₦airaland Forum

Good move. They should get the merger formally concluded ASAP and move on to the more difficult task of mobilising at the grass-root level. They don't have as much time as they think they do. No single Party can defeat the PDP . With this in mind, the merging Parties must move with haste.

crestime: The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has appointed a 19-member committee with the mandate to negotiate its planned merger with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the committee, to be chaired by Chief Tom Ikimi, has as members Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, Governors Babatunde Fashola and Rauf Aregbesola, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyawu, Sen. George Akume and Hon.Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Other members are Sen. Lawal Shuaibu, Chief Audu Ogbe, Chief Achike Udenwa, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Sen. Chris Ngige, Dr. Usman Bugaje, Hadjia Rabiat Eshak, Dr. Ibrahim Y. Lame, Alhaji Yusuf Ali and Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

ACN said the appointment of the committee is an indication of its total commitment to making the merger a reality, adding that there is no going back in the party’s determination to work with the CPC and the ANPP to rescue and salvage Nigeria.

It also congratulated the leadership of the CPC and the ANPP, which have already named their own merger committees, for their patriotism, and appealed to all Nigerians to support the planned merger.

”This is not about the ACN, CPC or ANPP but about our country Nigeria, which is tottering on the edge of disaster due mainly to the lack of leadership and failure of governance by the ruling PDP since 1999. The merger of the three parties is like a ‘Noah’s Ark’ which all Nigerians who are tired of the endless drift of our country must enter into.

”This is not about winning power at the centre at all costs, as the naysayers will want Nigerians to believe. It is about putting the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians above everything else.

”We will also like to inform Nigerians that contrary to what the doubters and spoilers are saying, the three parties are going into the merger plans unconditionally and without a set mind over posts or anything else. The only issue that has been settled is the urgent need to rescue and salvage our country. In this regard, the opposition knows it has a date with history!” ACN said
>>>More updates @[url] www.Naijavlog.com[/url]

Totally correct. Anyone who knows what obtains beyond the borders of Nigeria will admit that the Nation must move beyond the PDP. Before, it was almost unambitiously acceptable to persevere with and/or even celebrate our situation in comparison to developed Nations because "they had advantages and started earlier". We deceived ourselves with the "giant of Africa" tag that is looking more like a mocking alias these days than anything else. We took comfort in fooling ourselves that we are "only 50" and languished foolish on our hammock of self-deceit.

Well, what is our excuse when other African Nations are now pulling strongly ahead of us? What, for example, is our excuse for seeing how our Police officers are kept in conditions we would not even want the villains they put away detained under?

Which sensible person, still capable of an iota of neutrality and dispassionate truthfulness, can deny that the PDP , for example, is at fault for the appalling conditions our Police force is in? Have they not have 14 years of supervising the NPF? In a similar vein, have they not had 14 years to control everything yet delivered only abject failure? The PDP has to go if Nigeria is to stand any chance of making appreciable progress. Let the committees of the various Parties do what they have to do, harmonise positions and then get on with the hard work of letting Nigerians know what they will do differently.

What an insecure Presidency. What should concern a serious Presidency with the non-specific statement of Buhari? This is not seen anywhere else i.e the Presidency cheaply and humiliatingly replying , almost immediately, as if it has no serious focus or concern, to every innuendo or relational statement made.

If Buhari say he might change his mind and run, a serious Presidency, led by a confident and self-assured President, would not be making official statement that indicate it is obsessed with everything, however non-specific, perceived opponents of the Government say. A President who is unpresidential and given to pettiness,trivia and the ridiculous display of insecurity. Nigeria sha.

[quote author=GARRI (x7)]Na wa oooo!!!

Some people carry Lagos matter for head like Government work.....

[/quote]Amusing to say the least.

Abati is certainly a disgrace. I don't know how the man views family life but one thing that guides my outlook is the notion that I will disappoint my children with actions that shows I am unprincipled. if you preach one thing everyday only for your children and loved ones to see you doing the opposite, what on earth will they think of you?

Anyway, I forget this is Nigeria we are talking about. Everyone around Abati are all probably loving the extra cheddar trickling down to them and are probably even encouraging him to contradict himself more and continue to compromise all he ever stood for. I think Nigeria is probably one of the few Countries where many citizens will staunchly reject the adage "a good name is worth more than silver and gold".

brownlolly: It is so obvious that Nigeria's problems are mostly caused by her citizens - not the politicians. The progressive ones see positive changes in their environment. The retards come on Nairaland and talk trash. The politics we play will affect our future and the coming generations. Can we all see that?

The SouthWest has improved...show me another zone that can boast of this.

Whether we like it or not (all of them are corrupt or not), ACN is a positive party...and I fully support the move to join forces and terminate oppression and ignorance...

Long live Nigeria

Bright insight. Sadly, most here don't think like you. Many Nigerians today have fallen victim to the brainwashing plot of opportunistic and desperate politicians that plays on the sentiments and innate fear and biases of the populace. The aim is to 'divide and conquer' so that most Nigerians are too distracted and weak from fighting their equally impoverished countrymen to even see what matters let alone unite to take the necessary actions against leaders , wherever they may be from, to achieve the elusive progress we all seek.

I too fully support the merger effort. Those who do not support it are totally free to enjoy their opinion also. The battle is on the political field and will not be decided by what any of us think individually. It will be about collective effort, unity and the ability to reach out to a badly divided, dejected and disillusioned people.

gateleo: You havent answer my question? it is very clear that you guys are just out to make rubbish Fashola.

I dear you to make a thread and let investigate other state FOOD budget.

