₦airaland Forum

benzion72:
Why are Northern mad since they loose power to the south. At lease they have being ruling since independence. And Nigeria has nothing to show for it even their own North is an empty desert. I think Islamic cleric need to come out and condem killing in its strongest term in their preaching and stop teaching of islam of an heaven of bliss for whoever kill in the name of Allah

Why are you making such shallow myopic and lack of depth statement? I gues it is the prevalence of the such mindsets as yours that allow BH to foster.

Wasn't obasanjo from the south why didn't such rubbish reign in his time?

Haba must we take every unfortunate event to promote your bigoted point of view.

Tell me are there no northern casualties in today's attack?

Mehn! It's annoying dealing with such kid minds

brein:
This may be interconnected with the Madalla escape convict.

My friend there is no connection at all. When did the madalla guy escape? Do you think you just wake up one morning to plan coordinated attacks with such military precision? Even a week is too small.

The kind of question I expect us to be asking instead of this ethnic ego battles are:
What happened to the alledged 100 BH guys captured some month back?

What happened to the mallam last year importing container of arms? (pardon my French)

What's the news with the Igbo guys cought in Ghana? (no pon intended)

What's the fate of the fake Igbo BH guys sending text msg?

And a whole lot of pending cases,

ABOVE ALL I EXPECT U GUYS TO BE ASKING WHAT ARE THE EVIDENCE AGAINST THESE ARRESTS COZ IT'S EASY TO PARADE ANYBODY AND SAY HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR KENNEDY'S ASSASINATION!

WHAT ARE THE EVIDENCE? BUT I GUESS THAT'S WHY WE ARE AFRICANS WE DON'T THINK OR CARE?

Why is all this happening in this administration, is he the first southerner to rule the country? And the matter is even compounded by the non chalant attitude of the GEJ government. I dont mean to be sarcastic but it seems our president is a LITERAL BADLUCK to this country.
Haba this is annoying all the govt can do is make excuses and serially display it's incompetence in all national issues.
Unemployment zero, power zero, security zero, poverty alleviation zero, capital project zero CURRUPTION 100%
the earlier we start demanding accountability from govt the better, instead some goons are busy calling pple from one part of the country to the other or blaming one tribe or the other.
BH IS LIKE A CANCER AND LIKE ALL CANCER IT SPREADS. Nowhere is safe unless we demand our govt put an end to this rubbish. Except if the govt is also involved in this mess.

Pls ignore the guy Jude. I was enjoying reading from others until he tried derailing the thread. Let's move on jor.

^^^
I agree with you the opposition in this country don't really know what opposition is all about. They think opposition is all about shouting nonsense at the highest decibel of your voice so that you get a position of on the PIB committee.
If we had more el rufais out there providing alternative views at least the PDP govt will have to think twice before taking nigerians for a ride.

"if you want to increase your twitter fan base, get arrested by the SSS" el-rufai

This is a very thought provoking article on the budget our government made for us this year. A very good read I must say, I have highlighted some salient points, but reading the whole article is really worth it if you care to know how the government spends money on your behalf! Happy reading


The attempt by President Goodluck Jonathan to withdraw the 'fuel subsidy' largely to raise revenues for a wasteful government united Nigerians across ethnic, religious and social strata for over a week. One of the unintended consequences of the administration's unilateral action was bringing to the front-burner questions about the size of government, the excessive cost of governance, and the fraud and corruption in the oil sector.

Nigerians now know that their president would rather impose an overnight tax on them than undertake an orderly deregulation of the petroleum sector. They also know the difference between an isolated fuel price hike (for immediate revenue) and the policy review-legislation-independent regulation-competitive markets path that was implemented in the telecoms sector deregulation between 2000 and 2001. Nigeria will be the better for it, as we are now unanimous on seeing that some of the spending items like the near N1 billion for food in the Villa are justified and put in context.

