₦airaland Forum

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for paying medical bills of a blind National Youth Service Corp in Daura.

However, Atiku in a tweet earlier today frowned at the gesture which he said is coming “5 months to the 2019 election”

He also explained that “if he (Buhari) had invested the public funds he spends on his London medicals on public healthcare, he wouldn’t need to do this”

President Buhari had on Tuesday promised to sponsor the medical treatment of a 28 year old serving member of National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Okenala Ahmed who is visually-impaired.

Ahmed is a graduate of Insurance from the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State and is currently doing his service year in Daura, Katsina State.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/atiku-reacts-to-buhari-sponsoring-medical-bill-of-blind-nysc-member-267172.html

Chai... no freedom of speech again?

hmm

hmmm

Up PDP

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the Senate President Bukola Saraki has refused to reconvene National Assembly because he is afraid of impeachment.

The APC Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena, in a phone interview with Daily Trust yesterday, said the Senator knew that the party had the two-third majority needed to impeach him.

Nabena said Saraki was just buying time thinking that the party would negotiate with him, advising the Senate President to reconvene National Assembly in the interest of the country.

When asked whether the APC was still insisting that National Assembly should reconvene to consider INEC Budget, virements from Mr President and other issues raised by the National Chairman, he said, “Yes, because it is for the good of the country and the masses if the National Assembly reconvenes. The budget is something that will affect everybody. So, it’s not for personal interest. Budget is meant for the country. We all know that the INEC issue is still outstanding, security and other issues of economic importance.

“So, we are still insisting that Senate President should reconvene the National Assembly. His only fear - he is afraid because he knows that the numbers are there. That is why he is afraid. But he is just buying time. All what he is doing is just to buy time to negotiate with him this time around.”

Asked if the APC was insisting that he (Saraki) should resign, Nabena said, “He needs to resign from the position since he has moved to the PDP. And this is not negotiable. Nobody is negotiating with him. And if he doesn’t, he will be impeached democratically.”

When reminded that there had been argument over what actually constituted the two-third majority, the APC acting spokesman said, “That is what I’m telling you. He knows that the two-third is there. He knows. That is why he is buying time. First of all, he must understand that the country comes first before any individual interest. If that is what is going to make the country move forward, the people also know that. So, the country cannot be held to standstill because of one man. So, if he is not afraid, let him come.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-saraki-is-afraid-of-reconvening-apc-267108.html

The Buhari Campaign Organization, (BCO) has tagged Senate President, Bukola Saraki, ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Senator Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state among others as big disasters to democracy.
The group also labeled them as empty vessels that only make loud noise without physical muscles to match Buhari's integrity and popularity.

The group made the claim through its National Coordinator, Alhaji Danladi Pasali in an interview with newsmen in Jos on Wednesday.

The group explained that the defection of Saraki, Atiku and Kwankwaso among others to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wouldn't serve as a threat to President Muhammadu Buhari's reelection bid come 2019.

He said, "Their defections would not affect the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 and our party is ever ready to deliver on its campaign promises to Nigerians no matter the plot to distract the government."

He added that their defection was the best thing that happened in Nigeria's democracy considering that they are "hypocrites" and "moles" within APC.

He said, "These are people who left PDP to join APC thinking of themselves and their personal ambition but under President Buhari they didn't get want they want and then left again. They are a big disaster to democracy."

The group reiterated that Buhari has a 99.9 per cent chance of winning 2019 presidential election because he has succeeded in delivering 80 [er cent of his electioneering campaign promises.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/atiku-saraki-kwankwaso-others-big-disasters-to-democracy-bco-267010.html

A chieftain of the APC in Gombe State, Alhaji Umar Farouk Bamusa, has shared N40 million to officials of the party for the Sallah celebrations.

Alhaji Bamusa said the donation was to compliment the effort of the party officials who he said faced challenges of inadequate financial resources to cater for the needs of party loyalists.

