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Politics › Integrity, Hard Work Foundation Of A Good Society- Osinbajo by Zeemam(op): 8:29am On Sep 21, 2020

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NewsHeadlines NewsNational NewsNigeria NewsIntegrity, hard work foundation of a good society- Osinbajo

September 20, 2020

35

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

Teaching young people that there are huge rewards from creativity, innovation with a culture of integrity in business and personal life, coupled with hard work and diligence, is the foundation of a good and prosperous society.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN stated this today while delivering the keynote address at the 111th Founders’ Day Lecture of King’s College, Lagos.

According to Prof. Osinbajo “when people are nurtured in the notion that rent seeking or the prebendal capture of wealth or benefit by access to power is the path to success, then the society will not prosper. A few will capture all the resources, everyone else will be poor or on their way there.”

He stated that Nigerians are gifted with attributes of confidence, resilience and mental acuity that is by any standard exceptional, adding that this is best demonstrated in how “we excel even in other countries in sciences, medicine and even politics.”

Referring to Edward Banfield, an American political scientist, the Vice President explained further that those exceptional attributes do not free us from what Banfield describes as “the moral basis of a backward society”, which is the self- interested, family-centric society where often the public good is sacrificed for personal or parochial benefit.

Whilst receiving an education, the mind of a young person must be lifted up beyond self, the education “must teach the primacy of community, of the good and the well-being of the collective over self,” Prof. Osinbajo submitted.

The Vice President said that the educational design and content must take into account, the current moral and social circumstances, as well as the physical and mental constraints we face as a people.

According to him “there must be, as a rule, a prevailing moral standard, corruption or deviance must be the exception, not the rule.”

Prof Osinbajo added that the national conversation on education will be futile unless it also addresses the “concerns faced at the lower levels of our society; the problems of out-of-school children and the huge deficit in education of girls.”

He noted that there are challenges of government investment in education, arguing that public funding alone cannot be enough to deal with the sector. The Vice President then proposed that such challenges can be tackled head-on when associations such as King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA), private individuals, and corporations put their resources together to change the narrative

Read more: https://www.chronicle.ng/2020/09/integrity-hardwork-foundation-osinbajo/

Politics › Re: Integrity, Hard Work Foundation Of A Good Society- Osinbajo by Zeemam: 8:26am On Sep 21, 2020

God bless Osinbajo

Business › Re: MSME Survival Fund Registration: How To Apply As Portal Opens by Zeemam: 9:46pm On Sep 20, 2020

Will definitely benefit from survival fund

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Politics › How FG Is Improving Digital Sector – Osinbajo by Zeemam(op): 10:13am On Sep 20, 2020

VP engages Facebook VP and former UK Deputy PM, Nick Clegg, in fireside chatTech giant announces new office in Lagos, outcome of 2018 VP-led FG delegation’s visit to Silicon Valley

Just as global Social Media and technology giant, Facebook was informing the Federal Government about its decision to open a Nigerian office in Lagos, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN has restated the determination of the Buhari administration to keep boosting the nation’s technology sector and digital economy.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Friday during a fireside chat with Facebook’s Vice President on Global Affairs and Communications, former UK Deputy Prime Minister, Sir Nick Clegg. The chat focused on the digital economic pillar of the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan, NESP.

Clegg and other Facebook officials, including Ebele Okobi, Facebook’s Head of Public Policy, Africa, had informed the Vice President about the decision to open its second African office in Lagos possibly by the end of this year or next year.

It would be recalled that a delegation of the Federal Government led by the VP and including the Communications & Digital Economy Minister, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami, had visited Silicon Valley in 2018 and one of the issues on the table then was how such global tech giants like Facebook could have full representation in the country, including a Nigerian office.

According to the Vice President during the fireside chat on Friday, the focus of the Nigerian government on the digital sector is crucial in various socio-economic aspect of national life, from education, e-commerce, social investments programmes to the activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.

He said, “The NESP is our response to the economic crisis caused by the (COVID-19) pandemic. Our focus on the digital sector is really because practically everything we are doing centres around expanding our reach in the digital sector.

“For example, financial inclusion is critical for us because we are spreading and extending our social services, payment of cash transfers to the poorest and most vulnerable and other manners of such payment; and sometimes to the farthest flung places in Nigeria. So, we certainly need to expand our reach in order to do so. Of course, technology is critical to that.”

Read more: https://www.chronicle.ng/2020/09/fg-is-improving-digital-sector-osinbajo/

Politics › Osinbajo, Sanwo-olu Commission Eko MSME Fashion Hub by Zeemam(op): 10:49am On Sep 19, 2020

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Friday commissioned the Eko Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Fashion Hub-1 in Lagos.

The MSME Fashion Hub-1, which is a shared facility in Lagos State under the National MSME Clinic Scheme is situated around Alade Market, off popular Allen Avenue in Ikeja Local Government Area of the State.

It is expected to serve 380 Small and Medium Enterprises daily.

Speaking during the official commissioning of Eko MSME Fashion Hub-1 in Ikeja, Osinbajo and Sanwo-Olu said government at federal and state levels remain committed to promoting and developing small businesses, especially in the areas of skill acquisition.

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BusinessEconomyEntrepreneursNewsHeadlines NewsNational NewsNigeria NewsOsinbajo, Sanwo-Olu commission Eko MSME fashion hub

September 19, 2020

16

Lagos deputy governor, Mr Femi Hamzat, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Friday commissioned the Eko Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Fashion Hub-1 in Lagos.

The MSME Fashion Hub-1, which is a shared facility in Lagos State under the National MSME Clinic Scheme is situated around Alade Market, off popular Allen Avenue in Ikeja Local Government Area of the State.

It is expected to serve 380 Small and Medium Enterprises daily.

Speaking during the official commissioning of Eko MSME Fashion Hub-1 in Ikeja, Osinbajo and Sanwo-Olu said government at federal and state levels remain committed to promoting and developing small businesses, especially in the areas of skill acquisition.

Osinbajo who joined the commissioning ceremony virtually from Abuja, reiterated the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s commitment to supporting the growth and development of MSME during and post COVID-19.

The Vice President who promised to provide two additional MSME Fashion hubs to serve Lagos Central and Lagos East senatorial districts as requested by Governor Sanwo-Olu, said the fashion industry is going to be one of Nigeria’s greatest sources of revenue, bigger than oil in the nearest future.

Read more: https://www.chronicle.ng/2020/09/osinbajo-sanwo-olu-eko-msme-fashion-hub/

Politics › There’s Need To Take Another Look At Amended NBC Code – Osinbajo by Zeemam(op): 10:42am On Sep 19, 2020

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the federal government needs to revisit the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) amendment of the broadcasting code.

Osinbajo said this on Friday during a session with Nick Clegg, Vice President of Facebook’s policy and communication.

The code, which has stirred a lot of controversy, seeks to regulate content exclusivity, enforce content sharing and empower the NBC to determine prices at which content is sold to sub-licensees by rights holders.

Also, the fine for hate speech has been increased from N500,000 to N5 million.

Osinbajo said there is need to take a second look at the code so as not to “stifle the work of hardworking, creative people”.

“The NBC code is one where the is now activity around trying to take a second look at it. Those who say that it is pro-competition, it is one I think we should take a second look at,” Osinbajo said.

“Basically, it says if you have a licenced product for TV, you’re expected to share it with other platforms. It’s one which I understand the argument of those who say this is a violation of copyright and intellectual property which is a very strong point and this is why I think we have to take a second look at it and see whether there are ways of moderating it to be more acceptable so as not stifle the work of very very hardworking, creative people.”

Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, chairman of the NBC board, had accused Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, of amended the country’s broadcasting code “unilaterally” without involving relevant stakeholders.

Politics › Osinbajo: How FG Delegation To Silicon Valley Benefited Nigerian Startups by Zeemam(op): 8:47pm On Sep 18, 2020

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has outlined how is trip to the Silicon Valley in the United States has benefitted Nigerian start-ups, some of whom have gotten funds to grow their business.

