The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • ASUU suspends strike after deal with Fed Govt

    THE Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), after 10 rounds of meetings, finally reached an agreement yesterday on contending issues, which led to the two months’ industrial action.

    As a result of the agreement, which was signed between the union leaders and government officials, the ASUU leadership announced the suspension of the strike.

    Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige told reporters at the end of the two hours’ meeting that eight areas in contention have been resolved by both parties while implementation of some of the agreements has already commenced.

    The minister listed areas in contention, which has been resolved as including the Nigeria University Pension Company, constitution of visitation panels, shortfall in salaries, Earned Academic Allowance and revitalisation funds for universities.

    He added that while the union has already collected the certificate for NUPENCO, government has made money available for the payment of the shortfall in salaries as well as Earned Academic Allowances.

    He also said the government has agreed to release N25 billion as revitalisation fund between April and May 2019 after which it will commence full implementation of the 2009 agreement.

    He added that allowances of lecturers of University of Ilorin would be paid immediately.

    The parties, he said, also agreed that the Babalakin Committee, which is charged with renegotiating the agreement, should reconvene latest February 18 and March 29, 2019.

    Addressing reporters later, ASUU President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi announced that the leadership of the union has agreed to suspend the strike action immediately beginning from today with the condition that it would not hesitate to resume the action, if government failed to meet its own part of the agreement.

    He, however, lamented the role played by some vice chancellors, who attempted to break the rank of the union, adding that it would not hesitate to tackle them head on.

    Ogunyemi said: “Based on the initial proposals from government, the union made extensive consultations through its various organs.

    “The final level of consultation was the meeting of the National Executive Council (NBC) which took place on February 6th-7th, 2019. NEC resolved that: Following a careful review of the report of engagements with the Federal Government on proposals for addressing all outstanding issues in the 2013 M011 and 2017 MoA, NEC resolved that the current strike action by the union should be suspended conditionally with effect from 12.01 am on Friday 8′” February, 2019.

    “However, should government fail to fulfill its part of the agreement as reflected in the 2019 Memorandum of Action, ASUU shall resume its suspended strike action as the union deems necessary.

    “ASUU notes, with serious concern, the covert and overt roles of some vice chancellors in the management and application of funds attracted by our union to Nigeria’s public universities.

    “Consequently, we condemn, in the strongest terms, vice-chancellors, who have made efforts to undermine and, in some cases, attempted to break our patriotic struggles for the revitalisation of public universities in Nigeria.

    “ASUU will not shy away from taking headlong those vice chancellors, who are reputed for acts of impunity, nepotism and other forms of conduct, which are antithetic to university culture and the progressive development of our universities. Our union will compile all their shenanigans and forward them to relevant authorities for further action.”

     

  • Fed Govt urges court to dismiss MTN’s N3b suit

    THE Federal Government has filed a preliminary objection to a suit by MTN Nigeria Communication Ltd.

    It is urging the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction.

    MTN had sued the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for demanding N242 billion and $1.3 billion as import duties and withholding tax assessments from it.

    A Senior State Counsel at the Federal Ministry of Justice Mr. Terhemba Agbe, informed Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke yesterday that the respondent filed the objection last November 7.

    He said it has been served on the plaintiff, who filed a reply to the objection, but which he was yet to receive.

    By a September 10, 2018 writ, MTN is challenging the legality of the AGF’s assessment of the import duties, withholding tax and value-added tax.

    But, the AGF, in the preliminary objection, is arguing that the suit was statute-barred, thus robbing the court of jurisdiction.

    The respondent said the plaintiff ought to have filed the suit three months from the date of the cause of action arose.

    The AGF is contending that the suit disregarded Section 2 of the Public Officers Protection Act, which provides that any lawsuit against a public officer must be within three months of what was complained of.

    The respondent is praying the court to hold that MTN’s failure to comply with the provision strips the court of jurisdiction to entertain the action.

    MTN is seeking a declaration that the AGF’s demand of N242 billion and $1.3 billion from it is premised on a process that is malicious, unreasonable and based on incorrect legal reasons.

