The heavily congested Lagos ports may soon see relief as a consortium of French and Chinese companies has emerged the preferred bidder for the Ibom Deep Seaport Project (IDSP) following a rigorous evaluation process, officials of government of Akwa Ibom State say. In a release signed by Mfon Ekong Usoro, made available to BusinessDay, the state government says the selection followed a rigorous evaluation process conducted by the Evaluation Committee convened by the IDSP Ministerial Project Development and Steering Committee (MPDSC) on competing bids received in response to the IDSP Request for Proposal (RFP).
Bolloré Africa Logistics – PowerChina International Group Limited Consortium emerges preferred bidder, while China Harbour Engineering Company Limited is reserved bidder. “On behalf of the Akwa Ibom State Government (AKSG), I thank the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT), Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) for giving full and unstinting support to the AKSG throughout the IDSP PPP procurement process, including the recently concluded RFP bids opening and evaluation milestones which saw to the selection of the Preferred and Reserved Bidders,” Emmanuel Ekuwem, secretary to the state government, who spoke on behalf of Udom Emmanuel, governor of Akwa Ibom State, said.
Ekuwem further said, “The AKSG is unwavering in its determination and will work in tandem with the FMOT and NPA to realize the IDSP. Upon its completion, the IDSP is poised to bring smart, world class port handling capacity to the doorsteps of Akwa Ibom State and to serve the cargo handling demand of the West and Central African countries, States in the South South as well as South East regions of Nigeria. We are confident that the IDSP will be pivotal to the economic development of the State and the surrounding regions.”
IDSP is a Federal Government project driven by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Akwa Ibom State & Nigerian Port Authority. Rotimi Amechi, minister of Transportation has approved the IDSP project to proceed to the next stage of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) procurement process, which is negotiation with the preferred bidder with the view to work out the investment and concession details. Bolloré Africa Logistics, a leading port operator, is a part of French-based Bolloré Transport & Logistics (Bolloré), operating with 18 container terminal concessions (in Europe, Africa, India, Asia and the Americas), 27 general cargo and bulk terminals, 7 RoRo terminals, 25 multimodal platforms and dry port concessions and one barging concession. Bolloré ranks among the top-20 port operators in the world, according to the 2017 Drewry Global Container Terminal Operator ranking.
PowerChina International Group Limited is the international business headquarters and the core business centre of Power Construction Corporation of China, which is the world’s top hydropower, electric power, and infrastructure construction group.
The Ibom Deep Seaport is strategically located in the South East of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The 2,565 hectares greenfield port area, integrated within the Ibom Industrial City (IIC) – a Free Trade Zone replete with fiscal incentives, is designed to berth New Panamax Class vessels with channel depth (18.24m); turning basin and berth depth (16.72m); and quay length of about 7.5km upon completion. The next stage is negotiations with the preferred bidder. It expected to commence operations in 2021.
Monday, November 19, 2018
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Talebearing24 - Restructuring: Buhari, Osinbajo Deceitful - Afenifere, Ohaneze Says
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday came under attack over their separate remarks on the growing calls for the restructuring of the country. Groups that faulted latest comments credited to Buhari and Osinbajo on the calls include the opposition Peoples Democratic Party; a Yoruba organisation, Afenifere; the Ohanaeze Ndigbo; the Yoruba Council of Elders; and the Transparency International.
Buhari had during an interactive session with Nigerians living in France on Monday taken a swipe at advocates of restructuring, saying they were lazy and let loose. The President had claimed that those calling for restructuring had been doing so without defining what the restructuring should be. Osinbajo had also while delivering a lecture to mark the 40th anniversary of a Lagos social club, Association of Friends, in Lagos claimed that the idea of geographical restructuring which is the common notion about restructuring “is not achievable.”
Buhari had said, “There are too many people talking lazily about restructuring in Nigeria. Unfortunately, people are not asking them individually what do they mean by restructuring? What form do they want restructuring to take? “Do they want us to have something like the three regions we used to have? And now we have 36 states and the FCT. What form do they want? They are just talking loosely about restructuring.
“Let them define it and then we see how we can peacefully do it in the interest of Nigerians.