Bamusa, who is also a gubernatorial aspirant on the APC platform, said the gesture was to assist the party officials and loyalists to enjoy the Sallah celebration with their families.

The gubernatorial hopeful also called on the party’s delegates to give him the mandate to become the party’s flag bearer for the forthcoming 2019 elections, saying he was the only candidate that could wrest power from the ruling PDP.

Our correspondent reports that the state chairman got N100,000, 30 members of the state executive committee N50,000 each, while administrative staff at the APC secretariat got N50,000 each, party youths N50,000 and ward chairmen received N20,000 each.

Responding on behalf of the party officials, the state Chairman, Mr. Nitte Amangal, commended the aspirant for the gesture.

Mr. Amangal said the party was aware of his contributions that helped in gingering the activities of the party in the state.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/sallah-gombe-apc-chieftain-shares-n40m-to-party-officials-266910.html

A Member of the House of Representatives, Beni Lar (Langtang North/South), has advised the PDP not to change its name. Lar, who said such move could be counter-productive, added that it might not advance the course of the party as being adduced in some quarters.

Speaking with newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State capital, Lar insisted that the PDP remained a brand name in Nigeria.

The daughter of the pioneer National Chairman of the PRepresentatives, Beni Lar DP, late Chief Solomon Lar, said the suggestion about the need to change name ahead of the general elections in 2019 was not entirely genuine and accurate.

The lawmaker said the name was not the party’s problem but a shift from the dreams of the founding fathers of the party.

She said the crisis bedevilling the ruling APC was a good opportunity for the PDP to retake its governance of the nation, stating that the APC had not given a good account of itself. The legislator called on PDP leaders at national and state levels to ensure that all the party’s aspirants were given a level-playing field at the primaries.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/rep-lar-cautions-pdp-against-change-of-name-266862.html

Former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar has called on politicians to always play by the rules and shun do-or-die politics for the country’s democracy to advance.

Fielding questions from newsmen at the Minna Central mosque shortly after theEid el Kabir prayers yesterday, the former leader said Nigeria’s political space was being needlessly heated up by politicians, adding that enduring political culture can only be built when politicians adhere to the rules of the game.

He said it was pertinent that politician understand that leadership comes from God and He bestows same on whomever He wishes, adding that with such understanding, the prevailing issue of do-or-die politics should not arise.

He said the 2019 general elections would be a test case that Nigeria democracy has come of age, asking Nigerians to put aside their differences by ensuring hitch-free polls.

He urged Muslims to imbibe the exemplary life style of Prophet Muhammad and the lessons of Eid el Kabir by living in peace with people of other faiths.

Niger State Deputy Governor Ahmed Mohammed Ketso called on those who registered in the just concluded Continuous Voters Registration exercise by the Independent Electoral Commission to obtain their Permanent Voters Cards to enable them to elect credible leaders of their choice in 2019.

The Chief Imam of Minna Central Mosque, Mal Isa Fari, enjoined Muslim faithful to internalize and practise the innate and core lessons of the festival which, according to him, essentially reinforces the spirit of sacrifice, tolerance, sympathy, empathy, devotion to duty, and the promotion of harmonious coexistence.

He also enjoined wealthy Muslims to assist the needy and vulnerable in the spirit of love and brotherhood that Islam stands for.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/shun-do-or-die-politics-abdulsalami-266866.html

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The Chairman Yobe State Executive Committee (SEC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Adamu Chilariye has accused the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of illegally buying the permanent voter’s card ( PVC) of unsuspecting members of the public.

He made the accusation on Thursday at a press briefing in Damaturu. He stated that the state EXCO of the APC was notified of the development.

“The PDP political office holders in Yobe Zone B have been using surrogates to purchase voter’s cards within Potiskum town at the cost of N5000 per PVC”

He said the APC has lodged complaints with the security agencies against the illegal act.

However, Chilariye advised the general public to be careful not to fall into the politicians’ trap.

