magicalx:
Ameachi you don't have any plan whatsoever for the Nigerdelta, you are ridiculing yourself at the National Stage,shame on you for always being in the midst of any conflict...

TheGoodJoe:


Tell me who has done more for the Niger Delta than Amaechi.

Then tell me between Amaechi and who ever you glorify deserves shame.

aresa:




You are wrong, the minister and even government agencies can submit suplementals to the Congress directly. This is why he was there to defend his budget and supplemental instead of the president.

Stop quoting kabukabu law..

teadrake:

Lest we forget it was the ex finance minister Dr Okonjo that participated mostly(Both the Reading of the budget and defence) in the 2014 budget under the previous administration? And now you possibly think is against the law for a minister to submit a supplementary budget under the backing of the executive of his ministry?

ehissi:


Mr President doesn't defend budget, ministers do it. Nkonjo Iweala was resisted by the NASS but they had a change of heart on 2 counts.

1.) She presented it on behalf of Mr President and read Mr Presidents address. The Budgetary document was signed by Mr President and not by her.

2.) She was also the coordinating Minister/Head of the economic team. Allowing her to read Mr Presidents address and present the budget put her within there reach to summon her when they needed answers to questions as regards the stateof the economy. She knew the budget like the back of her head-tie!!

Did Mr President give Amaechi any document signed by him in respect of the budget?? Yes or No?? Or better still, did amaechi/senator Itang present a letter from Mr President withdrawing/adding portions of the budget proposal for correction!!??

That's what amaechi should have told Nigerians and not this confusion they are trying to create.

Feasting on the naivity and sentiments of some Nigerians!!

TheGoodJoe:


Tell me who has done more for the Niger Delta than Amaechi.

Then tell me between Amaechi and who ever you glorify deserves shame.

Elose11:
" I repeat, the Calabar-Lagos rail line was never in any versions of the 2016 budget. And we have told Amaechi, to produce his version of the budget; the line and head that captured the Calabar-Lagos rail line. This is the third day, and he is still looking for it. There were a lot of errors in the budget which we fixed. For instance, the appropriation for the EFCC building was increased from N1 billion to N6 billion Naira. The East-West road was technically abandoned, and we increased funding for it. How can Amaechi be ranting, that he single handedly sponsored Mr. President. Is that what the budget means to him? He said he is diligent, and not corrupt, yet his ministry's budget was over blown by N54 billion Naira.
Nigerians should stand with the National Assembly, and stop anyone who wants to pitch the National Assembly against the President. We did a good job! "
-----Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin (Chairman, Appropriation Committee-- Speaking to newsmen in Abuja)

PROVACATEUR:
Wike can now sleep while Amaechi takes his nzuzu to national stage.


The God of Wike fight my battle

teadrake:

And you're in support of the assertion that the minister of transportation isn't at liberty to submit a supplementary budget of his ministry as earlier claimed by one the contributor here on nairaland?

magicalx:


Very funny Ameachi did what for the Nigerdelta? Even Akpabio is a better achiever than that noise maker Ameachi who is more focused on his pocket and personal glory... Who Ameachi epp?

ehissi:


Let's get the lexicon right!! Amaechi didn't submit a Supplementary budget because there is no 2016 budget.

The budget will emerge after the 2016 budgetary appropriation bill is signed by Mr President.

Only Mr President has the legal right to send a budgetary proposal to the NASS!! Even if Amaechi - who I must make U aware is a seasoned parliamentarian being a former speaker of Rivers state house of Assembly - wanted to sincerely make changes or corrections to his ministry's budget proposal, he has to go through the presidency - which is the legal sole signatory of the budget proposal.

A document signed by Buhari, presented to Mr Speaker/Senate president (which must be read before the house), seeking the inclusion of the rail project or any other project would have sufficed!

But to say Amaechi brought his own copy of the budget and wanted it included at the level of defence hearing is fraud!!

Let us not forget, that this is a fraudulent padded budget and doing anything outside existing conventions - no matter how good the intention is - will be suspect!!

Let be practical here!! This is a selfie-taking government!!

