Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy has projected a whooping sum of N3.7 billion for “research and development” amid calls for cut in governance costs.

This was reflected in the 2024 budget of N28.7 trillion signed by President Bola Tinubu in January this year and sighted by DAILY POST on Wednesday in Abuja.

DAILY POST recalls that the budget presented by President Tinubu was N27.5 trillion, but was increased by lawmakers by a difference of N1.2 trillion.

The budget came under public discourse when Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District alleged the padding of the budget to the tune of N3 trillion for which he was sent on suspension.

The ministry was carved out by Tinubu from the old Ministry of Information, Culture and National Orientation. The sum of N160 million was also earmarked for the construction of a skill acquisition centre for art and craft in Musawa LGA of Katsina State in the North West.

Again, the sum of N290 million was allocated for construction of solar street lights in Musawa Local Government Council, the home of the Minister.

A further look at the compendium of the 2024 budget shows N98 million and N150 million for a “Nigerian pavilion” at the next Cannes Film Festival slated for May 14 and 25 in France and the ministry’s “information desk” at the Abuja international airport respectively.

The sum of N26 million was set aside for miscellaneous – refreshments and publicity among others.

Speaking with Dr Muktar Alkali of the Centre for Transparency and Accountability on his feelings on some agencies of government after one year of President Tinubu’s administration, he expressed disappointment, saying:

“In the last one year, it’s been inefficiency and high cost of governance by some agencies.

“This means that there no difference from the past that has brought the nation to the sad story we are seeing today. We are studying what and what has happened in some agencies and will get back to the media in due course”.

Organised Labour has accused the Bola Tinubu-led federal government of deliberately frustrating Nigerian workers.

The labour movement made the accusation on Wednesday after it rejected the fresh offer of ₦57,000 minimum wage from the federal government.

Naija News reports that the Tinubu government proposed the amount during Wednesday’s meeting of the minimum wage tripartite committee in Abuja.

Recall the federal government increased its offer from ₦54,000 to ₦57,000, while labour reduced its demand from ₦615, 000 to ₦497, 000.

Speaking with Vanguard after the meeting, one of the labour leaders expressed his anger over the government’s attitude toward negotiating the new minimum wage.

The labour leader asserted that the government was not ready to negotiate or was not prepared for negotiation, saying that it was deliberately frustrating Nigerian workers.

He added that the government inflicted hardship on Nigerians with their ill-thought-out and unprogressive policies of subsidy removal and devaluation of the national currency.

He said: “Government cannot be telling us that there is no money; this is an insult. We did not remove subsidies or float the national currency. The government created this problem. Since the removal of the petrol subsidy and floating of the naira, has the government shown proof that the country has no money, no?

“We are aware that the government gave members of the National Assembly no less than N160 million each to buy cars, the same government has released N90 billion to subsidise hajj operations.

‘’The government has renovated the Senate chambers, and the vice president’s office, and it is buying luxury buses for Customs in millions of naira.

‘’They are also buying all manner of SUVs for government officers. Since the removal of subsidies, the government has been making life better for political elites who have been feeding fat on workers.

“Crude oil sales have increased considerably, and it has been getting more money in dollars while workers have been suffering and going deeper into poverty.

“The state governors have been receiving three times more than they were receiving before the removal of subsidy. We cannot accept this. We did not cause the socio-economic challenges the country is facing.

“The government inflicted these problems on the country with their ill-thought-out and unprogressive policies of subsidy removal and devaluation of the national currency. If the country has no money, let it reflect in the lives of government officials, their aides and cronies.

“It is becoming obvious that the government does not want industrial peace. And it is clearly evident that the government is not ready to negotiate. Well, if it is industrial unrest that will make the government do the right thing, we shall give it to them after the end of May.”

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has challenged   Katsina State Governor  Dikko Radda to substantiate his allegation that some security personnel were aiding and profiting from banditry in the state.

 The DHQ  said since the ‘’Armed Forces is for Nigerians,’’ anyone with credible information on misconduct by its personnel was free to bring it to its attention.  

It pointed out that the military is also subservient to all elected government representatives, and, therefore, regards the relationship with utmost respect.