“They are just saying they want Nigeria restructured and they don’t have the clue of what the form the restructuring should be.“So, anybody who talks to you about restructuring in Nigeria, ask him what he means and the form he wants it to take.” But the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, told one of our correspondents that the latest statements credited to Buhari and Osinbajo further confirmed the present administration as a government of deceit and disagreement.
The party chairman said, “Recall that the ruling party itself set up a committee on restructuring. What came out of the committee after the governors and other members of the committee went round the country, collating views of innocent Nigerians who never knew they were being deceived by this deceitful government? Nothing! “Now, the Vice-President is saying he is in support of state police which his boss has rejected. You can see that the Vice-President is on his own. The disunity in this government reminds us the seed of discord the government has planted in Nigerians.
“But in the real sense of it, does he (Vice-President) support state police? Can he be taken seriously? Let Nigerians decide.” Also, the Afenifere’s spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, in an interview with one of our correspondents also said the statements credited to Buhari and Osinbajo meant they were either slow at learning or they were being mischievous.
He said advocates of restructuring had over the years made the issues very clear on what the call was all about. He added that the development had made it important that future Nigeria’s Presidents and Vice-Presidents should study hard so that they could understand issues around them. Odumakin said, “…It is strange that these people have been here all these years and they are saying those who are talking about restructuring did not define it or that they are talking loosely.
“It is either these people are slow at learning or they cannot understand issues around them. We have made the issues very clear on what the call for restructuring is about. “We have said Nigeria was a federal state at independence but the military came and distorted it and that we should go back to federalism; that we cannot have a country like Nigeria and maintain one single police and we will say we have security; that there should be state police.
“We have spelt out all we meant by restructuring over the years. So for the President and Vice-President to say they do not understand what we are talking about is either they are slow at learning or they are being mischievous.” In the same vein, the spokesman for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Uche Achi-Okpaga, in an interview said Buhari’s statement was meant to divert attention.
Achi-Okpaga expressed surprise that while Buhari and other APC stalwarts were talking about restructuring ahead of the 2015 presidential election, the President became “completely ignorant and bereft of the tenets of restructuring” shortly after he was inaugurated as President. He said, “During the electoral campaigns of 2015, restructuring was glued to the lips of the President and other APC stalwarts and foot soldiers. However, no sooner was he sworn in than he became completely ignorant and bereft of the tenets of restructuring.
“In the heat of the impasse, the APC, as a party, set up a committee on restructuring headed by Governor el-Rufai of Kaduna State. The committee ticked good on restructuring and sent her report to the presidency. “Instead of dealing with the document the President sent the report to the dustbin as it never saw the light of the day and turned around to state that those clamouring for restructuring, including his party that so recommended, are parochial.”
Also, the Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide, in an interview with one of our correspondents said it was worrisome that the two key leaders of the ruling APC could claim ignorance of what restructuring was about after their party had earlier set up a committee on the matter. He wondered if the country was dealing with a case of memory loss.
Olajide insisted that the positions of advocates of restructuring were clear and unambiguous.
He said, “I was surprised after reading the responses of the two leading figures in the APC and present administration on restructuring agitators. It is worrisome that an APC figure could come out to claim ignorance of what restructuring is all about. Are we dealing with a case of amnesia here? He said, “I appeal to them to take a second look at the el-Rufai committee report on restructuring. It is their party that set it up and they should come up with how it will be implemented instead of talking about what restructuring means. Our position is clear and unambiguous on it.”
Nigeria not ripe for state police –TI Meanwhile, the Transparency International on Tuesday said Nigeria was not ripe for state police. The TI Head in Nigeria, Mr. Musa Rafsanjani, said this in an interview with one of our correspondents. He said, “Even if Nigeria will have a state police, it is not yet time to hand over the entire security of states to the hands of these governors, some of whom cannot even pay workers’ salaries.
“The implication of having state police is that the entire security now rests on the states. We think that issue of security is so serious that we cannot give it to states which do not have infrastructure yet even in the areas of health and education.
“At the federal level, you still find overzealous policemen and police officers acting on the instructions of certain political office holders. When this impunity now flows down, what are we going to have? Most of the state Houses of Assembly have been undermined by the governors and the houses are not able to perform their constitutional responsibilities.
