The bill’s passage was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Committee on Power.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue North East), in his presentation, said the bill seeks to, amongst others, provide an ideal legal and institutional framework to leverage on the modest gains of the privatisation phase of the electricity power sector in Nigeria.

He added that when signed into law, the bill would improve utilisation of generated power through increased investments in new technologies to enhance transmission and distribution of generated power to minimise aggregate value chain loses.

According to the lawmaker, the piece of legislation would “reinvigorate the institutional framework for the reform of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) initiated and implemented by the Federal Government.”

He disclosed that the provisions of the bill seeks to promote policies and regulatory measures that would ensure the expansion of power transmission networks in Nigeria in order to address any imbalance in the existing transmission infrastructure.

Suswam noted that the bill would stimulate policy and regulatory measures to scale up efficient power generation, transmission and distribution capabilities of the sector; as well as address technological limitations and outdated infrastructure that are responsible for value chain loses.

The Senate President, midway through consideration of the bill, sought to know the role and operational capacity of banks that had taken over distribution companies (discos) indebted to them.

Responding, Senator Suswam explained that the take-over of entities (Discos) by banks was duly carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE.

According to him, there was a transitional process put in place during the take-over of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) by the United Bank for Africa, UBA, to ensure efficiency in service delivery.

He noted that such transitional process usually involved the invitation of new investors to scale up generation and distribution capacities.

He further disclosed that the federal government had disbursed $100 million (USD) to Siemens to kickstart transmission in the distribution end of the power sector.

On his part, Senator Ahmad Babba-Kaita (PDP – Katsina North), said the faulty way in which Discos were created was largely responsible for their inability to live up to expectations.

He, therefore, advised the federal government to ensure a transparent process in the selection of companies to take-over power generation and distribution across the country.

The Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC – Niger North), noted that the aspect of renewable energy in the bill, was given prominence amidst the energy mix.

The Electricity Bill, 2022, after a clause-by-clause consideration of the Committee’s report by the Committee of the Whole, was passed by the upper chamber.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in his remarks after the passage of the bill, said, “because of its importance and sensitivity, we would like to see a quick concurrence by the House of Representatives, because time is of essence as far as Nigeria is concerned when you talk about electricity and energy supplies in Nigeria.”

He stated further: “So, we would like to see that this bill is fully processed in the National Assembly and sent to the Executive side of government for the consideration for assent by Mr. President.

“We believe that this piece of legislation can change the fortunes of the electricity industry in Nigeria for the better.”

The post Senate passes Electricity Bill to boost power distribution appeared first on Frontpageng.

The Ninth National Assembly can be proud that it has made its mark. It is just three years since its inauguration on 11th June, 2019, so it has one more year to go. But its achievements thus far have been outstanding.

As soon as the Assembly was inaugurated, it hit the ground running. Its areas of intervention were well thought out and carefully selected, as encapsulated in the Assembly’s Legislative Agenda outlined by each of the two Chambers. Most of them are critical areas in which the interventions of previous Assemblies had not produced the desired results. These areas are critical because they touch the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

With the support of his distinguished colleagues in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, and with the cooperation of the Executive arm of government, the budget cycle has been successfully reset and stabilised to January-December.

Let’s take the issue of the budget cycle. We all know its importance in the government’s role in the economy. The previous Assemblies had also appreciated the need to make the Nigerian financial year stable and predictable for ease of economic planning. The cycle had not been stable for many years, with its attendant effects on budget implementation. They tried hard to reset it but they didn’t succeed because bad habits die hard, especially in government. But when the Ninth Assembly was inaugurated, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, the 14th Senate President and Chairman of the ninth Assembly, vowed that the new session would tame the monster that had made it difficult to entrench a predictable financial year.

With the support of his distinguished colleagues in the Senate and in the House of Representatives, and with the cooperation of the Executive arm of government, the budget cycle has been successfully reset and stabilised to January-December. With this great feat, the Federal Government has been recording 100 per cent or almost perfect budget implementation.