Director of  Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba,  said in a  statement yesterday that Rada made the allegation during a national television programme on May 4

 The governor had said: “Now it (banditry) has turned out to be a business venture. A business venture for the criminals, some people who are in government; some people who are in security outfits, and some people who are responsible for the day-to-day activities of their people. These are so many reasons why we are unable to bring banditry to an end.”

But Gen. Buba said even though the claim by the governor was untrue, it was capable of demoralising the spirit of troops in operational theatres.

“In the light of the aforementioned statement of His Excellency the Governor of Katsina State, the Armed Forces of Nigeria decides not to join words with the state governor, rather would encourage him to approach the military high command to substantiate his allegations,” he added.

The Defence spokesperson said the military under the leadership of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has zero tolerance for indiscipline and any form of criminality in the conduct of operations across the country.

  “It is for this reason that there are standing court martials to treat any form of misbehaviour by troops especially those that portray the military negatively to the general populace.

“The military remains unperturbed by such statements capable of demoralising or dampening the spirit of troops in operational theatres. Rather, we will continue on the trajectory of conducting operations as well as working assiduously in the fight against terrorism.

“The Armed Forces is for Nigerians and as such citizens are urged to own it and also report any credible observed bad conduct within the ranks so that they can face the appropriate military justice system,” he said in the statement.

 Also yesterday, the  Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja hailed the role of the Nigerian Army Corps of Signals in the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in the Northeast.

He made the commendation during the inauguration of the remodeled Headquarters of the Nigerian Signals Corps complex (Muritala Mohammed House) at Arakan Barracks in  Apapa, Lagos State.

The COAS also praised the Corps of Signals for its anti-banditry operations in the Northwest and other operational engagements in the different parts of the country.

Lagbaja said: “The corps effort despite the complex electro-magnetic space and highly dynamic Information and Communication Technology (ICT) era is highly commendable.

“I am proud to note that the Nigerian Army Signals has remained in tune with the fast-paced development and transformation being witnessed globally in the ICT(Information Communication Technology) sector.

“The corps has excelled at annexing new technologies to develop state-of-the-art networks that impact mission success by facilitating command and control in the Nigerian Army.” 

According to Lagbaja, the  Army Signals has also extended its services to other government agencies and the private sector, thereby projecting the image of the Army in the ICT domain.

 He said that there have been various infrastructural developments as part of efforts to provide the needed conducive living and working environment for Nigerian Army personnel to enhance productivity and well-being.

“I’m a week short of 11 months since I assumed office as the COAS and the army headquarters has executed several life-changing projects.

“This includes the construction and renovation of living quarters for officers and soldiers, the provision of portable water, and improved medical facilities for our barracks communities.

“Also, there has been renovation, remodeling, and in some instances outright reconstruction of office facilities such as what is commissioned today,” Lagbaja added.

 He also thanked President Bola Tinubu for his belief in and unwavering support of the   Army and its leadership.

[TheNation]

President plans low-key celebration, ministers begin sectoral briefings today

In commemoration of his first anniversary in office, President Bola Tinubu has directed his ministers to present their performance reports to Nigerians.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, while announcing this at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, said the low-key first-anniversary celebration would be marked with sectoral media briefings by the 47 federal ministers starting on Thursday (today).

Idris was joined at Wednesday’s media press conference by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu.

Tinubu was declared the winner of the 2023 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on March 1, 2023.

Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, garnered 8.7 million votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, who came second with 6.9 million votes, while Peter Obi of the Labour Party secured 6.1 million votes.

At the opening of a three-day cabinet retreat for ministers, presidential aides, permanent secretaries and top government functionaries on November 1, 2023, the President said the ministers in his cabinet would only retain their offices based on performance, which would be reviewed quarterly.

“If you are performing, nothing to fear. If you miss the objective, we’ll review it. If no performance, you leave us. No one is an island and the buck stops on my desk,” said the President.

On January 24, 2024, the agency in charge of the assessment, the Central Delivery Coordination Unit, trained at least 140 officials to track and assess the performance of federal ministries, departments and agencies ahead of the assessment.