“We think that as good as the proposal of state police is, we cannot at this time hand over the security of the country to governors who have proved to be incompetent and nonchalant about the wellbeing of people and workers in their states.”
Buhari had during an interactive session with Nigerians living in France on Monday taken a swipe at advocates of restructuring, saying they were lazy and let loose. The President had claimed that those calling for restructuring had been doing so without defining what the restructuring should be. Osinbajo had also while delivering a lecture to mark the 40th anniversary of a Lagos social club, Association of Friends, in Lagos claimed that the idea of geographical restructuring which is the common notion about restructuring “is not achievable.”
Buhari had said, “There are too many people talking lazily about restructuring in Nigeria. Unfortunately, people are not asking them individually what do they mean by restructuring? What form do they want restructuring to take? “Do they want us to have something like the three regions we used to have? And now we have 36 states and the FCT. What form do they want? They are just talking loosely about restructuring.
“Let them define it and then we see how we can peacefully do it in the interest of Nigerians.
“They are just saying they want Nigeria restructured and they don’t have the clue of what the form the restructuring should be.“So, anybody who talks to you about restructuring in Nigeria, ask him what he means and the form he wants it to take.” But the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, told one of our correspondents that the latest statements credited to Buhari and Osinbajo further confirmed the present administration as a government of deceit and disagreement.
The party chairman said, “Recall that the ruling party itself set up a committee on restructuring. What came out of the committee after the governors and other members of the committee went round the country, collating views of innocent Nigerians who never knew they were being deceived by this deceitful government? Nothing! “Now, the Vice-President is saying he is in support of state police which his boss has rejected. You can see that the Vice-President is on his own. The disunity in this government reminds us the seed of discord the government has planted in Nigerians.
“But in the real sense of it, does he (Vice-President) support state police? Can he be taken seriously? Let Nigerians decide.” Also, the Afenifere’s spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, in an interview with one of our correspondents also said the statements credited to Buhari and Osinbajo meant they were either slow at learning or they were being mischievous.
He said advocates of restructuring had over the years made the issues very clear on what the call was all about. He added that the development had made it important that future Nigeria’s Presidents and Vice-Presidents should study hard so that they could understand issues around them. Odumakin said, “…It is strange that these people have been here all these years and they are saying those who are talking about restructuring did not define it or that they are talking loosely.
“It is either these people are slow at learning or they cannot understand issues around them. We have made the issues very clear on what the call for restructuring is about. “We have said Nigeria was a federal state at independence but the military came and distorted it and that we should go back to federalism; that we cannot have a country like Nigeria and maintain one single police and we will say we have security; that there should be state police.
“We have spelt out all we meant by restructuring over the years. So for the President and Vice-President to say they do not understand what we are talking about is either they are slow at learning or they are being mischievous.” In the same vein, the spokesman for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Uche Achi-Okpaga, in an interview said Buhari’s statement was meant to divert attention.
Achi-Okpaga expressed surprise that while Buhari and other APC stalwarts were talking about restructuring ahead of the 2015 presidential election, the President became “completely ignorant and bereft of the tenets of restructuring” shortly after he was inaugurated as President. He said, “During the electoral campaigns of 2015, restructuring was glued to the lips of the President and other APC stalwarts and foot soldiers. However, no sooner was he sworn in than he became completely ignorant and bereft of the tenets of restructuring.
“In the heat of the impasse, the APC, as a party, set up a committee on restructuring headed by Governor el-Rufai of Kaduna State. The committee ticked good on restructuring and sent her report to the presidency. “Instead of dealing with the document the President sent the report to the dustbin as it never saw the light of the day and turned around to state that those clamouring for restructuring, including his party that so recommended, are parochial.”
Also, the Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide, in an interview with one of our correspondents said it was worrisome that the two key leaders of the ruling APC could claim ignorance of what restructuring was about after their party had earlier set up a committee on the matter. He wondered if the country was dealing with a case of memory loss.
Olajide insisted that the positions of advocates of restructuring were clear and unambiguous.
