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Mar
25
2025

LATEST PRESS

FG Flags Off Access Road to Second Niger Bridge (Phase 2A), Reinforces Commitment to Infrastructure Development


The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works has officially flagged off the Construction of a 17.55-Kilometre Access Road to the Second Niger Bridge (Phase 2A) in Asaba, linking the South South Zone to the South East. This milestone event underscores the administration’s unwavering dedication to enhancing national road infrastructure and fostering economic growth.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Honourable Minister of Works Engr (Sen) David Umahi CON, FNSE, FNATE lauded the host State Government for its commitment to infrastructure development, emphasising that governance is about improving the lives of the people. He commended the Edo State Governor’s proactive approach to addressing road infrastructure needs, acknowledging the numerous ongoing projects, including three major flyovers in Warri town. "Your state is a construction site. You have demonstrated that leadership is about responsibility, not excuses. Instead of blaming the Federal government, you are taking proactive actions. That is highly commendable," he stated.

Engr. Umahi further highlighted the Federal Government’s broader vision for road infrastructure, revealing that multiple strategic road projects are either ongoing or in the pipeline, nationwide. These include the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Benin-Asaba Expressway, the Sokoto-Gusau-Katsina-Kaduna corridor, the East-West Road, the remaining section of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Dual Carriageway, amongst others. He assured that the 9-kilometre extension of the just-flagged off Reconstruction of the Benin-Asaba Expressway to the 2nd Niger Bridge requested by the State Government has been approved.

To ensure the security and sustainability of the newly constructed roads and bridges, the Government has implemented advanced surveillance measures, including the installation of CCTV cameras along the Access Roads and the Bridge. These cameras will be linked to the offices of the Governors of the concerned States to monitor activities and prevent vandalism. Additionally, the project will incorporate solar-powered streetlights to enhance visibility and security.

The Minister reiterated the administration’s commitment to prioritising inherited projects and delivering impactful infrastructure to Nigerians. He emphasized that under President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda, road projects nationwide are receiving unprecedented attention, ensuring seamless connectivity and economic progress.

"All major road projects inherited by Mr. President are ongoing. He has given them priority attention. This administration believes in continuity and results, not political excuses," he stressed.
The project, he continued, is part of a broader national infrastructure strategy aimed at connecting key economic zones and improving transportation efficiency. The government has assured that funding is secured, with 30% of the contract sum ready to be paid, while strict timelines and performance monitoring will be enforced to ensure timely delivery.

The Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, while acknowledging the presence of dignitaries at the occasion, stated “It is an honor and privilege to stand before you today, representing His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This occasion is not just about flagging off a road project—it is a testament to this administration’s unwavering commitment to economic development, national integration, and infrastructure renewal.

“The construction of the Access Road is a major step towards strengthening our nation’s connectivity. This road will ease movement, facilitate trade, and enhance economic opportunities for the people of Delta, Anambra, and beyond. It is yet another proof that under this administration, infrastructure development remains a top priority for fostering economic growth and national unity. I want to, especially, commend the government and people of Delta and Anambra States for their collaboration in ensuring the success of this project. Your support and cooperation are crucial in making this vision a reality. Infrastructure development is not just the responsibility of the Federal Government requires the collective effort of all stakeholders, including the State Governments, Local Communities, and Private Sector Partners,” says the President.

The Governor added “To our esteemed contractors, I urge you to ensure the highest standards of quality and timely completion of this project. This is not just a road; it is a legacy of progress that will serve generations to come.”

He extended his gratitude to all present-the traditional rulers, community leaders, and all who have contributed in one way or another to the realisation of the initiative. “Your support and dedication to the success of this project reflect our shared commitment to building a better, more connected Nigeria.
As we look forward to its completion, let us all continue to work together for the development of our great nation,” Governor Oborevwori concluded.

