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Nigeria Will Have 110m Poor People By End Of 2020 – Peter Obi
The former vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections, Peter Obi has said that Nigeria will have 110million poor people by the end of 2020.
He disclosed this on Friday in Awka, the Anambra State capital during a PDP Southeast Summit ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“Your country is drifting, it is collapsing. And if you don’t do anything, it will set its revenge on you,” Obi said.
“The World Bank released a report, go and read that report. This year alone, 11 million Nigerians will fall into poverty.
“The 11 million is on top of the 100 million that is already there. That means by the end of this year, Nigeria will have over 110 million people living in poverty. It is important to know that of this 11 million person falling into poverty, eight million are youths.”
On his party, PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus called on the youths to be creative and innovative, adding that power rests on them
According to the opposition, the party leadership has created a policy to initiate policies that will empower the young Nigerians.
In the World Bank’s report, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could increase Nigeria’s poverty rate by as much as 15 to 20 million by 2022.
The latest World Bank Nigeria Development Update report tagged “rising to the challenge: Nigeria’s COVID response” stated that in the next three years, an average Nigerian could see a reversal of decades of economic growth and the country could enter its deepest recession since the 1980s.
According to the bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, if there are no measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis, the economy could shrink up to 4 percent in 2020 following the twin shocks of COVID-19 and low oil prices.
“Nigeria is at a critical historical juncture, with a choice to make. Nigeria can choose to break decisively from business-as-usual and rise to its considerable potential by sustaining the bold reforms that have been taken thus far and going even further and with an even greater sense of urgency to promote faster and more inclusive economic growth.”
December 11, 2020
Finance bill, critical to success of 2021 budget -Gbajabiamila
…House promises speedy passage
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed the commitment of the House to speedily pass the 2020 Finance Bill.
The speaker said the bill was critical to the success of the 2021 budget, as it made provisions to support the recovery of the Nigerian economy from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Muhammadu Buhari had transmitted the bill to the National Assembly on December 1.
The President’s covering letter noted partly, “The Finance Bill, 2020 seeks to support the implementation of the 2021 Budget by proposing key reforms to specific taxation, customs, excise, fiscal and other laws.”
Gbajabiamila, who was speaking at a one-day public hearing organised by the House Committee on Finance on the bill in Abuja on Friday, stated that funding the budget to support economic recovery and address other challenges, was the reason the House gave immediate attention to the bill.
He said, “The Finance Bill which we have gathered here to consider and to contribute to, will determine amongst other things, our ability as a nation to fund the 2021 budget, meet the obligations of government and implement policies to build infrastructure, address the problem of insecurity, grow the economy, and provide jobs that pay a living wage and lift families out of poverty.”
It is an important piece of legislation, deserving of thorough consideration, and reasoned debate by the parliament of the people, acting in the best interests of the people.
“We have a responsibility as legislators to meticulously review and examine every aspect of this Bill to ensure that we produce a legislative document that is clear in its objectives, thoughtful in the mandates it imposes and reflective of the best aspirations of all our citizens.”
Gbajabiamila added that the public hearing provided an opportunity for a broad-based discussion on the bill, urging full participation from major stakeholders.
He spoke further, “This public hearing moves us closer to that laudable objective by providing an opportunity for citizens and legislators to jointly consider the contents of the Bill.
“It is expected that over the course of this public hearing, citizens will advance ideas and make recommendations that will improve the quality of the legislation and ensure the varied interests and considerations of all Nigerians are taken into view before final enactment into law of this essential legislation”.
In her presentation, the Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning, Mrs Zainab Usman, said the major reason behind the bill was to address issues that were lacking in the 2019 Finance Bill as well as deepen the innovations it had started.
However, she said the 2020 proposal dealt largely with taxation and tax administration.
“There are four major priority reforms that are in this bill. The first is the reform in the Customs and Excise Tariff Act, which is the proposal to provide fiscal support for mass transit by reviewing import duties and levies downwards.
“Second is the reform in Stamp Duty Act which is not to remove the tax but change it to a new legislation to conform with present times”.
The third major reform, according to her, is the alignment of the Company Income Tax and the Capital Gains Tax rates, aimed at eliminating the current abuse the two are being subjected to.
She also said the bill sought to address the federal issue of division of taxation power so that opportunities would no longer be lost as presently being experienced.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Rep. James Faleke, said the proposed amendments to 18 tax-related and dividend laws were in line with the Legislative Agenda of the 9th House.
