FG denies 2016 budget proposal withdrawal

                Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun

 

The Federal Government on Wednesday denied withdrawing the 2016 Budget proposal presented to the National Assembly in December.

Reports, especially on social media, had attributed the purported withdrawal to suspicious bloating of budgetary votes in the proposal.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said the allegations were false.

Mohammed said: “When somebody from the Daily Trust called me, I told him categorically that there is nothing like that. When a story like this breaks out, I believe it will help all of us to actually be able to pin point the source.

“I know for a fact that this administration has not withdrawn the budget from the National Assembly.”
He also denied the accusation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled government plans to exterminate the opposition.

He said: “I think the first point to make is that this government is not micro-managing any of the anti-graft agencies. I know for a fact that they don’t contact the President or anybody before they do their job. I think the media also has to do more than they are doing right now, they should investigate these allegations and also make their independent judgment about it.
 
“Honestly if the EFCC or ICPC says that they are able to trace certain amount of money to my account, I don’t want you to believe it, I want you to also ask for proof, do your investigation. I can assure you that this government, no functionary in government micromanages or directs the EFCC or ICPC on who to arrest and who not to arrest.”

Speaking further on the alleged withdrawal of the 2016 Budget proposal, Adeosun said: “Let me just speak to you about the budget process. You know the budget is presented to the NASS and then there is what we call an interactive budget approval process and you know the agencies will still go and defend their budget at the NASS.

“So ordinary in budget processes anywhere in the world, there can’t be amendments to the budgets arising from that interactive process, which is normal. But let me make it very clear the budget is not being withdrawn or replaced, the budget has been presented and will go through normal process whereby MDAs defend their budgets.

“It is possible in the process of that, because as you know the legislature is not a rubber stamp, their job is to scrutinize the budget and to approve that budget. So there may be some changes that occur as a result of that interactive process. But that process is normal everywhere in the world where a budget is presented. So I think it is important to make that clarification.”

Checkout FG's plan to expand NYSC scheme 

 

 

The Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalong, has said the Federal Government plans to expand the National Youth Service Corps scheme to include skill acquisition and entrepreneurial training.

Dalong said this on Tuesday during an inspection tour of the Lagos State NYSC orientation camp in the Iyana Ipaya area of the state.

He said, “Apart from the basic orientation programme, the NYSC scheme should also move into including professional and enterprising programmes to support and motivate those who would not want to embrace public services in the country.

“After the mandatory one-year service, the Federal Government is planning an extension, to professionally train interested corps members in skill acquisition, enterprising and professional programmes.
“Corps members with keen interest would be retained and some financial token given to them as start-up capital in furtherance of their skill.






“This is because due to our research, we found out that people abandon school due to uncertainty of the future. Hence, we believe this would help reduce the unemployed graduate ratio and curtail pressure on white-collar job as a means to win the war against poverty.”

The minister explained that graduates who received addition training after the mandatory one-year service would be provided with a start-up capital at the end of the training.
He also said that the Federal Government would not succumb to agitations from some quarters to scrap the NYSC scheme as its merits outweighed the disadvantages.

According to him, the scheme has not only enhanced the socio-cultural and ethnic integration in the country, it has also promoted national unity.

“We cannot dismiss the gains of the NYSC scheme in integrating Nigeria; I will stand firmly for the sustenance of the system, to continue in its capacity-building of Nigeria citizens because, it is an indispensable aspect of diversifying our culture,” he said.

Dalong expressed satisfaction with the state of the Lagos NYSC orientation camp, and thanked the Lagos State government for its support for the scheme.

He, however, stressed that the inadequate facilities at the NYSC orientation camp was one of the challenges of the scheme.

He said, “Nigeria did not plan to have the number of graduates in this present dispensation. If we had planned effectively, the concept of NYSC camping would have started with a permanent and effective structure.

“The visionaries of the scheme did not anticipate the lifespan of the scheme after the Civil War; the implementation of the scheme was a strategy to mobilise and integrate Nigerians together, hence, the huge number of graduates each year has put much pressure on the facilities, calling for constant renovation and upgrading.”

The Director-General of NYSC, Brig. Gen. Johnson Bamidele Olawumi, expressed gratitude to the minister for his visit and promised that his administration would do its best to uplift the NYSC scheme towards the economic growth and development of the country.

Gov Ambode appoints Prof. Fagbohun  as LASU VC

             Prof. Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun

 

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has approved the appointment of Prof. Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun as the 8th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU).

