Subsidy: PDP leaders, Anenih, Dangote mount pressure on Tambuwal

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and some prominent Nigerians visited the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, in Abuja on Friday. They were led by the acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje and other members of the National Working Committee of the party. A former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih was also in the entourage. After they had departed, businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Governor Adams Oshiomohole of Edo State were also at the Speaker’s residence at Apo Legislative quarters, Abuja.

Recurrent expenditure gulps 59% of 2011 budget

The trend of disproportionately high rate of recurrent expenditure that has characterised Nigeria's annual budget estimates has persisted, as it will gulp 59 percent of the 2011 budget.

Figure from the N4.226 trillion budget that was presented to the National Assembly by President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday proposes N2.481 trillion for recurrent expenditures. This is contrary to government's earlier plan to cut recurrent expenses.

The Finance Minister,Olusegun Aganga, had the penultimate week, in a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Finance and Aids, Loans and Debt management in Abuja said that he was working on changing the trend in the country's supplementary expenditure which was suffocating capital expenditure.

Mr. Aganga's view was corroborated by the Senate President, David Mark who told Mr Jonathan on Wednesday, during the budget presentation ceremony in the National Assembly, that disproportionate ratio of recurrent and overhead expenditure to capital expenditure is unacceptable and unsustainable.

"No nation desirous of meaningful development can afford such a disproportionate allocation of its financial resources between consumption and investment towards its own future development," the Senate President told the President. "This means that the cost of running government has been increasing at an unsustainable rate. We must all rise together and address it."

Cutting it

He added that the National Assembly will henceforth re-evaluate budget aggregates and other major macroeconomic variables across the board for all Government(Ministries Departments and Agencies) MDAs and other arms of government to lower the personnel and overhead expenditures, and improve the level of appropriations for capital expenditures." we must drastically cut down the cost of running government vertically and horizontally in the three arms of government as well as the three tiers of our federating unit," the Senate President said. "In this regard, the National Assembly will lead the crusade. We will make the required sacrifice and review our recurrent expenditure. We expect others to make similar sacrifice."

Mr Jonathan, however, said the government is mindful of the unsustainable trend in recurrent expenditures and is implementing a wide range public financial management reforms which will boost fiscal prudence and increase quality and efficiency of spending.

"To ensure that this trend does not result in the crowding out of the critical capital investments required to achieve our development goals, a high powered Expenditure Review Committee was established to suggest practical measures to rationalise recurrent expenditure without compromising the quality of service delivery," the president said.

He added that the government has already saved N12 billion in personnel cost by introducing an integrated payroll and personnel information system in 16 MDAs.

Auditing NNPC

The president also added that the government intends to block all revenue leakages in the system by conducting audits for all revenue generating agencies including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

He also said the government will strengthen the pre-shipment inspection for crude oil and gases, fast track the implementation of key reforms by the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigerian Custom Service.

The 2011 budget estimates is 18% less than what was budgeted last year. It comprises N196.12 billion for statutory transfers, N542.38 billion for debt service, N2.481 trillion for recurrent (non-debt) expenditure, and N1.005 trillion for capital expenditure.

The 2011 budget is predicated on assumptions that reflect the outlook for 2011 and "our expectations for improvements in domestic oil production, stability in the international oil markets and sustained economic growth," the president said.

The assumptions include: oil production of 2.3 million barrels per day, benchmark oil price of $65 per barrel, exchange rate of N150 per US dollar, joint venture cash calls of $4.5 billion, and projected growth rate of 7%.

Public say no to bill

A resounding ‘no’ from an array of stakeholders has greeted an attempt by federal lawmakers to legislate their way into the leadership councils of their various parties.

Virtually every member of the public who attended a public hearing on the proposed bill Monday, at a meeting room of the House of Representatives in Abuja, opposed the proposal to make almost every lawmaker a member of their party’s National Executive Committee.

From the chairman of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to women organisations, attendees criticised the legislation as contrary to its stated intent, which is to bring the internal democracy to party leadership structures.

PDP chairman, Okwesili Eze Nwodo, denounced the proposed law as a naked power grab. If lawmakers pass the law, it will give them excessive influence in decision making in the PDP,” he said.

Mr. Nwodo pointed out that 48 lawmakers already are present on his 64-member NEC, and any addition would mean its complete hijack by the legislative caucus.

