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Tag: Fed Govt

  • Fed Govt to send foreign security experts packing

    A NEW regulation is coming to flush out expatriates operating private security outfits in the country, the Federal Government has said.

    Such expatriates, it was learnt, are being suspected of aiding insurgency and criminalities.

    Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant General Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu stated these in Kaduna at the weekend during the Managing Directors/Chief Executive Officers parley organised by the Kaduna Chapter of Association of Licenced Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN).

    The NSCDC boss, who was represented at the event by the Assistant Commandant General PGC, Helen Amakiri, said the new regulation’s document is being designed to address the lacuna in the 1986 Private Guard Companies (PGC) Act, which he said has become so obsolete.

    Muhammadu said: “Luckily, Section 35 of that Act empowers the Minister of Interior to make regulations. So, as the regulator of the industry, we asked the permission of the minister, which is the chief regulator, to formulate regulations that will address all the lacuna in the Act; and that we have done.

    “So, we have an up-to-date document called ‘Private Security Regulations 2018’ that can be used to regulate the industry and upgrade it to where we want it to be. It has been gazetted by the Federal Government press.

    “The regulation is going to stamp illegal operators and even foreign operators. The PGC Act says, no foreigner should own private security company in Nigeria. But the regulation has gone further to say that, no foreigner should own, be a director or operative of private security company in Nigeria.

    “So, we don’t want foreigners in private security industry in Nigeria. The reason is that, we have been receiving intelligence reports that these foreign operators and directors aid and abet terrorism and insurgency, as well as militancy, especially in the Niger Delta and Northeast of Nigeria.”

    The Commandant General, however, asked the private security operators to be ready to upgrade their practices and follow the guidelines.

    ALPSPN National President Dr. Davidson Akhimien asked the Federal Government to employ their service in intelligence-gathering to address the various security challenges confronting the country.

    Akhimien, who was represented by the association’s vice president, Emilia Chasa, noted that security in Nigeria has become a burning issue.

    The private security operators, he said, can assist in the area of intelligence-gathering, as they have their men in every nook and cranny of the country.

    On his part, the Kaduna State Chapter Chairman, Dauda Zuye-Nda Ageni called on the relevant regulators of the ALPSPN to help in adequately addressing challenges of multiple taxation and quackery in the system.

  • Fed Govt rallies northern monarchs to boost immunisation

    The Federal Government has restated its determination to engage traditional rulers to promote vaccination and the nation’s primary health care system.

    At a meeting of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) with the Northern Traditional Leaders Council on primary health care in Abuja, the government said over 4.3 million children, who have missed previous vaccination exercises, would be reached. The meeting resolved to reach all un-immunised children in the region through the help of the traditional rulers.

    Addressing the gathering,  NPHCDA Executive Director, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, said apart from supporting immunisation, the meeting was convened to further request the support of traditional leaders for primary health care in the country.

    “It is the role of the traditional leaders to drive primary health care services in conjunction with their community members. The community engagement framework that we are presenting is a direct result of input we’ve got from traditional institutions, from community members, from development members around how we can strengthen immunisation, strengthen routine immunisation in a way that every member will get vaccine they need, every child will get primary health care that they need in a way that no child is left behind,” Shuaib said.

    He said the agency was not starting afresh, but building on successes it had recorded. “We are here over 25 months with a case of polio virus reported in Nigeria. Traditional leaders have been central in Nigeria to this achievement. And as part of the successes achieved in polio, we are replicating this in routine immunisation, so we can get all the children in Nigeria immunised against vaccine-preventable diseases.

    “The very presence of traditional leaders in this meeting is a clear signal that traditional institution, religious institution that they belong are aligned with the fact that our vaccines are safe; they are potent and should be made available free of charge to all members of their communities.”

    Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Emir of Argungun, Sumaila Meira, urged people of the region to make the sacrifice needed to secure the future of their children. It was learnt at the meeting that vaccinators would take immunisation campaign to six states. They  include  Borno, Adamawa, Katsina, Sokoto states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    “The dramatic improvement in polio in Nigeria, which has been sustained by NPHCDA, has resulted in the absence of wild polio virus in the country for 25 months. This positive development is not sudden; routine immunisation remains very low in our communities, with many children dying of vaccine-preventable diseases. Northern Nigeria is blessed with the traditional leadership system that has deep-rooted influence in the minds of our people. Traditional and religious leaders have continued to serve the interest of our people, and responding to their welfare and needs,” the emir said.

    He called on the council members  to use their platforms to improve on community engagement for care-givers to improve routine immunisation uptake and improvement of other health-seeking behaviour of their people.

    The emir said the council had demonstrated considerable improvement in the acceptance of vaccine and had sustained ownership of participation and other public health interventions. “There is therefore no doubt in my mind that under the leadership and guidance of northern traditional rulers, our communities will attain significant improvements in routine immunisation coverage,” he stated.

    He commended NPHCDA leadership for the various strides and innovations it has brought into primary health care system in the country. “The northern traditional leaders will continue to work with these platforms and supporting initiative aimed at improving the lives of our people. We will exercise oversight of the implementation of community engagement of the Sultanate emirate, districts, communities and wards,” he added.

    The traditional ruler promised that the group would mobilise communities and their leaders to accept routine immunisation and continue to support it. Said he: “This emergency meeting is therefore convened to enable us review the harmonised version of community engagement framework and the guide on how to improve it with a view to meeting the demand for immunisation services, and consequently defeat the polio scourge and related diseases preventable by immunisation.”

    Nigeria hopes to attain polio-free certification by the end of 2019 from the World Health Organisation. It is one of the three polio-endemic nations in the world; the other two being Afghanistan and Pakistan. Nigeria loses many of its children to vaccine-preventable diseases; some of which are measles and meningitis. Borno and Yobe states, which have been epicenters of Boko haram terrorists, are areas populated with majority of unreached children for vaccination in the country.

  • Fed Govt eyes N2 trillion from livestock

    The Federal Government yesterday said its National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) is eyeing N2 trillion into the livestock sector.

    It also said the plan will check the clashes between farmers and herders in the country.

    It took the decision following the consideration and approval of a memo presented by the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh to NEC.

    The National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, approved the NLTP.

    Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, said the livestock development plan would attracts N2 trillion into the livestock sector.

    According to him, the Council approved the plan because of the importance of livestock as an economic activity.

    He said: “NLTP has been backed up with the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Heads of state and government approval since 2005, because whatever we are doing in the livestock sector must incorporate the ECOWAS protocol, otherwise whatever success  that is recorded in Nigeria can be complicated by the ECOWAS arrangement that we are part of.

    “NLTP,  is about creating condition to launch the peaceful transformation of the Nigerian livestock ecosystem to add atleast N2 trillion to the economy.”

    He said current policies and strategic intention at both national and state levels are to improve livestock production, which have been hampered by many obstacles.

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    The obstacles, he said, included limited knowledge of Nigerian livestock asset by size, locations, water and insecurity.

    He said: “The approach is to invest in the livestock sector to provide ranches, mitigating the escalating crisis between pastoralists and farmers.

    “The strategy would be supported by the development of an implementation plan which Mr. President had already approved, that provides a guiding framework to states for implementing NLTP which will be implemented in phases.“

    The governor also gave the balance in the federation accounts as at December 31, 2018 to include the Excess Crude stands at $497,864,626.08, Stabilisation Account stands at N29,672,829,101.47, and Natural Resources Development Fund stands at N135,476,046,912.57.

     

  • Court orders ex-Air Chief Amosu to forfeit N2.2b to Fed Govt

    THE Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the final forfeiture of N2.2 billion recovered from former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu to the Federal Government.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun made the order based on an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The judge ordered that the N2,244,500,000 recovered by the commission from Amosu be paid into the Treasury Single Account (TSA) with GT Bank.