Mar
12
2024

Governors of Kwara and Kogi States Visit Hon. Minister of Works, Seek Federal Government's Intervention on The Ilorin - Lokoja Dualization of the Federal Highway   1.       The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has assured  that the Federal Government  under the Renewed Hope administration of His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is committed  to addressing  the accumulated road infrastructural  needs of the country as that would contribute  progressively to the reinvigoration  of the  national  and sub-national economies. This was contained in the message of the Hon. Minister of Works during  the courtesy visit  of the Governor  of Kwara  State and Chairman, Nigerian Governors' Forum, His Excellency, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the Governor  of Kogi State, His Excellency Ahmed Usman Ododo at the Federal Ministry of Works, Mabushi-Abuja on 11th March 2024. 2. The Honourable Minister said that holistic  attention  is being  given  to the Federal  roads in all the States  of the Federation by Mr. President, and this could be seen in the numerous road projects going  on in the country under  the Renewed Hope administration. "In all honesty, the roads are very terrible. But if you look at what we had when I took over in the month of August and what we are doing now,  you will see a lot of commitment by Mr. President, not just on that stretch..., but all over the country. That's why he directed that I must visit all the States and all the projects."  He assured the Governors who visited  that the Ministry  would  look at the funding mechanism to kick-start  the project once approved by Mr. President, as it is not contemplated  by the  budget. "And so, for coming and you had discussed this project with Mr. President, he does not joke with the welfare of Nigerians. He's one person that is  infrastructure committed right from when he was Governor. Even on his own personal businesses, you'll see the development of infrastructure. So, he's very much interested. He understands that the road is everything in this country. It will improve security, improve agriculture, improve commerce and so on and so forth." 3. Speaking on behalf  of the  Governors that visited,  the Governor  of Kwara State said the purpose  of their visit was to bring  the condition  of the Ilorin-Lokoja  road to the attention of the Federal Government  for possible  intervention, adding  that  the road which  also stretches  to Markurdi, Gboko up to the Republic  of Benin is key not only to the enhancement of the economy, but also to the development  of solid  mineral and agriculture in Nigeria. He expressed  delight  in the abundant interventions of Mr. President  on road infrastructure across  the nation and hoped that with the outcome  of their meeting, the Federal Government  would look into ways and means to fund the  Ilorin-Lokoja dualization.  He stated, "The primary purpose of this visit is to encourage the Federal Government to look into the Ilorin-Lokoja dualization of the Federal Highway. And it's  a very major important road, which is not just an economic road, it is a belt of solid minerals in Nigeria and agricultural belt. So that road will open up the entire region for business, for commerce, agriculture." ...

Mar
10
2024

Federal Government Addresses Concerns on Benin- Ekpoma- Auchi Okpella-Okene- Lokoja Road, Gives a Marching Order to Contractors To Justify The Funds Released  to them or Risk Termination  of Their Contracts 1. The Federal Government  has issued a marching  order to all the contractors handling the Benin- Ekpoma- Auchi- Okpella- Okene- Lokoja road to immediately commence accelerated  work on the rehabilitation of the road or face termination  of their contracts. This directive was handed over to the contractors by the Hon. Minister of Works,  His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON during  his inspection  visit  to the various  project sites in Edo State on 9th March 2024.. The Hon. Minister  who disclosed  that the Federal  Government  under the Renewed Hope administration of His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR had released  funds to the contractors handling  the  federal projects, warned that  contractors who fail to fully mobilize and commence  immediate  accelerated rehabilitation  works on the projects would have their  contracts  terminated and such contractors blacklisted. 2. Speaking  after a meeting  with the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency . Goodwin Obaseki, the Minister described  as unacceptable  the delay of the  contractors in fully  mobilizing  to site and effectively commencing  rehabilitation  work despite Mr. President's prompt release of funds to them for the projects. On the recent protest  along the Jattu axis of the  Benin- Auchi highway  by the residents  of the area,which  disrupted  vehicular  movements, the Hon. Minister said that his meeting  with the Governor  was to brainstorm  on the drastic  measures  to tackle the issues affecting the progress of work in the area."  I have had a very serious  meeting  with the Governor here. We are concerned about what is happening between  Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi- Okpella and the axis of Kogi State. That is what we have been brainstorming on. I have worked  with him throughout  last night to direct that the road should be unblocked, and if you see  the grievances of those people  you will not blame them  so much, because  people  are dying, trucks are falling." 3. On his part, the Governor  thanked  the Hon. Minister of Works for his deep sense  of  commitment to the development  of road infrastructure in Nigeria.  He assured of the unwavering  support  of his administration  to the concrete  technology initiative introduced by the Renewed Hope administration, which  he said was the best model  for the  road infrastructure  along the  East West  and indeed parts of the country. "First, let me thank  my brother and very good friend, the Honourable Minister of Works, who you know  is an engineer  par excellence, for the concern he has shown. Same time last year when I cried  for help ahead of the rainy reason,  we didn't  get this kind of response. " He harped on the need to remove encumbrances to the construction  of enduring  road infrastructure in Nigeria. "We shall not continue  to use expensive  asphalt  to do our roads. We should use  sustainable  local materials; we produce  cement  and steel, there is no reason  why we can not begin  to move towards utilizing more concrete  in building  our roads for sustainability so that our roads can last longer.' 4. The Hon. Minister  who also inspected the Lokoja – Benin Road Dualization Projects, section IV: Benin – Ehor road in Edo State handled by RCC Nig. Ltd; the section III: Ehor – Auchi in Edo State handled by Dantata & Sawoe Nig. Ltd; and the section II: Auchi – Okene in Edo/Kogi States handled by Mothercat Nig. Ltd tasked them on the best standard and timely  delivery  of the  projects. He further  moved to the spot where the residents  were blocking  vehicular  movements and addressed them on the efforts  of  Mr. President  in improving the condition  of roads  in the State." Mr. President has directed  me to go round the entire 36 States and brief him on the state of the  roads. No contractor  is being  owed a kobo from Warri down to Kogi State. We are readdresing  the situation here, you will see action from Monday"   ...

