Buhari felicitates with Nigerian Muslim faithfuls on the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir

Press statement from the Presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari felicitates with all Nigerians of the Islamic faith as they celebrate this year's Eid-el-Kabir. President Buhari also congratulates all Nigerian Muslims who are currently in the Saudi Arabia to participate in the rites of the Hajj.

As they join the global Islamic community in celebrating Eid-El-Kabir, President Buhari urges Muslims and other Nigerians to rededicate themselves to a greater acceptance and internalisation of its lessons of piety, faithfulness, dedication, fortitude, obedience, sacrifice and selfless service which are for the benefit of all mankind.

The President calls for more patience, fortitude, tolerance, endurance, patriotism and a greater willingness to make personal sacrifices for the good of all as his administration strives to lead the nation towards rapidly overcoming its current security, economic and developmental challenges.
President Buhari assures all Nigerians that their safety, well-being and progress remain uppermost in his thoughts and actions, and that he will continue to work with all his might to deliver the positive changes in national life which they expect after his election and inauguration as Head of the Government of the Federation.

The President seizes this opportunity to extend heartfelt commiserations to families in Maiduguri and North-Eastern Nigeria who have sadly lost beloved relatives in recent terrorist attacks.

President Buhari's thoughts and prayers for Divine solace are with all those who have been callously plunged into mourning by mindless terrorists, when others are celebrating this year's Eid-El-Kabir.
The President has directed the Armed Forces and national security agencies to provide maximum security across the nation during Eid-El-Kabir prayers and celebrations, especially in areas most vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

President Buhari assures all Nigerians that the days of Boko Haram are numbered.
Boko Haram's reign of terror in parts of the country will be finally over very soon as the ongoing military onslaught against the terrorist sect will continue relentlessly until total victory is achieved.

Garba Shehu
SSA to the President
(Media & Publicity)

Buhari Approves N70m For Nigeria’s 55th Independence Anniversary

President Buhari has approved N70 million for the entire celebration of Nigeria 55th Independence Anniversary which is slated to commence from September 25, 2015.

Disclosing this at a press conference today, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, said the Federal government has decided that the independent anniversary would be celebrated low key, that is the reason only N70m was approved to take care of the entire celebration.


Lawal who was represented by the Permanent Secretary on Political Affairs, Mrs. Ibukun Odusute, explained that the reason for the low key celebration is because the present administration appreciate the economic hardship that Nigeria and indeed the nation is confronted today.

"What the President made clear is that we cannot have Nigerians in pains and unable to do what they are supposed to do by reason of our dwindling resources and then we are spending lavishly on celebrations. That has been his philosophy and principles, that it would not be fair to spend Nigeria’s money that can be spent in paying salaries to people, making sure that children are comfortable in their various schools, providing enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the country and we will leave all that and spend large amount of money on celebration. He felt it was not a wise thing to do and we totally agreed with him. So, the main reason for low key is because of the state of the nation concerning our finances. This year’s celebration is therefore in consonance with the cost-saving policy direction of this administration. The ceremony will commence with the Jummat Prayers on Friday, September 25, 2015 at 1.30pm, at the National Mosque in Abuja, the interdenominational thanksgiving service will hold on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 4pm, at the National Christian Worship Centre, while the ceremonial change of Guard will hold at the Presidential Villa at 8.00am and the children’s party will take place at the state house conference centre on October 3, 2015 at 3pm,” he said

President Buhari will address the nation at 7am on October 1, 2015.

“As we look forward to our independence anniversary with deep and sober reflection, on how we can work together to return our country to prosperity. Let me seize the opportunity to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters and all Nigerians a happy Salah holiday.”

FG exempts NNPC, PHCN, BoI, 11 others from TSA

The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has exempted 13 Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) from the Treasury Single Account (TSA). In a circular released yesterday September 21st, the accountant general said they were exempted because they are entities classified as profit oriented government businesses, pay dividends to the Federal Government.

