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Tag: FEC

  • Buhari rejects NASS’ approval for refund of N488.7b to states

    President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the National Assembly’s approval for refund of N488.7 billion to State Governments for projects they executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

    Buhari communicated the decision through a letter read by the President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, at plenary on Tuesday.

    The president said he rejected the National Assembly’s approval because it violated the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

    He noted that whereas the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a total of N487.8 billion for the purpose, the National Assembly jerked up the figure to N488.7 billion.

    He said the amount approved by the lawmakers was N890 million higher than that approved by FEC.

    Buhari said a review of the NASS’ approval, communicated through a July 27, 2018 letter, also revealed discrepancies in the number of states submitted by FEC and those approved by the lawmakers.

    He said, “While FEC approved reimbursement to 25 states, the National Assembly approved reimbursement to 21 states.

    “The National Assembly did not approve any reimbursement to four states, that is, Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba, whereas FEC approved reimbursement for them.

    “Note that the amount approved by the National Assembly for reimbursement to 21 states is higher than the amount approved by FEC for reimbursement to 25 states.”

    The president added that the amount approved by the lawmakers for each of the 21 states was higher than that approved by FEC for each of them, except for Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger.

    He urged the Senate to note that the Public Procurement Act 2007 empowers the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to approve vendors for contract sums.

    According to him, the amounts presented to the national assembly for approval were duly certified for reimbursement by the BPP before they were approved by FEC.

    Buhari said this was after the projects had been inspected through a programme under the chairmanship of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

    The president noted that there was need for compliance with the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

    “I wish to request that you forward to us details relating to the amounts approved by the National Assembly for the 17 states in excess of what was certified by BPP, for necessary verification and approval.

    “Furthermore, I wish to request for a review of the reimbursement earlier submitted in favour of Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba states,” the president said.

    In the meantime, Buhari has told the lawmakers that the federal government will proceed with the implementation of the reimbursement on certain grounds.

    First, he said where the amount approved by the national assembly is the same as the amount approved by FEC the jointly approved amounts would be refunded.

    Read Also: 2019: Kaduna women vow to deliver 2m votes to Buhari, El-Rufai

    He identified the states in this category as Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger.

    Second, the president said where the amount approved by the National Assembly was higher than the amount approved by FEC, the amount approved by FEC would be paid.

    The benefiting states on this are Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ebonyi, Benue, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kwara, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara.

    He said the four states (Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba) excluded in the NASS approval would not be refunded until their consideration by the lawmakers.

  • FEC okays additional N1.6b for Loko-Uweto road project

    THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting has approved N1.6 billion for Loko-Uweto road project.

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola stated this at the end of FEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He was with Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina.

    He said: “We had only one memorandum and it was just a cost review memorandum really; to approve cost variations on Osegudu-Uweto road. That road, as you might know, links the Loko-Uweto road, which is now substantially completed. The Usegudu-Uweto road links the road to that bridge on the Benue side that helps connect Nasarawa from the Loko side to Benue.

    “So, the revision for that contract was N1.6 billion extra because the contract was awarded using 2010 rates and the contractor asked for review to cushion cost and naira depreciations and council approved that.

    “The contractor is on site working and he would feel comforted now that at least his rates have been improved and expect that his certificate would be paid.”

    The minister, who was asked about the initial cost of the bridge, said: “The initial cost of the bridge was about N7.9 billion and then we had a variation of about N1.6 billion that takes it to N9.5 billion. I can provide the specific numbers to you if I look in my record.”

    According to him, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is presently doing its best towards the end of the year.

    He said: “In terms of end of the year, FERMA is doing its level best. They are part of our end of year team. For us in the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, end of year means so many things; it means heavy commuter activities, it means heavy cargo, also, in the ministry of my colleague, Transport and Aviation, passenger movement, goods. So, it is a pressure cooker time. Many people trying to share limited resources.