Osinbajo disclosed this milestone when he spoke on the Fire Side Chat with Nick Clegg, Facebook VP of Policy and Communication, a former Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

He explained that there have been active partnerships between Nigerian start-ups and some US tech firms, assuring Nigerians that more investment is expected to pour in.

“Both tours were extremely successful. At the Silicon Valley, Nigerian start-ups got a chance to pitch their products to tech sector investors, that was very good, in fact before we left Silicon Valley, one of our venture platforms was able to sign a deal of about $10m with the Nigerian US Council, even before we left,” he said

“Since then we have seen tremendous activities post-trip. We were also at the Facebook campus, which was an absolute delight, we enjoyed being around there, seeing the excitement and a great deal of energy that was encouraging for many start ups seeing at close quarters what a comparable giant was doing, and I think this was very helpful.”

He explained that the entertainment sector has also benefitted from his trip to Hollywood. “Asides from that, we think that the visit helped in showing our seriousness of the tech sector and through the entertainment industry also, we did quite a few meetings also with the entertainment industry.”

“In fact, as of 2018/2019, we had gotten about $377million in investments in the tech sector. This is excellent even though it is still scratching the surface if one considers the size of our economy and the size of the country, but there were very significant gains and I am very happy to have been able to do it.”

“Of course, two visits or one visit doesn’t ever answer the various challenges, but I think we started the interactions that have been very useful and we will continue to engage.”

Speaking on how government will fix the challenges and manage the peculiarities of Nigeria’s tech and creative industry, he said, “With regulation, we are dealing with uncharted territory, because quite a few of what we are seeing are entirely new, and I must say that the regulatory authorities have done quite a decent work, trying to grapple with some of the newness of the things that they are seeing.

“For example, we worked on the payment services licenses, these are licenses for fintech companies that are doing some kind of banking type jobs but are not deposit banks, we had to create some room for them, and what has happened is that a collaborative effort of government, and the tech and entertainment sector worked on this and set up a technology and creativity advisory group, and these are young innovators, entrepreneurs etc. who worked with us on the industrial and competitiveness council to craft some of these regulations and to think through some of these problems.”

“Those licenses were particularly important because it carved out space that was previously dominated entirely by deposit money banks. Of course you know that they are the least willing to have their lunch taken away from them.”

“There have been other ways that the government is trying to fix the issues such as access to credit, which we have worked very hard to ensure that there is some access to credit for innovators, we’ve spoken a bit about foreign investments in Nigeria, but more importantly, what the Bank of Industry is doing is creating a tech fund, the CBN has also established a technology fund and we are working with the AfDB which has a $500m fund which we are at the final stage of trying to bring that into existence.”

“So there is quite a bit going on in order to ensure that there is access to funding while we are improving the environment for business as well as the environment for tech companies to operate. I think that one thing that is certain is the change in the technology space which is so rapid that you know, regulators are practically chasing after the innovation, to see how best to regulate without stifling these companies.”

Speaking on the amended National Broadcasting Commission code, he said, “The NBC code you mentioned is one where there is activity around and we are trying to take a second look at it, there are those who say it is anti-competitive and there are those who claim that it is pro competition.”

“It is one which I think we should take a second look at. Basically what it says is that if you have a licensed product, for TV or film, you are expected to share it with other platforms.”

“I understand the argument of those who say it is a violation of copyrights and intellectual properties in other ways which is a very strong point and which is why I think it deserves to be given a second look and see where there are ways of moderating that to be more acceptable, so as not to stifle the works of very hardworking creative people who are creating content in film, music etc.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2020/09/how-fg-delegation-to-silicon-valley-benefited-nigerian-startups-by-vp-osinbajo/amp/

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Politics › Re: Osinbajo, Nick Clegg To Hold Informal Chat Today by Zeemam: 8:03am On Sep 18, 2020

Its gonna be interesting, can't wait

Politics › Nigerian Traders In Ghana Will Get Justice – Osinbajo by Zeemam(op): 9:23am On Sep 17, 2020

VP urges them to remain patient & law abiding
Says “your welfare concerns us greatly.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says despite the seeming delay in resolving the concerns of Nigerian traders regarding some stiff business regulation imposed by Ghanaian authorities, the Federal Government will ensure that affected Nigerians get justice.

The Vice President gave the assurance on Tuesday evening during a meeting with representatives of the Nigerian community in Ghana. The meeting which held at the official residence of the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana was focused on the challenges facing Nigerians living in the West African nation including the locking of hundreds of Nigerian owned shops.

Responding to the issues raised by leaders of the Nigerian community at the meeting, especially the maltreatment of Nigerians by Ghanaian authorities, Prof Osinbajo strongly affirmed the commitment of the Federal Government to deal with the issues, assuring them of justice.

According to him, “I will certainly convey the depth of your grievances to the President. I am sure that he will be deeply disturbed to hear that despite the assurances that he had received, (from the Ghanaian government) there are still problems and complications,” many of which have been discussed at the highest levels with assurances of resolutions given.

But the VP explained that the delay in resolving these issues may be due to bureaucratic bottlenecks which is generally a drag on government activities.

Read more: https://www.chronicle.ng/2020/09/nigerian-traders-in-ghana-will-get-justice-osinbajo/

Politics › Need For Transparency In N2.3 Trn Economic Sustainability Plan by Zeemam(op): 11:26am On Sep 15, 2020

*Need For Transparency In N2.3 Trn Economic Sustainability Plan*

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday emphasised the urgency of implementation of the country’s N2.3 trillion Economic Sustainability Plan aimed at creating five million jobs.

The vice president in a paper titled ‘The Urgency of Now,’ presented at the First Year Ministerial Performance Review Retreat organised for ministers, permanent secretaries and top government functionaries, said the federal government has commenced the implementation of the N2.3 trillion stimulus package in order to address the economic distortions and hardship caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

A breakdown of how the funds will be executed shows that N152.4 billion is for solar projects that will power five million homes, covering 25 million Nigerians and creating 250,000 jobs; N217.3 billion for building 300,000 mass housing units that will create 1.5 million jobs; N52 billion for public works for the controversial 774,000 jobs programme, and N100 billion budgeted to create half a million Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) jobs.

Osinbajo urged the ministers and relevant stakeholders to expedite action on the plan, stating that “everything that we are doing has to be done immediately. We are already in ‘Day 67’ since the plan. Nothing is going to happen by magic, we have to simply do this stuff.

“We got to ensure that we have the money and ensure that day by day, we are measuring our achievements and trying to ensure that we do the things that we need to do. And we simply are not favoured by time, every single day the poverty situation and the economic distortions deepen.

“Everybody recognises that the only way out of this particular problem is to ensure that we fund production, enable consumer spending so that people can go and buy things, and we have to put money in people’s hands.”
If this programme works, at least 4 million farmers would positively be affected such that the anchor farmers, who are big farmers, would engage several thousands of farmers and they ensure that these farmers have all of their requirements and they guarantee the offtake of their produce.

For the 300,000 Mass Housing Programme, the prices would not exceed N2 million under the models in Borno State by the Family Homes Fund.

Vice President Osinbajo explained that the funds for this mass housing projects are expected to come from the N217 billion structured loans of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He added that with the estimated1.5 million doors, 1.8 million windows, 7.8 million hinges for the homes, local industries will blossom while people get the jobs and the experience that they require for sustainable living.

The vice president spoke glowingly of the support for MSMEs including the Survival Fund, which is the Payroll Support and the Guaranteed Offtake and registration of new businesses, which will benefit 100,000 SMEs and sustain 300,000 jobs.

Osinbajo said that it is imperative that the economic stimulus plan is fully implemented, adding that this is the only way of correcting the distortions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The elements of the Economic Sustainability Plan are laudable. But the worry is that this is not the first time that the federal government relief plans have been launched. The challenge for this stimulus plan is whether the government has the political will to implement it as Nigeria has witnessed many stimulus programmes that were implemented poorly.