The exempted MDAs are the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Bank of Industry (BoI), Nigeria Railway Corporation, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Bank of Agriculture, Niger Delta Power Holding Company/National Integrated Power Project, National Communication Satellite Limited, Galaxy Backbone Limited, Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, Urban Development Bank, Nigerian Export-Import Bank NEXIM) and Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

A circular entitled, “Approval to Exempt Some MDAs In line With the e-Collection Mop-Up Exercise,” from the AGF’s office to The Director, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Banking and Payments System Department, referenced FD/LP2015/C/ADC/20/1/ /DF dated September 14, 2015 and signed by M. K, Dikwa, for the AGF, Federal Ministry of Finance, Funds Department, Abuja, reads in part: “Approval is hereby granted to your bank to exempt the accounts of thirteen (13) MDAs (Category 6) as listed below the mop-up in line with the e-Collection Circular No. HCFSF/428/S.1/120 dated 7th August 2015 as these are Profit-Oriented Government Business entities that are to pay their dividends into the Treasury Single Accounts whenever they are declared.

Please note that in line with the Presidential approval, the following as it relates to Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC as listed above (S/No.9) under Category 4 should also apply: That NAPIMS remains classified as an MDA that is funded from the Federation Account under Category 4 of the Circular, being the NNPC Business Unit responsible for the management of the Federation’s investment in the upstream activities and funded from direct proceeds of oil and gas revenue.

That NNPC will continue to preserve the status with respect to NAPIMS Operations Account as well as Escrow Account for Third Party Financing in view of the Joint Venture (JV) Cash funding currently being experienced. That all other NNPC’s commercial/Business Entities as re-classified as ‘Profit-Oriented Public Corporations /Business Enterprises’ under Category 6 of the Circular which requires that only dividends from these entities be paid into the TSA.”.

Buhari Appoints PwC, KPMG to audit NNPC, CBN, Others

The Federal Government has appointed international audit firms, KPMG and PriceWaterhouse Cooper, to conduct comprehensive audit of the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other revenue generating agencies from 2012 to 2015.

Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomole announced this after the second meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) in Abuja today August 13th.

“The probe will now cover value for expense as the affected agencies will be made to account for things expended on at their correct value. This is about making Nigeria work for the benefit of other Nigerians and we have to bear in mind that governments are not run on the basis of collection of crude oil but government regardless of colour or political affiliation is run on race and so if you have tax generating agencies that are not remitting taxes government cannot run like that" he told state house correspondents

Buhari Reinstates NPA MD Sacked By Jonathan

According to a statement by Femi Adesina, President Buhari's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, the president has sacked the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero and has replaced him with Habibu Abdullahi, the MD sacked by Goodluck Jonathan in April. According to Adesina, Bayero's sack is with immediate effect, and he is to hand over the management of NPA and all government property in his possession to Mr. Habibu Abdullahi.

Buhari To Military: Defeat Boko Haram In Three Months

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday gave the Service Chiefs three months to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the country.

He gave the directive during the service chiefs’ swearing in ceremony and official decoration with their new ranks at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Those decorated are – Major-Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin (Chief of Defence Staff), Major-Gen. T.Y. Buratai (Chief of Army Staff), Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Chief of Air Staff).

President Buhari urged them to fashion out strategies to defeat the jihadists in next three months.

He said: “Rightly the armed forces have been in the vanguard of the fight against terrorism. While commending the efforts of the armed forces so far, you need to brace up and continue to team up with other stakeholders to come up with a well coordinated joint efforts which will bring a desired end to this insurgency within three months.

“In the course of carrying out this assignment you must be accountable for all men and equipment placed under your command. Your troops
welfare must be uppermost in your mind, take care of them and make available what is due to them.

“Concerted efforts should also be made to ensure judicious use of resources that are available to you in the search for solution to these challenges.

“On our own part we shall be ready to give you the needed resources to achieve this feat. You will recall I have been to several countries with the sole aim of canvassing for global support to eliminate terrorism from Nigeria.”