Performance reports

Speaking on Arise TV’s News Night in April, the President’s Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, who heads the CDCU, affirmed that the unit had received performance reports from at least 20 of the 35 ministries.

She explained that the assessment report would be a product of a joint effort of the ministers, citizens and industry experts.

Bala-Usman said, “Our submission is for the first quarter. So, the first quarter has just ended, and we have initiated the assessment process. The ministers have all been asked to submit their performance based on the deliverables.”

She asserted ministers would be assessed “Based on what is out there in the public space. They would write to say, ‘Based on every deliverable you have given me, this is what I’ve done within the first quarter of the year.’

“Through the Citizens Delivery Tracker app, Nigerians will also say, ‘this is what we’ve seen the minister do’ and they would aggregate it.’’

The PUNCH reports that the Tinubu administration has implemented significant reforms to stabilize the economy, reduce inflation, and attract foreign investments.

He ended the graft-ridden fuel subsidy regime, triggering high fuel and transportation costs, leading to food inflation and increased hardships across the country.

To curb food inflation, the government allocated substantial funds to the agricultural sector, including N200 billion to boost agricultural productivity and ensure food security.

Efforts have been made to transition from single-season farming to year-round farming through investments in irrigation and water bodies.

The administration has also provided N75b to support small and medium-sized enterprises, fostering job creation and economic diversification.

It launched a N100bn consumer credit fund to mobilize the manufacturing sector, encouraging production and enhancing economic growth.

The student loan scheme meant to open greater access to tertiary and vocational education will commence operation on Friday.

In terms of infrastructure development, the Tinubu administration has initiated a 100,000 renewable housing programme across seven states to address the housing deficit and stimulate the construction sector.

To tackle high transportation costs and promote energy efficiency, the government has directed the purchase of compressed natural gas buses.

In a move to combat security, the Federal Government allocated significant portions of the budget to national security, while supporting the clamour for state police.

Some of the administration’s reforms and efforts to stabilize and grow the Nigerian economy had received recognition from international agencies and leaders.

The Central Bank of Nigeria introduced a slew of reforms to reign in the forex crisis.

These include unifying the multiple exchange rates to create a single, transparent exchange rate that reflects market dynamics more accurately and reduces arbitrage opportunities.

In a bid to boost the supply of foreign exchange in the market, the CBN implemented the diaspora remittances, encouraged non-oil exports by providing exporters with rebates and facilitating their access to forex at competitive rates and restricted access to forex for the importation of certain items that can be produced locally.

The CBN regularly intervenes in the forex market by selling forex to banks through various auction mechanisms.

Speaking on the first anniversary programmes, the information minister said there would be no fanfare to mark Tinubu’s one year in power.

He stated, ‘’From tomorrow (today), we are going to have ministers come in here to discuss what they are doing in their various ministries consistent with the policies of President Bola Tinubu.

Sectoral briefings

“The first anniversary of the president will be on a low key, with an emphasis on sectoral briefings by the various ministers. There will be no ceremonies relating to the one year in office of the president.”

During his address, the SGF, Akume, highlighted the administration’s ambitious agenda aimed at economic revitalization, social inclusion, and infrastructural development.

Akume pointed out that significant economic reforms had been implemented to stabilise the economy and promote sustainable growth.

These policies, according to him, have successfully attracted foreign investments, reduced inflation, and boosted job creation across various sectors.

“Let me begin by admitting that the first year in office for Mr. President has been a testament to the unwavering commitment and resilience of this administration towards serving the Nigerian people with diligence, integrity, and dedication,” Akume remarked.

 “Despite daunting challenges, President Tinubu has maintained his calm and demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities, guiding our nation with vision and foresight. The government has implemented significant economic reforms aimed at stabilizing our economy and fostering sustainable growth. Key among these is the introduction of policies that have attracted foreign investments, reduced inflation, and boosted job creation across various sectors,’’ he further noted.

In his presentation, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Bagudu, stated that Tinubu’s administration inherited a low revenue and shrinking economy but was determined to address these challenges through the Renewed Hope Agenda.

This agenda, he added, formed from extensive reflection and input from various stakeholders, focused on eight priority areas crucial for Nigeria’s progress.

