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Jonathan Moves To Amend 2013 Budget …Allays Fears Of Diplomatic Row With US
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday requested the Senate to review some clauses in the 2013 Appropriation Act to ensure the ensure hitch free implementation of the budget.
However , the amendment being requested by Mr President is perceived as capable of springing up new issues between the Presidency and the lawmakers.
Mr President had observed that some clauses in the 2013 Appropriation Act are contradictory to the theory of seperation of powers between the Executive and the Legislature while some may delay the implementation of the budget , if left as it is.
Faulting the clauses, President Jonathan, in a letter to the National Assembly through the Senate President, David Mark and read at the plenary by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the day’s sitting, described the said clauses as injurious.
The letter entitled, “Submission of the 2013 Amendment Budget Proposal and the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Amendment Budget Proposal” reads in parts:
“Furthermore, the 2013 Appropriation Act includes clauses which may be injurious to the spirit of separation of powers, and which could hamper the work of the executive arm of government, I therefore request that these should be reviewed.
“The relevant clauses are Clause 6(ii) states that, the Accountant-General of the Federation shall forward to the National Assembly full details of funds released to the government agencies immediately such funds are released”, while Clause 9 states that “all accounting officers of ministries, parastatals and departments of government who control heads of expenditures shall upon the coming into effect of this Act, furnish the National Assembly, on quarterly basis, with detailed information on the Internally Generated Revenue of the agency in any form whatsoever. Both clauses run counter to the established chain of reporting.
“Clause 7 states that, “the minister of finance shall ensure that funds appropriated under this Act are released to the appropriate agencies and or organs of government as and when due provided that no fun ds for any quarter of the fiscal year shall be deferred without prior waiver from the National Assembly.”
“This requires the minister of finance to seek a waiver from the National Assembly each time the Ministry of Finance cannot make full funds releases to MDAs when due. As you are aware, the nation experiences a shortfall in revenue once in a while and if the minister seeks a waiver on each occasion, the practice would tie down budget implementation, as this would involve the minister writing a formal letter to the National Assembly to be presented in plenary and sent to the relevant committees for discussion. These would create delays and constraints on the budget implementation.
“Clause 10 states, “all revenue, however, described including all fees received, fines, grants, budgetary provisions and all internally and externally generated revenue shall not be spent by the Securities and Exchange Commission for recurrent or capital purposes or for any other matters, nor liabilities thereon incurred except with Prior Appropriation and Approval by the National Assembly.
“Considering the fact that the budget of SEC does not form part of the core 2013 Federal Budget as presented to the National Assembly, I believe that this clause ought not to have been inserted in the 2013 Appropriation Act in the first place.
“Secondly, the import of the clause is tantamount to shutting down the business of the commission with potential negative impact on the capital market.”
President Jonathan had stressed that the clauses, if not amended, could derail the work of the Executive arm of government.
He also noted that the clause, which provides that SEC budgetary allocations and revenue shall not be spent by the Securities and Exchange Commission except with prior appropriation by the National Assembly will only cripple the commission.
While it is expected that Mr President ‘s request may not go easy with the lawmakers , it could be confirmed that those clauses were articulated by the lawmakers to ensure closer grip on the budget implementation procedures and that Securities and Exchange Commission be tamed for once.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has dismissed the prospect of a diplomatic wrangling with the United States and other western nations over a controversial state pardon granted ex-corruption convicts last week.
Foreign Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, said on Monday that the amnesty granted by President Goodluck Jonathan will not strain bilateral relations between Nigeria and other countries, less than a day after America’s richest man, Bill Gates, pulled out from a planned anti-polio campaign in Nigeria.
The pardon of former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and former Managing Director of the defunct Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama, both jailed for huge fraud, has infuriated many Nigerians, and has drawn scathing criticisms from the US, which has warned of sanctions.
The US said it viewed the decision as a “setback in the fight against corruption”.
Federal Government rejected that assertion and immediately summoned the U.S Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy in Abuja, on Friday, in protest. The foreign ministry described the US remarks as “undue interference and meddlesomeness in the internal affairs of Nigeria’’.
The Federal Government on Monday played down the prospects of drawing severe consequences over its decision to free Messrs Alamieyeseigha and Bulama.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ashiru, gave the assurance while addressing newsmen on the sideline of the inauguration of newly-appointed Foreign Service Officers.
Ashiru said arising concern over the presidential decision, will be resolved, and denied the Jonathan administration was abdicating an already shaky anti-corruption campaign of his government.
“The misunderstanding would be resolved,’’ the minister said. “I can assure you that we will resolve the misunderstanding; the fight against corruption is ongoing and I believe we all have a part to play, the government and the people.’’
The minister had earlier charged the newly-appointed foreign affairs officers to have “a profound understanding and appreciation of Nigeria’s national interests’’ as they undertook tasks ahead of them.
He also urged the officers to promote and protect the interests of the country at all times.
He advised the officers to take advantage of the five-day induction course organized by the ministry, stressing that it would enable them to compete favourably globally.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.