Then the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act 2004. The legal environment had made for Nigeria being shortchanged for many years. The previous Assemblies were not unaware of the situation and indeed tried to ameliorate it. They tried their best as far as the amendment of the law was concerned. But their best was not good enough for Nigeria because they did not succeed in changing the status quo.

When the Ninth Assembly came on board, Senators and Members of the House of Representatives rolled up their sleeves to do the needful. After the bill was successfully amended, they didn’t underrate the influence and tenacity of those profiting from the status quo. They rushed the paper to President Muhammadu Buhari who was in London on medicals for his signature. And the deed was done.

While signing the amended law in November 2019, a relieved President Buhari excitedly declared: “Nigeria will now receive its fair, rightful and equitable share of income from our own natural resources for the first time since 2003…All this time Nigeria has failed to secure its equitable share of the proceeds of oil production, for all attempts to amend the law on the distribution of income have failed. That is, until today.”

What about the “notorious” Petroleum Industry Bill? The bill gathered dust in the pending tray of the National Assembly and transformed itself severally for almost two decades, before the inception of Ahmad Lawan-led National Assembly. At one point, the bill was even labelled as demon-infested for refusing passage despite all attempts. But that is now history. Nigeria now has a comprehensive law to regulate operations in the oil and gas industry.

Another legislation that became an issue for the immediate past Assembly was the Electoral Act 2010 (amendment) Bill. The plan was to get it passed and signed into law ahead of the 2015 polls. But that was not to be for obvious reasons. But the Ninth Assembly took the bull by the horns and successfully passed the amendment Bill.  The Electoral Act 2022, as it is now called, turned out to be one piece of legislation that has attracted commendations for the current Assembly.

The determination of the Distinguished Senators and their presiding officer, Ahmad Lawan, is to load this final year with many more remarkable achievements in legislative interventions.

There are many other landmark bills the passage of which made the current Assembly to stand out. The passage of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, Nigeria Police Act 2020 and Nigerian Correctional Services Act 2019 brought credit to the Ninth Assembly. For instance, Nigeria was operating the Police Act of 1943 until the enactment of the Nigeria Police reform Act of 2020.

One other attribute that makes the Ninth Assembly stand out is the pursuit of stability in governance and the polity for effective service delivery to the Nigerian people. This it tried to achieve through cooperation and collaboration with other arms of government. And this has, no doubt, become the trademark of the current dispensation of Nigeria’s national parliament.

There is so much to celebrate in three years but there is yet one more year to go. The determination of the Distinguished Senators and their presiding officer, Ahmad Lawan, is to load this final year with many more remarkable achievements in legislative interventions.

*Awoniyi is Special Adviser (Media) to Senate President

The post 9th National Assembly: Three years of productive Legislative business appeared first on Frontpageng.

Alhaji Sulaiman Arugugun, APC National Organising Secretary said this when he spoke with newsmen after an NWC meeting in Abuja on Monday.

He acknowledged  that Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the APC National Chairman briefed the committee on the  issue, saying however, that it was not delibrated at the meeting.

“You can see that we are all just coming out of the NWC meeting and we were fully briefed by our national chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu.

“And he did brief us that Sen. Ahmad Lawan, President of the Senate is our consensus candidate for the APC national convention.

“That is the information he gave us, but it is not an issue that was deliberated on the floors of the NWC.

“It was just an information he gave us and all of us are entitled to our opinions as democrats,” Argungu said.

The APC National Organising Secretary added that the decision was not from the party’s NWC, stressing that it was an individual decision that was never deliberated by the committee.

Arugugun said that the APC NWC was in agreement with Saturday’s resolution of the 11 Northern governors that the presidency must shift to the South in 2023 after the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The 11 governors from the North had in a statement, announced their support for power shift to the South at the end of the tenure of Buhari.

