DOGARA RELEASES LIST OF COMMITTEE HEADS

Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has announced the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 96 House Committees. Below is the list of Committees and their Chairmen. Abdulmunin Jibrin (Chairman) – Committee on Appropriation Rima Shawulu Kwewum (Chairman) – Army Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Chairman) – Aviation Zakari Mohammed (Chairman) – Basic Education Chike Okafor (Chairman) – Healthcare Services Aminu Shehu Shagari (Chairman) – Federal Judiciary James Faleke (Chairman) – Customs Rufa’i Chachangi (Vice Chairman)- Customs Sani Zoro (Chairman )- Internally Displaced Persons, IDP Garba Muhammed (Chairman) – Chairman Solid Minerals. Chike Okafor (Chairman) – Healthcare Services Austin Chukwukere (vice chairman) – Finance Jones Onyeriri (Chairman) – Banking and Currency Nnenna Ukeje (Chairman) – Foreign Affairs Mohammed Munguno (Chairman) – Agriculture Shehu Shagari (Chairman) – Judiciary Nicholas Mutu (Chairman) – NDDC Aminu Suleiman (Chairman) – Education Linus Okorie (Chairman) – Agricultural Colleges and Institutions Muhammed Zakari (Chairman) – Basic Education and Services Simeon Arabo (Chairman) – Delegated Legislation Olufemi Fakeye (Chairman) – Actuarial Matters Betty Apiafi (Chairman) – Health Institutions Laori Kwamoti (Chairman) – FCT Judiciary Sani Zoro (Chairman) – IDPs Refugees and Initiatives on North East Aminu Suleiman (Chairman) – Tertiary Education and Services Tijani Jobe (Chairman) – Sustainable Development Goals Hon. Abdulrazak (Chairman) – Namdas Media & Public Affairs Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai (Chairman) – Ethics & Privileges Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs was yet to get its head. The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC heads 48 Committees, PDP heads 45 committees. The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and the Social Democratic Party, SDP got one chairmanship slot each. The South heads 46 Committees while the North heads 50.

PRESIDENT BUHARI TO VISIT CROSS RIVER STATE

The Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, has concluded plans to commence the construction work of a dual carriage super highway next week. If things go as planned, President Muhammadu Buhari is expected in the state to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the dual carriage way. The State Governor disclosed this to journalists shortly after leading a delegation on an assessment tour of the Greek Town Jetty and connecting routes which will serve as evacuation corridor for the proposed Calabar Deep Seaport expected to commence construction by October 2015. Ayade, throwing more light on the two signature projects of his administration, believes these projects will boost the economic status of the state which stands dwindling at the moment. On the cost implication of the projects, the Cross River Governor gave an assurance that modalities have been put in place to see that it is cost effective. He further sued for the support of the Federal Government towards the actualization of the projects in the state. This would be seen as an indication that Governor Ayade is determined to fulfil his promise to make a remarkable difference in the state within the life of his tenure as governor. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is expected in Calabar by Tuesday next week for the groundbreaking ceremony. We wish the government,the governor and the good people of Cross River State success in this history making event.

SECOND BATCH OF MINISTERIAL NOMINEES UNVEILED

The Nigerian Senate has begun the process of screening names sent to the floor of the house as ministerial nominees from the presidency today Tuesday the 13th of October 2015. A further list of 16 would-be ministers has also been disclosed to include the following: 1. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim -Yobe 2. Brigadier-General Muhammad Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd)-Zamfara 3. Claudius Omoleye Daramola -Ondo 4. Prof Anthony Onwuka-Imo 5. Jeffery Onyema 6. Barr. James E. Ocholi -Kogi 7. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed - Kaduna 8. Okechukwu Enelamah - Abia 9. Muhammadu Bello 10. Mustapha Baba Shesuri 11. Miss Aisha Abubakar 12. Heineken Lokpobiri - Bayelsa 13. Adamu Adamu 14. Prof Isaac Adewole - Osun 15. Pastor Usani Usani Uguru - Cross River 16. Abubakar Buhari Bawa

PRESIDENT BUHARI'S LONG AWAITED LIST; SURPRISE OR NOT

Since the swearing in of Mr. President, the list of ministers has been in public discourse. While many call for early formation of the cabinet so that the new government can hit the ground running, the government and its minders say the wait is necessary so as to form a crack team to implement the ‘change’ promised Nigerians. President Buhari, in his Independence broadcast, said: “Impatience is not a virtue. Order is more vital than speed. “ In his reaction, Publicity Secretary of the Yoruba Socio- political group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin said that the President would have submitted the names of ministerial nominees at Eagle Square (on May 29,) rather than to the Senate. According to him: “There is no excitement or surprise in the list. They are mostly run of the mill people that do not warrant waiting four months to have. Those names could have been submitted at Eagles square on May 29.” Looking at the list below, are you surprise at the list of ministerial nominees? 1. Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) 2. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) 3. Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) 4.Dr. Chris Ngige (Anambra) 5. Abdurrahman Dambazau (rtd) (Kano) 6.Ibe Kachikwu (Delta) 7. Ogbonaya Onu (Abia) 8. Kemi Adeosun (Ogun) 9. Abubakar Malami SAN (Kebbi) 10. Senator Sirika Hadi (Katsina) 11. Barrister Adebayo Shittu (Oyo) 12. Sulaiman Adamu (Jigawa) 13. Solomon Dalong (Plateau) 6. Aisha AlHassan (Taraba) 15. Osagie Ehanire (Edo 17. Udoma Udo-Udoma (Akwa Ibom) 18. Ahmed Isa Ibeto (Niger) 19. Ibrahim Jibril 20. Audu Ogbeh (Benue) 21. Amina Mohammed (Kaduna)

FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT BUHARI'S INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH 2015

Full Text of President Muhammad Buhari's Independence Day Speech. October 1st is a day for joy and celebrations for us Nigerians, whatever the circumstances we find ourselves in because it is the day, 55 years ago; we liberated ourselves from the shackles of colonialism and began our long march to nationhood and to greatness. “No temporary problems or passing challenges should stop us from honouring this day. Let us remind ourselves of the gifts God has given us. Our Creator has bequeathed to us Numbers – Nigeria is the ninth most populated country on the planet. We have in addition arable land; water; forests; oil and gas; coastline; and solid minerals “We have all the attributes of a great nation. We are not there yet because the one commodity we have been unable to exploit to the fullest is unity of purpose. This would have enabled us to achieve not only more orderly political evolution and integration but also continuity and economic progress. “Countries far less endowed have made greater economic progress by greater coherence and unity of purpose. “Nonetheless, that we have remained together is an achievement we should all appreciate and try to consolidate. We have witnessed this year a change in our democratic development. “The fact that an opposition party replaced an entrenched government in a free and fair election is indicative of the deeper roots of our democratic system. Whatever one’s views are, Nigerians must thank former President Jonathan for not digging-in in the face of defeat and thereby saving the country untold consequences. “As I said in my inaugural speech, I bear no ill will against anyone on past events. Nobody should fear anything from me. We are not after anyone. People should only fear the consequences of their actions. I hereby invite everyone, whatever his or her political view to join me in working for the nation. “My countrymen and women, every new government inherits problems. Ours was no different. But what Nigerians want are solutions, quick solutions not a recitation of problems inherited. “Accordingly, after consultations with the Vice President, senior party leaders and other senior stakeholders, I quickly got down to work on the immediate, medium-term and long-term problems which we must solve if we are to maintain the confidence which Nigerians so generously bestowed on us in the March elections and since then. “As you know, I toured the neighbouring countries, marshalled a coalition of armed forces of the five nations to confront and defeat Boko Haram. I met also the G-7 leaders and other friendly presidents in an effort to build an international coalition against Boko Haram. “Our gallant armed forces under new leadership have taken the battle to the insurgents, and severely weakened their logistical and infrastructural capabilities. Boko Haram are being scattered and are on the run. “That they are resorting to shameless attacks on soft targets such as I.D.P. camps is indicative of their cowardice and desperation. I have instructed security and local authorities to tighten vigilance in vulnerable places. On power, government officials have held a series of long sessions over several weeks about the best way to improve the nation’s power supply in the safest and most cost-effective way. “In the meantime, improvement in the power supply is moderately encouraging. By the same token, supply of petrol and kerosene to the public has improved throughout the country. All the early signs are that within months the whole country would begin to feel a change for the better. “Preliminary steps have been taken to sanitize NNPC and improve its operations so that the inefficiency and corruption could be reduced to a minimum. “Those of our refineries which can be serviced and brought back into partial production would be enabled to resume operations so that the whole sordid business of exporting crude and importing finished products in dubious transactions could be stopped. “In addition to NNPC, I have ordered a complete audit of our other revenue generating agencies mainly CBN, FIRS, Customs, NCC, for better service delivery to the nation. Prudent house-keeping is needed now more than ever in view of the sharp decline in world market oil prices. It is a challenge we have to face squarely. But what counts is not so much what accrues but how we manage our resources. “We have seen in the last few years how huge resources were mismanaged, squandered and wasted. The new APC government is embarking on a clean up, introducing prudence and probity in public financing. “At an early stage, the federal government addressed the issue of salary arrears in many states, a situation capable of degenerating into social unrest. The APC government stepped in to provide short-term support to the debtor states and enabled them to pay off the backlog and restore the livelihood of millions of Nigerians. “Fellow Nigerians, there have been a lot of anxiety and impatience over the apparent delay in announcement of ministers. There is no cause to be anxious. Our government set out to do things methodically and properly. We received the handing over notes from the outgoing government only four days before taking over. Consequently, the Joda Transition Committee submitted its Report on the reorganization of Federal Government structure after studying the hand over notes. It would have been haphazard to announce ministers when the government had not finalized the number of ministries to optimally carry the burden of governance. “Anyway, the wait is over. The first set of names for ministerial nominees for confirmation has been sent to the senate. Subsequent lists will be forwarded in due course. Impatience is not a virtue. Order is more vital than speed. Careful and deliberate decisions after consultations get far better results. And better results for our country is what the APC government for CHANGE is all about. “I would like to end my address this morning on our agenda for CHANGE. Change does not just happen. You and I and all of us must appreciate that we all have our part to play if we want to bring change about. We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust. We must change our unruly behaviour in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in homes and offices. To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens. “Happy Independence Celebrations. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”