₦airaland Forum

May announce some personal aides before Friday

AS part of measures to reduce the cost of governance, the incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari may retain only 19 ministries from the present 31.

Consequently, most of the candidates being considered for the federal executive council (FEC) will end up as ministers of state, after all.

Besides, the president-elect is said to be considering the feasibility of announcing his Chief of Staff, Principal Secretary and a handful of Special Advisers before Friday so that there can be some semi-official interface between the outgoing government and the incoming one in the context of handing over of tangible assets in the State House.

The Guardian was told last night that there is one mind in all policy advisory committee members that the number of the ministries should be pruned to about twenty as part of over-all strategy to reduce high cost of governance in Abuja.

It was learned that the cost-of-governance-reduction strategy is not by intuition or a flash in the pan as various advisory committees of the new governing Party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) have been considering the new deal for some time.
Besides, The Guardian confirmed that President-elect, Buhari, is fully persuaded too that he would not be able to deliver on promises without shedding the weight of the federal bureaucracy and indeed the number of ministries and agencies of government that consume the more than 70 per cent of the federal budget through the recurrent expenditure instrument.

The Guardian was told too that the Stephen Oronsaye’s report of 2012, a comprehensive blueprint on the fundamentals of reduction of cost of governance has become handy for the technocrats crafting working papers for the in-coming administration.

It was gathered too that the former Head of Service, Oronsaye, has been consulted on the report details that the outgoing administration has failed to implement.


Specifically, Ahmed Joda, chairman of the transition committee of the APC has collected a copy of the Oronsaye panel report from the former Principal Secretary/Permanent Secretary State House, (Oronsaye) himself. The former Permanent Secretary, Finance confirmed the development on telephone last night.

In the same vein, a retired federal permanent secretary, who was pioneer director-general the federal government’s reform bureau, has just completed a book in which a cost-of-governance reduction strategy too is a major chapter. Specifically, the book on the expediency of radical reform of the civil service recommends 18 ministries, among other features that the advisers of the APC and the president-elect are said to have adopted. The book, which will be publicly presented in June this year is said to have raised some dust on so many other issues including the tenure policy that Oronsaye’s regime as head of service adopted; the office of the First Lady and even the controversial designation of “Coordinating Minister for the Economy”.

The Guardian was told that the author of the book on reform too has spoken to the Joda Committee on the policy thrust of the administration, which is likely to touch on the quality
Federal bureaucracy.

Meanwhile, The Guardian gathered from well-placed sources close to the president elect’s men that the expediency of getting some vital information pieces from the outgoing president’s men may compel him to name a few personal aides ahead of inauguration. Sources said to us last night that the president-elect is concerned about paucity of information about certain issues that need to be physically inspected before taking over, although the handing over notes were submitted on Monday to the Ahmed Joda’s transition committee by the outgoing vice president, Namadi Sambo.


Concerns have been raised about how the Buhari’s imminent administration can implement a constitutional provision that stipulates a minister per state (36 states & Abuja) within the context of reducing ministries to less than 20. But legal experts have noted that the constitution does not state that there should be 36 ministries to cover the 36 ministerial nominees.

As an insider put it to this newspaper last night: “In the APC’s administration that Buhari will run from Friday, there will be more ministers of state. According to a reform agenda that the Yar’Adua’s government put in place, all ministers are equal: ministers are ministers and their remuneration package should be uniform. The Obasanjo’s administration had on the eve of departure in 2007 reduced federal ministries to19. But the Yar’Adua’s administration reversed the policy and returned to the status quo.

In the new deal being considered, there may be the following structure as examples of merger of ministries:
1. Ministry of Interior (to include Police Affairs)
2. Ministry of Transportation (to include Works, Aviation, Railways, Waterways/Transport
3. Agriculture & Water Resources, etc.
4. Ministry of Information, Youth Development & Culture
5. Ministry of Trade, Investment & Tourism, etc.

Niger Delta Ministry may be replaced with Ministry for Regional Development. Women Affairs, Special Duties may be scrapped.

BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy, Agriculture Minister Han Changfu, will go to Nigeria and attend the inauguration of Nigeria's new president, Muhammadu Buhari, at the invitation of the country's government.

The ceremony will be held on May 29, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying announced Tuesday.

OREMUSSANCTUS:
South west why
Why sell ya own
Stop being "slave" to d wite cum not

VickJames:
These guys came out from the building but our president-elect stood outside.

That's a big difference

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade, Sunday explained how the agency was able to get alleged drug trafficker, now Senator-elect, Buruji Kashamu, under house arrest in Lagos.

