News

FG insists Rivers State funds is intact was never stopped

Published

4 days ago

November 23, 2024

The Federal Government has not stopped disbursement of funds to Rivers State contrary to reports on some online platforms on Friday.

Mr. Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press in the office of the Accountant General of the Federation told the Saturday Tribune that “disbursement of October allocation to states and local governments by FAAC is ongoing.”

He explained that “Rivers State will benefit because of a subsisting appeal/stay of execution order.”

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division on Friday, reserved judgements in five separate appeals arising from the judgements of a Federal High Court in Abuja on the Rivers State government political crisis.

One of the appeals is against the judgement of the High Court which stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from releasing federal allocation to Rivers State.

The presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, Justice Hamma Barka reserved the judgements to a date that would be communicated to the parties after all processes filed in the appeals were adopted by counsel.

The appeals are, CA/ABJ/CV/ 1277/2024, CA/ABJ/CV/ 1303/2024, CA/ABJ/CV/1293/2024, CA/ABJ/CV/1287/2024 filed against the judgements of the Federal High Court, Abuja delivered on October 30, 2024 and appeal number, CA/ABJ/CV/ 1196/2024 against the judgement delivered by same Federal High Court on October 2, 2024.

Earlier, while adopting his briefs of argument in the appeal, Yusuf Ali, SAN representing the Governor of Rivers state, Siminalayi Fubara in appeal number CA/ABJ/CV/1303/2024 prayed the court to consolidate the five appeals, a request the court granted.

It would be recalled that Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a Federal High Court, Abuja had, in a judgement delivered on 30th October stopped the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from further releasing monthly financial allocations to Rivers State government.

The court held that the receipt and disbursement of monthly allocations since January this year by Governor Fubara is a constitutional summersault and aberration that must not be allowed to continue.

Justice Abdulmalik who issued the order in a judgment in the suit filed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and Rt Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule as its Speaker, held that the presentation of the 2024 budget by Fubara before a four-member Rivers State House of Assembly was an affront to the constitutional provision.

The Judge specifically held that Fubara’s action in implementing unlawful budget smacked gross violations of the 1999 Constitution he swore to protect and consequently restrained the apex bank, the Accountant General of the Federation, Zenith Bank and Access Bank from further allowing Fubara to access money from the Consolidated Revenue and Federation Account.

Justice Abdulmalik held that the action of the four-member Rivers State House of Assembly being held on to by Governor Fubara as yardstick to justify unlawful budget had since been nullified and set aside by the Federal High Court, Abuja and the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.

According to the Judge, the judgment of the Rivers State High Court, which gave power to the governor to implement the 2024 budget, had also been set aside by the Court of Appeal.

She said, the Appropriation Bill for January to December 2024, being operated by the 5th defendant (Fubara), having not been passed by the lawful House of Assembly is illegal unlawful and subversion of the 1999 Constitution.

According to the Judge, “It is mandatory to present Appropriation Bills before the appropriate Houses of Assembly before legitimate disbursement and withdrawal can be made.

She also issued another order of injunction which restrained Fubara, Accountant General of the state and their agents from authorizing the withdrawal of money from the Rivers state bank accounts domiciled at the Zenith Bank and Access Bank until the budget of the state is passed by the appropriate House of Assembly.

The suit, which has the Rivers State House of Assembly and Rt Hon Martin Chike Amaewhule as plaintiffs, has the CBN, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, Accountant General of the Federation, Rivers State governor, Accountant General of Rivers, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, Hon Justice S. C. Amadi, Chief judge of Rivers state, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, chairman of RSIEC and Rivers State government as defendants.

News

Reps Honour Governor Bago For Outstanding Performance

Published

7 minutes ago

November 27, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…say he is as worthy ambassador of Nigerian parliament

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives on Tuesday at plenary commended the Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago (Turakin Nupe), for his exemplary leadership and outstanding achievements in office. Governor Bago, was a member of the 7th, 8th, and 9th Assembly.

During the session, Rep. Babajimi Benson, lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, rose under matters of personal explanation to praise Governor Bago’s achievements, particularly in agricultural revolution, infrastructural development, and enhancing religious tolerance. Hon. Benson noted that Governor Bago’s efforts have not only benefited Niger State but also have the potential to impact the entire country and West Africa.

He cited a conversation with a Cameroonian General who studies at Harvard, who expressed admiration for Governor Bago’s giant strides in ensuring that Niger State can feed itself and Nigeria in a few years to come.

Also Rep. Saeed Abdullahi, SMA (Gwarzon Nupe), Member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency of Niger State, contributing to the deliberation, also commended Governor Bago’s vision, drive, and energy, which have transformed the political and economic fortunes of Niger State. He highlighted the Governor’s efforts to cultivate 250,000 hectares of land for sugarcane production, a project inspired by a recent study tour to Brazil.

