Gombe State House of Assembly, North East of the country has passed into law the 2019 Appropriation Bill of over One Hundred and Twenty Two point Four billion Naira as against One Hundred and Eighteen point Seven Billion presented to it.
This shows an increase of over three point Seven billion Naira by the legislature.
The passage followed the adoption of recommendation contained in the report of the House Committee on Appropriation presented on the floor of the House.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Solomon Philip Jisimah said the Budget is made up of a Capital Expenditure of Sixty Billion, Nine Hundred and Thirty Six Million, Three Hundred and Sixty One Thousand , Five Hundred and Eighty Three Naira, while Sixty One Billion, Five Hundred and Fifty Three Million, Two Hundred and Fourty Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Eight Naira goes for recurrent.
He added that, the Budget will be funded with Recurrent Receipts of Seventy Nine Billion Two Hundred and Eighty Four Million One Hundred and Fourty Seven Thousand, and Capital Receipts of Sixty Four Billion Nine Hundred and Eighty Million Eight Hundred and Ninety Nine Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Two Naira .
This is with a deficit of Seventeen Billion Six Hundred and Five Million Four Hundred and Sixty One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety One Naira.
The Chairman explained that the Deficit will be financed by internal and external Loans
Giving the sectorial allocation of the Capital Expenditure, Mr. Philip Jisimah said the Economic Sector has the highest allocation of Thirty Three Billion One Hundred and Forty Three Million Two Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand Five Hundred and Forty Five Naira, followed by Social Sector with Twenty Two Billion Four Hundred and Sixty Eight Million Thirty Five Thousand Thirty Eight Naira, while Administrative Sector, and Law and Justice have Three Billion Five Hundred and Ninety Four Million Twenty Thousand, and One Billion Seven Hundred and Thirty One Million Fifty Two Thousand Naira respectively.
After thorough debate, the House approved the Budget size and the sectorial allocation.
The House also approved the recommendations of the Committee that Gombe State Government should fully adapt the National Health Insurance Scheme and establish State Health Insurance Agency and that a budget line be created for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Capital Expenditure.
Speaking shortly after the passage of the Budget, the Speaker, Alhaji Nasiru Abubakar Nono commended the Appropriation Committee for presenting an articulate report that guided the House in taking informed decision calling on the Executive to ensure the effective implementation of the budget as approved by the House.
He also called on standing Committees of the House to maintain the spirit of diligent oversighting on MDAs under their purview to achieve appreciable performance in the implementation of the 2019 Budget.
The House also passed into Law the Bill to Provide for the Establishment of Gombe State and Local Government Councils Contributory Pension Scheme.
Thirty governorship candidates in Gombe State, North East of the country have signed Peace Accord to ensuring peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections in the state.
Speaking on the occasion organized by INEC, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo described the accord as key in a democratic practice anywhere in the world.
He urged the candidates to play politics by the rules and abide by the code of conduct to run issue based campaigns at both state and local government levels.
He also urged them to caution their supporters against violence or incitement before, during or after the election.
Dankwambo implored all the candidates to work towards successful and peaceful conduct of the elections and condemned spilling of blood in any form.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner of Police, Garba Mohammed Mukaddas said that there would be no compromise in ensuring free and fair elections and security service delivery in the state.
“It is our fervent hope that all the political parties gubernatorial candidates and their supporters will ensure that the accord 2019 is honoured and allowed to work so that our state will retain and sustain its position of being peaceful to remain as not only a jewel in the savannah but the jewel of the nation.
He called on all the candidates, their supporters and the people of the state to speak out against violence, misinformation and hate speeches.
“While we seek for the understanding support and cooperation of everyone in this respect and we advise each and every one of us to desist from all act or omissions that may lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state.
In his remark, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Ibrahim said that violent free election world over are critical to the credibility of the electoral process and sustenance of democracy, adding that, “This implies that there can never be credible elections without peace.
He also assured that the Independent National Electoral Commission is committed to create a level playing field to all political parties.
The occasion was witnessed by all heads of security agencies, Civil Societies Organization (CSOs) and traditional rulers, among others.
Rwanda has termed the deportation of former MTN Uganda head of sales and distribution, Annie Tabura as ‘witch-hunt’.
Tabura, a Rwandan national was deported on Tuesday morning by Uganda alongside Frenchman Olivier Prentout, after Uganda accused them of undermining state security.
Prentout was the chief marketing officer of the telecommunications giant.
Hours after the news of Tabura’s deportation was broken by Watchdog, Rwanda’s Minister of State for East African Community Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe referred reporters to Ugandan authorities.
“You should ask them why they keep doing this, not us. It is not the first time they have done this. This is a case of harassment of our nationals in Uganda.”
