Connect with us

News

Senate Commences Jan-Dec Budget Cycle …Each Senator Earns N750,000 As Salary -Lawan

Published

on

The Nigerian Senate has stated disclosed its readiness to commence the January to December budget cycle as it promised to work towards ensuring that the appropriation Bills are passed within three months if President Buhari presents the document in September ending.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan made this known yesterday when he received in audience the Forum of Senators who paid him a courtesy call in his office.
Senator Lawan therefore urged the executive to cooperate with the National Assembly to ensure that the 2020 Appropriation Bill is submitted to the parliament before September ends.
Addressing members of the forum which comprises both serving and firmed senators, Lawan also called for more funding of the parliament to enable it oversight the executive.
According to Lawan, his salary as a Senator is not more than N750,000, but emphasised that more funds is required to fund his office and that of other senators adequately. Lawan also said insinuation of jumbo pay for federal lawmakers was untrue.
According to him, the 9th National Assembly in collaboration with the executive arm of government wants to get rid of yearly budget delays which affects past budget issues.
His words “In achieving this, as soon as budget proposals are received from the executive in September, this Senate will spend only three months for its consideration and passage.
“It is our determination that once the executive does its own side of the processes by presenting budget proposal in September of every year, we will ensure the passage of the budget before embarking on Christmas break in December”.
He appealed to the former senators to join in giving the true narratives to Nigerians as regards emoluments of federal lawmakers.
“Although as an important institution, monies are provided for office running, oversight functions by lawmakers etc, which are always added up by the ordinary man on the street as monthly salary of lawmakers.
“My monthly salary is N750,000 and nothing in the radius of millions”, he explained.
Earlier in her remarks, the Chairman of the Senators’ Forum , Senator Khariat Gwadabe told the President of the Senate that as former senators with institutional memory, they will always be there, to support him in leading the 9th Senate and by extension, National Assembly aright.
Meanwhile, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan offered tacit support to the call of the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu for budgetary provision for State Commissioner of Police, across the 36 states of the federation.
He made his position known yesterday when the IGP paid him a courtesy visit.
Adamu said separate statutory provisions for the Commissioner of Police in each state would go a long way in enhancing the funding of the Police and guarantee effective policing.
Senator Lawan who said the nation craved for a Police Force “that is efficient in discharging its functions,” however added that the central police commanded needed organisational restructuring for optimal performance.
He said: “When our Police Affairs Committee is constituted, they will work with you. This administration will work assiduously to give you the support that you require. You need restructuring, we need to look at the command structure to make the Police give us the kind of policing that we require. We want a police force that is efficient in discharging its functions.”
He noted that with the Police Trust Fund Bill passed into law, the IGP and his team already has ample financial reserve to lessen his financial challenge.
“With Police Trust Fund, you will have enough. You are lucky to have the Police Trust Fund passed. Such resources will help us fight the kind of challenges that we face. We shall pass those bills that will give you the kind of support that you require that will make the police perform optimally.”
The courtesy visit which also has the head of Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mohammed Mustapha Abdallah and the head of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Rabiu Yadudu in the entourage briefed the President of the Senate on their joint investigation on the drug cartel that planted narcotics on two innocent Nigerians, Zainab Aliu and Ibrahim Abubakar, who were arrested in Saudi Arabia.

 

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja

Continue Reading

News

NAFDAC Alerts Nigerians To EU Ban On Dex Soap

Published

on

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has alerted Nigerians on the ban on Dex Luxury Bar Soap (No 6 Mystic Flower), by the European Union (EU).
The notification is contained in a public alert with No. 012/2024, signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, and issued to newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
“The product does not comply with the cosmetic products regulation; it also contains Butyphenyl Methylpropional (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its risk of harming the reproductive system.
“It also causes harm to the health of unborn children and may cause skin sensitisation.
“It is as a result of the defective nature of the product that the EU banned it.
“The products is not in NAFDAC database; importers, distributors, retailers and consumers are to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain,” she said.
NAFDAC boss urged marketers and consumers to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the product, stressing that product’s authenticity and physical condition must be carefully checked.
She enjoined members of the public in possession of the product to discontinue sale or use, and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.

Continue Reading

News

Communities, Volunteers Ready To Face Upcoming Floods – Red Cross

Published

on

The Country Manager of the British Red Cross in Nigeria, Karsten Voigt, says communities and volunteers are ready to face the challenges expected with the upcoming floods.
Voigt said this at the sidelines of the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Lagos Branch.
The Tide’s source recalls that the British Red Cross donated resilience items to some communities in December 2023, to help mitigate the effects of flooding.
The items included cash, rain boots, rain coats, mosquito nets, handheld flashlights, solar powered lights with radio, USB chargers and a bridge to link the communities.
The communities that benefited included Agboyi 1, Agboyi 2, Agboyi 3 and Odo Ogun in Kosofe Local Government Area of the state.
Voigt said the Red Cross had measured the impact of the project in the communities and noticed that a lot of progress had been made.
According to him, apart from the cash and items given to the communities, simulation exercises have also been carried out to prepare the volunteers ahead of the floods.
“We have seen that people used the cash to address immediate needs they have after floods.
“Many households have used part of the cash to build up businesses.
“The solutions we have given to them are not only addressing their immediate needs after the disaster but actually building family income for their future,” he said.

Continue Reading

News

Nimet Forecasts Three-Day Sunshine, Thunderstorms

Published

on

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and thunderstorm from Monday to Wednesday across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released yesterday in Abuja, forecasts sunny skies on Monday with a few patches of cloud over the northern cities and prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Taraba later in the day.
According to the forecast, sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorm over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kwara States.
“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Benue States.
“The southern region is expected to be cloudy with spells of sunshine with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Oyo, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Lagos States.
“ In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Ekiti, Ogun, Imo, Oyo, Ondo, Edo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos and Bayelsa States,” it said.
NiMet also anticipated sunny skies on Tuesday with few patches of cloud over the northern states with prospects of isolated thunderstorms envisaged over parts of Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Kaduna States during the afternoon and evening hours.
It envisaged the North Central region to be sunny with patches of cloud during the morning hours.
The agency also envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara and Niger States, later in the day.
“Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South, with chances of morning thunderstorm over parts of Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States.
“In the afternoon/evening periods, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Rivers and Bayelsa States ,” it said.
It predicted a sunny atmosphere on Wednesday, with patches of cloud over the northern region, during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are expected over the North Central region with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Kogi, Nasarawa, the Federal Capital Territory and Benue States, during the afternoon/evening periods.
“ Cloudy atmosphere with intervals of sunshine is expected over the inland and coastal areas of the South with prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia.”
Other states to experience cloudy atmosphere, are “Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States, later in the day.”
NiMet urged the public to take adequate precaution as strong winds might precede rains in areas where thunderstorms were likely to occur.
The agency also urged airline operators to get updated weather reports and forecasts from its office for effective planning in their operations.

Continue Reading

Trending