₦airaland Forum

NSIO PRESS RELEASE

HOW BUHARI’S SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMMES HAVE GARNERED GLOBAL ACCLAIM


*After successful first term implementation SIP schemes now moving to full fledge ministry status as part of sustainability process


*Wide commendation for impact by Action Aid (Nigeria), ANEEJ, NESG 


*Global awards include African Bankers’ Awards’ financial Inclusion Award 2019 for GEEP scheme 

*WEF Public Social Entrepreneur award

*African Leadership Institute recognition



In a strategy aimed at ensuring the continuity and sustainability of the Buhari administration's Social Investment Programmes, the schemes are now being upgraded to a full ministry status with the take-off of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.


This move is coming after the first term successful implementation of the scheme directly from the Presidency, indicating the need to now institutionalize the SIP.


Endorsed by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank and the World Economic Forum, as testament of its national impact in Africa’s most populous country, the National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP) truly embodies what it means to go global while making local impact.


Regarded as the largest social protection programme in Nigeria’s history, the Social Investment Programmes has four broad programmes, namely: N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfers, National Home-Grown School Feeding and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programmes, GEEP). 



At inception, the National Social Investment Office, NSIO,  in the Vice President's office was responsible for overseeing the N-SIP since  2016, while issues of funding, contract awards and procurement had always been undertaken by the Ministry of  Budget and National Planning. 


Also an inter-ministerial  Steering Committee, chaired by the Vice President and composed of several Ministers including from the ministries of Education, Health, Finance, Budget and Planning, Labour and Employment, Women Affairs and others,  had policy oversight on the programme implementation.


In his Independence speech earlier today President Muhammadu Buhari  stated in order to "institutionalize these impactful programmes, we created the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development which shall consolidate and build on our achievements to date."


Indeed the Social Investment Programmes have also been recognized by several local and international organizations for empowering Nigerians and meeting the urgent needs of Nigerians in different areas including providing employment, supporting small businesses and poverty alleviation.



Organisations like Action Aid (Nigeria), of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) have all commended the NSIP for its nationwide social impact



The impact of the SIPs has duly attracted the attention of the rest of the world. Among the global recognition for the impact of its schemes are the Financial Inclusion Award, which was at the 2019 African Bankers’ Awards: where BOI won for the GEEP scheme; the Tutu Leadership Fellowship for 2019, where GEEP CEO, Uzoma Nwagba, named among recipients; the Public Social Entrepreneur award, given by Schwab Foundation, a sister organization of the World Economic Forum, WEF, to Mrs Maryam Uwais, the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments; and recently.



One of the SIP components, GEEP, which is executed through the Bank of Industry (BOI) was recognized as the most impactful Financial Inclusion programme in Africa during the African Bankers’ Awards ceremony which held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on June 14th, 2019. The award was for BOI’s role in implementing GEEP, which includes the popular TraderMoni scheme. The awards event featured financial institutions and projects from all 54 countries in Africa, as well as the international community;



TraderMoni is one of the microcredit schemes under GEEP, where millions of petty traders get N10,000 loans. Upon repayment within 6 months, the beneficiary becomes eligible for a larger amount of N15,000 and all the way to N100,000 if and when the collateral-free loans are repaid. The other microcredit schemes are MarketMoni and FarmerMoni.



Also, in April, the impact of the SIPs was recognized by the African Leadership Institute when the GEEP COO, Uzoma Nwagba was named among the recipients for the prestigious Tutu Leadership Fellowship for 2019.  According to the AFL, Nwagba’s role in GEEP, which it described as “the world’s largest micro-credit scheme” was critical. “GEEP to date has leveraged the power of a technology-driven operation to disburse and manage a portfolio of two million loans to underbanked Nigerians, demonstrating the biggest advancement of financial inclusion via credit in Africa,” the citation read.



Recently, Mrs Maryam Uwais MFR, the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, was conferred with the prestigious Public Social Intrapreneur award by the Schwab Foundation, a sister organization of the World Economic Forum WEF. It was another pointer to SIP’s global endorsement. Uwais was named among 40 other global leaders selected from different countries to receive the award in recognition of their innovative approach and potential for global impact.


