Senate Issues Two-week Ultimatum to Executive to Submit Agencies’ Budget Proposals Bars NNPC, CBN, 34 other agencies from further capital expenditure Frowns at resumption of DG, lottery commission without confirmation Damilola Oyedele in Abuja
The Senate yesterday issued President Muhammadu Buhari a two-week ultimatum to submit the 2017 budget proposals of at least 36
agencies of the federal government for consideration and passage by the National Assembly, in line with the
generating, from further capital and non-essential expenditure, pending the submission and approval
Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA). It also barred the agencies, which are revenue
of their budgets. Some of the affected agencies include the Nigerian National Petroleum
Another Chibok Schoolgirl Found, Ag. President Confirms… Page 10
Corporation (NNPC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Continued on page 9
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Stop Allocating Soldiers to Politicians, Wike Replies Buratai Britain warns against non-democratic change of govt in Nigeria
Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt with agency report Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has advised the Army High Command to desist
from posting soldiers to politicians, saying it was counter-productive and a threat to national security. The governor said the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur
Buratai, should go beyond complaining that politicians are hobnobbing with soldiers and take action to check the disturbing trend. This is just as the British
government has warned against “non-democratic” change of government in Nigeria, amid concerns over Buratai’s warning on Tuesday to officers and soldiers in the
Nigerian Army to steer clear of politics and politicians, whom he claimed were attempting to influence them. He said the Nigerian Army headquarters had
received information that some individuals have been approaching some officers and soldiers for undisclosed Continued on page 10
Osinbajo Will Assent to 2017 Budget, Says Presidency FG constitutes panel on Ebola
Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja
Following that absence of clarity yesterday afternoon as to who would sign the 2017 budget after its transmission to the executive by the National Assembly, the presidency last night said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo would assent to this year’s spending bill. Reacting to the remark by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting said that the federal government would take a decision on who will sign 2015 budget when it is transmitted, Osinbajo’s media
aide, Laolu Akande, took to his Twitter handle @kandeoj late last night, saying his principal will assent to the budget if he’s satisfied with the budget. “Just so we are clear: when the time comes and if he’s satisfied, Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo will assent to 2017 budget,” Akande tweeted. Mohammed caused the confusion on who would assent to the budget while responding to questions from State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Continued on page 10
Kachikwu: FG to Maintain N145 Pump Price of Petrol… Pa g e 1 2
ARCO GROUP SEEKS COLLABORATION WITH NIGERIAN ENGINEERS…
L-R: Past President, Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), Prof. Ayo Ogunye; Group Managing Director, Arco Group, Mr. Alfred Okoigun; President, NAE, Mrs. Joanna Maduka; Fellow, NAE, Mr. Babajide Soyode, and Technical Secretary, NAE, Mr. I. K lnuwa, during the visit of a delegation from NAE to Arco Group’s head office in Lagos recently to discuss collaboration between the two organisations