    “We have met with FRSC, we have met with FERMA and we have apportioned responsibilities of roads that FERMA will repair nationwide. They have that list. The MD should be able to provide that information.

    “The FRSC have also earmarked routes where they would patrol. They have issued guideline for passenger behaviour. In essence, unlicensed and uncertified drivers must stay off the federal highway. We have given them the mandate because we want people to arrive safely.

    “We have identified 53 major corridors across the country where our contractors have road construction but also bad portions. So, Lokoja-Benin-Auchi is one of those sections and a couple of others, and the agreement we have reached with our contractors, they will maintain working gangs for one and a half month period, till January 19 when things normalise. Our men will be working to ease movement nationwide.

    “On the transport side, one of the things we have agreed is that all the directors have been deployed to their zones. None of the controllers is going on leave till the end of January 19. So, this is a special operation because of the retreats we have been having and planning.”

    According to him,  demands for power have also been predicted for various areas in the country.

    He said: “We have also predicted power demand nationwide, where the movement will go. So, power sector is also preparing to ensure that broken feeders, and all of those little things that constrain the distribution end can be dealt with in order to improve the experience because we know that weather is changing, temperatures are rising, people need more cold water, more fan and also the festive demand of the time.

    “So, this is a well-planned ember month period for us. We have planned for the worst, we are hoping for the best and we hope we can deliver a better experience for commuters this year again, compared to last year – improved journey time, even while construction is going on, improved energy access even while the power work is going on, making it better every day. So that is the picture.”

    On his part, Amaechi said “We awarded the national freight office in Jibia for N551,810,060 million and the contract is to last to 36 weeks.

    “You know that the national freight office is usually located at border post. So, the border post between Katsina and Niger Republic, that is where it is located.

    From next year, he said those who transport by trucks between Lagos and Ibadan would be encouraged to use the rail.

  • Mixed reactions trail FG’s reduction of JAMB, NECO fees

    Mixed reactions have trailed the Federal Government’s review of fees for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Senior Secondary Certificate Examination(SSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination(BECE).

    Some stakeholders, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday, commended the gesture and urged the government to overhaul the education sector.

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the downward review of the examination registration fees which will take effect from January 2019.

    The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu who announced the reduction after the FEC’s meeting said ‎Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) fees for UTME had been reduced from N5,000 to N3,500.

    Adamu said government also reduced the SSCE fees charged by the National Examinations Council (NECO) from N11,350 to N9,850 while the Basic School Certificate Examination (BSCE) by NECO was reduced from N5,500 to N4,000.

    An entrepreneur, Mr Sunday Ukachukwu, described the action as a `good step’ in the right direction.

    “I give the Federal government credit for the downward review, but I think they can still do better because the reduction is not so significant.

    “If they reviewed the fees by 50 per cent, the reduction would have been significant, but what you have is 13 per cent reduction,’’ he said.

    A Public Affairs Analyst, Mr Ben Ekiyi, commended the Federal Government for the reduction saying that it would ensure inclusiveness among other things.

    “ ‎It is a good thing because any reduction in prices of goods or services always makes the masses happy, especially in these times where many people are facing a lot of hardship. ‎

    “I feel this reduction will ensure inclusiveness as more students will now be able to write these examinations.

    Read Also: Fed Govt okays reduction in cost of JAMB, NECO forms

    “Since more students will now be able to write the examinations, hidden potentials will be exposed, because we have some intelligent students who have not been able to afford the examination fees,’’ he said.

    A parent, ‎Mrs Lelo Apena, said the reduction of fees was a diversion from the real issues plaguing the education sector, such as poor quality of education, dilapidated infrastructure and out- of- school children.

    According to her, this kind of reduction does not make any sense; N1,500 difference will not solve the problems bedeviling the education in Nigeria.

    ‎“ I tell you, reduction in these fees is a kind of diversion from the real issue; has the government thought of reducing tuition fees so that those who are qualified will be enrolled and do not drop out for lack of fees.