Officials of the agency had on Saturday stormed the Lekki home of Kashamu, who was allegedly nick-named “God” in the US, and got him restrained therein.

THISDAY gathered that to place Kashamu on house arrest, the agency had disarmed Kashamu's personal guards manning his gates.

The statement went on to state that as at the time of his arrest, the agency allowed Kashamu’s legal attorneys – Daniel Onamusi and Barrister Oloyede – and close family members, including his wife and adult daughters, to speak with him and attest to his well-being.

The agency said the house arrest was preparatory to his being extradited to the United States of America, where he would be tried for drug trafficking-related offences.

Giade made these disclosures in a statement issued by the agency's Head of Public Affairs, Mitchel Ofoyeju.

The NDLEA boss said Kashamu has been a target of both the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for over 20 years.

He said the house arrest is sequel to a formal request for extradition which the agency received from the Embassy of the United States of America pending his arraignment before the Federal High Court on Monday, May 25, 2015.

He said the senator-elect was indicted in the Northern District of Illinois, United States on charges brought against him by ICE.

The statement reads in part, "Kashamu, who U.S. court documents alleged was known in his days as the leader of a prolific heroin trafficking ring based in Chicago, Illinois as “God,” “Daddy,” and “Kasmal,” is wanted to stand trial for charges of conspiracy and importation of controlled substances, namely heroin, into the United States dating back to 1994.

"Kashamu, who holds dual Nigerian/Beninese citizenship, has taken multiple preemptive actions to thwart U.S. extradition efforts such as making fanciful claims that his is a case of mistaken identity, and that his deceased brother is responsible for the crimes he is being sought after in the United States.

When President-elect Muhammau Buhari moves into the State House after the May 29 handover, he will be confronted with N8.185,575,211.50 debts.

President Goodluck Jonathan will on May 28 conduct Buhari round the Villa – the seat of power in Abuja where facilities are said to be ageing.

About N3,647,793, 305.76 is needed to fix the infrastructure at the Villa.

These highlights are contained in a report submitted to the Federal Government Transition Committee, which is headed by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

The committee is expected to submit its report today to the Ahmed Joda-led APC Transition Committee.

The liabilities include contracts/service providers (N1,234,913,628.92), staff claims (N1,238,876,080.16), local contracts commitments and liabilities, including Julius Berger Nigeria (N6, 946,699, 131.34).

The report said: “The President had on December 3 last year approved the release of N3,394,168,460.95 for the payment of recurrent/overhead debts and capital debts due to other contractors, consultants and service providers. This is yet to be released by the Federal Ministry of Finance, it said.

President Jonathan, according to the report, on April 15 directed the Coordinating Minister for the Economy/Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to look into the State House appeal for the release of at least N4billion to make part-payments out of the total outstanding debts of N8,185,575,2111.50 “to sustain the existing mutual and cordial relationships with the owed firms. This is still being awaited”.

The report said the N8.1b liabilities are outside the expenses on the renovation of the Defence House, the main residence/ president’s office, Aguda House/ Vice President’s office and other guest houses under the transition programme.

“The bills for these transition programme works are yet to be received and will be additional to the 2015 annual Service Level Agreement for the State House Facilities with an annual average commitment of N3,531,793,631.77 certified for 2014,” the report added.

Facilities at the State House have started aging and the budgetary provision increasingly becoming inadequate.

The report said: “The primary challenge facing the State House has been the inadequacy of successive budgetary appropriations. The State House annual appropriations do not match its actual activities, thereby leading to regular recourse to additional funding from Intervention Fund from the Federal Ministry of Finance.

“About 283 of the temporary staff not found eligible for regularisation were with the approval of His Excellency, the President given contract. appointments renewable annually based on performance and fitness.

“ However, payment of their salaries(an average of N8million per month) is from State House overheads provision, which remains a huge challenge to State House.

“The existing infrastructure for mechanical, electrical and associated components have aged and are performing well beyond their design lives.

“The proposal for their replacement/ upgrade has been reviewed and certified by the Bureau of Public Procurement in the total sum of N3,647,793, 305.76. However due to paucity of funds, phased implementation is being adopted for the most vital and critical works, starting with Phase I in the sum of N693, 119,509.55

“Inadequate office space to accommodate staff of the State House and inadequate operational vehicles for the efficient discharge of the activities of the various departments and units of the State House, including shuttle buses within the State House Complex and between the State House and the State House Medical Centre.”

