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Ambode Must Appear Before Us To Present 2019 Budget, Lagos Assembly Orders

Published

6 years ago

January 10, 2019

By Lukman Anusa

The Lagos State House of Assembly on today insist Governor Akinwunmi Ambode must appear before it to present the 2019 Budget as required by the law.

This followed the information read on the floor of the House by the Clerk, Mr. Azeez Sanni intimating the lawmakers that his office received a message from Ambode dated Monday, 17 December, 2018, but which he received on Friday, 28th December containing the 2019 Budget.

However, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who commended the lawmakers for their reaction to the message, stated that this was not the time for resentment, acrimony and agitation, adding that the stake before the lawmakers was beyond 2019.

“We must do everything to sustain our government, party and the state. You have all shed light on the issue in a matured matter.

“We went on break on 18th December, 2018. The first call I received on the budget was on 24th December that the Governor was willing to present the budget on that day.

“We normally go on break for six weeks, but we went on break for two weeks as we were waiting for the budget. Also, we received the budget on 28th December, when we were waiting for the New Year break. There is no reason to shift the blame on the House that we were not willing to receive the budget,” he said.

Obasa added that the lawmakers were willing to receive the 2019 budget, saying that this was one of the reasons they were elected into office.

The Speaker, however, said that this must be done properly by the Governor in accordance with the Section 121 of the Nigerian Constitution which stated that the budget must be presented to the House before the end of a financial year.

“We are ready to receive the budget if it is done properly. We have no resentment, we have no bad blood. Our stake is beyond 2019. What we have here is not even a letter, it is presentation of budget by the Governor. The executive headed by the Governor must be ready to present the budget and we are ready to receive it,” he said.

In his contribution, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu (Agege 2) said that the letter on 2019 Budget from the Governor got to the House on 17th December, 2018 and was received on Friday 28th, December, 2018.

“We normally close early, but we closed late to receive the budget, it came about three days to the New Year and there was nothing we could have done.

“The House normally have a date with the Governor, when he would present the budget. This is a clear departure from the norm and I think this should be addressed by all,” he said.

Also contributing to the matter, Hon. Olanrewaju Ogunyemi (Ojo 2) stated that he listened to the Clerk of the House about the correspondence from the governor, which he said ought to have been read out.

Ogunyemi said that if it was the actual budget, then they would excuse the Clerk for not reading it.

He emphasized that the budget got to the House three days away from the New Year, which he said was unusual.

According to him, the second reading of the budget could not come until January, 2019, and that the House was alive to its responsibility.

In his comments, Hon. Dayo Saka-Fafunmi (Ifako-Ijaiye 1) said that the observation raised by Hon. Yinka Ogundimu was apt, and that the budget was part of the reasons they were elected into the House.

“The first reading of the budget ought to be done by the Governor, who ought to lay the estimate before us. Since this has not been done, then we must insist on the proper procedure,” he said.

This was corroborated by Hon. Moshood Osun (Lagos Mainland 2), who read Section 121 of the Nigerian Constitution, which addressed the issue of budget presentation to the lawmakers.

Oshun said that it was on record that the House normally passed the budget before the next financial year.

He said: “If the budget was brought on 28th December, there was no way we could work on it. The leadership of the House should take it up,” he said.

The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, who said that the budget issue was in public domain, revealed that he received several calls on the issue, but that he did not make any comment because he wanted to get proper information from the House on it.

“It is clear that we were ready to work on the budget before the Christmas break, but we could not work on it because we did not get it in time. We all know that there were always bilateral meetings between the executive and the legislature before the budget is presented to the House.

“The constitution states that the Governor should lay the budget before the House. May be the correspondence before the Clerk is about the presentation of the budget. So, what is before the House is a document that ought to be laid before the House and the committees of the House would sit on it.

“The report could not be considered by the committees if it is not laid. “Members of the public may not know the procedure of the budget. “Section 121 of the Nigerian Constitution states that the budget must be laid before the House before the end of a financial year.

“We should handle it in our usual family way and ensure that the executive does the normal thing as we are ready to do our work,” he said.

The House then adjourned sitting to Tuesday 15 January, 2019.

Related Topics:Ambode Featured Mr. Azeez Sannim

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ASR AFRICA HOLDS GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR A N250 MILLION ABDUL SAMAD RABIU MEDICAL SCIENCE LABOURATORY FOR CRESCENT UNIVERSITY

Published

2 weeks ago

February 26, 2025

august24admin

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

ASR Africa has commenced the construction of a N250 Million medical science laboratory for Crescent University, Abeokuta in Ogun State.

From Right: Mr. G. T. Ogunmefun (University Acting Bursar); Barr. A. M. Ajiobla, SAN (Proprietor); Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila (Vice- Chancellor); Dr. Ubon Udoh (MD/CEO, ASR Africa); Barr. Z. A. Ajibola (Registrar) and Prof. M. K. Momodu (Dean, College of Law) at the ground breaking ceremony of the Medical Science Laboratory for Crescent University, Abeokuta.

