Business
FG Recommits To Promises Delivery, Urges For Patience
The Accountant-General of
the Federation (AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris has assured of the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering on its promises to Nigerinas.
Idris stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, recently.
He said that although the Muhammadu Buhari administration was facing a lot of challenges, it was committed to living up to its responsibilities.
“Nigerians have been made a lot of promises and I believe Mr President is aware and is passionate to deliver on those promises.
“Challenges are there, challenges to do with the economy, challenges to do with the revenue but gradually these challenges are being overcome.
“By the time we begin to see the benefits of some of these loans that the government has taken, of course projects and programmes as promised will begin to roll out.
“And I believe this will start particularly when the budget is finally sealed and approved.
“Nigerians are right to even look for all these because it is a right to all citizens and I believe expectations of Nigerians must be met.
“And we are ready and we will leave no stone unturned to make sure that government and Mr President have delivered on their promises and gradually we will see the benefits.”
He pleaded with Nigerians to be patient stating that the economic policies of the administration were geared towards ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.
According to him, committees are established by the Ministry of Finance to ensure transparency in what comes to government by way of
operating surplus from agencies that are supposed to generate revenue.
Idris said that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) was also working towards ensuring that all revenue accruable to the government was recovered especially in the current era of diversification from crude oil.
On the issue of ghost workers, he said that the ministry was working through the OAGF to weed them out.
“We are now going ahead to use Bank Verification Number (BVN) recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to clarify
and to ascertain names of those benefitting salary from the Federal Government.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.