President Muhammadu Buhari for the second time has said the
National Assembly inflated the debt figures to be repaid by the
federal government to some states.
He asked the lawmakers to send details of the amounts they
approved for Delta and Taraba States.
He said he would go ahead to pay the amount earlier approved by
the federal executive council and not the National Assembly
figure.
The debt repayment in promissory notes is for projects executed
on behalf of the federal government by various state
governments.
A promissory note is a debt instrument which one party promises
in writing to pay a determinate sum of money to the other, either
at a fixed or determinable future time, under specific terms.
His request was communicated via a letter which was read out by
the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday.
In the letter, Mr Buhari pointed out that the total amount
approved by the National Assembly to Delta and Taraba states was
higher than the amount approved by the Federal Executive Council
(FEC).
He also said the National Assembly of not approving
reimbursement to Bauchi and Kogi states after FEC approved
reimbursements for them.
Part of the letter read, “I wish to inform the Senate that we
have received the approval of the National Assembly via letter
referenced NASS/CNA/106/volume11/004 dated 29th January 2019 for
refunds to Delta and Taraba states through the issuance of a
promissory note for projects executed on behalf of the federal
government.
“In view of the approval of the National Assembly, the following
was observed:
1. While the Federal Executive Council approved the total sum of
N78 billion (78,601,631,430.16), as reimbursement to Delta and
Taraba state governments, national assembly approved N90 billion
(90,236,461,031.36) which is higher than the amount approved by the
Federal Executive Council.
2. The national assembly did not approve any reimbursement to
Bauchi and Kogi states governments whereas the Federal Executive
Council approved reimbursement for them.”
The president reminded the lawmakers of the provisions of the
Public Procurement Act 2007 which empowers the Bureau of Public
Procurement (BPP) to approve contracts – as he said the amounts
presented to the National Assembly were duly certified for
reimbursement by the Bureau before they were approved by FEC.
“Since the Bureau of Public Procurement is charged with the
responsibility of approving contractual sums when there is a need
for compliance with the Public Procurement Act 2007, I wish to
request that you forward to us details relating to the amount
approved by the national assembly for Delta and Taraba states in
essence of what certified by the Bureau of Public Procurement for
necessary certification approval.
“Meanwhile, the federal government shall proceed with the
implementation by reimbursing the amount approved by the federal
executive council. Furthermore, I wish to suggest that you review
their reimbursement in favour of Bauchi and Kogi state governments
while looking forward to timely consideration of the request,” he
said.
This is the second time the president will accuse the National
Assembly of inflating debts to be repaid to states.
He had in December 2018 accused the National Assembly of
approving N488 billion as reimbursement to the state governments
while FEC approved 487 billion.
He had also accused the lawmakers of approving reimbursements to
21 states after FEC approved reimbursements for 25 states.
Read more buhari-rejects-national-assemblys-debt-figures-for-states/
VIDEO: NAF Jets Rain Bombs on ISWAP’s Fighters in
Northern Borno
The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has
significantly degraded an Islamic State of West Africa Province
(ISWAP) Terrorists’ Hideout and neutralized some of its leaders and
fighters at Magari on the fringes of Lake Chad in the Northern part
of Borno State.
This was accomplished in an air interdiction mission conducted
yesterday, 1 April 2019, following credible intelligence reports
indicating that some senior ISWAP leaders arrived the settlement on
Friday, 30 April 2019, along with some of their fighters.
Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions
conducted over the weekend confirmed increased level of human
activities in the settlement with a prominent ISWAP flag observed
near 2 compounds in the settlement indicating the presence of high
level leaders of the Sect.
Accordingly, 2 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft,
supported by an ISR platform, were dispatched to attack the
identified compounds within the settlement.
Overhead the target area, some terrorists were observed in the
vicinity of the compounds. The bombs from the 2 Alpha Jets recorded
direct hits on the target compounds resulting in destruction of
several structures, which were seen engulfed in flames. Several of
the terrorists were also neutralized in the process.
The NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, will sustain
its operations against the terrorists in the Northeast.
IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force