For this reason, over the ensuing weeks, this column will undertake a detailed sectoral analysis of the 2012 budget proposal submitted by the president to the National Assembly in December 2011. Our objective is to enlighten all stakeholders on the provisions contained in the budget and suggest areas to reduce waste, question spending priorities and cut out what appears dysfunctional. Our hope is that the National Assembly will in the end make the budget work for the people of Nigeria. Today, we will look at the revenue profile for 2012 and issues arising there from, and then throw a searchlight on the much-headlined expenditure for the security sector. Details of the budget are available online onhttp://budgetoffice.gov.ng/2012_budget_proposal.html or if for any reason unavailable, http://el-rufai.org/2012/01/full-access-to-2012-budget-proposal/

The federation expects to generate about N9.4 trillion in revenues in 2012, consisting of about N6.4 trillion from oil and gas, N2.7 trillion from personal income and company taxes, custom duties, and value-added tax (VAT). Another N250 billion is expected from special levies and taxes like the Education Tax. Out of this total, the Federal Government share amounts to about N3.6 trillion. This is because the Federal Government gets about 48.5 per cent of the oil and non-oil revenues and taxes, about 14 per cent of VAT and gets to keep all of its independent revenue. Omitted from the budget is an additional 7.5 per cent of the total - special funds that include the ecological fund, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and mineral resources fund. Also omitted is how much is deducted from the gross oil revenue as our contribution to the Joint Venture Cash Calls. All these need to be detailed out for the National Assembly to do its constitutional duty and ensure accountability, but they are missing from both the Budget and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework for 2012-2015.

Starting with projected revenue of about N3.6 trillion, the budget envisages a total spend of N4.7 trillion, meaning that we intend to spend about N1.1 trillion more than we expect to earn this year. Where is the extra cash coming from? It is not from 'fuel subsidy'. The 2012 budget already assumed that not a penny will be deducted to subsidise petrol. The Federal Government hopes to finance the deficit by borrowing some N794 billion this year, and get some windfall from privatisation (N10 billion), signature bonus (N75 billion) and the now-depleted excess crude account (N225 billion). No provision has been made in the budget to transfer any amounts to the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). Once again, these are items that need to be detailed for us as citizens to know, and for the National Assembly to decide upon.

What are the implications of these pieces of information? How does the plan to borrow an additional N794 billion sit with the administration's desire to ‘reduce’ our borrowing from the current levels nearing 20 per cent of GDP? What does the projected medium term expenditure framework reveal about our revenue and spending patterns? Are these consistent with the desire of Nigerians to see a smaller, less expensive and more efficient Federal Government? We ask our readers to bear these in mind as they reflect on the numbers presented herein.

We should also note that with the 'fuel subsidy' not fully gone, the Federal Government's assumption of zero-subsidy-deduction is off the table, and the hole in the budget will increase by at least half of the 'expected N400+ billion' to N1.3 trillion, so further borrowing is necessary to fund this gap. And as I wrote last week, there is not a single kobo anywhere for the so-called SURE-P programme unless the National Assembly raises the benchmark price of crude oil by at least another $20 with the risks attendant to that.

Looking closely at the spending proposals, commendable efforts have been made to reduce the level of statutory transfers to INEC, UBEC, NDDC and the National Judicial Council (NJC). Sadly, the transfer to the National Assembly remains at the 2011 level of N150 billion. Unless this is reduced, we will spend an average of N320 million per legislator in 2012 at a time when Nigerians are clearly disgusted at the very high quarterly allowances they draw, over and above what the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has approved for them.  The National Assembly should listen to the voice of Nigerians and reduce this provision substantially. The provision for the salaries and allowances of public servants has risen by about N150 billion from the 2011 levels to N1.655 trillion. This increase cannot be due to the usual annual salary increment. There is something more and it contradicts the stated goal of the administration to reduce the cost of governance. The National Assembly should scrutinise this more closely with a very sharp knife!

