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FFK slams Arewa Pastors for visiting and endorsing President Buhari
No Comments 455 Views | by zeegee
Yesterday, Northern pastors under the aegis, Arewa Pastors Peace Initiative, visited President Buhari at the state house in Abuja and endorsed him for a second term.
Nigerian Senate rejects N800m security vote for Inland Waterways
No Comments 482 Views | by zeegee
The Nigerian Senate, yesterday, queried the sum of N800 million budgeted for the purchase of security equipment by the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
The lawmakers made its position to the Acting Managing Director, Danladi Ibrahim, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Marine Transport to defend the agency’s 2018 budget.
The panel wondered why the agency requested for N800 million in the 2018 budget for the purchase of security equipment, which was the same amount it received in the 2017 budget for the same purpose.
The committee noted that out of the N800 million, the agency had spent N790 million in 2017, which amounts to over 90 per cent of the appropriated sum.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima, noted that the agency failed to provide details and specifications of how it plans to spend the money it requested for in the 2018 budget.
Yerima noted: “You said you want to do something; the same amount last year, the same amount this year. There are no details, no explanations, no form of specification whatsoever. This is unacceptable.”
Another member of the committee, Senator Mohammed Hassan, said Ibrahim and his team should be asked to go back and do the right thing.
He said: “You are doing construction, the locations are not known. You have a project of N1.2 billion which you requested for in 2017, you have received over 90 per cent, you requested for the same amount in 2018. The right thing should have been for you to request for the balance.”
On his part, NIWA boss told the committee that the security equipment was not meant for one place alone. He also said the 2017 approval was the first time the authority was receiving fund for capital projects.
The committee, thereafter, asked the representatives of the agency to go back and do the right thing.
President’s $1bn approval not Boko Haram fund – Presidency
No Comments 658 Views | by zeegee
President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has disclosed that the president’s recent approval of the release of $1 billion for the purchase of military equipment is not just to fight Boko Haram.
After presiding over a meeting with the National Security Council at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali revealed that the president approved the release of the fund which was withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account by the Federal Government.
“I can inform you that of recent, our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, gave approval for the purchase of more equipment for the military, worth $1 billion,” Dan-Ali said.
While speaking on Channels Television on Thursday, April 5, 2018, Adesina said the fund is not just to intensify the military’s fight against Boko Haram but to fight other forms of insecurity in the country.
He also insisted that contrary to what the critics are saying, President Buhari followed due process in approving the release of the fund.
He said, “It couldn’t have been done before the approval, the approval had to come like it came and then Mr President having approved it, sends a communication to the National Assembly. That’s the right procedure.
“That fund is not meant to battle Boko Haram, it is not Boko Haram fund; it is fund to battle insecurity. Boko Haram is not the only form of insecurity we have in Nigeria.
“As we speak now, the communication to the National Assembly is about ready. Those who have been venting spleen and flexing muscles over the matter should just have bothered to make enquiries from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters.
“There is not timing that is not good for security. Every time is security time. Those who are reading political meanings to it, it is just very unfortunate they play politics with everything and they will play politics with the very life of Nigerians which is very bad.
Controversy has trailed the release of the fund as the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and especially Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, has kicked against the process that led to the withdrawal of the fund.
While the Federal Government has insisted that the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) had approved the withdrawal of the fund in December 2017, Fayose said he had no input in the decision.
The Buhari-led government has been accused of trying to loot the $1 billion to fund the president’s re-election bid in next year’s election as they failed to see the reason in using the enormous amount to fight a terrorist group that the government has claimed several times has been defeated.
NEMA board suspends six (6) senior directors
No Comments 543 Views | by zeegee
The Board of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has suspended six directors of the agency indefinitely.
The suspension of the affected officials by the newly-inaugurated board was in connection with the ongoing probe of the finances of NEMA by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The financial years being reviewed by the anti-graft agency are from 2011 to 2015.
Those placed on suspension are the Director of Finance and Accounts, Akinbola Hakeem Gbolahan; Ag. Director, Special Duties, Umesi Emenike; Director, Risk Reduction, Mallam Alhassan Nuhu; Pilot in-charge Air Ambulance and Aviation Unit, Mamman Ali Ibrahim; the Chief Maintenance Officer, Ganiyu Yunusa Deji; and the Director of Welfare, Kanar Mohammed.
The EFCC had in a report to the Presidency recommended the disciplinary measures in order to enable it conduct unhindered investigation and have access to vital records.
Based on the EFCC’s recommendation, the Board of NEMA approved the suspension and directed the management to give effect to its decision.
The Board also mandated the management of NEMA to cooperate fully with the EFCC in the ongoing probe.
Muslim Lawyers vow not to obey dress code in court
No Comments 894 Views | by zeegee
The Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria, MULAN, has vowed to reject the new directive given by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on lawyers’ dress code.
MULAN said the FCT High Court had in a press release on March 28, 2018 “prohibited the use of any apparel underneath wigs by lawyers and by extension the hijab by female Muslim lawyers.”
But in a communiqué generated at the end of its National Executive Committee meeting in Benin, Edo State, on April 3, 2018, MULAN said it would not adhere to the directive.
It described the directive as “unfortunate, draconian, illegal, unconstitutional and unlawful.”
The MULAN communiqué was signed by its President, Dr. Kamal Dawud.
It argued that the directive by the court was at variance with Section 38 of the constitution, which guarantees citizens’ right to manifest their religion.
It added that the court’s decision was “contrary to the 2004 resolution of the Body of Benchers which allows female Law School students and legal practitioners to use head cover underneath their wigs.”
“MULAN NEC condemns the directive in the press release in the strongest term and urges the FCT High Court to reverse its decision contained in the press release forthwith,” the communiqué said.
Face of Defense: From Nigerian Prince to American Airman
No Comments 459 Views | by HarryIt’s not all doom and gloom news about Nigeria. Our citizens continue to fly high worldwide, but need to replicate this back home. See following story by the US DOD.
Face of Defense: From Nigerian Prince to American Airman