Mar
09
2024

Indigenous Contractors Nationwide to be Given a Pride of Place in the Construction Industry Under the Renewed Hope Administration of President  Tinubu with more Opportunities  for  Road Construction  on Concrete Technology   1.    In the vision to promote  local content as a major game changer in the economic  recovery plans of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the Honourable Minister of Works,  His Excellency Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has assured  that his Ministry would  promote indigenous  resources, skills and capacities through  creating more opportunities for local contractors in the construction industry, especially  in the new innovation  of concrete technology  being  used in   tough terrains across  the nation. The Hon. Minister  stated  this when he paid  inspection  visits  to some flood sections along the East  West Road in Delta  State undergoing  remedial  work by an indigenous contractor, Messrs.  True Tech Nigeria  Ltd.   2.    The  Honourable Minister, who was very impressed  by the good job being  done by True Tech Nigeria  Ltd said  his Ministry  would  do everything  possible  to ensure  value for money, create wealth and jobs for indigenous professionals and technicians,  introduce  engineering solutions that are more economical and discourage  delays  in project delivery. He said of the project, "  We have about 10 different washouts, which we are providing multiple culverts in place of a decompile, which would have been much more expensive. But our solution is very economical, and it will solve the engineering problems. And then we're raising the road level above the flood level. And we are also using a concrete pavement to do it."  He said also that solar light would  be put on the axis  when the  project  is completed. "We're also going to put  solar light, at least let it be the signature of Mr. President, and that will be the microcosm of the macrocosm of what Nigerians should expect on our roads under the administration of Mr. President".   3.    Meanwhile, the Honourable Minister of Works  has directed all Controllers of Works  to ensure that all contractors use 70% stone base aggregate  with only 30% dust base to form the base of the  road construction  jobs. He gave this  directive  when he inspected the dualization of Sapele- Agbor road, route no. 3 in Delta  State  handled  by CGC Nigeria  Ltd. He, however, commended  the construction company  for their good  job. " CGC is known  for a good job. I commend  you for the  one I have seen. It's  good, so we will do everything  to assist  you, but listen to our directive. Follow  the existing  asphalt, pulverize it, and put 20cm stone base. Don't  use dust base. "   4.    The Minister, who also inspected  the rehabilitation of  Warri- Sapele road via route no. 2, section  3 in Delta  State, handled  by  SKECC Nigeria  Ltd; the  Benin- Warri road  rehabilitation, section  2, Sapele- Imasabor, handled  by Geld Construction  Nig  Ltd/ Tracter  Nigeria  Ltd in Delta  State; Benin- Warri road, section 1( Imasabor- Benin  in Edo State,  handled  by  Levant Nigeria  Ltd; as well as the Benin- Agbor route no 4 and Benin By-pass route  5 all in Edo State, gave and ultimatum  directing Geld Construction  Nigeria  Ltd/ Tracter Nigeria Ltd  to within  14 days justify  the mobilization  received  or have their job terminated. "After 14 days  of this warning notice and there's  nothing  happening, I will come and terminate the job.".  ...

First First

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT


Jul
16
2024

 


OTHER NEWS

Mar
23
2022

Fashola Restates FG’s Commitment To Quality Education As AKTH Receives 1.06 Km Rehabilitated Internal Road

·       CMD, other academic, non-academic staff, laud Buhari, Minister for intervention
 
The Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, took delivery of a 1.06 kilometer internal road rehabilitated in the institution by the Ministry of Works and Housing with the Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, restating Federal Government’s commitment to the development of education in the county through the provision of quality infrastructure.

With the handover of the 1.06 km internal road, which included the construction of reinforced concrete culverts and drains, AKTH joined the Federal Tertiary institutions which have benefitted from the ongoing Federal Government Road Intervention Scheme across the country which has so far reached 46 Federal tertiary in across the six geopolitical zones.

Fashola, who was represented at the occasion by the Federal Controller of Works in Kano State, Engr. Yahaya Baba Ali, said President Muhammadu Buhari's administration has successfully intervened in the internal road network of 46 Federal Tertiary institutions handing over 29 in 2021 with17 others now ready to be handed over, while work is ongoing on 30 roads in similar institutions across the country bringing the total number to 76.