Dlionsheart:


Mr. Edoit, pls can you be very specific and point the things Mr AmeachI has done for the Niger Delta or the south as a whole

TheGoodJoe:



The Minister for Budget and Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, told our reporter at the weekend that the government included the project (Lagos-Calabar) in the 'amended budget' and passed it to the Standing Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

http://saharareporters.com/2016/04/11/lagos-calabar-rail-project-new-controversy-between-arms-nigerian-government-over-2016

It was not Amaechi that sent but President Buhari who sent an amended Budget through the Minister of Budget and Planning, Senator Udoma Udo.

The project (Lagos-Calabar Railway project) was in the amended budget.

All you people are ready to fight against us because of your grievances against Amaechi.

ehissi:


Amaechi, Kaichukwu, adeosun...........makes no difference. The chairman of the Senate House committee on appropriation dared Amaechu and whoever is claiming that the Project was included in the Budget - whether originally padded or amended - to present the copy of the budget!!

If sincerely it was there, then why hesistate. Besides, Senator Gbenga Ashafa said that it was Amaechi and not Udoma that presented a copy of the Budget with Lagos - Calabar rail project included at defence hearing.

Senator Ina Itang (Presidential Liason officer at the National assembly) said Hooohaaa in a press release that Mr President didn't reject any budget, that when he gets back from China; he wants to review the budget on a Ministry by Ministry Basis, that's all.

Its folks like Amaechi and Ashafa that are trying to suggest Buhari didn't sign the budget cos it was padded and key projects were removed from it!! Lagos - Calabar Rail has already been in the offing since 2014, its not new!!

TheGoodJoe:


Show me where Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin said Amended Budget. He can never say it because it is in there.

Talking of when the President comes back, does not count. Hon. Jibrin already admitted they did not include the Lagos-Calabar Railway project.

Unless you believe Pres. Buhari will sign it without this project.

The Project will come back. Hon. Jibrin can jump from pillar to pole. It will still enter the final, signed Budget.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa said, Amaechi presented a supplementary budget. That is for the Transport Ministry. What Sen. Udoma Udo presented to the Committees was the full amended budget.

They are two different things and the Lagos-Calabar Railway project was in the amended budget.

ehissi:


Now I understand where you are coming from!! Well it is either you are a relation or Nairaland PRO of Amaechi or just another naïve Nigerian!!

Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin has nothing against the Lagos - Calabar Rail project; all he emphasised on was due process!!

He said on Channels television that they didn't need to remove the Lagos-Calabar rail project because it wasn't there and had dared whoever states otherwise to bring their own copy as they have both copies of the budget - the original and amended!! Check channels you tube page for details!!

The story being sold in the media is that it was removed in favour of the lagos - kano rail project!! The story NASS at the most important level - which is the committee on appropriation level - is that it wasn't there.

If truly it wasn't there, a letter signed by Buhari to the Upper and Lower house is enough instead of all these telemundo/Telenova that Amaechi and his crew are displaying!!

Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin has nothing against the project, if they follow due process to include such a project - if truly, there was an error of omission as claimed by Ashafa - why will they deny it and bear the wrath of Nigerians from the south

Let's not forget, that even the so-called amended budget was padded with over #10billion hidden in the education sector, house rent written in the domestic spending of the Presidential villa; even Professor Isaac - Health Minister - disowned Ministry of Health Budget during defence, so the more reason why emphasis will be placed on due process!!

No sentiments, no kparakpo, no looking of uche face - abi na amaechi face

TheGoodJoe:


Hon. Jibrin is trying to save his face. Let him tell us that he did not receive an amended Budget. That is all I want him to say.

Let his Committee heads say they did not receive an amended Budget.

Let him tell us that the committees they set up, appropriated budget for both Railways and he accepted their recommendation for the Lagos-Kano rail (Note, it was Sixty Billion naira and Sen. Gbenga Ashafa and the committee reduced it to fifty-two Billion).

He then called the appropriated Budget for The Lagos-Calabar Railway project, Floating fifty-four Billion naira.

