News
Osinbajo Overrules Minister, Presidential Aide On Budget
Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has cleared all doubts about who will sign the 2017 budget recently passed by the National Assembly into law.
Osinbajo, yesterday, put to rest speculations that the budget would wait for President Muhammadu Buhari before being signed into law, emphasising that he would sign the budget into law after vetting by the Presidency.
It would be recalled that there has been a raging controversy among ministers and presidential aides on who will sign the budget into law.
While the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed told State House reporters after the Federal Executive Council meeting chaired by Osinbajo that the decision on who to sign the budget would be taken when the document is transmitted to the Presidency, the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang, last Wednesday, said Buhari will be the one to assent it.
Speaking with newsmen, Enang confirmed that the Presidency received the budget late Wednesday afternoon, adding that when it is finally looked into, it would be transmitted to President Buhari, who will sign it and then transfer it to acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, for other formalities to take place.
“The 2017 budget will be transmitted to Mr President and the president will assent to the budget. The acting president is in office, and when the budget is transmitted, it will go through the processes and all those other questions will answer itself”, he said.
But Osinbajo, via a Twitter statement by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, said the question on who would sign the budget was clear.
According to the statement, when the time comes, everything is set and he is satisfied, the acting president will sign the budget.
“Just so we are clear: when the time comes, everything is set and he is satisfied, Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, will assent to the 2017 budget,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has denied telling State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting that a decision was yet to be reached on who would sign the budget.
Mohammed said the budget, which was passed, last Thursday, by the National Assembly, had not been formally transmitted to the Executive.
He, however, admitted that the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, had received the advance copy.
Mohammed also stated that if there were any discrepancies in the budget presented and the one passed, the Executive would report to Udoma for harmonisation.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
-
News20 hours ago
Obuah’s Victory Excites Former Lawmaker as APC Primaries Conclude in Rivers West
-
Politics3 days agoAPC PRIMARIES: FUBARA’S WITHDRAWAL, HISTORIC SACRIFICE FOR NATIONAL STABILITY ……. GROUP
-
News3 days agoCourt Sentences Seven To Death Over Murder Of Cleric In Rivers
-
News21 hours ago
105 Nigerians Killed In S/Africa In Seven Years
-
Sports3 days agoPH Arsenal Community Set For Streets Procession, Saturday
-
Politics3 days agoIPAC Flays INEC Over Election Guidelines Judgement
-
Politics3 days agoNDC To Adopt Electronic Voting For Future Primaries
-
Politics3 days agoEx-IGP Defects To SDP After APC Primary Fiasco