President Buhari met with Yakubu Dogara and Aminu Tambuwal at the Presidential Villa – The meeting went on behind closed doors and they refused to comment on what was discussed Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Buhar meets Dogara. File Photo President Muhammadu Buhari today, September 27 met with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting with Tambuwal and Dogara was held behind closed doors. The speaker and the Sokoto state governor arrived together in a vehicle to the forecourt of the presidential villa and spent over 45 minutes in the President’s office. RE – Paper Review According to The Nation, after the meeting, they declined to speak directly on the purpose of the meeting with the waiting state house correspondents, when they came out from the President’s office. When asked if the meeting had anything to do with the House of Representatives, Tambuwal said: “Not at all.” Also when journalists asked if it had to do with recession and sale of assets, he replied: “I have already aired my views on the sales of assets.” The journalists pressed further and asked if the meeting had to do with the clash between the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the party’s National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, he responded with: “I don’t know about that. We are here to meet Mr. President and greet him and to show our support.” Dogara on the other hand refused to speak at all. Meanwhile, five days ago, on September 22, the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo met with state governors and other council members in Abuja in a National Economic Council (NEC) meeting. The meeting started at the Council Chamber of the State House at around 11am and the discussions on the agenda no doubt that centered around the current economic challenges and the way forward.
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
NUPENG, TUC, NLC, others set to shut down Nigeria
Organized labour including NLC, TUC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN said they are set for mass revolt, civil unrest worse than the anti-SAP riots of 1989 over the propose sale of nationals assets. – Labour said it is ready to shut Nigeria over the planned sale, which they argued would not profit the nation but a few privileged Nigerians
organized labour including NLC, TUC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN said they are set for mass revolt, civil unrest worse than the anti-SAP riots of 1989. The minister for Budget and Planning Minister, Udoma Udo Udoma however said the Federal Government would not sell critical national assets to shore up its foreign reserves as well as have funds to retool the economy against the current downward plunge. However labour said it is ready to shut Nigeria over the planned sale, which they argued would not profit the nation but a few privileged Nigerians. While reacting, PENGASSAN said; “Any attempt to sell these national assets will be met with stiff resistance from the Association, as PENGASSAN will galvanize every support, including that of our sister union and labour centres, to shut down this country by ensuring that every activity in the oil and gas sector is brought to a complete halt. “Some opportunists in the cloak of businessmen and short-sighted politicians had earlier advocated the sale of public assets such as the NLNG, four state-owned refineries, Nigeria’s stakes in Africa Finance Corporation, AFC, the nation’s airports and reduction of government’s shares in upstream oil joint venture operations and this was approved by the National Economic Council, NEC.” “The proponents of the sale of national assets are those who have been actively involved in the operations of the nation’s economy in the past. They were part of those responsible for the country’s current economic situation. “Moreover, such sales in the past, including the power and steel sectors privatization, were just a shift from public to private monopoly which has further worsened those sectors. “It is, therefore, the candid position of PENGASSAN that such plan should be thrown into the trash bin. Government should continue to seek better ways to address the present economic challenges and reduce areas of wastages.” On its part, NUPENG through its General Secretary, Mr. Joseph Ogbebor, said; “We will resist the sale with all our might. It is not in the best interest of Nigerians. It will only compound the unemployment in the country. It will also compound the restiveness and agitation in the Niger Delta. There is no way we are going to accept it. If the President is really a patriot as claimed, he should not yield to the pressure because enemies of the country are at work. “However, our organs will meet either as NUPENG or jointly with PENGASSAN to deal with it. Certainly, it is unacceptable, unpatriotic, anti-Nigeria and must be rejected and resisted by all. We call on Mr. President to declare a state of emergency on the economy and summon an all-encompassing stakeholders meeting to brainstorm on how the present economic challenges can be quickly addressed. “NUPENG is of the view that Nigeria is a big market and certain measures should be put in place to reflate the economy so that it will be an investors’ destination.” Also reacting, the TUC through its acting secretary general, Simeso Amachree said; “We are not going to accept it and we will resist appropriately. As it was done before, it is an attempt to take over the national assets. “Like we stated earlier, the idea should be dropped or they will incur the wrath of workers. “It is our thinking that if those clamouring for the sales pay their appropriate taxes, there would be enough money to bring the country out of the woods without sacrificing our national assets. “Truly, we appreciate the concern of some sincere people in government, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, who is working tirelessly to fix the economy. But we get worried when people suggest we sell investments like NLNG which provided the money for the bailout of states when they could not pay salaries or concession our airports. On what grounds? “The Congress will mobilise and resist any further sale or concession of our national assets under whatever guise.” Meanwhile, Nigeria’s minister of finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has revealed that she cannot predict when the country will out of the current economic recession.