This must not be so. So, while we support the execution of the plan, the government must brace up and ensure that this is not poorly handled.

The time we are in demands greater transparency, inclusiveness and urgency. Nigerians expect full implementation of specific programmes under this plan even though we are not known for prowess in doing so. But the future must start now as the federal government should ensure that the execution of the economic stimulus plan must not be hidden under an opaque cover.

https://dailytrust.com/need-for-transparency-in-n2-3-trn-economic-sustainability-plan

Politics › Osinbajo Departs Abuja For Accra To Attend Ecowas Extraordinary Summit On Mali by Zeemam(op): 9:31am On Sep 15, 2020

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE

OSINBAJO DEPARTS ABUJA FOR ACCRA TO ATTEND ECOWAS EXTRAORDINARY SUMMIT ON MALI

*To meet Nigerian community in Ghana today

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, leaves Abuja this morning for Accra, Ghana to attend an Extraordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the situation in Mali.

Prof. Osinbajo who is representing President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, at the summit will join other leaders in the sub-region to discuss the political crisis in Mali and the security situation in the sub region at large.

The Accra meeting will form part of several efforts by leaders in the sub region to resolve Mali's political crisis.

While in Accra, the Vice President will also meet with representatives of the Nigerian community in Ghana to discuss issues bothering on their wellbeing in the West African country.

Accompanying the Vice President is the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb Zubairu Dada.

Prof Osinbajo is expected back in Abuja today at the end of his engagements in Ghana.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
15th September, 2020

Politics › Osinbajo Builds New School In Late Outrider’s Village by Zeemam(op): 6:02pm On Sep 13, 2020

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday inspected a new school which consists of six blocks of classrooms built at Gui, Sauka, FCT, the village of his late outrider, Inspector Ali Gomina.

The school was built under the aegis of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).

Gomina, 45, died in a road accident while on official duty enroute Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on March 13.

Leaders and residents of the community trooped out to welcome the vice president who was represented by Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Ade Ipaye.

Speaking with newsmen after the inspection of the school, District Head of Gui, Alhaji Alhassan Yusuf, expressed appreciation to the vice president for bailing the community from the ‘poverty of education.’

According to him, the community is six kilometres from the expressway and the road is really bad.

He said that during the rainy season, their wards find it difficult to go to school at Sauka because of the bad road.

“So, when we lost our son, Gomina, and the vice president came to this community to condole with us, I ceased the opportunity to make the request for the renovation of our school, and a day after I made that request, the project was approved.

Work started on this project barely six months ago and it has been completed already.

“What is left now is for the Ministry of Education to come and supervise the operation of this school.

Read more: https://www.chronicle.ng/2020/09/osinbajo-builds-new-school-in-late-outriders-village/

Politics › BOI Says Records Of NSIP Beneficiaries Intact by Zeemam(op): 10:51am On Sep 12, 2020

The Bank of Industry has released the statement below, saying it has the records of all the beneficiaries of the federal government’s social investment programmes in Kwara State.

“We would like to state that the fully digitized loan records and biodata of all 2,418,936 GEEP beneficiaries are electronically stored in a central database. The data can be viewed at the GEEP Command Center of the Bank of Industry which is open to the public,” the bank said of the loan programme for small scale businesses.

In a statement signed by its management, the bank said “the programme relies heavily on technology to deliver its three loan products; namely TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni.”

Read the full statement below.

Bank of Industry debunks false report on TraderMoni in Kwara State

The attention of the Bank of Industry (BoI) has been drawn to a publication questioning the existence of records of beneficiaries of the TraderMoni scheme. The claim in the publication that “those that disbursed the money do not have records of beneficiaries like phone numbers and addresses, thus, making it difficult to track them for repayment” is false.

All National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) focal persons in all states of the federation, after necessary approvals, have been proactively furnished with all information regarding GEEP beneficiaries, as a matter of practice. This includes beneficiary names, phone numbers, and business location.

We would like to state that the fully digitized loan records and biodata of all 2,418,936 GEEP beneficiaries are electronically stored in a central database. The data can be viewed at the GEEP Command Center of the Bank of Industry which is open to the public.

The programme relies heavily on technology to deliver its three loan products; namely TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni. The loan cycle for every GEEP applicant involves the following processes:

Read more: https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/413956-boi-says-records-of-nsip-beneficiaries-intact.html

Politics › Beware Of Fake News by Zeemam(op): 11:55am On Sep 11, 2020

VP Osinbajo never shared cash in any of the markets. Traders confirmed that TraderMoni is paid into bank accounts or mobile wallets not in cash to petty traders, which they can cash on their own or with help of relatives.

Politics › Tradermoni Factcheck by Zeemam(op): 9:29am On Sep 11, 2020

*TRADERMONI FACTCHECK*
TraderMoni is a micro credit loan scheme for petty traders managed by BoI under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), one the social intervention programmes (SIPs) of the federal government. Others are MarketMoni and FarmerMoni. They were domiciled in the office of the Vice President between 2016 until October 2019.

*OVP AND OSINBAJO NOT INVOLVED IN DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS FOR SOCIAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMMES*

“Vice President was not involved in financial transactions or the disbursement of funds for the National Social Investment Programmes. It is Ministry of Budget and National Planning is in charge of all matters regarding financing, budgeting, procurement and disbursement of funds allocated and released for the N-SIPs” - Justice Bibiye (National Social Investment Office (NSIO) Communications Manager)

The office of the Vice President has never been involved in FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS or the DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS for the SIPs. NSIP since its implementation in 2016 until October 2019 were domiciled in the office of the Vice President, with VP Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, as Chair of the Steering Committee that oversights the National Social Investment Oﬃce. The Ministry of Budget and National Planning was in charge of all matters regarding ﬁnancing, budgeting, procurement and disbursement of funds allocated and released for the NSIPs. - Hon. Wole Oke (The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts

*MONITORING NSIP AND TRADERMONI UNDER OVP*
NSIPs was monitored by an umbrella of non-government organisations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) which have all adjudged the processes to be transparent. Organisations like Action Aid (Nigeria), the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), working with Accenture and the Busara Centre for Behavioral Sciences – have either monitored or evaluated the progress of the programmes.

*THERE ARE RECORDS FOR TRADERMONI & ALL NSIP*
There are two major requirements for TraderMoni:
1. You must have a valid BVN
2. You must have a valid SIM/phone number that is registered with the service providers.
There are records for every beneficiaries of NSIP. Every beneficiaries can be contacted through BVN and phone number and records with National Social Investment Office

*COMMENDATION OF NSIP UNDER OVP*
According to Third-party Monitoring Report, Action Aid noted that the Social Investment Programmes, despite the challenges encountered, are effective and relevant in the States because their expected outcomes have been achieved.
Commending the openness and transparency entrenched in the process of disbursements, the Senior Adviser, Department for International Development (DFID)-UK, Sonia Warner, said ANEEJ played a pivotal role in the Monitoring of Recovered Assets in Nigeria with Transparency and Accountability (MANTRA) Project to monitor US$322.5 million returned to Nigeria from Switzerland. Findings from ANEEJ, the umbrella body of the coalition of Independent Civil Society Organisations monitoring the use of returned $322 million Abacha Loot on cash transfers to the poorest of the poor confirm that the money is being disbursed to poor Nigerians, with the desired impact.
Warner noted that she “feels a strong sense of achievement being part of an intervention which has demonstrated that it is possible to retrieve stolen money and use it to support the victims of corruption in Nigeria.”
*At the last session of 62nd United Nations Commission in New York*, GEEP was commended for pushing the envelope in technological innovations for successful last-mile delivery of credit at massive scale. This was in recognition of the programme's roles in building a completely digitised loan operation, positioning of Bank Verification (BVN) as digital collateral to aid financial inclusion, use of facial recognition for de-deduplication, GPS-based mapping and profile of candidates to markets, and exhaustive data capture to truly formalise the informal sector.
*TRADERMONI IS NOT VOTE BUYING*
“*TraderMoni not vote buying*, I have heard legislators from both sides – the Senate and the House – talking about TraderMoni being vote buying. I shudder to think that any legislator would say that, when the same Legislature gave approval and budgeted for TraderMoni. We budgeted for something and then you turn around. Then you have done a disservice to the country. You are indicting yourself.” - Femi Gbajabiamila
*TraderMoni is not vote buying* - The presidential election petition tribunal
*TraderMoni is not vote buying* - Dayo Peters ( investigative Journalist)
*It’s Foolish to Call TraderMoni Vote Buying* – Osoba (Former governor of Ogun State)

*AWARD WON*
 Financial Inclusion Award – BOI wins Financial Inclusion Award for driving FG’s GEEP programme in 2019

 Tutu Leadership Fellowship for 2019 - GEEP COO, Uzoma Nwagba, named among recipients.