Thank you.

Don't mind him. Too many brainless mischief-makers troll this forum. What would be easier than for Fashola to budget for food like GEJ has done and inflate the figure incredibly as the office of our very profligate President has done? Is it not like how GEJ is hankering for more money to augment a vast fleet of 10 Planes 90% of Western leaders would be envious of yet we are to believe Fashola is now up to something nefarious because he has not explicitly stated what is spent on feeding the Governor's office.

It could just be that the amount is not significant enough to require independent mention. It can be accommodated, for example, under miscellaneous expenses. I hope people still have enough common-sense to understand that nothing is easier than stealing what is budgeted for and eventually approved to be spent. In a nation where lack of budget implementation carries no penalty, including bogus categories that can be over-inflated vastly is the easiest form of 'legitimate' stealing.

Clannish mischief-making has blinded some from seeing that nothing would be more natural than for Fashola to include budgeted spending for feeding the governor and inflate that amount by 1,000%. Common sense, as they say, is not so common.

chidexy: @Gbawe, sorry to barge in on your exchange with the people you've been engaging. The 6.5 Billion Naira under special duties was captured under the office of the Chief of Staff and different from the budget allocation to the Ministry of Special Duties. Learn to separate issues accordingly. Under all the ministries and head of agencies, there's always budget allocation for special duties.

My observation in the budgetary allocation of state governments (Lagos is no exception) is that so much monies are allocated to vaguely defined subjects, giving room for the boys there to do whatever they wish with the funds

Show us what "special duties" allocation involves then and establish it correlation to feeding the office of the Governor which is the topic of this thread. We are just simply going round in circles. If no specific budget exist for feeding the Governors office, reasonable people don't make assumptions and insinuations - especially negative ones.

[quote author=A-ZeD]Now that you have seen it what are you going to do or what have you achieved? If Lagosians like their governor, it does not matter if he loots or not they will still vote for him.....[/quote]My guy, don't take that deluded and clannish clowns seriously. Is this not the crux of the matter essentially? I.e the notion that these jobless mischief-makers are just after a tawdry smear campaign that only ends up exposing their own ignorance? They don't even know what "special duties" involves yet they are willing to jubilate ignorantly while hinting the allocation for it is dubious or even linked with the feeding of the governors office. The heights of ignorance, deliberate dishonesty and vapid mischief-making.

Who works with that sort of shameless mischief if not those looking to give a dog a bad name to hang it? These fools are just desperately and dishonestly jumping on all they can in the hope they will find some 'dirt'. No one should take these clowns seriously. They are good for a laugh but not much else.

thelastPope: I know you cannot do a paragraph of clean, intelligent post so I will forgive you. There is nothing to explain in the budget. It is self explanatory. We will take it up from here. Thank you! You can step aside now!

I only pity the half-wits who take you clannish hacks seriously.

nwando: [size=18pt]What the fried fish is special duties @ 6.5 billion [/size]
Everything has been itemized already and a zillion upkeep and maintenance plus miscellaneous then special duties again
Hehehehehehehe
What special duties at a staggering amount like that?

Why not find out before assuming the worst? How is that negatively indolent attitude going to ever be helpful to you?

thelastPope: [size=60pt]wow! Jackpot![/size]

Mumu. See how you fools have now all disgraced yourself and exposed how you are driven by nothing other than clannish sentiments and a hateful mien you are not willing to admit to here? Olodo. I knew it was not going to be long before unintelligent and ignorant hacks like you and the OP end up appearing extremely dull. Do you even know what 'special duties' cover?

You see "miscellaneous" , that could actually account for the feeding of a frugal governor's office, below special duties. Yet you ignore that to begin eroticising over special duties because the 6.5 billion you saw immediately gave your semi-illiterate and ignorant mind an outlet for the clannish mischief it is here to perpetrate. Well, you and your fellow olodos should see what special duties cover below to note if its budget should be 50 kobo. Worthless timewasters. You are doing nothing but disgracing yourselves with this shameless show of clannishness you want to disguise as a search for transparency.



http://www.lagosstate.gov.ng/entities.php?k=36

Ministry Of Special Duties

VISION

To Be A First Class, Nation Builder, Job Provider And Safety/Disaster Manager On The Basis Of Strategic Thinking And Planning With A Robust Research And Development Environment



MISSION STATEMENT

To Develop Appropriate Manpower, Assist Mdas Within A Safe And Disaster- Free Environment Aided By The Application Of Research And Development



No nation can develop in an atmosphere of chaos and anarchy. Government, at all levels strive vigorously to maintain unity, peace and stability which are sine qua non for progress and effective development. In Lagos State, Government has in realization of maintaining peace and tranquility established the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations to build long lasting relationships between the various tiers of Government. The Government of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) has however changed it to Ministry of Special Duties.

The Ministry of Special Duties was carved-out of the Political and General Administration office of the Governor's office during the first term of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration was formally known as Special Duties Office in the Governor's office with fifty-six (56) members of staff in the two main Departments viz: Finance & Administration and Inter-Governmental Relations. In year 2000, it metamorphosed into a full fledge Ministry of Special Duties & Intergovernmental Relations vide LSG Official Gazettee No 05 Vol.00 of 22nd June 2000, headed by the Honourable Commissioner, and the Permanent Secretary, as the accounting officer with the following directorates i.e Finance and Administration, General Services, and four (4) units namely : Audit, Press/Public Relations ,Statistics,Legal Unit. The Job Creation Department was later added to the Ministry. Suffice to mention that the Ministry became self accounting in the year 2000

thelastPope: You just shot yourself in the foot and practically rubbished 90% of your NL posts with that statement! so what was the need for fuel subsidy inquiry? What was the need for FOI? What is the need for all the thousands of topics being opened on NL weekly? What is the need for the constant bombardment of the FG and NASS to provide all sorts of information and the scolding they get from the public when they cannot provide same? What a bundle of contradiction you are! What a shameful statement to make! We should all stop posting and seun should shut NL down since most of the information we all come here to seek does not exist! You my friend aint intelligent one tiny bit!

