NTA News Summary For 19/03/2017

Suicide Bomb Attack in Maiduguri
Four persons have been confirmed dead following a suicide bomb attack carried out by three suspected suicide bombers who also lost their lives at Umarari Village of Molai in the outskirts of Maiduguri, Borno State.

CBN, Fiscal Authorities Meet in Abuja
In line with the desire for monetary and fiscal collaboration to pull the Nigerian economy of the current crisis, economic management leaders from the Central Bank of Nigeria, ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning as well as Trade and Investment over the weekend met in Abuja to harmonize their policy perspectives.

A statement from the acting Director Corporate Communications Isaac Okorafor, said the meeting was called at the instance of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Godwin Emefiele, who also chair the Monetary Policy Committee.

The CBN governor reiterated the need for the country’s monetary and fiscal authorities to collaborate and harmonize standpoints so as to develop the economy rapidly.

The two-day monetary policy committee retreat with the theme: “pathway to price stability conducive to economic growth” was coming at a period when the country faces economic challenges.

Emefeile noted that finding a sustainable solution requires a broadened participation from all those on the fiscal side.
The retreat is expected to provide perspectives on certain monetary policy committee decisions and also close the gap on the coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities to chart a common course on decisions to develop the economy.

Saraki Canvasses Actualization of Nigeria-Morocco Bilateral Agreements
The National Assembly says it would give priority to legislations that will provide legal framework for the actualization of the bilateral agreements between Nigeria and Morocco.

According to the statement issued by Mohammed Isa, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Senate President the Senate President Bukola Saraki gave the assurance at separate meetings with President of Moroccan House of Councilors, Abdelhakim Benchamach and President of the Houses of Representatives of Morocco, Habib El Malki in Rabat.

Senator Saraki recalled that, during the recent state visit by the King of Morocco to Nigeria; several bilateral agreements were signed between the two countries in areas of agriculture, energy and gas, trans-African gas pipeline project and many more.

FG Promises to Reward Whistleblowers
The Federal Government is maintaining it’s grand to protect and reward whistle-blowers who provide information that leads to the recovery of stolen funds or assets.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed reiterated this position in a statement.
The minister said the Federal Government will protect the identity of all whistle-blowers, whether in the public or the private sector, and also ensure that the information they provide is kept secret.

He said for those who may have suffered any backlash as a result of the information they provide, their cases will be reviewed and appropriate mitigating actions taken.

Lai Mohammed said the assurance followed the presentations made to the presidential assets recovery committee by concerned citizens and groups about the safety of whistle-blowers.

He maintained that whistleblowers have nothing to fear, because the committee has put in place the necessary measures to safeguard those who give useful information.

The Minister explained that any whistle-blower whose information leads to the recovery of up to 1 billion naira will receive 5% of the amount; that the reward for any amount between 1 and 5 billion naira will be 5% for the first 1 billion naira and 4% of the remaining 4 billion naira, and that any amount over 5 billion naira will attract 2.5% reward.

Information Minister Condoles With Late General Adebayo’s Family
The legacy left behind by the military governor of the defunct Western Region, General Adeyinka Adebayo, will always serve as a reference point for political leadership in the country. Minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed stated this after paying a condolence visit on the family of late General Adeyinka Adebayo in Lagos.

Record of President Buharis Full Working Week
The presidency says President Buhari has been up and doing since resumption from his medical trip in London.
During an interview with Pyramid Radio Kano the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Garba Shehu said President Buhari had an engaging week devoted mostly to policy issues.

He said that President Buhari started on Monday with the letters he sent to the two Arms of Parliament signifying his return to work.
He then went in for hand over briefing by the vice president noting that although President Buhari gave specific mandates to the Acting President he needed to be brought up to speed on the development in the Supreme Court, Niger Delta and the economy with particular reference to the economic recovery and growth plan.

President Muhammadu Buhari he said also met with Senate President Bukola Saraki and the speaker of The House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
On Wednesday, he stated that the president presided over the Federal Executive Council and it was noticed that the meeting dwelt on policy.

And on Thursday, the President had a joint sitting with the Chief Of Staff, Alhaji Abba Kyari, the Ministers Of Finance Kemi Adeosun and that of Budget and Planning Udoma Udo Udoma where they discussed the country’s economic situation the progress on the 2017 budget and liquidity issues.

Friday was mostly used for security briefing as he concluded by saying president muhammadu buhari has big ambitions for nigeria driven by an intense desire to leave his mark on national affairs.