“The 9th House of Representatives in its legislative Agenda clearly identified as priority to “Conduct a review of all Federal tax laws to encourage investment; to incentivize enterprise; ensure fairness and curb tax avoidance and evasion through the use of ICT in tax collection and administration.
“As encapsulated in the 9th House of Representatives Legislative Agenda, the priority economic strategic goals for the House of Representatives include: creation of an inclusive, thriving and resilient economy for Nigerians, attainment of substantive reduction in the percentage of poor and unemployed Nigerians,” Faleke told the session.
December 11, 2020
Council Polls: Acting C.J Inaugurates Local Council Election Petitions’ Tribunal In Kogi
From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
Kogi State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Henry Olusiyi on Friday in Lokoja charged Members of the State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal to live above board in the discharge of their duties.
Justice Olusiyi who gave the charge while inaugurating the Tribunal in Lokoja said that members of the Election Petitions Tribunal were saddled with the responsibility of presiding over cases or petitions arising from the local government election on Saturday, 12th December 2020 in the State.
He urged the members not to betray the confidence reposed in them as they would be held accountable by man and God.
According to the Acting Chief Judge, members are expected to be good ambassadors of the Judiciary as necessary provisions have been made to ensure the success of the assignment.
While administering judicial oath of allegiance on the chairmen and members of the Panel, the Chief Registrar, Mr. Bamidele Aina said the Tribunal was constituted in line with the Kogi State Local Government Electoral Law.
Responding on behalf of members of the Tribunal, the Chairman of panel one, Mrs Comfort Toluwase promised to justify the confidence reposed on them.
The Kogi State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal which is divided into three panels also have; Mr Joseph Ajesola and Mr. Anivasa Jibrin as chairmen of panel two and three respectively.
December 11, 2020
2023 Presidency: Jonathan still eligible to contest for election – PDP
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has said that former President Goodluck Jonathan and other chieftains of the party are free to vie for the presidential ticket in the 2023 general election.
Secondus made the remarks while addressing journalists at an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
He said the PDP is preparing to reclaim power in the next general elections, adding that the final decision on who gets the party’s presidential ticket in 2023 would be guided by the report of a committee set up by the leadership of the PDP and which work is still pending.
“I stand by my position that Gov. Bala (Mohammed) led committee is still working. They are coming out with a report on why we lost and by the time they finish, we will take decisions and the decision is not for the National Working Committee but for the entirety of our party.
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“And I believe that whoever that is interested in 2023 (presidential ticket), maybe including the former President, the chances are there because the PDP is a party of all.
“Everybody will have that opportunity but in clear terms, we have not taken any decision to give anybody a ticket for now,” Secondus stated.
He, however, described discussions on the 2023 elections as premature, saying that the state of the nation today is such that politics or anything concerning 2023, which is three years away, should take the backstage.
Reacting to the recent defection of some prominent PDP chieftains, including a governor and a senator to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Secondus said the victory of the APC in that regard will be short-lived.
Secondus asked the APC to stop running up and down poaching opposition members and face the challenges facing the nation, particularly insecurity.
“Yes, they have been poaching from virtually all the parties. They have been running around but they have not been successful at all.
“I believe that what should bother them most should be governance, the security, the economy, all that have broken down. The issue is that they should stop running up and down and face the reason why the people gave them the mandate to govern.
“And if they do that, there will be no security issues; there will be no economic issues like hunger. I think that this is the most important thing,” the PDP stalwart stated.
In recent times there have been reports suggesting that the two major parties in Nigeria have been trying to get former President Goodluck Jonathan to run for presidency come 2023.
However, Dr Jonathan seems undecided about returning to office in 2023 when President Muhammadu Buhari completes his second term.
At a brief session with reporters in Abuja last Friday, the former president was asked if he would be joining the presidential race in the 2023 general elections, and he replied saying “it is too early to talk about that.”
Issues such as insecurity have stirred debates regarding the competence of the present government and have got many Nigerians asking who will be their next leader.
But Jonathan who believes that the quest for 2023 is too early, asked Nigerians to support the Federal Government and the security agencies to overcome the challenges.
The former president noted that Nigeria is not the only country affected by insecurity, adding that he also had his challenges to deal with while in office.
December 11, 2020
PDP reacts to Goodluck Jonathan’s rumoured defection to APC
The Peoples Democratic Party has responded to the rumoured defection of former President Goodluck Jonathan into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The PDP was reacting to a visit by some APC governors and chieftains to the Abuja residence of the former president last month.
