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Politics

Ijebu-Ode LG presents N505m budget proposal for 2018

Budget
By Temitope Salami
Ijebu-Ode (Ogun), May 22, 2018 (NAN) Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun has proposed a budget of N505 million for the 2018 fiscal year.

The Chairman of the council, Mr Gbolade Oduwole, made this known while presenting the document before the council’s legislative arm on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was a reduction in the 2018 budget compared to that of 2017 which was N745,023 million.

Oduwole attributed the reduction to a drop in funds being received by the council from the Federation Accounts, among other factors.
According to Oduwole, the 2018 budget is capital oriented and designed to ensure the needed development of the rural populace through provision of necessary amenities that will bring succour to the people.

A breakdown of the budget showed that Capital Expenditure was N76,620,000, while Recurrent Expenditure inclusive of personnel and overhead cost was put at N325,080 million and N103 million respectively.

“The overall policy thrust of this administration is to ensure rapid development in our communities and to restore hope and happiness to our people.

“The aim is to meet the mandate of the people and focus toward the transformation of the local government,’’ he said.

He said the major thrust of the budget included road maintenance, beautification of the local government, and rehabilitation of office buildings/staff quarters, provision of standard health services, agriculture and educational development.

Leader of the House, Hon. Monsurat Shehu expressed the hope that the budget would help to boost the economic disposition of the local government and improve the lives of the people.

In her acceptance speech, the House Majority Leader, Hon Remilekun Adesanya said the councilors were prepared to do the needful by ensuring improved living standards for the indigenes of the area.

“We will be inviting the stakeholders to clarify some areas in the estimate as this will facilitate and hasten our deliberation.

“Above all, we are poised to ensure quick consideration and passage of the 2018 appropriation bill,” she said. (NAN)
TDS/EEE
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Edited by Ese E. Ekama

General news

2018 budget will be ready in April – Lawmaker

2018 budget will be ready in April – Lawmaker
By Akeem Abass
Budget
Ogbomoso (Oyo State), April 8, 2018 (NAN) Rep. Zakari Mohammed, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, has assured that the country’s 2018 budget would by end of April.
Mohammed told newsmen in Ogbomoso on the sideline of an empowerment programme organised by Rep. Segun Ogunwuyi (APC-Ogbomoso North/South/Oriire) for his constituents.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogunwuyi had through the programme empowered 827 beneficiaries, including various associations and traditional rulers.
Mohammed, who represented the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, at the event, stated that the delay in passing the budget was due to lack of cooperation from some ministers.
“When a budget is laid, it is our duty to ask for detail information because we won’t manufacture figures. That is the problem. I am sure that by the end of April we will have a budget,’’ he said.
He urged the executive arm of government to work harder in generating more revenue to implement the budget, adding that budget performance in recent times is dropping.
The lawmaker urged the people to ensure Ogunwuyi’s re-election to the National Assembly in 2019, saying the type of lawmaking template they operated was in consonance with longevity.
“When you go to the National Assembly as a first timer, it takes you more than three years to learn the process and by the end of four years you will have nothing to show,’’ according to him.
Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari (APC-Oyo North) commended Ogunwuyi for bringing the dividends of democracy to the constituents, saying he has demonstrated love for his constituents.
Buhari urged the constituents to support Ogunwuyi for another term, adding that his quality of representation improves as long as he stayed.
Similarly, Rep. Segun Odebunmi, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information and National Orientation, as well as Rep. Abiodun Olasupo, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Compliance, corroborated Buhari.
The duo urged the people to support Ogunwuyi and the APC at all levels to ensure continuity, which they said enhances good governance in terms of development as well as quality representation.
Ogunwuyi said that the programme, which he tagged `Reconnecting the Disconnect’, was to empower his people and allow them benefit from the dividends of democracy.
The lawmaker, who sought their support for another term, stated that he would not relent in his efforts at empowering constituents to compete favourably with others outside the constituency.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to NAN commended the lawmaker for the gesture, pledging to give him more support to uplift the constituency.
The legislator distributed 11 cars, 136 grinding machines, 216 bags of fertiliser, 33 hair dryers, 60 motorcycles, 73 generating sets, five laptops, 112 gas cookers and 112 gas cookers, among other items.
Ogunwuyi had also trained several people in various skill acquisition programmes, facilitated employment for some unemployed youths and empowered traders across the constituency.
The event was also attended by members of the State APC Executive led by the State Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Alimi, religious leaders, party supporters as well as representatives of Soun of Ogbomoso and Onpetu of Ijeru. (NAN)
TAA/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Environment