He said, “I was surprised after reading the responses of the two leading figures in the APC and present administration on restructuring agitators. It is worrisome that an APC figure could come out to claim ignorance of what restructuring is all about. Are we dealing with a case of amnesia here? He said, “I appeal to them to take a second look at the el-Rufai committee report on restructuring. It is their party that set it up and they should come up with how it will be implemented instead of talking about what restructuring means. Our position is clear and unambiguous on it.”
Nigeria not ripe for state police –TI Meanwhile, the Transparency International on Tuesday said Nigeria was not ripe for state police. The TI Head in Nigeria, Mr. Musa Rafsanjani, said this in an interview with one of our correspondents. He said, “Even if Nigeria will have a state police, it is not yet time to hand over the entire security of states to the hands of these governors, some of whom cannot even pay workers’ salaries.
“The implication of having state police is that the entire security now rests on the states. We think that issue of security is so serious that we cannot give it to states which do not have infrastructure yet even in the areas of health and education.
“At the federal level, you still find overzealous policemen and police officers acting on the instructions of certain political office holders. When this impunity now flows down, what are we going to have? Most of the state Houses of Assembly have been undermined by the governors and the houses are not able to perform their constitutional responsibilities.
“We think that as good as the proposal of state police is, we cannot at this time hand over the security of the country to governors who have proved to be incompetent and nonchalant about the wellbeing of people and workers in their states.”
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Talebearing24 - Nigerians Are Frustrated, Says Obasanjo
Nigerians are frustrated, says Obasanjo.
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday lamented the state of the nation, saying that many Nigerians are “disillusioned and hopelessly frustrated.”
He equally hinted that Nigeria ought to have ceased to exist owing to “many mistakes that have been made, but God did not allow such calamity to befall the country”.
Obasanjo spoke yesterday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, when the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka, was formally presented to him alongside other candidates of the party ahead of the 2019 elections.
According to him, God did not create Nigeria to be a failed country, rather one of the leading countries among comity of nations. The Ota-farmer said the country still lags behind other developed nations because of the “conscious and unconscious choice of the people of Nigeria.”
Obasanjo said, “some people are hopelessly frustrated and when I see people like that I tell them – don’t be frustrated because of the situation in the Nigeria. Otherwise, we have made many mistakes in this country that Nigeria should have ceased to exist, but that has not been our lot. That has not been our situation, we thank God for that”.
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday lamented the state of the nation, saying that many Nigerians are “disillusioned and hopelessly frustrated.”
He equally hinted that Nigeria ought to have ceased to exist owing to “many mistakes that have been made, but God did not allow such calamity to befall the country”.
Obasanjo spoke yesterday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, when the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka, was formally presented to him alongside other candidates of the party ahead of the 2019 elections.
According to him, God did not create Nigeria to be a failed country, rather one of the leading countries among comity of nations. The Ota-farmer said the country still lags behind other developed nations because of the “conscious and unconscious choice of the people of Nigeria.”
Obasanjo said, “some people are hopelessly frustrated and when I see people like that I tell them – don’t be frustrated because of the situation in the Nigeria. Otherwise, we have made many mistakes in this country that Nigeria should have ceased to exist, but that has not been our lot. That has not been our situation, we thank God for that”.
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Talebearing24 - APC: Oshiomhole Names Governors Against Him After Meeting With Buhari - Photo.
Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday mentioned governors who were against his leadership. Oshiomhole told State House correspondents after having a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari that out of the 23 APC governors, only three were not pleased with the outcome of the primaries in their states. Oshiomhole said that no one could begrudge the governors for not being happy if a particular outcome did not coincide with their expectations.
He said that he neither had the power to appoint nor the power to change anything particularly when things had been properly done. According to him, the three governors who are unhappy are his friends. “All I have tried is to find some courage to enforce the rules and I think an overwhelming majority of the governors appreciate that I have done the best because change is not easy.
“We all want change but the process of change can be quite traumatising; because it is not painless. People have been used to a particular way of doing things; to encourage them to do them differently can be a challenge. “So, here I am as national chairman conducting primaries, the outcome of which some very powerful people did not see their preferred candidates emerging.
