market rates, with loans generously provided by the Federal Mortgage Bank) and cars.

Crucially, however, the 2002 Act did NOT cover the President of the Senate, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Reps, and the Deputy Speaker. Accordingly, Apo House (the official resident of the SP), as well as the official residences of the aforementioned NASS principal officers were unaffected and were NOT sold during under the Monetization Policy.

Subsequently, however (I believe that it was during David Mark’s Senate Presidency, but I may be wrong), the NASS voted to build what it described as “more befitting” official residences for its Principal Officers, and made provisions for same in the Appropriations Bill. This was when contracts for the design and construction of these new buildings were awarded.

Meanwhile, as an aside, it was widely reported that many (if not most) of the National Assembly members and senior public officers that benefited from the Monetization Policy, simply bought the affected official houses/cars, turned around and sold it off to third-party buyers for a handsome profit. No word on if all of them fully repaid the FMBN loans provided for the purchases.
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saintokwuluora:
Same reclamation was done in Lekki and currently on going at the Eko Atlantic City. Little wonder experts say Lagos is one of the cities in world that will be submerged in the ocean by 2050 if adequate precautions are not taken. Already floods are annually showing us sign of what may ultimately and unfortunately be the destiny of our dear Lagos.

Amsterdam is way much more below sea-level than Lagos, but remains thriving...
Climate change will affect all coastal settlements, but the difference will be the use of technology.
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soilsista:
The majority of Nigerians I've met in SA are very friendly people. It's the ones I see here that surprise me. Who's the author of The drummer boy?

Yahoo Boys and drug dealers are ostracized? But not their money? The comments I've seen here say otherwise. I remember seeing a thread here about some drug dealer who donated money to build a church in his village. Just recently the infamous Momph has been making headlines, given the chance, how many people do you think would "kill" to be in his shoes? But then again I don't live in Nigeria, so I won't fully know.

This Biafra that you're pushing for! I read Half of a Yellow Sun, I don't understand why you want to separate

Abegi quit being so effing patronizing....

You can never actually know a nation via the Internet or meeting a few citizens...
If you really want to know about Nigeria and Nigerians, get off the couch and visit Nigeria.
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Jerkules:
Where I'm from we don't value Ex-pornstars. I've seen u all over Xvideos,pornhub,spankbang dancing naked shaking ur raw Yansh. Why would I pay to see you fully dressed? Ur naked videos are more valuable to me than ur shitty music.

Not holding brief for anyone..
But the keyword here is “ex”.

We don’t know everyone’s backstory...
But life is not about where you stop but where you end up!

She’s not everyone’s cup of tea...
But we all should acknowledge HONEST labor/hustle!
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GOOD!

But they should not just be dismissed...
They must be CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED as well
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Which DUMB person thought this would be funny?
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Kobicove:
Nigerian employers are very difficult people

Nigerians are just difficult people...
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General0847:
Change is constant.

Not in Nigeria...
Here, the Constant is fraudulently sold as Change.
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jaxxy:
Sanwolu shud get out of this paparazzi mode to work mode pls.

Bros, the hardest working person in Lagos today has to be Sanwo-Olu’s official PHOTOGRAPHER...

Really hope BSO gets around to actual work...
Lagos is way too important not to be functional. Eko oni Baje!
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Was about to express outrage at the optics of a national legislator hosting a suspect in an ONGOING CRIMINAL TRIAL at the National Assembly (which is supposedly the people’s house)...

But remembered that several members of the National Assembly are themselves defendants in ONGOING CRIMINAL TRIALS!!!

MO-RON!

The office of COS does NOT even exist in the Constitution....
It’s merely a position for administrative facilitation created by Obasanjo
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Buhari’s goal is to make every Nigerian poor...
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Ebus12:
It isn't too surprising that lion heart was disqualified

The hype on that movie was too high but the content was way lower than what we expected

I couldn't understand the direction and meaning of the movie till it ended
The likes of Pete edochie, phyno, rudeboy and others was just what attracted me to the film

But I sincerely regretted the 2 hours I wasted watching that trash

Try again Next Genevive

AGREE, I personally found it underwhelming
However, it was NOT disqualified because of the quality of the content.
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bigtt76:
Funny how people don't understand that when the word 'International' is used, its meant to mean anything other than the language of the domiciled country of an organization or anything presenting same.

The movie academy is a US-based body which hitherto had been awarding movies produced in the US (Hollywood), it was only to broaden its scope it decided to include movies produced elsewhere (International) by setting up a category called 'Best Foreign Movie which it changed to International.

The rules still remained the same, movie must not be predominantly written in English language which if done, would be akin to creating a category to directly compete with Hollywood movies which is not what the case is meant to be.

Teacher Don't Teach us Nonsense...
International is not synonymous with Foreign Language.