Hon. Jibrin can not deceive me.

ehissi:


Hon. Jibrin won't receive budget on behalf of National Assembly; as a Budget is not the exclusive preserve of the Upper house but both upper and lower house.

For Hon. Jibrin - who is the Chairman on House committee on appropriations - to dare them to present the copy of the budget they have, he may have done his homework!!

Let's not forget that the executive does not have the upper hand in this matter as they didn't do their work properly on the amended budget or else it won't have been padded.

In any case, whether it was included or not is a non-issue; hence the embarrassment of NASS!

Na Mr President hold green biro, all he has to do is to write the Speaker of lower house and Senate President ofthe upper house and that's all!!

What is all this drama intended to achieve?? That the Ministers are more competent than legislators or what??

Are they looking to spring a trap in advance so that if Buhari doesn't sign budget by May when 2015 budget expires and the country grinds to a halt, they can blame NASS??

Elose11:
" I repeat, the Calabar-Lagos rail line was never in any versions of the 2016 budget. And we have told Amaechi, to produce his version of the budget; the line and head that captured the Calabar-Lagos rail line. This is the third day, and he is still looking for it. There were a lot of errors in the budget which we fixed. For instance, the appropriation for the EFCC building was increased from N1 billion to N6 billion Naira. The East-West road was technically abandoned, and we increased funding for it. How can Amaechi be ranting, that he single handedly sponsored Mr. President. Is that what the budget means to him? He said he is diligent, and not corrupt, yet his ministry's budget was over blown by N54 billion Naira.
Nigerians should stand with the National Assembly, and stop anyone who wants to pitch the National Assembly against the President. We did a good job! "
-----Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin (Chairman, Appropriation Committee-- Speaking to newsmen in Abuja)

ehissi:


Since you insist on issues of law; name one Minister - in the History of Nigeria - at the State and Federal level that has submitted Budget proposal to its Assembly - State or National - and you would have proven yourself wiser than those speaking from a legal position!!

Plus Budget defence hearings were not held in a vacuum!! NTA is tasked with the statutory duty of covering budget hearings; if truly Amaechi defended a Rail project, why hasn't lai mohammed - Minister of Information abi na Mis-information? - released the video footage of the defence??

[b]If Amaechi indeed drew the attention of the NASS on an omission, and the project was truly meant to be part of the budget; why didn't he get back to Mr President and ask him to send the corrected version of the Budget like he did for this Budget initially!!??

[/b]Are you even aware that Prof. Issac - Minister of Health - disowned his own budget claiming that what was there wasn't included by Him, yet that Budget carries President Buhari's signature.

In saner climes, the National assembly would have summoned the President to explain why he would sign/presented a padded budget because that is corruption - but because it is Mr Anti-corruption and APC has a slight Majority in the NASS - everybody lock up.

The only time Amaechi as Minister of Transport defended any rail project that I am aware of, was when a committee was raised to probe the rail projects undertaken by the Jonathan administration: as allegations of looting was raised during the electioneering campaigns, caused the funds for the rail projects were outsourced via a loan and there were those who alleged that Jonathan shared the cash during elections.

Nkonjo Iweala made it clear, that the funding for the projects were provided by the Chinese EXIM bank and one Naira never came to the Nigerian government. Nigeria was only required to send specifications for the project to CCECC - Chinese civil engineering and construction company - which the EXIM bank nominated and paid cash to directly for the Job; Ministry of Foreign affairs, Ministry of works and the Chinese embassy were to supervise to ensure that targets of the each phase of the project was achieved.

In any case, it wasn't amaechi that presented the budget to the National assembly. It was Buhari himself, and as such he is the Best person to tell us if such removal ever took place. In any case, this isn't a budget, its a budget proposal. As far as I am aware, no spokesman of the Presidency has raised any allegation of padding or contract removal against NASS, na drama queens like amaechi and ashafa na e dey make noise.

The national assembly cannot include or remove anything in the budget without it debated upon during the first and second reading.

If they are looking for people to blackmail or blame for their inability to deliver what they promised during the electioneering campaigns they should just continue to use Jonathan - afterall the guy don lockup - or better still use PDP of 16yrs!!