Thenation

Buhari - Oba Sijuwade's place in History is assured

Press statement from the presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari has received with sadness news of the transition of one of Nigeria's foremost traditional rulers, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II. President Buhari extends sincere condolences to the late Ooni's family, his friends, associates and subjects, as well as the government and people of Osun State on the departure of the First Class Monarch.
The President joins them in mourning the revered traditional ruler who will be long remembered and celebrated for his worthy service, over more than three decades, as the Chief Custodian of the traditions of the Yorubas and his invaluable contributions to the sustenance of the cultural heritage of his people within and outside Nigeria.
President Buhari believes that Oba Sijuwade's place in posterity has already been assured by his long and worthy service to his people and country as well as his notable contributions to the development of his community, state and country as a leading businessman, administrator and inspirational traditional ruler. As they mourn his passing, President Buhari urges the Ooni's family, friends, associates and subjects to be consoled by the knowledge that he lived a very fulfilled life, and has left worthy legacies for his successors to build upon. He prays that God Almighty will comfort all who mourn Oba Sijuwade and bring forth a worthy successor to to take his place on the ancient throne of Ile-Ife.
Femi Adesina Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity)

Soyinka - Buhari Now Different From The Man I Knew

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has described President Muhammadu as a different man from the man he knew while he was in military uniform on the Nigerian political landscape, who is ready to make amends for his past mistakes.

Soyinka, who spoke in an interview with Zero Tolerance, a periodic publication by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), noted that Buhari has already paid some debts to the Nigerian community, describing him as a lucky man.

Soyinka noted that although Buhari has not come out openly to apologise for his wrong deeds in the past, he has nonetheless accepted the fact that he had made some mistakes.

He said: “He (Buhari) has not pleaded for forgiveness for his past, if he had done that, I might have been less ambiguous about him. But I think from my findings about him, he is a born again phenomenon. If I am wrong, well, too bad. Though I don’t believe in ‘born-againism’ but I think this may be an exception.”

The laureate also descended heavily on former President Goodluck Jonathan for trying to differentiate between stealing and corruption, saying Nigerians should have challenged him on that.

Soyinka noted that it was wrong for a president to have taken such a position on a serious issue like corruption, thereby playing down its negative impact on the nation and its people.

He said: “The media should have challenged President Jonathan to define what stealing is, when he said that stealing is not corruption. How can a public figure, an intelligent person like that, come out to tell the public that corruption is not stealing? Then you should have asked him, what then is corruption? The media should have challenged him.”

The pioneer Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, chairman, who is believed to have co-founded the Pyrates Confraternity in Nigeria, said it was wrong to lump cultism with confraternity, arguing that the two were not the same.

He said belonging to confraternities is a normal culture in colleges and not an evil cult, as wrongly portrayed by ignorant persons in Nigeria.

Soyinka said: “Everybody knows that fraternities are a normal culture in all colleges. It exists in all colleges. President Clinton was a member of a fraternity. In fact, anybody who goes to college in the United States is a member of a college fraternity. There is absolutely nothing evil or occultic about fraternity.

“But here, the media is largely responsible for fuelling the ignorance of society of the words ‘cultism’ and ‘fraternity’. This is a disservice and I have said it again and again. There are evil cults, whose members must prove themselves by going to rape. There are others whose entry is to slash or eat somebody or rob; it has nothing to do with college fraternity.

“The media owes the responsibility to constantly tell the public the truth. But they go on and children grow up, believing that college fraternity is Satanic, demonic and this is wrong.”

dailyindependent

Throwback photo: Buhari as Governor in 1975

The photo above shows President Buhari when he served as governor of North Eastern State from July 1975 to February 1976. He looked very handsome.

Buhari Orders Federal Ministries, Agencies To Open Treasury Single Account

Press statement from the presidency...

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered each and every Federal Government Ministry, Department or Agency to start paying into a Treasury Single Account (TSA) for all government revenues, incomes and other receipts. According to the directive, this measure is specifically to promote transparency and facilitate compliance with sections 80 and 162 of the 1999 Constitution.