Despite denials from Kigali and Kampala, ties between Rwanda and Uganda appear to be deteriorating rapidly. Rwanda accuses Uganda of arbitrary arrest and torture of Rwandans in Uganda and for hosting rebels seeking to destabilise it.
Mr Nduhungirehe said Rwanda will seek explanations, adding that “there are also some Rwandans who were arrested in Uganda and we don’t know where they were taken.”
In a statement issued Tuesday morning, Uganda Police deputy police spokesperson, Polly Namaye said that security agencies in collaboration with immigration officers had been investigating the two foreigners ‘over their engagements in acts which compromise national security.’
“We strongly believe that the deportation of the two foreigners, who were using their employment as tools to achieve their ill motives, has enabled us to disrupt their intended plans of compromising our national security,” she added.
Although one may not be accurate to judge the popularity of presidential candidates at the polls by the crowd they pull, the unprecedented crowd that welcomed the PDP flag bearer in Kaduna, North West Nigeria on Thursday, is frightening.
Like a triumphant entry, Atiku Abubakar arrived the Ahmadu Bello Stadium at about 2.30 pm and received by the awaiting Supporters who were like the surge of the sea driven by the wind.
Addressing the rally, Atiku Abubakar said if elected into power, he would ensure security and food provision for the generality of Nigerians.
Just as the party’s national chairman, Uche Secondus said the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has gone to sleep, and left Nigerians to face hardship without providing solution.
Atiku noted that the level of insecurity and hunger in the land, allegedly fostered on the people by the APC was alarming, raising the hope of the people that if PDP takes over power, the hardship would be addressed.
The presidential candidate who spoke in Hausa said if APC had kept to its promise, insecurity wouldn’t have taken over the country.
“There is insecurity in the north east, north west, south south, south west, all over the country, there is hardship and insecurity. Do you need to vote for APC again that failed to keep its promises.
“But if you vote for PDP there will be security, food provision and many good things across the country. So you have to vote for PDP from top to bottom, and from bottom to top”.
Earlier, in his remarks, Secondus said, “APC has been sleeping on duty, that is why Nigeria have been witnessing hunger and insecurity.
“It is time to ask President Buhari to go, he has tried, let him go home and rest. His energy is no more there. We need somebody with alot of energy that can work for 24 hours.
“If you vote for APC, the Cabal will be in control of government because Buhari is weak, he cannot rule.
“We want somebody who can has capacity to rule this country, and that person is Atiku. Atiku will provide jobs, food, security, etc for Nigerians.
“Nigeria is 200 million people, so Atiku will not sleep until there is food on your table and security of lives and property all over the country. Atiku will not fail you.
The PDP national chairman said the era of election rigging is over, saying that nobody can rig election any longer.
He warned INEC to resist the temptation of rigging the election.
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki also noted, “There is hunger, unemployment in the land, therefore vote in PDP and Atiku to bring sanity to the country. It is time for APC to go. We want a better Nigeria, and the only man that can give us a better Nigeria is Atiku. Atiku went to America when APC said he cannot go”.
The State PDP governorship candidate, Isah Ashiru called on the people to vote for PDP in order to chase out poverty in the land.
Also, former governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and the State PDP chairman, Felix Hassan Hyet, in their separate remarks agreed that the State naturally belonged to PDP, and urged the people to vote out APC in the next election.
As 2019 gubernatorial election draws nearer, the people of Ibesikpo Asutan local government area have insisted that their votes will go to no one except Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The people made their stance known on Tuesday when Divine Mandate, the Campaign Organization of Governor Udom Emmanuel berthed Ibesikpo Asutan.
In their remarks, the people of the area through their leaders noted that the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel has so far performed creditably hence given indication of great things to come if he is given a second term mandate.
The people stated that Ibesikpo Asutan has been blessed through the citing of key infrastructure in the area and appointment of Ibesikpo Asutan sons into sensitive offices in the Governor Emmanuel’s administration.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan local government area, Mr. Sylvester George, noted that he is confident of the governor’s victory in Ibesikpo Asutan owing to the fact that known stakeholders in the area coupled with the people are supportive of Governor Emmanuel’s second term.
While pointing out that the area has benefited significantly in Governor Emmanuel’s administration, he said that as a gesture to reciprocate the Governor’s deeds, the people were poised on standing by him.
A PDP woman leader Mrs Ime Orok in her remark offered insight to the fact that the women of the area had long started campaigning for the governor’s reelection and were confidence of victory owing to the Governor’s acceptability.
The Woman leader thanked the Governor for reactivating the Cassava Processing Plant in Ibesikpo Asutan added with a 16 storey building which will house businesses of repute.
