Connect with us

News

Osinkolu lauds Tinubu for prioritising defence, economy, youth empowerment in 2024 budget

Published

on

File photo of Dr. Olusegun Osinkolu

An All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain, Dr. Olusegun Osinkolu, has expressed satisfaction with the budget presented by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly, giving priorities to national defence and internal security, among others.

Reacting to the budget presentation, Osinkolu described it as a budget of renewed hope and a realistic one, looking at its parameters.

“There are various indications that the budget proposal is realistic, looking at the main focus of local job creation, macro-economic stability, investment environment optimisation, human capital development, poverty reduction, and social security, all these are what is needed in the country to place it on a progressive ladder”, he said.

It will be recalled that President Tinubu, while addressing a joint session of the National Assembly on the 2024 Federal budget proposal in Abuja, said that the nation’s internal security architecture will be overhauled to enhance law enforcement capabilities with a view to safeguarding lives, property, and investments across the country.

He said the proposed budget prioritises human capital development, with particular attention given to children, because human capital remains the most critical resource for national development.

Osinkolu, in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Thursday, added that, “with the sectoral allocations, I believe it is a budget for the common man.”

ALSO READ  PHOTOS: Again, Customs Intercept N5bn Worth Of Tramadol, Other Drugs In Lagos

He appealed to the National Assembly to play its role by ensuring that all standing committees worked assiduously to realise an implementable budget.

The Ayede-Ekiti born politician, said the budget proposal was realisable, noting that, “from the presentation, every part of the country got something out of the budget.

“Everybody looking for the prospect of the economy got a glimmer of the hope from the budget proposal presented by the President.

“We need to do what we ought to do not to lose time while we re-organise the budget from January to December, by rolling over some of the projects and plans and all these have been captured in the budget presentation.”

He said the budget proposal by the President demonstrated that he was up to the task for the remaining term he had in office.

“The President demonstrated that he is capable of running another campaign and govern this country for another four years. We believe in his vision for this country. We are his foot soldiers.”

He commended the President “for his resilience and the way he spoke for the period of the presentation.

“It is a good development that we are seeing our president well. I am really happy about that and at the same time, happy that it will emancipate Nigerians.”

ALSO READ  Obaseki raises alarm over Nigeria’s rising debt profile

He reminded Nigerians that the battle President Tinubu is fighting to rid this country of endemic corruption is a battle that can not be left in his hands alone.

“Therefore, all heads of Ministries Departments and Agencies must stand up to let him know the wrath in their various establishments and let the change begin with them.

“Be the change champion to support President Tinubu in this fight against the scourge giving the country a bad image, let us not allow the cabals, who are making moves to take over the administration from President Tinubu to succeed.

“Rather, we must all rise up and stop their evil moves to ensure that the President delivers to Nigerians his visions and missions and make Nigeria a better place than he met it,”he said.

Comments

News

Senate Approves Tinubu’s $500m Loan for Power Sector Boost

Published

on

By

The Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s $500 million loan request intended to bolster the operations of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to enhance the financial and technical performance of electricity distribution companies, ultimately benefiting citizens.

The endorsement, announced on Tuesday, follows a thorough examination of the report presented by Senator Aliyu Wamakko, who heads the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts overseeing the 2022 – 2024 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan specifically for the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

During the presentation of the report, Senator Haruna Manu, serving as the Vice Chairman of the Committee, emphasised the importance for the Senate to duly receive and deliberate upon the report of the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts concerning the 2022 – 2024 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan for the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

The $500 million loan constitutes a portion of the $7.94 billion loan originally requested by President Bola Tinubu on November 1st, 2023, within the framework of the 2022-2024 external borrowing plan. In addition to the $500 million, President Tinubu also sought approval for a €100 million loan.

However, during a special plenary session on December 30, the Senate greenlit the borrowing of $7.4 billion after careful consideration of the report furnished by the Committee on Local and Foreign Debt.

ALSO READ  PHOTOS: Again, Customs Intercept N5bn Worth Of Tramadol, Other Drugs In Lagos

 

Continue Reading

News

Melinda Gates Resigns from Gates Foundation, Set to Receive $12.5 Billion

Published

on

By

In this file photo taken on September 26, 2018, Bill Gates and his ex-wife, Melinda Gates, introduce the goalkeepers event at the Lincoln Center in New York. Ludovic MARIN / AFP

Melinda French Gates announced Monday she was leaving the philanthropy mega foundation she established with her ex-husband, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

The resignation, which becomes effective on June 7, will leave Bill Gates as the sole chair of one of the world’s most influential and powerful non-governmental organizations.

“After careful thought and reflection, I have decided to resign from my role as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” Melinda French Gates wrote in a statement posted on social media.

The statement gave no reason for her departure, but noted that “under the terms of my agreement with Bill, in leaving the foundation, I will have an additional $12.5 billion to commit to my work on behalf of women and families.”

The couple married in 1994 but announced their divorce in 2021.

They had continued to co-chair the foundation which they established in 2001 with the vast wealth acquired through the success of Microsoft.

With a focus on child poverty and preventable diseases, the foundation has been heavily involved in fighting malaria and in providing toilets and sanitation in poorer parts of the world.

The foundation’s website says it has spent $53.8 billion since 2000, and claims the number of children around the world who die before their fifth birthday has halved in this time.

ALSO READ  'Combine Entrepreneurship With Your Studies' - UI VC Encourages Students

Bill Gates thanked his ex-wife for her “critical contributions” to the organization.

“As a co-founder and co-chair Melinda has been instrumental in shaping our strategies and initiatives, significantly impacting global health and gender equality,” he said.

“I am sorry to see Melinda leave, but I am sure she will have a huge impact in her future philanthropic work.”

The organization’s chief executive, Mark Suzman, said its name would change to simply the Gates Foundation — it has been known as The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

“I truly admire Melinda, and the critical role she has played in starting the foundation and in setting our values, she has played an essential role in all that we’ve accomplished over the past 24 years,” he said in a video posted to social media.

“I will miss working with her and learning from her. I look forward to seeing her continued impact.”

 

 

Continue Reading

News

EFCC calls on banks’ compliance officers to uphold confidentiality

Published

on

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has urged Compliance Officers of Banks nationwide to refrain from unauthorised disclosure of EFCC’s investigative activities and requests made to banks’ customers.

Speaking through the Acting Zonal Director of the Ibadan Zonal Command of the EFCC, ACE I Hauwa Garba Ringim, during a stakeholders’ meeting with Compliance Officers of Banks in Oyo State on Tuesday, Olukoyede emphasised the detrimental impact such disclosures have on the investigation of financial crimes and the timely filing of corruption cases in court.

Olukoyede expressed concern over the tacit support fraudsters receive from the Nigerian banking sector, highlighting the challenges it poses to the Commission.

He urged Compliance Officers to promptly respond to EFCC’s correspondence with certified true copies of relevant documents, as this facilitates swift investigation processes.

Also, Olukoyede addressed the illegal trading of naira with Point-of-sale (POS) operators, stressing the need to curtail such practices for the benefit of Nigerians.

In response to the chairman’s directives, Compliance Officers assured the EFCC of their unwavering support and commitment to enhancing collaboration between the Commission and banks for more effective anti-corruption efforts.

 

ALSO READ  Abuja attack: I was naked when 30 gunmen invaded our area, 12 of them bulldozing into my house —Abuja Woman
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Tweets by ‎@megaiconmagg

Subscribe to our Newsletter

* indicates required

MegaIcon Magazine Facebook Page

Advertisement

MEGAICON TV

Trending