“Let me say that if there is a choice between my conscience–what I believe is right and mortgaging that conscience in order to keep the job, I will have no difficulty resolving it in favour of my conscience. “And those who know me know that at my age, I cannot learn new tricks; I am absolutely committed to justice; fairness; I a stickler to enforcement of rules; because the source of relevance is derived from rules. I have lived my life fighting for justice and fairness.’’
The APC national chairman said however, that the issues would be resolved as internal family issues as the three governors were his friends. He said that in a moment of distress, he believed that the friendship was enough to help them to build reconciliation. According to Oshiomhole, he respects and appreciates the governors for the fact that but for their support, he would not become APC chairman. “And you do not go stepping on toes of those who helped you to get into position.
“But however, I thought I was clear and I remain clear that helping me to get to the position, it was to help APC to return to its core values of progressive politics, of fairness, of justice, of adherence to rule of law and total submission to the extant provisions of our party constitution.
“In doing that, you do not look at power; you look at what is; what is just.
“I think that with time, we will reconcile all these; Amosun is my good friend; we have known each other for a very long time; we exchange personal visits in addition to official visits; Zamfara governor has been the Chairman of NGF and I was an active member of that forum; we have wonderful time together and I believe in the future, we are still going to have wonderful time together.
“Governor Rochas Okorocha was one of those who had issues with my predecessor and I did my best to try and resolve those issues in a way that has given him a new platform. “And I am happy that God used us to do that not by cheating in his favour but by doing what is right; it is just that once you stick to the goal, sometimes, you either get caught on the right side or the wrong side,’’ he said.
He said that some Abuja-based politicians were not known in their villages and they thought they were popular, but when their ‘loudness’ in Abuja failed to translate into electoral victory, they looked for who to blame.
He said that he neither had the power to appoint nor the power to change anything particularly when things had been properly done. According to him, the three governors who are unhappy are his friends. “All I have tried is to find some courage to enforce the rules and I think an overwhelming majority of the governors appreciate that I have done the best because change is not easy.
“We all want change but the process of change can be quite traumatising; because it is not painless. People have been used to a particular way of doing things; to encourage them to do them differently can be a challenge. “So, here I am as national chairman conducting primaries, the outcome of which some very powerful people did not see their preferred candidates emerging.
“Let me say that if there is a choice between my conscience–what I believe is right and mortgaging that conscience in order to keep the job, I will have no difficulty resolving it in favour of my conscience. “And those who know me know that at my age, I cannot learn new tricks; I am absolutely committed to justice; fairness; I a stickler to enforcement of rules; because the source of relevance is derived from rules. I have lived my life fighting for justice and fairness.’’
The APC national chairman said however, that the issues would be resolved as internal family issues as the three governors were his friends. He said that in a moment of distress, he believed that the friendship was enough to help them to build reconciliation. According to Oshiomhole, he respects and appreciates the governors for the fact that but for their support, he would not become APC chairman. “And you do not go stepping on toes of those who helped you to get into position.
“But however, I thought I was clear and I remain clear that helping me to get to the position, it was to help APC to return to its core values of progressive politics, of fairness, of justice, of adherence to rule of law and total submission to the extant provisions of our party constitution.
“In doing that, you do not look at power; you look at what is; what is just.
“I think that with time, we will reconcile all these; Amosun is my good friend; we have known each other for a very long time; we exchange personal visits in addition to official visits; Zamfara governor has been the Chairman of NGF and I was an active member of that forum; we have wonderful time together and I believe in the future, we are still going to have wonderful time together.
“Governor Rochas Okorocha was one of those who had issues with my predecessor and I did my best to try and resolve those issues in a way that has given him a new platform. “And I am happy that God used us to do that not by cheating in his favour but by doing what is right; it is just that once you stick to the goal, sometimes, you either get caught on the right side or the wrong side,’’ he said.
He said that some Abuja-based politicians were not known in their villages and they thought they were popular, but when their ‘loudness’ in Abuja failed to translate into electoral victory, they looked for who to blame.
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Talebearing24 - Saraki Shifty When Asked About Slashing NASS Budget
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Monday prevaricated when asked a question on possible cut in lawmakers’ jumbo budget to reduce the high cost of governance in the country.
