Buhari at 5: President never sacked Osinbajo's aides - VP's office

- Laolu Akande, the spokesman of VP Osinbajo is clearing the air on the reported sack of some of Yemi Osinbajo's aides

- Akande faulted the reports saying the incident happened while the president was away and he clarified the issue upon his return

- The aide maintained that the Buhari-led administration has constantly sustained a proper interaction with Nigerians

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Laolu Akande, the spokesperson of Nigeria's vice president has faulted reports in some sections of the media some time ago that some aides in the office of Professor Yemi Osinbajo were sacked.

Akande while speaking on a popular interactive radio programme tagged “Have Your Say”, in Abuja on Thursday, May 28, said, “nobody in the office of the vice president was sacked."

He said: “You will recall that Mr President was away when the incident occurred but when the President returned he clarified the issue and in fact, he ensured that the people who were affected by that move (which was supposed to be a deployment) never lost a day salary and he gave instructions that everybody kept their jobs, so it is not true that some people were sacked.”

The vice president's spokesperson also revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has constantly maintained a proper interaction with Nigerians in the implementation of its policies.

He added that the masses are being properly served through the numerous government programmes which remain a key strategy of the Buhari administration.

Akande speaking on how important feedback is to the administration, said: “The whole idea of our partnership with FRCN to do this programme is what actually happened to Alhassan. It is to bring governance to the people, and ensure that there is a constant interaction where we have feedback.

“To have ministers and heads of government agencies to come and speak to Nigerians, it was during one of such interactions on this programme that the FCT Minister of State, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, intervened to resolve a complaint that was brought to her attention. That is the real reason why we have this programme to encourage Nigerians to bring to us whatever feedback they have.”

On the management and distribution of palliatives to businesses and poor Nigerians, Akande said it is being implemented across the country as fairly as possible.

According to Akande, there is no such thing as selective sharing of palliatives by government and the conditional cash transfers were also done fairly.

Continuing on the distribution of palliatives, Akande further noted: “I want to assure Nigerians that everyone that is deserving of palliatives and have been targeted will be reached, if they have not been reached as at now, whether it is MSMEs or the poor people, it is the desire and plan of government that at a time such as this, people get the help that they need.

“A lot of what the federal government has been doing, working with the states has been to empower the MSMEs.”

Speaking on the synergy between the states through National Economic Council (NEC) and federal government, in the reopening of the economy, the VP spokesman said efforts are underway to ensure a smooth reopening of the economy.

He said: “The attempt is to ensure that going forward we can improve on coordination and synergy between what the Federal Government is doing and what the respective sub-nationals are also in terms of how to reopen the economy.

“NEC at its last meeting felt that the federation can do better if there is an official mechanism, an ongoing one that will be working with the Presidential Task Force that handles the Federal Government's aspect of the COVID-19 response, particularly with the issue of reopening the economy.

“So, a group of Governors were picked from the various geo-political zones to ensure that whatever the Federal Government was doing, the states are aware and whatever the State governments plan to do, the Federal Government is aware and everybody work together.”

He, however, noted that a lot of caution is being taken in handling the issue of reopening the economy.

Akande added that the vice president and the president have adapted to the changes in programmes and activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that both leaders have held several virtual meetings and interactions with different stakeholders since the lockdown began.

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that ahead of the 5th year anniversary of President Buhari in office, the presidency has stated that the first anniversary of the Nigerian leader’s second term will be marked low-keyed.

This was revealed in a statement issued by senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, who explained that narratives of the government’s achievements over the last five years would be showcased digitally.

Shehu went on to note that the past five years of the Buhari-led administration have been full of historic achievements. He urged all Nigerians to read how the decades-long wishes of the people are being met through the presidential handles.

Laolu Akande Speaks on How Presidency is Tackling Economy | Legit TV