    Justice Olatoregun agreed with EFCC that the money is “proceeds of unlawful activity”.

    The judge also ordered the final forfeiture of N190,828,978.15 recovered from a former Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Director of Finance and Budget Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.

    Also forfeited was N101 million recovered from Solomon Enterprises, a company linked to Amosu.

    Justice Olatoregun held that EFCC complied with the orders made last June 7, including that the interim forfeiture of the sums be advertised in The Nation and Punch newspapers.

    The judge dismissed the counter-affidavits by Amosu and Gbadebo, holding that they did not justify the money’s valid ownership.

    She also dismissed their arguments that they were presently undergoing trial over the same sums sought to be forfeited and that granting the final forfeiture order would foist a “fait accompli” on the trial court.

    According to Justice Olatoregun, the forfeiture case was an “action in rem” and non-conviction-based.

    “The requirements for the two proceedings are different and distinct,” she held.

    The judge emphasised that in a forfeiture proceedings, evidential burden shifted to the respondents to prove that they obtained the money lawfully, which she said they failed to do.

    “The case (forfeiture proceedings) can go on in the face of the criminal proceedings,” she said.

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    According to her, the respondents did not provide any justification for not granting the EFCC’s application.

    “They failed to provide any facts as to the level of probability to ascertain if the funds were obtained lawfully.

    “Upon examination of the two applications asking that the interim orders be set aside, I found no reason to set aside the orders. The applications are hereby dismissed.

    “The only conclusion I can reach is that the funds are proceeds of an unlawful activity. The affidavits disclose no reason why the order of final forfeiture should not be made,” she held.

    After ordering the sums’ final forfeiture, she directed the EFCC to file an affidavit of compliance within 14 days.

    Amosu, Gbadebo and former NAF Chief of Accounts and Budgeting Air Vice Marshal Jacob were on trial before Justice Mohammed Idris, who was elevated to the Court of Appeal last year.

    They were re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, but the trial is yet to resume.

  • Fed Govt shops for private sector investment in ICT Park

    THE Federal Government has started shopping for private sector investment for the actualisation of Abuja National ICT Park.

    It said the Park will create a platform for the acquisition of ICT knowledge, appropriate initiatives, incubating tech ideas into viable startups, research and development, testing and certifications of ICT solutions in Nigeria.

    The Minister of Communications, Dr. Adebayo Shittu who spoke during a Business Roundtable for the Financing of the National ICT Park at the Abuja Technology Village, in  Lagos at the weekend, said ICT/Telecom industry is key to the economy and an avenue for the youthful population and consumers to unlock the potential in the sector through policies and programmes that have the capacity to boost the economy in collaboration with stakeholders.

    Shittu said the objective of the meeting was to appraise the major stakeholders and the private companies operating in the ICT ecosystem of the Ministry’s plan to establish ICT Park and to solicit their cooperation and support towards its success, execution, and operationalisation of the project.

    He noted that ICT Park projects are capital intensive hence the need for industry stakeholders to partner Ministry of Communications to establish the project in order to bridge the practical skills gap that exists between the academia and the industry.

    He said: “The collaboration between the Ministry of Communications and Abuja Technology Village (ATV), had led to a 6344sqm of commercial land earmarked for the establishment of a National ICT Park within the free trade zone owned and operated by the ATV.”

    He added that the event will give insight into ATV free trade zone; showcase the conceptual model of the proposed National ICT Park, present investment and partnership opportunities to venture capitalist, academic institutions, business angels, investment bankers and development partners.

    Shittu said the project is part of government’s preparation for the 4th Industrial Revolution, which is predicted to happen globally in the near future noting that the establishment of the centre will encourage investment in the ICT sector and complement the proposed ICT university which will also produce the required skilled manpower for Africa to partake in the 4th Industrial Revolution.