The governors while urging APC presidential aspirants from the region to step down from the 2023 presidential race, said, “the decision to support power shift to the South is in the best interest of the country.”

The Northern APC governors also commended their Jigawa counterpart, Gov. Abubakar Badaru, for withdrawing from the race ahead of the presidential primaries slated from June 6 to June 8.

The governors who signed the communique at the end of the meeting included Governor Aminu  Masari of Katsina State,  Governor Sani Bello, Niger;  Governor Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa and Governor Umara Zulum, Borno.

Others were Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau; Governor Umar Ganduje, Kano State; Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and former Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto; Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna State; Governor Muhammad Yahaya, Gombe State, and Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara.

Buhari had at a meeting with APC presidential aspirants on Saturday, approved power shift to the South in 2023 poll.

Source: NAN

The post APC denies endorsing Lawan as consensus candidate for  2023 appeared first on Frontpageng.

Abdullahi Adamu on Monday, announced Ahmed Lawan as APC consensus candidate.

Akeredolu said this in a statement he personal signed, adding the speculation was rife that the chairman took a flight of fancy and decided to make a pronouncement beyond his competence.

“My attention has just been drawn to the expensive joke purportedly enacted by the National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

“He has, allegedly, made public his preferred choice as the candidate of the APC for the Office of the President in the next general elections.

“This alleged pronouncement runs contrary to the position of majority of Northern Governors in APC and their counterparts in the South. Our agreement is unanimous on this issue,” he said.

Akeredolu said that the office of the president should be contested for by qualified persons from the Southern part of the country if the move to get a consensus candidate fails.

“There has been no shift from this settled issue.

“Let it be known that the Chairman or anyone who holds a contrary opinion does so at a personal level.

“He is at best embarking on a frolic which reasonable people will consider dangerous.

“We are grieving but have not forgotten that Power must shift to the south. On this we stand,” Akeredolu said.

Source: NAN

The post Consensus candidate: Abdullahi Adamu on a frolic of his own -Akeredolu appeared first on Frontpageng.

Lawan was formally presented with the Expression of Interest and nomination forms purchased for him by a group of Nigerians led by the Chairman, National Stability Project, Ambassador Sam Nkire.

Presenting the forms, Ambassador Nkire said Lawan was seen as a stabilising personality needed to be the next president of Nigeria.

He said: “This is a representation of Nigerians being led by me, Chief Sam Nkire. We have politicians here, we have business men here, we have a representation of traditional rulers, professionals who have watched Nigeria and they think we need a stabilizer, a stabilizing personality and they looked round and said you must be the one.

“That is why the rich ones among us contributed more than the poor ones. But the widows mite of the poor ones is also here. So we have decided to purchase the form.

“We didn’t want to come first. We made sure we got the form for you to heed the calls of Nigerians who have seen your service to the motherland, who have seen how you have piloted the affairs, and they know the economic situation we have in terms of security, that you are one of the best that Nigeria has.

“Please we are here to handover the nomination forms for the position of president of Nigeria on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.”

In his acceptance speech, Lawan said that he had consulted widely and promised to play the game by the rules.

“Today is a special day and this moment is a very memorable and historic moment. Over the last seven years, we have been participants in the administration of our country at the national level.

“The APC led administration, our president, President Muhammadu Buhari will be completing his tenure on the 29th of May, 2023. I want to pay special tribute to what Mr President and the APC administration have done so far for developing our country.

“I have listened to various calls from all parts of our dear country, our dear nation Nigeria, for me to show interest to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I took my time to pray to almighty God to guide me. I took my time to consult very widely, consult Nigerians from all parts of the country to ensure that I get the understanding of the citizens of this country on whose behalf we will, by the Grace of God, win the election and run the administration.

“Nigeria needs to be taken  to the next level. We know what we have been able to achieve as an administration and as a political party and we know where we are supposed to take this level to eventually.

“I want to commit myself to this call and to this movement of Nigerians from all walks of life, rich, poor, north, south, east, west, male, female, old and young.