“We want a balance in NEC that will not swallow the elected members of NEC. If we have a volume that swallows it, it will affect debates in our NEC,” Mr. Nwodo said.

He also urged the lawmakers to drop the bill because currently, it is the party’s convention that is the highest decision making body of the party, instead of the proposed NEC.

Although the 2010 electoral act amendment bill is not all about making the lawmakers members of their party’s NEC, most members of the public focused on this particular provision on the proposed structure and composition of NECs.

Maxi Okwu, leader of the Forum of National Chairmen of Political Parties, which comprises about 14 smaller parties, also opposed the provision. He described it as “untidy” and urged the lawmakers to desist from making such laws.

He argued that even though the lawmakers reserve the right to make laws for the nation, they should discard that aspect of the amendment because it will make the governance of all political parties uniform, bringing back the military regimentation which Nigerians dread.

“This uniformity is a military hangover. We are seeking that you leave parties to run themselves; you cannot regiment it, it won’t work!” ,” Mr. Okwu said.

He argued that widening the scope of political party’s NEC should be an exclusive preserve of the parties and the composition of NECs should also be left to the parties.

Notwithstanding the mounting opposition in the conference room and protests by different groups outside the Assembly complex against the bill, the lawmakers stood their ground, arguing that of all the parties that have representatives in the National Assembly, only two do not currently have their lawmakers as members of their NEC.

Both chambers of the National Assembly are expected to consider the positions of the public and make their final decision within a fortnight.

Labour leaders condemn 25% annual budget spent on lawmakers revenue - Nigerian tribune

Labour leaders on Monday, condemned the high percentage of Nigeria’s annual budget spent on National Assembly members.

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said on Saturday, in Okada, near Benin, that 25 per cent of government’s annual budget went to the National Assembly.

Sanusi described the trend as unhealthy and called for a cut if the country must develop.

Labour leaders interviewed in Lagos by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) called for a national conference to discuss the salaries and allowances of the federal legislators.

They were unanimous in calling for a reduction of the lawmakers’ pay to avoid chaos in the country.
Mr Peter Esele, President, Trade Union Congress (TUC), said it was regrettable that rather than serve the people, members of the National Assembly were serving themselves.

“It is sad that our lawmakers appropriate salaries to themselves without thinking about the nation. It is a problem that we all need to sit down and discuss.

“It is bad for democracy. It shows there is tyranny in the land and this is sad for the Nigerian people who do not have good infrastructure or adequate means of livelihood,” Esele said.

He advised the legislators to, as a matter of urgency, review their own salaries.

In his reaction, Mr Dele Akinyanju, General Secretary, Railway Workers Union of Nigeria, said that the issue must be discussed by every Nigerian as the money paid to the legislators was tax payers’ money.

“Their annual pay should be reduced. Nigerians from all sectors of the economy should deliberate what should be paid to legislators and the monthly salary should be made public,” Akinyanju said.

Mr Olusoju Salako, President, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), called on Nigerians to condemn the amount spent on the lawmakers.

“It is sad that the lawmakers are serving themselves and their families and not the people that elected them. People should begin to condemn this now to avoid unrest,” he said.

Salako described as criminal the 25 per cent spent on about 500 lawmakers out of the money that should be spent on 150 million Nigerians.

Neglect of Liberia peacekeepers shocks visiting lawmakers

Shocked by the state of the equipment used by the Nigerian soldiers on peacekeeping operations in Liberia, the House of Representatives committee on defence, yesterday, stated its determination to continue with its investigation into how N23 billion was spent by the ministry of defence on equipment for the operation.

The renewed plan to launch the investigation is coming after a tour of the committee to Liberia. The committee was accompanied on the tour by the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole.

Consequently, the defence minister, Adetokunbo Kayode, is billed to appear before the committee to explain how the money was expended.

A source in the committee said that during the visit, the lawmakers discovered to their chagrin that in spite of the huge sum expended on peacekeeping operations in Liberia since the minister assumed duties, the Nigerian contingent is the least equipped among the nations that contribute to the United Nations peacekeeping operations in that West African country.

It reportedly discovered that the paucity of the equipment was the main reason the reimbursement from the UN to Nigeria has greatly reduced. The committee also found out that Nigeria has so far lost about 1000 soldiers, and spent over $40 billion on peacekeeping operation in Liberia since 1990.

