2016 Budget A Booby Trap - PDP

The People's Democratic Party, PDP has described the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC's plan to borrow N1.84 trillion in the 2016 fiscal year as a ploy to pay off its huge campaign debt and fund its political war chest.

According to the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh who spoke with pressmen in Abuja on Tuesday, the planned N1.84 trillion naira loan translates to borrowing N5b daily, beginning from January 1 to December 31, 2016.

His words ;
“Some people may be wondering why we raised an alarm about the budget. The reason is simple. When we analysed the budget, we discovered it is a misshapen attempt at a Keynesian economics of applying deficit spending to stimulate growth even when studies have proven that GDP growth rates decrease by over 50 per cent when debt goes from low or moderate to high. But then we know the borrowing here is to pay huge campaign debt and fund a political war chest.

“By every standard, this budget is a booby trap against the nation. When you break down the proposed N1.84 trillion borrowing, you discover that it amounts to borrowing N5 billion everyday for the 365 days in 2016. The questions are: for what specific projects are they borrowing N5 billion per day and how do they intend to pay back?

“The President should explain to Nigerians how they intend to payback the loan. Is it by continuous borrowing to service the interests, and does he intend to accumulate colossal debt for future generations of Nigerians?

“The truth is that this administration cannot justify this proposal. There is no known economy in the world where you can justify borrowing N1.84 trillion without specific projects and precise repayment outline. This is worse still in an oil-driven, mono-economy at a time crude oil is selling at $30 per barrel and is speculated to go down to about $20 or even lower in the next one year. The idea can only come when you diversify the economy and boost production capacity in manufacturing and other critical sectors, a direction,which the budget clearly failed to provide .“

While asking President Buhari to explain to the nation why his N6.08 trillion 2016 budget should not be considered a fraud, Metuh challenged the Federal Government to a public debate on the budget.

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No plea bargain for looters - AGF

“I cannot imagine someone being responsible for monumental deaths of our citizens and then going scot-free arising from plea-bargain as a policy.

“It has never been the policy of the government to make compromises on terrorism and financial crimes. It will never be tolerated by the office of the AGF.

“It is tragic for a nation to have a budget meant for arms procurement for the protection of lives and property of the citizens, and end up not having the arms but compromising the process of making adequate provisions for the protection of lives of its citizens."

Those were the words of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami yesterday when he was asked if the Federal Government was go into plea bargain with those standing trial for looting public funds.

Speaking at a meeting with the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy group in Abuja on Tuesday, the AGF accused the Goodluck Jonathan administration of deliberately compromising corruption cases to help politically exposed individuals escape justice.

“Under the last government, corruption cases were deliberately compromised during investigation in order to pave the way for criminal elements to escape the long arm of the law. Steps are being taken to audit such cases with a view to bringing the culprits to justice.

“We have put in place a national prosecution team that comprises all stakeholders for the purposes of ensuring the success of what charge is presented before the courts. The committee will be saddled with the responsibility of preferring relevant charges and ensuring that charges are preferred in line with the dictates of the law without compromises.

“It is not just about having a team that will be prosecuting, but ensuring that relevant audit is taken as it relates to previous prosecution to ensure that those that are found wanting are brought to book. And then, ensure that the future of prosecution in this country is further enhanced by having in place an effective legal team that will involve legal drafters for efficient drafting of charges.

“The team will also include efficient investigators that will ensure that adequate proof of evidence that will establish the required ingredients of an offence are put in place, and then, competent prosecutors that will now ensure that the required proofs are presented before relevant courts for the purpose of establishing guilt,” he said.

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Stay away from Glass House, Minister warns factional leader

Following the threat by the Chris Giwa faction of Nigeria football stakeholders to forcefully take over the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF Secretariat on 16 January 2016 and sack the Amaju Pinnick faction, Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung has warned them not to go anywhere near the Abuja Glass House.

In a statement issued yesterday by his SA (Media), Nneka Ikem Anibeze, the minister warned ;

“It has come to my knowledge once again, that anarchy is being adopted as a method for addressing grievances in the Nigeria Football Federation.

"As a peacemaker and also a Minister of Youth and Sports, I will always implore Nigerians to apply the use of dialogue and consensus in resolving crisis. This my posture should not be taken as weakness but as a well intended way of promoting peace among people.

I reiterate this again and again that I am standing with nobody in the crisis of the NFF but will always stand for due process…..
Chris Giwa and his group should not take the petition brought to my table as a license for anarchy. I will not endorse that today. I will not endorse that to- morrow and I will not endorse that forever.

Therefore, I urge all warring factions to remain very calm and peaceful so that we will not destroy the image and progress built so far in football. "

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Kaduna State APC Upholds Senator's Suspension

The Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC has upheld the suspension of Senator Shehu Sani who represents Kaduna Central constituency.

