PODE (Issue 22): Budget 2017

The 2017 Budget will shortly be submitted by President Buhari to the National Assembly for consideration. Currently the Ministry of Budget and National Planning is consulting with the National Assembly on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), as well as the outlines of the Budget.

The budget is targeted at stimulating private sector investment and fast-tracking the exit of the economy out of recession. The renewed emphasis on stimulating private sector investment is predicated on Government’s belief that it is only by partnering with the private sector that the economy can be propelled out of recession and onto the path of sustainable growth.

Policy source: Aso Villa Newsletter

PODE (Issue 21): Security and Policing

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo recently disclosed that 800 violent herdsmen are in the custody of law enforcement agencies, across the country. There is also an ongoing plan to bring reforms to Nigeria’s current Policing Structure, by decentralizing it through the introduction of a Community/State Policing framework that is in line with current Constitutional requirements. [Video]

The FCT Minister Mohammed Bello has asked herdsmen to move their cattle out of the city. Alongside this the FCT Administration has identified new grazing reserves to cater to the herdsmen. According to the Minister, a total of 33,485 hectares have already been earmarked for grazing reserves to cater for about 7 million animals, as follows: Paikon Kore – 8,500 hectares, Karshi – 6,000 hectares, Kawu in Bwari – 9,000 hectares and Rubochi in Kuje – 9,985 hectares.

The Complaints Response Unit (CRU) of the Nigeria Police Force will be one year old in November. Centrally located at the Police Headquarters in Abuja, and supported by a nationwide network of staff at the State Command Headquarters, the CRU receives, collates and mobilizes action on complaints from the public about police conduct. Download the CRU Third Quarter Report.

On October 27, the Presidency, through the Office of the Rule of Law Advisor in the Office of the Vice President, handed over to the Nigeria Police Force two new projects designed to build leadership capacity and improve accountability. The first Project is a Strategic Leadership and Management Course for the training of senior Police officers between the rank of ACP and CP, developed in partnership with Cleen Foundation and Trust Africa; the second is an electronic platform developed pro bono by Venture Garden Nigeria to automate the reporting & analysis of data received by the Police Complaints Response Unit (CRU)

Rice importation through Nigeria’s land borders remains banned by the Nigeria Customs Service

Policy source: Aso Villa Newsletter

PODE (Issue 21): Chibok Girls

On Thursday October 13, 2016, Twenty-One (21) of the 219 kidnapped Chibok Girls were released to the Nigerian Government by Boko Haram. President Mohammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo subsequently met with the girls, and assured them of the Federal Government’s commitment to their physical, pyschological and educational welfare. We produced a FACTSHEET on the release of the Girls

Policy source: Aso Villa Newsletter