Mr Saraki, who was a special guest at the National Assembly Business Environment Round-table dinner organised as part of the ongoing 24th Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja, however admitted that over the years the National Assembly has not been Nigeria’s best ambassadors.
The National Assembly and the Executive appear to have allowed selfish political interests to override national duty, as important bills needed to create the enabling environment for investment and economic development have stalled, amid frosty relations between both arms, he said. In his introductory remarks, Mr Saraki spoke about Nigeria as a blessed country full of great opportunities and talented people in private and public sectors as well as young ones coming behind.
For long, he said, he has always been part of the search for the way forward for the country, urging Nigerians not to give up, as the country was closer to its set target. “For us to get there, we (government) and private sector must work together. The challenges before government today in fighting poverty can only be achieved through serious collaboration and cooperation with private sector. Government alone cannot do it,” he noted.
Restating his commitment to continue championing the call for collaboration, the senate president said “loans, buildings, debts, regulation and infrastructure alone cannot take us there.” During the plenary session, Channels TV’s Boason Omofaye who anchored the programme, asked Mr Saraki about the seeming lack of collaboration and cooperation between the legislature and executive.
The Senate President described the development as unfortunate, noting that “over the years, the executive and legislative arms of government did not see themselves as part of the same team.” He said the frosty relationship accounted for why a lot of achievements the administration could have recorded were hindered, although he alluded to the legislature performing better than the executive.
According to him, out of about 450 bills between the two chambers of the National Assembly, about 90 per cent were private member bills, with the executive accounting for about 10 per cent or less. Although he said all important things the lawmakers under his leadership in the 8th National Assembly set out to enable private sector work were realized, Mr Saraki said more could have been achieved if there was a closer collaboration with the executive.
He cited the example of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), which he said should have been an executive bill, but was taken over by the legislature. “When we started, the price of crude oil was in the $50s. Now, it is in the $80s. There are problems in Venezuela and Iran driving the price. This is a golden opportunity Nigeria could take advantage of.
“I don’t think two, three paragraphs or one coma or semi-colon in a draft law should prevent this level of investment or opportunity for investment. If we (lawmakers) did not get it right, I think the way to go is to lock ourselves up in a room and iron out those issues,” Mr Saraki said. His response was an indirect criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari who withheld assent to the PIGB on ground of some errors in the draft petroleum law.
On anti-corruption, which the anchor described as the “big elephant in the room”, Mr Saraki was asked the National Assembly stance on transparency, accountability and reduction in the cost of governance and why the executive seems to be the only arm talking about them. Although the Senate President acknowledged the cost of government was large, he blamed the problem on the leakages in the system, saying the expenditure as a percentage of revenue was high.
“I think there are wastages we can reduce. But, where the real damage is being done is in leakages on the revenue side to check corruption and inefficiencies,” he noted. However, he was quick to deny that the executive was the only arm talking about anti-corruption, noting that most of the laws, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others enacted to fight against corruption, were from the National Assembly.
Besides, he criticised the current fight against corruption as “sensational and selective”, saying it must not only be transparent and credible, but must follow a transparent process. On cutting cost of governance, Mr Saraki was asked: “Should we reduce the number of MDAs, cut the cost of running the National Assembly or Aso Villa, or the 36 State Houses of Assembly, the various governors’ lodges or reduce the number of aircrafts?”
In his response, Mr Saraki prevaricated, agreeing that apart from reducing all that, government must be able to increase its revenues. Not satisfied by the Senate President’s response, Mr Omofaye wanted to know what percentage or amount he would want the National Assembly to cut in its budget starting from 2019.
His response was unclear, eliciting loud grumbling from the audience: “If I tell you what should happen, I am not sure I will be allowed to have dinner here tonight. The problem we have (on the cost of governance in National Assembly) is a perception problem, not the actual cost itself.
“If you want to run a proper legislative arm of government, it’s less than three per cent of the total revenue. Yet, they are responsible for oversighting 97 per cent of the revenue. Don’t get me wrong here. Over the years, we have not been our best ambassadors.