Stakeholders task State Govts. on open defecation

Budget
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, March 19, 2018 (NAN) Participated at the just concluded Conference on Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) on Monday urged state governments to develop programmes that would meet the Open Defecation Road Map and overall hygiene promotion in the country.
They gave the advice in a communiqué issued in Abuja at the end of the conference by Mr Emmanuel Awe, Director, Water Quality Control and Sanitation, Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
They also called for improved funding as a veritable tool to meeting the policies and programmes that would promote the implementation of hygiene.
This, they added, was central if the country was to meet the roadmap by 2025.
“CLTS has proven to be effective in encouraging behavior change towards attaining a disease free society as four local governments in Nigeria have been declared open defecation free.
“ Obalinku and Yakurr local governments in Cross River, Dass and Warji Local Governments in Bauchi have been declared open defecation free.,’’ the participants said.
They recommended that complimentary strategies such as sanitation marketing, financing and media campaigns be incorporated into supports to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) six on improved access to water and Sanitation.
They also recommended that the State Task Group on Sanitation be strengthened to include advocacy in their roles to influence policy makers to increase budget for the sanitation sub-sector.
According to the National Road Map on Making Nigeria Open-Defecation-Free by 2025, Nigeria is among the nations in the world with the highest number of people practicing open defecation, estimated at over 46 million people.
This initiative tagged “Making Nigeria Open Defecation Free by 2025: A National Roadmap” was developed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources with support from key sector players.
In 2016, the National Council on Water Resources endorsed the roadmap as a guide toward achieving an open defecation free country using different approaches.
NAN reports that the objective of the sixth National Conference on CLTS was to sensitise relevant stakeholders on progress made and what steps could be taken to improve sanitation and hygiene in the country. (NAN)
TAK/ADA/MTM
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab/Tukur Muntari.
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Environment

Group urges governments to increase budgetary allocation to water, sanitation

NAN-H-58
Budget
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, July 5, 2017 (NAN) An NGO, Alliance for Hygiene Promotion, has urged all tiers of government to increase budgetary allocation toward the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Water and Sanitation.

Mr Victor Olaomi, the NGO Coordinator, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Olaomi said that achieving the SDGs on Water Security and Sanitation would require a different approach from that of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

According to him, finance plays a major role toward attainment of this goal.

Olaomi said: “It is saddening to note that most country’s budgets relegate water and sanitation to the background.

“When you look at budgets for water in most African countries, it can never be in the top five, this is not good.

“Most leaders forget that water is a multi-sectoral issue; it cuts across Agriculture, Health, Education and socio-economic issues.

“So, we must stop this trend if we want to achieve the SDGs; that is why we are emphasising that all tiers of government must increase funding to implement water and sanitation programmes.”

He said that the implementation of such programmes would contribute to poverty alleviation, health improvements, social development and economic growth.

The coordinator said that ensuring secure, productive and sustainable water for all purposes, as well as sanitation and hygiene interventions, were prerequisites for sustainable economic development.

He said that the SDG six was interlinking with other SDGs, hence, the need to place emphasis on matching commitments and plans with concrete actions.

Olaomi urged governments at all levels to introduce policies to ensure that girls and women have separate and private toilet facilities in schools and at the workplace.

He said that these could also include availability of essential products like cloths, pads and menstrual cups and the means to dispose of and clean them properly.

Olaomi urged national and community leaders to speak out to change attitudes and customs, which restrain menstruating women and girls from achieving their full potential.

The coordinator also urged stakeholders to promote sanitation and hygiene, saying that they were the drivers of health, social and economic development around the world.

“An environment that lacks sanitation and clean water is an environment where achieving other development goals is an impossible dream, the time to act is now,“ he said. (NAN)
TAK/JPE/GOK
Edited by Joseph Edeh/Olagoke Olatoye
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Health

Demographic Dividend: FG tasks MDAs on robust 2018 budget

Demographic Dividend: FG tasks MDAs on robust 2018 budget

NAN-HG-5

Demography

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Abuja, June 28, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Government has urged relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in population and development to leverage on the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) to develop a robust 2018 budget on demographic dividend.

Mrs Fatima Mede, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, gave the task at a meeting of the National Task Force on Partners in Population and Development (PPD) on Wednesday in Abuja.

The meeting was on Mainstreaming Demographic Dividend into Budgeting of MDAs.

Demographic dividend is the economic growth that may result from changes to a country’s age structure.

