HIGHLIGHTS:

President Buhari Presented N8.6 Tr 2018 Budget Proposal To Joint Session of the
National Assembly .
Budget 2018: Takeaways from Speaker Dogaras Address
House To Ascertain Cause Of Death Of 26 Young Nigerian Women In The
Mediterranean.
Dogara Bags Tafawa Balewa Award For Advancement of Constitutional Democracy
President Buhari Presented
N8.6 Tr 2018 Budget Proposal
To Joint Session of the National
Assembly .
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday present-
ed an N8.6 trillion proposed Budget of Consolida-
tion to the National Assembly.

Below are major highlights of the session in pic-

tures:
Budget 2018: Takeaways
from Speaker Dogaras
Address
1. Executive/NASS Cooperation is Essential: Rt.
Hon. Dogara stressed the importance of coopera-
tion between arms of government, saying; there
is no national challenge we cannot overcome if we
work together. He also commended his col-
leagues for providing an enabling environment for
the submission of budget estimates, despite a
hazy Executive-Legislative relationship and ar-
gued that to achieve steady and sustainable pro-
gress, a harmonious and mutually respectful rela-
tionship between all arms of government must be
maintained.
2. Following Appropriation Law is Key: The Speak-
er commended the President for honouring provi-
sions of the 2016 Appropriation Act, which re-
quires the budget to go through a 12 month cy-
cle. This, he said, enabled the Executive to report
an accomplishment of over N5 Trillion expendi-
ture out of the N7.4 Trillion budgeted for 2016, a
feat he described as an unprecedented record.
He, therefore, urged the Executive to heed the les-
son learned, which is that obeying the Appropria-
tion Laws maximizes the release of the countrys
potentials, while the violation of the laws caps the
release of national potentials.
the government and various over-sighting Commit-
tees of the National Assembly during preparations.
He said: Once again, let me place it on record that
the 2018 Budget preparations suffer from inadequate
consultations between the MDAS and various over-
sighting Committees of the National Assembly. Con-
sequently, one can only hope and pray that it does
not lead to delay in consideration and passage of the
Budget.
5. We may have exited recession, but the people re-
main poor: Speaker Dogara commended the Presi-
dent, Muhammadu Buhari, for leading the country
out of recession. He also stated that although the re-
cession has technically ended, people remain poor,
and called for more work to ensure the translation of
the technical economic terms into reality.
6. ERGP must be fully implemented:Still on the econ-
omy, he called for policy consistency and a strict im-
plementation of the well-crafted Economic Recov-
ery Growth Plan (ERGP) to sustain economic growth
and development.

3. 2017 Budget must not be abandoned: Rt. Hon

Yakubu Dogara called for fiscal discipline and the
full implementation of the 2017 budget before its
retirement in January 2018, or roll over of projects
in the budget to a new one. No need to remind
us that fiscal indiscipline is as grievous a problem
as corruption, he said.

