Politics

Experts Kick As 40 Presidential Panels Gulp N20bn

Published

1 year ago

April 11, 2023

Over N20bn was earmarked for presidential committees supervised by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation between 2015 and April 2023, findings by The PUNCH have shown.

Experts have frowned at the amount the current administration had spent on funding committees.

Speaking, Research Director, Centre for China Studies, Abuja, Charles Onunaiju, said although committees were ad-hoc vehicles to address evolving issues, most had only usurped roles belonging to existing agencies while failing to deliver results.

“We do not see what they have achieved in terms of results and service delivery. Committees, in my view, are supposed to be engaged on issues that are generally not expected or for whom we do not have statutory institutions or organs to deal with.

“But we have seen that some committees have become a hybrid, accountability processes are opaque and they are not held accountable under the traditional process.

“They have been, more or less, usurping roles of traditional government institutions. So, it is not out of place to see that they have gulped so much money and returned so little in terms of service delivery,” he observed.

A development economist and public affairs analyst, Aliyu Ilias, argued that existing ministries, departments and agencies could undertake some committee functions if given the room.

Ilias said, “There are no committees that a director in a ministry cannot spearhead. That is why we have special duties.

“You recall that the National Social Investment Programme was eventually transferred to the humanitarian ministry.

“These monies are uncalled for because you cannot put your hand to what they are doing exactly and they are meant to last for some time. So, it is better to pick from the ministries, departments and agencies.”

On his part, a foundation member of the All Progressives Congress, Osita Okechukwu, argued that the committees were essential ingredients of policy formulation.

“We cannot formulate policies in the marketplace. So, it is always more beneficial to society when the committees are primarily made up of experts in that area.

“That is why it becomes important to set up committees so that the policy in question will be reviewed upside down until the government says ‘this is the best model or strategy that we should use to pursue a given policy to achieve a given result’.

“It is as they say in the parliamentary language that most results are not achieved in the general house, but at the committee levels because a few good heads can bring up good ideas and present them to the general house,” Okechuwu said.

The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation could not be reached at the time of filing this report.

This came as the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), inaugurated at least 40 committees and councils to drive various government agendas, since assuming office in 2015

The committees comprise various sectors: education, health, security, the digital economy, and the civil service.

Most recently, the President inaugurated a 14-member Steering Committee on Petroleum Products Supply and Distribution management to address fuel scarcity, a 56-member National Advisory Committee on Women’s Economic Empowerment and the Presidential Transition Council to usher in a new government on May 29.

Others include the National Steering Committee of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, an 18-member Presidential Steering Committee on Alternate School Programme, the Health Sector Reform Committee with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as Chairman, the reconstitution of the Standing Committee on National Honours Award, a 17-member committee for the development of Nigerian football, amongst others.

In 2022, the President inaugurated an 11-member presidential committee on the national economy and a Presidential Steering Committee on reviewing the Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System, the Treasury Single Account, and the Government Integrated Financial Management System.

In the same year, the President also set up a committee to consider the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in the Union’s eight-month faceoff with the Federal Government.

He also inaugurated the National Council on Climate Change, the Nigeria End Malaria Council, in line with the African Union Assembly Declaration for the Establishment of EMCs continent-wide.

On August 19, 2022, while receiving the Central Working Committee of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria at the State House, Buhari revealed that he had created a committee to harmonise salaries in the Public Service.

He also set up a 27-man Presidential Council on Digital Economy and E-government, the reconstitution of the membership of the governing body of the National Anti-doping Committee and the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons in the North-East of Nigeria.

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Politics

Edo Guber: PDP BoT Member, Idahosa Resigns From Party

Published

4 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Editor

Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Charles Idahosa, has resigned from the party.

A letter dated April 29, 2004 and titled ‘Letter of Resignation’, was
addressed to the chairman, PDP, Ward 1, Ehor, Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State.

Mr. Idahosa, popularly called Charlie Temple by his supporters, wrote that he was formally announcing his decision to resign from both the PDP and his role as a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

The former Senior Political Adviser to immediate past governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, however silent on his next move.

Mr. Idahosa remarked that as a representative of the South South Nigerian, the decision came after considerable contemplation and reflection on his personal and political journey.

The top member of the main opposition party, who fell out with Governor Godwin Obaseki over the 2024 governorship ticket of the party, wrote that throughout his tenure within the PDP, he was privileged to contribute to its vision and mission.

He added: “However, after careful consideration. I believe it is time for me to pursue new paths and opportunities beyond the party’s confines.”

The Letter partly reads: “I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the PDP community support and camaraderie during my time of service.

“I remain committed to upholding the values and principles that have guided my political engagement thus far. I look forward to new avenues of growth and contribution, and I extend my best wishes to the PDP as it continues its important work.”

Politics

JUST-IN: PDP Clears All 33 LGA Chairmanship Seats In Oyo

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2024

Editor

The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has declared all the 33 candidates of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winners in the local government areas elections conducted across the state on Saturday.

