Abdulmumin Jibrin tackles Dino Melaye, says Buhari not to blame for Nigeria's economic woes

Abdulmumin Jibrin tackles Dino Melaye, says Buhari not to blame for Nigeria's economic woes

Sacked chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has reacted to the statement by Dino Melaye accusing President Buhari's economic team ‎of our current economic woes (read here). In a statement he released on his Facebook wall, Jibrin argued that the economic team members are competent to manage our economy. Read his statement after the cut.

I'm compelled to say a few words on the attempt by some people to apportion blame on President Muhammadu Buhari on the state of the economy and also share my view on the call by Senator Dino Malaye on the President to sack some ministers and Central Bank Governor as the solution to the problem.

As a former Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, and until recently Appropriation, I am in a good position to contribute and proffer solutions to the problem.

Let me state very categorically that the President is not to blame on the state of our economy today. It is unfair and very wicked to push such blame on a man who just came on board barely a year ago. Not even a magician can turn around the economy within a period of one year. The biggest spending in our economy, that is the budget, hasn't even run a full course of one year. Yet, some people want to crucify President Buhari. Haba! Let's face reality!Â

We all know how badly oil price has gone, a situation that adversely affected our foreign reserves and mounted pressure on the naira. No matter what approach we adopt to manage and deal with the situation, recovery will be slow. It is not President Buhari's fault. Everyone seems to forget when the whole country was supporting more spending as against saving. But here we are today, soaked in the rainy day. President Buhari should not be used as anybody's scape goat!Â

The recurrent expenditure, which has escalated and constituted a huge burden on our yearly budget rose from N950.32billion in 2006 to N1.372.20 trillion in 2008 and N2.593.62 trillion in 2015. This was not created by President Buhari.

Similarly, the total cash call (oil production cost) which rose from about N200 billion in 2006 to about N1.2 trillion in 2015 was not a creation of President Buhari. The cash call has remained another tale of burden on our yearly budget. Statutory transfers including that of the NASS are not left behind. Statutory transfers rose from just about N100 billion in 2006 to N375.62 billion in 2015. President Buhari was not the President then.

Debt servicing also rose from about N300 billion in 2006 to N953.62 billion in 2015. These expenditures have over the years constrained the budget and made it difficult to channel sufficient funds towards productive sectors that can sufficiently grow the economy. Domestic borrowing also skyrocketed during this period and created devastating consequences on the economy.

Government at that time continued to mop up money from commercial banks at a rate considered one of the highest in the world, while the real sector is left with nothing. And even when they were able to access funds, it came with an unbearable interest rate. President Buhari met this situation on ground. He did not create it, but is doing his very best to take us out of the economic quagmire. We should all support him.

On the call by Sen. Melaye on Mr. President to sack some ministers, I disagree with that proposition. Nigerians are of the habit of asking for the sack or removal of public officers, often for sentimental reasons, envy or simply for an opportunity to join the fray. In my assessment, I have not seen any member of the President's cabinet today -- from SGF, HOS to ministers -- that is not good enough to hold the office. At worse, the President may wish to reshuffle a couple of or more ministers based on their strength and weaknesses for better service delivery.

 A minister doesn't have to know everything. A minister has an ample latitude to draw knowledge from the MDAs staff or within the larger society to achieve result in his ministry. I believe that most of the present cabinet ministers can source information or knowledge from these reservoir when the need arises. I have worked very closely with most of them and I am convinced that they have proved their mettle despite managing a very difficult situation that they did not create.

I am sure nobody can question the competence of Udoma Udoma. Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun is also doing her best, and having worked with her, I am convinced she has all it takes to turn around the economy. The Central Bank Governor is managing the most challenging period the apex bank has ever witnessed. I think the president has worked with this team for about a year. His cabinet team understands him better and vice-versa.

I believe if they stay focused and refuse to be distracted, we shall soon start seeing the dividends. The President must not fall for the trap of people trying to distort the progress made so far. Whoever he appoints again, the call for sack will never stop.

I am therefore calling on my colleague, brother and friend, Senator Dino Malaye that we should rather look inward and address our own contribution to this problem as lawmakers. We can start by addressing the budget and other monumental fraud under the watch of Speaker Yakubu Dogara, a systemic corruption that affected and continued to derail the economy of our dear country. That is the appropriate place to start. Remember, charity begins at home!

Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin
APC-Kano
Kiru-Bebeji Federal ConstituencyÂ
Kano‎

Kourtney Kardashian shows off her figure in sexy black one-piece swimsuit

Kourtney Kardashian shows off her figure in sexy black one-piece swimsuit

Reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian is currently on a getaway in Italy with her three children and mom Kris Jenner. They went off on a luxury yacht off Portofino yesterday and Kourtney showed off her figure in a sexy one-piece swimsuit with a tan design. More photos after the cut.