August24news.com gathered that the laboratory will enhance the capacity of the institution in meeting the National Development Plans and Transformational Agenda (NDTA) of the Federal Government of Nigeria, whilst filling the gap created by laboratory scientists who have left the country recently.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, expressed gratitude for the institution’s nomination by ASR Africa under its Tertiary Education Grant Scheme (TEGs).

He applauded ASR Africa for the award of the grant and noted that the project is the university’s topmost priority, considering its drive to expand its College of Health Sciences programs.

In his response, the MD CEO of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh, commended the management of the university for their academic achievements and systematic growth which is evident by the addition of three new colleges recently.

These colleges include the College of Environmental Sciences (COES), Bola Ajibola College of Law (BACOLAW) and the College of Health Sciences (COHES). Dr Udoh reiterated the commitment of ASR Africa in ensuring a timely completion of the project.

The N250 Million grant will provide fixtures and fittings for the medical science laboratory which features a 300 sitting capacity auditorium, offices for Head of Departments and lecturers, lecture /seminar rooms.

It will also cater as laboratories facility for Medical Laboratory Science, Medical Biology, Hematology, Pharmacology/Therapeutics and Chemical Pathology.

The ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme is targeted at supporting quality education within the tertiary education system in Nigeria and so far over 30 tertiary institutions in Nigeria have benefitted from this grant which ranges from N250 million to N 2 billion.

ABOUT ASR AFRICA
The brainchild of African Industrialist, Philanthropist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development within Africa.

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Seplat Energy Clinches ‘Deal of the Year’ at New Telegraph Award

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February 26, 2025

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Seplat Energy Clinches ‘Deal of the Year’ at New Telegraph Award

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Olusunle, Now Fellow Nigerian Mining & Geosciences Society (FNMGS)

Published

2 weeks ago

February 26, 2025

august24admin

…As Society Celebrates 64 Years of Existence

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

A research Director of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Engr. Dr. Samuel Olugbenga O. Olusunle has been conferred with the prestigious Fellow of Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (FNMGS), one of the oldest professional bodies in the history of Nigeria.

NASENI Research Director, Engr. Dr Samuel Olugbenga O. Olusunle, FNMGS, (right) receiving the Conferment Award plaque and Certificate from Prof. Akinade Sadrach Olatunji, the President of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society(NMGS)(left) during the Awards Night which took place at the Chida International Hotels Abuja on Wednesday 19 February 2025.

The Nigeria’s late sage, Pan Africanist and President during the First Nigerian Republic Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the first patron of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society.

The Society yesterday in Abuja concluded its 60^th Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE), and it was time for the body to honour and recognize its members who had contributed tremendously not only to the growth and development of the Mining and Geosciences profession in the country, but the accomplishments of the honourees having direct bearing on the general socio-economic development of the country.

The event which was held between 16^th to 19^th February 2025 at the Chida International Hotel Abuja, came to a climax with Awards Night and recognition. Dr. Olusunle and 42 other members were honoured with the prestigious fellow category, which is the highest election attainable in society.

This conferment has added new appellation to Engr.Dr. Olusunle’s name as FNMGS. In 1977, the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) succeeded the Nigerian Mining Geological and Metallurgical Society (NMGMS) which was founded on 15th January 1961 and officially inaugurated on 17th December, 1962.

The society is an international professional organization. Its Objectives include: Advancement and practice of Mining, Earth sciences and Metallurgy, Acquisition, preservation and dissemination of mining geoscientific and metallurgical knowledge, publication of an interdisciplinary learned journal of Mining and Geology (JMG), the CRUST, periodicals and specialized books including annual books of abstracts and programmes of the society’s conferences and activities and upholding the ethics and safeguarding the interests of the professionals covered by the society.

The society also has statutory representation in the council of the Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG) established by the Federal republic of Nigeria Decree No. 40 of 1990. The categories of membership are Fellow, Corporate, Graduate, Students, Affiliate, Institutional and Honorary fellow, the highest of all is the Fellow category.

When asked to speak on the significance of the society’s recognition to him and NASENI where he serves as Director Research, a highly elated Olusunle had this to say: “I give God the glory and I am really humbled to be elected FELLOW of NMGS. It should be noted that the mandate of NASENI and the core concerns of NMGS are knittingly related. NASENI has one of its institutes operating within the purview of solid minerals exploitation (SOMMEDI).

NASENI also under wonderful leadership of the EVC/CEO, Khalil S. Halilu, is actively involved in the CNG project of the Federal Government. These and other notable activities/intervention of NASENI are collaborative windows between the agency and NMGS”.

Before he became research director, Dr. Olusunle was former Managing Director, Engineering Materials Development Institute (EMDI) Akure, one of NASENI Development Institutes. Also, he is a FELLOW of the Nigeria Institute of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), the Materials Science and Technology Society of Nigeria (MSN), the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), The Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), The Nigerian Metallurgical Society (NMS)and many others.