The declaration on Sunday came amid controversy of irregularities as echoed by the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), which alleged irregularities in the voting process.

The APC in the state while the exercise was ongoing on Saturday had described the election as a sham which it noted was capable of causing the Pacesetter state untold disrepute if allowed to stand.

The opposition party then sought the rescheduling of the election for another day when OYSEIC “is ready to conduct a free, fair and credible poll.”

Oyo State APC Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, in a statement regretted that “another opportunity to deepen democracy and return power to the people at the grassroots has had to be missed due to the insensitivity and insincerity on the part of the ruling class in the state.

“With what is happening at the moment in most Polling Units across the state, Gov. Seyi Makinde has again disappointed the whole world. He promised the people that their votes would count today but the opposite is the case. The good people of the state desired to participate in an election to elect a new set of council officials but what they are experiencing is nothing but a sham.

“Even if OYSIEC comes out later to declare all the candidates of the APC, we would not rate this election as credible and acceptable as it falls below the minimum global standard of election conduct. The best thing is for the Commission to suspend the exercise and choose another date for a proper conduct rather continue to connive with a few anti-democratic elements in the ruling PDP to perpetrate electoral fraud and desecration of democracy in the land,” the statement read in part.

The Oyo state government however disagreed, insisting that the victory of all PDP candidates in the Saturday’s elections was predictable.

The state Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, after the announcement of the results, attributed the victories of the PDP candidates to outstanding performance of Governor Makinde in the last five years.

The Commissioner also attributed the election result to the quality of the candidates which the ruling party presented.

“This is a glowing tribute to the governor and his government as this is the last election under his watch till 2027 when he and the just elected LG chairmen and councillors will end their tenures.”

He lashed out at the opposition for starting to rehearse their complaints barely 30 minutes to the commencement of the elections as early as Saturday morning.

Oyelade charged them to behave like sportsmen and stop mixing fantasy with democracy.

The Commissioner hailed the commitments of the security team, the OYSIEC chairman and his team for daring to make a difference after the challenges of the past two local government elections.

Politics

Ondo 2024: lT Expert Emerges As SDP Candidate

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2024

Editor

An Information Technology expert, Dr. Segun Oyebolu, weekend emerged the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic party, in Ondo state.

Oyebolu, will be the party’s flagbearear in the November 16, governorship election in the state.

He emerged during the party’s governorship primary held in Akure, Ondo state capital.

The election, was supervised by the officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.

Speaking at the end of the exercise, the Chairman of the partys primary committee in the state, Joseph Abu, declared Oyebolu as winner

of the exercise having polled 59 votes of the 60 votes cast by the party’s delegates.

Abu who explained that one of the votes was voided, described the election as free and fair and devoid of any rancour or any trouble.

He said that “We have a single candidate and all the delegates voted for the candidate.

” I want to assure you that SDP will win the next governorship election in the state come November by the grace of God.

“I want to thank the people of Ondo state for embracing our party and I am assuring them that SDP will deliver dividend of democracy at their doorsteps.

In his acceptance speech, Oyebolu, assured that his government will focus in freeing the state from the vested interest that had contributed to the underdevelopment in the state.

Oyebolu said that “enough is enough, we are taking our state back”.

“This is therefore a notice to Governor Ayedatiwa to start parking his bags and baggages as our dear Ondo State prepares to replace him with SDP.

“We are duly set to uproot the APC from Ondo State Government House. This is therefore your quit notice served in advance.

“For many of our people yearning for a new day and a new hope – My administration will bring back the good, old days.

“The many destructions wrought on us as a people shall end and in November 2024, SDP shall indeed begin the emancipation of the South West.

” I want to reassure you that the days ahead will witness challenges which collectively we shall overcome as we prepare to return power and comfort to our people”

According to him, SDP is a better alternative to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

He said the ruling party in the state had not changed the lives of the people for better but said the SDP was ready to find solution to the problems of Ondo State if voted to power in the November governorship election.

He noted the current economic crisis facing the people of the state was as a result of the maladministration and ineffective leadership on the part of the party in power in the state.

“We are here today to signal a completely new path, new way and new mindset. What you may call a shift from the unrealisable transformation programme of the APC.

“Our party seeks new way and better alternative entrenched in integrity of managing people, infrastructure and economy for people’s empowerment and emancipation,” he said.

He expressed assurance that the party would defeat the APC and PDP to win the governorship election, said the party is ready to work for the people of the state to rebuild and reposition the state.

The National Secretary of SDP, Dr. Olu Agunloye, while reacting to the primary exercise said “the issue at stake in Ondo State is about ensuring a breakthrough to take the State from its present moribund state to become a prosperous model state.

“This is by leveraging on its abundant human and natural resources, not about the despicable struggle for the purse strings of the State to perpetuate further underdevelopment because of personal interests and unethical agenda.

“In our great Party, the Social Democratic Party we are focused on efforts to move the State forward to social justice, peace, progress, and prosperity”