N’Assembly Increases Extra Budget By N86.9bn to N982.729bn Senate approves $6.183bn external loan request Deji Elumoye and Udora year submitted to its two federal government's request budget as it approved the external borrowings. Presenting the report, Orizu in Abuja chambers, the Senate and the for $6.183 billion (N2.343 2022 - 2024 Medium Term The passage of the Chairman of the Appropriation House of Representatives, by trillion) as external borrowing Expenditure Framework supplementary Appropriation Committee, Senator Barau The National Assembly President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021 Appropriation Act. and the Fiscal Strategy Paper Bill 2021 by the Senate was a Jibrin, explained that N45.63 yesterday raised the N895.842 by N87.9 billion and approved Nonetheless, the federal (MTEF & FSP), authorising sequel to the consideration of billion required for COVID-19 billion supplementary budget N982.729 billion. government has intensified the funding of a N5.26 trillion a report by the Committee on proposal for the 2021 fiscal The Senate also approved the preparations for next year's budget deficit in 2022 through Appropriation during plenary. Continued on page 12 Zulum, Ishaku, Senators Back Southern Presidency...Page 8 Thursday 8 July, 2021 Vol 26. No 9586. Price: N250 www.thisdaylive.com T R U N T H & R E ASO CONDOLENCES... L-R (Front row): Mr. Mobolaji Balogun; Group Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna; deceased’s children, Ms. Ofovwe and Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; Chairman, Mrs. Ajoritsedere Awosika; deceased's husband, Mr. Frank Aig-Imoukhuede; GMD/CEO, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; deceased’s daughter, Mrs. Erekpitan Ola-Adisa; and Executive Directors, Mr. Victor Etuokwu and Ms. Chizoma Okoli, during the condolence visit by the board of the bank to the Aig-Imoukhuede family over the death of their matriarch, Mrs. Emily Aig-Imoukhuede in Lagos…recently UNICEF Urges More Protection for Children, Schools, Says 950 Abducted Parents of kidnapped pupils accuse Kaduna school of negligence Emma Okonji, Nosa on schoolchildren, as well as being attacked or taken from Nigeria since December 2020. and negligence, for not taking past six weeks alone, nearly Alekhuogie in Lagos and child abductions in Nigeria, their families. Also, people whose children action to beef up security 500 children were abducted Michael Olugbode in Abuja with a call on authorities UNICEF, in a statement and wards were kidnapped around the premises, after in four separate incidents in in the country to do more yesterday by its Executive from Bethel Baptist High receiving a threat letter from both the North-central and The United Nations Children’s to ensure that children can Director, Ms. Henrietta Fore, School in Kaduna on Monday, bandits planning to kidnap North-west, with many still Fund (UNICEF) has expressed safely live and go to school lamented that no fewer than have accused the school the pupils. concern over growing attacks or fetch water without fear of 950 students were abducted in authorities of complacency UNICEF stated that over the Continued on page 8 Adeosun Savours Court Victory, Says I am Vindicated...Page 5 2 THURSDAY JULY 8, 2021 • THISDAY THURSDAY JULY 8, 2021 • THISDAY 3 4 THURSDAY JULY 8, 2021 • THISDAY THURSDAY, ΀˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY 5 Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike NEWS Email [email protected], 08066066268 Adeosun Savours Court Victory, Says I am Vindicated She doesn’t need NYSC certificate for ministerial appointment, judge rules Alex Enumah in Abuja Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) from a London University in Kingdom citizen having said since the 1979 Constitution, all Nigerians in the Diaspora. discharge certificate to take up 1989, was already 36 years old been born there in 1967 and which was in force at the She said she would take It was a sweet victory for a ministerial appointment in by the time of her appointment, remained there till 2003 when time did not recognise dual further steps at the appropriate former Minister of Finance, the country. adding that in line with the she came back to Nigeria. citizenship, Adeosun could not time to protect her reputation. Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, yesterday, Delivering judgment in a suit requirements of the scheme, He added that Adeosun have served because she was Adeosun said: “My lawyers as Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the instituted by her, Justice Taiwo, she was exempted from service. became a Nigerian citizen by a British citizen. have informed me of the Abuja Division of the Federal who granted all the reliefs In a swift reaction, the former virtue of the 1999 Constitution, Adeosun graduated from the judgment by the Federal High Court declared that she sought by the plaintiff, noted minister said in a statement which came into force on May University of East London in High Court, Abuja, in the did not need the National that Adeosun who graduated yesterday that the judgment 29, 1999, and, therefore, was 1989 at the age of 22. case of