See the speech Saraki made when IMF's Christine Lagarde visited the National Assembly

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR (DR.) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI TO THE MEETING WITH THE PRINCIPAL OFFICERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON THE VISIT OF MADAME CHRISTINE LAGARDE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, (IMF) ON 06 JANUARY, 2016.

Protocol:
Your Excellency, on behalf of my Distinguished and Honourable colleagues, I warmly welcome you and your entourage to the National Assembly. Your historic visit today, is a testament of the importance you attach to the role of the legislature in the attainment of economic development policies.

Your Excellency, your visit in this New Year is very auspicious as we begin to deliberate on the 2016 Appropriation Bill as the world economy rebalances in response to falling commodity prices, in particular oil.

Your Excellency, this National Assembly congratulates you and appreciates the new IMF recognition of the pivotal role parliamentarians could play in forging sustainable development policies for the attainment of the IMF mandate.

To me this is critical to minimizing the erroneous perception on IMF policy prescriptions and conditionalities that have been entrenched over the years especially in Africa.
This, I believe, is vital to the success of the Fund’s policies and programmes not only now but also in the future. As legislators, we play an important role in making our people understand IMF advice, policy trade-offs, consultations and other engagements, so that ownership, transparency and accountability are brought to bear in economic policy choices.

Since the year 2000 when the IMF/World Bank Group founded the Parliamentary Network which is an independent, non-governmental organisation, participation in the programmes has been on the rise by legislators from all over the World. We commend the initiative. This outreach to legislators is a win-win situation since one of the objectives is to familiarize the legislators with the rationale behind the IMF advisory.

We recommend that IMF should further strengthen this network as a veritable tool towards greater convergence of understanding and engagement.
Here at home, the effect of the low oil prices on government revenue is challenging us to think out of the box in funding the repair of infrastructure, boosting employment, and securing our borders and people. These are no mean tasks and we welcome the support of our friends in this trying period.

Our economic fundamentals remain robust and the economy is resilient to absorb the current oil price shock. The situation is bringing out the entrepreneurship in us. Our private sector is also rising to the challenge. We assure you we will use this occasion to build a new economy diversified away from the perennial effects of oil price shocks.

The 8th National Assembly will provide the legislative leadership in ensuring a conducive environment for business to thrive.

The Nigerian legislature strongly believes that having a collaborative working relationship with the Executive Branch of government brings development closer to the people. Since the advent of the new administration, we have worked closely to stabilize the economy and steady the fiscal environment. This, we have indeed demonstrated by the speedy passage of the Medium Term Expenditure Frame Work (MTEF) and recently in the postponement of our recess in order to receive President Muhammadu Buhari to present the 2016 Appropriation Bill. We have also set in motion activities towards reforming our oil and gas industry through legislative initiatives in order to meet international best practices.

Engaging with our people the issues we strongly made here of FOREX – to do business.
This is expected – what IMF can do to bridge the gap.
CBN to advise open – allow Forex
(ii) No devaluation.
(iii) Loans to SMEs – bring interest to CBN
(iv) Technical assistance
(v) Support policies.

The 8th Senate Legislative Agenda is of particular interest in Parliamentary Network initiative which brings together parliamentarians and representatives of private sector as well as civil society organisations to discuss how to improve the environment for doing business in the developing world and how countries can increase their ranking in publications such as “Doing Business Report”.

The purpose of our Legislative Agenda is to enable us focus our lawmaking in areas that will help create jobs, expand our infrastructure base and make our economy work for the benefit and happiness of the majority of our people. Pivotal to the attainment of this overarching objective is the state of the Nigerian business environment. In collaboration with major stakeholders, the 8th Senate is presently signing a memorandum of understanding on “The Enhancing Nigerian Advocacy for Better Business Environment Project,” a National Assembly business and investment round-table initiative, with developmental organizations.

These roundtables will provide opportunity to the private sector to work closely with the legislature in developing friendly-business environment.
The initiative will commence with a review of institutional, regulatory and legal instruments currently becoming impediments and bottlenecks to doing business in Nigeria.

Your Excellency, Distinguished and Honourable colleagues, in closing, I want you to take away these messages:

Legislature/Executive Collaboration on the Economy:
The National Assembly is committed to working closely with the Executive arm in addressing the challenges facing the Nigerian economy. This is the position on both sides of the aisle;

Diversifying and Modernizing Our Economy:
We will support the Executive with legislation where necessary to give confidence to investors.
Blocking Revenue Leakages:
We are assiduously working towards blocking identified legal loopholes on revenue leakages and expanding our tax base;
Conducive Business Environment:

We are giving priority to legislation aimed at providing a more conducive business environment in general and reducing the cost of doing business in Nigeria; and
Ending Impunity and Reducing Corruption: The National Assembly more than ever before, is working at improving its oversight systems to expose corruption wherever it may be, and providing better legal frameworks to entrench the rule of law and end impunity.

The global economy is currently well interconnected. With our economic weight in our sub-region, a well functioning Nigerian economy provides a strong pillar to its growth. We therefore, implore the international community and financial institutions to partner with us in supporting our economic development aspirations.

On this note, Your Excellency, we welcome you once again to our beautiful city and wish you the Season’s Greetings.
Bienvenue!

PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

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It's a lie! We have not withdrawn 2016 budget proposal - FG

The Federal Government has denounced stories circulating in the social media that it has withdrawn its 2016 budget proposal from the National Assembly.

The purported withdrawal was blamed on bloated budgetary votes in the proposal.

However, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed told State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday that the speculations about the withdrawal of the budget proposal were not true.

“When somebody from the Daily Trust called me, I told him categorically that there is nothing like that. When a story like this breaks out, I believe it will help all of us to actually be able to pin point the source.

“I know for a fact that this administration has not withdrawn the budget from the National Assembly,” he said.

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APC, FG Want To Destroy PDP - Dokpesi

The founding Chairman of Daar Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi has described the ongoing $2.1b arms deals probe as a hoax designed to destroy the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Dokpesi who was honored with a certificate in his office in Abuja on Wednesday as the patron of the PDP Youth Vanguard told newsmen that the $2.1b armsgate being investigated by the EFCC is the figment of the imagination of the federal government intended to destroy the PDP.

His words :
“I must hasten to assure you that there is nothing like the much flaunted $2.1 billion arms gate. The competent courts of our land would sooner or later prove this coinage aimed at decimating the leadership and membership of our great party to be nothing but a hoax.

“Some of us are reminded of the events of 1984/85 which by any stretch of comparison are similar to the unfolding events of today. As I have said not too long ago, we must stand resolutely united especially in the face of this momentary political adversity. For one thing, I say again that the PDP is not dead, is not dying and will not die.

“I wish to emphasise that the current ruling party is making efforts to impede our journey to political maturity through the manipulation of the federal system to serve purely partisan interest.

“Our party is indeed experiencing a massive persecution, political reprisal and vendetta, of the kind never before seen on our shores and targeted at the leadership, membership and indeed sympathizers of the PDP by the APC government of the day.

“As you all know, so much political water has passed under the bridge since the general elections of April 2015. So much has been said about our members, many of whom have been publicly vilified even without being heard. I assure you that we will not be weakened or demoralised in playing our role as the important opposition voice which is a very critical ingredient in any democratic state.

“We may be harassed, we may even be bent, but we are resolute and will not be broken. Even as I speak, the relentless pursuit of our members across the country is being intensified and I can say with some measure of certainty that a lot more lie in stock for the PDP and its members.”

The Coordinator of the PDP Youth Vanguard, Ibrahim Bala Aboki, had condemned what he described as selective persecution targeted against PDP members.

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EFCC Tracking More Influential Nigerians

The last may not have been heard about the monumental corruption that went on in the last administration.

According to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, some influential personalities that have been on its radar will be arrested soon.

His words :
“More influential Nigerians are on the radar of the EFCC and, in the coming weeks, they would have their days in court and Nigerians will be kept fully abreast of the results of the Commission’s investigations.”

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Army/Shiites Clash: We have no apologies - Army

The Nigerian Army says it has no apologies for its recent clash with members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.

The General Officer Commanding, (GOC) 1 Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade while addressing journalists in Kaduna on Wednesday said that the Army cannot fold its hands and watch any group jeopardize the peace and stability of the country.

“Army has paid heavily with the blood of its officers and men to protect this country, and so we have no apology to any group, either Shiites Islamic sect, Christian sect, even pagan sect that is threatening the peace of the country.

“We don’t have any issue with the Shiites or any sect at all in the land as long as they obey the law of the land. But if any group tends to challenge the constituted authority of the land, it means that such group does not respect the constitution of the land.

“Even in the military, we have Shiites members, but there is no issue with them because they are law abiding citizens.

“But we have issues with those who create a State within a State, and our rules of engagement are very clear, that is, when there is threat to a constituted authority, it must be arrested before it goes full blown.

“We know the business of violence but we apply it professionally if the peace of the land is being threatened, so we are appealing to Nigerians who are bent on causing violence stay off,” he said.

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Kanu's Wife Gives Birth To Baby Boy

The wife of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr Nnamdi Kanu on Tuesday gave birth to a baby boy.

Mrs Uchechi Kanu and the baby are doing well according to the Facebook page of Radio Biafra.

“Good morning great Biafrans. With joy in our hearts and celebration of new arrival to IPOB family, our first lady, the wife of our eminent leader, Joshua Nnamdi Kanu, has delivered a healthy baby boy. Mother and child are in good health,” the post said on Facebook.

Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS since his arrest at a Lagos hotel on October 18, 2015.

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We collected N53m from Anenih to mobilize for 2015 elections - Yakassai

Erstwhile Special Adviser to former President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly Matters, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai has given reasons why he and 8 other prominent statesmen from the North collected N53m from Chief Tony Anenih.

The elder statesman said that they used the money for advocacy visits to get traditional rulers across the North to mobilize their subjects for a peaceful 2015 general elections.
Yakassai told Vanguard that the development followed Anenih's request for a list of “9 apolitical but respected individuals from the North."

He added that the money was spent on allowances, transportation and hotel accommodation for the group of 9 who toured 19 states in the North.

He listed the other members of the group as former minister of state, foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Anka, Barrister Bitrus Gwada and Alhaji Suleiman Lawal, Dr Bahago, Chief John Macklink from Plateau, and Senator Sodangi.

Yakasai, who turned 90th last year disclosed that they visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, the Emir of Gwandu,
the Emir of Anka, Emir of Ilorin, Emir of Nassarawa, Minnie, Bauchi, Zuru, Kebbi, Katsina, Dutse, Hadejia and representatives of Emir of Daurawa.

Other prominent rulers visited were the Tor Tiv, the Gbom Gwom Jos, Ohimege Igu, Kotonkarfe, Etsu of Abaji, Etsu Nupe and Atta Igala.

He declared that the fund had nothing to do with campaign for Goodluck Jonathan.

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