    “Our tertiary institutions always on strike; is it the reduction of JAMB fees and NECO that will solve the poor quality of students and lecturer impact?

    “Are the out-of -school children and their parents and guardians being helped to ensure their children are enrolled in school and not drop out before completion for various reasons?‎’’ she queried.

    Apena was of the opinion that states government should take over the payment of JAMB and NECO fees for poor students in their communities‎.
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    A retiree, Ms Ruseh Okaro, who also spoke to reporters , said the reduction was a welcome development, however, she said ‎ the quality of education was still a major cause of concern.
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    “ It is a welcome development but I do not think the fees should have been as high as that in the first place, given the importance of education to the wellbeing of a nation.
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    “ I also hope this reduction is sustainable and a holistic approach was used to arrive at these new fees”.
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    ‎A parent, Mr Shittu Ahmed, said the reduction was commendable, however, government should look into other areas of the sector such as dilapidated infrastructure and lack of learning materials.
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    A public servant,Mrs Folakemi Aina, said the reduction in the fees was long overdue and wondered why government was coming out with a lot of policies now that elections were drawing closer.

  • FEC okays N9.6b ecological projects

    THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting has approved N9.6 billion for 11 ecological intervention projects.

    Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The 11 projects, he said, are located in Lagos, Oyo, Ondo, Cross River, Adamawa, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kaduna, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    He listed the ecological interventions projects as including Lagos-Jetty and shoreline protection facilities, flood and erosion control in Oyo town, Oyo State, erosion control of flooded areas/road improvement in Owo, Ondo State.

    Others are erosion control of flooded areas in Akampa in Cross River and road and stem water defiance in Federal College of Education in Yola, Adamawa.

    The intervention projects also included road and bridges at Dutse Saki village in Buguru Local Government in Bauchi, erosion control at Kazaure in Jigawa, intervention at Main Campus Phase II Site at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna, Erosion and flood control at Kotangora Local Government Area in Niger State, gully erosion and road improvement at Army Post Service Estate, Kurudu Abuja and erosion and flood control at Asharawa Area Council in Phase II in FCT, Abuja.

    He also said FEC approved N267 million for three industrial wastes combine incinerator for National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    “It was approved for NAFDAC at the sum of N267,585,160,” Adesina said.

  • FEC approves N12.6b for Immigration Service new data centre, others

    THE Federal Government yesterday moved to bring under one roof data of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) presently domiciled with various service providers for effective information and data management.

    To this end, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved about N12.66 billion for the construction of a Data Control and Communication Centre for NIS as well as purchase  of firefighting equipment for the Nigeria Fire Service.

    The approval will also take care of procurement of 116 Green Maria vehicles for the Nigerian Prisons Service.

    The council also gave approval of N828 million as variation for the Abuja runway, increasing the contract sum for the project to N6.5 billion and another N1.2 billion for Pilot Cutters for Apapa and Tin Can Ports in Lagos.

    The approvals were given at the council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa.

    Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Dambazau, who briefed State House Correspondents alongside his Transportation counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, said the approval for the firefighting equipment was to sufficiently equip the fire service to curtail fire incidents.

    The 116 Green Maria vehicles are to convey prison inmates, especially those awaiting trials to courts.

    Dambazau said the three memos presented by his ministry to the council were approved.

    He said: “The first memo has to do with procurement of fire trucks. I have informed this gathering before that when we came in, in 2015, I went round the fire stations within Abuja here and what I found was very awful because as at that time, there was only one rickety fire truck on ground.

    “So, as part of the security sector reform efforts and also in order to reduce loss and curtail the incidence of fire, we embarked on the procurement of firefighting trucks, water tankers and so on. But the reform is not just about procurement of equipment. We are also focusing our attention on the issue of training and welfare of staff within the various services.