Henceforth, according to a statement by Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on‎ Media and Publicity, all receipts due to the Federal Government or any of its agencies must be paid into TSA or designated accounts maintained and operated in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), except otherwise expressly approved.
A TSA is a unified structure of government bank accounts enabling consolidation and optimal utilization of government cash resources. It is a bank account or a set of linked bank accounts through which the government transacts all its receipts and payments and gets a consolidated view of its cash position at any given time.
This presidential directive would end the previous public accounting situation of several fragmented accounts for government revenues, incomes and receipts, which in the recent past has meant the loss or leakages of legitimate income meant for the federation account.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier promised state governors at the inaugural meeting of the National Economic Council, NEC, in June, that all revenues prescribed for lodgement into the federation account will be treated as such under his watch and that he will ensure strict compliance with all relevant laws on accounting, allocation and disbursement.
Since then the presidency has worked with relevant agencies of the federal government to evolve this policy directive.
This directive applies to fully funded organs of government like the Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Foreign Missions, as well as the partially funded ones, like Teaching Hospitals, Medical Centres, Federal Tertiary Institutions, etc.
Agencies like the CBN, SEC, CAC, NPA, NCC, FAAN, NCAA, NIMASA, NDIC, NSC, NNPC, FIRS, NCS, MMSD, DPR are also affected.
For any agency that is fully or partially self-funding, Sub-Accounts linked to TSA are to be maintained at CBN and the accounting system will be configured to allow them access to funds based on their approved budgetary provisions.
‎
‘Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President
(Media & Publicity)

President Buhari to Head Ministry of Petroleum For 18 Months

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to head the Ministry of Petroleum for 18 months before appointing a substantive minister for the ministry.

The President said this while meeting with some members of his political party, the All Progressives Congress, in Abuja recently.

One of those at the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity, on Sunday said that the President said he would use the 18 months of heading the petroleum ministry to reposition it.

According to him,

“At the meeting we had recently, we discussed the issues of portfolios and other matters,” the President said he was going to handle the Ministry of Petroleum himself for about 18 months.

“He said it was after this that he would appoint a substantive minister for the ministry. He said he would only personally handle the reorganisation of the much-important ministry.

“Besides, he said the ministry needed to be reformed and be rid of corruption. He promised to sanitise the ministry.”

It was, however, gathered that the President was thinking of appointing an experienced person as his special adviser on petroleum.

The President was once a minister in charge of the ministry so due to this experience, he was said to have vowed to make sure that he blocked all the loopholes that enabled stealing of money or petroleum products.

He plans to split the NNPC in two, creating a regulator and a vehicle for investments, according to Femi Adesina, a presidential spokesman.

So far the president has fired the board and management of the company and replaced its Jonathan-appointed chief with Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, who was executive vice-chariman of Exxon Mobil Africa. He has also ordered a review of oil-swap contracts and barred 113 vessels from loading oil and gas, about 250,000 barrels of Nigerian crude, about 10 percent of the country’s daily output, are stolen daily, Buhari has said.

Speaking on the issue, the Peoples Democratic Party said it would be too early to speculate on whether the President would head the ministry or not.

Rather, the opposition party urged Nigerians to wait till September when the President promised to name his cabinet.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Ibrahim Jalo, told our correspondent that he was only sure that the President was going to split the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Jalo said, “That Buhari is going to head the ministry is speculative. But what we know, going by his body language and actions so far, is that he is going to split the NNPC.

“This is what we know. So, let’s wait and see what he’s going to do before we make comments.”

However, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties said the constitution vested powers on the President to head any ministry or parastatal of his choice or appoint a representative.

The National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said that Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution “vested executive powers on the President.

He said

“He can decide to exercise such powers by himself or delegate it to his deputy, or public officers of the public service of the federation. That’s what the law says.

“Whether he chooses to manage any ministry by himself is immaterial. Whether he decides to be in charge of ministries such as power, works, women affairs or culture does not mean anything to the Nigerian people.”