The visit by the APC chieftains to Jonathan, who contested in the 2011 and 2015 presidential elections on the platform of the PDP, raised the stakes in permutations for the 2023 general elections.
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But speaking on Thursday, December 10, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, dispelled reports that Jonathan was about to dump the party for the APC ahead of the 2023 elections. Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State had defected from the PDP to the APC last month, saying more opposition politicians would join the ruling APC.
However, the PDP spokesperson said the party was not bothered by Umahi’s defection as well as the recent visit by the APC chieftains to Jonathan’s Abuja residence.
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“Why should we be bothered about people who are working on innuendos and are claiming they are working. Where is the action?
“Because some governors went to visit (former) President Goodluck Jonathan on his birthday, then, it is concluded that he has joined APC? For me, there are many things I cannot say in the public but I want to assure Nigerians that former President Goodluck Jonathan is politically savvy enough to know he has no space in the All Progressives Congress,” Ologbondiyan stated on a television programme in Lagos on Thursday.
Jonathan was elected president in 2011 and lost to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress in 2015. His concession call to Buhari which was first of its kind endeared him to many within and outside Nigeria.
The former Bayelsa State governor has also been active in his role as Special Envoy of the Economic Community of West African States.
Analysts have argued that he is still eligible to run for another single term of four years in office.
December 10, 2020
House Minority Caucus Insists Reps Have Powers to Invite Buhari
The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has faulted the last minute claim by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, that the National Assembly lacks powers to invite President Muhammadu Buhari to address Nigerians on the growing insecurity, killings and acts of terrorism in the country.
The caucus, in a statement by the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, on Thursday, stated that such assertion by the Attorney General amounts to standing the law on its heads and portrays him as an officer who is not in touch with the laws and the realities on ground .
The same section 218 cited by the Attorney General as well as sections 88 and 89 clearly grant the National Assembly the powers to request Mr. President’s attention on his handling of security and operations of the armed forces.
Section 89 (1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended clearly empowers the Senate or the House of Representatives or a committee appointed in accordance with Section 62 of the Constitution, to procure evidence, written or oral, and to ‘summon any person in Nigeria to give evidence at any place.
The lawmakers noted that President Buhari, in response to the constitutional invitation, had already agreed to appear before the House to address Nigerians.
“Mr. President’s apparent backward steps on the invitation just because handlers like Abubakar Malami, are afraid of the people, puts him in very bad light before Nigerians and the world”, the caucus stated.
The caucus described as “reckless ” the claims by the Attorney General that by inviting Mr. President to address Nigerians, the House of Representatives overstepped its bounds.
“Indeed, as lawmakers, we are surprised that an individual who calls himself a Senior Advocate of Nigerian and who sits in office as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation can reason in such manner”.
According to the lawmakers, “the fundamental reason for the existence of any government is the security of life and property and such is directly vested on the President as the commander-in-chief.
“Today Nigerians are killed, kidnapped and maimed everyday in all parts of our country. Nigerians live in constant fear and they are asking questions; they seek reassurances, which only Mr. President can offer.
“As elected representatives of the Nigerian people, members of the House of Representatives are mandated by law to ask questions on the state of the nation, especially on issues of security and that informed the invitation to President Buhari.
“It is therefore sad and a great disservice to the nation and the President that the only opportunity Mr. President had to remedy his name by addressing Nigerians through their elected representatives is being thwarted by individuals pursuing their selfish interest not the interest of Mr. President or that of the Nigerians people”, the lawmakers stated.
The caucus further expresses serious concerns over the interest and roles being played by officers like Abubakar Malami in governance, especially in relation to the failures to stem the tide of insecurity in the country.
“We as lawmakers therefore urge President Buhari not to allow officials like Abubakar Malami to ridicule his offices and further alienate him from Nigerians.
“Mr. President, having agreed to appear before the House and given that the invitation is backed by the constitution, should take steps to honour invitation and not allow himself to be distracted by persons who have demonstrated that they do not wish the nation well”.
December 10, 2020
Presidency denounced PDP for “twisting” a 2015 tweet by Vice President
Femi Ojudu, Special Adviser on Political Matters to President Muhammad Buhari, has denounced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for “twisting” a 2015 tweet by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.
Ojudu, in a statement, also condemned the calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign.