Other items of expenditure that need closer review are the overheads - the N11 billion for international travel, more than N30 billion for ‘research and development’, maintenance of vehicles, furniture, etc., over N20 billion, stationery, magazines and newspapers at over N5 billion, and nearly N17 billion (more than $110 million) to purchase yet another plane for the president, at a time when we are being asked to sacrifice and pay more for petrol, transportation, food and rent. There are other items we will highlight in each sector but these broad areas are indicative for the time being of the need for close scrutiny by the citizens.
We will now briefly look at the provisions for the security sector. The president announced that the sector got allocated some N922 billion for 2011. This number is the sum of the budgetary allocations of the ministries of defence, police affairs, and interior plus police commands and formations and the intelligence community (NSA's office). The president forgot to add the following - (1) Amnesty Programme (N74 billion), (2) Military Pensions N60 billion, (3) Army Internal Operations (N17 billion), (5) Police Service Commission (N2.5bn), (6) Customs, Immigration & Pensions (N8.6bn), (7) SSS/NIA Pensions (N11.2bn), (9) Death Benefits - Army & Police (N5.4bn), (10) Federal Road Safety Commission (N28.9bn), (11) Maritime Security (N4bn) and Police Reform Fund (N15bn). Adding all these up brings the total of our spending on the security sector to N1.145 trillion, not the N922 billion highlighted. The equivalent tally for 2011 was N1.174 trillion, about N30 billion higher than this year.

We will begin the analysis of the security sector with the budget of the intelligence community - the office of the NSA, the SSS (Internal Security), the National Intelligence Agency (External Counter-Intelligence) and the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF). The budget of the Defence Intelligence Agency and Directorate of Military Intelligence are under the Ministry of Defence, and are therefore excluded.
It is worth noting that the NSA is one of the 20 special advisers approved by the National Assembly for the president, but he sits in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as a member. His office is an advisory office and his main job is coordinating the activities of the security agencies, with staff strength of about 100. Each agency is independent of the NSA and routinely reports directly to the president. It is therefore difficult to explain how the NSA has the highest budget of all in the intelligence community- higher than that of the SSS with about 15,000 staff members and the smaller but far more effective, NIA.

the NSA's budget consists of N212 million for personnel cost, N3.64 billion for overheads and a whopping N33 billion for capital projects!  The respective proposals for the SSS are N17 billion, N5 billion and a paltry N1.8 billion! No wonder the SSS is handicapped in dealing with security threats within our borders! The NIA is not much better with N19.7 billion for staff costs, N3.9 billion for overheads and N2.6 billion for capital projects.

A cursory look at the NSA's capital projects is even more revealing. Over N1.1 billion will be spent on satellite communications, over N3.5 billion on something called ‘data signal centre/equipment’ and N717 million for Iridium/Thuraya Communication platform. I thought that Iridium went out of business nearly a decade ago, and Thuraya is an insecure form of communication used mainly by global companies to connect far-flung personnel.  Are our agencies using this for secure communications in the 21st century? I wondered about that until I saw the provision of N78 million for a presidential communications network and N27 billion for the establishment of a ‘strategic operations centre’. We all hope that the most advanced technologies will be adopted in deploying these - and certainly not low-earth orbit satellite systems like the defunct Iridium!

The Presidential Air Fleet is under the NSA's office. Apart from modest provisions of N15.6 million for personnel costs, N969 million for overheads (spares, checks, and aviation fuel can be expensive!), there is a provision of N16.8 billion ($110 million) for a brand new plane for the presidency. This is quite an expensive plane because a fully-equipped high-end Gulfstream 5 can be acquired brand new for between $40-50 million. The plane type and specifications were not mentioned in the budget, and these should interest the citizens of Nigeria and the National Assembly.

Within the budget of the State House is a proposal to buy two brand new, bullet-proof Mercedes Benz 600E cars for the presidency at about $1 million each. I guess since our two top men are getting new cars, it makes sense for them to have an additional new aircraft as well - but in a year in which we are living above our means, spending at least N1.1 trillion we do not have, and borrowing N794 billion to make ends meet? We are broke as a nation, we now know. We will collapse if the fuel subsidy is not withdrawn, according to our president. Are our leaders not too expensive? Are they sensitive to our cries for improved electricity, affordable transportation and jobs for our youths? The ball is in the court of the National Assembly to restructure this budget.