 Public Social Intrapreneur award –Mrs Maryam Uwais, the Special Adviser to the President on Social Investments, was among recipients of awards given by Schwab Foundation, a sister organization of the World Economic Forum, WEF.

Politics › Executive, Legislature, Party Consultative Forum Kicks Off Meeting by Zeemam(op): 7:12pm On Sep 10, 2020

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE

EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATURE, PARTY CONSULTATIVE FORUM KICKS OFF MEETING

The formation of the Executive/ Legislative/Party Consultative Committee by President Muhammadu Buhari and the effective commencement of its assignment today is the beginning of a more fruitful and cordial relationship among the different structures of the Executive, Legislative arms of government and the ruling party.

This was the observation of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN at the first meeting of the committee held at the Presidential Villa.

Prof. Osinbajo who is the chairman of the committee established last week by the President added that with the take-off of the consultative platform, there will be a more coordinated approach in the work of the Federal Government.

While inaugurating the committee last week, President Buhari said “we must admit to ourselves that our party has been too often embroiled in bitter and on occasions, totally unnecessary squabbles costing us seats in legislative and gubernatorial elections. These never should have happened. We are here to make sure such occurrences do not happen again. We must now ensure regular consultations between the party and the Government.

“I am a firm believer in the doctrine of the Separation of Powers, which is fundamental to our constitutional democracy. But our practice should be harmonious checks and balances devoid of bitterness and petty rivalry,’’

Speaking to journalists at the end meeting, the President of the Nigerian Senate, Sen. Ahmed Lawan said the committee’s focus is to enhance proper coordination between the party and the various arms of government for the purpose of effective implementation of programmes for Nigerians.

According to him, “last week, we told you, the essence of this committee is to ensure optimum service delivery to the Nigerian people. The legislature, the executive arm of government and the party (platform on which the legislative and executives arms, today are on) are all together in this committee, trying to shape very strategic means of delivering services to the Nigerian people.

“We want to ensure that there is good governance continuously for the entire period of our tenure and subsequent years that we will be in government, by the grace of God.”

Continuing, the Senate President said “this first meeting was to look at those critical areas that we need to concentrate and focus on how to ensure that we improve on the way and manner by which we deliver services to the Nigerian people, either as an executive arm of government or even the legislature. And, of course, the party is our veritable platform and vehicle for ensuring that this government, including all the arms, implement the party manifesto to the letter.

“The party provides the guidance, the clarifications and the rest of the two will continue to be implementers of this. We are very satisfied with this first meeting, and subsequent meetings will be held on a monthly basis. But where we think there may be need for an emergency meeting, we could be called for the meeting by the Vice President, our Chairman.”

Aside the VP and the Senate President, other members of the committee present at the meeting included the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase; Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi; House Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha; Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; the Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni; and APC Caretaker Committee Secretary, Sen. Akpan Udoedehe.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
10th September 2020

Politics › Offenders Should Be Visited With The Strictest Possible Consequences - Osinbajo by Zeemam(op): 7:41pm On Sep 09, 2020

WE REJECT NOTION THAT SEXUAL HARASSMENT VICTIMS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABUSE, SAYS OSINBAJO

*Adds: “offenders should be visited with the strictest possible consequences”

The notion that victims or potential victims of sexual harassment are architects of their fate especially by their attitude, dressing, or willingness to be in a compromising place with their violators is wrong and should be resisted in every situation. The victim must always be seen as the victim and not to be blamed.

This was the views of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, in his contributions on Wednesday at a webinar on Anti-Sexual Harassment themed “Finding Safe Spaces for Female Students in Nigerian Universities”, organized by the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. The event was based on the book authored by notable journalist and former presidential spokesman, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, titled NAKED ABUSE: SEX FOR GRADES IN AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES.

According to him, “the victim must always be seen as the victim. There cannot be an excuse, especially given the power configuration between students and lecturers, that the victim could have somehow invited the abuse upon themselves. I think it is an important consideration to be made and we must not allow that notion to persist.”

Advocating stricter punishments for rape offenders especially in situations involving lecturers and their female students, Prof. Osinbajo said “there cannot be an excuse especially given the power configuration between students and lecturers that the victim could have somehow invited the abuse upon themselves. I think it is an important consideration to be made and we must not allow that notion to persist.”

Continuing, the Vice President said “there is also the comparison sometimes made between demanding bribes for service and sex for grades. Sometimes people will argue that a bribe is a bribe and there is no reason why the punishment for sex as the currency of the bribe, should be stricter than an ordinary bribe.”

Referring to Adeniyi’s book, Prof. Osinbajo said developing and adhering to a set of ethical codes of conduct for conversations and interactions involving lecturers and students in universities would greatly address the problem.

He said: “to ensure that both faculty and students are sufficiently clear about the issues and rules, there is a need for a code of conduct or ethical guidelines based on best practices in appropriate student/lecturer interactions.

“It is important that these are clearly defined in ethical guidelines that are contained in some documents that people can refer to and see. It is important both for the lecturer and the student that there is some reference to some code of conduct.”

Speaking further on ways of resolving issues around sexual harassment in Nigerian universities, Prof. Osinbajo said the search for answers to creating safe spaces for female students in universities must begin from the question of why is it that such an evidently rampant crime is so under-reported?

According to him, “there are obviously many cases of people who share their anecdotal experiences without necessarily reporting to the authorities. I think the answer is clearly that this low reportability is on account of the fact that many victims do not feel confident that they will get redress, or that they will be treated fairly or that they will not be visited with the same fearful consequences that were the subject of the demand in the first place.

“The fear that they will neither get a sympathetic nor understanding hearing, let alone justice, and that they will end up suffering the same consequences the predator had threatened would occur if they did not submit to their demands. Then there is, of course, the shame and stigma that could attend speaking up.”

“I think that in ensuring that we create safe spaces, we must do at least the basics, which is providing the support and resources they need to report abusers. Every institution must make it easy for victims or potential victims to report perpetrators to trusted formal structures or secure channels created specifically for the purpose of resolving such cases,” the Vice President added.

Prof. Osinbajo also recommended the adoption of a mandatory “well thought-out whistleblower process emphasizing confidentiality, professional legal and medical help for victims or potential victims.”

Dignitaries who also spoke at the webinar besides Adeniyi, the Guest Speaker, included the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege; the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; the First Lady of Ekiti State, Mrs Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi; and the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbode.

Meanwhile, in another development, Prof. Osinbajo has underscored the synergy between the legislature and the executive in supporting policies and programmes of the administration especially those geared towards boosting the nation’s economic base.