    In his words “ICTs are essential in driving entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth as well as building strong interface between the academia and the industry, and we want industry participation and synergy on this project that will be of immense benefit to the ICT ecosystem be it the student community, the academia, and the industry”.

    He said the country badly needed adequate pool of qualified manpower to sustain the growth of the ICT sector noting that Government, together with the private sector, is implementing a series of training programmes to disseminate ICT literacy and usage in all spheres of activities across the country.

    Shittu stated that establishment of the park will further facilitate digital capacity building for immediate employment, entrepreneurial skills development, job and wealth creation as well as promoting the digital economy in an era of disruptive technology through effective regulations.

    In her remarks, the Managing Director, Abuja Technology Village, Ms. Hauwa Yabani pointed out that the village was established to serve as a catalyst and desire transformation of Nigeria as knowledge-based economy adding that the park is strategically located and focus on energy, ICT and biotechnology.

    In his presentation, the Managing Director, Rack Centre, Dr Ayotunde Coker, expressed that there should be comprehensive cloud and content distribution ecosystem noting that every country on Atlantic coast of Africa is directly connected by Fibre and direct high-speed fibre connectivity.

    He said technology village funding model should encompass the provision of core infrastructure, power, and tax incentives for investment, exercise duties concessions and input cost concessions.

     

     

     

  • Fed Govt, states issue N3.24tr bonds in one year

    The Federal and state governments borrowed N3.24 trillion in local and international bond issuances last year, it was learnt yesterday.

    According to Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Oscar Onyema, the  governments sourced N1.286 trillion in new debts through the local capital market last year.

    The Federal Government also raised $5.36 billion (about N1.95 trillion) in Eurobonds.

    Addressing stakeholders on the activities at the capital market yesterday at the Exchange in Lagos, Onyema said the Federal Government dominated the debt capital market in 2018, raising N1.16 trillion to finance fiscal and infrastructural deficits. State Governments also raised N125.59 billion in new debts during the year.

    According to him, the new debt issues buoyed the fixed-income market capitalisation by 11.75 percent to N10.17 trillion in 2018 as against N9.10 trillion in 2017.

    The governments crowded the private sector during the period as companies only raised a total of N31.47 billion.

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    “The market also witnessed the listing of a N100 billion Sukuk designed to finance critical road infrastructure across the country,” Onyema said.

    The total number of listed bonds on the NSE rose from 85 bonds in 2017 to 108 bonds in 2018. The increase helped to moderate the decline in number of quoted equities from 172 in 2017 to 169 in 2018. With Exchange Traded Products unchanged at nine, the number of listed securities at the NSE increased from 266 in 2017 to 286 in 2018.

    The total market capitalisation of the Exchange however declined from N22.72 trillion in 2017 to N21.90 trillion in 2018.

    The decline was attributed to a drop in total market value of quoted equities from N13.62 trillion in 2017 to N11.73 trillion in 2018.

  • SGF: Fed Govt attracts investors to maritime industry

    The Federal Government said at the weekend that it was doing everything possible to attract local and foreign investors as part of efforts to reposition the nation’s maritime industry.

    Speaking during the the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Corporate Dinner and Merit Awards held in Lagos, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, who was represented by Minister of Budget Udo Udoma, said the Federal Government was determined to harness the vast potential of the maritine industry to boost economic growth.

    The event, tagged “NIMASA Merit Awards and Corporate Dinner,”  was  hosted by  Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and chaired by the SGF.

    At the event was former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd); business mogul Aliko Dangote, the Ooni of Ife, Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi and other top dignitaries.

    Mustapha said the efforts put in place by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration made the maritime sector a new attraction for investors.

    The SGF  also said the current Management of NIMASA had in about three years turned around the agency and placed it on a good position to continue to contribute to the growth of the economy.

