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General news

2020 Budget: N/East lauds Buhari over increase in NEDC budget allocation

2020 Budget: N/East lauds Buhari over increase in NEDC budget allocation

By Muhammad Adam
Funding
Yola, Oct. 8, 2019 (NAN) Some citizens in North-East Nigeria have commended President Muhammadu Buhari for increasing funding to the North East Development Commission (NEDC) in the 2020 budget.
A cross section of people interviewed by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola, the capital of Adamawa, expressed optimism about the 2020 budget proposals.
Dr Bala Jika of the Department of Economic Education, Federal College of Education, Yola, said the increment of over 200 per cent budget of NEDC was a laudable development and encouraging.
“The allocation total of N37.8 billion for the North East Development Commission in the 2020 budget is encouraging if compared to 2019 budget, where the commission was allocated only N10 billion,” Jika said.
Similarly, Alhaji Ahmadu Musa, Managing Director, Yola Construction and Engineering Company, said the 2020 budget allocation was commendable, noting that it will enable the commission to start execution of reasonable projects in the region.
Musa however said that there was need to increase the allocation to about N100 billion considering the damages caused by insurgency in the region.
Also reacting to the budget presentation, Mr Umar Yusuf, a senior journalist based in Adamawa, said that the budget would take Nigeria to the next level, if properly implemented.
According to Umar, despite the increase in the budget allocation for the NEDC, the allocation is still inadequate.
“I watched the budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari but the key point that catches my attention is the total sum allocation to North East Development Commission.
“Even though, there was increase in the allocation than 2019 budget, but the allocation is very inadequate because of the massive destruction in the region caused by Boko Haram insurgency,’’ said the journalist.
“According to a joint committee report of Federal and State Governments, the destruction levels in Adamawa alone needs about N90 billion to recover,” Umar added.
He said the N37.8 billion would not make much impact considering the estimated people to be over 20 million from the six states comprising the region.
Umar also urged the federal government to check the management of the commission on how the last budget allocation of N10 billion was spent and its impact in the region. (NAN)
AMA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

2019 Budget: Nasarawa Assembly commences oversight function

2019 Budget: Nasarawa Assembly commences oversight function

By Mohammed Baba Busu
Oversight
Lafia, Oct. 7, 2019 (NAN) The Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, has directed the chairmen of the house standing committees and their members to embark on oversight functions from Oct. 8, to ascertain the performance of the 2019 budget.
Abdullahi gave the directive on Monday during plenary in Lafia.
The speaker urged the committees not to compromise while performing their duties in the interest of development.
“ You are to commence the oversight function to the state MDAs from tomorrow (Oct. 8) and it will last for two weeks.
“Oversight function is one of our key responsibilities as members of this Honourable House.
“The people of Nasarawa State are looking forward unto us as their elected representatives to give them the best.
“The oversight function will give you the opportunity to ascertain the budget performance of the 2019 fiscal year.
“How much was budgeted and expended by the state ministries, agencies, parastatals and boards, as the government is preparing to present the 2020 budget,” he said.
The speaker assured the people of the state of the assembly’s readiness to work in synergy with the executive arm for the overall development of the state and the country at large.
In a related development, a Bill for a law to provide for the prohibition of kidnapping and other purposes therewith had passed first reading at the plenary.
The bill was sponsored by Mr Daniel Ogazi (APC-Kokona East), the Deputy Majority Leader of the House and Chairman, House Committee on Education, Science and Technology. (NAN)
BAB/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

