The Nation Newspaper

Tag: British Government

  • NBCC holds meeting on Brexit

    The Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) has held a meeting on the British Government’s planned exit from the European Union.

    The NBCC has engaged stakeholders and member partners of the commission to its quarterly advocacy group breakfast session to discuss the impact and opportunities for key stakeholders within the Nigerian and British business communities in relations to trade with the United Kingdom in the coming months.

    The meeting, which was organised by the commission aimed at enlightening stakeholders on preemptive steps to be taken in positioning their businesses and taking the lead with great advantages the Brexit has to offer.

    Read also: Owners, NIMASA clash over burnt ship

    Delivering the keynote speech, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Laure Beaufils stated that one major opportunities the Brexit presents to stakeholders is that, it avails the British government the independence to put in place its own trade policies as a country, alongside other countries which includes Nigeria and other business communities with affiliation with Britain.

    She also stated, that the increased trade relations and engagement will be beneficial for investors and trading markets as the relationships will not just be limited to commercial affairs, but through British establishments and commitments.

  • British parliament rejects bill on sexist dress codes

    British parliament rejects bill on sexist dress codes

    British Government on Friday rejected calls to outlaw sexist dress codes which laid down what women should wear at their workplaces.

    Over 150,000 people signed a public petition to the British parliament, urging action after Nicola Thorp was told to go home from work without pay after she arrived at PriceWaterhouseCooper to work as a temporary receptionist in flat shoes.

    Thorp refused to comply with the demand that she wear shoes with high heels.

    However, the government promised new guidelines on dress codes would be issued in the summer, following the outcry.

    The media in London reported that the government response to the petition meant employers could continue to insist that female employees must wear heeled shoes, provided it was a job requirement and men were made to dress to an “equivalent level of smartness.”

    According to the government, existing laws are adequate and already prevent companies from gender-based discrimination.

    As an alternative, the Government Equalities Office called on all employers to review their dress codes and consider whether they remained relevant and lawful.

    The issue was discussed in parliament and women and equalities committees of the House of Commons who made recommendations to the government on workplace dress codes.

    A parliament spokesman said that the government undertook to produce guidance during the summer and to explore other options for raising further awareness on the law on dress codes.

    The Equality and Human Rights Commission had already run a social media campaign aimed at young women to promote awareness of the law.

    According to MP Helen Jones, chair of the Petitions Committee, the petition and the inquiry had already done a great deal to improve public awareness of the law.

    MP Maria Miller, chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, also said they welcome the commitments made by government to increase awareness of those rights.

    “Hope that the next Government will monitor how this changes women’s experiences of the workplace,’’ Miller said.

  • Buhari commends Britain for support in degrading Boko Haram

    Buhari commends Britain for support in degrading Boko Haram

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed appreciation to the British Government for what he described as ‘the effective materials and logistical support’ to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram.

    In spite of isolated attacks against soft targets, he said that the British assistance helped in flushing Boko Haram out of their hide-out base and severely degraded their capacity to mount a serious attack on Nigerian assets.

    According to a statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari’s appreciation was contained in a formal letter he wrote to the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, on behalf of the people of Nigeria to express “my heartfelt condolences to the injured and families of the dead” in Wednesday’s terrorist attack in London.

    He said the horrid incident “underscores the threat we all live under,” adding that, “terrorism has no borders and no season.”

     

  • Heathrow Airport cancels 100 flights due to fog

    Heathrow Airport cancels 100 flights due to fog

    London’s Heathrow Airport said it had cancelled approximately 100  out of about 1,300 scheduled flights on Monday as foggy weather reduced visibility at Europe’s busiest hub.

    The airport, located to the west of London, operates at full capacity meaning it struggles to fit in its full schedule when weather conditions mean aircraft need to leave longer gaps on the runway.

    “Some passengers may experience disruption to their journeys today,” Heathrow Airport said in a statement on Monday.

    It noted that “passengers should check their flight status with their airline before coming to the airport.”

    The British Government gave Heathrow Airport permission to add a third runway last October but it was not due to be built until 2025.