She insisted that owing to what they have seen on ground coupled with the Governor’s personality and their hope of what is to come, the women will vote massively for Governor Emmanuel’s return at the polls.
In their respective remarks, the member representing Ibesikpo Asutan State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Aniekan Uko and the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Linus Nkan noted that the people have no other gubernatorial candidate since Governor Emmanuel has shown excellence and credibility in his performance.
They thanked the governor for fulfilling his industrialization promise as well as bringing peace to the state against the era of politically motivated killings, kidnapping and child theft.
Earlier in his remark, the political leader of the area, Prince Uwem Ita Etuk, warned against plans by the opposition to rig the forthcoming elections. He urged those who may be commissioned to rig the polls in the area to steer clear of Ibesikpo Asutan as the people of the area are ready to resist any form of electoral malpractice.
Prince Etuk stressed that anything short of complete electoral materials which tallies with the number of voters taken to respective units will spell doom for the electoral officers who bring such as the people will see such an officer as enemy of the area.
He insisted that if there are plans to send out incomplete materials, it should be published on national dailies before the election as the people of the area will not give chances to any form of short-change.
The political leader called on the people not to wither in fear of federal might which he said the opposition has begun boasting about. He insisted that the might of the people will triumph.
On his part, the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East at the National Assembly, Senator Bassey Albert said he was convinced God will not give chance to the immediate past Governor of the State, Sen Godswill Akpabio to conspire with others to stop the second term success of Governor Emmanuel. He insisted that the performance of the Governor coupled with his character is enough to earn him a second term.
Referring to the APC campaign flag off on Monday, he said: “I watched the conspirators yesterday and they confessed that they are conspirators. There is no amount of conspiracy that will work in your life.
“Your Excellency, God loves you and the God of justice that stood with Obong Attah and Akpabio will stand by you. God will not allow Akpabio to succeed in a conspiracy against you. As long as he did eight years, you will also do eight years.”
Addressing the rally, the Director General of Divine Mandate campaign organisation, Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga noted that since Ibesikpo Asutan is part of Uyo senatorial district, he is confident that they will stand firm on their earlier second term endorsement of Governor Emmanuel.
He paid tribute to past and present leaders of the State who are of Ibesikpo Asutan origin including Eyo Uyo, Obong Victor Attah, and Air Marshall Nsikak Eduok.
He called on the people to vote massively for Governor Udom Emmanuel among other PDP Candidates for a greater State and country.
In his address, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Udom Emmanuel expressed delight over the acknowledgment of his performance. He promised that when he re-emerges the Governor, the people will enjoy improved dividends of good governance since he will be better placed with experience.
The Peoples Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate called on the people not to mortgage their birth right for anything.
He mentioned that a man who fought his predecessor and is doing same to his successor raises serious concern. He said “Anything you want in modern Nigeria, you’ll find in Ibesikpo Asutan. Ibesikpo Asutan be careful so no one derails you. There are people who came with their ministry but I came to pray here today against the spirit of Esau. There was once a Governor who fought against his predecessor from Ibesikpo Asutan, a man who made him commissioner for six years for no just cause. If someone fights his predecessor and successor, he has a problem.”
Governor Emmanuel noted that he is sympathetic to the APC gubernatorial candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere since according to him, he is being misled to part way with the resources at his disposal the same way Umana Okon Umana was deceived in the build up towards 2015 gubernatorial election.
While calling on the people to reject the spirit of Esau, Governor Emmanuel urged the people to be wise and support those who have their interest at heart in order to engender peace and rapid development in the state.
The event witnessed the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the State, Obong Paul Ekpo, receive APC defectors into the PDP. The defectors, led by Chief E. O. Etim and Aniema Brown said they brought the All progressives Congress to the area and currently the APC has lost its footing in Ibesikpo Asutan.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has reassured the international community at the official start of the World Economic Forum (WEF) that South Africa is making headway in its path of renewal and growth.
The forum, which kicked off on Wednesday in Davos Klosters, saw President Ramaphosa assure investors that South Africa, after almost a decade of economic stagnation and political paralysis, has begun to turn things around.
“We have entered a new period of hope and renewal, and over the last year we have taken decisive steps to correct the mistakes of the recent past and put the country back on the path of progress that we embarked upon in 1994.
“We have placed the task of inclusive growth and job creation at the centre of our national agenda,” said President Ramaphosa.
With a third of working age South Africans unemployed, the President said economic growth is at the heart of the country’s plan to shake up the economy.
“We recognise that we cannot create work on any meaningful scale unless we grow the economy at a far greater rate, and for that we need much more investment in the productive sectors of the economy, in infrastructure and skills development,” said the President.