4. Due to inadequate consultation, budget consid-

eration may be delayed: The Speaker warned of a
possible delay in the consideration and passage of
the 2018 budget over lack of adequate consulta-
tions between the Ministries, Departments and
Agencies of
House To Ascertain Cause Of
Death Of 26 Young Nigerian
Women In The Mediterranean.
Sequel to a motion moved by the Leader of the
House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabi-
amila, on 26 young Nigerian ladies found dead at
the Mediterranean, the House has mandated its
House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Hu-
man Rights to liaise with the Libyan Embassy and
Government to find out the true cause of the
deaths.
Hon. Gbajabiamila said it was alarming
that dead bodies about 26 young ladies ages be-
tween 18-24 years of age, of Nigerian origin,
were found dead on a boat leaving Libya to Italy
and wondered why there has been silence on the
matter.
He, therefore, called for action to forestall future
reoccurrences like these pertaining Nigerian
lives.
The House agreed that Nigeria should be practi-
cal in dealing with issues of hungry youth who
are frustrated from desperation, joblessness,
hopelessness and hunger.
Healthcare Sector Priority Of
This Administration - Speaker
Dogara
Says Cancer Support Fund Coming Soon..
Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Rep-
resentatives has stressed that access to
healthcare is one of the major concerns of the
present government under the leadership of
President Muhammadu Buhari.
Speaking when he received the executive
members of the National Association of Resi-
dent Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) in his office,
he said this is in recognition of the responsi-
bility of government to ensure that the overall
welfare of its citizens is catered for.
The Speaker also disclosed that the bill seek-
ing for a Cancer Fund to support treatment of
indigent citizens is in the legislative mill and
will soon be passed by the National Assem-
bly.
Similarly, he informed the NARD Exco that
government is working to improve the wel-
fare of doctors in state teaching hospitals,
saying President Buhari gave his word that
bailout will be provided for states which have
issues with meeting up with their responsibili-
ties to doctors.
Speaker House of Representatives, Rt.Hon. Yakubu Dogara(Middle) in a
group Photograph with Executive Council Members of National Association of
Resident Doctors of Nigeria, during their visit to the Speaker at the National
Reps To Address Decaying
Infrastructural Facilities in
Abuja.
The House of Representatives has directed its
Committees on Federal Capital Territory, and
Federal Capital Territory Area Councils and Ancil-
lary Matters to investigate the decay in infra-
structural facilities in the FCT and its environs
and make recommendations on how best the
problems would be addressed.
Adopting the resolution of a motion moved
by Hon. Nasiru Sule Garo, the House noted that
the creation of Abuja as the Capital city of Nige-
ria arose as a vision of our past leaders to have a
modern capital city built with modern infrastruc-
tural facilities that could compete favourably with
capital cities of other advanced countries of the
world.
It expressed worry that the serene, beautiful and
previously well illuminated Capital city of Abuja is
fast losing its glory as most of the installed
streets lightings and other infrastructural facilities
are either no longer functional or have been
damaged beyond repairs with most parts of the
city now in darkness at night, thereby creating a
haven for miscreants, hoodlums and other crimi-
nal elements to operate in.
The lawmakers emphasised the need for inter-
vention to address the problems in order to re-
store Abuja to the status of a modern city that
was envisioned by its founding fathers.
Alleged Case of Sexual Harass-
ment and Shooting of a 17-Year-
Old SSI Female Student by
Soldier To Be Investigated
By Lawmakers
The House Committees on Human Rights, Defence
and Army are to investigate an alleged case of sexual
harassment and shooting of a 17-year-old SS 1 female
Student by a soldier in Plateau State.
Hon. Istifanus Dung and Hon Gyang Hon. Edward
Pwajok informed the House in a motion that on 19
October 2017, indigenes of Sopp in Riyom Local Gov-
ernment Area of Plateau State embarked on a protest
against soldiers manning the checkpoint in the com-
munity who had earlier caused the death of two boys.
According to the lawmakers, in the course of the pro-
test, one of the soldiers shot a 17-year-old SS1, fe-
male student of Government Secondary School, Sopp,
Simi Danladi for allegedly refusing his lustful advanc-
es.
They added that apart from Simi Danladi, two other
people, namely Danjuma Kaze and his son, Irimiya,
were also shot and are currently receiving treatment
at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos.
Halt Retaking of Madagali Local
Government Area in Adamawa
State by Insurgents, Reps Tell
Military Forces
The House of Representatives has urged the
Nigerian Army and Air Force to urgently deploy
more troops and equipment to Madagali Local
Government Area, Adamawa State, to forestall
the retaking of the area by the insurgents .
It also commended the President and Com-
mander in Chief of the Armed Forces for his ef-
forts to restore peace in the North-East, the
Nigerian Army for its gallant efforts in prevent-
ing the insurgents from retaking Gulak town on
November 6, 2017 and urged the federal gov-
ernment to step up military campaigns in the
Sambisa forest and its environs.
The lawmakers while adopting the resolutions
of a motion moved by Hon. Adamu Kamale, re-
called the attack of 6 November, 2017 during
which the insurgents tried desperately to retake
Gulak, but for the gallant efforts of the Nigerian
Army that overpowered them.
They expressed worry that if Madagali Local
Government Area, which is the gateway to Ada-
mawa State from Borno State, falls into the
hands of the insurgents as it happened in 2014,
the relative peace being enjoyed by other local
governments in the State, particularly Michika,
Mubi North, Mubi South, Maiha, Hong and
Gombi, etc. will be jeopardised, and the people
would become traumatised and displaced as it
happened in 2014, with the attendant humani-
tarian crisis.
Tafawa Balewa Award for Advancement of Constitutional Democracy in Nigeria from the
representative of the Governor of Nasarawa State and Commissioner for Education, Na-
sarawa State, Alhaji Tijani at the First Annual Founders and Award Day, organized by the
Dogara Bags Tafawa Balewa
Award For Advancement of
Constitutional Democracy
..says he is no where close to Sir Abubakar Tafawa
Balewa.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon.
Yakubu Dogara, has been conferred with the "Sir
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa for the Advancement
of Constitutional Democracy in Nigeria" award
by the Faculty of Law, Nasarawa State University,
Keffi.
Receiving the award, the Speaker eulogised Ni-
geria's first and only Prime Minister, the late Sir
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who is said remains a
political colossus in Nigeria's history, 50 years
after his death.
He said there was no basis for comparison be-
tween the two of them as he is no where close
to what the former Nigerian leader was.
Dogara said the award gives him great joy and
holds very strong sentiments and sense of nos-
talgia for him because if the man after whom
this award is named, the Rt Hon (Sir) Abubakar
Tafawa Balewa were to be alive today, he would
have been his constituent.
Speaker House of Representatives, Rt.Hon.Yakubu Dogara receiving the Sir, Abubakar
Nasarawa State University, Faculty of Law in Keffi.
House To Investigate Abuse of
Import Duty Revenues,
Waivers and Bonds on Import
Duties Collected by the
Nigeria Customs Service from
2010 to Date
Lawmakers have mandated their Committee on
Customs and Excise to determine the nature and
extent of abuse of the Customs Pre-Arrival As-
sessment Reports (PAAR) by importers and offi-
cials of the Customs Service in order to recover
the revenues due to the Federal Government but
were not paid.
They also resolved to investigate the abuse of im-
port duty waivers granted by the Federal Ministry
of Finance and its effects on the economy and
identify the companies or individuals that have
refused to redeem the Bonds even after clearing
their imports.
This followed a motion moved by Hon. James
Abiodun Faleke and other lawmakers, where it
was alleged that some importers, most times, is-
sue Bank and/or Insurance Bonds to Nigeria Cus-
toms Service in lieu of duty payments to enable
them clear their imports immediately and thereaf-
ter fail to redeem the Bonds by paying the appro-
priate duty rates.
Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited
To Be Probed By Reps Over
Nigeria Customs Service ICT In-
frastructure, Violation of Its
Automated System for
Customs Data (ASYCUDA)
Time-Line Agreement, Others
The activities of Webb Fontaine Nigeria Limited,
one of the service providers for the import and ex-
port trade facilitation within Nigeria Customs Ser-
vice ICT Infrastructure, has come under scrutiny of
House of Representatives over failure to hand over
their operations to the Nigeria Customs Service on
1 December, 2013, among others.
The House has urged the Federal Ministry of Fi-
nance to look into its Agreement with Webb Fon-
taine with a view to exploring the option of hand-
ing it over to the Nigeria Customs Service as al-
ready done by other Service Providers and also set
up a Compliance Monitoring Team that will liaise
with the Nigeria Customs Service to further utilise
its ICT Infrastructure towards conforming to the
World Customs Organisation standard.
It also mandated its Committee on Customs and
Excise to investigate the operational activities in the
Nigeria Customs Service ICT Infrastructure between
2013-2017, violation of its ASYCUDA Time-Line
Agreement, Rules of Engagement and the delay in
handing over to Nigeria Customs Service when oth-
er Service Providers did so in December, 2013.
These were contained in a motion moved by Hon.
Jerry Alagbaoso, where it was also disclosed that
Webb Fontaine appears to be losing interest in Ni-
geria and consequently does not deliver its ser-
vices, having transferred majority of its shares
abroad. This, the House noted, calls for a re-
examination of the Time-Line Agreement, Rules of
Engagement, Schedule of Payment of its services
and Corporate Economic and Social Responsibilities
so far in Nigeria.
 Dogara swears in New member
A new member of the House of Representatives was Thursday sworn in
by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogarato represent Kware/Wamakko
Federal Constituency of Sokoto State.