LagosShia:
what you are asking me to do is "blind faith".that is to believe without understanding,scrutiny and textual basis.

Abi! They might as well ask you to embrace oduduwa while they are it.

The christain on this forum go to extraordinary lengths to malign Islam and it's prophet, yet such zeal is absent or even nonexistent in answering 2 questions which represent the foundation on which "mainstream" christainity is built. (christainity as a religion and the notion of Jesus as god)
How I wish u guys will channel such efforts in understanding Islam and what it teaches, and not sensational media reports.

Mehn! This guy flows like the currents of monsoon

Really this is great, he states what I already know, yet when I listen it's like learning a new thing

My best VERSE is in ankabut which read[b]s "does mankind think they will be left alone to say 'we have faith' without being tested with afflictions and tribulations? Verily we have tested those who came before you so that Allah may know those who are truthful ( in their claims of faith) and those who are just liars"[/b]

The beauty of it is that some Muslims have developed these easy go easy come mentality or miracle mentality just like the CHRISTAINs. In that they believe if you are a good Muslim then trials will not affect you, or Allah makes u rich very healthy, and doesn't afflict u with anything.
Infact this verse tells us the opposite in that if you are a believer, be prepared for trials and tests in life as Allah puts it "so that We may see how you will react"
So the trials Muslims face in this country and this world as a whole is best responded to by what Allah say 'WA BASHIRI SABIRUN' (and give glad tidings to those who are patient)

FILM TRICK!

Wants wrong with having an anti govt rally? So long it's peaceful. It seems some pple still have military regime genes left in them.
I HOPE THEY DEDICATE THE NEXT RALLIES TO ANTI CURRUPTION, AND FISCAL DICIPLINE.

U fit get 10 litres of GEJ fuel with that

www.fxchange.com/litre?KoreaWfound=benddownselect/

I had a dream that jakumo is a Nigerian in self imposed exile somewhere in the west, whose tribal affiliation is an open secret, and who has had his fair share of political stints with the Nigerian political cabals of old, and hence his understandable yet logic defying bitterness towards them.

Kobojunkie:
Where is the evidence of this? It remains that the majority are NOT involved in the protests. In many areas, people have chosen to stay indoors than actually step out on the streets to protest. In some areas, there are no cars for miles of street and No protests. Let's not get carried away.

Seriously! The protest has been sustained for week now, and I don't think it is the same pple on the street every day, pple participate in the rallies at their convinience and at different days. I for one participated once and my family stayed home, but like many who stayed home it doesn't mean they don't approve of it. I DON'T THINK YOU, I OR EVEN THE GOVERNMENT WANT THE WHOLE 160M NIGERIANS ON THE STREETS?

And yes nigerians are asking question because unlike before where the majority of people that question govt were the opposition or objective columnist in the dailies. Today you see the lay man asking "1BN FOR FOOD? IS IT LOUIS VUTTON RICE OR GUCCI BEANS THEY EAT IN ASO ROCK." and a host of objective questions like how the subsidy funds have skyrocketed.

The evidence of this new awakening is most glaring in the fact that, that government with all it's media and propaganda machine were I'll-prepared or not expecting this much scrutiny from the public, hences you see the hasty distribution of busses, lack of well thought out response from govt on the questions on the quadrupling of subsidy funds, the hasty but insufficient 25% deducting in salary by govt and a host of others.

I REPEAT GOVT UNDERESTIMATED THE KIND OF SCRUTINY IT WILL DRAW ON ITSELF BY THIS SINGULAR ACT OF SUBSIDY REMOVAL

Yes I think it has gone beyond the subsidy kobojunkie, although the subsidy matter is the catalyst, and it will be a strategic blunder to let that go FOR NOW, to pursue broader issues. But I must say these are some of the things I think are at hand now.