    He congratulated and urged the awardees and the industry players to remain focused on supporting the Federal Government’s drive to take Nigeria’s economy to a greater height.

    “The DG and his team and the Board are doing well in NIMASA. They have transformed the organisation. I will also like to congratulate the Minister of Transportation because it is through his guidance and supervision that all these transformations have taken place. He is an action man, somebody that makes things happen.

    “I will like to congratulate all the award winners; you should all keep up the good work,” Mustapha said.

    The Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Dakuku Peterside, reiterated the fact that the maritime industry remains the backbone of international trade and that the Nigerian maritime sector has made remarkable achievements in

    “The Nigerian maritime sector is on a journey, we are not where we are going yet, hence we need the continuous support of our stakeholders in our quest to realise a robust maritime sector so that we can compete favourably with our counterparts in other maritime climes,” Peterside said.

    Peterside urged the awardees  to redouble their efforts in the discharge of the duties.

    He also applauded the Minister of Transportation for consistently providing direction for the transportation sector and gave the assurance that NIMASA will continue to champion the growth and development of the shipping industry in Nigeria.

    “We cannot do it alone, we will continue to collaborate and partner our stakeholders so that we can fully realize our mandates of promoting and regulating shipping activities in Nigeria,” he said.

    The Agency bestowed awards on outstanding maritime companies; Maersk Nigeria Limited, Gulf Agency Company (GAC) Nigeria Ltd, Charkins Maritime and Offshore Safety Centre among others, alongside some employees of the Agency who have demonstrated commitment to the sector over the years.

    The categories of awards bestowed includes; Shipping Company of the Year 2018 Vessel Traffic (Foreign), Shipping Company of the Year 2018, Cargo Throughput (Foreign), Maritime Education and Training Institute of the Year 2018, Manning Agent of the Year 2018, Seafarers’ Employer of the Year 2018 as well as the Agency’s best staff for the year

  • Fed Govt to renegotiate salaries above N30,000

    Workers earning more than N30,000 – the likely new minimum wage – will have their pay renegotiated, the President said yesterday.

    The new pay, it seems, will not be for all cadres of workers.

    It is important to prepare the minds of those to be affected —  that a windfall is not on the way — so as not to be caught unawares, President Muhammadu Buhari said.

    The government will begin talks with the workers after the new minimum wage Bill must have been passed into a law.

    The President spoke at the inauguration of the Technical Advisory Committee on the Implementation of a New National Minimum Wage.

    The development came barely 24 hours after the government and Labour agreed that a New National Minimum Wage Bill will be sent to the National Assembly on or before January 23.

    The unions are demanding N30, 000 for the least paid worker. But governors are willing to pay N22, 500 and the Federal Government is offering N24, 000.

    The President named Bismarck Rewane as head of the panel, which he inaugurated at the Council Chamber, State House, Abuja, before the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) began.

    Mermbers of the committee have been drawn from the public and the private sector.

    It has a month to complete its work and summit its report and recommendations. The members are: Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Chairman Babatunde Fowler, ex-FIRS boss Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, Dr Ayo Teriba and Prof. Akpan Ekpo.

    Others include: Budget Office Director-General Ben Akabueze, who is the secretary of the committee, representative of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF); National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission Chairman Richard Egbule; Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack; Permanent Secretary, General Service Office, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Olusegun Adekunle; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Olajide Odewale; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labour Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, and Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata.

    The other members are: Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Office of the Vice President, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu; Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic Policy, Dr. Joseph Nnanna; Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris; Director-General, Debt Management Officer, Ms. Patience Oniaga; Director-General, National Institute of Social and Economic Research, Dr. Folarin Gbadebo-Smith; Statistician-General, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr. Yemi Kale; Mrs. Aisha Hamad, Mamman Garba and Tunde Lawal.

    Pointing out that the last time Nigeria’s national minimum wage was reviewed was in 2011, Buhari said that it was evident that a review was necessary, despite the prevailing fiscal challenges.