The Vice President stated this on Wednesday at a virtual Citizens’ Dialogue on the Green Imperative Project. The Green Imperative Project is a bilateral initiative between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Brazilian government to develop Nigeria’s agricultural production base through a mechanization programme that is spread across the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
9th September, 2020

Politics › Re: Poverty In Nigeria Is Deepening Everyday - Vice President Yemi Osinbajo Reveals by Zeemam: 2:28pm On Sep 09, 2020

NESP approved by the President Buhari and FEC plan to:
1.Create jobs
2. Put money into the economy to hopefully stop it slipping into recession
3. Support small businesses
4. Prioritize local content (Made-in-Nigeria)
#MoneyInPeoplesHand

Politics › We Must Put Money In Peoples Hands Now - Osinbajo by Zeemam(op): 8:11am On Sep 09, 2020

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE

VP to ministers at Retreat: THE N2.3TRN STIMULUS PACKAGE MUST BE IMPLEMENTED QUICKLY

*Adds: We must put money in peoples hands now

•N637.2B for Agric ESP to create 5m jobs
•N152.4B for Solar projects to power 5m homes, covering 25m Nigerians & creating 250,000 jobs
•N217.3B for 300,000 Mass Housing, & 1.5m jobs
•N52B Public Works for 774,000 jobs
•N100B to create half a million MSMEs jobs
Though the Federal Government has commenced the implementation of the N2.3 trillion stimulus package, the economic distortions and hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic require the relevant ministers and stakeholders to expedite action on the plan adopted to mitigate the effect of the crisis on the economy, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Emphasizing the need for a quick implementation of the plan, the Vice President said “everything that we are doing has to be done immediately.”

Continuing, he said "we are already in 'Day 67' since the plan. Nothing is going to happen by magic, we have to simply do this stuff. We got to ensure that we have the money and ensure that day by day, we are measuring our achievements and trying to ensure that we do the things that we need to do. And we simply are not favoured by time, every single day the poverty situation and the economic distortions deepen.”

In a presentation which ended with the headline "The Urgency of Now," the Vice President stated this on Monday while presenting an overview of the Economic Sustainability Plan at the First Year Ministerial Performance Review Retreat organized for Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and top government functionaries. Prof. Osinbajo made his own presentation after delivering the President’s opening speech. The 2-day retreat ends today.

According to Prof. Osinbajo, “… everybody recognizes that the only way out of this particular problem is to ensure that we fund production, enable consumer spending so that people can go and buy things, and we have to put money in people’s hands.”

For instance, the Vice President noted that “the Mass Agriculture programme is one where we envisaged that we will be engaging many farmers. So far, we have enumerated at least 4 million farmers. So, these are farmers who are tied to their lands and we have the geo-statistics that shows where their land is and we have about 4 million of them. And we expect that with each state contributing acreage for farming, we will be able to do significant numbers. The plan is designed in such a way that in each one of the programmes, we are engaging as many Nigerians as possible.

“The expected outcome for Agriculture, even if each farmer employs an additional person, this will result in an additional 4 million jobs and even more jobs along the value chain. We also will be looking at developing rural roads to reduce post-harvest losses.

“Then guaranteed off-take of the produce. The way the programme is designed is that we have anchor farmers who are big farmers. They engage several thousands of farmers and they ensure that these farmers have all of their requirements and they guarantee the offtake of their produce. We have done the survey and it is very evident that so long as there is funding, we will be able to do this programme.”

For the Mass Housing Programme, the Vice President said “…the programme is one where we are looking at building 300,000 homes across the country. We are looking at ensuring that the price of those homes do not exceed N2 million. We already have models which have been put up in Borno State by the Family Homes Fund where the figure is at about N2 million. This is the social housing scheme.”

Continuing, he said “there are two tracks to the housing programme. There is one which is ongoing by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, and the one under the Family Homes Fund is also supervised by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

“The strategy is one that ensures that we use local materials as much as possible on each site. So, on each site, block making is going on. The making of doors, windows, tiles are going on. The whole idea is to make sure that we patronize the local industry and engage many of the young men and women who are at the moment out of work.

“One of the critical success indicators for us will be the number of young engineers, builders who are engaged in these projects. So, we are opening up the space for them and ensuring that they are able to bid for the jobs so that the jobs are not given to big contractors who will take it all up. There will be some big contractors who are supervising smaller businesses and builders.”

He added “we are looking at funding from the structured loans of the CBN and the expected funding is about N217 billion. We look at the demand, 1.5 million doors, 1.8 million windows, 7.8 million hinges, for 300, 000 homes. This is huge by any standards and if we are able to focus on the local industry, we can actually start a major revolution in building in our own country and patronize local industry and ensure that our people get the jobs and the experience that they require.”

For the MSMEs and Solar Power components of the plan, the Vice President said “the solar power and MSMEs strategy are also focused on creating jobs.”

For the Solar Home System, Prof. Osinbajo said “the Solar Power strategy is also focused on creating jobs. What has happened for Solar Power energy in our country is that, for those who have been following, in the past few years, we have been able to demonstrate that if we enable the private sector to install solar power in homes and businesses, government itself does not have to worry about any of these things, unlike what is happening today, where whatever happens in the power sector almost invariably becomes the problem of government.”

“If you look at the projects that we have done in Ariaria Market for example, or Sabon Gari in Kano, where these solar systems have been installed in shops, and in other establishments, there have been no default in payments. The private sector people who put these systems there, receive their pay constantly. In Sokoto also where the project has been implemented, people are happy to pay. Jobs are created, the installers, those who are servicing the system, those who are running the payment systems, these are jobs for so many Nigerians.

“So, using that same strategy, we will be enabling about 5 million solar home systems to be installed across the country. What government will do is to provide the loans through the CBN supported structured loans to the manufacturers of these solar home systems, and many of them are assembled locally. We are already working with these providers of the facilities. One other point is that the World Bank is working closely with us, and supporting the scheme so that once we are able to get fully out there, if we are able to do all of the 5 million homes, we should be able to provide 250,000 new jobs in low and high skilled categories, 25 million individuals with new or improved access to electricity. We are looking at 5 individuals per home,” the Vice President added.

The MSMEs sector, the Vice President said, is one important area of supporting job creation and productivity in the economy.

He said “We have the MSMEs support which has many aspects. But the Survival Fund which the President spoke about in his speech, is the Payroll Support and the Guaranteed Offtake, and then registration of new businesses. Guaranteed Offtake of products will support continued production of priority items and benefit 100,000 SMEs and sustain 300,000 jobs.

“I think that the MSMEs support and the support for businesses is particularly important because we are looking for payroll support for MSMEs which will include payment to teachers of private schools, private businesses for a period of 3 months, just to ensure that people do not lose their jobs. We also expect that the MSMEs support will be one that will enable industries like the hospitality industry, especially the lower cadre to benefit.”

Highlighting specific funding requirements and the expected outcomes in the plan, the Vice President said “Agriculture requiring N637.2 billion funding will provide 5,000,000 jobs; the Solar power project funding requirement is N152.4 billion is expected to provide 250,000 jobs; the Mass Housing programme with a funding requirement of N217.3 billion is expected to create 1,500,000 jobs; while Public Works funding is N52 billion to provide 774,000 jobs: and N100 billion is required to provide 500, 000 jobs in the SMEs.”

Speaking further about the importance of implementing a stimulus plan, the Vice President said there was no other way of correcting the distortions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said, “I think that if we are able to implement this faithfully, if we are able to ensure that we bring in the resources, then we certainly will be able to turn around, the economic fortunes of Nigeria.

“The truth is that, if you look at stimulus packages all over the world, what has happened is that, in many economies that have been able to lessen the impact of COVID-19, the funds have been provided and they have been provided at great pains.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
8th September 2020

Politics › We Must Put Money In Peoples Hands Now - Osinbajo by Zeemam(op): 7:32am On Sep 09, 2020

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Politics › Excerpts From President Buhari’s Address At The First Year Ministerial Retreat by Zeemam(op): 10:29am On Sep 08, 2020

EXCERPTS FROM PRESIDENT BUHARI’S ADDRESS AT THE FIRST YEAR MINISTERIAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW RETREAT

• The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions in our economy. Our revenues and forex earnings have fallen drastically by almost 60% and even though we have acted to mitigate these effects by adopting an Economic Sustainability Plan, we have also had to take some difficult steps to stop unsustainable practices that were weighing the economy down.