Bagudu emphasised the need for difficult decisions, noting that countries Nigeria aspires to emulate made these choices long ago, arguing that the Renewed Hope Agenda involves confronting economic realities, which may cause temporary discomfort but are essential for long-term stability and growth.

“We must restore a macroeconomic environment that can stimulate investment, generate revenue, and address under-investment in sectors like security, education, and social welfare,” Bagudu explained.

He highlighted that Nigeria’s current crude oil production is below its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries quota due to under-investment in infrastructure and security.

He elaborated, “So we impact, as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, on a macro-economic reform because that was what was responsible for low investment, low revenues and our economy’s size was shrinking, was too small compared to our needs.

“Nothing we do can solve the problem of under-investment in various sectors of the economy; be it security, be it education, be it social welfare, without restoring a macro-economic environment that can stimulate investment in our economy, which will generate revenues for us to fix security.

“That is why we are not even producing crude oil in the quantity we used to before, or as allowed by international convention, which is our OPEC quota, because of under-investment, whether in the physical infrastructure itself or security, and so on and so forth.’’

The minister stated the administration was focusing on food security by investing in irrigation and water management to enable year-round farming, noting that similar efforts were being made to revitalise the livestock sector, which has been a source of conflict rather than economic growth due to historical under-investment.

Enhancements in infrastructure, education, health, the creative economy, the digital economy, and the steel sector are also prioritized, he added.

Bagudu reasoned that some of the government policies might involve some discomfort and pain.

He argued that true leadership involves first and foremost telling the people the truth of their reality.

“Food security, despite our potential, we are under-investing. Most of our farmers are one-season-per-year farmers. So, when you have an asset that you only utilize four months in a year because you don’t have irrigation, you don’t have water bodies.

“Most of our fishing communities, they go to freshwater bodies where there’s no fish anymore, we have to transit them. The livestock sector, which in countries like New Zealand, is an important engine of growth, but in our country, due to cumulative under-investments, it has formed a basis for conflict rather than economic opportunity,’’ he lamented.

The former Kebbi State governor asserted that the President was committed to fiscal discipline, aiming to reduce the fiscal deficit from 6.11 per cent in 2023 to below 4 per cent in 2024.

He also revealed that the administration planned to increase capital expenditure to 39 per cent, the highest in Nigeria’s history, stressing that the innovative N100bn consumer credit fund and mortgage fund aimed to stimulate manufacturing and housing sectors, respectively.

Budget allocations

Bagudu further disclosed that significant budget allocations had been made to national security, leading to improvements in Borno, Imo, Kaduna, and Taraba.

Tinubu, he said, supports local government autonomy, ensuring resources are effectively used to benefit communities.

Bagudu detailed three significant budgets under Tinubu’s administration. He said the first, an N819bn budget, was renegotiated to allocate N500bn for interventions supporting vulnerable populations.

According to him, the second N2.17tn budget was focused on national security, infrastructure, and cash transfers, adding that the 2024 budget aims to restore fiscal discipline and stimulate economic growth through increased capital expenditure.

The minister said, “The three budgets Mr President participated in the first, the N819b budget which he inherited, which was even passed into law before he came, he renegotiated with the National Assembly.

“He said ‘I want N500bn to fund intervention that will support the vulnerable populations, who might be affected by the reform measures.’ About N200bn went into agriculture; N75bn into the medium and small enterprise sector, as well as N40bn into the nano-credit sector.

“Equally, another budget of N2.17tn that went to support gains in national security, most of it to security and infrastructure and also providing more money for cash transfer and meeting commitments to labour.’’

The minister pointed out that the President was clear that he would not blame his predecessor for the state of the nation.

Reeling out the benefits of the programmes and policies instituted by the government, he said, “So, we believe that with consumer credit mobilizing the manufacturing sector; with mortgages re-energizing the houses sector; with Agriculture Development Fund mobilizing the agricultural sector, our youth and our productive economy will be mobilised.’’

The minister said the N130bn provided for the transition to CNG (compressed natural gas) would restore energy competitiveness and benefit the manufacturing and transport sectors of the economy while the cheaper energy would support economic reforms.

[Punch]