Thursday 15 December 2016

Senate To Buhari’s SGF, Lawal: You Must go.



The Senate on Thursday stuck to his guns on the call for the resignation and prosecution of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir Lawal over his indictment by the special committee that investigated the fund released for Internally Displaces Persons (IDPs) in the North East. The lawmakers expressed disappointment over  SGF’s response to allegations against him.

The matter was raised again on the floor of the Senate by Senator Dino Melaye representing Kogi West.

Melaye who came through order 42 of the Senate Standing Rules presented a newspaper publication of the SGF response and tendered other documents linking the SGF to the company indicted in the Senate report.

“Every document that (is) fake, must have original. I challenge the SGF to bring the original of these documents,” Melaye said.

In his contribution, the Senate Deputy Majority Leader Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah said the SGF’s reply shows that he lacks the capacity to occupied the position of SGF.

Senator Chukwuka Utazi called on President Muhammadu Buhari to review the way the  Babachir became the SGF of the country.

In his reaction, the Senate President Bukola Saraki said the issue is very serious as it borders on  the integrity of the Senate. He added that the position of President Muhammadu Buhari is very clear Wednesday  when he stated that he is seeking peaceful relationship with the legislators.

“We would not allow anybody to intimidate us in doing our work. The committee will finish their work and we will communicate our resolution to the President” Saraki said.

Record of official proceedings from the  Senate noted that Senator Dino Melaye raised a motion over a publication by The Nation Newspaper and BBC Hausa on the infraction on the privilege of the Senate.

The title of the Publication: “Senate Seeks SGF Sack”  .. is all that balderdash”, BBC Interview: “The Senators are talking rubbish”

Melaye wondered why “A mere appointee of the President says that we are liars” and tenders more evidence acquired from the Corporate Affairs Commission against SGF, Babachir Lawal‎

“If the SGF  says the document presented by the CAC is fake, he should produce the original,” says Sen. ‎Dino Melaye‎.

“It is largely shown that the SGF does not have the necessary capacity to occupy the post”  Sen. Ibn Na’Allah‎ said.

“This position is a responsible position but if we have an irresponsible person there, it becomes a problem,” Sen. Chukwuka Utazi.

Saraki, according to official record of the day’s proceedings said, “The issue we have here is very serious because it borders on the integrity of the Senate, the President ‎ was here yesterday and said with all humility that he is seeking cooperation with the National Assembly, the SGF’s statement contradicts this. We will communicate with the President with necessary document and let’s see what the Executive will do. We leave that to the Executive to do what has to be done, we have done our part and I commend you all for your effort.”

http://www.socialtimesng.com/2016/12/senate-to-buharis-sgf-lawal-you-must-go/

Ogenyi Onazi Donates N1million To Falcons.

Super Eagles star Ogenyi Onazi donates a million Naira to Super Falcons.



Super Eagles star Ogenyi Onazi has thrown his weight behind protesting African champions Super Falcons by donating a million Naira to them.

A source close to the team revealed the Trabzonspor of Turkey midfielder showed concern about the ladies plight.

"Onazi is a fantastic man and supported the Falcons with the sum of one million Naira, that really helped the ladies,” a source reported.

“He also gave one of the injured players 200,000 Naira for her treatment.

“He is a wonderful guy. I was aware some of the girls called him to complain about their plight and he helped them."

The Falcons have embarked on a sit-in protest at their Abuja hotel and also staged a protest march demanding for their entitlements to be paid.

Several former Nigeria stars including Garba Lawal, Joseph Yobo and Nwankwo Kanu have equally spoken against the shabby treatment the Falcons have been subjected to since they won a record eighth women’s AFCON in Cameroon.

http://africanfootball.com/news/671777/Eagles-star-Ogenyi-Onazi-donates-a-million-Naira-to-Falcons

Guterres announces Amina Mohammed as UN Deputy Secretary-General.

The New UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, on Thursday announced Nigeria’s Environment minister, Amina Mohammed, as his Deputy Secretary-General.

Guterres made the announcement through the spokesman of the Secretary-General, Mr. Stephane Dujarric.

Guterres also announced the duo of Ms. Maria Viotti of Brazil and Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea into high-profile positions at the UN.

He said, “I am pleased to announce that I will be appointing Ms. Amina J. Mohammed of Nigeria as my Deputy Secretary-General, and Ms. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti of Brazil as my Chef De Cabinet.