Punch 

Jonathan Secretly Visits Pres. Buhari In Aso Rock

President Muhamadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with former President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting was held inside the President’s official residence.

It was about 24 hours before President Buhari also met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the same venue on Friday.

The details of discussion at the meeting with Jonathan on Thursday were unknown as at press time.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, confirmed the meeting.

Buhari Initiates Move For Domestic Weapons Production

According to a statement signed and released by Senior Special Adviser to the president on media and publicity Garba Shehu today August 7th, President Buhari charged the Federal Ministry of Defence to produce a plan for the establishment of a modest Military Industrial Complex for the local production of weapons to meet some of the requirements of the country's armed forces.

 The statement after the cut..


President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja directed the Federal Ministry of Defence to produce a plan for the establishment of a modest Military Industrial Complex for the local production of weapons to meet some of the requirements of the country's armed forces. Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the National Defence College, President Buhari described as unacceptable, Nigeria's current over-dependence on other countries for critical military equipment and logistics. "We must evolve viable mechanisms for near-self-sufficiency in military equipment and logistics production complemented only by very advanced foreign technologies. "The Ministry of Defence is being tasked to draw up clear and measurable outlines for development of a modest Military Industrial Complex for Nigeria. "In this regard, it is to liaise with other strategic MDAs and industries to re-engineer the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) to meet national military hardware and logistics requirements," the President said. President Buhari told the gathering that his administration had, since its assumption of office, reviewed the nature and character of Nigeria's security threats and challenges. "We recognized first and foremost, the external dimensions of these threats and the need for international cooperation and common security mechanisms to tackle them," the President said.
President Buhari added that in the light of this realization, his Administration was "convinced that the best approach was to work within the framework of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) to mobilize a collective regional effort in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.
The President urged the graduates and officers and men of the Armed Forces to work harder to win the war against Boko Haram, terrorism and insurgency.
"We must apply a comprehensive strategy and coordinate all elements of national power against terrorism and insurgency; we must show result oriented leadership at all levels of military Command; we must set up an optimal organization to manage and sustain operational performance; and we must show confidence and winning mentality," President Buhari told them.
The President assured that the Federal Government under his leadership will strive to meet the operational, logistic, training and welfare requirements of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to ameliorating the hardships of people living in areas most affected by insurgency and terrorism.
"We have the will, resolve and conviction to apply a comprehensive strategy and coordinate all elements of national power against terrorism and insurgency," the President reassured Nigerians and the international community.
President Buhari said that the National Defence College had fulfilled the vision of its founding fathers, by becoming a strategic human capacity-building institution, making credible contributions to Nigeria and other friendly countries.
The President urged graduates of the College's Course 23 to resolve to make "a marked difference in your future deployments and contribute your quota to the evolution and implementation of national security, defence and military strategies."
"You should be the source that lights up the environment wherever you find yourselves," he told them.
Garba Shehu
SSA to the President
(Media and Publicity)
August 7, 2015

PDP In Rivers Wants Buhari to Probe Amaechi for Massive Fraud

The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wants former governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi to stop hiding and publically face the immense corruption allegations against him. A statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the party, Jerry Needam says that "the degree and number of fraudulent acts initiated and committed by the former Governor are shocking and no longer be glossed over."

On CNN's Amanpour Live Report it was reported that Amaechi has been stacking money in different foreign accounts. According to the statement, Amanpour’s show said "the sum of over 757 million U.S. dollars was stacked by Amaechi in a foreign U.S. Bancorp/Minnesota account."

The Integrity Group, a non-governmental organization, has sent a petition to Buhari as well as the Economic Financial Crimes Commission chairman to investigate Amaechi for the over N70 billion stolen from the Rivers State government.

This amount is separate from the N21 billion which the PDP claims Amaechi transferred from the Power Assets proceeds account of Access bank to the accounts of three private companies with a 25 Trans-Amadi Road, Port Harcourt address. Those companies are Advante Consulting and Management Company, Result Imports Experts Company, and Capital Ltd.

