Politics – Page 229 – Inspiration FM, #1 Family Radio Station

October 30, 2021

October 30, 2021 IFMUYONEWS

Senator Ita Enang Charges Civil Society on Policy Engagements

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs; Senator Ita Enang, has advised Civil Society Organizations (CSO’s) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) to re-strategies on their policy engagement approach if they want to successfully influence Policy Makers on issues to bring about the desired change.

Senator Enang gave the advice while delivering his keynote address at a meeting with Civil Society Organization (CSO’s) on Policy Engagement and Influencing: Insight and Perspectives organized by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Center (PLAC) with support from the Ford Foundation on Thursday, 28th October, 2021, in Abuja.

According to the Presidential Aide, “policy engagement and influencing is another way of lobbying, which is to identify the issues and the challenges around the issues, Identify the audience that you meet, is it Legislators or those who draft the Law? then you determine the mode of approaching it”.

Speaking further he added that “Will it be by public hearing? organizing dinner? cocktail so that experts can come and talk or Media Advocacy or bringing in members of the public to add pressure on the members of the Legislature? It would depend on what you do and the target that determines the method you will adopt”.

While clarifying issues on the theme “Understanding the Political and Policy Making Landscape: Effecting Strategies for Influencing Government” he noted that lobbying is a means of making the other person to see your point of view, buy into it, agree and flow with you the way you want it done, lobbying does not involve giving money”

The event was put together by PLAC with Ford Foundation to enable NGO’s/CSOs to benefit from insights and inside perspectives from experienced policy stakeholders to build better understanding of the factors that can enable them to influence the power dynamic between policy makers and advocates and increase their likelihood of influencing the policy making process.

Senator (Dr) Ibriahim Yahaya Oloriegbe, Acting Chairman Senate Committee on NGOs’ and Diaspora, who is also the Chairman Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and tertiary) was also at the event.

October 26, 2021

October 26, 2021October 26, 2021 IFMUYONEWS

Policy Alert Demands Clarification on 2022 Budget Funding From Akwa Ibom State Government

Policy Alert, a Civil Society Organization promoting fiscal and ecological justice in the Niger Delta, has called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to be clear on how it intends to fund the 2022 budget proposal.
Executive Director of Policy Alert, Tijah Bolton-Akpan, stated this in a statement released after the presentation of the budget speech by the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Monday.
The organisation noted that there were conspicuous gaps in the budget speech, especially in the area of recurrent revenue.

“A budget proposal is not complete until it presents a clear picture of the spending plan and expected revenue. However, capital receipts are dependent on several factors that are beyond the control of the state government, and sometimes even the central government. The budget speech does not provide the recurrent revenue estimates, which could have completed the picture of how the government plans to fund the budget. We cannot afford to gloss over the revenue side of the state budget, especially at this time when fiscal space is threatened by global and domestic headwinds related to oil price volatility, the energy transition and national illiquidity.
“For instance, it is unclear what the state is expecting from statutory allocation in 2022. What is the State planning to generate as internally generated revenue? What does the State project to get from 13 percent derivation? These important funding questions are unanswered in the budget speech and the state government has to come clear on these basics right from the outset” the statement said.
Bolton-Akpan also faulted the ambitious capital receipt estimates for “refunds from federal government/federation account”, noting that much of this amount is premised on recent court awards which may or may not materialise in the course of the fiscal year. He noted that betting 137.9billion or 23.6 percent of the total budget sum on a shaky revenue source is risky for the fiscal health of the state.
The statement, however, commended the state government on the capital-recurrent ratio, noting that with capital expenditure taking 55.3 percent of the total budget outlay, there is reason for optimism that the state government will focus more on people-oriented developmental projects than on running the government.

October 20, 2021

October 20, 2021 IFMUYONEWS

Bayelsa State Governor Presents N310 billion 2022 Budget of Sustainable Growth

Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State has presented the 2022 budget estimates of N310, 717,608,353.00 Billion Naira to the State House of Assembly for consideration.
The 2022 budget is tagged,” Budget of Sustainable Growth.”
The State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure was allocated the highest figure of N51 billion naira for capital project followed by Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources which had N12 billion naira. N4billion is the proposed figure for Education.
Because of drop in allocation, the revenue projection is slightly lower than the 2021 Budget by N19 billion indicating a reduction of about 3.54%.
The Governor who was accompanied to the presentation by the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, also said the 2021 budget had a great performance and that many projects and achievements were recorded in various sectors including education, roads, and agriculture.

“The projects include:
• Construction of Unity Bridge in Nembe
• Construction of Elebele Bridge in Ogbia
• Dualization and Re-designing of the Tombia Round-about
• Construction of the Sagbama/Ekeremor Road.
• Construction of Yenagoa – Oporoma Road.
• Construction of AIT – Igbogene Outer Ring Road.
• Construction of Igbedi Road
• Construction of Glory Drive – just to mention a few

“Mr. Speaker, our Prosperity Government is also formulating a 30-year long-term development plan for the State, may I now proceed with a summary of the 2022 Appropriation Bill tagged “BUDGET OF SUSTAINABLE GROWTH”.
In concluding, Mr. Speaker, I will not stop thanking God for His infinite mercies and the good people of Bayelsa State for their continuous support, patience, sacrifices and the goodwill they have extended to our Government. We are determined to continue to build confidence in our people by being proactive in the formulation and implementation of our policies.”
~Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, speaking at the presentation of 2022 appropriation bill to the State Assembly, at the Assembly complex, Amarata, Yenagoa.
~Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, speaking at the presentation of 2022 appropriation bill to the State Assembly, at the Assembly complex, Amarata, Yenagoa.
Photo Credits: Gabriel Inam Emmanuel

On Air Now:

Category: Politics

ALSO ON INSPIRATION FM

USEFUL LINKS

DOWNLOAD OUR APP

FOLLOW US

queue

Watch Live