“This is not my journey. This is our journey. This is our journey because every hand must be on deck for us to achieve exactly what we need to achieve.

“I am joining lately. The field is already full of other aspirants. I want, at this point, to assure Nigerians that the APC is a very beautiful bride and that is why we have many aspirants.

“I will play the game by the rules. I am not going to circumvent any rule. I’m going to respect my party and listen to the leaders of this party because that is our platform in the first place.

“But I will spare no moment going from door to door to ensure that I get the votes when the national convention to elect the presidential candidate of the party will hold.

“I place my trust fully, totally and completely on the Almighty God, that God will bless this movement and this journey and I want to appeal to all Nigerians that we are seriously committed to taking Nigeria to the next level from where it will be on the 29th of May 2023 and it will be at a solid point and ground at that time, only to be improved upon and consolidated,” Lawan said.

The post 2023: Senate President joins presidential race, obtains APC forms appeared first on Frontpageng.

Lawan spoke at the fifth Town Hall Meeting and Empowerment Programme organised by the lawmaker representing Lagos West in the Senate, Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan, popularly known as Yayi, at the Police College, Ikeja.

Lawan, who opened his speech on a note of admiration for the governor, said the party leadership across the country had watched with satisfaction the giant strides being made by Sanwo-Olu, stating that without any equivocation, that the governor deserved a re-election.

He said: “We have been watching you over the last two and half years. You have been very wonderful. You have been consistent in terms of service delivery to the people of Lagos and indeed this country. You are focused…”

The Senate helmsman endorsed Sanwo-Olu’s to return after the completion of his current tenure, saying the tremendous achievements the state recorded within a short period under the governor’s watch needed to progress.

“One good term you’re doing deserves another term,” Lawan told Sanwo-Olu.

The Senate President praised Senator Adeola for his contribution to the robustness of the Senate and his efforts to uplift his constituents through regular empowerment.

Lawan called for more support for the All Progressives Congress, APC, stressing that the People’s Democratic Party had damaged the country beyond measures in its sixteen years of governance.

He, however, assured that the ruling party was up to the task to defeat the opposition again.

Governor Sanwo-Olu lauded Adeola’s empowerment programme, noting that some of the items, such as the ambulances and hospital equipment would go beyond party affiliations, when they become operational.

He described Adeola’s efforts as complementing those of President Muhammadu Buhari and of the state government.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to further develop Lagos State in all ramifications and pledged that he would continue to carry out human-friendly projects that would have positive impacts on Lagosians and by extension, Nigeria.

The post Second term: Senate President in Lagos, campaigns for Sanwo-Olu appeared first on Frontpageng.

Lawan who was in Uyo at the instance of his Distinguished colleague, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan showered encomiums on Emmanuel for being a performing governor and publicly told him to consider crossing over to their side.

Lawan is of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, while Emmanuel is of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, but the duo have been friends for quite sometime.

Recall that Lawan extended similar invitation to the Abia State Governor when he visited Aba last November and told Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu that the Progressives were waiting for him.

Both the Senate President and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, were in attendance at the thanksgiving service and commissioning of constituency projects executed by Senator Akpan on Saturday.

It was an opportunity for Lawan to congratulate the people of Akwa Ibom for being lucky to have Udom Emmanuel as their governor.

“You have a governor who is so focused, intelligent, brilliant and anything that will bring development to Akwa Ibom and this country is his concern.

“Your Excellency, even though we do not share a common platform but the truth must be said: You have transformed Akwa Ibom for the best.

“We are waiting for you to come and work with us Your Excellency. Oh yes! Why not? We want someone like you. And there is no shame in asking.

“We are asking for the development, unity, progress and growth of our country. It doesn’t matter who that person is.

“And when you see something that is so good, you say something that is also good. And we have seen someone that is so good, so brilliant and we are saying that is a very good addition to the leadership quest for Nigeria,” Lawan said.

