JOB CREATION REMAINS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITIES OF OUR CHANGE AGENDA - BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari declared Saturday in Kaduna that job creation will remain one of the topmost priorities of his administration’s economic agenda because it was vital for the attainment of the Federal Government’s other objectives of improved security and poverty reduction.

Speaking at the 2nd Convocation ceremony of the Kaduna State University which had “Entrepreneurship for Development” as its theme, President Buhari pledged that his administration will give the fullest possible support to all efforts to create more jobs through the reorientation of Nigerian youth towards an entrepreneurial mindset.

“This administration will ensure that youths in the country are gainfully employed and youth restiveness curtailed.

“One of the focal points of this administration is job creation. Job creation will help in the achievement of other objectives of the government such as poverty reduction. Insecurity cannot be divorced from unemployment and poverty because an idle mind, they say, is the devil’s workshop.

“With declining internally generated revenue and over dependence on equally declining oil revenues, there is need to seek other ways of diversifying the economy so as to boost revenue.

“One of the ways we can achieve this is through the reorientation of our youths towards an entrepreneurial mindset. We must therefore promote and enhance the teaching and learning of entrepreneurial skills in all schools and tertiary institutions, thereby exposing our youth to the basics and rudiments of starting and sustaining their own businesses,” President Buhari told the gathering.

The President said that to encourage and assist Nigerian youth to move from being job seekers to job creators, his administration will sustain and improve ongoing programmes by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, the Bank of Industry, the Bank of Agriculture and other Federal agencies to grant them start-up loans at concessionary rates.

President Buhari urged the Nigerian private sector to also do more to support government’s efforts to boost youth entrepreneurship and the development of micro, small and medium scale enterprises in the country.

He thanked the University for conferring an honourary doctorate degree of letters on him.

Garba Shehu
SSA to the President
(Media & Publicity)
December 12, 2015

DASUKIGATE ($2.2bn Arms Deal): Why Dasuki paid former VP, Sambo N20m monthly – Ex-NSA account officer

Further details on the misappropriation of money meant for procurement of arms by the former National Security Adviser, NSA, Col Sambo Dasuki have continued to surface.

The latest coming from the former Accounts Officer II in the Office of the former National Security Adviser, ONSA, Ibrahim Idris Wambai who says the Office of the former Vice President, Namadi Sambo received a monthly stipend of N20m from the ONSA.

Wambai stated that several presidential aides, who benefited from the slush funds used five firms as a platforms to receive their share from ONSA, the Nation reports.

He disclosed that many prominent Nigerians and leaders also got huge sums from ONSA during the leadership of Dsauki.

In a Statement of Witness/Accused Person which was filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Wambai said the records of all cash payments to such individuals and organizations are still intact.

The certified statement on oath is part of the Proof of Evidence for the trial of nine suspects next week.

He said: “In December 2014, I took cash of N4million to Col. Madaki(rtd) in his residence in Wuse II Abuja. I had made many cash payments to Doyin Okupe, Ahmad Idris (PA to ex-NSA), ADC to former First Lady Patience Jonathan as payments for monthly operation allowances.

“The documents showing evidence of the payments are in the office of Yazidu Ibrahim in cash payment files. The exact amounts paid and date of payments I cannot remember but are available in the files.

“The venue for the collection of the money was my office and the money was given to me from the cash in the strong room.

“So many cash payments were made on a monthly basis to the following beneficiaries: Office of the former Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo (N20,000,000). The money was being collected by former Deputy Chief of Staff; ADC to former President, amount not known but in cash payment files; Chief Personal physician to former President Goodluck Jonathan; former coordinator on anti-terrorism, Gen. Sarkin Yaki; former Director PC4, Gen. Terba Waya, rtd, Personal Assistant, Domestic Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The amounts and frequency of payments to the beneficiaries as well as the list of other beneficiaries are in the cash payment files

“I also witnessed several payments in cash to various people. Prominent was about payment of N300million to former Chairman on Security and Intelligence, Dr. Bello Matawalle from the cash in the strong room.

“To get details of cash payments in Naira and individuals and organizations summary and vouchers from January 2011 to July 2015, the documents are kept in Yazidu Ibrahim’s former office. These should be collected from the Director of Finance and Administration, Col. Jafaru Mohammed. I and Yazidu Ibrahim can supply the files and the summary.”

Wambai further listed the names of the five firms allegedly used for transfer of funds from the ONSA.

According to Wambai,“The amounts for the five companies are ACACIA Holdings Limited(N600,000,000) via account no. 1017330319 with UBA and N650million via account no. 0122012650 with ECOBANK Nigeria Limited; Reliance Referral Hospital Limited(N750m) via account no.2022394057 with First Bank Nigeria Plc; Jabbama Global Nigeria Limited(N400m) via account no. 1013898095 with Zenith Bank; Continental Development etc.”

Also read: I delivered $47m in 11 suitcases to Dasuki!! http://bit.ly/1J0VN3s