Fagbohun, a Professor of Environmental Law, was until his appointment, the Director of Research at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of Lagos (UNILAG).
The appointment was announced in a statement signed on Wednesday by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde.

The statement said, “Following the expiration of the tenure of Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa as the 7th substantive Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University on 31st October, 2015, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Fidelis Olisamedua Njokanma assumed the position of Acting Vice-Chancellor.

“A Professor of Environmental Law, Olanrewaju Adigun Fagbohun, was born on 19th October, 1966 and hails from Akesan in the Alimosho Local Government area of Lagos State. Prof. Fagbohun joined the Faculty of Law of the Lagos State University (LASU) as an Assistant Lecturer in January 1991. He rose through the ranks and by the year 2004, he was appointed Associate Professor.

“He studied Law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and obtained his Master of Law Degree from the University of Lagos and he attended the Obafemi Awolowo University for his doctoral degree programme.

“At different times, he served as a member of Senate of the Lagos State University, Head of Department of Business Law and later Department of Private and Property Law, Coordinator, Law Centre; Coordinator of the Department of Environmental Law and Allied Disciplines of the Centre for Environment and Science Education of the Lagos State University, and was, for several years, the Editor-in-Chief of the LASU Law Journal.”

Saraki condoles with Kogi people on late Dr. Atta, says he was super physician

               Senate President Bukola Saraki

 

Senate President Bukola Saraki has said that he was sad over the death of former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health in the old Northern Region, Dr. Abdul Atta.
Saraki described the late Atta as a super physician who practiced his trade with absolute dexterity, great compassion and dedication to duty.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, and made available yesterday, Saraki said “the deceased left a worthy legacy during his life time having rendered invaluable medical and administrative services as Personal Physician to the Sardauna of Sokoto, Permanent Secretary in the then Northern Region’s Ministry of Health as well as the old North Central State”.

Olaniyonu added that Saraki commiserated with the immediate family, the government and people of Kogi State over the loss of “an illustrious personality who leveraged his extensive medical knowledge to ensure that quality healthcare services were delivered to the people of the North in particular and Nigeria in general during his active years.”

He further prayed God to grant the soul of the departed a peaceful repose and his loved ones the strength to bear the painful loss.

Plateau State Gov lacks information management ethics -- NUJ

                           Gov. Simon Lalong

 

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Correspondents’ Chapel, yesterday faulted the style of information management of the Governor Simon Bako Lalong administration; even as it linked it to the fact that its media appointments ‘lack professionals.’

A statement signed by its Chairman, Aminu Yusuf Idegwu and Secretary, Peter Amine, that many state correspondents have not been invited to cover government functions for the past seven months of the administration, even as the Director of Press and Special Assistant on Media to the governor would always refuse to pick calls or switch off their phones completely when journalists want to clarify issues concerning government.

According to the strongly worded statement, “We have observed that Governor Simon Bako Lalong has an unwieldy idea of managing government’s image, or merely appreciates the challenges of information management as a casual vocation that can be approached however haphazardly.

“It is therefore, understandable why there are lapses, stagnations, discrepancies, and several avoidable professional flaws in the management of official information in the past seven months of the Lalong administration in Plateau State.

“The aggregate of these include a fundamental difficulty in reporting or covering government activities. In as much as we advise that the business of public governance should not be made to appear as being run on the norms of a confraternity, we call on Governor Lalong to review and overhaul his information management team for quality control, professional output, and optimal performance.
 
“Apart from lack of professionalism, we observe also that the governor’s appointments into his information management team are faltering, rather than complementary and capable of putting together a professionally cohesive and efficient team that can promptly and dutifully respond to matters arising within government’s information environment.

“Except for the appointment of one special assistant on media, that has a semblance of experience and professional consideration, the rest so far, from the director of press affairs to the commissioner of information, is a regime of rewarding party foot soldiers with what is available.”

The statement further noted that, “Besides, rather than productivity and results, what has been issuing forth from the information team is power play, self esteem, ego massage, and low output. Since his appointment, the special assistant on media does not seem to have clear idea of the duties of his office; just as the director of press affairs appears unprofessionally debriefed to the point of not realising the damage he does to the governor and his activities as he habitually shuns telephone calls or inquiries from journalists.”

“We must note, for example, that ever since, the press directorate has never made the weekly public function itinerary of the governor available to the press for effective coverage. This has negative implications for government’s laudable programmes and activities as was the case of under reporting of the governor’s visit to the internally displaced persons’ camp last Christmas day.