The projects that were commissioned on Saturday include Ifa Ikot Akpan road, Uyo and Senator OBA Multipurpose Recreational Complex in Uyo.

Lawan eulogised the Akwa Ibom Northeast Senator Bassey Albert Akpan for providing quality representation of his people at the National Assembly.

The Senate President said the projects were indicative of Senator Akpan’s care for his people.

“For us as members of the National Assembly, it’s always our people first. Our constituents first. Our Senatorial District first.

“This is because we believe that we are accountable to our Senatorial District. We are accountable to our people. We cannot do without our people. They voted for us. All the three Senators from Akwa Ibom are Distinguished people,” Lawan said.

The Senate President said Senator Akpan who is of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, never allowed his political affiliation to affect his patriotic contributions at the Senate.

“Today we are celebrating one individual who we do not share a common platform when it comes to politics but we share a common vision.

“We believe that this Ninth National Assembly particularly the Senate has done so much work in terms of legislative interventions and for your information Your Excellency, when the Senate worked on the bill to amend the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act, that bill was by Distinguished Senator Bassey Albert Akpan.

“You have sent someone to the National Assembly who is focused, who is patriotic, who plays the game of ensuring that regardless of who we are as politicians, regardless of our dispositions politically, regardless of our political parties, we have been working with Distinguished Senator Bassey Albert Akpan very assiduously and cooperatively. In this Senator, you have a salvation of some of your promises,” Lawan said.

The post APC: Senate President in Akwa Ibom, woos Governor Udom Emmanuel appeared first on Frontpageng.

Lawan expressed shock and deep sadness at the tragic news, describing the deceased as a pillar of the family.

“I commiserate with Distinguished Senator Folarin on this most painful experience of the death of a loving wife.

“I urge Senator Folarin, as a devout Muslim, to accept the sad development as the will of Allah. I also pray the Almighty God to comfort the family,” Lawan says.

The Senate President condoles members of the Teslim Folarin family, the government and people of Oyo State over the painful loss.

He prayed Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the dear departed and accept her soul into Aljannah firdausi.

The post Senate President condoles Senator Teslim Folarin over wife’s death appeared first on Frontpageng.

The signing is in keeping with the tradition of restoring a predictable January to December fiscal year as provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The president signed the documents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday in the presence of Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other members of the Federal Executive Council, FEC.

Speaking at the event, the president said the 2022 Budget, just signed into law, provides for aggregate expenditures of N17.127 trillion, an increase of N735.85 billion over the initial Executive Proposal for a total expenditure of N16.391 trillion.

He explained that N186.53 billion of the increase however came from additional critical expenditures that he had authorised the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning to forward to the National Assembly.

“The Minister will provide the public with the details of the budget as passed by the National Assembly, and signed into law by me,’’ he said.

The president announced that as the 2023 Budget was going to be a transition budget, work would start in earnest to ensure early submission of the 2023-2025 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper as well as the 2023 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly.

He, therefore, directed Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to cooperate with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, more specifically with the Budget Office of the Federation, to realise this very important objective.

President Buhari also expressed strong reservations on the ‘‘worrisome changes’’ made by the National Assembly to the 2022 Executive Budget proposal.

He announced that he would revert to the National Assembly with a request for amendment as soon as the Assembly resumed to ensure that critical ongoing projects cardinal to the administration did not suffer a setback due to reduced funding.

The president recounted that during the presentation of the 2022 Appropriation Bill, he had stated that the fiscal year 2022 would be very crucial in his administration’s efforts to complete and put to use critical agenda projects, as well as improve the general living conditions of Nigerians.

“It is in this regard that I must express my reservations about many of the changes that the National Assembly has made to the 2022 Executive Budget proposal.

“Some of the worrisome changes are as follows:

‘‘Increase in projected FGN Independent Revenue by N400 billion, the justification for which is yet to be provided to the Executive;

‘‘Reduction in the provision for Sinking Fund to Retire Maturing Bonds by N22 billion without any explanation;

‘‘Reduction of the provisions for the Non-Regular Allowances of the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Navy by N15 billion and N5 billion respectively.