    Gatwick Airport, the country’s second busiest airport to the south of London, said it had cancelled one flight.

  • Nigeria, UK sign MoU on return of stolen assets

    Nigeria, UK sign MoU on return of stolen assets

    The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the British Government on the modalities for the return of Nigerian stolen assets.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, signed on behalf of the Federal Government in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Malami said that the MoU reflected the desire and willingness of both countries to continue cooperation and mutual support.

    Malami said that this was in the responsible and transparent return of all recovered assets.

    He outlined the objectives of the MoU to include the fact that the processes of returning stolen assets was a partnership recognising the interest of both countries and based on mutual understanding, confidence and trust.

    “That both countries recognised that they have a mutual interest in ensuring that returned assets are not at risk of being misappropriated again.

    “And that both countries recognised they have obligations toward their own citizens for providing such assurances.

    “That both countries recognised the importance of ensuring that the highest possible standard of transparency and accountability are applied for the return of assets.”

    He gave the assurance to the international community that all funds recovered would be judiciously utilised for projects that would benefit the poorest segment of the Nigerian society.

    Earlier, leader of the UK delegation, British Minister of State for Immigration, Robert Goodwill, said that the MoU provided the mechanism by which monies could be returned.

    Goodwill, who is also a member of the British Parliament, noted that there was no safe place for stolen assets in the UK.

    “Our ability to recover and return stolen assets should send a clear message to all who may seek to habour such assets that there is no safe haven in the U.K,” he said.

    According to him, the British government is committed to the return of all funds looted from the Nigerian State.

    “We are keen to do this as soon as the necessary legal process allow.

    “As outlined at the summit, we will be taking steps to accelerate the procedures for identification and confiscation of illegally acquired assets.”

    He said that they were as committed as Nigeria in ensuring that beneficial ownership of assets was made available to relevant authorities so they know who the real owners of assets held in the UK are.

    “Forty jurisdictions, including British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies announced that they will automatically share beneficial ownership information relating to companies, trusts, foundations, Shell companies and other relevant entities and legal arrangements.

    “It is important that everyone can see how returned assets are used to benefit Nigerians. We have therefore agreed in this MoU to be fully transparent about this.”

    The signing of the MoU is a follow up to the agreement reached at the London anti-corruption summit in May.

  • Nigeria seeks British support to boost agric goods export

    Nigeria seeks British support to boost agric goods export

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, on Friday called for British government’s support to Nigeria’s quest to boost the export of its agricultural commodities.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the Director of Information of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Alhaji Salisu Dambatta, on Friday in Abuja.

    The statement said the minister made the call when he received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright, in his office.

    Usani said that Nigeria was now focusing on diversifying its economy by boosting the production of agricultural commodities for export to the world market.

    He, therefore, solicited for access to British agricultural expertise in order to boost the sector.

    The minister praised British government’s assistance to Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram terrorists.

    He also called for more British contribution in strengthening the oil industry regulatory agencies in order to ensure high safety and environmental protection standard.

    Earlier, Arkwiright said that he was at the ministry to discuss areas of collaboration for the development of the Niger Delta region.

    He said that Britain and Nigeria had a strong partnership that would continue to be sustained in the best interests of both countries.

  • UK to create more jobs in Africa, Asia

    UK to create more jobs in Africa, Asia

    Ms Diana Noble, Chief Executive Officer of CDC, a British Government-owned development finance institution, on Friday said that the organisation would create more jobs in Africa and Asia.

    Nobel said in a statement in Lagos that the organisation was satisfied with its businesses worldwide, and therefore, would increase the number of jobs it provided on the continents.

    “CDC’s new strategy is focused on making investments to grow businesses and create more jobs in Africa and Asia.

    “ CDC wants to demonstrate to other investors that it is possible to invest successfully in harder places, where the private sector is weak and jobs are scarce”.

    Noble said  that the number of jobs provided by CDC increased from 976,000 in 2011 to 1,109,000 in 2012.

    “In 2013, we will build on these achievements to create more jobs at no cost to the taxpayer.

    “CDC also plans to provide expansion to businesses and projects to support local employment,’’ she said