1. Nigerians AS A NATION have overcome their FEARS/COMPLACENCY/LAZINESS call it whatever
2. As much as the politicians have played on our ETHNICITY, TRIBALISM, POVERTY AND IGNORANCE to divide and rule us, there is still a silent force in every nigerian that is stronger then any wedge put between us by politicians to weaken us, and that force is THE AUDACITY TO HOPE.
3. Any one that takes the masses for granted does that at his own peril.
4. Nigerians are asking questions, and not just gbaga gbaga questions but salient questions. FOR ONCE NIGERIANS ARE MAKING EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND THEIR BUDGET

AND MORE,

^^
why do we live in denial as nigerians? And who are you to determine who is more christain or less? The article says predominantly christain area is whence came the mob. The other day I saw a video of here alleging some people EATING others, tell me now are the beroms not christains? That is despicable.
Now get it straight and dont let sentiments hold sway, I don't these or the perpetrators of killing of anybody for that matter are adherents of any religion they claim, nay, they are but miscreants amongst us he'll bent on turning us against each other. THE EARLIER NIGERIANS GET THAT INTO THEIR THICK SKULL THE BETTER.

I won't believe until I see concrete action and EVIDENCE. NA today govt start film trick? Where is the senator arrested? Can some one tell me the CHAREGES AND EVIDENCE against him? I just hope some one will not play politics with the occupy movement.

Since the govts economic team have failed to convince labour and co, the govt is employing alternative means. Why don't the militants go and operate the rigs

Chairman take it easy, this is not the madness section. It is the debates section

:d ;d

It no news now that the Nigerian economy both formal and informal has grounded to a halt, and the economic life line of the country is threatening to follow siute. So the million dollar question is DID THE GOVT UNDERESTIMATE THE PUBLIC? Or Is it just bad luck for the good luck govt?
Some weeks back the govt threatened it was ready for an industrial action like this, it even alluded that the battle line won't be drawn before April and consultation will be ongoing till then, only for nigerians to wake up on jan 1 with a below the belt punch by govt removing of the fuel subsidy. Now as fate may have it the govt is teying to negotiate a settlement to this economic stalemate with the nlc which possibly involves REVERTING BACK TO 65/ltr. So what are the factors at play.
1. Is the Nigerian public waking up from it's long slumber of docility in demanding accountability from govt?
2. New year new system. Did the govt underestimate the power of the public?
3. What has suddenly changed in Nigeria?
4. Can this new found voice and participation by the public be translated into more far reaching demand for change areas like cost of govt, corruption, TRUE electoral reforms etc.

When? Coz am watching now

It will be narrow minded or outright sinister to make this only an Igbo thing. What happens to the other victims? Yes in the latest attacks Igbos have been victims but does that mean those victims before the recent one don't matter or infact the numerous northerners killed by BH?
If you want war with the north be man enough to declare it, but stop hiding behind BH or waiting for the international community to start it for you.

And so bcoz Igbo dey icc, I suppose he was appointed there for his tribal linings? And r there no Muslims there going by your lateral logic?

^^
don't mind the war drunk fellow. Of all things to deduce from the article, his reversed engineered brain only tot of how to use the UN in time of war. Some people are so desperate for conflict these days they even disguise as BH to commit crime under the BH franchise.

I don't think u need figures to mislead our dear president. Even a kindergarten pupil can do so by simply saying God said so !

Bla bla bla,

this guy is amazing! he never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.

U might not agree with rufai but what he is stating is the truth

apoti:
if I were in your SHOES at this moment, " GEJ. Shoes again  

I wanted to go and sleep but I just had to laugh at the above b4 I go

@OP of al posts here it's only musiwa post u saw, which reinforces ur divisive intent.

Didnt u see mai-suyas concise and deductive answer to ur post?
Am beginning to doubt the intent of this thread.

Did u guys watch 9 o'clock news today and see all those transport, Market women, and bla bla association endorsing the policy,

Just reminds me of pre election okada men, witches and bla bla association endorsing GEJ.