Olodo. That statement, even if you are too 'thick' to get it, is a relational statement. I.e it relates precisely to how it is the discretion of Lagos to budget for certain planned spending as they see fit. If there is no budget for food, what legal ground do you and others stand on trying to make Lagos include this category in planned yearly spending simply because the FG and Presidency does so?

When you don't get that simple concept that Lagos controls its own budget why will you not support your vapid argument with incongruous examples? You and others should go and petition appropriate authority to compel Fashola to create figures the State is totally at discretion in budgeting for any way it wishes. Good luck with your mission.

As I always say, you guys have mischief but lack grey matter. You are all not smart enough to know how budget work in reality to understand that declared planned spending can be the biggest facilitator of legitimate looting. Easier to declare billions for security and food only to then divert those funds into private pocket. It is like writing yourself a Government check in an amount of your choice.

Now, you nitwits should tell us the advantage of not budgeting for food if indeed a significant amount is spent on feeding the Governor's office. Can you and your fellow olodos still not see the obvious? I.e if the spending on food for the Governor's office is significant, then the budget may be significantly robbing other areas of spending to fund Fashola's food? Why do such an inane thing when it would be the easiest thing for Fashola to budget independently for food and even exaggerate it 50 times? Would you know he is not eating 300 bags of rice yearly if Fashola declared his office is consuming that? Well, only inane folks like you, used to roundabout thinking,would have the answer to that. Sorry pseudo-auditor.

[quote author=chreld_b]You my friend are the ignorant one due to your inability to detect sarcasm when you see it. As I result of that let me tell you what I literally meant. The Op asked a question and was given an answer pointing to the opinion that there is no provision in the Lagos state budget for feeding. At that point it is either the person making an inquiry takes that answer or discredit it through superior argument by doing some personal research instead of dragging the matter and in the process making no element of sense, thus my sarcastic assertion. So next time don't be in a haste to reply someone until you understand where the person is coming from and going to. I hope you know you are not the most knowledgeable person on NL or in the world. (That's a rhetorical question).[/quote]Correct. Don't be surprised OP and his acolytes have no capacity for that. Unthinkingly obdurate mischief is all those characters have in their armoury. Normal reasoning that can assist information collation, as you have eloquently illustrated above, should follow an order. It is clear when people do not seek information and are only acting out a predetermined script because they meander senselessly from one position to the next and ignore factual provisions to begin operating with insinuations.

eGuerrilla: @All,

I located some documents which provide a more granular breakdown on the spending priorities of the Lagos state government here, but no specific figures for food or even entertainment (note: you will need enough bandwidth to download a 24MB zip file).

His motives notwithstanding, in my opinion, @OP has asked the kind of question all Nigerians in tune with their civic responsibilities ought to be asking.

Civic responsibility is entirely the opposite of indolently asking questions you should be active gaining answers for yourself. It is genuine civic responsibility that would make all of us transcend the laziness, intellectual or otherwise, that leads to the redundant need to ask others for what we can obtain ourselves, if we are truly responsible citizens concerned with good governance. We live in an age where information is readily accessible and ignorance is no excuse. The FOI, as far as I know , is now passed and functional. As far as I am aware, no one on this thread has stated they have emailed the many offices they can gain information for and failed to get an appropriate response.

We need to raise the bar showing that this forum will not suffer fools and mischief-makers gladly. OP should desist from coming here combatively seeking answers he can get himself in relation to a leader many know he has an undoubted history of open mischief against. His motivation will always be distrusted. Same way you went looking for information is how OP too can find what he wants if it exists. No one is his information minister here and the notion other forumers should provide him with information we should all seek independently is repulsive. Furthermore, if the information he wants does not exist then OP and his ilk should accept that there may be no need for such information to exist rather than continue their idiotic insinuation that a probe is required or that something untoward is going on. Therein lies proof of mischief-making from OP and his 'supporting cast' here.

Afam4eva: It's funny how some people are implying that the LASG does not budget for food. Which money do they use in purchasing the food they eat at Alausa? All the dinners they host all year round, where does the money come from? Is it Fashola's private money that he uses to do all these things?

Then why don't you bring the precise figure here? I don't know why so many of us are hellbent on disgracing the expensive formal education our parents paid for. It is ridiculous for anyone to think the State bears no cost for feeding the office of the Governor. The substantive point is that the cost associated with feeding the office of the Governor, if insignificant, does not have to appear as an independent entry in a budget. That is the point OP and his acolytes here remains too thick to appreciate.

It is topics like this, and the response to it, that makes me appreciate what Nigeria is and why many Nigerians are not optimally developed to the extent this is reflected as tangible impacts on the nation's greatness ala innovative workforce capable of effective and critical thinking.

If there is no documented figure anywhere detailing budget allocation for the feeding of the Governor's office, why run around with gossip, fabrication and assumptions when a reasonable and balanced person will work with reality and the official figures available/unavailable to make decisions? The only conclusion critical thinkers , used to working with facts, can draw is that there is no substantial expenditure attached to feeding the office of the Governor of Lagos State. Anything else is market woman gossip.