Nasarawa Assembly raises 2019 budget by N3.5bn

Nasarawa Assembly raises 2019 budget by N3.5bn
By Awayi Kuje
Budget
Lafia, Jan. 23, 2019 (NAN) The Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed the 2019 Appropriation Bill of N90.17 billion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) also reports that the House raised the budget by N3.5 billion to provide for youth empowerment.
The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, announced this after the Majority Leader of the House, Alhaji Tanko Tunga, moved a motion for the passage of the budget proposal in Lafia.
The speaker disclosed that the House jerked up the budget by over N3.5 billion due to omission of the Nasarawa Youth Empowerment Scheme (NAYES) sectorial allocation, among other provisions.
The legislature recommended that viable ongoing and new projects should be sustained and completed for the benefit of the people of the state.
“Today, the House approved and passed a total budget size of N90,170,246,463.52 billion only to be issued out from the consolidated Revenue Fund of which N51.029,581,277.52 billion only, which represents 57 per cent for Recurrent Expenditure.
“The House also approved N31,966,994,046 billion only, which represents 35 per cent, for Capital Expenditure.
“And a consolidated Revenue Funds charges of N7,173,671,140 billion only, representing eight per cent for Debt Servicing, Pension and Gratuity,” he said.
Abdullahi urged the state government to intensify effort and block all loopholes, especially in area of revenue generation to achieve the desired objectives with regards to Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.
The House also recommended the autonomy of the state Revenue Board to enhance its performance in generating more revenue.
The speaker also tasked the executive on strict implementation of the budget provisions, if finally assented into law.
He directed the Clerk to the House to produce a clean copy of the budget for the governor’s assent.
Alhaji Tanko Tunga (APC-Awe North), the Majority Leader of the House, moved a motion for the passage of the bill and Mr Peter Mbucho (PDP-Akwanga-North), the minority leader of the House, seconded the motion.
The House unanimously passed the bill.
NAN recalls that on Dec. 28, 2018, Gov.Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State presented the 2019 budget proposal of N86.64 billion to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
Al-Makura, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Ayuba Ayenaje, tagged the 2019 budget as “Budget of Transition’’.
NAN also recalls that on Nov. 29, 2017, the governor presented the 2018 budget proposal of N122.8 billion to the state House of Assembly for approval.
Also, on Jan. 24, 2018, the House passed the state’s 2018 appropriation bill of N125.4 billion by jerking up the budget by N2.6 billion.
And on Dec.11, 2018, the House passed N23.4 billion supplementary budget presented to the House by Al-Makura. (NAN)
AKW/YI/MST
Edited by Yahaya Isah/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

FCT doctors hail FG for paying arrears, appeals for budget review

FCT doctors hail FG for paying arrears, appeals for budget review
By Ummul Idris
Doctors
Abuja, Jan. 19, 2019 (NAN) The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter, have commended the Minister of FCT, Muhammad Bello, for paying the backlog of doctors’ salary arrears.
Briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, Dr Roland Aigbovo, the President of the association, said that the action of the minister was commendable as he had kept to his promise.
Aigbovo however used the opportunity to appeal to the minister to also remember the stagnation of doctors who have long been due for promotion but were yet to be promoted.
He stressed that some doctors have been stagnated for over three years, while others due for promotion have remained on the same level for two years.
He added that some of the promotions that had been done were done wrongly as some of the doctors were promoted to the same level that they were.
Aigbovo explained that some doctors were wrongly placed and the wrong placement was corrected and they were skipped and placed on the next level, only to now also be promoted to the same level that they were skipped to.
“They were promoted to the same grade level they were skipped to.
“For example, a doctor on grade level 12 was skipped to grade level 13 by correction of the error and was then again promoted to grade level 13.
“The arrears paid were for skipping, which is the correction of the wrong placement,” he noted.
On funding for public hospitals, the ARD president appealed to the minister to budget for each hospital according to their needs and to separate the budgets of each individual hospital.
“We also appeal to the minister to make provision of each hospital to have their budget and not a blanket budget because every hospital has different running cost,” he said.
He appealed for more training for resident and non-resident doctors as well as for other departments in the hospitals.
“Presently, only four departments are involved in residency training which includes family medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, surgery and ophthalmology.
“We want more departments including internal medicine, paediatric, radiology and psychiatry to enjoy similar training,” he urged. (NAN)
UMD/FF/MST
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

2019 Budget: Economist reacts to Buhari`s proposal on New Minimum wage

2019 Budget: Economist reacts to Buhari`s proposal on New Minimum wage

By Ahmed Ubandoma
Wage
Abuja, Dec. 19, 2018 (NAN) A Political Economist, Mr Ismaila Suleiman, has said that the decision of President Muhammadu Buahri to set up a technical committee to look into the implementation of new national minimum wage was to avoid crisis between the states and the Federal Government.

Suleiman said this on Wednesday in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that the President was mindful of the economic implications the decision may result to the unemployed youths, especially at the state level.

According to him, the President made a wise decision for setting up a committee to look into the mode of implementation of the new minimum wage to ensure that it does not add financial burden to some states who are willing to implement the new minimum wage.