The chairman disassociated SEC from some political aspirants in APC who had begun to deceive members of the party that they were endorsed by the SEC.

“The SEC wishes to state that it has no anointed aspirant and will only support the candidate that emerges as the party’s flag bearer during primaries.”, the chairman said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pdp-uses-surrogates-to-buy-pvc-at-the-cost-of-n5-000-in-yobe--apc-266261.html

The National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday said states owe the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) N41 billion in Value Added Tax (VAT).

Jigawa state Governor Abubakar Badaru disclosed this at the end of the NEC meeting presided over by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House Villa, Abuja.

Badaru said the chairman of the FIRS, Babatunde Fowler disclosed this while briefing the council.

“He informed the states what their positions are and the outstanding due to the states of about N41bn. He believes the states have to pay.

He came up also with new technique and system that will help automatic collection of taxes both VAT and withholding tax. I think the states take and are willing to pay their outstanding," he said.

He said the council was also told that from January to date, about N40bn was remitted from the states.

“This has a significant increase compared to what happened last year,’’ he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/states-owe-firs-n41bn-tax-nec-266170.html

The Minority Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Gombe State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Haruna, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Fada, as he was popularly called, announced his defection yesterday during the house plenary presided over by the Speaker, Alhaji Nasiru Abubakar Nono.

He said he left the APC because of the existing division in the state chapter of the party and the injustice meted on him by the party leadership.

He said the state APC unjustly suspended him four months ago and denied him the opportunity to defend himself, despite writing several letters to the national headquarters of the party.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/gombe-assembly-minority-leader-dumps-apc-for-pdp-266209.html

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The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina on Thursday urged journalists and media organisations in the country to be on the guard against the menace of fake news and hate speech as the country gears up towards the 2019 general election.

Adesina, who spoke in Lokoja at the grand finale of the 2018 Press Week of the Kogi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists while delivering a lecture on "Media and News Reporting in an Election Year", urged journalists to uphold the code of ethnics and global principles that guide journalism practice in their election reportage.

He pointed out that the manner the media go about their reporting in the build up to the election and during the election proper would have significant impact on how things would turn out eventually in the country, either peaceful or violent.

Adesina maintained that the journalists and media organisations must rise against the influx of fake news and hate speech, saying there are capable of plunging the nation into upheaval as witnessed in other countries of the world such as Rwanda and Kenya.

"One thing the media needs to be alert to is the influx of fake news, and the impact on the outcome of elections. Fake news is made-up information, concocted, without any authentication. It is fiction masquerading as news.

"Very close to the phenomenon of fake news is hate speech. In fact, the two are like Siamese twins. The intention of fake news is often to generate hate, demean, demonize and de-market.

"By the time fake news and hate speech team up, a huge bomb is waiting to explode. It can consume a nation, as we have seen in places like Rwanda, Kenya, and many others. The Nigerian journalist must be wary of this deadly duo, as we approach national elections", he said.

He urged the Nigerian media not to attempt to "reinvent the wheel" but should only seek to be ethical in their reporting by imbibing the journalism principles of truthfulness, accuracy, fairness, objectivity and social responsibility in their reportage.

Adesina also advised journalists to try as much as possible to abide by the codes for election coverage to avoid running foul of the law.

The Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, Edward Onoja on the occasion urged journalists and media organisations to shun the temptation of purveying fake news in order not to lose public trust.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-adesina-warns-against-fake-news-hate-speech-266145.html

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The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has said that the Federal Government recovered N11.6 billion so far from the tips they received since the Whistleblower Policy was launched in December 2016.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja at the fifth Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR) Lunch Time Seminar, with the theme: ‘The Whistleblower Policy and its Implications for Public Servants’, Adeosun said that out of the 5,000 tips received government only acted on 365 of them and that N375.8 million had been paid to 20 whistleblowers who provided information that led to the recovery.