The legislators were also said to have demanded the total overhauling of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nigeria and the United Nations on her involvement in peacekeeping operations.

Next stop, Sudan

The committee chairman, Wole Oke, confirmed the visit of the committee to Liberia during a telephone interview yesterday. He also said Mr. Kayode will appear before the committee to discuss the issue with its members, adding that they will visit Dafur, Sudan, soon to check on Nigerian troops there.

Meanwhile, Mr. Oke has urged the Liberian House of Representatives to legislate to ensure permanent peace and unity in the country, even as he promised to convey the country’s request for further assistance on its 2011 poll to President Goodluck Jonathan.

He stated this when he paid a visit in company of defence committee members to the Speaker of the Liberian parliament.

2nd Alteration Bill: Houses of Assembly submit resolutions - Nigerian Observer

Another milestone in the history of Nigeria’s constitutional development was yesterday achieved, when the Conference of Nigeria Speakers submitted their state Assemblies resolutions on 2nd Alteration Bill 2010 of the Nigerian Constitution to the National Assembly.

Making the symbolic handover to Senate President David Mark, Chairman of the Speakers Conference, Barr. Haruna Gbana, commended NASS for their decision to appeal the recent judgment concerning the 1st Alteration Bill.

“It is my humble opinion that because of the anxiety generated by this judgment and the likelihood of this matter heating up the polity as we get nearer to the May 29th handover date, the Judiciary should in the national interest accelerate the process of taking a final decision on this matter”, he said.

This is even as Senate President Mark submitted that the inclusion of a clause that makes members of the NASS automatic members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of their parties is not self-serving as the Act would outlive them in office.

“How can it be self serving; does it mean that after the tenure of this National Assembly, the Act would be thrown away? No, when passed into law, it would be a law that will outlive all of us.

There is no need for people to castigate members of the National Assembly; we will always abide by Superior argument; I advise all Nigerians to come to Public Hearing ahead of the Electoral Bill; whatever the majority views are would be binding on us; there is nothing secret”, Sen. Mark continued.

He stressed that the National Assembly welcomes constructive criticism and that “it helps us perform better, but must be based on sound reasoning”, asserting that the NASS now understands the due process of Constitution amendment and praised
the 36 State Houses of Assembly for living up to the expectations of Nigerians.

By so doing, Senator Mark added that members of the State Houses of Assembly have exhibited uncommon patriotism and commitment to nationhood.

Earlier, the chairman of conference of Speakers, Istifanus Gbana had also told the NASS that the State Assemblies had to fast track the process of the alteration including shelving their holidays in order to meet the time frame for the 2011 polls.

With this alteration, Gbana said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no reason to delay the process of conducting free, fair and credible elections.

“The state legislatures for sure cannot be blamed for whatever may stand in the way of achieving the much talked about free, fair and credible election come 2011”, he added.

Police arrest lawmaker’s aide with Indian hemp

The personal assistant to a member of the House of Representatives who was arrested on Wednesday with 10 sacks of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp in Edo State said yesterday that he took advantage of his boss’ pilgrimage to engage in the illicit business.

The 37-year-old man, Nurudeen Ibrahim who works for Abdulazeez Abubakar, the member representing Mafaranka Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, was arrested by policemen along Auchi-Afuze road with sacks of Indian hemp loaded in the booth of the lawmaker’s official Peugeot 407 car, marked NASS FL 124 REP.

Mr. Ibrahim, who was paraded by the Edo State Police Command, told journalists it was the second time he was coming to buy Indian hemp in Edo State, having earlier engaged in the illicit business during the last Muslim holiday.

He said his friend introduced him to the business which he took up in order to “make up” and he used his friend’s car to convey the consignment of the weed during the first trip to Edo State.

Action to regret

Mr. Ibrahim, who claimed to have bought the 10 sacks of cannabis for N50, 000, also informed the police that he has somebody in Abuja who helps him to sell the weed.

“This is the biggest regret I ever have in life,” said Mr Ibrahim, who claimed to have worked for Mr Abubakar for three years. He also blamed his ordeal on those who sold the weed to him, alleging that they were the ones who leaked the information to the police.

Edo State Police Command spokesman, Peter Ogboi, advised those in authority to open their eyes and monitor the activities of their aides, pointing out that the suspect has taken the advantage of his work with the lawmaker to engage in drug dealing.

He said the case would be transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and eventual prosecution.