STATEMENT BY AIRTEL NIGERIA ON THE CURRENT DIESEL & FUEL SCARCITY.

Airtel Networks Limited wishes to inform our customers and the general public that the prevailing situation in the country regarding the scarcity of diesel and other petroleum products is presently impacting negatively, our commitments to delivering best-in-class quality of service and seamless telephony experience to all Nigerians.

While we are currently doing everything within our means as well as going the extra mile to ensure that all our base stations and switches are up and running, it is sad to note that it is becoming increasingly difficult to replenish current stock of diesel due to the lingering scarcity of the products.

We are also concerned that, if the situation persists, it may have adverse effects on our network, impacting both voice and data services.

Airtel, therefore wishes to assure all customers that we will continue working with all our partners and stakeholders to mitigate any negative impact as we remain committed to our promise of providing exceptional services just as we seek the cooperation and understanding of all whilst apologizing for any inconvenience at this time.

Thank you.

SIGNED
MANAGEMENT

Despite warnings, apparently more and more Vietnamese women have continued to fall prey to these snares





Eluma Fransic Chukwubueze was arrested at a hotel in District 1. Photo credit: Tuoi Tre newspaper

Ho Chi Minh City police arrested Saturday a Nigerian man who allegedly cheated Vietnamese women he befriended on Facebook out of US$7,000.

Eluma Francis Chukwubueze, 37, was arrested at a hotel on Bui Vien Street in District 1.
According to police, he used different names and masqueraded as a rich foreign man.

He flirted with Vietnamese women on Facebook and promised to send them gifts from foreign countries.

But he asked his victims to transfer “shipping fees” into bank accounts he appointed.

In the latest case, a 48-year-old woman in HCMC’s Binh Thanh District was asked to send him $250 in exchange for a gift set of an iPhone 5s, a camera and a laptop.

On May 20, the woman named M. sent him the money.

But then his accomplice, who impersonated as an airport officer, later asked her to send an additional $2,500 as a fine as he said the gift consignment was being held in Malaysia.

M. felt suspicious and called the police, who later arrested the Nigerian man.

Chukwubueze told police he earned around $7,000 in the last four months using the tricks. It is not immediately clear what has happened to his accomplice and how many Vietnamese women he succeeded in cheating.

Such cases have become increasingly common in Vietnam.

Police in Hanoi said they have received a number of complaints from Vietnamese women who claimed that they had been cheated out of money by foreign men on Facebook.

Most of the women are single and were victims of almost the same trick, according to the police.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke on Saturday said the arrest of Senator-elect Kasumu Buruji is not an extra-judicial action.



According to him a formal request has been made by the American government seeking his extradition and same has been passed to the appropriate legal body.

He adds that due process an all legal proceedings would be pursued with respect to his extradition.

The Senator-elect had in a statement signed by his media aide, described as illegal the decision by the drug law enforcement agency to surround his house in the early hours of Saturday

He also accused PDP chieftain, Mr Bode George, whose wife is the Director-General of the Agency, of being behind the action.

“this latest onslaught is a confirmation of the alleged plot to illegally abduct him in spite of the pending suit against this illegality.

“As a matter of fact, the court has ordered parties in the matter including the NDLEA to maintain status quo until judgment is delivered on Wednesday 27th May 2015.

“We have confirmed that they do not have a warrant of arrest, just as the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has said that it did not give any order to carry out this illegality.

“We have confirmed that this illegality is being designed and executed by Chief Bode George whose wife is the Director General of the NDLEA, all in a bid to score cheap political points.

“We urge all well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on NDLEA, Chief George and his wife to toe the path of the rule of law and follow due process.

“Nigeria is not a Banana republic! The United States being the bastion of democracy, the rule of law and due process should not lend itself to this kind of illegality”, the statement said.

Buruji Kashamu, Ogun East senator-elect, has
threatened to commit suicide if men of the
National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
try o forcefully take him from his Lekki, Lagos
residence.

Kashamu told online news platform,
SaharaReporters, that the operatives that
surrounded his house are masked and were
operating illegally. “I will commit suicide should
NDLEA forces surrounding his house in Lekki
break his bedroom door,” he said.

Buruji said he will accept “house arrest” until
Monday when a competent court can decide on
the legality of extradition.

It would be recalled that early Saturday NDLEA
operatives stormed his home with intentions to
extradite him to the United States.

Although he has been linked drug related
offences in the US, Kashamu has denied it
repeatedly.
More to follow…

Saheed9:
so u r from ogun east too. Where exactly?
Our ppl surprised me when i saw d results of d election. Thats the power of money