Achieving demographic dividend requires sustained multi-sectorial investments in health, education, young people, aged, employment, women and girls, trade and industry economic growth as well good governance.

Mede, represented by Mr Lanre Adekanye, Deputy Director in the ministry, charged the MDAs to develop a robust 2018 budget that would expand the programmes and projects for achieving demographic dividend.

“I also wish to inform you that this gathering will be used as avenue for kick-starting discussions on ageing policy in Nigeria.

`The Ageing Policy will be a subset of the Social Policy of the Government,’’ she said.

The permanent secretary said that ERGP recognised rapid population growth as a risk to manage.

According to her, the country might find it difficult to achieve Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and keep pace with the needs of a population that is expanding exponentially.

“Nigeria therefore needs to take a bold and proactive step that addresses the close nexus between the population age structure and our development status,’’ she said.

Mede condoled with the UNFPA over the loss of the Executive Director of the UNPFA, Late Prof. Babatunde Oshotimehin, who had contributed immensely to humanitarian service in the country.

She thanked the UNFPA for its support to the country in the areas of reproductive health, family planning, population and development, and humanitarian services.

Dr Sanjo Faniran, an Assistant Director and focal official in the ministry, said the meeting would discuss issues relating to planning and budgeting for population management.

Faniran said that the meeting would discuss the issues to achieving demographic dividend by relevant MDAs in Sexual Reproductive Health, Family Planning, Youth Empowerment and Population and Development in line with the ERGP.

“The issue of budgeting or whatever is going to be included in our budget from 2017 to 2020 should be whatever is contained EGRP.’’

The assistant director said that the ministry had commenced the process of 2018 budget and that was the reason the ministry called the partners to inform them on the processes.

He said the ministry also needed to inform the partners of those components that have to do with reproductive health, family planning, and population and development.

“The issue of population is actually spelt in the ERGP because population management is becoming an issue and we expect our partners to take up what they are supposed to do.

“To make sure that they put those issues in their budget so that the government can implement the priority areas as contained in the ERGP,’’ the director said.

Faniran, however, advised the MDAs to obtain copies of the ERGP and see the priority areas of the government regarding population, development and other related issues.

The meeting, organised by the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, and supported by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), attracted key MDAs working in areas of population and development. (NAN)

CIA/MST/MST

Edited by Tola Okinbaloye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

Economist advises state govts to consolidate FG’s 2017 budget

Economist advises state govts to consolidate FG’s 2017 budget

NAN-H-1

Budget

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Abuja, June 20, 2017 (NAN) An economist, Dr Aminu Usman, has advised state and local governments to consolidate the Federal Government 2017 budget to achieve growth and development.

Usman, a lecturer at the Department of Economics, Kaduna State University, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said one major problem of budgeting in the country was that people equate the federal government budget with national budget.

“But the two are different; Budget will only start being meaningful and have a positive impact on the economy if we begin to consolidate the federal government budget with that of states and local governments.

“The lower levels of government are closer to the people and their projects have more direct bearing on the common man,’’ he said.

According to him, budget conceptualisation, processing and implementation should be in a coordinated manner for meaningful impact and well-rounded economic growth.

Usman, however, advised the federal government to begin the implementation of capital component of the 2017 budget in earnest.

He said that the implementing of the budget would likely have impact on inflation.

The don said for the budget to impact on inflation the pattern of disbursement should favour local contractors and increasing food supplies.

“Paying local contractors will boost consumption which will increase domestic production of goods and services as well as create employment,’’ he said.

On the latest inflation rate, the don said that the figures were still on the high side despite the efforts of the government to bring it down.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the country’s inflation dropped to 16.25 per cent in May from 17.24 per cent in April.

This is the fourth consecutive decline in the rate of inflation since January.

Usman explained that the Consumer Index Price (CPI) only dropped on month-on-month basis but still generally high.

“The issue of inflation is very clear that prices are up and remain up in the last one year. It’s normal to see slight movement month-on-month because inflation is a dynamic phenomenon.

“The slight improvement reported is perhaps as a result of market adjustment to price rises and shrinking demand due to higher prices.

“The government will do well to address the source of the persistent inflationary pressure on prices of necessities especially food, drugs, energy,’’ he said. (NAN)

CIA/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Economy

Senate may pass 2017 Appropriation Bill next week, says Leader

Senate to pass 2017 Appropriation Bill next week, says Leader

NAN-H-64

Bill

Abuja, April 27, 2017 (NAN) Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan says the Senate will conclude legislative work on the 2017 Appropriation Bill next week and pass it to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

He said this while addressing State House correspondents on Thursday in Abuja after he paid a visit to Buhari.