“Again, we must reiterate that output had been poor due to low concentration and lack of professional modulation. We have as example here the speeches of the governor so far which are mostly ill edited, like the speech on the occasion of inauguration of the commissioners.”

Camille Cosby Delays Deposition 

 

Camille Cosby's motion to delay her deposition in the civil suit facing her husband Bill was granted on Tuesday, pushing her deposition back to an unspecified date.

Last month, Camille was subpoenaed in the lawsuit brought by seven women who allege Bill sexually assaulted them. Her deposition was expected to take place on Wednesday.

In court papers obtained by ET, Camille's lawyers claim that "Mrs. Cosby's privacy and freedom will be put at issue" and that a "disqualification rule" prohibits any spouse from testifying as to their private marital conversations, but according to Hot Bench's Tanya Acker, the "disqualification rule" might not apply here.

"She was not just married to him. She was his manager," Acker told ET. "By being his manager she thrust herself right there in the public with him, so that could open up a lot of avenues for questioning that might lead to relevant information."

Bill has denied all sexual assault accusations against him, which led to Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, Linda Traitz, Louisa Moritz, Barbara Bowman, Joan Tarshis and Angela Leslie to file suit claiming that his denial of such allegations are both false and defamatory.

The 78-year-old comedian is counter-suing the women, claiming they are making false accusations for their own financial gain.

Camille was called to testify the same week as the former Cosby Show star was charged with felony aggravated indecent assault for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand in January 2004. He was released Dec. 30 after posting $1 million bail.

At the time, Cosby's attorneys gave a statement to ET, saying, "The charge by the Montgomery County District Attorney's office came as no surprise, filed 12 years after the alleged incident and coming on the heels of a hotly contested election for this county's DA during which this case was made the focal point. Make no mistake, we intend to mount a vigorous defense against this unjustified charge and we expect that Mr. Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law."

 ET

Singer Davido Lands In Hospital After Baby Mama Drama

 

African pop sensational singer Davido, is currently in the hospital.
The 23 year old singer was hospitalized at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos yesterday. He shared these snap shots in the hospital, although he did not disclose his ailment, but said it is as a result of stress.

 

It seems the drama of the last two weeks has caught up with Davido.
Late December, Davido revealed the tussle between him and his baby mama Sophie Momodu over the custody of their baby daughter Imade Adeleke.

 

The revelation has now turned into a full blown scandal with both parties throwing stones at each other. Davido is accusing his baby mama of polluting his daughter’s system with cannabis.
Sophia Momodu and her uncle Dele Momodu have accused Davido and his family of trying to take Imade to America without her consent.

 

While in the midst of the custody battle with Sophia, Davido got into a little beef with dancehall act Cynthia Morgan.

 

The ‘German Juice‘ singer dissed Davido and mocked his hoarse voice. She also threw shots at other members of HKN. Instead of going into a controversial situation with her, Davido responded with a mature reply.

Caitlyn Jenner appears on The Advocate Magazine...see her plans

Caitlyn Jenner appears on The Advocate Magazine...see her plans

The celeb covers the February edition of the Advocate magazine where she (he)  talked about still learning to be a woman.To her, "I can Handle anything". She believes nothing can stop her. Interesting!

Lagos State Government closes Oshodi market over insecurity

Lagos State Government closes Oshodi market over insecurity

 

 

Lagos State Government yesterday shut down Owonifari market in the Oshodi, Oshodi/Isolo Local Government, aimed at addressing the security challenges in the area.

Lagos State Government often arrested hoodlums in Oshodi for various robberies and other petty incidents.Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, lamented that the market has constituted a menace and an eyesore to the locality.

He added that they have relocated affected traders and shop owners to the newly built Isopakodowo market stalls at Bolade area in Oshodi. The government has also started fencing-off of the set-back on Agege Motor Road that stretches from Ilupeju end of Oshodi all the way to the PWD/Ikeja GRA end of the area.

He said that the fencing-off of the long stretch of the set-back is being undertaken to assist the Federal Government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation in particular with a view to beautifying it and safeguard lives along the railway corridor by discouraging street trading and indiscriminate use of the space.

In the statement,  Ayorinde added that the Owonifari loop will be transformed into an ultra modern bus terminus with new bus shelters that are befitting of a structured park in a mega city.

He stated further that Oshodi will be sane and safe and a place where both traders and commuters would be pleased to visit and trade.



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