Similarly, with the N-Power job scheme, which currently engages 500,000 young graduates and 200,000 non-graduates in different key sectors, and the School Feeding Programme, which currently feeds almost 10 million school children in 32 states, the SIPs’ impact is truly felt nationwide.


Indeed, millions of Nigerians can testify of the impact of the largest social welfare programme in sub-Saharan Africa. This is because since its implementation in 2016, the N-SIPs have impacted over 12 million direct beneficiaries and over 30 million indirect beneficiaries, comprising family members, employees of beneficiaries, cooks and farmers.

Justice Tienabeso Bibiye
 
Communications Manager,
 
National Social Investment Office NSIO

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE

I WILL WAIVE MY CONSTITUTIONAL IMMUNITY TO CLEAR MY NAME - OSINBAJO

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has declared his readiness to waive his constitutional immunity to “enable the most robust adjudication” of several baseless allegations, insinuation and falsehoods against his person and office.

Prof. Osinbajo made this declaration in a tweet he personally authored this afternoon.


Below is the full text of his tweet:

“In the past few days, a spate of reckless and malicious falsehoods have been peddled in the media against me by a group of malicious individuals.

“The defamatory and misleading assertions invented by this clique had mostly been making the social media rounds anonymously.

“I have today instructed the commencement of legal action against two individuals, one Timi Frank and another Katch Ononuju, who have put their names to these odious falsehoods.

“I will waive my constitutional immunity to enable the most robust adjudication of these claims of libel and malicious falsehood.”



Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
25th September, 2019

The coalition of Northern Nigerian Youth has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to halt any attempt that can lead to maltreatment or embarrassment of any kind on the personality and Office of the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

Speaking to the Journalists in Kano on Monday, Mallam Yusuf Abdulmalik said, he believes that the news going around the media that the Presidency is moving to reduce the powers of the Vice-President and subsequently sideline him, is a rumour.

He said any attempt to do the above would label President Buhari and by extension the North as ungrateful people, creating a bad image for the region to the entire world.

He said, Osinbajo who has displayed maximum loyalty to the President both in his presence and absence, is the face of the Christian and strength of the Yorubas and the South in Buhari Administration, hence, he should never be abandoned at any time.

He further noted that, the smooth relationship between Buhari and Osinbajo in the last four years has given more life to the one Nigeria spirit and should never be allowed to be destroyed by some selfish individuals, who are hidden under the bed to stain the hard earned integrity of the President.

The leader of the group recalled how the Vice-President touched every nook and cranny of the country during the reelection campaign, preaching the next level message of the President. He described Osinbajo as an accomplished Professor of Law and a great servant of God and urged the President to put a stop to any attempt to strip him of his constitutional powers in favour of anyone within or outside the government.

While speaking, Mallam Yusuf Abdulmalik noted that a good relationship between the President and the Vice-President is pivotal to the success of the Buhari-led government, therefore, the President should do everything within his reach to protect the interest of his loyal and dependable deputy for the sake of the country. Abdulmalik also applauded the Vice-President for keeping the vultures at bay during the President’s long absence and for crediting every success to the President even in the face of the political higi haga that enveloped the country at that time.

He further described Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as a genuine leader with bold ideas for solving problems. He stressed that the Vice-President brought stability to the nation’s economy through the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). The Vice-President has been the driver of key government initiatives, especially the programmes targeted to improve the lives of the poor, he said. The Coalition of Northern Nigerian Youth emphasized that the Vice-President was the architect of the National Social Investment Programmes, which has gained international recognition as the most successful and largest social intervention initiative in Africa.

The leader of the Coalition further advised the President to work harmoniously and give his dependable deputy more responsibilities and a freer hand to operate within the government. Mallam Yusuf Abdulmalik cautioned the President and everyone around him to resist any temptation to undermine the power of the Office of the Vice President. He concluded that, the contributions and ideas of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are needed to successfully move Nigeria to the next level.