    “In 2016, we procured 21 firefighting vehicles plus other vehicles such as water tankers. In 2017, the procurement was for 22 firefighting trucks and, of course, in 2018, it is a repeat procurement of what we did in 2017.

    “For this year, it will cost N3.952 billion for those fire trucks, water tankers and other related vehicles.

    “The government is doing everything possible to ensure that fire incidents are contended and also controlled. These fire trucks are being distributed accordingly. We identified areas that have the fire hazards and of course, we are just starting this and we will continue to do this effort.”

    He added: “The second memo has to do with the Nigeria Immigration Service. I remember that sometimes in May, there was approval for Projects Consultants for the construction of what is termed as Technology Building, which is a data command control and communication centre. The whole idea is to bring together all the data used by Nigeria Immigration Service under one roof.

    “For now, we have this data domiciled with the service providers. Even though we are able to bring them there, but they are in piece meal. So, within the command, the technology building, all these data will be brought together so that they can interface with other institutions that have to do with internal security, border management and so on, including the Customs since the Immigrations and the Customs are always at the borders.

    “The rationale is to be able to guarantee effective and efficient monitoring and management of the data and this is the focus.”

    Dambazau said: “In this case, Julius Berger is going to construct this building, including the furnishing. The Comptroller General has a power-point presentation. That project is going to cost N7,119,139, 883.

    “The third aspect is the Nigerian Prisons. That also has to do with procurement of operational and Green Maria vehicles not Black Maria.

    On his part, Amaechi said: “There are two memoranda that we presented from the Ministry of Transportation. One has to do with the Abuja runway variation of cost, which had earlier come this year and was stepped down for the ministry to liaise in terms of pricing with the Ministry of Works. That was done and brought back to council.”

  • FEC okays national leather policy 

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting has approved leather and leather products policy.

    Minister of Science and Technology Ogbonnaya Onu briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He was with Minister of Information Lai Mohammed.

    The new policy, he said, is aimed at harnessing the leather resources to export finished leather products out of the country.

    Noting that leather products have impacts in every area of a Nigerian life, he said it was not in favour of Nigeria to export semi-finished leather products.

    He noted that for 2013 alone, leather contributed $921 million to the Nigerian economy.

    Onu said: “National leather and leather products policy will enable government attract more investment into the sector. We would now harness our leather resources in a manner that will allow us make more gains instead of exporting raw leather or semi-finished products.

    “We want to prepare our nation so that we can process our leather and use the leather in production of finished leather products.

    “This has application in almost every sector of our economic life, including footwear, apparels and automobile industry. There is hardly any machine that you will open without finding leather component. This is the only way we can create more jobs and a lot of wealth. We would be in a position to fight poverty.

    “In any country, they always start with textiles and then leather. Here, we have comparative advantage because our labour cost is low.”

    As far as light leather is concerned, he stated that Nigeria is number two in Africa and number eight in terms of exporting leather globally.

    “If we harness the leather we have in Nigeria and we processed our hides and skins, we will be creating a lot of jobs and wealth because of the small-scale enterprises that will spring up. You will now be having new business springing up. President Buhari is very much interest in sense that those who want to work can work.

    “In terms of contributions, leather contributes almost $921 million to our economy, as at 2013. There was a time leather was number three in terms of contributions from the non- oil sector. We believe that leather will help us achieve much to the economy,” Onu said.

    On health hazards associated with processing, he said: “This is exactly why you have the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and we have the Leather Research Institute in Zaria.

    “This institute is conducting research in the various segments. This is the only organisation permitted to offer higher training in leather industry. You use certain chemicals you have to find a way to treat before you can discharge them into any water source.

    “A percentage will be in what is environmentally acceptable. They are working on that at the moment.”

  • FEC, Senate approve $2.9b Eurobond to fund 2018 budget  

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Senate yesterday approved the issuance of $2.9 billion Eurobond to partly fund the 2018 budget.

    The FEC gave its approval during its meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja while the Senate ratified it during plenary.