‘‘This is particularly worrisome because  personnel cost provisions are based on agencies’ nominal roll and approved salaries/allowances;

‘‘Furthermore, an increase of N21.72 billion in the Overhead budgets of some MDAs, while the sum of N1.96 billion was cut from the provision for some MDAs without apparent justification;

‘‘Increase in the provision for Capital spending (excluding Capital share in Statutory Transfer) by a net amount of N575.63 billion, from N4.89 trillion to N5.47 trillion.’’

Buhari also expressed concern in the reductions in provisions for some critical projects, including N12.6 billion in the Ministry of Transport’s budget for the ongoing Rail Modernisation projects; N25.8 billion from Power Sector Reform Programme under the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; N14.5 billion from several projects of the Ministry of Agriculture, and introducing over 1,500 new projects into the budgets of this Ministry and its agencies.

Further, the president also expressed his reservations on the following:

‘‘Inclusion of new provisions totaling N36.59 billion for National Assembly’s projects in the Service Wide Vote which negates the principles of Separation of Powers and financial autonomy of the Legislative arm of government.

‘‘The changes to the original Executive proposal are in the form of new insertions, outright removals, reductions and/or increases in the amounts allocated to projects.

‘‘Provisions made for as many as 10,733 projects were reduced while 6,576 new projects were introduced into the budget by the National Assembly.

‘‘Reduction in the provisions for many strategic capital projects to introduce ‘Empowerment’ projects.

‘‘The cuts in the provisions for several of these projects by the National Assembly may render the projects unimplementable or set back their completion, especially some of this Administration’s strategic capital projects.

‘‘Most of the projects inserted relate to matters that are basically the responsibilities of State and Local Governments, and do not appear to have been properly conceptualised, designed and costed.

‘‘Many more projects have been added to the budgets of some MDAs with no consideration for the institutional capacity to execute the additional projects and/or for the incremental recurrent expenditure that may be required.’’

The president declared that it was surprising that despite the National Assembly increasing projected revenue by N609.27 billion, the additional Executive request of N186.53 billion for critical expenditure items could not be accommodated without increasing the deficit, while the sum of N550.59 billion from the projected incremental revenues was allocated at the discretion of National Assembly.

‘‘I signed the 2022 Appropriation Bill into law to enable its implementation to commence on 1st January 2022.

‘‘However, I will revert to the National Assembly with a request for amendment and/or virement as soon as the Assembly resumes to ensure that critical ongoing projects that are cardinal to this administration, and those nearing completion, do not suffer a setback due to reduced funding.’’

On COVID-19 and budget implementation, the president said despite the lingering adverse effects of the pandemic, he was happy with the success recorded in the implementation of the 2021 Budget.

‘‘The sum of N3.94 trillion that was provided for the implementation of capital projects by MDAs during the fiscal year has been released fully.

‘‘To enable MDAs to complete the implementation of their 2021 capital projects and optimise the impact of the capital budget on the economy, they have been allowed to continue to expend the funds released for their 2021 capital budgets till 31st March, 2022,’’ he said.

The president commended the understanding and speedy action of the National Assembly on this matter.

‘‘As the 2022 Budget will be the last full year budget to be implemented by our Administration, its effective implementation is very critical for delivering our legacy projects, promoting social inclusion and strengthening the resilience of the economy.

‘‘The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning will implement all measures required to ensure timely and targeted release of capital votes.

‘‘All MDAs are to effect early commencement of project implementation, while ensuring productive use of funds provided for achievement of the objectives set for their sectors.

‘‘Considering the incidence of new COVID-19 variants globally, we will ensure timely implementation of measures provided for in the 2022 Budget to contain the spread of the virus and protect our people.

‘‘We continue to count on the collaboration of the state governments in our effort to protect the lives and livelihood of our people.’’