He is Hon. Abdullahi Kalambaina of the All Progressive Congress, APC.

He replaces the Late Hon. Abdullahi Muhammed Wamakko

who died in July this year

Dogara Uges Northern Christians To
Imbibe Spirit Of Forgiveness, Unity
..Says God has a plan for Nigeria

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu

Dogara, has urged Christians in Northern Nigeria to im-
bibe the spirit of unity, forgiveness and continous prayers
for the nation and it's leadership.

He made the call during the official inauguration of the

Congress of Northern Nigerian Christians under the leader-
ship of Professor Adamu Baikie in Kaduna on Saturday.

Hon. Dogara, argued that unity is the most difficult chal-

lenge facing the church at the moment and that it was for
nothing that Jesus Christ prayed for the unity of the church
even at the point of crucifixion as recorded in the Book of
John 17:20-23.

He cautioned against emphasing denominational suprema-

cy over and above the unity of the church because Jesus
Christ wasn't a member of any of the denominations say-
ing, "anyone who is not fighting for the unity of the church
is fighting for the division of the body of Christ."

Speaking on forgiveness, Hon. Dogara noted that,

"forgiveness was commanded in the scripture. You've to
have the capacity to forgive before you can also receive
forgiveness."

"As a church we must be prepared to forgive. We must, if

we forgive, what worries us will not worry us again. That is
why I fully identify with the vision of the founding fathers
of this congress."

"My charge to the founders of this congress is that they

should continue to work for the unity of the church and if
the church in the north is united the church in Nigeria will
also be united."

He also called on Christians to continue to pray for the

peace, unity and progress of the Nigerian nation. "We call
on all of us to pray for this nation. God has a purpose for
Nigeria and no one can defeat God's plans until it is ful-
filled. "

"I urge you all to continue to pray for the leadership of this
nation from the top most; the President to the
least political office holders. It will be well with Nigeria."