Buhari Bows to Outrage, Orders Reduction of Presidency's N19bn Allocation in 2016 Budget

The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has asked for the reduction of the amount allocated to the presidency in the 2016 budget as bashing continues to trail the allocation.

Muhammadu Buhari

 

Following the outrage which had trailed the billions of Naira allocated to the Presidency in the 2016 Budget, President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly ordered for a downward review of the budget.

According to Daily Post, the president was angered at the bashing he was receiving over the billions allocated to his office, that of his vice, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, as well as Aso Rock as a whole.

Details provided by Nigeria’s budget office shows that the presidency got N19billion.
 

Further details on the presidential budget are as follows: State House headquarters – N12billion; President’s operations – N1.9billion; Vice President’s operations – N322million; Chief of Staff – N2.3million; Chief Security Officer – N3.2million; Lagos liaison office – N127million; State House medical centre – N3.9billion; Feeding N445million.

Most of the figures are higher to allocations budgeted for same departments in recent years under President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Daily Post report shows that despite denials by presidential aides, Buhari has ordered that the allocation to the presidency be reduced.

 

Reacting, Buhari’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu had on Monday admitted that some figures in the budget were new.

According to him, the Ministry of Budget and Planning have been instructed to look through the figures. Shehu advised the media to exercise patience until the federal legislature gets the details of the budget.

He said: “When the National Assembly returns from recess, the lawmakers will be given the full estimates of the budget, including what is voted for each department, ministries and agencies. What is voted for the State House will also be included.”
 

Daily Post reveals that a government official however stated that the Budget Ministry had received presidential directive to slash the N19billion budget.

“The president became alarmed when his attention was called to the fact that the figures were higher to that of his predecessor, whom he criticised. He also demanded explanation on some of the allocations in view of the economic crisis.

“Expect a reduced figure. I can’t speculate by how much, but things not really necessary will either be slashed or outrightly expunged,” he said at an event in Lagos on Tuesday.

It will be recalled that Buhari had on December 22, 2015presented a budget estimate of N6.08 trillion to a joint sitting of the National Assembly.

Some parts of the budget have attracted criticisms from many Nigerians, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and even members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Zinedine Zidane's Future as Real Madrid Coach in Doubt

Uncertainties are currently trailing the future of Zidane on the hot seat of Real Madrid coaching post due to his highly limited managerial experience.

Zinedine Zidane

 

Spanish media expressed scepticism Tuesday about the prospects for football hero Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid coach after his sensational appointment.

All said that Real president Florentino Perez was taking a risk naming the French World Cup “legend” who has no experience running a team of superstars.

Perez announced Monday that the three-time world player of the year would take over from Rafael Benitez, who was sacked after just seven months struggling to win over Madrid’s fans and leading players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos.

“The problem of coaches is like that of melons: until you open them you don’t know if they are sweet or inedible,” wrote the Marca sports daily — the most read in Spain.

“A risky operation albeit with possibilities,” it added in a separate article.

“The Frenchman is a football legend and a great figure of Madrid,” added Marca “But his coaching experience is inversely proportional to his excellent footballer’s experience — limited … and controversial.”

The 43-year-old’s coaching experience has been limited to a season-and-a-half in charge of Madrid’s feeder team Castilla. The team failed to secure promotion from Spanish football’s third tier last season.

El Pais daily also emphasised that Zidane was “a legend without coaching experience.”

Newspapers were nevertheless awed by his superstar status, with his face staring out from the front pages of Spain’s many sports dailies.

Okonjo Iweala Connived with World Bank, IMF to Write Off Ajaokuta Steel Company

Former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala has been accused of collaborating with international financial institutions against the interest of a promising local company.

Former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

 

The Secretary General of African Iron and Steel Development, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has accused erstwhile Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy in the President GoodLuck Jonathan administration, Dr. Okonjo Iweala of conniving with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to write a phoney audit report on the Ajaokuta Steel Company.

He said the report, which adjudged the company as lacking in prospects was to serve the interest of powerful nations, especially the West, who markets their iron and Steel in Nigeria and other African countries.

Speaking with DAILY POST in Abuja on Tuesday, the Scribe lamented that it was the fourth time international finance organisations would capitalize on corrupt tendencies of Nigeria government officials, who were always ready to compromise and write-off Ajaokuta Iron and Steel Company, despite its huge prospects of being Nigeria’s biggest revenue earnings and employer of labour.