Noting the show of joy and enthusiasm that always accompanied such handovers, especially among students of benefiting institutions, the Minister declared, “The quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment and those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedbacks from students in the schools where this type of intervention has taken place”.

Earlier, in his welcome address the Chief Medical Director of the Teaching Hospital, Prof. Abdurrahman Abba Sheshe, expressed happiness that an important project of that magnitude was executed in the institution, pointing out that it would allow easy access for patients seeking medical treatment in different parts of the hospital.

"We are indeed very happy that the Federal Government, under President Muhammadu Buhari and through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, realized the importance of this project which was carried out through special intervention. The result is what we are seeing all around the hospital today”, he said.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Board of Directors, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, represented by Dr. Dahiru M.D Shehu, expressed the hope that the present administration would continue to bring in more projects to the hospital.

"I thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, for the road which will help in the development of the Health Sector in the country," he said. He also commended the administration of President Buhari for the support given to the hospital in terms of improvement of the healthcare system in the county.

The Principal Imam, Academics, AKTH. Mallam Zakariya'u Muhammad thanked President Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing for the internal road adding, “This has brought relief to the people. Before the intervention visitors to this hospital suffered from dust due to the bad road and during raining season patients and pupils found it difficult to access the road."

The ward head in the Hospital, Alhaji Suleiman Shehu, expressed his happiness over the intervention and thanked the government for removing the pains of the people while using the road. “We can now move freely on the road”, he said.

SPEECHES

Nov
09
2021

WHAT CAN THE PRESIDENT DO FOR ME? BEING THE TEXT OF A KEYNOTE DELIVERED BY H.E BABATUNDE RAJI FASHOLA, SAN AT THE YORUBA TENNIS CLUB ANNUAL LECTURE

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

At the onset of the protest against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) when five demands were made in respect of the police and SARS, President Muhammadu Buhari weighed in on the side of the protesters when he said:

“On Monday 12th October, I acknowledged the genuine concerns and agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force by some members of SARS…As a democratic government, we listened to, and carefully evaluated the five-point demands of the protesters. And, having accepted them, we immediately scrapped SARS, and put measures in place to address the other demands of our youth.”

To some of the protesters this was not enough action. In my interaction with some of them, young and not so young they wanted the President to sack some policemen, in some cases even the Inspector General of Police.

During this interaction I referred them to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended, that I pointed out to them that:

* The President of Nigeria cannot sack a policeman because a policeman is not the employee of the President but rather the employee of the Police Service Commission;

* The President can only sack Ministers, and other appointees that he personally appoints to assist him and not any civil servant deployed to work for him such as a cook, driver, or administrative staff who are ordinary employees of the Civil Service Commission.

Not a few persons were surprised to hear this.

Indeed, I have discovered that a sizeable number of our people express surprise when I explain the structure of Government to them.

For example, when I explain to people that as Governor or Minister I do not sign cheques, vouchers or documents that directly involve the transfer of money.

On the contrary, at certain levels of payment under the financial regulation, my powers as Governor or Minister are limited to approving recommendations for payment made to me through the Permanent Secretary; after he and I have satisfied ourselves that the Government has received value for the payment or will do so.

Although the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has several directorates such as Construction and Rehabilitation, Planning and Development, Bridges and Design, Materials Geotechnics and Quality Control, Finance and Accounts, Legal and Procurement, many openly express surprise when I tell them that only Engineers, Architects, Valuers, Builders, Town Planners and those involved in the built industry are staff of the Ministry of Works and Housing.

Those in Legal Department are lawyers seconded from the Ministry of Justice to whom they report, Finance and Accounts are staff of the Accountant General/Ministry of Finance, to whom they report, and procurement personnel are staff of the Bureau of Public Procurement to whom they report; while those in administration are staff of the Head of Service/Public Service Office to whom they report.

And this is true of all ministries, in a system of checks and balances.

Similarly of course, in the engineering sections of other ministries, the Ministry of Works also seconds engineers to support those ministries and they report to their parent ministry.

What is true of the Federal civil service system in this regard is largely true of the state civil service systems.

This in part is why the public service is a bureaucracy, which has been defined as:

“…a complex organization that has multi-layered systems and processes.” (Source - Investopedia)

I am surprised that this surprises people and this is a part of the reason for choosing to discuss it at this public forum.

So very often, I hear general statements that the President of Nigeria is very powerful, sometimes they say the office is too powerful in some cases they even ascribe more powers to him than the United States President.

Therefore I have decided, in responding to the invitation of Chief Babajide Damazio, the Chairman of the Yoruba Tennis Club, to interrogate the matter publicly by titling my speech “What can the President do for me?”

The flip side is also that some of our public discourse is coloured with general statements that are not factual such as some statements to the effect that the Vice President is in their words “just a spare tyre” suggesting that he has no powers or functions except those assigned to him by the President.