No body is information minister to others here and we should all stop displaying intellectual laziness that shames our Nation. Folks should simply supply official figures here to back their insinuation that there may be a significant amount spent on feeding Fashola. If they can't do that, then I suggest they shut up

TouchDown: This thread has been a waste of my time. Came to see if there would be any information on the amount budgeted for feeding but I didn't see any. When you assert something, the onus is on you to prove that which you assert. This has been a one-sided affair and I'm not happy. I came to see a good debate, I don't like the way Gbawe and Naptu rode roughshod on you.

'Sincere' my good man, you're not doing a good job. You need to buckle up. I don't like the way you keep getting a.s.s-whooped on these threads.

My brother, next thread insecure9gerian will start will be one where he is seeking information regarding the number of planes Fashola has in his fleet in an attempt to gain crude and inane justification for how his messiah, GEJ, unnecessarily, profligately and callously maintains a bloated number of Airplanes yet seeks further funds to augment this condemnable fleet. Jonathan just disgraces Nigeria with his antics that are nauseating, blatant and "I don't give a damn" show of inhuman greed and amazing leadership lack of empathy.

My guy, see for yourself and note that the likes of Inscere9gerian and his supporting cast should not be taken seriously. Inspect what is written below ,indicating callous waste, and align it with the consideration that Nigerians are some of the most wretcehedly poor people on earth to note what GEJ is. The man is hollowly called "fresh air" and "transformation" by nauseating sycophants like Insincer9gerian yet the reality shows GEJ is transforming nothing. In fact he is worsening waste, bureaucracy, bloated governance, corruption and heightening inefficiency everywhere.


http://www.punchng.com/news/fg-spends-n9bn-annually-on-10-aircraft-presidential-fleet/

FG spends N9bn annually on 10-aircraft presidential fleet

DECEMBER 5, 2012 BY OYETUNJI ABIOYE


INFORMATION obtained from government aviation agencies and airline operators has revealed that President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration spends an estimated N9.08bn annually on the Presidential Air Fleet.

PAF has the third largest fleet of aircraft in the country. According to findings, the PAF contains a total of 10 aircraft, coming closely behind Aerocontractors Airlines, which has a total of 14 aircraft.

Arik Air, the largest commercial airline in the country, has a fleet of 23 aircraft.

Figures obtained from the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority revealed that N9.08bn is spent to maintain the 10 presidential jets every year.

The PAF include two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and Gulfstream IVSP.

Others are one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet.

Cost of running fleet

According to a former Minister of Information, Professor, Dora Akunyili, each of the two Falcon 7X jets purchased in 2010 cost $51.1m, while the Gulfstream 550 costs $53.3m.

The factory price of other aircraft in the fleet could not be easily obtained online. However, airline CEOs put the average price of Falcon 900 at $35m, Gulfstream IVSP as $40m, Gulfstream V at $45m, Boeing 737 BBJ at $58m, Cessna Citation is $7m and Hawker Siddley 125-800 at $15m.

This brings a combined estimated value of Nigeria’s PAF to $390.5m (N60.53bn).

According to airline chief executives and industry experts, airlines spend between 15 and 20 per cent of the cost of an aircraft on its operation yearly. They say that averagely, a little less than one-fifth of the cost of the plane is spent every year on insurance, flight and cabin crew, maintenance, fuelling, catering and training.

Going by the fact that at least 15 per cent of this amount is spent annually on operating the PAF, it means about $58.57m (N9.08bn ) is spent annually on running the planes .

Nigeria happens to be one of few countries of the world with a large PAF.

[size=14pt]Other countries’ fleets[/size]

[b]Most major countries in Europe and Asia maintain mostly two aircraft in their Presidential Air Fleet, according to Wikipedia.

According to the website, Japan maintains only two Boeing 747-400 planes in its Presidential Air Fleet.

The two aircraft, mostly for the Prime Minister, the Emperor, Empress and other members of the Imperial Family, is operated by the Japan Air Self-Defence Force.

The aircraft were constructed at the Boeing factory at the same time as the United States’ Air Force One. Both Japanese aircraft were delivered in 1990.

Wikipedia also confirms that the Netherlands government operates only two aircraft, one Fokker 70 and one Gulfstream IV, as a means of transport for the Dutch Royal family and government officials, such as the prime minister and other ministers.

They are also used also to attend international conferences, and also for private trips by the Queen and the Prince of Orange.

For long haul trips the Royal Dutch Airline is used. Often the upper deck of a Boeing 747 is used.

The Queen of England and Prime Minister David Cameron often go on British Airways chartered flights for long trips. UK’s Cameron was recently criticised by the UK media for chartering a foreign plane instead of a British’s.

According to Wikipedia, The Royal Squadron of the Royal Air Force maintains a fleet of Agusta A109 helicopters, BAE-125 mid-sized business jet and BAE-146 regional airliner to support short travel by the Royal Family, the Prime Minister and senior members of the British Government.

Countries like Ghana, Algeria and a host of others in Europe maintain only one aircraft in their PAF.
[/b]


Domestic airlines

The latest revelation on Nigeria’s PAF size is coming amid dearth of aircraft among domestic airlines, which lack adequate finance to buy more planes to meet up with the soaring domestic passenger capacity.

Apart from Arik Air and Aero, each of the remaining domestic airlines does not possess even half of the number of aircraft in the PAF, according to findings by our correspondent.