“There was a lot of sabotage going on and I have four different report which were initiated by World Bank against Ajaokuta Steel Company”, Sanusi said.

He added: “another group, which has links with World Bank and IMF were invited from Britain by Bureau of Public Enterprises; they came and condemned Ajaokuta, and when we the stakeholders pointed out their mistakes, they left and never came back to Nigeria up till date”.

Dr. Sanusi also recalled that he faulted the power point presentation of another group, which were brought in by the former Minister of Finance, Dr Okonjo Iweala known as“Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facilities”.

Revealed! This is What President Buhari Told IMF Chief, Lagarde

President Buhari today received the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund to talk on a range of issues bothering on Nigeria's economy.

President Buhari and Christine Lagarde

 

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja said that his administration will look inwards, enforce regulations to stop financial leakages and adopt global best practices in generating more revenue to mitigate the effect of dwindling oil prices on the Nigerian economy.

The president said this while receiving the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ms Christine Lagarde at the Presidential Villa. He said that his administration will also enforce greater discipline, probity and accountability in all  revenue generating agencies of the Federal Government.

The presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, quoted Mr. Buhari as telling Ms. Lagarde that: “We have just come out of budget discussions after many weeks of taking into consideration the many needs of the country, and the down turn of the economy with falling oil prices and the negative economic forecasts,” 

“We are working very hard and with the budget as our way forward, we will do our best to ensure that our country survives the current economic downturn.

“We have also told all  heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government that on our watch, they will fully account for all funds that get into their coffers.”
The President said the Federal Government was reviewing its operational costs and had directed all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to cut down on their overhead costs.

President Buhari said the Federal Government will welcome  the technical support and expertise of the IMF for its plans to diversify the Nigerian economy and further unleash its growth potentials.

In her remarks, Ms Lagarde said that the IMF will be willing to assist the Federal Government in plugging revenue leakages, tracing stolen funds and restructuring its tax system.

She said Nigeria had all the potentials to overcome the current economic challenge of falling commodity prices without resorting to the IMF for financial support.

Ms. Lagarde had earlier given insight into what she discussed with Mr. Buhari, saying contrary to widespread perception, she was not in Nigeria to negotiate a loan for the country.
 

The IMF Chief said: “I am not here to negotiate loan with conditionalities because Nigeria does not need a new IMF programme,”
 

Ms. Lagarde, who addressed a press conference at the State House, Abuja, said she had a fruitful discussion with Mr. Buhari on the state of the Nigerian economy in the light of dwindling oil prices.

She said she also discussed how Nigeria could face the challenges associated with global economic downturn.

She said her meeting with the president also dwelled on Mr. Buhari’s fight against corruption and his commitment to transparency and accountability in governance.

Ms. Lagarde said the IMF considers Nigeria a key player in global financial structure, adding that ongoing reforms in the country would definitely have a great impact on Nigeria’s neighbours.

Oh No! Two Confirmed Dead As Lassa Fever Hits Rivers State

head in Rivers already claiming lives in the Southern Nigerian state.

Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike

 

At least two persons have been confirmed dead in an outbreak of Lassa fever in Rivers State.

According to Daily Post, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Theophilous Odageme, who confirmed the outbreak Tuesday in a statement, advised members of the public not to panic because the state government had taken a proactive measure to contain an outbreak.

The statement further called on residents to report any of such symptoms as persistent high fever, stooling, vomiting, bleeding from the nose, mouth and anus to nearest health centre without delay.
 

He also advised members of the public to maintain good hygiene and quickly report any case of Lassa Fever to the nearest health centre or hospital for urgent attention.

#Surelere! See Throwback Photo of Cynthia Morgan Before the Fame and Money

A throwback photo of Dancehall sensation Cynthia Morgan who recently won an award at the just concluded Headies, has surfaced online.

Cynthia Morgan

 

An old picture of Nigerian Dancehall singer and Winner of the Headies dancehall/raggae award, Cynthia Morgan has surfaced.

 

Cynthia Ikponmwenosa Morgan popularly known by her stage name Cynthia Morgan, is a Nigerian born songwriter and singer. Her music is a fusion of pop, hip hop, dancehall and rap.

 

Kcee's Brother, E-Money Rocks a Skirt to an Event (Photos)

Five Star music boss, E-Money has appeared publicly in a very different style that is alien to the Nigerian culture.

E-Money

 

E-Money is the younger brother of Kcee and the CEO of Five Star Music label. He is happily married with kids.

 

This appearance is a cultural dressing of Scottish people.