According to the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Salisu Tanko-Wusono, the Senator is to remain suspended from the party's activities for 11 months for offences against the party.

His words :
“We hereby uphold the suspension of Comrade (Senator) Shehu Sani as a member of the party for the period of 11 months.

“By this suspension, he is to desist from all party activities until when the suspension is lifted.

“The party calls on all its members to be law abiding as we move forward to fulfil our campaign promises.”

Shehu Sani had earlier been suspended from the party by his Tudun Wada ward for various anti party activities.

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El-Zakzaky arraigned, remanded in prison custody.

Leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ayatollah Ibraheem El-Zakzaky was on Wednesday remanded in prison custody by a Kaduna Chief Magistrate Court.

He was arraigned with some of his followers on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy and inciting public disturbances.

Confirming Zakzaky’s arraignment and subsequent remand, Police spokesman, Olabisi Kolawole said;

“The Shi’ite leader has been arraigned at a magistrates’ court and charged with criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbances, among others. He has been remanded in prison custody and the case adjourned.”

The Shiite leader was arrested following a bloody clash between his followers and the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai in Zaria.

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Presidency To Get N3.6b BMW Cars In 2016

The presidency is to acquire a fleet of exotic BMW cars in 2016, according to the budget proposal now before the National Assembly.

The BMW saloon cars for principal officers are estimated at N3,630,000,000, going by the 2016 budget for the Presidency. The number of the cars is not specified.

N189.1m is voted for tyres for various vehicles, including the bulletproof and plain Mercedes Benz cars being used in the Presidency.

The expenditure on tyres is to cover other types of vehicles, including Toyota cars, trucks, Land Cruiser Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs), Prado SUVs, Hilux pick-up vans, Peugeot 607 and 406 cars, ambulances and others broadly described as “ utility and operational vehicles”.

President Muhammadu Buhari will, in the next fiscal year, likely spend N1,415,706,197 on both local and international travels and transportation, as against the N944,672,109 spent in 2015 by him and his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on travels and transportation.

A breakdown of the 2016 budget  for the Presidency shows that in place of the N24. 6 million voted for Wildlife Conservation, including the purchase of exotic animals last year, N326m is allocated for next year.

Also, acquisition of presidential canteen materials and kitchen equipment has increased from N83.1m this year to N89m in 2016.

There is an increase in the N11m voted for supply of foodstuff and catering services in the Vice President’s office in 2015 to N16.6m.

A breakdown of the 2016 budget for the Presidency includes: general renovation of the Guest House (N387m); complete furnishing of the Guest House (N45m); purchase of computers (27.5m) and construction and provision of recreational facilities (764m).

Recreational materials totalling N12m are to be procured.
Other expenditures on the Presidency’s vehicles include N39.8m for the purchase of an unspecified number of 200 amps, 100 amps and 60 amps Mercedes Benz batteries for bulletproof vehicles.

Also N30m is to be expended on the purchase of tool boxes, car jacks, and diagnostic machines for the Presidency’s bulletproof cars.

The purchase of C-Caution triangles, fire-extinguishers and cables is to cost N27m.

While there is no indication of the number or condition of items procured by the Presidency in 2015, N114.4m is to be expended on the upgrade of internet infrastructure in the State House; N22.5 is to be spent on purchasing internet servers.

The purchase of what is described as “Active Devices for State House Network” is to cost N100m and N35m is to be expended on the purchase of security appliances and licences, including computer anti-virus software.

Under the Office of the National Security Adviser’s N90.3 billion budget for 2016, N8.7 billion is to be expended to develop the ONSA’s “All-Eye” surveillance project and N9 billion to construct an esoterically-named “Stravinsky Project”.

The ONSA’s security vote, including funds for operations, is pegged at N576m.

The Department of State Security Service (DSS) has N2.2 billion for its 2016 security vote.

The Presidential Air Fleet is to spend N262.4m on Air Navigation equipment.

Under the 2016 budget, State House Headquarters is to spend N104.7m on refreshments and meals. Foodstuff and catering materials worth N102.9m are to be supplied.

There is provision for N99m as grants to local councils.

Other items under the Presidency’s 2016 budget include: N55,670,000 for installation or budget planning software; N272,646,891 for the upgrading of mechanical and electrical power line (underground) supplies to the State House; N322,421,971 for linking of cable to drivers’ rest room at Villa Admin and N213,873,953 for linking of cable from House No 9 Generator House to the gate.
Others are: N618,604,265 for installation of electrical lightings & fittings; N191,592,132 for electrical installation of distribution boards & other cables; N22,861,449 for provision of stage curtains & electrical drive; N10,416,146 for installations of electrical materials and luminaries.

THE NATION

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Seriously, do not say I told you Brown Ideye has love children

White woman exposes married footballer Ideye Brown, claims he's the father of her two kids (photos) http://www.lindaikejisblog.com/2015/12/white-woman-exposes-married-footballer.html

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