“I also intend to create the position of Special Advisor on Policy, and to appoint Ms. Kyung-wha Kang of the Republic of Korea to this new role.

“I am happy to count on the efforts of these three highly competent women, whom I have chosen for their strong backgrounds in global affairs, development, diplomacy, human rights and humanitarian action.

“These appointments are the foundations of my team, which I will continue to build, respecting my pledges on gender parity and geographical diversity.”

Mohammed, the current Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, served as UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 Development Planning.

She was instrumental in bringing about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

Before joining the UN, Mohammed worked for three successive administrations in Nigeria, serving as Special Adviser on the Millennium Development Goals.

She provided advice on issues including poverty, public sector reform and sustainable development, and coordinating poverty reduction interventions.

She is also an Adjunct Professor in Development Practice at Columbia University, and serves on numerous international advisory boards and panels, including the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Others include the Independent Expert Advisory Group on the Data Revolution for Sustainable Development, and the Global Development Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

She is also the UN Secretary-General’s Global Sustainability Panel, the African Women’s Millennium Initiative, Girl Effect and the ActionAid International Right to Education Project.

Born in 1961, and educated in Nigeria and the UK, Mohammed is married and has six children.

Guterres had hinted on Monday after he took the oath of office that gender parity would be top of his agenda as the UN scribe.

He said, “I think that one very important element of the agenda would be to give a clear signal that gender parity is a must and so in the appointments I will be making.

“And the first ones would be announced soon. You’ll see that gender parity will become a clear priority from top to bottom in the UN and it will have to be respected by all.”

“This is a very ambitious agenda, an agenda that must be for both woman and man, and that is why parity is so important in our reform perspectives.

“That is also why the empowerment of women is so important in everything the UN will be doing around the world.”

Guterres, succeeds outgoing secretary-general Ban, who bows out on Dec. 31, 2016 after a decade of two terms, while the new secretary-general assumes office on Jan. 1, 2017, for the next five years.


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Zahra’s wedding: FG not paying for food, other expenses, says Buhari.


President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the Federal Government is not spending any money on the wedding ceremony of his daughter, Zahra, slated for Friday in Abuja.

The president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, stated this in his Facebook page on Thursday.

Shehu maintained that all the wedding expenses including the printing and distribution of invitation cards, souvenirs, lunch event for the men and dinner for the women as well as other miscellaneous expenses would be financed by the family and personal aides.

He said the president has said that even though the family wants to make Zahra happy on her wedding day, she will not enjoy “royal wedding”.

He said, “Zahra Muhammadu Buhari’s wedding to Ahmed Mohammed Indimi starting today is a celebrity event to savour any day. Much as the family wants to make their daughter happy they, however, will not make it a royal wedding.

“The President’s family is trying hard to keep it as simple as possible. Wedding Lalle, Fatiha, lunch event for the men and dinner for the women who must have come from far and near and the bride heads to her husband!

“In a twist from what was a norm among past leaders, the President asked to be given the bill for the food at the banquet. Government, he said, has no business paying for that.

“This should be treated as private. His family and personal aides put the money together to foot the bill. No government money in invitation cards, souvenirs or Aso-Ebi. That’s essential Buhari for you!!.”

The Wedding Fatiha will be conducted at the National Mosque, Abuja, on Friday, while reception for guest will be held at the Presidential Banquet Hall.

(NAN)

Turn your iPhone or Android smartphone into a satellite phone.



The modern smartphone is a wonder of modern technology, and in combination with the carrier network, can allow you to make calls from the densest urban jungle to Mount Everest. But despite the amazing global coverage of the carrier networks, sometimes it just isn’t enough.

This is when you need to rely on satellite coverage. And believe it or not, you can add satellite capability to your existing iPhone or Android smartphone. Yes, that’s right, you no longer need a dedicated satellite phone. What you need is a Thuraya SatSleeve.

In addition to offering support for calls and SMS messaging, the latest SatSleeves also have satellite data functionalities for emails, instant messaging, browsing and so on.

Just slide on the sleeve, and BINGO! You have a satellite phone. Yes, calls and data are going to cost you an arm and a leg (don’t be surprised if it adds up to several dollars a minute depending on where you want to use your handset).



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PHOTO NEWS: Fayose storms bank, withdraws N5m from ‘frozen account’

PHOTO NEWS: Fayose storms bank, withdraws N5m from ‘frozen account’




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