These statements betray a lack of knowledge about the Constitution and I intend to discuss them here within the reasonable limits of time.

If one looks through the length and breadth of the constitution as I have, you will find that the office of the President is referred to 48 (FORTY-EIGHT) times.

A closer look at the details for those who have read the constitution, will suggest possibly an error in mixing up or conflating “powers” with “function” and the difference is significant.

“Whereas ‘power’ is the legal right or authorisation to act or not to act, it is the ability conferred on a person by law to alter, by an act of will, the rights, duties liabilities and other relations, either of that person or another. On the other hand, the term “function” is the duty of the office.

In the 48 mentions of the Office of the President in the Constitution:

* 23 instances refer to powers exercisable by the President;
* 9 instances refer to powers exercisable by the President subject to the National Assembly;
* 4 instances refer to powers exercisable by the President subject to other institutions;
* 9 instances refer to the President’s functions and duties; and
* 3 instances refer to restrictions on the powers of the President.

Yes, the “all powerful,” “too powerful” President that we generalise about his powers, has restrictions on his powers.

I have provided a table of all the references in the Constitution below:

Part A: Powers exercisable by the President

    Section
1 The executive powers of the Federation is vested in the President Section 5(1)(a)
2 The executive powers include the power to execute and maintain the Constitution Section 5(1)(b)
3 Power to execute and maintain all laws made by the National Assembly Section 5(1)(b)
4 Power to make treaties [Power conferred on the Federation] Section 12
5 Power to deprive registered or naturalized citizens of their citizenship Section 30
6 Authorization of qualified private persons to establish a television or wireless broadcast station Section 39
7 Power to assent (or withhold assent) to bills passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives Section 58
8 Power to decide whether or not it is practicable to hold elections Section 64
9 Power to issue proclamation for the holding of the first session of the National Assembly Section 64
10 Right to attend joint meetings of the National Assembly or of either the Senate or the House of Representatives to deliver an address on national affairs or to make statement on government policies Section 67
11 Power to order withdrawal of moneys from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation for the purpose of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on the services of the Government Section 82
12 Establishment of offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation Section 147
13 Assignment of responsibilities to the Vice President and Ministers Section 148(1)
14 Power to appoint or remove Chairman and members of Federal Executive Bodies established by section 153 of the Constitution Section 154
15 Approval of rules of procedure made by the Federal Executive Bodies established by section 153 of the Constitution Section 160
16 Power to approve delegation by the Federal Civil Service Commission of its power to any of its members or to any officer in the civil service of the Federation Section 170
17 Power to appoint and remove the following officers: Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Service, Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Permanent Secretary, etc Section 171
18 Power to give approval to a State body where it is intended by the body to confer power or impose duties to any officer or authority of the Federation Section 204
19 Power to give lawful directions to the Inspector General of Police with respect to the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order Section 215(3)
20 Power to direct the armed forces to suppress insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order Section 217(2)(c)
21 The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federation and as such is empowered to:
* determine the operational use of the armed forces of the Federation;
* appoint the Chiefs of Staff of Defence, Army, Navy, and Air Force; and
* appoint heads of any other branches of the armed forces of the Federation.
Section 218
22 The Constitution vests the Executive power for the administration of the Federal Capital Territory in the President Section 299
23 Power to appoint a Minister for the Federal Capital Territory Section 302
24 As the Appropriate Authority, the President is authorized to make modifications in the text of any existing law as he considers necessary to bring the law into conformity with the provisions of the Constitution Section 315(2)
     

 

Part B: Power subject to the National Assembly

1 Power to declare a state of war between the Federation and another country [subject to the sanction of the National Assembly] Section 5(4)
2 Deployment of members of the armed forces of the Federation on combat duty outside Nigeria. [subject to approval of the Senate] Section 5(5)
3 Making regulations to prescribe matters which are required to give effect to constitutional provisions on citizenship [subject to laying before the National Assembly] Section 32
4 Appointment and removal of the Auditor-General for the Federation Section 86
5 Appointment of Ministers Section 147
6 Power to appoint Special Advisers to assist the President in the performance of his functions. [Their number is to be determined by the National Assembly] Section 151
7 Power to appoint the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, President of the Court of Appeal, Justices of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge and Justices of the Federal High Court and Justices of other Federal Courts. [Subject to confirmation by the Senate] Sections 231, 238, 250, 254B, etc
8 Power to remove the Justices and Judges appointed by him [Acting on address supported by 2/3 majority of the Senate or NJC] Section 292
9 Power to issue a proclamation of a state of emergency in the Federation or any part thereof in the circumstances listed in section 305(3) and (4) of the Constitution Section 305(1)
     