He however advised state governments not to use the new national minimum wage as a reason not to engage fresh workers into the services of their respective states.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Buhari had earlier assured that a bill on implementation of the New Minimum Wage would soon be sent to the National Assembly for passage.

Buhari said this while presenting the 2019 Budget proposal of N8.8 trillion to the joint session of the National Assembly.

He assured that he was committed to addressing the minimum wage issue, saying he had directed the setting up of a technical committee to look at mode of implementation.

Buhari said that the work of the committee would be the basis of finance bill which will be submitted to the national assembly alongside the minimum wage bill.

According to him, the move is to minimise inflationary impact as well as ensure that its introduction does not lead to job losses.

NAN also recalls that the Amal Pepple Tripartite Committee on the Review of New National Minimum Wage, had on Nov. 6, submitted its report to the President.

The committee recommended N30,000 as the new national minimum wage. (NAN)
AMU/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

NDDC, North East Commission, others captured in 2019 Budget

NDDC, North East Commission, others captured in 2019 Budget

By Cecilia Ijuo
Funding
Abuja, Dec. 19, 2019 (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that the sum of N65 billion has been provided for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the 2019 Budget.

Buhari made this known on Wednesday while presenting the budget N88.83 trillion before the joint session of the National Assembly.

He said the provision was necessary to maintain peace in the Niger Delta region.

He also disclosed that N45 billion had been earmarked for the North East Intervention Fund, while the sum of N10 billion was earmarked as take off grant for North East Development Commission.

“To maintain the peace in the Niger Delta, the provision of N65 billion for the Presidential Amnesty Programme has been retained in the 2019 budget.

“Similarly, the sum of N45 billion has been provided for the North East Intervention Fund as well as the sum of N10 billion as take off grant for the North East Development Commission,” he said.

Buhari also stated that other critical areas of the economy were captured for a holistic impact.

“To further support small and medium scale enterprises which is the focus of our industrialisation drive we have set aside the sum of N15 billion for the recapitalisation for the Bank for Agriculture and Industry.

“In addition, the sum of N10 billion is provided as a grant to the Bank of Industry for the purpose of subsidising rate charged on loans for small and medium scale enterprises.

“This is intended to ensure single digit interest loan from Bank of Industry.

“To have value from monies expended by government over time and to avoid duplication and waste, our focus will be to complete existing projects.

“Accordingly, provisions have been made to carry over projects that are not likely to be fully funded under the 2018 budget to the 2019 capital budget.

“The allocation to Special Intervention Project has been N500 billion consisting of N350 billion recurrent and N150 billion recurrent,” he said.

The president noted that the budgetary provisions for the various areas reflected the government’s continued determination to ensure gender sensitivity and pro-poor growth.

He assured that his administration would build an inclusive government for generations to come.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari on Wednesday unveiled a federal budget proposal of N8.83 trillion for the 2019 fiscal year.

The 2019 total budget estimate is N300 billion lower than the N9.1 trillion being implemented for the current fiscal year.

The sum of N4.04 trillion or 50.31 per cent is earmarked for Recurrent Expenditure and N2.03 trillion representing 22.98 per cent for capital projects.

Other estimates are N492.36 billion for Statutory Transfers, N2.14 trillion for Debt Servicing and N120 billion as Sinking Fund.

The 2019 budget proposal is based on an oil production estimate of 2.3 million barrels per day and an exchange rate of N305 per dollar.

Other benchmarks are Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 3.01 per cent and inflation rate of 9.98 per cent.

The total projected revenue is N6.97 trillion, which is three per cent lower than the 2018 estimate of N7.17 trillion.

The expected income consist of oil revenue projected at N3.73 trillion, and non-oil revenue estimated at N1.39 trillion.

Meanwhile, estimate from non-oil revenue consists of N799.52 billion from company income tax; N229.34 billion from value added tax, and customs duties of N302.5 billion.

“Other revenues expected in 2019 include various recoveries of N203.38 billion; N710 billion as proceeds from the restructuring of government equity in joint ventures, and other sundry incomes of N104.1 billion.

The N8.83 trillion proposed expenditure for 2019 includes grants and donor funds amounting to N209.92 billion.

The budget deficit is projected to decrease to N1.86 trillion or 1.3 per cent of the GDP in 2019 from N1.95 trillion projected for 2018.