In a surprise move, the immediate past Abia State Commissioner, Rt Hon Eziuche Chinwe Ubani may have declined his nomination to serve a second term. Ubani is one of the three commissioner-nominees from Obingwa Local government Area.
A two-time member of the House of Representatives, Ubani is widely known to have and still maintain a close personal relationship with the governor which began years before 2015. Both are known to work closely together, politically. As at press time, the reason for his decision remains unclear but according to sources, he may have respectfully communicated to the governor. Ubani is widely known as one of the most passionate supporters of the Ikpeazu administration. He voluntarily declined to seek a third term in the House of Representatives, electing instead to work to support the governor's election in 2015.
He paid a heavy price in 2016 as the security agencies from Abuja on account of a phoney petition invaded his house in search of arms. As commissioner, he passionately pushed the governor's agenda to upgrade Abia infrastructure. Some of the flagship projects he worked on are the Faulks Road to Ariaria, the deflooding of the Ifeobara basin, reconstruction of Aba Road, Umuahia, the interchange (flyover) at Osisioma, the six-lane new Port Harcourt Road etc. These projects are yet to be completed but the outlines of his effectiveness in trying to translate the governor's vision was beyond question.
Regardless of the funding gaps arising from a paucity of funds, he is said to have aggressively pushed contractors to the limits. Based on his passionate support for the Administration and his relationship with the governor, he is not likely to be far-away from the sidelines supporting the governor and his administration. According to a statement from the Ministry of Information,the screening of the commissioner-nominees by House of Assembly,is expected to commence on Monday

The Director of Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, at the Naval Headquarters in Abuja, Rear Admiral SMD Usman, is in an alleged plot to oppress residents and aspirants after declaring interest to contest for the President of Dantata Housing Estate Residents Association in Abuja.

SMD Usman, who allegedly own mansions in the estate located in Kubwa, Abuja, is reportedly conniving with the Chairman of the Caretaker Election Committee to ensure elections do not hold.

According to report put forward by a resident within the Estate, he narrated that the Real Admiral as the outgone President of the association, had on different occasions, called for meeting in his house but turned down by the residents. Owing to the need to re-elect new Excos for the Estate, SMD Usman, again called for another meeting at his home, which was attended by some residents. At the end of the meeting, he constituted a Caretaker Committee, headed by Alhaji Salisu Saad, to conduct election in two weeks.

While residents were awaiting date for election, the Caretaker Committee Chairman, ignored calls from residents and two days to the expiration of the set deadline, announced the last day of the two weeks period as election day.

As the D-day called, aspirants seeking to vie for position bought forms and campaigned round the residents with the expectation that election would hold on the announced date and time. However to their dismay, the committee chairman announced that the Dantata Developer wrote to the Committee to suspend the election on security grounds.
This, infuriated the Estate residents, and queried why a Developer, who has since sold and rented apartments to the residents should interfere in the activities and election of the residents.

“If truly there were security concerns as claimed by the developer, what should be done is to write to the security agency to deploy their men on the day of election so as to maintain peace and order, or invite all aspirants to the Police Station to write an undertaken, but none of these was done and the Committee Chairman expect us to belief this crap?”
Further dig revealed that Real Admiral SMD Usman, is allegedly behind the plot to stop the election exercise, raising concern what his interests are in the estate.

While it is unclear if the Nigerian military permits officers to stand for elections like this while in service, residents are beginning to express fear at the handling of the estate election by SMD Usman.

A resident, who spoke under anonymity disclosed that residents may not be able to utter their displeasure should SMD Usman finally win the race.

“It is clear that the shenanigans going on with this residents election is orchestrated by SMD Usman. It is even more crystal clear that he is in connivance with the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, who is dancing to his tunes,” she said.

Another resident who expressed her disgust at the current situation of event stressed that she won’t want a serving senior military officer to head the residents. She further questioned why a serving military officer would indicate interest in such election, saying it is “uncalled for” and “unheard of.”

An aspirant who confined in this reporter pleaded that the Nigerian Navy call Real Admiral SMD Usman to order and stop using his position to harass and oppress aspirants.

“If within an Estate, we are experiencing this undue harassment from SMD Usman, just because he wants to become President of the Estate Residents, then I think he has mistaken Dantata Estate to Sambisa Forest.