She said the Whistleblower Policy had been one of government’s most successful new initiatives, adding that over half of the tips came from public servants touching on issues like contract inflation, ghost workers, illegal recruitment, misappropriation of funds, illegal sale of government assets, diversion of revenues and violation of Treasury Single Account (TSA) regulations, among others.

She said 39 per cent (144) of the actionable tips related to misappropriation and diversion of funds/revenue, 16 per cent (60) related to ghost workers, illegal recruitment and embezzlement of funds meant for personnel emolument, 15 per cent (56) related to violation of TSA regulations, 13 per cent (49) related to contract inflation/violation of the Procurement Act and failure to carry out projects for which funds had been released and nine per cent (34) related to non-remittance of pension and NHIS deductions, while others included concealed bail-out funds and embezzlement of funds from donor agencies.

“Part of our work is to analyse trends and take corrective actions. For example, many of the salary, tax and pension under remittance cases shared a common thread. Several cases where institutions were found to have insufficient funds to meet there obligations often had illegal recruitments which bloated the wage bill and agencies responded by part-paying or short paying salaries, whilst applying to FG for salary shortfall payments. We are revising our procedures for approval of recruitment, which will improve our budgeting and control.

“Equally, in many cases where revenue has been diverted to accounts outside TSA, we have reviewed our reconciliation and receipting processes. So the information being provided is useful in driving process improvements. If as a civil servant you have information about a possible misconduct or violation that has occurred, is ongoing, or is about to occur, we implore you to come forward and report it. You can submit your information anonymously and confidentially through the online portal, by email or by phone and if you choose to disclose your identity, I assure you that it will be fully protected.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/business/whistleblower-5000-tips-received-n11bn-recovered-adeosun/210169.html

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Mahmud Yakubu said the 2019 general elections will be the most expensive in Nigeria’s history.

Prof Yakubu said yesterday during a budget defence session for the 2019 elections funds with members of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters that the commission needs N189 billion for the conduct of the elections.

He said the amount is N69 billion higher than the entire expenditure for the 2015 elections, which cost N120bn, representing an increase of about 58 per cent.

Daily Trust had on August 3 exclusively reported that the 2019 general elections were set to be Nigeria’s most expensive.

The INEC chairman said the increase was necessitated by a number of factors, including additional political parties, increased number of registered voters, among others.

“From today we have exactly 184 days to the opening of polling units on Saturday, February 16, 2019.

“I wish to draw the attention of this committee to a very important thing. Compared to N120bn that the 2015 elections cost, we’re now proposing N189.2bn.

“For 2015, we had 70 million voters. But now we have 82m registered voters. This will increase because of the additional period for registration that we added. So, there is addition of about 17.1 per cent compared to 2015.

“Second, the number of political parties then was 40, but we now have 91. The size of the ballot papers would increase and the quality and colour won’t be the same. That means additional cost.

“As part of the cost, we have to monitor political parties’ congresses, primaries and conventions, which also mean additional funding.

“Processing nominations from political parties is another thing. We have to process about 70,889 nominations for the elections if all parties nominate candidates.

“This time around, the logistics is higher because pump price of petrol is higher now. Some of the components are in US Dollars, so it would have an impact going by the current exchange rate compared to the 2015 elections.

“The FCT area councils’ elections would be coming at about the same time with the general elections, so that means additional cost because we need more hands for the elections and ballot papers among others,” the INEC chairman said.

Giving the breakdown of how the N189.2bn would be spent, Prof Yakubu said N134.4bn would be for election operations cost; N27.5bn for election technological cost; N22.6bn for election administrative cost and N4.6bn for contingency/miscellaneous.

Lawmakers raise concerns over increasing elections budget

At the session, some senators raised concerns over the increased elections expenditure by the commission.

Sen Isa Hamma Misau (PDP, Bauchi) demanded to know why the commission’s elections budget has been on the rise over the years, noting that the electoral umpire keeps purchasing certain equipment like vehicles for every election.