    The plaintiff said the purported “revenue assets investigation” carried out by the Federal Government for the period of 2007 – 2017 violated Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

    MTN is praying the court to declare that the AGF acted in excess of his powers by directing a “self-assessment exercise”, which usurps the powers of the Nigerian Customs Service to demand duties on imported physical goods.

    It is seeking a declaration that the AGF acted illegally by also usurping the powers of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to audit and demand remittance of withholding tax and value-added tax.

    The plaintiff wants declaration that the purported “self-assessment” exercise instituted by the AGF via its letter of last May 10 is unknown to law, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

    MTN is further praying the court for an order vacating the AGF’s demand letter.

    It is claiming N3 billion as general and exemplary damages as well as legal costs from the Federal Government.

    Justice Aneke adjourned until March 26 for hearing.

     

  • Fed Govt assures businesses of safe, secure environment

    The Federal Government has assured the business community of its commitment to provide a safe environment by ensuring free, fair and credible elections to boost local and foreign investors’ confidence, and promote trade.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, gave this assurance at a security meeting organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) tagged: “Security Meets Business Session”.

    The SGF, who was represented by Dr. Shade Caifas, at the forum, described the theme  as appropriate and timely, based on the efforts and commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari led-administration to perform its basic duty of protecting every Nigerian.

    “As we are all aware, there is a relationship between national security architecture and investment.

    “Given the role investment plays as catalyst for economic growth in many countries, this administration is determined to address the spate of insecurity in Nigeria, so as to provide a safe business environment that allows for effective business activities essential for economic growth and development,” the SGF said.

    The Federal Government, according to Mustapha, decided to allocate a huge portion of the 2019 budget to security based on its importance. He said the Federal Government was committed to free and fair elections and urged politicians to give peace a chance by avoiding all forms of political thuggery and violence in their struggle to get elected.

    The SGF pointed out that security agencies have been directed to ensure adequate security of lives and property before, during and after the elections in line with the policy direction of the Buhari Administration.

    He praised security agencies for their efforts at curtailing insurgency in the Northeast and all other forms of criminalities across the country.

    In his address, LCCI President, Mr. Babatunde Ruwase, said the event was organised to serve as a platform for discussions and exchange of ideas among the private sector, the diplomatic corps and the security agencies on the security situation in the country.

     

  • Out-of-school kids: Fed Govt launches $611m BESDA in Oyo

    THE Federal Government yesterday launched an education initiative, Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA), in Oyo State.

    It said the initiative would increase equitable access for the about 13.2 million out-of-school children (OOSC) and improve access to education across the country.

    The new initiative is estimated to gulp about $611 million.

    Oyo, the only Southwest state benefitting from the five-year BESDA programme, according to the 2015 National Education Data Survey (NEDS), has 272,847 OOSC to be returned to school.

    The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, who launched the programme yesterday at the Parliament Building of the state secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital, expresed appreciation to the World Bank for initiating the BESDA project.

    The minister also thanked the global bank for providing $611 million to support the Federal Government in strengthening its Universal Basic Education (UBE) as well as addressing the first pillar of the Ministerial Strategic Plan (MSP) of 2016 to 2019 on OOSC.

    Represented by Director of Basic Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Lamin Amodu, the minister said: “With an estimated 13.2 million children out-of-school, Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children in sub-Saharan Africa. For us to address these challenges adequately, therefore, we must strengthen the quality of basic education in Nigeria by confronting head-on those factors that deny our children access to basic education.

    “It is in light of this we are here to launch the Better Education Service Delivery for All programme in Oyo State. It is a programme that will result in better life for our children. The cardinal objective of this programme is to increase equitable access for out-of-school children, improve literacy and strengthen accountability for results at the basic education level in the focus states.

    “The programme focuses on 17 states in the country, which include the 13 states of the Northwest and Northeast as well as Niger, Oyo, Ebonyi and Rivers states. The selection of these states was based on the prevalence of the number of out-of-school children.”

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Otunba Moses Adeyemo, said the state cherished and considered the programme a great privilege.

    The governor assures the Federal Government that the state would put in place necessary mechanisms to ensure the successful implementation of BESDA.

    “We are all aware of the fact that no nation could rise above the level of its educational development, thus, the need for an educational system that is all-inclusive and knowledge-based cannot be overemphasised,” he said.