Outlining efforts undertaken to turn the tide, President Ramaphosa cited the country’s ambitious drive to raise $100 billion in new investment over five years.
At the inaugural South Africa Investment Conference in October last year, both local and international companies announced around $20 billion of investments in new projects or to expand existing ones.
According to a report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on Monday, direct foreign investment into South Africa increased by more than 440% between 2017 and 2018, from $1.3 billion to $7.1 billion.
In light of this, President Ramaphosa said South Africa is leaving no stone unturned in a bid to stimulate investment.
To ensure this happens, the President said strides have been taken to ensure greater policy certainty and consistency, including economic reforms in sectors that have great potential for growth.
The President highlighted the finalisation of the Mining Charter, allocation of high-demand radio spectrum, signing of agreements with independent power producers and reform of visa regulations as just some of the measures that will pave the way to significant growth in South Africa.
Turning the focus to public institutions, President Ramaphosa assured the forum that the country has embarked on the restoration of the rule of law and credibility of public institutions.
The President made reference to the Commission of Inquiry into State capture headed by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, which has begun to uncover evidence of the ‘capture’ of several State institutions and processes by private interests.
“As difficult and damaging as some of the testimony may be, this is an absolutely essential process that must be seen through to its conclusion if we are to put this shameful episode in our history behind us,” he said.
Land reform
The President told delegates at the forum that the issue of land reform is being addressed within the confines of the Constitution.
“We are dealing with this issue in a manner that takes the interests of all into account, fully in line with the prescripts of the law and our Constitution.
“We are taking a comprehensive approach that sees historical redress as an opportunity for greater agricultural output, improved food security, empowerment, job creation and poverty alleviation,” said the President.
In yet another massive intervention, the Aliko Dangote Foundation Monday officially launched a major philanthropic programme in Zamfara State, doling out food items running into several millions of naira to support victims of insurgency.
The farmers-herders clash and sporadic attacks by cattle rustlers have displaced thousands, many of whom are currently seeking refuge at Maradun Local Government Area of the State.
According to official reports over 3,000 people have been killed, about 100,000 displaced, of which about 30,000 are in Maradun LG, and over 500 people kidnapped.
Group Executive Director Government Relations and Strategic Relations Mansur Ahmed who presented the food items on behalf of the Group President Aliko Dangote said the Foundation was supporting the government and traditional leaders in meeting the needs of the IDPs.
Only recently, Dangote was rated world’s 6th largest donors, and Africa’s richest person for almost a decade. His Aliko Dangote Foundation has been endowed with a staggering $1.25billion. He was also listed by Forbes Magazine among the 75 people that make the world turn.
Dangote Foundation had also injected over N7billion to create succour in North East in the wake of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Ahmed, an Engineer, said Dangote was very disturbed about the plight of the displaced persons and quickly directed that everything possible be done to provide succour.
Ahmed said the company was building a 2000 ton capacity of rice mill in Maradun and that when completed this year it would create hundreds of job opportunities for the people of Zamfara State.
Responding, the Emir of Maradun Muhammad Garba Tambari said he was highly elated as the company is the first to intervene by providing food support for displaced persons.
He commended Mr Dangote for the gesture and promise to help secure his investment in his Emirate.
Chairman of the Maradun Local Government Alhaji Yahayah Shehu Maradun thanked the Dangote Foundation for the gesture and pray God to continue to bless the Dangote business.
Our reporter sighted trucks of food items being offloaded at the silos and at the official presentation of the relief material at the Palace of the Emir of Maradun.
Some of the items delivered include: Trucks of Semolina, sphagetti, sugar, wheatmeal and Macroni.
Victims at the IDP camp who recounted their ordeal described the crisis as the worst in the country in the past five years.
They regretted that state have been neglected by government and mainstream media.
Mrs Inno Usman, 50, from Mallamai District lost a husband to the crisis and has eight children at the IDP camp. She said five men including her husband were killed by the marauders.
Mrs Usman described the intervention of Dangote as timely, while urging other donors to emulate the the Aliko Dangote Foundation.
Another victim, Mrs Kenan Usman said her husband was also killed in a gruesome manner and that she escaped with her five children by the whiskers.
She said before the coming of Dangote Foundation they have been accommodated at the IDP camp in Maradun since November 2018, regretting that there is no date for their return as the insurgents still hold sway in their various villages.
For Inno Aliyu Sani, 60, 21 people were killed including four women, and cows running into hundreds were stolen by the rustlers.
“We can’t go back. The killers are still there,” she said.
Abubakar Garba from Rudun village said for the past five years marauders had sacked everyone in the village but that government was doing anything address the situation until now.