Lawan said that the National Assembly had intended to pass the Bill in March but could not, adding that the recent delay was caused by the raid on the house of its Appropriation Committee Chairman, Sen. Danjuma Goje, by the police.

“The good news is that we are doing everything possible to catch up the lost time and that by the grace of God I am thinking that by next week we should be able to finish our own work and pass the budget for Mr President to sign.’’

The senate leader added that having failed to pass it in March due to some parameters the Senate did not have control over; it was Senate desire to pass it in April but for the incident in Goje’s house after a whistle blower gave information.

He said that when the raid took place it was reported that part of the appropriation bill papers were included in what the police collected from the residence.

He noted that the trauma felt by Goje affected the process of budgeting that the Senate had tried to observe.

He explained that when the National Assembly went on the Easter recess the Senate and House committees on appropriation stayed back to work on the bill to enable them lay the reports on the budget on April 25.

“That was not possible because of what happened,’’ he said.

Lawan also confirmed that the senate would screen the two ministerial nominees from Kogi and Adamawa as well as others who require confirmation by next week.

On his visit to the president, he said that it was to get the right executive briefings as part of his responsibility to market all executive bills’ request.

“I have come to meet Mr President as part of my continuous engagement with the executive to ensure that I get my briefings right so that I can always market Presidential and executive requests so well and so effectively.

“This is supposed to be a continuous process, and that is essentially why I have come to see Mr President,’’ he added.

He said that in a democracy such as ours lobbying was expensive and given narrow definitions, but added that there was the need for continuous engagement and sustained interaction between the executive and legislative arms.

He said such interaction should be maintained in the country in spite of the independence of the three arms of government.

“I know clearly that there is independence of each arm and I know also know equally well that there is so much interdependence between the two arms or even the three arms of government in Nigeria.

“Therefore, we need to always close and narrow the gap,’’ the senate leader said. (NAN)

DCU/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

Analysts urge Senate to pass 2017 budget, address plight of Nigerians

Analysts urge Senate to pass 2017 budget, address plight of Nigerians

NAN-H-11
Budget
By Lucy Osuizigbo
Lagos, March 27, 2017 (NAN) Some public affairs analysts on Monday urged the Senate to be more sensitive to the plight of Nigerians by passing the 2017 budget and enact laws that would move the country forward.

The analysts spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos against the backdrop of some current happenings in the National Assembly.

The analyst said that the Senate’s plan to suspend Sen. Ali Ndume over “unparliamentary’’ utterances was not as important as the plight of Nigerians.

According to them, the Senate’s call for the resignation of the Controller-General of Nigeria Customs Service over the issue of uniform is also not important.

The analysts said that investigating the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over N298 million SUV cars and Sen. Dino Malaye’s alleged certificate forgery should not be prioritised over more important issues like the passing of the 2017 budget.

Mr Onyekachi Ubani, a lawyer, said: “The Senate has abandoned the 2017 Budget which can address the challenges we are facing in the country.

“In the last two weeks, there has not been any session on the 2017 budget and issues that can address critical national issues.

“There is need to know what is of national importance and concentrate on them,’’ he said.

Another analyst, Mr Charles Ideho, said that the Senate was pursuing the “politics of vendetta’’ instead of focusing on issues affecting the country.

“There are issues of importance such as the customs duty policy and confirmation of EFCC chairman to strengthen the fight against corruption.

“Also, issues like how to recover and what to do with our recovered looted funds and even the passage of the 2017 budget that could get us out of recession have been pushed aside.

“Issues that will benefit the people should not be trivialised because Nigerians are suffering; we voted these people there to protect our interest, they should not be insensitive to our plight.’’

He said: “The only way for us to rescue this nation as a people is to put aside politics of regional sentiments and vote wisely.

“We can do this by giving our mandate to leaders who will turn around our country for good,’’ Ideho said.

Also, Mr Dotun Ojon, a youth development strategist, urged the Senate to make laws in line with the “change’’ vision of the incumbent administration.

“The happenings in the Senate do not show the sensitivity of the senators to the plight of Nigerians.

“Our economy is in recession, people are committing suicide, even Nigerians who are working, cannot feed their families.

“We need to rise up as a nation to act the change we want and stop dreaming it.

“Our Senators need to live up to their calling,’’ he said.

For Mr Akeem Otubela, the current happenings in the nation show that democracy is not working for Nigeria.