Responding, Prof Yakubu said, “Much of the cost we pay for elections is because of lack of trust. Why must we print ballot papers to currency quality and give to the CBN to keep? It’s all because of lack of trust.

Sen Mohammed Hassan (APC, Yobe) expressed concern that while President Muhammadu Buhari in his letter of request for the election budget said the sum of N143.512bn should be approved for INEC under this year’s budget and another N45.7bn under the 2019 budget, the electoral umpire was demanding for the total amount at once.

But the INEC chairman said, “I’m not sure there’s a conflict. In terms of the totality of figure, I don’t think there’s any conflict because if you add everything together, it will give you the N189bn.

“Our preference is for the sum of N189bn to be appropriated. But as to the nitty-gritty, that is between the National Assembly and the Executive,” he said.

Chairman of the committee, Suleiman Nazif demanded to know why there is a separate N5.1bn for continuous voter registration (CVR) in the elections budget when an amount was earlier approved for the commission for the same purpose under the regular budget.

Prof Yakubu said ýbecause CVR is done almost on daily basis all year round, the amount approved for it in the 2018 budget was grossly inadequate and that due to the need to register more eligible voters ahead of elections, there was need for additional fund.

N6bn needed to feed police personnel on election duties

At the House of Representatives, ýthe sum of N6bn to feed policemen on electoral duty was contested by the lawmakers.

Wole Oke (PDP, Osun), said, “It is important that we look into the estimates and reconvene later to discuss.”

Rima Shawulu (PDP, Taraba) and Timothy Golu (PDP, Plateau) drew attention to the repetition of most of the items in the budget, especially with the expenditure for the feeding of security personnel as well as the provision for hiring of vehicles for security personnel.

In his response, Prof Yakubu said the feeding of security officials on election duty is very crucial since there is similar provision for ad hoc staff.

He added that the commission does not envisage any postponement of the 2019 general elections.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-2019-elections-will-be-nigeria-s-most-expensive-inec-265966.html

A former Governor of Jigawa State and Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , Alhaji Sule Lamido on Wednesday accused the All Progressive Congress (APC) led administration of massive corruption, saying its acclaimed fight against graft was insincere.

Lamido who stated this in Lokoja when he met the delegates of Kogi State chapter of People Democratic Party noted that the present APC government beside alleged massive corruption, has continued to impoverished the people in order to lord over them.

He pointed out that, Nigerians must rise, unite and rescue the country from "injustice perpetually imposed on the citizens by the current APC government".

The Presidential aspirant who is seeking the support of the state delegates in the forthcoming PDP convention also said the current leadership in the country has succeeded in causing pains, and disunity among Nigerians.

"I was ashamed when I entered Kogi State. When I looked into the eyes of many Kogites and Nigerians, it was clearly written in their faces that all is not well.

"They said they are fighting corruption in this government which is not true. I can tell you that there is massive corruption at the presidential villa and many states belonging to APC are owing months of salaries.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/there-is-massive-corruption-at-the-presidential-villa-lamido-265960.html

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Twenty - eight out of the 35 minsters are attending today's Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting being presided over by the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.
Our correspondent reports that the meeting which is taking place at the Council chamber of the State house Villa, Abuja started around 11am.
After the National Anthem, the Acting President requested the Minister of State for Education, Anthony Anwuka to say the Christian prayers while Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu was asked to lead the Muslim prayer.
At the meeting, our correspondent reports that key national issues would be discussed. At the end of the meeting, the State House Reporters would be addressed.
Some of the ministers in attendance are Okechukwu Enelamah (Trade and Investment ) Muhammadu Bello (Federal Capital Territory) Udo Udo Udoma (National Planning ), Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment )Heineken Lokpobiri (State Minister for Agriculture )

Others are Zainab Ahmed (State Minister, Budget and Planning), Sen Hadi Sirika (Aviation), Abubakar Malami (Justice), Lai Mohammed (Information), Babatunde Fashola ( Power, Works and Housing ), Kemi Adeosun (Finance ), Aisha Abubakar (Trade and Investment), Aisha Alhassan Taraba (Women Affairs) among others.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/28-ministers-attend-fec-as-osinbajo-presides-265912.html

The Federal Government has insisted that failure to obtain external debt as contained in the 2018 Appropriation Act will slow down the implementation of the capital component of the budget.

