IMF Salutes Emefiele on Reappointment as CBN Gov Ebere Nwoji The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has congratulated Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, on his reappointment for a second term of five years by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Fund’s Managing Director, Ms. Christine
Lagarde, in a letter dated June 18, 2019 and made available to THISDAY yesterday, said the re-appointment came at a key moment when Nigeria has the opportunity to take important steps to strengthen the economy and improve living standards for all of its citizens. “We look forward to continuing our close
collaboration with you and your colleagues and supporting the Central Bank of Nigeria in dealing with the key challenges of ensuring macroeconomic stability and safeguarding the development of a sound financial sector,” she said, adding: “I wish you every success in your endeavors.” Emefiele, who was a former Managing Director of Zenith
Bank, was first appointed as the apex bank governor in 2014. Buhari had on May 8 submitted Emefiele's name to the Senate for confirmation. The upper chamber eventually obliged the president on May 16, saying the CBN governor had performed exceptionally well in his first term of five years.
Emefiele and Lagarde
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Buhari’s Assets: SANs Nudge SERAP to Sue CCB Davidson Iriekpen, Tobi Soniyi in Lagos and Alex Enumah in Abuja
PARLEY WITH HARVARD UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS... Business mogul, Mr. Hakeem Belo-Osagie (1st left) and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (4th left) with professors from Harvard Business School, United States during an interactive session with 36 Harvard professors at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Lagos... Monday photo: novo isioro
Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) yesterday advised a civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), to challenge in court, the refusal of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to disclose the details of President Muhammadu Buhari’s assets. Sequel to the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, SERAP had sought from the CCB the disclosure of assets declarations Continued on page 6
Afenifere, Others Demand Rejig of National Security Architecture Say Buratai's revelation on soldiers’ indiscipline on the frontlines worrisome Shola Oyeyipo, Onyebuchi Ezigbo and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBL), yesterday called for reorganisation of the nation’s security system to reverse the worsening security situation in the country.
Leaders of the group, in separate interviews with THISDAY, expressed concerns over the spate of bombings, kidnappings and banditry and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to step up efforts to protect lives and property. They spoke against the backdrop of the statement credited to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai, that lack of willingness of military officers and men at
the frontlines was responsible for the setback experienced by the Nigerian Army in recent anti-insurgency operations. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) also weighed in on the growing insecurity in the country as it expressed concern about recent escalation in attacks and bombings in Borno, Zamfara and Katsina States. Buratai, at a workshop in Abuja on Tuesday, had said
insufficient commitment of frontlines soldiers was the reason for the reverses the army had suffered in its anti-terrorism war. “It is unfortunate, but the truth is that almost every setback the Nigerian Army has had in our operations in recent times can be traced to insufficient willingness to perform assigned tasks: or simply insufficient commitment to a common
national/military course by those at the frontlines,” he had told middle level officers at the workshop organised to retool them for the task ahead. However, a leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; a founding ACF member, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai; as well as leaders of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBL), Mr. Yinka Odumakin and Dr. Kayode Ajulo, said
Buratai’s indictment of the military showed that Nigeria was not about ending the security siege criminals had foisted on the nation. They also described Buratai’s comment as selfindictment, saying that it has further created fear among Nigerians and the international community. Adebanjo said: “Why did he Continued on page 8
How Presidential Veto Frustrated Electronic Transfer of 2019 Polls Results... Page 6