IRS Airlines has only four operational aircraft in its fleet; Dana Air has four aircraft; Firstnation, three aircraft; and Medview Airlines, two aircraft; figures obtained from the industry revealed.

In recent months, domestic travellers have been scrambling to get air tickets due to lack of capacity on the part of the other local airlines, after the suspension of operations by Dana Air, Air Nigeria and FirstNation Airlines respectively.

Apart from Arik and Aero, most of the domestic airlines fell behind the PAF in terms of the number of aircraft in their fleet.

These include Air Nigeria, Dana Air, IRS Airlines, FirstNation Airlines, Medview Airlines, Overland Airways and Associated Airlines.

Airline CEOs opinions

Some airline CEOs, who pleaded anonymity, raised concerns over the economic sense behind the large mix of brands of aircraft in the President Air Fleet.

They said although the fleet size was large, the cost of operation would have been cheaper if they had maintained only two brands, instead of more.

According to them, the various brands of aircraft in the fleet will cost the Presidency more in terms of money being spent on aircraft maintenance, insurance, engineers, flight and cabin crew among others.

“If you look at the Presidential Fleet, you have at least five different brands of aircraft manufacturers. In that single Presidential Fleet, you have Boeing, Falcons, Gulfstream, Hawker and Cessna: that is not less than four different brands from various countries. I don’t know the economic sense in this. The fleet needs to be streamlined from five to just two brands. The aircraft can’t see each other. It means each of those planes will have its own flight crew, cabin crew, engineers, dispatchers etc. It is a mismatch. The Presidency will be spending more to keep all of them in the skies. Going by airline economics, you spend less when you focus on a single brand or at most two. You will get support from the manufacturers and then you spend less,” the CEO of a domestic airline, who pleaded anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, told our correspondent.

“Look at IRS, it has only one brand, all its four planes are all from Fokker; look at First Nation, it has only Airbus. All its three planes are all Airbus A319. Look at Dana, all its four planes are all Boeing MD-83s. Look at Aero, It has only Boeing and Bombardier planes, just two brands. That is how to run a fleet of aircraft with economic sense. You don’t need more than two. Globally, it is the same thing. South West Airlines in USA has hundreds of planes and they are all from one single brand, Boeing. I think they need to streamline the fleet to just two brands to minimise the cost of running them. By that, there will be a reduction in the number of the crews they will be using to fly them” the CEO added.

Spokesman for the President, Mr. Reuben Abati, could not be reached for comments on the PAF. Telephone calls made to his telephone line was not picked, while a text message sent was not also replied.



PAF workforce

According to the NAF’s website, PAF’s current staff strength consists of 47 NAF officers, 173 airmen/airwomen and 96 civilian staff, both technical and administrative.

“The operational headquarters of the Fleet is located at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while the administrative personnel are at the Federal Secretariat. The fleet has a liaison office at the Presidential Villa. Flight operations, training, aircraft maintenance and general running of the fleet are funded by the Presidency,” according to the website.

take dat: A thief will always befriend a thief. He has created a Superhighway of corruption for his cronies with him unashamedly directing the traffic!

Absolutely. Many of us predicted that what is seen now is the only possible scenario to be witnessed in future under GEJ. When all the biggest crooks, criminals, looters, AGIPs and ruinous hands that Nigeria has ever known united to endorse GEJ's ambition in 2011 and work for his electoral victory, what on earth did Nigerians expect? GEJ would suddenly start jailing his bosom buddies once in power?

Should common sense not make Nigerians realise that crooks are happy to support GEJ because they know they are aiding a 'kindred spirit' who would in turn remain dedicated to the 'cause'? Nigerians and naivete. A people who sentimentally insist on doing things the same way yet expecting different outcome are a people planning to fail.

[quote author=ndu_chucks]No one is attempting to blackmail you. I am here to expose your mischief. If you can pick any state in Nigeria and show me a line item in the state's budget for the Governor's feeding expenses then I'll start taking you seriously on this issue.[/quote]Don't mind him. You called him olodo appropriately. No doubt that insecure9gerian enjoys his mischief. It is just tragic he does not have the intellect to match that penchant for inane mischief. Why put the onus on others to supply information he can obtain himself? If, for a State with a very transparent budget, the information OP seeks is not available anywhere then sensible folks can only draw one conclusion - i.e the amount used to feed the Governors office is not financially significant enough to warrant separate and distinct categorisation in the budget.

This is a pathetic attempt by OP to play on the predilection of Nigerians to embrace sentiments and clannishness instead of engaging their brain. Jonathan has been criticised severely for his profligate and insensitive food budget. What better way, according to the feudal thinking of OP, to make GEJ look good than by creating the impression Fashola may have a vast feeding budget also? Never mind that this is not supported by any documentations anywhere. Some Nairalanders don't read and never seek information they can get easily, so OP knows he will gain clannish and feudal support. The bottom line is that OP can get the figure he wants if such exists because it is large enough to warrant distinct appropriation like Mr.President's own gigantic feeding allocation.

2Legit2Qui: Answer the question. Act your age. The food consumed by governors in their official residence is paid for from which purse? Simple question. Long meaningless english.

I don't know who gave olodos like you admission to this forum. You, like a total simpleton, pathetically holding on to one thing as if you have an Einsteinic point. No one is foolish enough to think there is nil expense associated with feeding the Governor's office. You clearly don't understand the rudiments of budgeting. This is why I mentioned "significant" as a tag to spending on food. If the amount spent is inconsequential and infrequent enough to be significant financially it may fall , for example, under sundry expenses.