    BESDa’s National Project Coordinator Prof Gidado Tahir said the initiative focuses on results rather than inputs.

    He said the approach being adopted is Programme for Results (P for R) geared towards increasing equitable access for OOSC, improve literacy and strengthen accountability for results of basic education in Nigeria.

     

     

     

  • Fed Govt to workers: NNPC, refineries not for sale

    •NLC calls for reversal of power sector privatisation

    THE Federal Government has assured the workers that it has no plan to sell any of the nation’s refineries and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    Anybody who has such plan, it said, did not have the  workers’ interest at heart.

    President Muhammadu Buhari stated these yesterday at the NLC 12th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference in Abuja .

    The President, who was represented by the Secretary to the  Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, said government was determined to attain the decent work agenda, which involves opportunity for works that are productive, deliver a fair income, security for workplaces and social protection for families.

    “I want to reassure you of the commitment of this administration to the issue of welfare of workers. This is evidence of numerous programmes and policies that have been initiated by this administration in promoting the interest of the well-being of our workforce.

    “The administration is committed to addressing other labour issues that are still pending,” Mustapha said.

    But, NLC has called for reversal of power sector privatisation due to what it called chronic failures by the distribution companies (DISCOS) to deliver quality power supply to Nigerians.

    Its National President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said: “Since the privatisation of electricity distribution, Nigerians are yet to see the fulfilment of promises of efficient service delivery.

    “Instead, the electricity situation has gone worse with chronic failures by DISCOs to supply prepaid meters, exploitation of Nigerians through estimated billings and reluctance to attend to basic complaints.

    “Even with N39 billion bailout funds from government, the supposed private entrepreneurs have failed to turn anything around, except maybe their pockets, unfortunately, at the expense of Nigerians. This must stop.

    “We call on government to reverse the power sector privatisation because it has failed. Privatisation of public utilities has not generally proven to be the correct thing to do in most countries, even developed ones, according to a study released by Public Services International.

    Quoting author of “Why Public Private Partnerships don’t work; the many advantages of public alternative, David Hall, Wabba said  privatising public utilities had been a wreck in most countries.

    He mentioned Spain, France, India, South Korea, United Kingdom (UK), Australia among others showed “how public/state guarantees and loans to private sector for the utilities sector have resulted in failures on delivery of services as well as repayment in most cases”.

    He, however, urged the Federal Government to resuscitate Nigeria’s ailing refineries to liberate the downstream sector.

    According to him, “the crisis of industrialisation and manufacturing in Nigeria is best exemplified by the chaos in the downstream petroleum industry, where we have been unable to manage our vast natural carbon resources for national growth and prosperity of our people.

    “Our four national refineries are almost under lock and key as we depend on the importation of refined petroleum products for our energy needs. Promises by successive government to resuscitate our refineries have become a mirage.

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    “To rub salt to injury, our public officials have now found a new hobby – taking ‘selfies’ in an ongoing private refinery project being constructed by the Dangote Group. This is truly sad for Africa’s largest producer of crude oil and the sixth largest in the world.

    “We will continue to push for the resuscitation of our four refineries and for the construction of additional public refineries. This will bring to an end the fraud associated with subsidy payment.

    “The only sustainable solution to our energy crises lies in prioritising the development of the value chain in our downstream petroleum sector. This is a major step towards jump-starting our economy and unlocking trapped jobs. Our country would also be saving trillions of naira we currently spend on importing refined and poorly regulated petroleum products from overseas.”

  • Fed Govt to boost gold mining in Osun, others

    THE Federal Government has struck a partnership with the Osun and Kebbi state governments to develop gold mining.

    The pilot scheme of the “Presidential Initiative to streamline gold mining for the benefit of the people, the artisans and the governments”, is soon to be launched.

    Three others states – Niger, Kaduna, Zamfara – which possess mineral resources in large volume, are also to enjoy the Federal Government’s partnership to boost the plan to diversify the nation’s economy from its reliance on oil revenue.

    The initiative in Osun, Kebbi and other states, is based on the volume of available gold deposits and the willingness of the state governments to develop the mining sector to generate resources and to create jobs for their people.

    There is a large deposit of gold in the eastern part of Osun State, which is currently being mined haphazardly with little or no control from the government.