“SMD Usman claimed he wants to lead yet he is going about using boys to harass and intimidate us, we will not allow this to continue. I am using this opportunity to call on the Nigerian Navy to call SMD Usman to order and urge him to quit from this election,” the aspirant said.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Nigerian Navy proved abortive as his lines were enraged till the time of going to press.

Next Level: What Fg Is Doing To Improve Governance, Service Delivery – Osinbajo


India, taking large numbers of people out of poverty. We think that these schemes will work here if they are faithfully and diligently implemented. What we have been able to do so far is 2 million people; we are merely scratching the surface.

There is some cheering news, the programme recently won the AfDB prize for financial inclusion. And we think that there is room for improvement. How do we scale up? We found that there is diligence in repayment, people found that they will get more when they repay their loans.

Let me speak quickly to what will be done differently on implementation of government plans in this dispensation. After the Presidential Policy Dialogue preceding the inauguration of Ministers, the President developed a list of specific mandates for each ministry. Each of those mandates has clearly spelt out action points. Every minister has a mandate with action points, some of the mandates have 7 or 8 points. The ministers are to render their first reports on performance in December. So, in some sense we are moving to a more measurable way of determining where ministers are going and what they ought to do. Of course, there would be challenges of funding, clarity of plans etc.

The full and effective performance of these mandates is, of course, an implementation challenge. We look forward to your contributions on the journey.

Let me again commend the NIM for these many years of provoking thought and action on making our nation work for the benefit of all.

Just a thought as I take my seat, reading the Code of Conduct of the NIM, it is so elegant that if just those of us in this room, including myself, could comply with that code, this country will be completely different. So, I throw the challenge to the NIM to walk the talk.

So, it is now my special pleasure to declare open this annual conference of the Nigerian Institute of Management 2019 for the benefit of all Nigerians. Thank you very much.

Released by:

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President

Brazen Move to Silence the South, Cabal Moves for Northern Domination by trying to remove FIRS Boss



Indications emerging from Aso Rock are that the Cabal have settled on the appointment of Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin (member of the House of Representatives representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State) as the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Services. Ahead of 2023, the Cabal have embarked on an elaborate plan to ensure that all the sensitive government positions are retained by loyalists who will stand by the course they have charted for the office of the president. Mr Fowler who is perhaps one of the best qualified hands in tax administration is seen as either being too professional or loyal to an opposing power bloc as to render him untenable for the purpose.

It will be recalled that the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari had issued a memo on reduced tax collection that was subsequently and prominently leaked to the media. This is seen as part of the emerging power play as members of the yet to be sworn-in cabinet are being dragged into the web of intrigues surrounding the tussle. Sources have it that pledging allegiance one way or another would be crucial to the portfolio that each one would land. The more loyal, the juicer the portfolio.

It will be recalled that Jibrin was first elected into the House of Representatives under the Peoples Democratic Party - (PDP) in 2011 before decamping to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014 where he was later re-elected in 2015. Jibrin was the Chairman Committee on Finance in the 7th Assembly with oversight on the Federal Ministry of Finance and its Parastatals, Federal Revenue, Preparation of Revenue framework/Estimate for the Federal budgets, Sovereign Wealth Fund - SWIA, Tax Matters, Fiscal matters, Government investment in banks and Statutory Corporations and Agencies, Insurance and Insurance of Government properties and assets amongst other functions. On September 28, 2016, the 8th House of Representatives suspended Jibrin for 180 legislative days after he blew the lid on what became famously known as budget padding—a scenario where legislators bloat the cost of budget line items in their constituencies for pecuniary gains. But there is no direct professional competence that one can ascribe to Mr Jibrin. On the other hand, Mr Fowler has increased the tax net considerably, raising the capability of the FIRS in increasing non-oil tax.

In addition and as part of a wider plot to retain the presidency in the North, it is believed that the Cabal favours a Northerner for the position of FIRS Chair to do their bidding. Recently, the cabal has been toying with the idea of putting forward Ambassador Kingibe including trying to associate him solely with the June 12 struggle. The ploy is to allow a current Governor from the South West play the second fiddle in the emerging chess play of high powered politics.