The PDP in Rivers State claim that there are many more instances of fraud and theft perpetrated by the former Governor, which is why they are asking President Buhari to probe Rotimi Amaechi’s past.

Buhari Begins Total Probe of Jonathan’s Government

A total probe of the administration run by immediate former president, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is underway as the National Economic Council, NEC, Ad-hoc Committee on the Management of Excess Crude Account Proceeds and Accruals into the Federation Account, headed by the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, is to hire two international forensic audit firms to probe revenue that accrued into the Federation Account and how it was spent under former Dr Goodluck Jonathan as President.

Mr. Oshiomhole told journalists at the end of the first meeting of the committee in Abuja, yesterday that the auditors would cover the period January 1, 2010 to June 1, 2015. It put paid to calls by the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, that Buhari should extend his probe to the administrations of Jonathan’s predecessors, Alh. Umaru Yar’ Adua.and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Already, some revenue generating agencies have been invited to brief the committee which will take detailed briefings from all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs of the Federal Government that deal directly with revenue.

The focus will be on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Central bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, among others.

Other members of the committee included Gov. Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe, and Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom.

He said that the committee did not want its actions to be bogged down by political interpretations and that the members were not professionals. Even if they were professionals, he said that their duties as governors would not allow them the time to do a thorough work.

His words, “We held our first primary session today here with some of the revenue generating agencies that are supposed to remit funds to the federation account. We had a successful session with Customs, NPA, NEITI, SEC, FIRS, and quite a number of others and next week we will also hear from CBN, Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
For the remaining ones, we agree we are going to meet on Thursday next week, NNPC, NPDC, DPR, NIMASA and other remaining agencies.
We have started the work, with the idea to hear them out, what they have been doing, with particular emphasis on revenue accruing from these organizations and whether or not these have been remitted to the Federation Account for judicious distribution.
His words: “We realised that this is a task and given our mandate, even if we were professional accountants because we are sitting governors, we would not have the time to do a forensic audit which this assignment entails.
“Therefore, we have agreed in line with our mandate to appoint two reputable international audit firms to carry out a thorough forensic audit, not only of NNPC, which is more of excess crude, but other monies that accrued to the Federation Accounts. We have other revenues like bonuses, royalties, taxes, VAT that flow into the Federation Account.
“We are taking a holistic review of the entire process, looking at all the agencies that make contribution of funds to the federation account.

We are convinced that by appointing audit firms, we will allow professionals to carry out this exercise, so that it will be free of any political colouration and also we will ensure the outcome of the investigation will.

“We have learned, we have listened and asked questions. I think we all have a clear picture of what is happening in those organizations before now. Some have information to supply and we have drawn attention to those areas, they are willing to oblige. We believe in the end, we will be able to not just establish what had happened over the period but much more important, going forward with the changes the President has promised the country.

“It is not going to be business as usual. He started on a clean slate and everybody knows the new rules of the game and in particular as the laws apply to the various institutions are implemented in full. So I think we started very well. We are very confident that we are going to come out with something that is going to be of immense benefits to the Nigerian people”.

On the rationale for embarking on another audit report with regards to the alleged missing funds, he said “Some reports were produced by PWC but in that report the PWC expressed their frustration and pointed to the fact that they were not able to access all the information they needed and that what they were able to produce was to the extent of information that was made available to them.”

He added: “Audit can only be credible as much as information that was made available to auditors. The good news now is that with President Buhari, all the books will be open, no agency has any protection. Any agency that refuses to open the books then is ready to go on confrontation with the authority.

“The forensic audit will act on the whole truth and nothing but the truth so that all stakeholders will have basis to formulate good policies and that Nigeria will never find itself in this circle where huge sums of money are allegedly diverted and unaccounted for. Audit has become a way of life for all public institutions.”

On the duration of the audit exercise, Oshiomhole explained that the committee had looked at it professionally. “We are focusing on a five year circle. What we have agreed is that we are going to carry out an audit for five years from 1st January 2010 to 30th June 2015.

“If the audit report reveals that we need to go backward, then we can do that. But for the first instance, this is the period that we consider good.
“We can’t impose a time frame on them but will engage them and by Thursday we will be able to make it public. We need to listen to them and agreed with them on how much time will be okay for them. We are all in a hurry to ensure that the right thing is done. The emphasis is not on time but doing thorough job.

“By next week we will meet with the big ones and we will then be able to tell you the audit firms that we have appointed. They are firms I am sure Nigerians will have confidence in.
“At the end of the audit we will hear them out and reconcile them with what the laws says and arrive at a position. Given the volume of work and complicated nature of issues, we agreed we need professionals to carry out the audit. It is only the professionals that can handle it. It is not good to compromise”.


Vanguard

Photos: Buhari Receives Letters Of Credence From Amb. of Belgium, Rwanda & Poland

President Buhari today received letters of credence from the Ambassadors of Belgium Stephane De Loeckeras, Rwanda - Stanislas Kamanzi and Poland, Andrezj Dycha. More photos...

49 PDP Senators Declare Support For Buhari

The forty-nine ‎Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the senate have declared their support for President Muhammadu Buhari. Speaking at a press conference at the national assembly complex in Abuja on Thursday, Godswill Akpabio, minority whip, joined 48 of his PDP colleagues to express their determination to support the president.

 However, they lamented that PDP members were being targeted in the anti-corruption crusade of the federal government.

 “The PDP senate caucus reiterates its support to M‎r President Muhammadu Buhari and his quest to bring about a greater Nigeria,” Akpabio said.

 “The PDP senate caucus, despite its formidable strength, has resolved to offer only credible opposition that would lead to the building of a better Nigeria. 

The caucus will give him all the needed support support to ensure his success as president.” 

“But the PDP senate caucus notes the crusade against corruption undertaken by the APC-led federal government and hereby declares her support to rid Nigeria of corruption.

 The caucus is not happy with the current trend that seems to suggest that the war against corruption is selective and targeted at PDP stalwarts and states.

 “The current war lacks transparency, fairness to all and appears to be aimed at political adversaries. It is on this ground that we condemn in particular what is happening in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Abia states where election umpires are daily arrested, their families and associates hounded, and judicial officers involved in election tribunals intimidated and questioned using trumped up petitions bordering on corruption. 

“Yet, these officials were part of the 2015 elections that produced President Buhari, an election adjudged to be generally free and fair by the international community.” 

Akpabio also alleged that the Department of State Service (DSS) was being used to wreak havoc on PDP-controlled states.

 ‎”The PDP senate caucus is worried, alarmed and shocked by the recent development in our polity where the DSS is now involved in electoral matters,” he said.

 “A situation where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers state, Akwa Ibom and Abia states (all PDP states) are daily being arrested, detained and questioned on politically motivated corruption allegations is worrisome and spells doom for our democracy unless the trend is reversed. 

“Reports reaching the caucus has it that INEC officials are being forced by the DSS to produce falsified documents to support APC candidates cases before the tribunals.

 “This is abominable and unacceptable. Mr President and all well-meaning Nigerians must intervene to preserve the independence of the tribunals and that of INEC.‎”

 While reiterating the pledge of the PDP to provide constructive opposition to the APC government, Akpabio urged the president to treat all Nigerians equally.


Thecable

Buhari brought N2.7trn investments from US visit – Presidency

An estimated N2.7 trillion ($13.6 billion) worth of direct investment is part of the immediate benefits accruing from President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent state visit to the United States, the Presidency claimed yesterday.

The presidency also affirmed that the visit cost the Nigerian treasury less than N220 million contrary to assertions in some sections of the media. It further explained that President Buhari’s son, Yusuf, did not receive any estacode for the trip even as it contended that great savings were made by members of the delegation against previous visits.