• One of those steps is the deregulation of the price of premium motor spirit (PMS). The Government can no longer fix or subsidize PMS prices because it is excessively costly and unaffordable; may lead to the return of fuel queues and may adversely affect funding of other vital sectors such as health, education and other social services.

• Nevertheless, the Government understands the pains this has caused and has pegged the fuel price, through PPRA, to prevent exploitation of Nigerian citizens by petroleum marketers who may attempt to raise pump prices arbitrarily. The deregulation has given all Nigerians the opportunity to import sell petroleum products as the increased competition in the sector will reduce prices.

• The recent service based tariff adjustment by the Discos was needed due to the sub-par quality of service given by the Discos and the high cost of subsidizing electricity for Nigerians by the government, reaching up to a whooping N1.7 trillion.

• However, the government has sought to reduce the burden on Nigerians by ensuring tariff adjustments are made only on the basis of guaranteed improvement in service. Therefore, only customers who are guaranteed a minimum of 12hours of power and above can have their tariffs adjusted. Those who get less than 12 hours supply, or the Band D and E Customers will experience no increase. This tariff review will definitely lead to improved service for all at a fair and reasonable price.

• Government has also implemented a mass metering program whereby meters will be provided for over 5 million Nigerians. These meters will be procured from local manufacturers which will create thousands of jobs in the process.

• NERC has also committed to strictly enforcing the capping regulation which will ensure that unmetered customers are not charged beyond the metered customers in their neighbourhood. In other words, NO MORE ESTIMATED BILLINGS.

• As part of the Economic Sustainability Plan, the government is providing Solar home systems to 5 million Nigerian households in the next 12 months. We are currently funding manufacturers and retailers of Off Grid Solar Home Systems and Mini-Grids who are to provide the systems. This will create over 300,000 jobs and impact up to 25 million beneficiaries through the installation.

• The timing of these two adjustments have been questioned. However, it is highly coincidental considering the deregulation of PMS prices happened 18 March 2020 and the price moderation that currently took place is part of normal adjustments to global crude oil prices. Similarly, the review of service-based electricity tariffs was scheduled to start at the beginning of July but was put on hold to enable further studies and proper arrangements to be made.

• The government fully considers the current economic difficulties of Nigerians and does not wish to inflict hardship on the people in any way. We are convinced that if we stay focused on our plans, brighter and more prosperous days will come soon. Ministers and senior officials are also expected to ensure the vigorous and prompt implementation of the ESP and all of our programmes, which will eventually bring succour to Nigerians.

Politics › Vaccine Distribution Should Be Accessible To All – Osinbajo by Zeemam(op): 1:11pm On Sep 06, 2020

Says debt relief for Africa without commercial debt not sustainable

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says in order to effectively contain the spread of the coronavirus disease across the globe, the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine should be done in an equitable and affordable manner rather than on the basis of the highest bidder.

The Vice President stated this on Friday at the virtual 2020 EURAFRICA Forum themed “Towards a realistic Euro-African partnership during and beyond the COVID-19 era”.

The summit featured presentation from notable global leaders including the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Antonio Guterres, the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Mr Ulisses Correia Silva, among others speakers.

The EurAfrican Forum aims to foster stronger collaboration between Europe and Africa, and better promote a shared green and inclusive growth, among other objectives.

Speaking on the need for an equitable distribution of vaccines to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof. Osinbajo said the first thing that comes to mind “is to ensure widespread and equitable access to a COVID-19 vaccine.”

According to him, “Europe should work closely with Africa to ensure that when a vaccine is finally deployed it should not be on the basis of the highest bidder but rather be made available at an affordable and in an accessible manner.

“This is a matter that should not be taken for granted. We saw during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in richer parts of the world, that orders for test kits and reagents by African countries were deemed too small and tended to be ignored.”

Further stressing the point in support of Africa and developing countries in general, the Vice President called on the European Union to support the initiatives aimed at promoting vaccine access to poorer countries.

He said “although Nigeria does not have the resources or means to pre-pay for a COVID-19 vaccine, we are fortunate to be a GAVI supported country and we urge the EU to lend support to GAVI’s effort to ensure equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX initiative. This way, poorer countries and their citizens will get the vaccines that they need at the same time as the rest of the world.”

Read more: https://www.chronicle.ng/2020/09/vaccine-distribution-should-be-accessible-to-all-osinbajo/

Politics › VP Adds: “debt Relief For Africa Without Commercial Debt Not Sustainable” by Zeemam(op): 3:42pm On Sep 05, 2020

*OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT PRESS RELEASE*

*COVID-19 PANDEMIC: VACCINE DISTRIBUTION SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL, NOT ON THE BASIS OF HIGHEST BIDDER, SAYS OSINBAJO AT EURAFRICA FORUM*

*VP adds: “Debt relief for Africa without commercial debt not sustainable”

In order to effectively contain the spread of the Coronavirus disease across the globe, the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine should be done in an equitable and affordable manner rather than on the basis of the highest bidder, according to Vice President Yemi OsiThe Vice President stated this on Friday at the virtual 2020 EURAFRICA Forum themed “Towards a realistic Euro-African partnership during and beyond the COVID-19 era”.

The summit featured presentation from notable global leaders including the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Antonio Guterres, the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, Mr Ulisses Correia Silva, among others speakers.

The EurAfrican Forum aims to foster stronger collaboration between Europe and Africa, and better promote a shared green and inclusive growth, among other objectives.

Speaking on the need for an equitable distribution of vaccines to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof. Osinbajo said the first thing that comes to mind “is to ensure widespread and equitable access to a COVID-19 vaccine.”

According to him, “Europe should work closely with Africa to ensure that when a vaccine is finally deployed it should not be on the basis of the highest bidder but rather be made available at an affordable and in an accessible manner.

“This is a matter that should not be taken for granted. We saw during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in richer parts of the world, that orders for test kits and reagents by African countries were deemed too small and tended to be ignored.”

Further stressing the point in support of Africa and developing countries in general, the Vice President called on the European Union to support the initiatives aimed at promoting vaccine access to poorer countries.

He said “although Nigeria does not have the resources or means to pre-pay for a COVID-19 vaccine, we are fortunate to be a GAVI supported country and we urge the EU to lend support to GAVI’s effort to ensure equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX initiative. This way, poorer countries and their citizens will get the vaccines that they need at the same time as the rest of the world.”

Emphasizing the need to review the state of partnership between Africa and Europe, the Vice President said the summit offered an opportunity for both continents to share perspectives on matters of mutual interest.

According to him, “A global crisis calls for global partnerships. If COVID-19 exists in any part of the world, it remains a significant threat to every part of the world.

“The partnership between Africa and the European Union is good platform for both sides to work together on economic recovery and rebuilding of health systems. It is also equally important that we become even stronger advocates for closer international cooperation to tackle the fall out of COVID-19.”

Prof. Osinbajo also spoke about Nigeria’s efforts in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, noting that Nigeria’s “priority is to ward off a deep recession.”

He said “we developed an Economic Sustainability Plan consisting of measures to support local businesses, retain and create jobs and to improve the circumstances of the most vulnerable.

“The Plan bolsters our health interventions and promotes the use labour-intensive methods in key areas like agriculture, light manufacturing, housing, and facilities management.”

Raising the issue of debt relief for Africa in the era of COVID-19, Prof. Osinbajo said given the continent’s previous structural vulnerabilities and limitations, debt relief involving commercial debts was desirable.

According to the Vice President, “We continue to experience huge financing gaps, huge debt servicing obligations and foreign exchange shortages. It is clear then that we need all the help we can get.

“The Debt Servicing Support Initiative of the G20 is welcome and will no doubt bring some relief to relevant African countries. However, it remains inadequate because it does not address the problem of commercial debt service obligations.”

Continuing, he said “the share of commercial debt is almost two thirds of debt service in Africa so any debt relief arrangement not involving this segment is unlikely to succeed.