On sectoral allocation, the Ministry of Interior would get N569.07 billion, Defence-N435.62 billion, Education-N462.24 billion and Health-N315.62 billion.

The 2019 estimate is lower than the 2018 budget of N9.1 trillion, but higher than the N8.6 trillion originally proposed by the Executive to the National Assembly. (NAN)
CJM/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Increase 2019 budget to N15 trillion – ANRP appeals

Increase 2019 budget to N15 trillion – ANRP appeals
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Budget
Abuja, Sept. 29, 2018 (NAN) The Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP) has advised the Federal Government to increase the 2019 budget to N15 trillion to improve the lives of Nigerians.
The Presidential Aspirant of the party, Mr Tope Fasua, gave the advice during a news conference on Saturday in Abuja.
According to him, in gross the 2019 budget is smaller than the budget for 2018 by over N200 billion.
“It was reported in the newspapers that the federal government of Nigeria in its fiscal strategy paper is planning a budget of N8.9 trillion for the people of Nigeria for the year 2019.
“Nigeria’s population grows at about three per cent per annum. This means that an extra five or six million mouths are added to the response of government each year.
“The 2019 budget and all budgets hoping forward should not be the budgets of convenience and appurtenances for 18,000 top civil servants and politicians,
“but should be used clearly and succinctly to reflate and reboot the economy by focus on critical sectors,’’ Fasua said.
He listed the critical sectors as security, basic public education, environment, health, commerce, agriculture, rural and urban housing for the poor, tourism development and incentisation of a local textile.
He noted that the 2018 budget was being implemented in breach, saying there is little or no capital release made.
“Nigeria can generate revenue to finance the proposed ambitious N15 trillion budget through the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
“The original PIB was focused on increasing signature bonuses, royalties and other advantages due to the Nigerian people.
“Other ways to generate revenue are reorganising budget management, transparency in tax, establishment of shared services agency and compulsory annual accounting,” Fasua said. (NAN)
OEO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Group advocates inclusion of diaspora voting in supplementary budget

Group advocates inclusion of Diaspora voting in supplementary budget
By Mustapha Sumaila
Diaspora
Abuja, Aug. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Peoples Movement for a New Nigeria (PMNN) has called for inclusion of Diaspora voting in the 2018 Supplementary Budget for the 2019 general elections.
The President of the group, Alhaji Yahaya Ndu, made the call in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ndu explained that there was need to remind the National Assembly to kindly ensure that provision was expressly made and forms part of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) budget being discussed presently for the upcoming general elections.
“As you are no doubt aware a properly constituted court in Nigeria in 2007 had expressly held in a judgment that Nigerians in the Diaspora should be allowed and accommodated to vote and be voted for in the nation’s elections.
“A full 11 years and two general elections after that judicial declaration, Nigerians in the Diaspora are still disenfranchised,’’ he noted.
He said that democracy must be predicated on the rule of law.
He added that the National Assembly in line with its avowed commitment to the observance of the rule should ensure that Nigerians in Diaspora were accommodated in the provisions and budget for 2019 general elections.
The president of PMNN explained that INEC as presently constituted had always spoken out on the need to provide and allow Diaspora voting and here was an opportunity to demonstrate its genuine commitment to this noble goal.
“Incidentally about 21 African countries and over a 150 other nations in the globe allow and made provisions for their own Diaspora voting.
“Nigerian Diaspora in 2017 remitted over $27 billion to their father land Nigeria.
“And it is unfathomable that over 30 million citizens of our countrymen and women most of whom are distinguished professionals in all areas of human endeavour are most unpatriotically shut out of the election polity under a democracy.
“We therefore trust that the National Assembly has the will to ensure that the Nigerians Diaspora are allowed and accommodated to vote and be voted for in the upcoming 2019 general elections,” Ndu urged. (NAN)
MS/GOM/MST
Edited by Gregory Mmadukolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