To achieve the laudable objectives of the 2022 Budget, President Buhari pledged that the federal government would further intensify revenue mobilisation efforts.

He expressed optimism in the ability of the government to finance the budget considering the positive global oil market outlook and the continuing improvement in non-oil revenues.

‘‘To achieve our revenue targets, revenue generating agencies, and indeed all MDAs must ensure prompt and full remittance of collected revenues.

‘‘Relevant Agencies must also ensure the realisation of our crude oil production and export targets.

‘‘I also appeal to our fellow citizens and the business community at large to fulfil their tax obligations promptly.

‘‘However, being a deficit budget, the specific Borrowing Plan will be forwarded to the National Assembly shortly.

‘‘I count on the cooperation of the National Assembly for a quick consideration and approval of the Plan when submitted.

‘‘All borrowings will be judiciously utilised and invested in our future growth and prosperity.’’

The president also directed MDAs to liaise with the Bureau of Public Enterprises and/or the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission to explore available opportunities for public-private partnerships, concessions as well as climate finance arrangements to fast-track the pace of infrastructural development.

He thanked the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Budget Office of the Federation, and all who worked tirelessly and sacrificed so much towards producing the 2022 Appropriation Act.

‘‘Let me conclude by commending the understanding, sacrifice and resilience of our people during these challenging times.

‘‘As a Government, we remain committed to improving the general living conditions of our people.

‘‘We will continue to implement measures aimed at moderating the unintended negative effects of policies on the citizenry,’’ he said.

The post BREAKING: Buhari signs 2022 Budget of N17.127trn into law appeared first on Frontpageng.

The Presidency made the clarification on Tuesday in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.

The Presidency said the proposed amendments as sent to the president for assent entailed major legal, financial, economic and security consequences for all Nigerians, principal among which would be a severe spike in the cost of holding primary elections by parties – integral to democracies the world over.

That, it said, was in contradiction to the purpose for which an amendment was proposed.

The statement reads in full:

The President’s decision to withhold assent from the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 has come under scrutiny from media and political circles. This is quite correct because it is a decision that will impact all Nigerians. The President’s Office has decided therefore to issue an official statement to make its position clear.

Nigeria’s strength as a nation and its status as one of the wealthiest economies in Africa with one of its highest standards of living owes above all to its proud democratic processes, which are enshrined in the Electoral Act of 2010.

It is this act which the new bill seeks to amend. These amendments have been presented as a means to enhance and build upon our democratic processes. After careful review, the President’s Office has found that the opposite is true.

Rather, the proposed amendments entail significant legal, financial, economic and security consequences for all Nigerians, principal among which would be a severe spike in the cost of holding primary elections by parties – integral to democracies the world over.

And who would shoulder these costs? The Nigerian taxpayer of course. And who would benefit? Only the richest of political parties. At a time when the nation is seeking to extricate itself from the economic mire of the worst global health crisis in living memory, whatever other merits the new bill may have, now is not the time for such frivolous spending of public money.

Inevitably, the usual voices are making themselves heard, with cynical claims of election rigging and so on. This is nothing new. We heard their self-serving cries of fraud in 2015, when we saw the first peaceful transfer of power in independent Nigeria’s history. Then again in 2019, when President Buhari was re-elected with a lead of over three million. We will hear them again in 2023.

Until then, the President will do whatever he can to protect this country’s democracy, and that includes withholding assent from this Bill. It is worth noting that, as one of Nigeria’s largest political parties, the ruling APC is one of those that stand to benefit from a bill that favours wealthier parties. But it is not the job of this government to protect the APC. It is the job of this government to protect Nigeria, her people and her democracy.

To those that would rather that limited public funds be spent on politicking during this time of global crisis, we say: cease these cynical games. Tell the Nigerian people openly what you want. Put your – or rather their – money where your mouth is.

The post Electoral Act: Presidency clarifies Buhari’s reasons for withholding assent appeared first on Frontpageng.