The five governors who were in the delegation, the presidency said, paid their way while permanent secretaries and other senior government officials only received their entitlements.


In a statement, yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said besides the economic benefits, plans were already in motion to lift hindrances to the flow of military support for Nigeria’s war against insurgents in the North-East.The presidency’s explanations followed news reports in some sections of the media that the visit was wasteful, cost N2.2 billion and was not in anyway beneficial.

Some immediate benefits

According to him, “some of the more immediate benefits of the President’s trip to the US include: the proposed $2.1 billion fund from the World Bank for the re-development of the northeast battered by Boko Haram; $5 billion from US investors in Nigeria’s agriculture sector; $1.5 billion investment in the Nigerian’s health sector; and another $5 billion investment from the US in our country’s power sector.

“Also, as things stand, the embargo on weapons sales to Nigeria is in the process of being removed. The trip to the US by President Buhari was definitely very successful and beneficial to Nigeria. Only those rabidly determined to find faults unnecessarily will cook up falsehood in a futile effort to rake up murk where none exists.

“It is very sad that in this age of free-flowing information and in this era of change, a media organisation would make itself available as a vehicle to peddle a lie of such low and ignominious quality.

“Contrary to the newspaper’s assertions, the total cost of the trip to the Nigerian taxpayer was at the most minimal, in line with the policy of this administration to cut waste and extravagance.

Buhari’s son didn’t receive estacode, govs paid their way

“In point of fact, the total amount expended on the trip by the office of the President amounted to nothing near 10 per cent of the speculated figure.

“Owing to the free accommodation provided by the host government, all the personal staff who accompanied the President on the trip received reduced allowances.

“His son, Yusuf, received neither allowances nor estacode. The five governors on the trip each paid their way. Permanent Secretaries who travelled on the delegation did so in accordance with extant rules and none of them exceeded their estacode entitlements.

“Apart from the Nigerian pilot’s mischievous mathematics, it is shortsighted and misleading of the newspaper to have claimed that President Buhari’s trip to the US achieved nothing.



Vanguard

NYSC May Soon Be Voluntary - DG

President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that his administration will take all necessary actions to maintain and improve the National Youth Service Corps scheme as a functional vehicle for the promotion of national unity and integration.

Mr. Buhari gave the assurance after receiving briefing from officials of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, led by the Permanent Secretary, Rabi Jimeta.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, also told the President that there are plans to make the scheme voluntary so as to reduce the corps population and sustain it.

The president affirmed his confidence and trust in the scheme, saying that the objective for which the scheme was established in 1973 was still very relevant for national development.

He said, “I firmly believe in NYSC and I think it should remain a national programme to promote integration.

“Whenever I go home to Daura, I look out for corps members from Lagos, Aba and other parts of the country.

“I am always thrilled to learn that except for the NYSC, some of them have never left their states of origin to visit other cities in the country.”

Ms. Jimeta had informed the president that the increasing number of NYSC members was a challenge to the scheme due to dwindling revenue from the national budget to cater for their needs.

She also told the president that the annual enrollment of corps participants had increased from 2,364 at inception in 1974 to 229,016 in 2014.

She added that “given the increasing number of tertiary institutions, our projection is that the number of participants may rise to
300,000 by year 2020″.

(NAN)

Buhari Meets Aviation Sector Officials, Orders Speedy Revival Of Nigerian Airways

On Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the Ministry of Aviation to immediately come up with methods to establish a new national airline since Nigeria has been operating a public-private partnership national airline since the defunct Nigerian Airways folded.

While briefing the State House correspondents at the presidential villa, the Permanent Secretary of the Aviation Ministry, Binta Bello, said the President was worried about Nigeria not having a national air carrier. She also said the President was briefed on the challenges domestic airlines were facing despite federal government’s N300 billion intervention fund designed to boost their operations.

According to her, the airlines were hugely indebted to regulatory agencies under the Aviation Ministry, including other factors that have left some of the airlines still struggling to maintain optimum operational capabilities.