“And that is why, if you say curse to the National Assembly, everybody will be happy to say yes. The point is, we want a productive government. We want to ensure the 97 per cent is efficiently utilised. “The political answer would be to say we will cut the cost by 10 or 15 per cent. But, what we need to do is, as we cut those costs and overheads, we must create an enabling environment that ensures as a country we are getting more revenues to invest in our education or health sector or primary healthcare,” he said.
Mr Saraki, who was a special guest at the National Assembly Business Environment Round-table dinner organised as part of the ongoing 24th Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja, however admitted that over the years the National Assembly has not been Nigeria’s best ambassadors.
The National Assembly and the Executive appear to have allowed selfish political interests to override national duty, as important bills needed to create the enabling environment for investment and economic development have stalled, amid frosty relations between both arms, he said. In his introductory remarks, Mr Saraki spoke about Nigeria as a blessed country full of great opportunities and talented people in private and public sectors as well as young ones coming behind.
For long, he said, he has always been part of the search for the way forward for the country, urging Nigerians not to give up, as the country was closer to its set target. “For us to get there, we (government) and private sector must work together. The challenges before government today in fighting poverty can only be achieved through serious collaboration and cooperation with private sector. Government alone cannot do it,” he noted.
Restating his commitment to continue championing the call for collaboration, the senate president said “loans, buildings, debts, regulation and infrastructure alone cannot take us there.” During the plenary session, Channels TV’s Boason Omofaye who anchored the programme, asked Mr Saraki about the seeming lack of collaboration and cooperation between the legislature and executive.
The Senate President described the development as unfortunate, noting that “over the years, the executive and legislative arms of government did not see themselves as part of the same team.” He said the frosty relationship accounted for why a lot of achievements the administration could have recorded were hindered, although he alluded to the legislature performing better than the executive.
According to him, out of about 450 bills between the two chambers of the National Assembly, about 90 per cent were private member bills, with the executive accounting for about 10 per cent or less. Although he said all important things the lawmakers under his leadership in the 8th National Assembly set out to enable private sector work were realized, Mr Saraki said more could have been achieved if there was a closer collaboration with the executive.
He cited the example of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), which he said should have been an executive bill, but was taken over by the legislature. “When we started, the price of crude oil was in the $50s. Now, it is in the $80s. There are problems in Venezuela and Iran driving the price. This is a golden opportunity Nigeria could take advantage of.
“I don’t think two, three paragraphs or one coma or semi-colon in a draft law should prevent this level of investment or opportunity for investment. If we (lawmakers) did not get it right, I think the way to go is to lock ourselves up in a room and iron out those issues,” Mr Saraki said. His response was an indirect criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari who withheld assent to the PIGB on ground of some errors in the draft petroleum law.
On anti-corruption, which the anchor described as the “big elephant in the room”, Mr Saraki was asked the National Assembly stance on transparency, accountability and reduction in the cost of governance and why the executive seems to be the only arm talking about them. Although the Senate President acknowledged the cost of government was large, he blamed the problem on the leakages in the system, saying the expenditure as a percentage of revenue was high.
“I think there are wastages we can reduce. But, where the real damage is being done is in leakages on the revenue side to check corruption and inefficiencies,” he noted. However, he was quick to deny that the executive was the only arm talking about anti-corruption, noting that most of the laws, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and others enacted to fight against corruption, were from the National Assembly.
Besides, he criticised the current fight against corruption as “sensational and selective”, saying it must not only be transparent and credible, but must follow a transparent process. On cutting cost of governance, Mr Saraki was asked: “Should we reduce the number of MDAs, cut the cost of running the National Assembly or Aso Villa, or the 36 State Houses of Assembly, the various governors’ lodges or reduce the number of aircrafts?”
In his response, Mr Saraki prevaricated, agreeing that apart from reducing all that, government must be able to increase its revenues. Not satisfied by the Senate President’s response, Mr Omofaye wanted to know what percentage or amount he would want the National Assembly to cut in its budget starting from 2019.
His response was unclear, eliciting loud grumbling from the audience: “If I tell you what should happen, I am not sure I will be allowed to have dinner here tonight. The problem we have (on the cost of governance in National Assembly) is a perception problem, not the actual cost itself.