But to blame the NASS that practically cleaned up one of Nigeria's most fraudulent budget in the history of budgetting - how many of you are even aware that private consultants were engaged and paid to be part of the budgetary process for the first time in Nigeria's History - and at the end of the day who did we blame for the failure?? Definitely not Buhari, he is a saint of the first islamic order, not even the Ministers who didn't do a thorough Job - so tay minister say 16 + 6 = 24 - but they blamed budget office abi na budget mafia.

Now Buhari hasn't even looked at the budget, e use paper - whether na budget dey inside we no know - take snap selfie with Osibanjo and Udoma; make e for tell us say e no get time look am before e go chop sushi for china. E send Amaechi and Gbenga Asafa to talk rubbish.

Now na NASS be e problem.

I have found/Christianed this government to be a selfie taking government!!!

As far as Nigeria is concerned, na only God go save am from this selfie-taking government!!

Wetin them sabi?? Nothing, na to take selfie, the look for who to blame when things don dagbaru!!

Baba Yunwa!!

TheFreeOne:



It seems this APC govt never had the intention of constructing Lagos - Calabar rail line. The Chinese government may have insisted on assurance that the project be done as one of the terms of the $2b loan for Nigeria hence Buhari u-turn that it be included in the budget.

Or how do one explain why such a project that'll benefit such no of states in the south be omitted in the first place? Buhari did same during his military regime with Lagos metro line.

However, I think Ameachi and Buhari are just trying to be smart by playing on the intelligence of Nigerians cos if they are sincere the project should have been in the original budget submitted to NASS. Is he not the same person that cancelled maritime university in the Niger delta

Southern leaders/politicians always allowed themselves to be played by northerners and Ameachi is a willing tool for hausa/Fulani leaders.

TheGoodJoe:


There was money set aside for the project by the President.

When once you get this side, then you understand that it was always in the President's plan. Why send Amaechi to the Niger Delta region to promise them a Railway if it was not in the President's plan.

Someone omitted it. Obviously, a saboteur who were among those who padded the budget to make the administration look bad.

Hon. Amaechi took steps to make the Committee on Land Transports correct it. They did and Hon. Jibrin and his crew chose to ignore it.

TheGoodJoe:


Hon. Jibrin is trying to save his face. Let him tell us that he did not receive an amended Budget. That is all I want him to say.

Let his Committee heads say they did not receive an amended Budget.

Let him tell us that the committees they set up, appropriated budget for both Railways and he accepted their recommendation for the Lagos-Kano rail (Note, it was Sixty Billion naira and Sen. Gbenga Ashafa and the committee reduced it to fifty-two Billion).

He then called the appropriated Budget for The Lagos-Calabar Railway project, Floating fifty-four Billion naira.

Hon. Jibrin can not deceive me.

ehissi:


Also for the record Hon. Jibrin does not have a committee head!! He is the Head of the Committee on appropriations and that's why; him daring amaechi or whoever to bring the copies of the alleged budget is not a small dare!!

TheGoodJoe:


Hon. Jibrin is just lying to save his face. The man knew there was an amendment for the budget.

Show me where he said dare for Amended budget, if Sen. Udoma Udo will not cook him alive. He does not have liver to say that.

That Udoma is one bad ass lawyer.

ehissi:

I just told you to go to the Channels youtube page where the full interview is and you are still asking!!

I was not told! I watched it live!!

TheGoodJoe:


Show me a link. One article where he dared that there was no amended budget with the Lagos-Calabar Railway project.

He can not dare it. It is impossible.

I Trust Sen. Udoma to sink him. Trust no shaking. That is a true son of his dad. Research on his dad, Chief Justice Udo Udoma.

ehissi:


Start from this page! The interviw is broken into 3 parts!! Listed in the page on this link


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW0aX3pXa_o

May Senator Udoma not lose ya trust..

ehissi:


Start from this page! The interviw is broken into 3 parts!! Listed in the page on this link


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW0aX3pXa_o

May Senator Udoma not lose ya trust..