Category: Policy Inspector

This section is devoted to inspecting the policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria using colour codes to visually reflect almost instantaneously, the overall direction of the policy under review.

Green = Good

Blue = Expected relevant date communicated [Good]

Yellow = Uncertain [clarification/specificity required]

Orange = Greater awareness required for public support

Red = Not good

BUHARI PRESIDENCY WILL SUSTAIN FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION – VP OSINBAJO

BUHARI PRESIDENCY WILL SUSTAIN FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION – VP OSINBAJO

The government of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to sustaining the anti-corruption fight, ensure that the system is cleaned up and government business is done the right way, says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

According to him, “if we are not able to sustain the trouble against corruption, we will end up in a very, very bad way as a nation,” noting that the Defence contract of $15 billion which was frittered away in people’s pockets, “is half of our country’s foreign reserves.”

Speaking today during a courtesy visit by the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers in the State House, Abuja, the Vice President noted that the fight against corruption is a difficult fight and said “we have seen it in so many different ways that at almost every state, corruption fights back and fights very fiercely.”

Prof. Osinbajo however cautioned, “we should be able to examine our priorities because for us corruption is not a moral issue, it is an existential issue,” adding that “to a large extent it will determine whether we will survive as a corporate whole because of the way people feel that when I get into an office I will go after the resources of the state, and I will go after it in the most vicious and the most reckless manner that is possible.”

He urged that in response to the malaise of corruption, the intellectual elites, whether religious, political in particular or academic elites must stand up for what is right.

Earlier, the leader of the Association, Prof. Godwin Nwabueze Okeke, commended the Vice President for being available for the visit and asked him to declare open the forthcoming 50th Conference of the Association which is taking place in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in June, 2017. He said the Association is solidly in support of the Federal Government and is ready to assist in whichever way needed.

FG TO ESTABLISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR NIGER DELTA YOUTHS

Also, today at a separate meeting, Vice President Osinbajo has restated that the Federal Government is keen in its desire to support the establishment of a Chamber of Commerce for young people across the Niger Delta region to drive creativity and entrepreneurship.

He stated this when he met with a delegation of Niger Delta Expatriate Mentorship Committee an initiative led by the Minister of Niger Delta, Mr. Uguru Usani Uguru in his office.

The Vice President commended the initiative and noted that the expatriate mentorship scheme which is in partnership with UNESCO, aligns with the commitment of the Buhari Presidency for the region and is capable of catalyzing development in the region. He observed that the international mentorship/internship will expose beneficiaries to international standard, best business practice and technology.

During his brief remarks, the leader of the organization and Chief Mentorship Officer, Mr. Chika Olejeme said under the National Expatriate Mentorship Strategy, selected youths will be sent abroad for international mentorship and internship. 30 countries in Europe and the United States of America have already signed up to the programme.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the President
In the Office of the Vice President
April 11, 2017

FG ISSUES FRESH DIRECTIVES TO ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW VISION FOR NIGER DELTA

The Federal Government has issued a new set of directives in its bid to accelerate the implementation of the Buhari administration’s new vision for the development of the Niger Delta.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, issued the directives at a recent meeting of the inter-ministerial working group following up on the renewed Niger Delta interactive engagements of the Buhari administration.

For instance, the Federal Government has given all contractors including those handling Niger Delta Development Commission projects in the region a 30-day ultimatum from today to return to site or face prosecution.

The Federal Government has also specifically directed that the list of all contractors who have not returned to site within the stipulated period be compiled and submitted to the Ministry of Justice and the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission for investigation and prosecution.

A concerted implementation work plan that would respond to the developmental issues and projects proposed by PANDEF is also being prepared, while fresh mandates are also being issued to all the relevant MDAs as appropriate.

This includes the FG’s directive to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministries of Niger Delta Affairs; Environment; Power, Works and Housing to proceed with the design and implementation of work plans in line with the administration’s new vision for the region.

Ministries and agencies of government involved in furthering the establishment of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta state, have also been directed to come up with a clear path to the eventual actualisation of the objective including consideration for a possible and timely take-off grant for the university.

The meeting also discussed the plans to continue presidential visits to the remaining States with oil-producing communities so as to effectively conclude the interactive engagements with the people of the region.

Specific instructions have also been given to the Ministry of Environment to ensure and report on the progress of the Ogoni Clean-up, for which a Project Office is now located in Rivers State and is functional.

A directive has also been issued to the Ministry of Environment for a plan to commence considerations for the clean-up of other polluted areas in the oil-producing communities.

The membership of the Niger Delta inter-ministerial group comprises officials from the Presidency, all relevant ministries including the Petroleum Resources, Niger Delta Affairs, Environment, Power, Works and Housing and Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme among other MDAs.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Vice President
March 21, 2017

VICE PRESIDENT OSINBAJO ADVOCATES FOCUS ON CRITICAL, CREATIVE THINKING IN EDUCATIONAL CURRICULAR

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has called on stakeholders in the education sector to evolve better teaching and learning techniques that will address contemporary challenges confronting societies in modern times.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this earlier today while receiving a delegation from the West African Examination Council (WAEC), led by its chairperson, Dr Evelyn Kandakai at the Presidential Villa. The Council holds its 65th annual meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

Also present at the meeting with the Vice President were the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah.

According to Osinbajo, “lately, it has become obvious that we have to make more of our young people to be more entrepreneurial in their approach to everything.’’

Prof. Osinbajo said “It is interesting that we have found ourselves, especially those of us in this part of the world at this time, trying very hard to work out educational systems that is relevant to our people, (and) the requirements of our people.

“Obviously our initial contributions in this sector were inherited from colonial times but it is becoming more evident anyway that we must chart our own course in education and I know that it is a challenge that we face regularly.’’

He said the focus of educators should be on “the kind of subjects, and the kind of teachings that challenge critical thinking and being creative, thinking out of the box’’.

The Vice President added that “it is even more so now than ever before with technology, there is a need for us to meet the requirements of our people.’’

Prof. Osinbajo charged educators to find solutions to society’s contemporary challenges, noting that the political class’ responsibility is to “throw the challenge to the educators and hope that they will be able to give some form of direction as to where society should be heading to.’’

The Vice President commended the present WAEC Council and management for maintaining the institution’s status as the foremost sub-regional examination body which has maintained its standards and quality for many decades.

The chairperson of WAEC, Dr Evelyn Kandakai, had earlier thanked the Vice President for the reception, noting that Nigeria is a big pillar of support to WAEC in all its years of existence.

(54 percent of the institution’s financial burden is borne by Nigeria.)

Dr Kandakai said whatever height the examination body had attained over the years was made possible by Nigeria’s immense contributions both in human and material resources, submitting that WAEC and the West African sub-region remained hugely indebted to Nigeria.

WAEC is a sub-regional educational institution composed of Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
March 20, 2017