Photos: Kebbi State First Lady Dr. Zainab Bagudu comes to the aid of 11-year-old boy with neck mass

Photos: Kebbi State First Lady Dr. Zainab Bagudu comes to the aid of 11-year-old boy with neck mass

The picture of a young orphan identified as 11-year-old Sadiq Sani Mahuta with a neck mass (Thyroid Cancer) from Fakai Local Government area of Kebbi state caught the attention of the state governor, Dr Zainab Atiku Bagudu, after his picture was widely circulated on social media. The issue caught the attention of the Wife of the Governor Dr Zainab Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

A mass appeared on his neck three years ago and has been increasing in size. His family resorted to traditional medicines as they did not have funds for hospital care. The mass has increased in size and he is now quite unwell, out of school and quite unhappy.

Through her foundation Medicaid Cancer Foundation, Dr Zainab Bagudu is taking up the the responsibility for his care. The patient was invited by the foundation for initial assessment by experts in Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi to ascertain the next line of action. He was also visited at home by a welfare team from the foundation and presented with money, food and clothing.

University of Jos students whose exam scripts got burnt in Library inferno to rewrite their papers

University of Jos students whose exam scripts got burnt in Library inferno to rewrite their papers

There was a serious fire incident at the Library Complex, Naraguta Campus, University of Jos on Saturday 8th October. It affected the Main Library in the Complex, the Faculty of Social Sciences and some Departments in the Faculty of Management Sciences.

Registrar, Monday M. Danjem has now issued a statement announcing that Senate of the University of Jos has approved the resumption of the postponed First Semester Examinations for the 2015/2016 Session.

"All Students whose Faculties were affected by the fire incident are advised to liaise with their respective Heads of Department who will direct them appropriately on the Halls where they are expected to write their Examinations."

"All such affected Students are also to please note that all First Semester 2015/2016 Session Examinations earlier written but which Answer Scripts were burnt during the inferno, will now be rescheduled to a later date to be communicated to them by their respective Heads of Department."

Terrified SA bride bashes her husband's head with a wine bottle after seeing his manhood for the first time during honeymoon

Terrified SA bride bashes her husband's head with a wine bottle after seeing his manhood for the first time during honeymoon

In South Africa, a virgin bride reportedly bashed her husband on the head during their honeymoon, after seeing his large penis for the first time.

According to reports, Mnombo Madyibi (pictured above) – nicknamed Anaconda by his friends, was attacked while trying to get intimate with his wife on their honeymoon after they both decided to abstain from sex until marriage.

The unnamed wife reportedly described her husband's penis as a 'hairy, scary cucumber' after seeing it for the first time. Revealing what happened, Madyibi said: 

'All was well and she enjoyed the foreplay. But all hell broke loose the moment I took off my underwear.'

She reacted in horror, bit his ear and squeezed his private parts.

'Before I knew it, she knocked me over with a bottle of wine before attempting to suffocate me with a red and white teddy bear I'd bought her as a gift.'

Their screams woke up other guests at their bed and breakfast in Coffee Bay, South Africa, and the pair ended up heading back home.

While Madyibi thinks his wife was angry because he could only afford a cheaper honeymoon instead of the one she wished for in Zanzibar, his wife when contacted said she only slapped him on the cheek. They have decided to use marriage counseling instead of involving the police to solve their issues.

Photos: In Yobe State, a family is forced to carry dead woman home in a wheelbarrow after hospital refused transport

Photos: In Yobe State, a family is forced to carry dead woman home in a wheelbarrow after hospital refused transport

A family in Karasuwa Local Government Area of Yobe State had to carry the corpse of a deceased female relative home for burial in a wheelbarrow after the public hospital where she died refused to provide an ambulance. According to Rariya, the family couldn't afford money for ambulance service and the hospital authorities declined to transport the body.

'Learn how to mind your own business' - actress Rita Edochie advices critics of her makeup style

'Learn how to mind your own business' - actress Rita Edochie advices critics of her makeup style

Veteran Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has been criticized a number of times by people bothered by her choice of makeup. She took to her social media accounts to sound off on her critics, advising them to mind their business and move on. In her words: 

"One man's meat.....when you see most of them that are almost nude, you don't say anything bcos  they are the kind of pictures you all like. You will keep seeing my makeup (black pencil) and will keep getting scared until you get off or you learn how to mind your business. Chaaaaiiiii i Love myself so so much."