Folakemi Adeosun had vindicated her. not affected by the NYSC Act. The court ruled that Nigeria v the Attorney-General of Adeosun had resigned her Justice Taiwo said Adeosun citizenship only reverted under the Federation (FHC/ABJ/ appointment as Minister of would have committed a grave the extant constitution by which CS/303/2021) in which the Govs to Launch Peace, Inclusive Finance and returned to the crime against Nigeria, if she time Adeosun was well above court, presided over by Hon. United Kingdom following the had participated in the NYSC 30 and ineligible to participate Justice Taiwo Taiwo, ruled that controversy surrounding her having attained the exemption in the NYSC scheme. the constitution does not require Security Initiative Today NYSC status. age of 36 years. The court accordingly me to present my first-degree Chuks Okocha in Abuja (NDA). She, however, instituted The judge stated that the granted all reliefs sought by certificate or any other certificate, The statement added a suit against the federal constitution does not require Adeosun's counsel. including the NYSC certificate, Governors of the 36 states that there would also be a government, which also the plaintiff to present her first- to be appointed a minister. of the federation will today technical steering committee, included the Attorney-General degree certificate or any other Ruling Has “More importantly, he also launch their peace and explaining that this will be the of the Federation. certificate, including the NYSC Vindicated Me, Says ruled that I was not eligible inclusive security initiative technical organ responsible for The judge held that Adeosun certificate, before she could be ex-Finance Minister to perform NYSC by virtue in Abuja with a former implementing the decisions and could not have presented appointed as a minister. of the constitution. This is military Head of State, Gen. directions of the panel to be herself for participation in It ruled that the ministerial Reacting to the judgment in a the position I have always Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) steered by the NGF Secretariat, the NYSC programme because appointment of Adeosun was statement in Abuja yesterday, maintained and I am happy in attendance. the Foreign Commonwealth under 1979 Constitution, which not illegal, neither was it Adeosun said she had been for this official clarification. According to a statement and Development Office, the was in force at the time of unconstitutional, even without vindicated by the court. “The ruling vindicates me by the Head of Media and Office of the Secretary to the her graduation, she was not presenting the NYSC certificate. She, however, added that after a very traumatic spell. Publicity of the Nigeria Federal Government, the a Nigerian citizen either at the In its ruling on a suit for she had a traumatic spell on It is, however, not only a Governors’ Forum (NGF), Federal Ministry of Finance, time of her graduation or when constitutional interpretation the certificate forgery allegation personal victory; it’s also a Mr. Abdullraque Barkindo, Budget and National Planning, she turned 30. filed at the court in March against her. victory for many Nigerians the event is aimed at tackling the National Orientation The court held that facts 2021 by the firm of Chief She said the judgment of in the Diaspora under similar insecurity, conflict and violence. Agency. before it proved that the Wole Olanipekun (SAN), on Justice Taiwo was not only a conditions who are desirous He said the initiative would Others are the Ministry former minister was a United behalf of Adeosun, the court personal victory for her but for to serve their country." provide a platform for sharing of Humanitarian Affairs, experiences on government, Disaster Management and civil society initiatives Social Development and the testing practicable ideas and Ministry of Interior, related pushing for implementation of Ministries, departments and innovative solutions to conflict agencies at the state level, and insecurity. security agencies and military The initiative panel will operations deployed in relevant comprise governors, heads states, donors, international of security and other eminent organisations and civil societies. persons who can influence The objectives of the meeting, policy at the highest level and it was gathered, included who might have contributed having agenda-setting on in promoting national peace peace and stability, especially at and security. the sub-national levels. It will Besides Abdulsalami, who support decision-making on doubles as the chairman of security at the national level the National Peace Committee, through the National Economic other guests expected at the Council (NEC). event include the Minister It will help in identifying of Humanitarian, Disaster the drivers of insecurity at Management and Social the state level and stimulate Development, Ms. Sadiya collaborative response by Farouk; Prof. Abiodun Alao stakeholders. of the African Studies, Kings There will also be high- College London; the Director of level advocacy for peace and the African Security Leadership inclusive security among the Centre, Mr.