Budget: Prioritise to 4 sectors – Expert advises FG

Budget: Prioritise to 4 sectors – Expert advises FG
By Cecilia Ologunagba
Priority
Abuja, July 4, 2018 (NAN) A development expert, Dr Otive Igbuzor, has advised the Federal Government to give priority to four sectors in budget implementation to transform the lives of citizens and enhance sustainable development.
Igbuzor, Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
He noted that citizens are complaining that health and education were not among the top three priorities in the 2018 budget.
“We have always consistently advocated that if you want to budget to impact life of ordinary citizens, you must give priority to four sectors – infrastructure, agriculture, education and health.
“You have seen from the 2018 budget presentation, the only one that comes top is infrastructure; there is higher allocation to security, understandably because without peace there cannot be development.
“I think there is still room for improvement in terms of increase budgetary allocation to education and health,’’ he said.
Igbuzor, however, commended the National Assembly for putting over N55 billion for the implementation of the National Health Act, which was an increase allocation to the health sector.
“We have to do the percentage allocated to health later but the percentage of allocation to education, for instance is not up to 10 per cent.
“There are countries in the world like Ethiopia that budgets about 30 per cent to education.
“If you look at the level of education in Nigeria, it is clear that there is a need for improved allocation to education and health,’’ he said.
The executive director expressed concern over the delay in the passage of budget for the past three years.
Igbuzor said both the executive and legislature had recognised the problem of budget delay and had been working to address it.
“I think the way to deal with it is by law and that is why part of the constitutional amendment that is going on is to make it clear.
“It is to make it clear that the President must submit the budget before September and the Legislators must approve before December.
“Once that law comes into force, then everybody must work within the ambits,’’ he said.
According to him, the delay in the budget for the period has been because there is no law to address it.
“Once there is no rule, then there is no offence so there is a law and the law actually says that you can continue spending on recurrent expenditure for six months.
“They have not breached any law so when that amendment passes through, then we will revert back to January to December calendar,’’ said the expert.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari while signing the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law promised to work with the National Assembly to improving the budgeting process and restore the country to the January-December fiscal cycle.
Buhari also commended the National Assembly for working on the enactment of an Organic Budget Law to improve the efficiency of the nation’s budgetary process. (NAN)
CIA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Environment

Irrigation, water supply take precedence in N155bn water resources budget

Irrigation, water supply take precedence in N155bn water resources budget

Budget

By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, June 25, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has given priority to irrigation and water supply sector in its 2018 budget of N155 billion, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN also reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had presented the budget to the joint session of the National Assembly for consideration since Nov. 7, 2017.

President Muhammadu Buhari had also on Wednesday signed into law the 2018 budget of N9.12 trillion, after being passed by the National Assembly.

A look at the budget showed that the Zobe Water Supply Project in Katsina State has N1.8 billion toward the completion of the phases 1 and 2.

The Partnership for Expanded Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (PEWASH) project, which is aimed at scaling up access to water and sanitation has N1 billion for its execution.

Over N53 billion was, however, budgeted for provision of water supply, rehabilitation of dams, and irrigation projects nationwide.

In their reactions, some stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector opined that full implementation of the budget should be pursued with vigour.

Mr Victor Olaomi, Coordinator, Alliance for Water and Sanitation, an NGO, said it was important for all tiers of government to implement policies and programmes that would improve citizens’ lives.

According to him, the group will set up machinery to monitor the implementation of the budget in the sector.

“We call for the full implementation of the provisions of the 2018 budget in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, this is crucial for development to be felt at all tiers of government.”

Mr Benson Attah, National Coordinator, Society for Water and Sanitation in Nigeria (NEWSAN), wondered why the ministry allocated N1 billion to the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in the 2018 budget.

“The 2018 budgetary allocation to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources could be likened to a situation where a parent would just get any playing object for a weeping child in order to engage the child’s attention to enable him/her go about other more important issues.

“In the document prepared by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources on the over view of water, sanitation and hygiene, the ministry claimed that Nigeria requires $2.74 billion annually to achieve 100 per cent access to basic water supply and sanitation services by 2030.

“How then would the Federal Government justify its allocation of one billion naira to PEWASH in the 2018 budget?

‘‘This is grossly low and far away from reality and not to even talk about commitment to improved WASH service delivery.

“NEWSAN hereby call on the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Federal Government to remedy this gross mistake or gross over sight, government should not forget that this is a contradiction to the earlier provision.”

Attah added that this could not be attainable following the value of the current exchange rate to be over N900 billion.

He said the Federal Government ought not to come up with a defence that the state would contribute the balance.

He buttressed his position with state governments’ failure to honour commitments entered into with their development partners. (NAN)
TAK/MOL/AFA
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi/Felix Ajide