    Minister of Finance Zainab Ahmed conveyed the FEC approval at the end of its meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari

    She said: “We got approval for the issuance of $2.9 billion in Eurobonds and other securities from the international capital markets.

    “They are to enable us implement the external borrowing plan of N849.6 billion equivalent to $2.786 billion, which is provided for in the 2018 Appropriation Act.  And this is to fund capital projects in the 2018 budget.

    “We also got approval to raise $82.5million to bridge the shortfall of 500 million Eurobond that matured on the 12th of July 2018.

    “In addition to this approval for the issuance of Eurobond, we also got the approval for payment to transaction parties and their respective fees like settling bills and expenses.

    ”We have as parties for the transactions, two joint league managers, a combination of Citibank group as well as Standard Chartered Bank as joint league managers and FSB Merchant Bank as financial advisers; the White and Case LIP as legal managers and  Ighodalo as legal advisers for Nigeria.”

    The senate’s approval followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, headed by Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central).

    Sani who presented the report prayed the Senate to consider the report of his committee:

    (a)  ”The implementation of the New External Capital Raising of $2.786 billion from the International Capital Market approved in the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    (b)The External Capital Raising of $2.54 million to refinance the balance of $500 million matured Eurobond in the International Capital Market.”

    The Senate asked the government to reduce or limit its external borrowing.

    It urged the government to ensure full utlitilization of the loans to be obtained for the benefit of the country.

    The upper chamber empowered its relevant committees to ensure proper oversight of the loans to ensure that previous loans taken by the country were judiciously utilised

  • No-work, no-pay principle to apply during strike – FEC

    The Federal Executive Council ( FEC ) has approved the implementation of the no-work, no pay principle when workers go on strike in the federal public service.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, disclosed this on Wednesday in the Presidential Villa, Abuja while briefing State House Correspondents after FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said the approval was sequel to the adoption of the Draft White Paper on the Report of the Technical Committee on Industrial Relations Matters in the Federal Public Service.

    Ngige said that the public service in Nigeria was bedevilled by problems and conflict areas; hence governments over time set up various committees and brought out circulars in a bid to stem the tide of industrial dispute.

    The minister said that the technical committee, which was inaugurated on April 27, 2016, did their work and submitted to the FEC in Oct. 2017.

    “FEC in turn, empanelled a committee of ten which I chaired to do a government Draft White Paper on those contentious areas that the technical committee had looked at.

    “These contentious areas are enforcement of section 43 of the Trade Dispute Act Law of the Federation 2004; this is the section that deals with lockout of workers by their employers without declaring redundancy appropriately.

    “Because in some establishments, especially in the private sector, workers are locked out by their employers; so the law there says that if you lock your workers without passing through the normal channel-due process.

    “For the period of the lock out, the worker is assumed to be at work and will receive all the remunerations and allowances, benefits accruing to him for the period and that period will also be counted for him as a pensionable period in the computation of his pension.

    “But when workers go on strike, the principle of no-work-no-pay will also apply because that principle is enshrined in the same section 43 of the Labour Act.’’

    According to Ngige, the section says that for the period a worker withdraws his services, government or his employers are not entitled to pay.

    The minister said that under the section, the period for which the worker was absent would not count as part of his pensionable period in the public service.

    He said that FEC accepted it as a white paper recommendation that should be gazetted because even the National Industrial Court had made pronouncement on that law and said that it was clear.

    Ngige said that another area was the issue of public servants remaining permanently in the executive bodies on trade unions.

    “Government realises that some persons in the public service go into trade union executive positions; hold offices; and they do that for life; for as long as they are in the service.

    “In doing so, they will refuse postings and deployments under the guise that are doing trade union activities; government says no.

    “You have to be a public servant first before you become a trade unionist; therefore, if you are there; the public service rules will also apply to you.

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    “And in doing so, government says establishments will look at the issues and give it a human face in order not to disrupt trade unionism.