 

Part C: Power subject to other institution

1 Deployment of members of the armed forces of the Federation on a limited combat duty outside Nigeria. [in consultation with the National Defence Council] Section 5(5)
2 Power to grant a pardon to any person convicted of any offence created by an Act of National Assembly (Prerogative of mercy)
[This power is to be exercised by the President after consultation with the Council of State]
Section 175
3 Power to accept or reject report of population census conducted by the National Population Commission.
[This power is subject to the advice of the Council of State]
Section 213
4 Appointment of the Inspector General of Police
[This power is to be exercised on the advice of Nigeria Police Council]
Section 215(1)(a)
     

 

Part D: Functions and Duties

1 Considering recommendations from a body set up to review ownership and control of business enterprises operating in Nigeria Section 16(3)
2 Approving the registration of persons who apply to be registered as citizens of Nigeria Section 26
3 Granting of certificate of naturalization to persons who are qualified Section 27
4 The President has the responsibility to cause budget to be prepared and laid before the National Assembly Section 81
5 Duty to hold regular meetings with the Vice President and the Ministers of the Government of the Federation Section 148(2)
6 Tabling of proposals for revenue allocation from the Federation Account to the National Assembly Section 162(2)
7 Duty to transmit copies of official gazette containing emergency proclamation to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Section 305(2)
8 The President is the chairman of the following constitutional bodies:
The Council of State
* National Defence Council
* National Security Council
* Nigeria Police Council
 
9 Duty to lay accepted report of population census conducted by the National Population Commission before the National Assembly.
[This power is subject to the advice of the Council of State]
Section 213
     

 

Part E: Restriction

1 Prohibition from holding any other executive office or paid employment Section 138
2 Prohibition from maintaining or operating a bank account in a country outside Nigeria Fifth Schedule to the Constitution
3 Prohibition from being employed by foreign company or foreign enterprises after leaving office Fifth Schedule to the Constitution
     

 

Is the Vice President really without responsibilities, duties and functions unless the President assigns them to him?

Certainly not. Those who assert that position tell a big lie. A lie born either out of ignorance at the best or mischief at the worst.

The framers of the Nigerian Constitution and our legislators seem to have deliberately attempted to entrust matters relating to its security with the President by making him chairman of the National Councils such as the Security Council, Defence Council and the Police Council, while entrusting the Vice President with matters relating to the economy by making him the Chairman of the National Council on Privatization and the National Economic Council.

Although they did not say the President cannot deal with economic matters, it is my view that he cannot chair the Economic Council or National council on privatization without violating/breaching the constitution with its attendant constitutional risks and consequences.

So much for the “all-powerful” President.

As for the Vice President, his other constitutional functions include:

 

SECTION A

Constitutional Function and Duty of the Vice President

Constitutional Provision
1 Exercise of Executive Powers of the Federation as delegated by the President Section 5(1)(a)
2 Power to perform the functions of the President as Acting President during temporary absence of the President Section 145(1)
3 Power to hold the office of the President if the office of the President becomes vacant by Section 146 Section 146(1)
4 Performance of ‘responsibility for any business of the Government of the Federation’ as may be assigned by the President Section 148(1)
  SECTION B
Constitutional Appointment/Position
Constitutional Provision
1 Deputy Chairman of the Council of State Third Schedule, Part I, Paragraph B (5)
2 Chairman of the National Economic Council Third Schedule, Part I, Paragraph H (18)
3 Deputy Chairman of the National Defence Council Third Schedule, Part I, Paragraph G (16)
4 Deputy Chairman of the National Security Council Third Schedule, Part I, Paragraph K (25)
  SECTION C
Statutory Function/Position
Statutory Provision
1 Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Emergency Management Agency Section of National Emergency Management Agency Act
2 Chairman of the Governing Board of the Border Communities Development Agency Section 2 Border Communities Development Agency (Establishment, etc.) Act
3 Chairman of the National Boundary Commission Section 4 National Boundary Commission (Establishment) Act
4 The Vice President may represent the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the Chairman of the Governing Council) Section 8 Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (Establishment etc.) Act 2011
5 Chairman of the National Planning Commission Section 3 National Planning Commission Act
6 Vice Chairman of the Council of the National Space Research Development Agency Section 2 National Space Research and Development Agency Act
7 Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Debt Management Bureau Section 2 Debt Management Bureau (Establishment) Act
8 Chairman of the National Council on Privatisation Section 9(2) Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act
     

 

Which brings me to the heart of the matter, as to why a significant number of Nigerians place their hopes and expectation for a better life on their President rather than their Governors and Local Government Chairmen.

Or put differently, why do we seem to only like our Presidents after they have left office and not while in office or after they have died, like “the best President we never had.”