According to Rep. Saidu, the study tour revealed that Niger State has the potential to generate about $1 billion in revenue from sugarcane production, making it a game-changer for the state’s economy.

The Speaker Tajudeen Abbas (Iyan Zazau), thanked Rep. Jimi for the encomium poured on Governor Bago, describing him as a pride and worthy Ambassador of the Parliament.

The Speaker humorously suggested that Rep. Saidu deserved to be appointed as the Director-General of Governor Bago’s 2027 re-election campaign for making brilliant submission on the performance of his State’s Governor.

News

Nigeria’s Livestock Sector Will Generate N33trn Revenue If Properly Harnessed – Minister Maiha

Published

2 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, has said that Nigeria’s livestock sector can generate about N33 trillion as revenue, if propoerly unbundled and harnessed.

The Ministry disclosed this during an inaugural meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Livestock Development on Tuesday, in Abuja.

According to him, once full activities commence, the sector has the potential to attract a lot of capital into the country, adding that Nigerian businessmen have already indicated interest to go into ranching and dairy farming.

Maiha therefore who said that state governments have a critical role to play, urged them to create dedicated Ministries of Livestock for a more seamless relationship with the federal government.

He said: “At the moment we are taking stock of those state governments that have external ministry of livestock and fisheries. For state governments that have not created they should give it effect and have a standing Ministry for Livestock so there would be a seamless relationship between the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the State Ministries of Livestock as the case may be.

“This sector sector is worth about 33 trillion naira once unbundled. Once unbundled we have a huge opportunity to attract capital into the country as well as have a lot of ranchers. At the moment we have a lot of requests from Nigerian businessmen who want to go into ranching and dairy activities.

“So it is a question of settling down and unbundling this Ministry, giving it to into the formal sector so that it can be derisked and people will know that beyond what everybody has been saying before the creation of this Ministry, today there is a strong political support from the office of the President and then this Committee.”

Naijablitznews.com recalled that upon assumption of office, the Minister pledged to reform Nigeria’s livestock industry to enhance food security, create a safe environment for all stakeholders, and attract foreign investment.

He disclosed a vision for the newly established ministry to include comprehensive reforms aimed at “unbundling” the sector, strengthening infrastructure, and meeting Nigeria’s growing demand for animal protein.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Wale Raji, said the transformation of the livestock sector of the country has lots of opportunities for job creation, economic growth and national development.

The Chairman who acknowledged the urgency needed in the sector, vows to partner with the Ministry to ensure speedy implementation of the sector, and expressed confidence in the capacity of the Minister to deliver on his mandate.

“The only regret is that the creation of the ministry is coming this late. But our consolation is that it is better late than never. And with your wealth of experience as a technocrat and also a practicing farmer, we have no doubt that we have a round peg in round hole. The whole essence would be towards the development and progress of the country,” he said

He however warned that the Committee will not compromise on its oversight function.

News

Gov Eno presents N955bn budget to Akwa Ibom Assembly

Published

3 hours ago

November 27, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Eno, presented a proposed total budget outlay of N955 billion for the 2025 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly for consideration on Tuesday.

This was against the revised provision of N923.46 billion in the 2024 budget.

The 2025 financial appropriation estimate comprised recurrent expenditures of N300 billion and capital expenditures of N655 billion.

Eno said that the total capital receipts and expenditure for the year 2025 is estimated at N655 billion as against the proposed revised provision of N573.32 billion for 2024.

He said that the 2025 Budget, which is christened “Budget for Consolidation and Expansion,” is predicated on an oil benchmark of $75 per barrel at a production rate of 2.12 million barrels per day with an estimated exchange rate of N1,400/US$.

The Governor added that the 2025 oil benchmark and exchange rate is in line with the National Budget benchmark projections.

He said that the total projected recurrent revenue for 2025 is estimated at ₦830 billion as against the proposed revised provision of B803.70 billion, representing a 3 per cent increase in revenue projection for the year 2025.

The governor said the policy thrust objectives of the 2025 budget would be to achieve food security through investing heavily in the agricultural revolution.

Other objectives included rural development through robust investments in modern living facilities such as all seasonal roads, rural electrification and others within rural communities to ultimately improve the quality of life for those in the rural areas and help stem rural-urban migration. Ensuring that public schools in the state are equipped and staffed by teachers who are passionate and dedicated.

He said to realise the year 2025 budget objectives, the state shall adopt and improve the effectiveness of budget performance by ensuring fiscal discipline through the implementation of only programmes that were captured in the budget, among other strategies.

In his remarks, Speaker of the Assembly, Udeme Otong, assured the governor that the lawmakers would quicken the consideration process to ensure speedy passage of the 2025 budget estimate to fasten development in the state.

Otong urged all heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state to cooperate with the House of Assembly during the budget defence to ensure speedy passage of the budget.