“If you want to run a proper legislative arm of government, it’s less than three per cent of the total revenue. Yet, they are responsible for oversighting 97 per cent of the revenue. Don’t get me wrong here. Over the years, we have not been our best ambassadors.
“And that is why, if you say curse to the National Assembly, everybody will be happy to say yes. The point is, we want a productive government. We want to ensure the 97 per cent is efficiently utilised. “The political answer would be to say we will cut the cost by 10 or 15 per cent. But, what we need to do is, as we cut those costs and overheads, we must create an enabling environment that ensures as a country we are getting more revenues to invest in our education or health sector or primary healthcare,” he said.
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Talebearing24 - Flood Sacks Otuoke, Ex-president Jonathan’s Hometown In Bayelsa
Flood has taken over parts of Otuoke Community, hometown of former President Goodluck Jonathan in Bayelsa.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Otuoke is located in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa and one of the communities mostly affected by flood disasters.
Some residents of the community now use canoes to assess their homes following the overflow of River Orashi-Taylor and Epie creeks, situated in Rivers and Bayelsa States, respectively.
NAN recalls that the flood affected the house of Jonathan in 2012.
One of the residents affected by the flood, Mr Solomon Oru, called on the Federal Government and National Emergency Management Agency to come to their aid, as most of them now access their homes through canoes.
He said most of their properties have been damaged by the flood.
Oru also told NAN that the flood has dispatched reptiles around the communities, threatening lives.
Another resident, Mr Emmanuel Peter, said they can’t leave their homes, because thiefs are looting their properties.
He also called for the intervention of the state government and security agencies to support and protection.
Friday, October 19, 2018
Talebearing24 - Red Cross Threatens To Vacate Nigeria Following The Killing Of Hauwa Liman
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has officially announced that its aid worker, a 24-year-old Nigerian midwife Hauwa Mohammed Liman who was captured by Boko Haram in May has been killed by her abductors. Reuters, in an updated report, revealed that Red Cross said this on Tuesday, October 16, during an interview session with Patricia Danzi, its regional director for Africa saying the death of Hauwa was because it failed to pay her ransom, adding that paying such a ransom would set a regrettable precedent for other 16,000 of its aid workers across 80 countries in the the world.
However, the Geneva-based aid agency said that though it was reluctant on paying Hauwa's ransom, it appealed to the the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), a faction of Boko Haram, to spare the life of the valiant aid worker. “When health care workers are captured or abducted there is always a demand. We are a humanitarian organisation so we cannot enter into such kind of negotiations. So we always ask for unconditional release. And that’s what we did. That was the plea.
We believe that there is no cause that can justify an execution of a young healthcare staff (worker). We are now in a period of mourning...Then we will have to rethink what we can do. And the (security) guarantees we can get. Because we want to give humanity a chance, we want to be there for the people that still need our help.” Nigeria is the ICRC’s second largest operation in Africa and its aid workers help 80,000 mainly displaced people in the northeastern town of Rann. Liman and two other Nigerian aid workers, Alice Loksha and Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa, were working in Rann when they were kidnapped by ISWA in March. Saifura was killed in September.
However, the Geneva-based aid agency said that though it was reluctant on paying Hauwa's ransom, it appealed to the the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWA), a faction of Boko Haram, to spare the life of the valiant aid worker. “When health care workers are captured or abducted there is always a demand. We are a humanitarian organisation so we cannot enter into such kind of negotiations. So we always ask for unconditional release. And that’s what we did. That was the plea.
We believe that there is no cause that can justify an execution of a young healthcare staff (worker). We are now in a period of mourning...Then we will have to rethink what we can do. And the (security) guarantees we can get. Because we want to give humanity a chance, we want to be there for the people that still need our help.” Nigeria is the ICRC’s second largest operation in Africa and its aid workers help 80,000 mainly displaced people in the northeastern town of Rann. Liman and two other Nigerian aid workers, Alice Loksha and Saifura Hussaini Ahmed Khorsa, were working in Rann when they were kidnapped by ISWA in March. Saifura was killed in September.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)