    “And in furtherance to this, government has also said that there must tenure stipulations because people stay there without tenure; many organisations give people union positions without tenure; government says there is no office that does not have tenure.’’

    Ngige said that trade unions, henceforth, should present constitutions that must have tenures; at least, maximum of two tenures for any elective position.

    He said that another aspect of the report discussed by the council was the issue of residence training for medical doctors.

    According to him, the residence training for medical doctors has been contentious one as some medical doctors come into this training and become professional unionists and stay there as permanent job.

    He said that the Federal Government had fixed tenure for residence training of medical doctors, which was seven years within the trainee was to pass all his exams or quit.

    Ngige said that FEC also looked at the Ayere report on inter-professional rivalry in the health sector and directed the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to present it FEC for deliberation.

    On the minimum wage, the minister restated that the Federal Government’s stance was N24, 000 per month.

    He said that once minimum wage was fixed, any organisation or state that had the capacity to pay more could do that.

    Ngige cited that Edo, Delta and Lagos states paid their workers more than the current N18, 000 national minimum wage.

  • FG pegs seven years for doctors’ resident training

    ….Seeks tenures for trade unionist

     

     

    The Federal Government on Wednesday pegged seven years tenure for doctors’ resident training.

    The Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Read Also:Doctors, UCH settle 12 indigent patients’ bills

    He said “Government has fixed a tenure for doctors’ resident training at seven years. It is not a permanent job.

    According to him, FEC took the decision from report submitted by its 10-man technical committee, chaired by himself, and now to do a government white draft paper on contentions areas.

    He said that the government is also moving against gross abuse of private practice by health officials in full government employment and cases of public school teachers operating their own private clinics and schools.

    Part of the decisions, he said, is that the government is now against public servants remaining permanently in the executive bodies of trade unions.

    He noted “They refused postings and redeployments. Government said no, you have to be a public servant first before you become a trade unionist. Government has also says there must be tenure stipulations. People stay there without tenure.

    He said that the White Paper also recommended that unionists from the public service will not serve more than two-terms to prevent them using their positions to thwart their original workplace assignments, regulations or transfers and similar duties.

    “Trade unions should give us constitutions that show tenures, maximum of two tenures for any elective positions,” he said.

    He also said that the Federal Government has ruled out skipping by doctors, nurses, lab technologist and the general public service.

    FEC, he said, approved that employers who lock out workers must pay them for the period they didn’t work, while government will also enforce the ‘no-work-no-pay rule’ when workers embark on strike actions.

    He said that the white paper also contained issues on authentication of all pay related documents in collective bargaining and ruling out non-government employees from representative government during bargaining.

    On the new minimum wage, he insisted that the government can only implement what it can pay, which is N24, 000.

  • Shittu attends FEC meeting

    The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu was also among cabinet members who attended the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.

    He arrived at the Council Chamber around 10.45a.m decked in Igbo traditional outfit of black and gold coloured ‘Ishiagu’ top with red, white and black coloured cap to match.

    Before going to his seat, he spent a lengthy time discussing with the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu and later Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu.

    Shittu, who also attended FEC meeting last week, exchanged pleasantries with other colleagues as he made his way to his seat.

    Most of them made one remark or the other on his special outfit.

    The meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari started around 11.01a.m at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja with the rendition of the National anthem.

    Opening Muslims prayer was said by the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mustapha Shehuri, while the Christian prayer was offered by the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung.

    Recall that three weeks ago, Shittu and the immediate past Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, were disqualified from participating in the Oyo and Taraba states governorship primary elections, respectively, under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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    While Shittu was disqualified for not taking part in the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, Alhassan was disqualified over issues of loyalty to APC. Alhassan had immediately resigned from the cabinet.

    Shittu was also said to have failed to present any NYSC exemption certificate to the APC screening committee.

    The immediate past Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, had also resigned from the cabinet due to fake NYSC exemption certificate presented to get the job.