A release by Kingsley Chinda, on behalf of the PDP caucus in the House of Representatives, had urged constituents to compel their lawmakers to commence impeachment process against the President.
Ojudu described the PDP comment about Osinbajo as mischief.
He recalled that as vice presidential candidate of the APC, Osinbajo tweeted at a time when Nigeria was facing one of its darkest periods due to incessant terrorist attacks in some parts of the country, including the FCT.
“In fact, at the time the tweet was done on February 8, 2015, the then Federal Government had said it could not guarantee the security in parts of the country for the election to hold and actually elections were postponed because of that stance of the Jonathan Presidency.”
Ojudu lamented that the opposition had disingenuously twisted it out of context even insinuating as though it was a recent tweet.
The presidential aide clarified that Osinbajo never said such in relation to Buhari.
He stressed that Buhari never admitted that he had lost the capacity to guarantee the security of lives and property.
“As the president noted concerning the senseless murder of hardworking farmers in November by terrorists in Zabarmari community in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State, the Nigerian Armed Forces will continue to be given all the needed support to take all necessary steps to protect the country’s population and its territory.”
Ojudu told Nigerians to ignore the misrepresentation and misleading narrative by the PDP House of Representative Caucus.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain added that it was meant to cause disaffection.
December 10, 2020
Ghana’s President Akufo-Addo Wins Second Term
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has won a second term after a tightly contested presidential election, the country’s electoral commission announced Wednesday, beating long-time opponent John Mahama.
Akufo-Addo of the centre-right New Patriotic Party (NPP) received 6,730,413 or 51.59 percent of votes while Mahama of the centre-left National Democratic Congress (NDC) received 6,214,889 or 47.36 percent of votes, the commission’s chairperson Jean Adukwei Mensa said.
Parliamentary results for the country’s 275 constituencies are yet to be announced, but are expected to be very close. Both parties are contesting some of the provisional results.
Mahama, 62, and Akufo-Addo, 76, are old rivals who have faced off at the ballot box twice before.
Mahama was president for four years until 2016, before being succeeded by Akufo-Addo. Both of those elections were determined by small margins.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, turnout was high on Monday, with 13,434,574 people voting or 79 percent of registered voters, according to the electoral commission.
While the vote was largely peaceful, five people were killed in election-related violence, police said Wednesday, casting a shadow over a country hailed for its stable democracy.
Ghana has had seven peaceful transitions of power since the return of democracy more than 30 years ago, and post-electoral grievances have always been pursued through the courts –- a rarity in the troubled region.
December 10, 2020
Plateau South Senator meets gov Lalong
Plateau South Senator-elect Prof. Nora Dadu’ut visited Governor Simon Lalong on today to express her appreciation, APC leadership in the State and the people of the zone for reposing their confidence in her to serve them at the red chambers.
A statement by Makut Simon Macham, spokesperson of governor Lalong said Dadu’ut was in the company of her husband and Prof. Garba Sharubutu, Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria when she presented the certificate of return to Governor Lalong.
She promised not to disapoint the people of the southern zone and the entire State during her time at the Senate.
Governor Lalong again congratulated Prof. Nora for being the first woman to occupy the position of Senator in Plateau State saying his desire is to lift up more women and remove all barriers that make them not realise their dreams.
He said with her acedemic and other contributions to society, he was optimistic that she will excell and make the people proud.
He promised to continue to support her and all Federal legislators from the State as well as other appointees at the Federal Level in order to bring development to the State.
December 9, 2020
I have no case to answer on allegations against me, Maina tells court
Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chairman, Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT), on Wednesday, told the Federal High Court, Abuja, that he had no case to answer in the allegations levied against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Maina, who told Justice Okon Abang shortly after the EFCC, through its counsel, Farouk Abdullah, closed its case, said he would be filing a no-case submission.
The former pension reformed boss, through his lawyer, Anayo Adibe, made his intention known shortly after he cross examined the ninth prosecution witness (PW9), Rouqquaya Ibrahim, an EFCC investigator.
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Justice Abang adjourned the matter until Friday (Dec. 10) for counsel to defendant, Adobe, to address the court orally and for the prosecution counsel, Abdullah, to respond to the no-case submission.
Maina (1st defendant) was arraigned before Justice Abang, on Oct. 25, 2019, by the EFCC alongside his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Ltd.
Although he is facing 12-counts bordering on money laundering up to the tune of N2 billion, he had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
December 9, 2020