This is even as the Debt Management Office (DMO) put Nigeria’s debt profile at N22.38tn as of June 30, 2018.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Trust, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, said the external debt is necessary because of the huge deficit in the 2018 budget.

“The borrowing is one component of the funding, which is the major one for now and if we are not able to realise the two borrowing as projected in the budget, it will affect the performance of the budget,” she said.

The minister however said “that doesn’t mean that the budget will not be implemented because we have national revenue too.”

The N9.12 trillion 2018 budget has a deficit of N1.95 trillion, equivalent to 67 per cent of the total N2.87 trillion capital expenditure for the year. The deficit is to be financed mainly by borrowing of N1.643 trillion both from external and internal sources.

However, the government’s borrowing plan is yet to get the approval of the National Assembly as the lawmakers have since gone on 2-month recess.

According to a report presented by the DMO, Nigeria’s public debt status for the first half of the year indicated an increase of 3 percent debt increase within the period.

Presenting the report, the Director General of the DMO, Patience Oniha, said the country’s total public debt, which encompasses the domestic and external debt stock of the Federal and 36 States including the FCT, stood at N22.38 trillion as at June 30, 2018.

The DG noted that the 3.01 percent increase was marginal over the public debt stock for December 2017, adding that the increase in the public debt stock over the six months period was due to the 2.5 billion dollars Eurobond issued in February 2018.

She said the debt stock decreased to 1.44% when compared to the debt data for March 2018, “from N22.707 trillion in March 2018 to N22.38 trillion in June 2018,” adding that the “decrease was due to a 3.38 percent decline in the FGN’s domestic debt stock between March and June 2018”.

Oniha said there was a consistent decrease in the federal government domestic debt which declined from N12.589 trillion in December 2017 to N12.577 trillion in March 2018 and N12.151 trillion in June 2018.

According to the DG, the reduction in the FGN’s domestic debt stock followed the redemption of N198 billion Nigerian Treasury Bills in December 2017 and another N639 billion between January and June 2018. It will be recalled that a total of $3 billion was raised through Eurobonds to refinance maturing domestic debt as part of the implementation of the debt management strategy for the purpose of substituting high cost domestic debt with lower cost external debt to reduce debt service costs for the government.

The DG further noted that the implementation of the public debt management strategy to ensure that Nigeria’s debt is sustainable is already yielding positive results.

‘Domestic borrowing already commenced’

The minister told Daily Trust that the borrowing for the 2018 budget will be 50 per cent local and 50 per cent foreign and that the approval for the domestic borrowing was done when the Appropriation Act was passed by the National Assembly.

“We have the approval of the domestic borrowing. It is on-going. But we are not being able to do any foreign borrowing now until we get that extract of the resolution from the National Assembly.

“A request to that effect had been sent to the National Assembly before the commencement of the recent recess.

“I hope now that the Senate will reconvene they will address it, because we have been borrowing and financing the budget locally but we need the foreign borrowing to do the large capital expenditure,” she said.

The minister added that besides the loans, there are other sources of funding the budget such as oil and non-oil revenue and “other revenues from the government-owned enterprises which we classified as independent revenue and then borrowing.”

“So the borrowing is not alone, it also includes the recovery of the looted funds. They are all used as financing options to fund the budget,” she added.

Construction firms warn of poor capital release

Meanwhile, construction companies have warned that poor implementation of the 2018 budget will affect various on-going projects in the country.

The President of the Federation of the Construction Industry (FOCI), Engr. Nasiru A. Dantata, said his members will definitely be affected by late release of 2018 Capex funds for on-going projects.

