The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • Ex-UI VC urges Fed Govt to include research funds in budget

    A former  Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof Olufemi Bamiro, has urged the Federal Government  to make provisions for research funds in appropriation bills.

    His position was shared by a university don Prof Layi Fagbenle  at the book lunch to celebrate the 81st birthday of Prof Babajide Lucas.

    The book was entitled: “Renewable Natural Resoruces Engineering: Essays in honour of Canon Prof Babajide Lucas”.

    Bamiro said:  “This is a country that has depended so much on oil,  which has become traditional energy, but surely we can see now the way the world is going, everybody is looking towards renewable energy. We have to look into the direction of solar energy supply. In Nigeria, we still need to be serious in our energy drive because the world  is moving away from oil and gas to the renewable and the non- renewable, which must be utilised.”

    Fagbenle  said: “ When nations are focused on research result, they will get developed and many problems will be solved. I know what my student go through before they can be able to finish their research work due to funding.”

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof Idowu Olayinka, who was represented by the Deputy VC Administration, Prof Emilolorun Ayilari, described Lucas as a disciplinarian and educationist.

  • Declare state of emergency in Zamfara, Senator urges Fed Govt

    •Accuses governor of incompetence

    Senator Saidu Mohammed Dansadau has asked the Federal Government to immediately declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State to halt the mass killing going on there.

    Senator Dansadau, who represented Zamfara Central in the fifth and sixth Senate, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to invoke his powers under Section 305 (3) and (S) of the Constitution and declare a state of emergency in Zamfara, and appoint a competent administrator for the state.

    Dansadau, in a letter sent to President Buhari, with copies sent to Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, reads: “By Sections 4 (2) and 176 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the executive powers of a state are vested in the governor. By Section 215 (4) of the Constitution, the governor is the Chief Security Officer of the state.

    “The Constitution envisages that to perform these onerous responsibility, the governor is expected to be resident in the state and give his full attention to the governance of same.

    “I wish to bring to the attention of Mr. President that since the incumbency of Governor Abdulaziz Abubakar, which began five years ago, public perception is that the governor has spent only about 20 per cent of that whole period in Zamfara, and had utilised the other 80 per cent junketing from one part of the country to the other, and shuttling around the globe.

    “All matters of state that require action are kept waiting until he returns. Consequently, intelligence and security reports are kept in abeyance. For instance, at a period, out of 60 straight days, the governor spent only two days in Zamfara.

    “The fall-out of this is that threats to the breakdown of public order and safety are left to incubate and fester, until they escalate and become intractable, when simple measures of amelioration could have ensured public peace and security.

    “This dereliction of responsibility by the governor has cost the state unimaginable number of precious lives and property worth billions of Naira. In Dansadau alone, about 360 people have been killed.

    “If the killings in the remaining 23 constituencies are added, the total number of lives lost can better be imagined. All these losses would have been averted were the governor alive to his constitutional responsibilities.

    “There were no killings of tribal coloration until Yari took the reins of governance in. Since then, there has been a trail of daily killings, abductions, rapes, kidnappings, attacks on rustic villages, the scale, regularity and ferocity we have never witnessed before.

    “It is worrisome that inspite of the known identities of these criminals, the police have failed in securing the communities and protect lives and property. The failure of the police to safeguard the people may not be unrelated to the disconnection between them and the governor who is rarely seen to provide leadership as the chief security officer.

    “Sadly, the private security volunteers who have been helpful in defending the villages and protecting the people against these marauders have, by executive fiat, been banned from operating.

    “In view of the foregoing, Mr. President is invited to invoke his powers under Section 305 (3) and (S) of the Constitution and declare a State of Emergency in Zamfara and appoint a competent Administrator for the state until such a time when the President, through the administrator, is satisfied that normalcy has been restored.

    “Anything short of this will turn the thick forest between the southern border of Zamfara State with Katsina, Kaduna, Niger and Kebbi States into a national park of criminals and killers, worse than what the country has seen in Sambisa Forest.

     

  • Fed Govt advised to channel recovered funds into agric

    The Federal Government has been urged to channel recovered funds into agriculture to achieve food security as well as increase the sector’s contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).

    Founder, Uplifting Women through Farming (UWTF), an agro-based not-for-profit organisation, Mrs Afoma Adigwe, said channelling the recovered funds into agriculture would benefit Nigerians. She warned that food security should not treated with levity.

