NEWS

*Buhari Dines With Tinubu, Oyegun, Other APC Chieftains*

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday had a dinner with the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu and national chairman of the ruling party, John Oyegun. The dinner which was held at the presidential villa had other leaders of the APC in attendance.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, former Governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, former governors of Ekiti State Kayode Fayemi and Segun Oni, among others were at the dinner. Also at the meeting were some state governors including Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Al-Makura.

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/1tV4pAAA

*National Assembly Passes 2018 Budget*

The National Assembly has passed the 2018 Appropriation Bill. The lawmakers on Wednesday during plenary passed the total sum of N9.120 trillion, an increase of N508 billion from the N8.612 trillion originally presented to the Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje explains that after consultation with the Executive, the oil benchmark price was increased from 45 to 51 dollars. He says the additional 508 billion added to the budget was applied in critical sectors of the economy namely: reduction of the deficit, security, health and power, works and housing.

Earlier, the passage of the budget had been delayed because the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies had not submitted details of their budget proposals, which led to the Senate giving them a one-week ultimatum to submit details of their 2018 budget proposals or risk sanctions. Buhari on November 17, 2017, presented a budget of 8.612 trillion Naira before a joint session of the National Assembly. Buhari said, “the 2018 budget will consolidate on the achievements of the previous budget and that 2018 is expected to be a year of better outcomes”.

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/G80PJwAA

*PDP Expresses Worry Over Alleged Plots Against Saraki*

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Wednesday that it is deeply concerned over reports by Senate President Bukola Saraki of alleged plots to implicate him and the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed. Senate President raised an alarm on Wednesday over an alleged plot by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris to implicate him and Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatai Ahmed.

PDP in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan said this is alarming and described the situation as an assault on the National Assembly. “The PDP, as a party, has taken judicious note of assertions by the Senate President that the said plot is allegedly being hatched by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Idris Ibrahim, “to settle scores” with the Senate over its recent declaration that he is not fit to hold public office.

“The PDP is alarmed by the trend of brazen assaults on the institutions of democracy, particularly the National Assembly and the judiciary,” the statement read in part. According to PDP, it had earlier alerted of plots to arrest, harass, detain dissenting voices and opposition members on trumped-up charges, as well as intimidate institutions of democracy.

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/rAIgCAAA

*Reject gunshot victims, bag five-year jail, Police tells hospitals*

The Lagos State Police Command, on Wednesday, warned hospital authorities against the rejection of gunshot victims or the attitude of asking for Police report before treatment. A press statement signed by the Command’s spokesman, Superintendent of Police Chike Oti, said the Command repeated the warning following a report that one hospital in Ikeja rejected a gunshot victim.

Oti said: “A senior engineer with an information and communications technology company, Mr. Adebayo Akinwunmi, was shot and wounded by armed robbers in his house at Ofada-Mokoloki, Ogun State. He was taken to a hospital in Ikeja for treatment but was allegedly refused admission on the grounds that there was no Police report. The Command considers the action of the hospital as cruel; perhaps, an indication that the hospital management may be ignorant of the “Compulsory Treatment and Care of Victims of Gunshot Act, 2017. In the light of this development, the Command wishes to inform all medical practitioners in Lagos State that the Act demands that every hospital in Nigeria, whether public or private, shall accept or receive for immediate and adequate treatment with or without Police clearance any person with gunshot wounds.”

The Act, however, requires the hospital treating such a patient to report the fact to the nearest Police station within two hours of the commencement of treatment.

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/A2lT3AAA

*We’ll Not Abandon Leah Sharibu, Says FG*

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed on Wednesday said efforts are on to ensure the release of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirl yet to be released, Leah Sharibu, noting that she will not be abandoned by the Federal Government. Mohammed told journalists in Abuja after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that the negotiation are on for the release of the abducted schoolgirl.

He added that negotiating with terrorists is tortuous but Sharibu will not be left to her fate. “We are yet to resolve the issue of six girls. 111 girls were kidnapped, 105 were returned and we are busy on daily basis asking and negotiating and asking what happened to those five officially at least and then what is delaying the young girl, Leah Sharibu."

“Negotiations with insurgents are quite tortuous and complicated at times but I can assure you we are not leaving her to her fate and those who should do are busy daily working on her release,” the Minister said. Sharibu’s continued captivity has continued to generate reactions from Nigerians who demand more positive action from government to ensure her release, alongside Chibok schoolgirls who are still in Boko Haram’s custody.

To read full article - http://v.duta.us/-RtKFAAA