Again, after a very deep interrogation, my answer to this question is traceable to the constitution. And this is not a concession to the advocates of restructuring, but rather a clear lack of relationship by many of us with the constitution.

In other words, we are not fully or sufficiently familiar with our constitution and the roles it ascribes to the different levels of government, at local, state and federal, and the officers attaching to them such as Local Government Chairman, State Governor and the President.

And the related question, to the question what can the president do for me, is to ask ourselves: how the office of the President make my life better?

Before I offer an answer, let me share with you the feedback of a survey that I commissioned to gauge the sense of what the Nigerians who were polled desired most.

The common thread in the responses were: security, education, healthcare, transportation, water supply, employment, housing and electricity. Of course, there are others, which time and space will not permit me to interrogate.

In understanding what the President can do, we must bear in mind the nature of our political arrangement where the President as head of the country, also leads the executive arm of the Federal Government and projects our sovereign status, but shares power and responsibility with 36 states headed by Governors, and 774 Local Government headed by Local Government chairmen.

If we go through our constitution, (and I urge everybody to get a copy and read it if only casually) we will find two (2) lists of responsibilities in the schedule to the constitution.

They are:

* The Exclusive list
* The Concurrent list

The first list contains matters over which only the National Assembly, as the custodian of legislative power of the Federal Government can make laws and over which the President as the head of the executive arm can take action. This list contains 68 (SIXTY-EIGHT) items and includes matters like the banking, currency, police, the military, customs, immigration, citizenship etc.

The second list, which is called the concurrent list, means exactly what it says. A concurrence of authority where the Federal and State governments share power and therefore the state houses of assembly as well as the National Assembly can make laws over these matters; while the Governors, as well as the President, can act in these areas.

This list contains 12 (TWELVE) items and includes matters like Education (secondary and university including polytechnics) Health (secondary and tertiary), Electricity (generation, transmission and distribution).

This list does not include primary education or primary health or sanitation or markets which are expressly left for the Local Governments in the 4th schedule of the constitution.

All matters not listed in these two lists or in the fourth schedule to the constitution such as magistrate courts, consumption tax, rent control, local levies and non-specified taxes, are regarded as RESIDUAL, and the sole preserve of the state governments.

Manifestly and contrary to the view that everything revolves around the President or the Federal Government, what is obvious from the Nigerian constitution and political arrangement, what we really have is an arrangement of shared powers, and I might add, shared responsibility. The question then must be, whether all those who bear responsibility actually discharge them; and I will come back to this in some comparative examination of some of the problems identified earlier that people seek government action for.

But before I do so, I need to quickly shed light on even the nature of the Federal Government.

The Executive arm, such as the Federal Executive Council, has the President and Vice-President elected by the people of Nigeria, and at least 36 ministers appointed from each state as prescribed by the constitution that every state must have a Minister. It also then prescribes that the ministerial nominee must be cleared and approved by the Senate.

And who is the Senate? 109 people, elected by you and I, whether you voted or not, 3 from each state to represent us in the Federal Government because there is no building big enough to accommodate us so we send representatives.

The FCT also has one Senator. The House of Representatives, the other arm of the National Assembly has 360 members from all the 36 states who act to exercise legislative powers over the exclusive list, to determine what the Federal Executive can act upon.

When you see how the structure is laid out, what is obvious to me and hopefully to you, is that it is the people of Nigeria, rather than one man, (the President), who truly have powers and responsibility over our affairs.

Let us now then look at a few examples, because there are many, to examine how these powers have been exercised.

Let me start with electricity. As I said it is a concurrent power by the federal and state. The Federal Government since 2013 has chosen to privatize its own responsibility by selling the generating and distribution assets, while managing the transmission side with varying degrees of success.

The question to ask is what is happening at state level across Nigeria with electricity generation, transmission and distribution.

This question cannot be posed to the President. He is not in charge of any state. He did not elect or appoint a Governor. You and I did.

So I am not suggesting that all electricity problems are the responsibility of the state Governors, but if you have an electricity problem in your states please ask your Governor what he plans to do about it, and your House of Assembly lawmaker which law he will support if you vote for him to give you electricity.

The same applies to primary education and primary health. The Federal Government does not and should not own a primary school or primary healthcare centre. But these are the most defining centres for quality education and preventive health. The foundations of young life are defined here. Basic literacy and numeracy, ante-natal care and life protecting immunization are delivered here.

Please ask your Local Government chairman not the Governor or the President.

Sanitation, characterized by water supply and proper refuse management and civic education are not the constitutional responsibility of the Federal Government, your Senator, house of representative member or the President.

It is our state representatives who have constitutional mandate to deliver water to our homes, move our refuse and make sure our surroundings are clean and we do not suffer from disease and epidemics.