    The agriculturist, who participated in THAIFEX – World of Food Festival in Thailand, told our reporter that Nigeria is lagging behind in food security.

    She said directing the looted funds into agriculture would enable farmers to feed the nation.

    “We have lands in the country; we have what it takes to feed the nation, but farmers need support from government. We have what it takes to grow enough rice for the entire nation and even for export. Investors in Thailand are willing to come and invest in our agricultural sector in Nigeria, but we need government support to grow the sector,” she said.

    She urged the Federal Government to channel the recovered looted to the agric sector through Agriculture banks, Microfinance banks and agriculture-based co-operative societies.

  • Fed Govt pledges support for local content developers

    The Federal Government has said it is ready to support to information technology (IT) local content developers that have solutions to some of the problems in besetting the country. It added that eight new technology innovation hubs would be set up across the six geopolitical zones in the country with one each in Lagos and Abuja.

    Speaking yesterday at the maiden edition of Aso Villa Demo Day organised by the Federal Government through the Office of the Vice President, an official form the Office, the programme is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic diversification agenda. He added that the ICT sector is one of the key areas the government is exploring to develop so as to shore up dwindling oil revenue.

    The event was tagged: If You Could Pitch an Idea to the President, What Would it Be? Over 100 prospective and already established technology startups were on hand to pitch their ideas to investors and entrepreneurs. He said the Federal Government is moving away from oil dependence to a knowledge-driven economy, adding that the government will support and celebrate the best in the fields of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship with a focus on economic diversification and inclusive enterprise.

    “This is a chance for us to drive Africa’s technology growth into the mainstream, by providing young entrepreneurs and start-ups in creative ventures, the required support to thrive,” he said.

    Quoting Buhari, he said: “We must redouble our efforts to sustain the economic development of our country, ensure empowerment of our youths, create more jobs, improve and upgrade our infrastructure and promote good governance.”

  • ‘Fed Govt committed to implementing auto policy’

    The Federal Government remains committed to the implementation of the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, has said.

    At a stakeholders’ forum on the policy, tagged “Setting an Implementation Agenda for the NAIDP” in Lagos on Monday, Enelamah said all that was needed to implement the plan was an enabling environment and a partnership between the government and stakeholders.

    His words: “Value addition is very important in implementing the automotive plan and the government needs to create an enabling environment for the plan to work. The whole essence of the plan is to foster backward integration and local content utilisation in vehicle assembling, which will in turn create jobs for our productive youths.

    While noting that there is a great need to continuously engage with the stakeholders, which was the main reason for the forum, the Minister said the government recognised the importance of such engagement in order to revive the industry using local content.

    “The government recognises the contributions of the automotive industry to the implementation of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and we believe it is better to build on the policy than creating another,” Enelamah said, pointing out that the forum was the first in the series of engagements the government was planning with stakeholders.

    The Director-General, National Automotive Industry Development Plan, Mr. Aminu Jalal, said the policy was re-launched in 2013 with very clear fiscal guidelines and programmes to run initially for 10 years, with periodic properly phased reviews.

    As he explained, “Its main objective is to bring back vehicle assembly operations and develop local content. To gain investors’ confidence, additional effort was made to legislate and it passed both houses successfully as a package of incentives.

    “Since the approval of the policy in October 2013, the 14 existing assembly plants and body builders, which were on the verge of closure, had a new lease of life and obtained or renewed technical partnership agreements with global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).”

    According to Jalal, over 20 other auto firms had either commenced or were in the process of starting the assembly of vehicles in Nigeria.

    The Managing Director, VON Automobile Nigeria, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran, while speaking during a panel session, said there was the need to put a stop to the importation of cars through land borders. He said the borders were so porous that they give the customs little or no power to control the importation of used cars, which was a threat to local production.

    The Managing Director, Toyota Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo, also said more legislation was needed to give more support to the policy. “The automobile industry is still grappling with a lot of challenges like poor maintenance culture, inadequate incentives for local manufacturers and assemblers and a generally unfavourable environment to grow. “So the best thing to do is just the implementation of this plan, even though the size of the market is still an issue,” he said.

    Ade-Ojo further stated that it is a bitter truth that the market for used cars is still very large, hence the need to put the issue into consideration when implementing the auto policy, especially when talking about pricing and taste of the average Nigerian.