“Getting relief on commercial debt servicing will require the cooperation of bondholders and ratings agencies which is why the African Union Special Envoys on COVID-19 are engaging with them actively. Nigeria calls on the EU to lend its weight to this initiative which is very important for Africa.”

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
5th September 2020

Politics › Osinbajo Commends Supreme Court’s Virtual Proceedings Ruling by Zeemam(op): 9:04am On Sep 04, 2020

Why we need a new set of practice directions for virtual court proceedings

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the computerization of court proceedings over the years, the endorsement of virtual court proceedings by a Supreme Court ruling is wise as it has saved “our system of justice another catastrophic round of technical decisions around the constitutionality of virtual proceedings”, among other issues.

The Vice President stated this on Thursday at a webinar on media coverage of virtual court proceedings in Nigeria, organized by the Gavel International Limited.

According to Prof. Osinbajo, “we are at a point where at least we know that virtual hearings are legal. This means that the Supreme Court is satisfied that appropriate means can be found to ensure that hearings are public and that the press and indeed members of the public can access the proceedings.

“I think that an opportunity that this offers us is to get rid of this issue of technicality as much as possible. And I am so pleased that the Supreme Court did not even hesitate in saying that virtual proceedings are legal. It is really a breath of fresh air considering the ways that we tend to magnify the issue of technicality to the point where you wonder where justice is.”

Continuing, the Vice President said “I am hoping that the opportunity we have in virtual proceedings will also be an opportunity to dispense with several of the unnecessary technical rules that we have in our adjectival law, laws of procedure, evidence and all that. And hopefully, we are able to get to the heart of trials and the heart of the matter such that we are buck down unnecessarily by technicality.”

Read Prof. Osinbajo’s full statement below

First let me thank my dear brother, Mustapha Ogunsakin, CEO of Gavel International for the kind invitation to participate in this important conversation on the questions around the reporting of virtual court proceedings.

Read more: https://www.chronicle.ng/2020/09/osinbajo-commends-supreme-courts-virtual-proceedings-ruling/

Politics › Osinbajo Meets Ganduje Over Banditry, Education by Zeemam(op): 9:35am On Sep 03, 2020

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday met with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state at the Presidential Villa, Abuja to discuss issues bordering on security and education.

Ganduje, who spoke with reporters at the State House, said he came to brief the Vice President on efforts being made to address the challenges.

He said that military was putting in its best and was being supported to keep criminals away from the Falgore Forest.

The governor said: “Just to brief him about the security issues in Kano State, especially pertaining to kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other criminal activities in the zone.

“I submitted a report to him that it is all well; we are managing; there is high coordination of the security agencies in Kano; they are working very hard.

“The only problem we have is the Falgore Forest for which we are providing infrastructure for military training in order to prevent the bandits from colonising that particular environment.

“We are working very hard on that; so, briefly, that is what I have come to discuss with him.’’

He said that the vice president was happy and felt encouraged with the report.

On the Kano Economic City, he said that Kano was a mega city; therefore, commercial activities must be encouraged.

According to him, all the markets in Kano are filled to capacity, hence the need to expand to other places.

“So, to create a new economic city is the answer; it has reached an advanced stage; there are so many facilities there.

“Apart from the shops there, there are mega hotels, there are banking halls and also there are trailer parks and so many other things that you expect to see in an economic city.

“The work has reached over 70 per cent; so, we are happy; even the drug sellers are being allocated a place there to avoid selling drugs indiscriminately.

“You know the Federal Government’s policy on drugs now; and those who are in corporate business, there is premises for them.’’

Ganduje also spoke on the N880 million recently distributed to the 44 councils in Kano state for the renovation of primary schools.

He said that the main essence of that programme was to encourage community participation in the development of education in the state.

The governor said that his administration had designed a package for direct labour, rehabilitation and renovation of schools.

“Now, we have created what we call education promotion committees and we have given them N20 million each with identified schools to be renovated, with the scope of work to be undertaken.

“We have given them three weeks to complete that project; so that they will come and report and our supervisors and engineers will also give the same report.”

Politics › Osinbajo, Gov Ishaku Meet Over Insecurity by Zeemam(op): 8:47am On Sep 02, 2020

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba state met on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, over the security challenges facing the state.

Ishaku told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting held behind closed doors that he intimated Osinbajo of the security challenges in his state and sought his support.

The governor said, “The meeting is about security; mainly security: the problems of security that we have in the state. I briefed him (the Vice President) and we are hoping that he will look into it.

“Just in general; there is Jukun/Tiv crisis; there is also kidnapping, which is on the rise, and all the others.

“In general form, I think he is fully briefed and I think he will be able to assist us.”

Politics › Honest Implementation Of Ideas Can Make Better Societies Possible - Osinbajo by Zeemam(op): 7:07pm On Sep 01, 2020

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE

HONEST IMPLEMENTATION OF IDEAS CAN MAKE BETTER SOCIETIES POSSIBLE - OSINBAJO

Despite the increasing pressure on scarce resources amidst other emerging challenges, an honest implementation of ideas by a focused leadership can improve the fortunes of societies and make them better, according to Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

The Vice President stated this on Tuesday at the virtual public presentation of three books on Policy, Politics and Governance written by Mr Simbo Olorunfemi.

“But the other point is in my respectful view, the error of assuming that the failures in governance is on account of professionals and other decently engaged people leaving the space to career politicians.”

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF BOOKS ON POLICY, POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE WRITTEN BY MR SIMBO OLORUNFEMI ON TUESDAY SEPT. 1, 2020

Let me first say how honoured I am to join you at this presentation of books by Mr Simbo Olorunfemi. Simbo Olorunfemi has emerged as one of the most important thought leaders on politics and governance in Nigeria.

He has through the years and in very many articles and sundry commentaries ranging from the economy, to development, international relations and partisan politics, consistently applied rigour, deep thought and scientific discipline to his analysis of the people, the events and the policies that have shaped these issues, and the societies and publics that they impact.

I think his strength is in his capacity to take on the big issues, the complex ideas such as ethnicity and cultural politics and also the more retail questions around the daily disputes on rightness or wrongness of government policy or their efficient or sloppy implementation, all with the same clarity of thought and presentation.

His projections on political outcomes are eerily accurate, and his prescriptions are practical and clearly thought through even if controversial. His three latest works ‘The Devil is not in the Politics’, ‘Politics is not a Game for Gentlemen’, and ‘Every day for the Goliaths’ (what manner of democracy is this), is a successful attempt to put in print his thoughts in various interventions under broadly descriptive titles. And I think an incredibly insightful review of the books have been done.

We are by the way he has put this together, been able to follow and argue with his thoughts on the dynamic interaction of politics, policy and governance. Central to his analysis is leadership.

As the events of the last few months around the world have proven to us, leadership is indeed consequential. If there was any doubt about the fact that the quality of leadership is central to the fortunes of society, this pandemic has established that to us in plain terms.

It may literarily mean the difference between life and death. If leadership is that consequential, it must then suggest that politics, may be, belong in the same existential category, being the production line for leadership.

Simbo Olorunfemi strengthens the point by the metaphor of politics and policy being Siamese twins, intertwined and interlocked; one being a propeller, the other the engine.

Success for a political leader, he submits, involves a smart fusion of both, such that policy drives politics and policies are strategically framed, pursued and executed without losing sight of one for the other.

Perhaps one may add that this is where the purpose of politics is the attainment of power for the prosecution of the public good not as an end in itself or for personal or other parochial interests. And this may be no small matter as one sees time and time again the tragedy of self-absorbed, self-seeking leadership.

Some have argued that one of the challenges that we have faced as a nation is that of reluctance of our best minds to get involved in politics, leaving it to the second eleven, as they say.

