Why we haven't forwarded details of the 2016 budget to Buhari-House of Reps

The House of Representatives has issued a statement explaining why they have not forwarded the details of the 2016 budget to President Buhari, an action that has prevented Buhari to sign the budget into law. The chairman House Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin‎, in the  statement released today, said the practice of witholding the budget for a few days or weeks by the National Assembly has always been there and that due to the fact that the "padded" budget was presented to them late, they need time to scrutinize the details. The statement in part reads
“The general public should note that the MTEF and 2016 budget proposal came to NASS very late. You will also recall that a lot of dust was raised over different versions of the budget circulated in the national assembly. Further, some ministers disowned the content of the budget during defence before NASS.
Amid these inconsistencies and discrepancies, the NASS had been deeply engrossed in perfecting the anomalies, ironing out of the wrinkles and stretching the twists inherent in the 2016 appropriation bill.‎ 
In order for the nation to move forward and avoid stagnation of administrative processes, the tradition is that the bill is passed and forwarded to the presidency for assent, while the lawmakers continue to work on the details. There is nothing abnormal about this practice and yet nothing abnormal about a president assenting a budget before or after seeing the details. In any case, the budget details are usually sent within a week or two after passing the budget.
In view of the inconsistencies, errors, omissions and padding that characterised the 2016 Budget, it would be unpatriotic of NASS to forward the budget details without being extra-careful, meticulous and cautious in discharging its duties. This is to ensure we do not make same mistake that the executive made.
The Appropriation committee needs to scrutinize the original proposal sent by the president vis-à-vis the reports of various Standing Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate to arrive at a clean copy of the budget details. This will in no way affect any envelop already passed or the aggregate expenditure.
The NASS holds the President in high esteem and will continue to support him. There were several instances where we demonstrated our support to the present administrations in the past.
At the risk of sounding immodest, the NASS approved the President’s Special Advisers without hitch, approved ministerial nominees without rancour, approved Supplementary Budget without delay and displayed a rare show of patriotism in the receipt and passage of the 2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and budget.
The 2016 Budget is the most challenging budget the NASS has ever passed in its recent history. Taking into account the many controversies and omissions, particularly in NYSC, Prisons, Pensions, personnel shortfalls, among others, the budget failed in many respects to connect with the policy thrust of the government.
The NASS Appropriation Committees worked round the clock to address some of the omissions, bring up to date allocations in the budget towards the policy direction of Mr. President, particularly issues relating to security, anti-corruption and economic diversification.
Given the foregoing efforts, it is therefore unfair for accusing fingers to be pointed at NASS when the Presidency defers or delays assent to the budget. Nowhere in the world that a budget is presented to the Parliament, and expect it to be passed warts and all without subjecting it to the rigours of scrutiny, debate and painstaking processes and inputs of the parliament.
The NASS will continue to exercise its constitutional duty of appropriation to the latter. While recognising the President’s power to withhold assent, the NASS is also constitutionally required and has power to veto. But we don’t want that to happen and we don’t see this happening in this case.
It is obvious that some fifth columnists are crying wolf where there is none and are also bent on creating friction and disharmony between the NASS and the Presidency,”.

El Rufai says those criticizing Kaduna Religious bill are ignorant

Kaduna state governor, Nasir El Rufai, says those criticizing the Kaduna Religious Regulation Bill are Ignorant. Speaking to newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday March 29th, El Rufai said many of those crying foul about the bill have not read through it. He denied claims of having any ulterior motive by the introduction of the law.

‎"If you read that Bill, it is very short, it is 16 sections. Read it; tell me what you don’t like. Don’t say you don’t like the entire law because we know we have a problem and I am the governor and I need a solution. So don’t say the solution is not to have the law. Tell me what you don’t like about the Bill and we can discuss it. Tell me what is against your religion, we can discuss it.‎ Honestly, we do not have any ulterior motive other than to put a framework that will ensure Kaduna state citizens live in peace with every one practising his religion, but disallowing every Tom, Dick and Harry to come and say he can preach.”he said

Lai Mohammed- Nigerians are questioning our change agenda

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says this administration  has come to the understand that many Nigerians are beginning to question the change agenda of the government. In a statement signed by Segun Adeyemi, his special adviser yesterday March 30th, Lai said the economic hardship being faced by many Nigerians has resulted in their skepticism of the administrations promise of change. He prevailed on Nigerians to still believe in the government, saying that very soon they see the change they voted for.
 
'We understand the skepticism of Nigerians in questioning whether this indeed is the change they voted for. I can tell Nigerians that our change agenda is real, and that indeed Nigerians will get the change they voted for. 
As a government that was propelled into office by the power of the people, we cannot but feel the pains of our compatriots, and we deeply empathise with them.
Our message to our compatriots is that this administration under the able leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari is working round the clock to ease the pains of Nigerians, and that very soon, the efforts of the government will begin to yield fruits for the benefit of Nigerians'.


Source: LIB

Very First male contraceptive injection shown to be effective at blocking sperm

According to a scientific research, a lot of women all over the world have dreamed and hoped for some type of male contraception apart from condoms and vasectomy. The burden of taking contraceptive pills or having devices implanted has been what a lot of women have been doing to avoid unwanted/unplanned pregnancies.

Now, scientists have revealed that the first male contraceptive injection could soon be available.
The shot, called Vasalgel, is non-hormonal and long-acting , potentially reversible and has been shown to block sperm for up to 1 year.
According to the non-profit Parsemus Foundation, of Berkeley, California, clinical testing of the shot will begin some time this year.
According to the research done, a lot of men said they were willing to try a new form of contraception that is reversible unlike vasectomy.
But in a new study, Parsemeus confirmed that Vasalgel has the potential to fill the gap in the male contraception market.

The shot consists of styrene-alt-maleic acid (SMA) that is dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide will be the first to reach the market, researchers noted.

Daily Mail