Granted it's the Academy's award and thus its rules...
It does NOT change the fundamentals of the English language.
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Richdad50:
Developing a deep sense of respect for Toyin Saraki and her works. Calm, intelligent and beautiful, she has consistently shown her worth both on family and social works.

Bisola like every other woman will rise above her pain and life's experiences. She will be judged by generations for her courage. A Burdensome heart wears out the host but a painful experience shared kickstarts a long journey to healing.

Richdad

BLESS YOU!!!
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Idowumanuel:
Misplaced priority.

Abegi, feeding students is most definitely NOT a misplaced priority...
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They should search his Babanriga before he leaves there...
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AFRICAN GIANT!!!
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talk2tosep:
Me I will never fly any Nigerian airline..

Drive/ride around then, and see if (between the horrible roads, bad drivers, kidnappers and armed robbers) it is safer...
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1stKing:
Eeya the struggle to save the little you have. The struggle to salvage your means of livelihood even when it's obviously gone

The economy is unfriendly, no jobs, no food, expensive living condition, fire everywhere

People would not be risking their lives like this if they have insurance...

Shocked that/if these traders do not have insurance...
Even if it small contributions by each trader for the Market Assoc to buy a policy that covers the entire market.

GOOD LUCK and prayers to all those people out there.
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NEVER HEARD OF ANY OF THESE PEOPLE....
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GOOD FOR THEM!
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ThisCouldBeUs:
Students whose parents are owed eight months salary.

Keep justifying CRIMINALITY...
Others engaged in HONEST labor/hustle, their parents are not owed salary?! SMH
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Agboriotejoye:
I keep saying it. Dangote is the front for the cabal milking Nigeria dry.
Just imagine buying crude at export price and selling at import price to a local market. What then is the point of the dollar breaks CBN have been giving the guy.
In other words, dangote refinery is another euphemism for removal of subsidy

Dangote Refinery is BUYING foreign currency from the CBN at the OFFICIAL rate...
It is being dashed/gifted the foreign currency and it is a rate available to OTHER Nigerian businesses (esp manufacturers).

Nonetheless, the BENEFIT (or "point" to mirror your words) to Nigeria is that (just like Dangote, BUA and others did for Nigeria in respect of cement) Nigeria will transit from one of the world's leading importers of petroleum products to self-sufficiency and even a net exporter, in the process saving Nigeria BILLIONS of US dollars in foreign exchange (to invest elsewhere rather than continuing to import fuel) and earning Nigeria ADDITIONAL foreign currency from exports. In addition, the Dangote Refinery will create HUNDREDS OF NIGERIAN JOBS IN NIGERIA (from engineers all the way down the value chain), instead of continuing to subsidize and support foreign jobs in foreign refineries with no residual value to Nigeria (such as the development, transfer and retention of specialized skill sets domestically). The usefulness of our foreign currency reserves is NOT to put it in the bank and admire/count it, but rather to put it into good use for the overall economic development of Nigeria (and in the process Nigerians).

Agboriotejoye:
You wish. He ain't no Rockefeller. Rockefeller was not depending on govt patronage for business. He might have been a ruthless businessman and a cutthroat. But he was not a govt crony

Please which of Dangote's businesses "depend on government patronage for business"? His cement factories scattered throughout Africa? Dangote Sugar (which supplies the biggest confectioneries and beverage manufacturers in Nigeria)? His salt business? The flour mills (which is reportedly being sold to Olams)? The real estate business? Or perhaps the agricultural business (the tomato and the rice mills)? Please let's stick to FACTS!
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BASICALLY ANOTHER CRUDE NIGERIAN MALE MISOGYNIST...
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grandstar:
I find dog birthdays ridiculous as the dog does not know what's even happening. A big waste of funds.

Anyway, as the Nigerian middle class gets bigger (not under Buhari though), be expecting to see more of such nonsense.

It's the thought that counts...

But, trust me, dogs understand love and care...
Provide these and that dog might end up saving your own life someday. Fiercely loyal creatures!
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Nice! Happy birthday doggie!
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Bola146:
Congratulations..

Abegi, hold break till the results are out...
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BotherMleeper:
This is Nigeria where celebs don't believe in themselves until they're validated by foreigners, so they go there for shows and to shoot movies even though those foreigners care not a hoot about the yeyebrities or their wares....

Foreigners pay in HARD CURRENCY...
In fact, that they pay at all is better than many Nigerians who will try to Yahoo you!
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LordAzubuike:
This is Nigeria where a foreign celeb listening to your music is seen as a lifetime achievement.

That's how people make HONEST money, the more popular a musician is and his music becomes...
The more money he makes from appearances, royalty, endorsement, tours, collabs, and so on and forth.
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RIP...

But it's weird that he was pointing to his head in the 'before' picture.
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Felixamos:
Hope they do something reasonable with their lives now...

Hope they don’t get pregnant for real now...
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