You should let genuinely bright folks talk instead of running around insulting others because you think you have a point when all you continue to regurgitate is arrantly simple nonsense that shows you do not appreciate the rudiments of budgeting or even basic book-keeping.

2Legit2Qui: LOL. Some people are exposing their plain stu.pidity. Maybe Fashola pays from his pocket. Or even begs money from his wife.


Excuse me, just a question. Are people saying state governors pay for food consumed in their official household from their pocket? I dont get it.

This is why Nigerians make me laugh - ascribing unsavoury tags to others that is more descriptive of themselves. Many Nigerians remain too feudalistic, emotional and clannish to ever think before they talk. If you and others appreciate the rudiments of State/Country budgeting then you will understand that all significant known future spending must be specified and budgeted for.

The FG has to reveal what the President spends on food in the budget because the amount is financially significant to the extent provisions must be made for it. The same does not have to hold for Governors because not everyone has to do things the way GEJ profligately does it. Indeed Fashola gains commendation for his innovative approach to cost-cutting and the pursuit of Lagos self-financing its own activities as much as possible.

To that end, the Lagos budget is one of the most transparent and most efficiently collated in the Nation. You and others should go and get a copy of the budget and find what you look for there. Then bring it here and stop talking like illiterates who claim something must exist in house B, merely because it is seen in house A, yet expect others to prove that case for them. What would be easier than OP bringing a copy of the Lagos budget here and showing us what Fashola spens on food if such exists? Are we illiterates here with no capacity for thinking? Why should this mindless idiocy continue that sees some indulging the foolish OP while others support him foolishly? These are the sort of thread shaming this forum as one fool of cretins.

Don't just talk. Get the Lagos budget and prove your case. Ultimately, if what you seek is not in the Lagos budget, then you and others should draw the only conclusion a functional and educated mind can form so you can spare us all this mischief and find better things to do with your time. That OP is foolish enough to start a silly, idiotic and asinine thread does not mean he must gain a supporting cast.

naptu2: This is getting really old. I think this will be my last post on this thread. It seems the OP is not really interested in food budget, rather the thread is a "search for anything you can find to discredit the Lagos State Government" thread. We've gone from food at Lagos House, to S.E.C meetings, to Blue Rail commissioning, to concerts and back again, still no proof, just speculation.

Now you get it. Why does he and his co-travellers do it? Because they are all insecure, feudal and clannish individuals threatened by how everyone rates Fashola a far better candidate to be President than the empty barrel they support who currently occupies the position. It is report such as that below, from El Rufai, that ruins their day and makes them rush here to start ridiculous topics like this one. Don't forget that this same worthless OP started a topic about "searching for the achievements of Fashola". He ran away from the thread when I supplied pictorial proof of extensive drainage work being done in my Surulere area.

Lagos, contrary to what the usual suspects insinuate, runs a highly efficient and exemplarily transparent budget. The Lagos state model of budgeting is millions of miles ahead of that delevered by the higly profligate and clueless FG in terms of prudence, innovation, frugality and efficacy. It goes without saying that it is only those with time to waste who will engage OP and his ilk in a back-and-forth when it is clear their clannish mission here is to hold brief daily for an opportunistic glutton and mediocrity eating garishly, buying planes and leading cluelessly while they mischievously round against a Governors whose skills and talent is reflected in every aspect of governance.

http://www.africanoutlookonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4227:lagos-sound-government-sensible-budget&catid=126:nasir-el-rufai-page&Itemid=323

Lagos: Sound Government, Sensible Budget
By Nasir el-Rufai

In continuation of our focus on state budgets’ with a view to analyzing their viability, fiscal prudence and accountability to citizens, the spotlight this week is on the South-Western state of Lagos.
Gov. Babatunde Raji Fashola of southwest Nigeria's Lagos state
Lagos state is one of the 13 states in the country which have presented a fiscal responsibility bill to the state House of Assembly, but unlike some states which have enacted the law and barely implemented it, Lagos State exhibits a high level of transparency and accountability in its budget presentation which is detailed and available on the Lagos State Government’s website.


Lagos State was created on May 27, 1967 by virtue of State (Creation and Transitional Provisions) Decree No. 14 of 1967, which restructured Nigeria’s Federation into 12 states. Prior to this, Lagos Municipality had been administered by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Lagos Affairs as regional authority, while Lagos City Council (LCC) governed the City of Lagos. The metropolitan areas (Colony Province) of Ikeja, Agege, Mushin, Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry were administered by the old Western Region. The State took off as an administrative entity on April 11, 1968 with Lagos Island serving the dual role of being the State and Federal Capital. However, with the creation of the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja in 1976, Lagos Island ceased to be the capital of the State which was then moved to Ikeja. With the formal relocation of the seat of the Federal Government to Abuja on 12 December 1991, Lagos Island ceased to be Nigeria’s administrative capital.

Mobolaji Johnson was the first Governor of the state; however Alhaji Lateef Jakande was the first elected Governor of the state who served from October 1979 to December 1983 under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). More recent and significant Governors of Lagos are Buba Marwa (1996-1999), Bola Tinubu (1999-2007) and Babatunde Fashola who was elected in 2007.