    According to the Federal Government’s initiative, artisanal miners will be organised to facilitate better output and the enjoyment of the benefit of their resources.

    After a period of training, the artisanal miners will be able to access micro-credit and be exposed to further capacity-building.

    The Federal Government, it was learnt, intends to grow the solid minerals’ Gross  Domestic Product (GDP) by over eight per cent in 2020 under the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP).

    Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola is excited about the prospects in the plan for his people, who will reap the benefits while his government will get the opportunity to boost its IGR.

    Oyetola said: “I look forward to the effects this will have on our people with the job opportunities and the chance for a better life for our people, who are ready to take advantage of the natural resources they have in their backyard.

    “For us as a government, we will improve on our revenue generation and, therefore, have the resources to be able to cater for the needs of our people.

    “It is good to streamline the activities at the mining sites to standardise things and ensure the all stakeholders get the benefits – the community, the people and the government.”

    The governor promised to cooperate with the Federal Government in whatever plan it has for the mining sector in the state.

    He said the initiative is in line with the objectives of his government, which is to tap into all the available resources

    He noted that he met with Minister of Mines and Steel Development Alhaji Bawa Bwari in Abuja last December on the possibility of Federal Government’s support or partnership with the state to boost mining.

    Oyetola said he was also looking forward to the banana farming collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

     

  • NMA urges Fed Govt to raise awareness on cancer

    THE Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on the Federal Government to raise awareness on cancer prevention, as Nigeria joins the rest of the globe to celebrate World Cancer Day,.

    Besides, NMA urged the government to include cancer control and treatment in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) programme.

    Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world, accounting for 9.6 million deaths in 2018.

    Nigeria has an estimated 115,950 new cases of cancer and an estimated 70,327 cancer death in 2018.

    Briefing reporters in Abuja yesterday, the Chairman, NMA FCT Chapter, Dr. Philip Ekpe, said the high rate of death attributed to cancer was alarming and called for urgent attention.

    He said cancer is now “the second  leading cause of the death in the world,  accounting for 9.6 million deaths in 2018.”

    “The World Health Organisation estimated that there were  18.1million new case in 2018, which was a significant increase  of about 4 million case compared to last estimate of 14.1 million new cases in 2012. It is estimated  that one in every five men and one in every six women  develop cancer globally. This is a very worrying trend and we must all rise up to curb this menace.

    “Africa is estimated to have about 5.8 per cent of the new cases, but a disproportionately higher 7.3 per cent of cancer prevention, poor attitude for cancer screening and early detection, inadequate  treatment facilities and higher incidence of cancer types with poor outcome. Nigeria has an estimated 115,950 new cases of cancer and an estimated 70,327 cancer death in 2018.”

    He lamented that “cancer death in our country  is still  one of the worst in Africa and this requires urged attention”

  • Fed Govt hopeful ASUU, ASUP strike ‘ll end this week

    THE Federal Government has expressed hope that the strike embarked upon by university and polytechnic lecturers will end this week.

    It said it has resolved the issues, which made the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to embark on strike.

    Minister of Education Adamu Adamu stated these to reporters during a briefing in Abuja at the weekend.

    The minister said: “I should comment now on the ongoing strike, which I hope that it will be called off today or perhaps tomorrow. But certainly there will be no strike by next week (this week).

    “For ASUU, which also accept to call of their own since last week, we have virtually resolved all issues as we await the union to call off their own strike. We hope they will do so immediately.

    “I expected by now ASUU will have called off their strike because we have virtually reached agreement on all issues. So, I hope either today or tomorrow, but certainly within next week ASUU strike will be off. “

    The minister said the government has released N16.8 billion to settle outstanding allowances and shortfalls.

    He said the disbursement would be done by the Office of the Auditor -General of the Federation.

    He praised the colleges of education union for ending its strike.

    The minister said: “First I will like to commend COEASU for calling off their strike. We will like to thank them for being so reasonable and for calling off the strike to allow students to be back in classes.

    “Government will reciprocate this gesture by fulfilling all terms of agreement that we have reached with COEASU.

    “In particular, I will like to tell you that we have reached the following agreements:

    “•The review of the Polytechnic Act. Government awaits the transmission of the amended document by the National Assembly to Mr. President for his assent. We are waiting for the National Assembly to act.

