Connect with us

Society

Buhari, National Assembly’s Fight over 2016 Budget Continues

Published

on

THE crisis between President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly over the 2016 budget has worsened as the executive has discovered fresh padding of the fiscal document by the lawmakers.

Sunday PUNCH reliably learnt on Saturday that only one minister did not have problems with the budget when it was discussed at the emergency Federal Executive meeting presided over by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Friday.

It was learnt that the lawmakers reduced amounts allocated to some major projects and inserted what was not originally included in the budget by the executive.

A top civil servant, who confided in Sunday PUNCH said, “Only one minister did not have any problem with the budget details the National Assembly submitted to the President.

“There are instances, where they completely removed projects and padded the budget by inserting theirs. The lawmakers should know that the budget is the document of the executive and it takes responsibility for it.”

It was learnt that at the FEC meeting that many key aspects of the budget on government’s infrastructural programmes were removed.

One of such, it was gathered, was the coastal railway project. Findings showed that Calabar-Lagos rail project was removed from the budget by the lawmakers.

The senior civil servant, who confided in Sunday PUNCH, said, “The coastal railway project is one of the reasons the President is in China. N60bn counterpart funding has been provided.

“We are working on two major rail arteries. The Lagos-Kano line and the Calabar – Lagos line. While the Lagos-Kano provision was left intact by the National Assembly, the Calabar – Lagos line was removed.”

The projects will be jointly financed by the Federal Government and China.

It was learnt that the FEC meeting noticed that the amount proposed for the completion of the Idu-Kaduna rail project, was also reduced by N8.7bn.

It was gathered that the executive observed that the reduction would make the completion of the project difficult.

The civil servant stated, “Another major area noticed was the completion of on-going road projects. While the executive in the budget provided for the completion of all major road projects, the National Assembly reduced the amounts budgeted for them and instead, inserted new road projects which studies have not even been conducted.

“The amounts allocated by the National Assembly for the projects can neither complete the ongoing projects nor the new ones. At the end of 2016, no significant progress would have been made.

“Another major flaw in the budget is in the health sector. Proposals made for the purchase of essential drugs for major health issues such as Polio and AIDs were removed by the National Assembly.”

The FEC also observed that certain provisions made for agriculture and water resources as part of the Federal Government’s diversification projects were either removed or reduced.

“The funds were moved to provision of rural health facilities and boreholes, for which provisions have been made elsewhere,” the top civil servants said.

It was gathered that the lawmakers made such provisions in their constituencies.

Investigations showed that the President had reached out to the leadership of the National Assembly as part of efforts to resolve areas of disagreement.

It was learnt that Buhari was determined to ensure that the budget was signed as soon as he returned from China and once the grey areas were resolved.

It will be recalled that the National Assembly had a few months ago detected errors in the budget. The lawmakers had also alleged that the budget was padded.

Asked to speak on the recent development, the House of Representatives advised the executive to appreciate the power of the legislature to appropriate funds as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs , Abdulrazak Namdas, who gave the House’ position, explained further: “The job of the executive is to initiate projects and spending heads, but it is the responsibility of the National Assembly to appropriate funds as necessary.”

On padding, Namdas said that it was actually the fault of the executive, which brought a budget that was already full of discrepancies to the National Assembly on December 22, 2015.

“Padding was an issue that the executive itself admitted even before the National Assembly started a thorough re-working of the budget to clean it up,” he said.

The senate spokesperson, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, neither picked calls to his mobile telephone nor responded to the text message sent to him on the issue.

Also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje, had yet to respond to a text message sent to him after repeated calls made to his mobile line did not connect.

When contacted, the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enag said, “What the Minister of Information said after the FEC meeting is the exact position of government on the issue. I have nothing more to add.”

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Society

Boosting Health Access: Lasaco Assurance Supports NYSC Corps Members’ Health Mission”

Published

on

By

 

Insurance underwriter, Lasaco Assurance Plc, has donated health recovery items to support the Health Initiative Programme of the National Youth Service Corps members serving in the Ifako Ijaiye Local Government area of Lagos State.

A statement from the firm said that the donation was to boost health development in the country.

 

Some Corps members, under the aegis of Local Government Initiative, for their first quarter Health Initiative, embarked on a project to provide health services to rural dwellers, whose access to quality health services was limited due to poverty, ignorance and superstition.

 

Lasaco Assurance supported the corps members to reach the target audience and help them overcome their difficulties in accessing quality health.

10 corps members head to India for youth exchange programme

Group trains youths to solve environmental challenges

NYSC confirms release of abducted corpers

The company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Seye Smart, who represented the Head of Strategy, Research and Communications, Dayo Adetokun, at the presentation of the gift items to the corps members, emphasised the importance of exposing the citizens to quality health and safety as that would improve their capacity, make them function well and prolong their life expectancy.

 

A healthy citizen, she explained, would contribute meaningfully to the growth of society and be useful for the development of humanity.