Babatunde Fashola is a lawyer by profession who excelled in his professional career which spanned over a decade and a half leading to his recognition as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. In 1999, he joined the public service and served in various capacities with the Lagos State Government until his rise to the position of Chief of Staff to Governor Bola Tinubu. In his first four years in office, marked improvements were noted within the state – the cleanliness of the metropolis which residents and visitors could attest to, improvements in roads and traffic within the state, improved transportation systems with the introduction of BRT and ferry services across the state – Fashola is without doubt, one of the few “performing” governors in the country and it must be credited to Tinubu that politically, his succession strategy has worked. The ground work for most of what is visible today in Lagos was jointly laid by Tinubu and his team including the current governor Fashola. The result is focus and continuity in governance rather than “witch-hunting” of predecessors which has bedeviled other “anointment arrangements”. Fashola’s comparatively stellar performance in office makes many wonder if professional politicians are best suited to deliver on the difficult job of good governance!

Lagos is the most populous state in Nigeria with over five per cent of the national population estimate. Ironically, it is the smallest state in terms of land mass; the state has an area of 356,861 hectares of which 75,755 hectares are wetlands. Interestingly, of this population, Metropolitan Lagos, an area covering 37% of the land area of Lagos State is home to over 85% of the State population making it a densely populated state. UN estimates that at its present growth rate, Lagos state will be third largest mega city in the world by 2015 after Tokyo in Japan and Bombay in India, with a population nearing 30 million!

[b]According to the World Bank and DFID, Lagos’ 2009 GDP is estimated at N4.163tn. Lagos which is a mega-city is the largest contributor to the national GDP at 18%. Lagos’ GDP ranks 6th after Cairo ($98 billion); Johannesburg ($79 billion); Cape Town ($75 billion). Its GDP equals that of Kenya ($29.5 billion) which has a higher population (30million) than Lagos. Lagos boasts of a higher GDP than Cameroun ($20.6 billion), Cote d’ Ivoire ($19.6 billion) and Ghana ($15.2 billion) which have populations of 19, 21 and 24 million people respectively.

The South-west zone of Nigeria is the most prosperous part of the country. According to National Bureau of Statistics Poverty Profile 2012 which studied poverty incidences nationwide using 2009 and 2010 data, poverty is classified in four categories; absolute poverty (based on daily food intake), relative poverty (determined by household expenditure) and purchasing power parity (dollar per day). 59.1% of the people in the region live above poverty line which is appreciable given the humongous 77.7% in the North-West region that live well below poverty lines. 50.1% of people in the South-West survive on about a dollar a day while only 25.4% are absolutely (food) poor which is impressive compared to other states in the country[/b].

Gini coefficients are used to measure income inequalities and in Lagos, a co-efficient of -26.2% indicates a decrease in income inequalities within Lagos State between 2003 and 2010 – something the governors should be proud of! Lagos has the highest percentage in Nigeria (85.4%) of people who can feed themselves. Statistics also indicate that 40.8% of the population in Lagos live above poverty lines. Though there is room for improvement in the poverty indices, it is much better than states like Bauchi and Sokoto where only 16.3% and 13.6% respectively live above poverty lines!

[size=14pt]Lagos state is one of the few in the country which has a well detailed and structured budget made available to the public on the state Government’s website which is fully functional. The budgets are properly explained and broken down by the MDAs with expenditures and revenues properly accounted for. Also, the state posts its budget performance reviews online which indicates transparency and accountability in governance. It is ironic that even with the enactment of freedom of information and fiscal responsibility acts, most State Governments still hide their budgets and breakdowns from the citizens of their states and the general public.[/size]

In the 2012 budget, there was an increase from the previous years’ budget of N450.8b to N491.9b (9%). The total revenue for 2012 is estimated at N399.8b and impressively, the ordinary revenue (Lagos IGR, other IGR, dedicated revenue, etc.) of the state is N289.7b which is about 73% of total revenue. This is more than double of the N110.2b that Lagos expects from the federation account in 2012. Lagos is therefore not one of the numerous “parastatal states” that cannot pay salaries unless the FAAC meets in Abuja! Compared to some other states whose budgets have grown astronomically with no commensurate growth in IGR, the budget of Lagos state has steadily increased alongside its IGR as shown by an 8% (N262.6b to N289.7b) increase in ordinary revenues between 2011 and 2012. So while the federal government preaches fiscal consolidation without practicing, it is Lagos State that is practicing it without all the noise!

Comparing both years’ budgets, there is a projected increase in ordinary revenue (IGR inclusive) by about N27b between 2011 and 2012. Taking the case study of Bauchi state whose budget was analyzed last week, it’s projected increase in IGR for this year was just N1b! Unlike the case of Bauchi state where the government spends money on maintaining many commissioners and 924 aides that it’s IGR cannot support, Lagos State Government has 23 commissioners and 20 Special Advisers, and yet is performing much better. In fact, looking at the revenue earning capacity of Lagos in comparison to many states of the federation is going from one extreme to another.

Capital expenditure for 2012 is N258.3b (53%) while recurrent expenditure is N233.6b (47%) of the total budget. Although the ratio does not meet the best practice of 70% for capital expenditure, it must be acknowledged that Lagos enjoys the dual advantages of limited geographic spread and legacy of inherited federal infrastructure, and therefore does not need as much greenfield infrastructural investments as other rural states. What it needs though is high levels of spending on maintenance and running costs. These are perhaps reflected in the higher recurrent portions of the budget.

[b]The government, in 2012 increased its recurrent expenditures on education from N28.4b in 2011 to N35.4b and justifiably too as there has been continuous increase in both volumes and pass rates of SSCE candidates from Lagos. The number of candidates who obtained five credits in WASCE including English and Mathematics has improved from a miserable 7.58% in 2007 to an impressive 21.11% in 2010.The 2010 National Literacy Survey also shows that Lagos has the highest literacy rate in any language. Increased allocation of funds to this sector is definitely a commendable step in the right direction.