    “•Revitalisation of polytechnic and colleges of education. Government is committed to the revitalisation of facilities in institutions and have directed the Minister of Finance to source for additional funding to the tune of N30 billion for that purpose. This is in reference to polytechnics and colleges of education and which is one of their demands.

    “•On the issue of state polytechnics, NBTE has been directed to strengthen regulatory mechanism because their complaint actually is these institutions are left without supervision so that standards are low. NBTE will see to that.

    “•Issue of allowances shortfalls is being addressed and government has released (N16, 800, 000, 000) to settle all outstanding arrears. Disbursement is ongoing through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.”

    But, ASUU President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi said the union had not agreed to suspend its over three months’ strike.

    Prof. Ogunyemi said the union has gone back to its members on what the government has promised to do.

    He said the union has reached agreement with the government on some areas that are not “contentious”.

    “We are expecting our members to consider and get back to us with our own final statement too. That is the progress that we have made. Government has given its own final statement. ASUU will make its own final statement known before the end of the week.

    Also, ASUP President Usman Dutse said the union had not suspended its strike.

    He also denied that the Federal Government had met all its demand.

    Dutse said the union would decide if it will end the strike after a meeting with its members within the week.

  • Fed Govt to employers: provide decent work

    The Federal Government has charged employers to provide decent conditions for their employees.

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, made the call in Abuja when he received the executives of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) led by Comrade Osakpamwan Eriyo.

    He charged the association to tailor its employment conditions on the provisions of the Decent Work Agenda of International Labour Organisation (ILO).

    “Try to provide decent work because the ILO agenda now is Agenda for Decent Work,” he said.

    The minister urged the group to do a proper documentation of its employees by creating a database, adding that it would simplify their recruitment, as well as assist the government in managing security.

    Acknowledging the support of the association, Ngige stated that the government had put in place a lot of infrastructure, especially a good network of roads, across the country to boost the transport sector.

    RTEAN National President  Eriyo pledged the association’s support to the government.

    Eriyo, represented by the Deputy National President, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, noted that group had experienced peace, unity and progress under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

  • Fed Govt, Gates Foundation sign $75m funding pact on immunisation

    The Federal Government and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have announced a new innovative financing agreement.The agreement is aimed at strengthening both routine immunisation (RI) and broader primary healthcare (PHC) services.

    Under the agreement, the Gates Foundation will provide up to $15million per annum for five years to Nigeria for financing PHC. The incentive financing will be directly invested in Nigeria’s Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), strengthening other PHC services for the poorest.

    The BHCPF implementation was formally rolled out on January 8, with critical PHC interventions for children, women and families in rural and underserved areas.

    In April last year, the Federal Government, led by the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, finalised its Nigeria Strategy for Immunisation and PHC System Strengthening, 2018-2028 (NSIPSS). The document outlined plans to spend $1.95 billion on immunisation services over 10years through the national budget and some World Bank loan financing. In June, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, committed to supporting the NSIPSS with extended donor financing as domestic resources scaled up. During this extended transition window, international donors, via Gavi, will provide Nigeria with $1 billion on top of the $1.95bn domestic commitment. Together these funds will cover procurement of vaccines, the lion share of the costs, as well as operational costs for routine and supplementary immunisation activities, and PHC system support.

    In spite of additional Gavi support and loan options, the NSIPSS financing strategy requires significant annual increases in funding for vaccines until the government assumes full responsibility after 2028.

    Speaking on the new agreement, Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, said there is no question that immunisation is an all-around ‘best buy’ for Nigeria, but “we still have limited resources”.

    On his part, Health Minister,  Prof. Isaac Adewole, noted that full implementation of the NSIPSS will reach millions of Nigerian children with vaccines and potentially save millions of lives.

    “With the NSIPSS, Nigerian government is committing to a long-term investment in its people and ensuring that children will have the vaccines they need for the next 10years and beyond,” said Country Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dr. Paulin Basinga. “We know this isn’t easy given the many demands on Nigeria’s limited resources. So, we’re pleased to extend the health benefits of fulfilling this pledge even further, by supporting PHC for all of Nigeria’s children and families,” she added.