    “How can we convince about 100 million middle and low level Nigerian to buy a new car of X price instead of a used car he would rather buy for a cheaper price?” he asked, adding: “this is something we need to consider, even as businessmen and the government. There is a great need to put in place a finance solution to meet the needs of the Nigerians that we want their tastes to change to buy new, made-in-Nigeria cars.”

  • Fed Govt sets up committee on dry port

    Fed Govt sets up committee on dry port

    The Federal Government yesterday inaugurated a ministerial implementation committee on the Kaduna inland dry port.

    Speaking during the inauguration, the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi  said that there was need to check the effects of congestions at the seaports.

    Amaechi stated that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2006, approved the establishment of an Inland Container Deports (ICDs) to help assist in the reduction of the cost of moving cargo to landlocked parts of the country.

    The ICDs, according to the minister, was also set up to act as a means for improved trade flow, boost inland trading, revitalise export of agricultural products, which would lead to multi-product economy and creation of employment opportunities that would ultimately stem rural urban migration.

    The committee is expected to develop a road map for effective release and smooth flow of dry ports bound containers and cargoes to and from the country’s seaports.

    They are also expected to “develop a standard clearance procedures and documentation including scanning facilities; recommend an applicable software (electronic data interchange) for use and adaptation by the dry port concessionaires and operators at the respective dry ports; to establish a seamless interface for the complementary duties to be discharged by each of the service providers whose functions are key to the operations of the dry port, develop strategies for effective movements of cargoes to and from dry ports, suggest an effective multi-transport system synergy for inland cargo movement and develop strategies to sensitise stakeholders on the procedures guiding the use of dry ports.”

  • Warning strike illegal, says Fed Govt

    Warning strike illegal, says Fed Govt

    The Federal government yesterday declared as illegal, the warning strike called by the medical workers.

    In a statement last night, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said the government is committed to the full implementation of the Trade Dispute Act.

    He said the negotiation was already ongoing with the unions over their demands, pointing out that embarking on strike when negotiation is ongoing, is illegal.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to the activities of a group of trade unions operating as an unregistered Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) under the Federal Ministry of Health, which has declared a seven-day warning strike effective today, June 22nd, 2016.

    “The Federal Government wishes to state unambiguously that the so called warning strike is ill-advised and in bad faith more so as the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has since waded into the matter and is in fact, in negotiation with the Ministry of Health and the affected Health unions.

    “We wish to add that we are fully committed to the implementation of the Trade Dispute Act, hence, the overriding need for these unions to ask their members to return to work immediately as negotiation continues next week, Thursday, June 29, 2016 as agreed at the last joint conciliatory meeting of June 21, 2016.

    “It is important to add at this juncture that there is nothing like   ‘warning strike’ as strike is strike and must follow all procedures as clearly stipulated in the labour laws. Seven days of illegal absence from work is tantamount to abandonment of work and we therefore appeal to the members of these unions to attend to their duties in the various hospitals and health establishments through the country”

  • Fed Govt slams N50b land revocation suit against Anambra

    Fed Govt slams N50b land revocation suit against Anambra

    The Federal Government has instituted a N50 billion suit against the Anambra State Government at the Supreme Court for alleged revocation of the 148.337 hectares of land at Amansea in Awka North Local Government Area.

    The land is said to have been acquired by the state for Federal Government sites and services scheme.

    It was in suit, the Attorney-General of the Federation is the plaintiff and the Attorney-General of Anambra State is the defendant.

    The Federal Government is seeking eight declarations, including N50 billion for exemplary and aggravated damages it suffered from the alleged unconscionable actions of the defendant.

    Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) with Chief B. S. Nwankwo (SAN) are leading the Federal Government team of lawyers, while Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) is leading the Anambra State Government’s team.

    The Federal Government’s claim is contained in the writ of summons by the court Registrar on November 9, 2015.

    It has several declarations.

    They are: “A declaration that the 148.337 hectares of land at Amansea, Awka North Local Government Area, Anambra State, comprising Federal Government’s Sites and Services Scheme, Amansea/Awka, was lawfully acquired by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Anambra State Government in 1992, under the Land Use Act of 1978 (as amended).

    “A declaration that the Federal Government had duly paid the required compensation that was assessed to the knowledge of and active collaboration with the Anambra state government.