Leader of the LGI team, Bose Ojimi, said the programme was the group’s modest contribution to the country’s quest for improved health and safety for Nigerians and hoped that other corporate organisations would follow in the footsteps of Lasaco Assurance to offer necessary assistance to the people.

Continue Reading

Society

Yahaya Bello absent as court adjourns, EFCC mulls military’s help to fish him out 

Published

on

By

 

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja has adjourned the suit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to April 23rd.

 

The adjournment is for substituted service and possible arraignment of Bello for alleged N84bn money laundering. At the resumed sitting, Counsel for the EFCC, Kemi Phinro, told the court that the immediate past governor of Kogi State was absent from court for his arraignment because he was being protected by someone with immunity.

 

Phinro said the former governor was whisked out of his Abuja residence by the same person with immunity. Phinro said the anti-graft agency might seek the help of the military to fish him out to come face his arraignment. Responding to this submission, Yahaya Bello through his counsel, Abdulwahab Muhammad, told the court that there is an order of the court restraining the EFCC from arresting or arraigning him.

 

Muhammad said a Kogi State High Court had on February 9, 2024 restrained the EFCC from arresting or arraigning the former governor. He added that the EFCC has appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeal was yet to decide on the matter. He pointed out that the action of the EFCC was unconstitutional and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain any charge from

the EFCC.

Continue Reading

Society

Billionaire Businessman, Tunde Ayeni’s Talk of the town Daughters Wedding

Published

on

By

Barr. John Olatunde Ayeni C.O.N is indeed a man of high repute with a highly cerebral nature blessed with suave, elegance and finesse. As a young man, he has carved a niche for himself as a seasoned investor and a finance person with a background in the legal profession after bagging a law degree at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria before he was called to bar. Everything he touches turns into gold. He is a man who knows the true spirit of friendship and brotherhood which has elevated him to the position he holds today. The erstwhile Chairman of Skye Bank has created his name in gold as one of the best brains to have come out of Nigeria as he sits atop several high business conglomerates.

 

One thing has remained constant for him he is a man who loves his family and will never trade anything for his family. More reason he spared no cost to ensure his daughter Abolaji Ayeni gets one of the biggest wedding Soiree with her hubby Oluwatobiloba Adeoye that will never be forgotten in a hurry. It was a rollercoaster of events that remained colourful and also further cents Ayeni’s position as a crowd puller as all his friends turned up for him to celebrate him and his family in one of their proud moments as a father.

 

Last year 2nd of December, the Groom’s family was hosted by Ayeni at an introduction ceremony at his Lagos residence and from that moment he has told his friends that; the wedding shindig would be one to remember as he is putting lots of resources into making the day a memorable one and also appreciate his daughter for making him and his wife proud parents.

 

On Thursday the 11th of April, Ayeni and his family hosted a traditional engagement wedding in Lagos Ikoyi where it was a parade of cultural aesthetics from the best Aso-Ebi to the best of Agbada and music as Yinka Aiyefele serenade the audience with his musical rendition there was an array of cuisines that guests savoured their taste buds with and lots of high-cost drinks.

On Saturday the 13th of April, Ayeni also pulled his heavyweight as the Church wedding where the couples were tied together by Pastopr Tunde Bakare’s Latter Rain Church in Oregun before the train moved to the reception at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island where guests were treated like a king, the whole V.I corridor was locked down as automobiles of different kinds took over the roads.

 

It was an absolute display of wealth, opulence and splendour as the who is who in Nigeria’s business, political and socialite space were in attendance. The roll call was quite an elitist one as it was like a gathering of stars with deep pockets. The father of the bride adorned in his full Agbada was seen smiling cheerfully welcoming his guests and also making sure those who attended were given the best of treats. The food was local and continental and the wines served were vintage wines. It was like a carnival as Evangelist Dunni Olarewaju (Opelope Annionting)coroner was on the bandstand while King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall the Fuji maestro also serenaded the audience.

 

Those who attended confessed that Ayeni is not only a master planer in the boardroom he is also a master planner of soirees and a good host with a high sense of hospitality. Those spotted were; the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Kogi State Secretary to the State Government; Mrs Ayoade Folashade, Former Governor of Ogun State Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Chairman Federal Inland Revenue Service; Dr Zacch Adedeji Former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Niyi Adebayo, Hajia Bola Shagaya, Olugbon of Ilegbon Oba Francis Alao, Olofin of Isheri Oba Sulayman Bamgbade, Elegushi of Ikate Land Oba Saheed Elegushi, Akinshiku Dosumu Oba Otudeko, Iyaloja of Lagos Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Mogaji Wole Arisekola, Former Fidelity Bank MD Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, Daily Times Publisher Mr Fidelis Anosike and wife Rita Dominic-Anosike, Nkiru Anumudu, Segun Awolowo, Terry Waya, Comfort Obamuyiwa, Aisha Achimogu, Abu Abel, Abisagboola ‘Bankuli’ Oluseun and a host of others.

By: Oladapo Shofowora.

Continue Reading

Trending