According to him, the 2017 wonderful releases by the federal government have cleared a lot of the outstanding and his members are confident of same for 2018.

He however raised concern over new projects, noting that any late payment of advance may delay the projects mobilizations. “We are benefitting from the various special funds for key projects. There is an increased confidence with our members in the ability of the Federal Government to perform projects in a more timely manner,” he added.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-we-need-more-external-debt-fg-265788.html

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, yesterday, said he is confident President Muhammadu Buhari will win in 2019.

Tinubu made the statement in Lagos while addressing party members at a stakeholders meeting of the state chapter.

He said the president had acquainted himself as a leader so far despite the challenges of governance.

The APC leader condemned what he called the frequent attacks on the Buhari-led administration by a former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

Tinubu said the criticisms of Obasanjo were in bad faith, pointing out that he could not stop Nigerians from re-electing the president.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has done well, he deserves another term, and we will support him to win because he is our man.

“Forget about Obasanjo’s letter and his frequent attacks on our president, he cannot stop the president because Nigerians would re-elect him.

“Obasanjo has spent his own time; he should leave Buhari alone and face his business because he cannot tell us who to vote for.

“He is part of some of the challenges we are facing in the country today because he did not lay the right foundation when he was president,” he said.

Tinubu added that the exit of some members from the APC would also not stop the re-election of President Buhari.

The chieftain said the party was unshaken by the defections and was on course to recording victories in the 2019 elections.

Tinubu said the results of the Kogi, Katsina and Bauchi by-elections in which the APC was victorious, were a precursor to the pattern of the general elections.

“I congratulate the winners in the elections, their victory is proof that our party is getting more popular by the day.

“Those who want to defect can defect; that is their problem. APC remains unshaken and these people will know the reality in elections,” he said. He commended the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomole, saying members were pleased with what he was doing in the party.

He said the direct primary system was good for democracy, and that the party would adopt it to conduct its primaries. Tinubu urged members to play by the rules in electing candidates at the primaries.

He urged the members to mobilse others to obtain their PVCs as that was necessary for victory in 2019.

Meanwhile, there were concerns among political stakeholders who attended the meeting with Tinubu when the deliberation ended without the much expected endorsement of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for re-election.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-obasanjo-defections-can-t-stop-buhari-tinubu-265819.html

Kano state government said it has discovered the sum of over $1 million allegedly paid by former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to a university in Ukraine where no Kano state student was studying, reports The Nation.

The senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, on Higher Education, Dr. Hussaini Akilu Jarma, let the cat out of bag, Tuesday, during the inauguration of the State Scholarship Disbursement Committee.

Jarma said the questionable payment was made by Kwankwaso as part of his foreign scholarship programme.

A statement by Abba Anwar, chief press secretary to the Kano state Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said, “Investigation reveals that a sum of $1,304,618 was abandoned in one University in Ukraine, when the sum was taken there during the last administration in the state.”

“No student was sent to the university at all. The money was sent unattended and un-utilised. We said business should not be as usual anymore,” he added.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/breaking-how-kwankwaso-stashed-kano-s-1million-in-ukraine-ganduje-265732.html

The former interim national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, in Benin, gave reasons why he is seeking the party's ticket for the 2019 presidential election.

Makarfi who was at the Edo state PDP secretariat to garner support for his presidential ambition told party faithful that he wanted to rescue the country from an imminent collapse.

He told the party supporters which included the chairman. Chief Dan Orbih, Senator Mathew Urhoghide, former Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Friday Itulah and other party heavyweights that the field should be opened to all the aspirants so that the best candidate can emerge.

The ex-governor said experience garnered in running a state like Kaduna which he likened to a mini Nigeria in terms of the ethnic and religious make up will be handy if he clinches the party ticket and eventually wins the election.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Isa Hamma Misau, has stated that the Presidency should be ashamed that it is pushing the conspiracy script that top officials of the nation’s security apparatus are working for the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

Reacting to the EFCC statement that debunked the allegations credited to the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Babafemi Ojudu, that the EFCC was working in tandem with Saraki, Misau said that both the APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and Ojudu, were spinning the same conspiracy theory to hide the lack of coordination and discipline amongst the security agencies.