    “A declaration that the Federal Government had duly granted Statutory Rights of Occupancy to her Allotees and Development Partners, members of the public and original land owners to the knowledge of and active collaboration with the Anambra State Government.

    “A declaration that the purported revocation of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s rights and interests over the said Federal Government Sites and Services Scheme, Amansea/Awka, measuring 148.337 hectares of land, by the Anambra State Government vide a public notice dated 1st September, 2014, is wrongful, unlawful, null, void and of no effect whatsoever as same is neither supported by any extant law in force in Nigeria, nor done for any justifiable reasons”

    “A perpetual injunction restraining the Anambra State Government whether by itself, its agents, servants, representatives, or privies, howsoever, from further interfering with the rights and interests of the Federal Government of Nigeria and her allottees and development partners over the said Federal Government Sites and Services Scheme, Amansea/Awka.

    “A declaration that the purported revocation of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Rights and Interests over the said Federal Government’s Sites and Services Scheme, Amansea/Awka, measuring 148.337 hectares of land, by the Anambra State Government vide a public notice dated 1st September, 2014, is null, void and of no effect whatsoever as the plaintiff was never served the purported notice of revocation as required by the Land Use Act, 1978.

    “A declaration that the purported revocation of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Rights and Interests over the said Federal Government Sites and Services Scheme, Amansea/Awka, measuring 148.337 hectares of land, by the Anambra State Government vide a public notice, dated September 1, 2014, is null, void and of no effect whatsoever, since the defendant merely purportedly assigned same Site and Services Scheme to profit-driven Private Developer, and not for public purpose howsoever.

  • Fed Govt, states, councils share N305.128b

    • Workers force minister to trek

    The three tiers of government heaved a sigh of relief as they shared N305.128 billion at the end of the May Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja as against N281.5 billion shared in previous month.

    The slight improvement in revenue was as a result increased accruals into the Federation Account from non-oil and mineral revenue sources in May.

    Minster of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun told reporters at the end of the meeting that   statutory allocation and Value Added Tax (VAT) also recorded slight improvements during the month under review.

    According to the finance minister, N237.466 billion was available for statutory allocation compared to N213.817 billion realised last month, while VAT improved slightly to N62.649 billion compared to N62.511 billion shared last month.

    Mrs. Adeosun announced that a gross statutory revenue of N237.566 billion was received for the month, which was higher than the N213.817 billion received in the previous month by N23.649 billion.

    According her, “Companies Income Tax( CIT) recorded a marginal increase even as the time for companies to file their returns is yet to fall due.”

    Of the net statutory allocation of N230.9 billion approved for sharing, the Federal Government got N122.830 billion, states  N57.229 billion; Local governemnt councils  N44.121 billion while oil producing states received N16.738 billion representing their share of 13 per cent derivation.

    The balance in Excess crude account remained unchanged at $2.261 billion.

    Meanwhile, the protesting staff of the Finance ministry have given the minister a seven- day ultimatum to meet their demand for improved welfare or face another protest.

    A source privy to the meeting between the minister and aggrieved staff told reporters that “the staff gave the notice at a brief meeting convened yesterday morning by the minister. The Minister having listened to our complaints told the staff that, there was no money to implement their demand and she urged them to be patient for the economy to improve, but we would have none of her excuse”.

  • Fed Govt won’t stifle press freedom, says minister

    Fed Govt won’t stifle press freedom, says minister

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has reassured that the Federal Government would not do anything to stifle press freedom.

    The minister gave the assurance on Tuesday at the Third Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation in Beijing, China.

    In a statement issued on the event by Mr Segun Adeyemi, the Special Adviser to the Minister, Mohammed described the Nigerian media as one of the most vibrant in Africa and indeed across the world.

    In the statement in Abuja, the minister noted that the media has come a long way.

    “On our part as government, we do not intend to do anything to stifle press freedom. Media practitioners have nothing to fear from us.

    “Of course, as I hinted earlier, we are the ones who have much to fear from the media practitioners.

    “As a government, we believe that democracy itself is imperilled when the media is in chains. We see the media as a partner in progress, not some enemy to be crushed”.

    However, the minister, according to the statement, said that government expected a high level of responsible journalism from the practitioners.

    He said that journalists were expected to put the collective interest above individual consideration and safeguard the truth rather than push out rumours as facts.