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Budget: Senate Threatens MDAs With zero Allocation Over Non-appearance

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  • Budget: Senate Threatens MDAs With zero Allocation Over Non-appearance

The Senate on Wednesday warned that any Federal Government Ministry, Department and Agency that failed to appear before its relevant standing committees to defend its budget estimates would get zero allocation this fiscal year.

The lawmakers, therefore, adjourned plenary to next week Tuesday, asking the MDAs to come for budget defence latest by Friday.

The Senate also stated its commitment to passing the 2017 Appropriation Bill by the second week of March.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, while addressing journalists after the plenary on Wednesday, explained that the lawmakers were forced to create additional days for the budget defence.

He said there was a meeting between the leadership of the Senate and chairmen of committees to do an appraisal of the defence sessions.

Abdullahi said, “We are committed to ensuring that by the second week of March, we are done with the 2017 appropriation. This explains why we also have to, having considered the progress report from chairmen of committees, suspend plenary today so that the committees can go back and complete their assignments so that by next week, the Appropriations Committee can begin to collect reports from the various committees.

“Suffice to say here that the Senate is calling on all the MDAs that are joking; we call it joking because the issue of appropriation should be the most important assignment of any MDA; that it is a bit worrisome that some MDAs choose not to appear or when to appear.

“So, the Senate is giving them this opportunity. If you are out there and you still have issues or need to provide information or clarification to your committee, you better do that. Otherwise, this time round, the Senate is committed to taking legislative action and will definitely bring its full force of legislative action to bear on people who have been found to be defaulting.”

When asked what the Senate would do to errant MDAs, Abdullahi replied, “The power to appropriate is with the National Assembly. The essence of meeting with the committees is to defend why you want funds to be released to you to carry out your duties.

“If you consider it as unimportant, what we will do is to simply allow your staff members enjoy their salaries. But with respect to capital (expenditure), definitely, if you don’t come to defend it, we will definitely take it out and give it to those who are serious. That means you will be having zero allocation. It is very clear.”

The Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, had earlier in the plenary moved a motion to step down the items on the order paper for the day, lamenting that despite going into a three-week recess for budget defence, the response from the executive had been poor.

He recalled that the issues frustrating the passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill were discussed at a meeting the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, held with leaders and chairmen of Senate committees on Tuesday.

He, therefore, asked that the plenary be adjourned to allow lawmakers attend to budget matters for the rest of the day.

Seconding the motion, the Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, asked for more days “in order for us to tidy up this budget and meet the aspiration of Nigerians by ensuring an expeditious passage of the budget as earlier planned by these hallowed chambers.”

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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Why I’II Never Support Peter Obi Again – Doyin Okupe

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A former Director-General of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign, Doyin Okupe, has declared that he would never support the 2023 presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, in any of his political ambitions again.

Okupe, who had recently resigned his membership of the LP and withdrew his backing for the former LP’s presidential flagbearer, expressed displeasure at Obi’s remarks on economic situation in the country.

Specifically, Okupe, while featuring on a national television programme, responded to some remarks credited to Obi on the hardship ravaging the nation.

Obi had been reported to have critisised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, suggesting that people from the South-West are feeling the heat of the hard times just like other citizens from other parts of the country.

For Obi, Tinubu had campaigned on the mantra that he is a Yoruba man and that it was his turn, stating that people in Yoruba land are not even getting food items and other essential commodities at cheaper rates notwithstanding that the President is from their region.

However, Obi’s submissions had attracted mixed reactions on social media with some criticising him while others supported his assertions.

Weighing in on the raging controversy, Okupe joined the critics, describing Obi’s remark as an “insult” to people in the South-West.

He argued that Obi’s statement publicly belittled the South-West, despite receiving support from prominent Yoruba leaders and other residents of the zone during his presidential electioneering ambition.

Okupe claimed that people from the South West felt insulted hearing Obi uttered such remarks, noting that many, including himself, who supported him regretted it.

He mentioned former President Olusegun Obasanjo as one of the prominent Yoruba indigenes who backed Obi’s presidential bid, saying although he did not regret supporting Obi, he would never support him again.

Okupe attributed his initial support to the agreement that a southern president should emerge, specifically from the South-East, insisting the betrayal he felt by the criticism of the South-West by the former governor of Anambra State.

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Donald Trump Projected To Occupy White House, Congratulated By Nigerian President

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President Trump Signs Executive Order In Oval Office Of The White House

There is an indication that the former President of the United States of America, Donald Trump may become the 47th President of the US.

Trump became more confident in his political comeback in American history after securing his third battleground victory on Tuesday evening by clinching Pennsylvania, bringing him closer to a White House win.

The 78 presidential candidates of the Republican Party already won 266 of the 270 Electoral College votes needed to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democrat Party.

Trump reversed his 2020 losses in the crucial states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — running up big margins among his white rural and working-class base while making significant inroads among ethnic minorities.

Addressing supporters in Florida, Trump claimed victory, saying his performance is unprecedented in the history of the country.

He promised to help the US to heal, stressing that the country needs help very badly.

He also assured citizens of fixing critical infrastructure and other necessary areas of the country.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday extended his congratulations to Donald Trump on his re-election as the 47th President of the United States of America.

Tinubu expressed his eagerness to strengthen the ties between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.

His congratulatory message was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Identifying synergy and cooperation with the US government as a means of fostering economic prosperity, the President of Nigeria noted that the relationship would promote peace, and address global challenges that affect their citizens.

He said Trump’s victory reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership.

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EFCC Nabs Ex-Delta Governor, Okowa, For Alleged N1.3trn Fraud

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, over the alleged diversion of N1.3 trillion.

Sources with the EFCC revealed that Okowa visited the EFCC office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday before he was subsequently detained by officials.

The N1.3 trillion reportedly represents the 13% derivation fund from the federation account between 2015 and 2023.

It was gathered that Okowa was at the Port Harcourt office of the Commission following an invitation from investigators probing the allegations against him.

The former governor was said to have been apprehended no sooner than he arrived at the anti-graft office.

Okowa was also accused of failing to account for the funds, as well as another N40 billion he allegedly claimed was used to acquire shares in UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas.

Sources said the former governor reportedly bought shares worth N40 billion in one of the country’s major banks, representing an 8% equity stake, to support the offshore LNG project.

The funds are alleged to have been misappropriated for other purposes.

They noted that investigators are also examining the alleged diversion of funds by the former governor to acquire estates in Abuja and Asaba, Delta State.

Okowa was the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in the 2023 election.

He was the governor of Delta State from 2015 to 2023 and was succeeded by Sheriff Oborevwori, the incumbent Governor.

When contacted, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest but declined further comment on the matter.

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