A chapter from which the book ‘Politics is not a Game for Gentlemen’ derives its title, speaks to the point. Simbo argues that puritanical idealism can only take one so far in politics, and that to be successful and be in a position to attain power or influence policy direction, a bit of pragmatism is needed, founded around strategic thinking, and in acknowledgment of the fact that all politics is local.

To be successful, it is necessary, he says, to approach it at the retail level and not with a wholesale mentality. Indeed, this is true. But clearly, where the rubber hits the road is the crucial collision of theory and praxis. How much compromise is too much or what is too little. I will leave the argument for another day.

But the other point is in my respectful view, the error of assuming that the failures in governance is on account of professionals and other decently engaged people leaving the space to career politicians.

I fear that this sort of analysis is factually incorrect because as a matter of fact very many of those who hold political office are actually qualified in some discipline or the other. And as Simbo points out in ‘Every day for the Goliaths’ (one of the pieces there) that the decay extends to the judiciary, the banking sector etc. must tell us that the problem is deeper.

The question, in my view, is what the elite consensus is? The elite in most societies determine that direction even if the primary purpose is self-preservation. I think that the problem we have is that there is so much concern with narrow parochial interest. The Nigerian elite is unable, even out of self-preservation, to find a consensus, not only to move the nation forward but also to prevent itself from destruction.

I had the privilege of working with Simbo and several others a few years ago on political strategy and tactics for our party, the APC. His commitment and passion for nation-building was always so evident. His taking the trouble to detail his thoughts in writing and put them out for debate and analysis is a commendable but, I must say, sadly disappearing activity.

In the era of the mindless tweets, and other digital enablers of lightning-speed communication and the puerile attention span they nurture, the space for critical thinking on public affairs is narrowing and the public intellectual is fast becoming an endangered category which is why Simbo’s latest efforts deserve all our commendation.

I am therefore honored to invite you to join me in presenting these books to all who seek better societies and know that they are indeed possible by the honest implementation of the thoughts and ideas of men and women who, like Simbo, apply their talents to finding answers to the myriad issues of development.

Congratulations Simbo, thank you very much.

Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President

1st September 2020

Politics › Northern Youths Praise ‘invaluable’ Osinbajo by Zeemam(op): 9:41am On Sep 01, 2020

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September 1, 2020

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FILE PHOTO: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo submits the Sustainability Plan to President Muhammadu Buhari

Northern youths-under the auspices of the Youth for Peace in Nigeria, have praised Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for his contributions to the country, describing it as “invaluable”.

In a statement on Monday, the group noted that he has enhanced the regime of the President Muhammadu Buhari, with his inputs and loyalty.

“It is tough to find a man with such an intellectual prowess matched with unalloyed patriotism and fierce loyalty to his boss,” said the National Coordinator of the group, Yahaya Muhammad.

“We have keenly followed his steadfastness and moves since he joined government and must say we are more than impressed by his outputs.

“We salute Osinbajo as a detribalised, national icon, an incorruptible leader with a humble disposition,” Muhammad said.

Politics › Buhari Names Osinbajo As Chairman Exco-legislative Party Forum by Zeemam(op): 9:49pm On Aug 31, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday tapped Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to head the Executive/Legislative/Party Consultative Committee at the State House in Abuja.

President Buhari set up the consultative committee to help fine-tune the relationship between the executive, legislature and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It would be recalled that there have been months of hot exchanges between both arms of government and that leaders of both tiers met before the inauguration of the committee.

Speaking at a consultative meeting among the executive, legislative and the party leadership at the Presidential Villa, he said the situation had cost the governing party governorship and legislative seats during elections.

He also regretted that despite the dominance of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at all levels of government, the party is embroiled in bitter and unnecessary squabbles.

The President said the meeting and the Committee was therefore called to avert the occurrences in future.

“Let me welcome all of you to this first Consultative Committee of the APC, our members of the National Assembly and the Executive.

“Our party commands a clear majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Vice-President, the distinguished Senate President, the Right Honourable Speaker and I all belong to APC and the working relationships between the Executive and the Legislative have been excellent so far. Our joint responsibility is to keep things that way and see where we can improve our communication and coordination.

“But we must admit to ourselves that our party has been too often embroiled in bitter and on occasions, totally unnecessary squabbles costing us seats in legislative and gubernatorial elections. These never should have happened. We are here to make sure such occurrences do not happen again. We must now ensure regular consultations between the party and the Governments.’’

Read more: https://www.chronicle.ng/2020/08/buhari-names-osinbajo-chairman-of-exco-legislative-party-forum/

Politics › Re: Nigeria: Four Things Prof Yemi Osinbajo Means To Nigeria by Zeemam: 1:25pm On Aug 31, 2020

He is the best politician ever liveth. God bless Osinbajo

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Politics › APC Reconciliation: Badaru, Lalong Brief Osinbajo by Zeemam(op): 9:47am On Aug 29, 2020

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, received Governors Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa and Simon Lalong of Plateau in a bid to unite members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo, Ogun and Oyo States.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC recently inaugurated a five-member reconciliation committee chaired by Badaru, to reconcile aggrieved members of the party in Imo and Ogun States.

Other members of the committee are Governors Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State and Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State.

Badaru spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with the vice president. “I met with the Vice President as a party leader to discuss the assignment that the party has given to me to see how best we can unite and make the party strong in Imo, Ogun and Oyo.

“I briefed him on what we have done so far and he gave us some suggestions on how to do the job very well.

“In addition to that, I briefed him today for the zero oil committee; we met today and we are charting our progress and a new agenda for the development of non-oil exports.

“It is just to make sure that the party is strong and is back again and if there are ripples among members of the party; bring them together and make sure we have one strong and powerful party,” he said.

For his part, Lalong said that the meeting with the Vice President was in continuation of the committee’s assignment to reconcile the parties.

According to the governor, the committee has started the reconciliation work concerning Imo, Ogun and Oyo states but the vice president’s input is needed.

“We need some information from him to also assist us in reconciling the parties; that was why we came here to consult him.

“As a very senior party man, he can always give advice; he gave his own advice on how to go about it because he is very much interested in reconciliation within the party; to guide us.

“So, we have taken the advice and we are going back; especially, one of the states is his state; he is from Ogun.

“And as part of the reconciliation, he is also from Ogun; you cannot do reconciliation without consulting him; he knows everybody that is there; he knows part of the problems that are there; so, he can always give us advice as to how to go about it,” he said.

Lalong said that as the Chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum, consultations were being made to resolve the Southern Kaduna crisis.

Read more: https://www.chronicle.ng/2020/08/apc-reconciliation-badaru-lalong-osinbajo/

Politics › Osinbajo Condemns Mindless Southern Kaduna Killings by Zeemam(op): 9:26am On Aug 28, 2020

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has condemned the mindless and callous killings in Southern Kaduna and he explained the federal government’s interventions in Kaduna state.

Osinbajo spoke on the State of the Nation at the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association themed Step Forward on Thursday.

The panel anchored by Nduka Obaigbena, the chairman of ThisDay newspaper also had the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Femi Gbajabiamila on it.

“I want to say that the mindless, callous killings in Southern Kaduna are heartbreaking and again we must condole that who have lost loved ones, those injured or those who have suffered loss and property,” the Vice President said.

“These tragedies are completely unacceptable and they are avoidable. I have been involved since 2001 through the Macedonian Initiative, an NGO that focused on giving relief materials to displaced persons since 2001 in Southern Kaduna and other places especially the north central part of Nigeria but the deadly violence in Southern Kaduna has continued over the years.

He explained that there have been efforts to stem the crisis in the south of Kaduna. “There have been judicial commissions etc but the problem remained. So there is the need to address the underlining issues but what are we doing, what is the government doing?

“First is true improvement of security in Southern Kaduna. Now we have a military base there for the first time. We also have a lot of air force surveillance; we have about 500 conventional mobile police men and the combined military force of the army and the navy who are also on ground 24 hours which is basically to take care of the volatile situation there.

Read more: https://www.chronicle.ng/2020/08/osinbajo-condemns-mindless-southern-kaduna-killings/

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