organized labour including NLC, TUC, NUPENG, PENGASSAN said they are set for mass revolt, civil unrest worse than the anti-SAP riots of 1989. The minister for Budget and Planning Minister, Udoma Udo Udoma however said the Federal Government would not sell critical national assets to shore up its foreign reserves as well as have funds to retool the economy against the current downward plunge. However labour said it is ready to shut Nigeria over the planned sale, which they argued would not profit the nation but a few privileged Nigerians. While reacting, PENGASSAN said; “Any attempt to sell these national assets will be met with stiff resistance from the Association, as PENGASSAN will galvanize every support, including that of our sister union and labour centres, to shut down this country by ensuring that every activity in the oil and gas sector is brought to a complete halt. “Some opportunists in the cloak of businessmen and short-sighted politicians had earlier advocated the sale of public assets such as the NLNG, four state-owned refineries, Nigeria’s stakes in Africa Finance Corporation, AFC, the nation’s airports and reduction of government’s shares in upstream oil joint venture operations and this was approved by the National Economic Council, NEC.” “The proponents of the sale of national assets are those who have been actively involved in the operations of the nation’s economy in the past. They were part of those responsible for the country’s current economic situation. “Moreover, such sales in the past, including the power and steel sectors privatization, were just a shift from public to private monopoly which has further worsened those sectors. “It is, therefore, the candid position of PENGASSAN that such plan should be thrown into the trash bin. Government should continue to seek better ways to address the present economic challenges and reduce areas of wastages.” On its part, NUPENG through its General Secretary, Mr. Joseph Ogbebor, said; “We will resist the sale with all our might. It is not in the best interest of Nigerians. It will only compound the unemployment in the country. It will also compound the restiveness and agitation in the Niger Delta. There is no way we are going to accept it. If the President is really a patriot as claimed, he should not yield to the pressure because enemies of the country are at work. “However, our organs will meet either as NUPENG or jointly with PENGASSAN to deal with it. Certainly, it is unacceptable, unpatriotic, anti-Nigeria and must be rejected and resisted by all. We call on Mr. President to declare a state of emergency on the economy and summon an all-encompassing stakeholders meeting to brainstorm on how the present economic challenges can be quickly addressed. “NUPENG is of the view that Nigeria is a big market and certain measures should be put in place to reflate the economy so that it will be an investors’ destination.” Also reacting, the TUC through its acting secretary general, Simeso Amachree said; “We are not going to accept it and we will resist appropriately. As it was done before, it is an attempt to take over the national assets. “Like we stated earlier, the idea should be dropped or they will incur the wrath of workers. “It is our thinking that if those clamouring for the sales pay their appropriate taxes, there would be enough money to bring the country out of the woods without sacrificing our national assets. “Truly, we appreciate the concern of some sincere people in government, especially President Muhammadu Buhari, who is working tirelessly to fix the economy. But we get worried when people suggest we sell investments like NLNG which provided the money for the bailout of states when they could not pay salaries or concession our airports. On what grounds? “The Congress will mobilise and resist any further sale or concession of our national assets under whatever guise.” Meanwhile, Nigeria’s minister of finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has revealed that she cannot predict when the country will out of the current economic recession.
Senate probes minister, 4 banks for fraudulent transfer of MTN’s $13.9bn
A minister under President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government has been accused of aiding MTN to repatriate $13.9 billion to its home country, South Africa.
Senator Dino Melaye had on Tuesday raised a motion on the floor of the Senate accusing the Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Elenemah, of facilitating the illegal repatriation of $13.9 billion by MTN to its home country, South Africa.
The banks allegedly involved are Stanbic IBTC, Standard Chartered Bank, Citi Bank and Diamond Bank, and the offence is said to have been committed through the bankers between 2006 and 2016.
On the matter, the Senate directed its Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, to investigate the alleged illegal repatriation of $13.9 billion by MTN and the four banks alleged to have aided it.
He also said, “The senate notes with serious concern the repatriation of $13.92bn illegally out of Nigeria by Mobile Telecommunication Limited (MTN) through its bankers between 2006 and 2016. Concerned that since inception, MTN had sought the collaboration of influential and unpatriotic Nigerians to assist them in looting our external reserves.
“Pained that these Nigerians, including a serving minister who MTN used in moving $13.92bn out of Nigeria, which is over 50 per cent of our external reserves floated and incorporated offshore SPVs in Cayman Island, Mauritius and British Virgin Island.
“The minister of industry, trade and investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah, owner of CELTELCOM Investment Limited with address at No 608, St James, Denis Street Port-Lewis Mauritius purportedly claimed to invest in MTN on February 7, 2008, got certificate of capital importation and filled form A on the same date, closed his investment in Nigeria after receiving dollar payment for repatriation to New York same day”, the Senator said
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