“The EFCC’s statement confirms our immediate reaction that both Ojudu and Oshiomhole have been reading from the same conspiracy script.

“Nigerians find it unthinkable that Magu, that the Senate refused to confirm — whose EFCC has also prosecuted Saraki for over 3 years at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) would now turn around and start working for this same Saraki. How is this possible?

“These people think that they can just wake up, think up conspiracy theories and try to sell it to Nigerians, but the public is smarter and more discerning than their shallow fictitious narratives", the Senator stated.

Misau also stated that the APC and Ojudu should be ashamed of indicting the Presidency in such an explicit fashion.

“In any case, shouldn't they be ashamed to even claim that the entire internal security institutions in the country are working for someone else other than the person that appointed them? “Additionally, at what point did they decipher this? Was it before the siege on the National Assembly or after?

“What this goes to show is that in their desperate bid to blame someone else for their crime and incompetence, these people no longer have a sense of shame,” the Senator said.

Misau further amplified the call for an independent judicial panel of inquiry into the National Assembly siege, stating that any other investigation would be seen as biased and flawed in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community.



“In this regard, we hereby reiterate the call for independent judicial panel of inquiry into the invasion. Any other such investigation into the matter would constitute another attempt by these same people to present a biased perspective to the assault on our nation’s democracy and its highest lawmaking body,” Misau stated.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/misau-mocks-presidency-apc-you-should-be-ashamed-of-indicting-buhari-265601.html

The Sule Lamido Youth Mobilization of Nigeria (SLYMN) has said the former governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido deserved to be presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the forthcoming 2019 election due to his loyalty to the party, credibility and transparency.

The group made the disclosure through its National Coordinator, Abdulhadi Abdullahi Sani (Cokali) in an interview with Daily Trust in Jos on Monday.

Alhaji Sani explained that Lamido deserved to be the PDP presidential candidate for the 2019 because of the way he resisted the temptation of defecting from PDP before and after 2015 elections.

He said, “Lamido stayed in the PDP and built the party and if people like Lamido leave the party all the defectors wouldn’t come back and get a properly structured party.”

The group explained that based on records and history, there was no credible, trustworthy and detribalized presidential aspirant in PDP above Lamido.

He added "When you trace the antecedents and pedigrees of all aspirants that have so far shown their interest to contest under PDP, nobody can match Sule Lamido's integrity, transparency and steadfastness in uniting the party members. Nobody can also say that he was tribalistic" .

The group added that what Lamido did when he was the governor of Jigawa state, infrastructural development, security and health among others were unmatched by the aspirants that have declared their interest so far.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-why-lamido-deserves-to-be-pdp-presidential-candidate--group-265573.html

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The Akwa Ibom State Government has sacked the Commissioner for Labour, Productivity and Manpower Development, Ibanga Akpabio and that of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Victor Antai.

Ibanga, a younger brother of Senator Godswill Akpabio and Antai, were among those who received Akpabio from the Ibom International Airport on his arrival in the state for his formal defection from the People’s Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Speaking yesterday in Uyo, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Charles Udoh, said the two commissioners were relieved from their positions over gross misconduct, non-compliance with public service rules and anti-government activities.

The Secretary to the State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem, said the sack was with immediate effect and the affected persons were directed to handover to the permanent secretary in the ministries before close of work yesterday.

He said: “The State Government has dropped the Commissioner, Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Sir Ibanga Akpabio from the state Executive Council with immediate effect. Sir Ibanga Akpabio had to be removed from the State Executive Council following his reluctance to comply with good governance processes of government.”


https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/a-ibom-sacks-2-commissioners-over-akpabio-s-defection-264862.html