The environmental sub-sector of Lagos state which receives about 6% of the overall budget allocation, recorded a huge leap from the N335m revenue generated in 2011 to projected N2b in 2012. This is one sector which the residents of Lagos have felt a visible difference. There was a slight increase in health allocation from N32.9b in 2011 to N33.3b in 2012. In spite of the increase, the health sector is expected to double its revenue from N393m to N655m. Works and Infrastructure received 18% (N88.1b) of the budget reflecting investments to address existing infrastructure deficits. The transportation sector however, dropped in projected revenue by about N400m whereas its budgetary allocation increased by about 11% for the same reason.[/b]

[b]The personnel cost budget for the entire Lagos State government for 2012 is about N81.6b. This is less than one third of its IGR and less than 5% of the federal governments (N1,600b) staff costs, yet many would say that Lagos runs better than Nigeria these days. Departments such as lands, environmental protection, works and infrastructure, transportation, and even the judiciary earn sufficient revenues to cover their personnel costs. In fact, the lands department earns enough to cover all its recurrent expenditures while the state’s Ordinary Revenue (N289.7b) can cover its total recurrent costs (N233.6b) with a surplus of N56.1b. That is how a federating unit’s finances should be!

In year 2011, Lagos State High Courts alone made revenues of about N700m and are expected to earn about N1.2b in 2012 which is higher than the IGR of most states of the federation now depending on the Federal Government for monthly handouts. The lesson and experience of Lagos is this – each MDA is a revenue as well as a cost centre. Each government department that offers services charges some fees to cover all or part of the cost of the service. That is how to run a department, state, or country! My admiration for the business-like way Lagos is run is clear by now.[/b]

Lagos is only state in the country which can survive solely on its incomes from taxation. However according to the World Bank Doing Business rankings 2010, the state was ranked 25th out of 37 in Nigeria in terms of ease of doing business. Lagos is not an agrarian state, neither is it endowed with any mineral resources. It is therefore disturbing that despite the huge amount of private sector investment and potential, the business environment is far from friendly. The authorities need to create a thriving environment for businesses in Lagos especially since taxes and land charges are the major source of fiscal sustenance of the state.

All our states should learn lessons from Lagos not only in the areas of budget transparency but fiscal independence from Abuja, delivery of public services, investment in education and even governance succession. With these outlier qualities, it is not surprising that Lagos is run by a party other than the PDP of today!

@Topic.

Aliyu is long on rhetoric yet very short of ideas, vision or genuine political will. A gradualist who will likely come in and keep things business-as-usual. The perfect type of candidate as far as the PDP is concerned. Certainly has a chance from that perspective i.e he will appeal to many in the Party as someone who will not 'rock the boat'. GEJ part 2 or worse.

rafhell: now he is displaying his true color and intent.
as for me he has never really impressed and i don't think he will be better than Jonathan.

What "true color and intent" are you talking about? Has the man ever denied having Presidential ambition? Also, did he not help GEJ to overcome the PDP Northern consensus candidate , i.e Atiku, that his political father (IBB) endorsed for the last election? I don't know why you now speak as if Aliyu does anything wrong here.

Joeadamu86: What is wrong if someone uses figure of speech to pass a message?Is something wrong with our thinking?

Put your thinking cap on and not your 'I-support-and-defend-GEJ-blindly' googles. That is not figure of speech. It is dull intelligence clear for all to discern. How can anyone fluidly up to speed with modern thinking, let alone a President expected to be wiser than others, suggest length of time as a supremely superior reason as to why arrangements and affiliations should not end?

Guy, our President simply goes everywhere sounding like a simpleton thawed from a block of ice frozen in 1945. I too believe in the unity of Nigeria but Mr.President should make cogent arguments everyone can relate to - whether the PHD holder or the Okada rider - devoid of any sentimental or unintelligent reasoning. There are many reasons Nigeria should stay together but age of the Nation ranks low in that regard and Mr.President can easily take a lesson from many examples in history that negates his simplistic rhetoric if indeed he is like other President who appreciate history and learn lessons from it.

Mobinga: Likening the country to couples. This guy.

I actually cringed reading that bit. What manner of unpresidential simpleton have we lumbered ourselves with? Kai, I truly envy other African Nations who are now parading rapier-sharp intellectuals and achievers as their President while we continue to let the PDP give us the most blunt tool in the box. This yarn from GEJ, like many others, is an embarrassment.

[quote author=GARRI (x7)]Cardinal Okojie is being sponsored by:

1. ACN
2. CPC
3. Other disgruntled politicians
4. Aggrieved oil marketers etc...

He his blind to Jonathan's massive infrastructural and Human Capital Development programs.

[/quote]Abi OOOO

Will the fans of GEJ curse and insult Okogie too now he is saying exactly what many have been saying repeatedly? If I were to ever respect any Nigerian man of God, it will be Okogie , once touted a possible Pope, and not all the fraudsters and pastorpreneurs , posing as men of God, Nigeria produces in copious amount.

GEJ should listen to the likes of Okogie instead of running around Nigeria to be kneeling before hedonistic charlatans who shame everything religion should be about.

ldpele: knew nobody was going to LIKE dis comment,when u cn mke ua point clear without throwing abuses. mtchew

You think I am part of the insecure social networking generation always seeking "likes" and the worthless approval of total strangers to feel good about themselves? Bruv, shove your "likes". I don't write for anyone to "like" my comment. If my response to some forumers seem harsh,then have the good grace to see what others have written to warrant such response. Civility begets civility and vice versa.

This guy should really try and talk less.