Because I expect that there will be responses, whether informed or uninformed to what I already said and will say, let me be clear that I have not come to absolve the Ministers, the Senators, House of Rep, Federal Civil servants and the President of responsibility.

We have our responsibilities and can do a lot more, but I first sought to clear the air and state the facts for those right thinking and indeed well-meaning Nigerians who honestly want a better life and do not know who is responsible for the problems they face.

So, let me go to a contentious area, like Security.

Section 14.2 (b) of the Constitution provides that:

“the security and the welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government…”

Interestingly, it does not say which government. My view is that security is an all government responsibility not a Federal Government responsibility alone.

Yes, the Federal Government controls the apparatus of coercive law-enforcement prescribed in the constitution like the military and police, but it has not precluded states from setting up certain types of law enforcement for traffic, sanitation etc.

I am also a public advocate for states to control their own law enforcement apparatus in other extensive areas where they have powers to make laws.

However, I hold the view that security, which is a concern of some of the people, is not guaranteed by having a state law enforcement apparatus.

Indeed, it is more than a government affair.

In my view, it is an all nation affair as contemplated in section 24(e) which provides that:

“It shall be the duty of every citizen to…render assistance to appropriate and lawful agencies in the maintenance of law and order…”

It seems to me that the road to resolving our security problems, starts with a resolution to prevent or resolve the existence of conflict, eliminate the opportunities for crime to happen, and this requires effort from the family unit to the schools, religious institutions, to all levels of government.

It requires a reset of our values for hard work, a love for one another as a keeper of each other, brothers and sisters, a commitment to peaceful cohabitation and the mustering of the capacity to ensure that no conflict lasts to the next day, whenever any occurs.

This will reduce the need for law-enforcement and put less pressure on them.

It is more than a job for a President, Governor, Local Government chairman, or legislator at any level. It is a job that requires parents at home, teachers in schools, religious leaders in places of worship, title holders like Obas, Emirs, Chiefs like Obis, Baloguns, Turakis, Asiwajus, Bashoruns, Galadimas, Ezes and many more.

This again does not absolve the need for well-equipped law enforcement or excuse those responsible, as it does not absolve the need to stem and stop drug abuse in our society, and the need to reduce or eliminate abandoned buildings where suspicious people thrive in our society and need for street lighting at night to deter criminal atrocity.

I cannot conclude this intervention without mentioning road infrastructure.

Nigeria as a country has 200,000 plus kilometres of roads. But they belong to different levels of government.

Federal trunk roads, mentioned in item 11 of the executive legislative list is the one the Federal Government is responsible for

These are the roads that connect one state to the other, interstate roads. These account for 35,000km out of the 200,000km representing 17.5 %.

The state government roads are 17.5% of the 200,000 km and these are the roads that connect one Local Government to another; while the Local Governments have responsibility for the balance, representing 65% of roads that connect one ward to another.

I cannot of course ignore the fact that the Federal Government has a big and important role to play in respect of fiscal and monetary policy that impacts exchange rate, interest rate and inflation.

But there are legitimate questions to ask about how many local businesses need foreign exchange to operate as much as they need water, electricity and skilled personnel and lower levies and non-state actors from extorting them.

There is a legitimate question to ask about whether those of us who keep bank accounts are ready to accept lower deposit rates as a measure to induce lower lending rates, because high interest rates affect our people.

And of course, with housing on the rental side, how many of us who own houses are ready to accept monthly payments as rent paid in arrears as against two (2) years rent paid in advance, which is a point of pain and stress for many people.

While the properties for which these rents are charged largely belong to individuals and companies, not to government, there is also the question to ask whether or not our legislators at state levels can make laws to control rent. This is not a matter for the president because the federal legislator has no powers over rent.

On the construction side of housing, we must remember that it is the state Governors who control land, not the Federal Government. While the Federal Government is currently constructing houses in 34 states, and developing site and service schemes on land provided by state governments and using employee’s contribution to fund mortgages to help some people buy houses, there is a legitimate question to ask whether your state government is building houses and ready to create a mortgage funding institution.

Ladies and gentlemen, there is a lot to expect of a President, there is perhaps much more to ask of State and Local Government actors.

After all, the projection of national might and success on the international stage by heads of Governments such as Presidents, whether in terms of cuisine, technology, sports or the economy, is the projection of the aggregate of what happens at their sub-national entities.

Now that you know who to ask about primary education, primary health, water supply, refuse management, electricity, security, interest rate, roads and a lot more, please know that candidates will soon begin to emerge as 2023 beckons. Do not keep quiet.

Ask them what they will do to make your life better.

Thank you for listening.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Honourable Minister of Works and Housing
Friday 5th November 2021

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