“Our democracy is no longer working for us; we should look at what obtains in other advanced countries.

“Democracy did not build countries such as Dubai, Saudi Arabia and China; these countries are doing well.

“I think we should restructure and go back to regional governments like we had in the past, then I believe we will experience peace of mind and growth as a nation,’’ Otubela said. (NAN)
LCO/VIVPDE
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(Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Peter Ejiofor)

General news

Budget ministry urges MDAs to include ageing in sectorial plans

Budget ministry urges MDAs to include ageing in sectorial plans

NAN-H-8

Ageing

By Cecilia Ologunagba

Abuja, March 22, 2017 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning (MBNP) has urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to incorporate issues of ageing in their sectorial annual plans.

Ms Jessica Ahgu, an official of the Department of International Cooperation, made the call in a presentation made on behalf of the ministry at a stakeholders meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ahgu spoke at a two-day coordination and consultative meeting of the National Task Force Partners in Population and Development (PPD) on South-South Cooperation and MBNP, UN Population Fund (UNFPA), MDAs and Implementing Partners.

The official said ageing population had always been forgotten in planning and projects implementation.

She, however, said that the ministry had successfully organised the first quarter PPD meeting to sensitise MDAs on the importance of including the ageing in their plans, adding that 12 MDAs attended the meeting.

“Presentation on the need for enhancing institutional capacity for mainstreaming ageing development was made.

“The objectives of the presentation were to make a case for equity and inclusive of older persons in national development agenda; position ageing within the imperatives of population and development.

“It highlighted the rising needs of older persons; the weak capacity of personnel and institutions to mainstream ageing and issues of older persons.

“It also highlighted training needs to enhance formulation and implementation of inclusive national policies and programmes,’’ she said.

Ahgu said that the ministry also presented the Dakar Call for Action for national implementation and adherence.

She said that key presentations made at the 2016 International Inter-Ministerial Conference and Board Meeting of the Partners in Population and Development (PPD) were discussed.

On challenges, the official attributed failure of government to fulfill her counterpart obligations due to the current economic downturn.

However, the official said that Nigeria remained committed to her partnership with the UNFPA.

Ahgu said that the ministry has scheduled to conduct Joint Monitoring visit of UNFPA Assisted Programmes at the Federal and State levels in the second quarter of this year.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Task Force for PPD is the bridge builder in implementing the objectives of the South-South Cooperation.

It seeks to implement the objectives of promoting family planning, gender, sexual, reproductive health, and population and development to enhance capacity building.

NAN also reports that the meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning and supported by the UNFPA, attracted key line implementing MDAs.

It was attended by more than 49 MDAs and CSOs involved in reproductive health, family planning, population and development as well as humanitarian services.

They include the host Ministry of Budget and National Planning; Ministries of Finance, Education, Health, FCT and Women Affairs, NAN and National Population Commission, among others. (NAN)

CIA/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

FOMWAN urges increased budgetary allocation to health sector

FOMWAN urges increased budgetary allocation to health sector

NAN-HG-7

Allocation

By Mohammed Lawal

Zaria (Kaduna State), March 9, 2017 (NAN) The Federation of Muslim Women of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Kaduna State chapter, on Thursday appealed to the State Government to increase budgetary allocation to health sector to improve healthcare delivery to children.

The Amira (Head) of the group, Hajiya Badiyya Sa’id, made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Zaria, Kaduna State.

She said the call became imperative in view of the importance of health, especially children’s health to human existence.

Sa’id observed that children between the ages of zero to five years have been suffering from different diseases.

“Records have shown that Kaduna is lagging behind in the maintenance of children health.

“That is what prompted a request to the Emir of Zazzau, Dr Shehu Idris, to talk to the policy makers to rescue the situation.

“Routine immunisation and acute malnutrition in children had remained major constraints in the state, hence the need for additional budgetary allocation.

“We want a situation where our children in Kaduna State will grow healthy devoid of malnutrition,” the Amira said.

She, however, noted the increase in health budgetary allocation this year from 7.5 to 13 per cent over that of 2016.

While appreciating the budgetary increase, the Amira appealed for more to put the sector on a normal sound footing.

She said the increased budgetary allocation was one thing, while religious implementation of the budget was another.

“An increase of 5.5 per cent over the last year’s allocation is a welcome development but we want it implemented to the fullest.

“Apart from that, government should endeavour to increase it to certain level to adequately take care of health needs of children in the state,” she urged. (NAN)

KLM/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola