Senate passes NAN, NBC, NTA, FRCN Appropriation Bill

ABUJA – THE Senate Thursday passed the 2017 budget of the News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) worth N132,550, 000.01.
This followed the presentation of the report of the 2017 Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) Budget and Expenditure of government-owned information agencies during plenary.

The agencies included National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), and the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
Presenting the report, Chairman Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation, Sen. Suleiman Adokwe said that NAN’s projection was N132, 550, 000.00 while projected expenditure was N132, 550, 000.01.
According to him, the agency’s IGR performance for 2016 was 97.54 per cent, adding, “The agency did not remit 25 per cent Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in the year 2016 due to inadequate overhead releases.
“The amount meant to be remitted was used for the running of the organisation.”
He further said that the actual IGR budget for 2016 was N129, 298, 342.89 while the expenditure was N129, 298, 342.72..
The chairman said that the committee observed that NAN should widen its revenue base through introduction of new products.
Also the Senate passed that of NTA which was worth N4,094,179,773.00, NBC, N2,090,009,787.62 while that of FRCN was N2,014,345,624.96.
While considering the report, Sen. Jibrin Barau, APC, Kano North decried why some the agencies were not able to make the appropriate remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), adding, If these agencies are able to make those remittances, there would be more monies to fund budgets.”
Also speaking, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, PDP, Abia North said that the agencies were income generating agencies and as such it was epected that they assisted in remitting to the CRF, adding, “We must ensure we enforce these agencies to pay at least the 20 per cent remittance, even if they cannot, at the end of the year we should see at least a remittance of 10 per cent into the CRF.”
Similarly, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, APC, Kaduna North noted that “these things keep recurring by these agencies. It shows that we truly have a responsibility within the chamber to sit up and look at these expenditure profiles as it will align with the revenue profiles of these agencies. If we sit down and these budgets as approved, and they apply them differently as they wish, what is the use then.
“This is a clear manifestation that these agencies run accounts that do not pass the litmus test and approval of the financial regulations as enshrined.
“We must rise to the responsibility particularly on IGR budgets so that at the of the end day, we will be able to make enough savings.”
Responding to questions raised, the chairman said that the IGR performances of the agencies “was far below expectation. If you look at NTA, there are a lot of government agencies that are owing NTA; but they can better than that.”
Adokwe said that as government corporations having fundamental duties, they must ensure they did not go off air, adding, “NTA has the capacity to generate over N10 million per annum, unfortunately, they are weakened by debts.”
For NAN, the chairman said the committee had looked into it not remitting any amount at all, adding, “That is both looked into by the Accountant-General of the Federation and the committee.
“I plead that we cannot because of that refuse to approve the budget because they have to function. They are the major agency of government that disseminate news both locally and internationally.
“We believe that these agencies have the capacity to generate these projections. What remains is for us to have a serious oversight function to ensure that there are no leakages and that what is collected is what is taken into the treasury.”
In his remarks, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu said ”this Senate does not rubber stamp any request from any agencies of government or from government itself. We look at things from merit. We call on those government agencies, especially NTA and Radio Nigeria to make effort to recover monies owed them.”

After 104 days on medical vacation…Finally, Buhari returns

After 104 days on medical vacation in the United Kingdom, UK, President Muhammadu Buhari, at exactly 4:48 yesterday afternoon, stepped down from the plane that brought him back, at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari on arrival received by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. AUG 19 2017.

The plane, Nigeria Air Force 001, touched ground some 13 minutes earlier.
The door of the presidential jet, with the coat of arms and the presidential seal inscribed boldly on it, was flung open at exactly 4:40.
Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the National Assembly leadership have sent goodwill messages to the President as he recovers.
The goodwill of the National Assembly was contained in separate messages from the Office of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.

By the same token, the President’s party, the All Progressives Congress, APC; the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, as well as leaders of Our Mumu Don Do Movement, which has been agitating for the President to resume or resign, also expressed delight at the President’s return.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said Buhari’s return is a fulfilment of hope.

How Justice Bola Ajibola foretold my ascension to the throne – Oba Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is in the news again as his comment on Crescent University Abeokuta, Ogun State, CUAB, is revisited when he described the now 12-year-old institution of higher learning, founded by retired World Court judge, Justice Bola Ajibola, as a creative and innovative centre impacting sound and qualitative education into the youths.

•Proprietor, Crescent University, Judge Bola Ajibola, the Alaafiin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, and the Vice Chancellor, Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Prof. Ibrahim Gbajabiamila, during the installation of the Alaafin as Chancellor of Crescent University

The traditional ruler, who sits on one of Yoruba’s most powerful thrones, during the 11th convocation ceremony of Crescent University, became the first Nigerian traditional ruler to be Chancellor of three universities concurrently with his installation as Chancellor of CUAB at the occasion also attended by a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Alaafin, apart from Crescent University, is also Chancellor of University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri and the Bells University of Technology, Ota.
In his acceptance letter, Adeyemi said he had for the past 10 years been following with keen interest the contributions of Crescent University to the development of education in the country, especially at the tertiary level.
The Iku Baba Yeye said, “I made bold to say that the summary of my observation in the last decade is that Crescent University is not only creative but also innovative as a centre of learning that impacts sound and qualitative education into our youths.”
The monarch, who is also a recipient of honourary degree of Doctor of Science Public Administration of CUAB, expressed his profound gratitude to the proprietor, Ajibola, and the management of the university for the honour bestowed on him.
He added that looking objectively at the background of the university vis-à-vis the character of the proprietor, “one cannot expect anything less than such a creative and imaginative person; an international jurist par excellence who had carved a niche for himself as a pride of the black race by distinguishing himself excellently as the President of the International Court of Justice.”
The Alaafin further explained that he met with the proprietor of the Crescent University over 50 years ago when he came to his office and informed him that the late Chief Akin Olugbade wanted to see him.
While extolling the virtues of Ajibola as a brilliant lawyer, Adeyemi said the Olori Omo Oba Owu pronounced him before Olugbade as the next Alaafin of Oyo.
Meanwhile, the monarch assured the Crescent University board, the governing council, the management, staff and students that he would put his 12 years’ experience as pioneer Chancellor of Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto to play in the university, whose 12th convocation comes in October this year and the Alaafin will be on ground to perform his official duty as Chancellor.

PELLER UNITY CUP FINAL HOLDS ON THURSDAY, 17TH OF AUGUST, 2017.

Congratulations on the success of the Biggest Football Tournament and Entertainment event ever in Oyo state. The Final Journey towards the Grand Finale of the Peller Unity Cup, 2017 has begun!

10 LGAs, 20 teams, breathtaking derby final match (Iseyin United vs. Iseyin City) at the Biggest Indigenous Football tournament in the whole Oyo state- and now The Entertainment Stars are on a train to blow your mind away with energetic and mind blowing performances at the NYSC permanent Orientation Camp, Iseyin, Oyo state on the 17th of August, 2017.

Do not be told! Join us on the #roadtoiseyin and together we shall play! This is to inform all local government representatives that all the players, coaches that participated in the peller unity cup are to come very early for the collection of certificates, team presentations to the dignitaries and talent scouts on Thursday 17th August 2017 @ NYSC Orientation Camp Iseyin.. 10 a.m. 

NB: Representatives will also be presented with certificates. Players and coaches are to be dressed in their sports kits.

Thanks for usual cooperation.

Peller Unity Cup... A jo maa gba nii

7-yr-old girl tied up in sack, dumped on roadside by father, step-mother

A seven-year-old girl has narrated to men of Ogun State Police Command how her father, Nasiru Adeyemo, and step-mother, Idayat, cut off her finger, tied her up, put her in a sack and left her by the roadside to die. Abibat and her father after she was rescued Vanguard gathered that the couple abandoned the girl in the bush to die after cutting off her index finger. In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the couple was arrested following a distress call from members of the public that a strange sack was sighted by the roadside at Asabala area along Papalanto-Sagamu Road. Oyeyemi said: “On the strength of the information, the DPO Owode Egba, CSP Shehu Alao, led his men to the scene, where the white rice sack was untied. “Surprisingly, a seven year-old-girl, whose right index finger was cut off, was found inside the sack and dumped at the roadside since Friday. “Having realised that the girl was still alive, she was quickly taken to the hospital for medical attention. Her story “It was when she regained consciousness that she informed the Police that her father and step-mother were the ones who cut off one of her fingers before tying and putting her inside the sack before dumping her inside the bush to die. “Upon the information from the victim, a manhunt was launched for the father and his wife and they were arrested in the evening of Sunday. The duo are currently undergoing interrogation.” Meanwhile, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has ordered the transfer of the case to Anti-Kidnapping/Cultist section for further investigation and possible prosecution of the suspects.

Implement 2014 National Confab report now, Youth Parliament tells Buhari

Nigeria Youth Parliament yesterday told President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the report of the 2014 National Confab, saying it contained home-grown solutions to economic and political challenges bedeviling the country. The Parliament sought the intervention of the government in the labor sector, submitting that the unemployment rate in the country has hit the rooftops. 

Hate speeches 

It also frowned on the pockets of hate speeches making the rounds, urging the National Assembly to enact a legislation to curb it and called on President Buhari to restructure the country in line with the yearnings of the people.

Executive members of the Nigerian Youth Parliament during a press briefing in Abuja 

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, speaker of the Parliament,  Ayodele Obe John, said  dialogue with the people would end agitations across the country. He said: “The Parliament has witnessed with utmost dismay, the unguarded and frivolous proclamations by some disjointed, disgruntled, unpatriotic people seeking cheap popularity through utterances which threatens the sovereign unity and integrity of the country. ‘’The Parliament, as an authentic voice of the Nigerian Youth Constituency hereby sounds a note of warning to all these groups. Consequently, we call on the National Assembly to promulgate a legislation that will address the activities of these groups and set in place the right punishment. “This is because freedom of speech does not imply utterances capable of truncating national peace, unity and cohesion.  However, Nigeria is one united entity and our strength lies in our diversity and on Nigeria’s unity, we stand. 

Unemployment

 “According to the Bureau of Statistics, Our unemployment rate has risen to 14.2 percent, thereby leaving millions of Nigerians, especially youth jobless. This ugly situation seems to have been receiving little policy attention presently. ‘’Therefore, Parliament resolves that the Federal Government should declare a state of emergency on the economic sector, meet every policy statement targeting the recovery of our economy with the right strategic actions, build youth capacity and create jobs in order to avert the impending socio-economic hurricane that may hit the country if no commensurate measures are in place in the right time. 

Restructuring

 ”All around the world, Nations and societies adjust to the realities of every moments and seasons, so as to be able to fix every evolving social challenge. It is worthy of note that Nigerian case should not be different. Apparently, Parliament resolves as follows; “That the outcome of the National Confab be fully implemented, as it reflects the true opinions, consent and goodwill of every Nigerians, having in it, the true home-grown ideations, ideologies and innovative solutions to fix the country and strengthen our unity. “That there should be complete economic and political restructuring of the country; giving the federating constituents the capacity to realize their unique socio-economic and political potentials and grow their prosperity.” “That Federal Government should open sincere dialogue with different genuine groups clamoring for the restructuring of the country and aggregate their opinions for the benefit of stepping up a holistic solution to address the surging agitations.”

NPFL week 34 fixtures