    He said: “This is why I constituted the Tripartite Committee of government (federal and states), the Organised Private Sector (OPS) and Labour to consider the national minimum wage and make recommendations to the government for its upward review.

    “That committee has since submitted its report with some recommendations. We are currently working on the final steps that will lead to the submission of a National Minimum Wage Amendment Bill to the National Assembly.

    “I want to make it clear that there is no question about whether the National Minimum Wage will be reviewed upwards. I am committed to a review of the Minimum Wage.

    “Also, it is important to explain that even though the subject of a national minimum wage is in the exclusive legislative list, we have been meeting with the state governors because it is imperative that the Federal Government carries the state governments along in determining any upward review of the minimum wage for workers.

    “This is especially necessary considering the prevailing public sector revenue challenges, which have made it extremely difficult for some of the governments to pay workers as and when due.

    “As you know, we, at the federal level, have made adequate provision for the increase in the minimum wage in our Budget 2019 proposals which we submitted to the National Assembly.

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    “Therefore, we will be able to meet the additional costs that will be incurred in moving up all personnel who are currently earning below the new minimum wage.

    “However, we anticipate that after the new minimum wage has been passed into law, we will be going into negotiations for salary review for all the workers who are already earning above the new minimum wage. It is therefore important that we are properly prepared to meet these demands.

    “We must therefore look at ways of implementing these consequential wage adjustments in a manner that does not have adverse effects on our national development plans, as laid out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). The ERGP sets appropriate targets for levels of capital expenditure, public debt, inflation and employment among others.

    “It is absolutely important that the implementation of a new minimum wage does not adversely affect these targets, and thereby erode the envisaged gains for the workers.

    “It is against this background that I have set up a Technical Committee to advise the government on how best to fund, in a sustained manner, the additional costs that will arise from the implementation of the consequential increases in salaries and allowances for workers currently earning above the new minimum wage.”

    Buhari said the committee will be chaired by an economist and financial expert, Rewane, with other experienced economists and administrators from the private sector working with government officials.

    The committee is to advise the government on how to successfully bring about a smooth implementation of impending wage increases and identify new revenue sources, and areas of existing expenditure from where some savings could be made in order to fund the wage increases without adversely impacting the nation’s development goals as set out in the ERGP.

    It is also to “propose a work plan and modalities for the implementation of the salary increases, any other suggestions that will assist in the implementation of this, and future wage increases”.

    “Given the urgency of this exercise, the Committee is expected to complete its deliberations and submit its report and recommendations within one month today.

    “It is now my pleasure to formally inaugurate the Technical Advisory Committee on the Implementation of an Increase in the National Minimum Wage.”

    President Buhari had during the budget proposal presentation promised a new minimum wage which, he said, will help maintain jobs for the teeming unemployed.

  • Fed Govt votes N792m to refurbish aircraft

    THE Federal Government is to spend N792 million to upgrade one of the aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF), details of this year’s Appropriation Bill have shown.

    Another N607 million will be disbursed on the ongoing “phased replacement of vehicles, spare parts and tyres in the Presidency, CVU (Common Vehicle Unit), security/police escort and State House operational fleets”.

    According to the 2019 budgetary proposal submitted to the National Assembly, the N792, 000, 000 mandatory upgrade and installation of live TV and internet service is for the presidential jet identified as BBJ (5N-FGT).

    The 5N-FGT Boeing 737-700 is registered to the Government of Nigeria and it is a Boeing Business Jet aircraft with some external features of a commercial aircraft, but essentially a private jet.

    Also, the presidential air fleet is asking for N50 million to carry out a “compliance with mandatory upgrade and installation of internet service on a second presidential aircraft, the G550 (5N-FGW), which has 5N-FGW (Nigerian Air Force) Gulfstream G550 as its registration details”.

    Another N650, 000,000 was voted for the mandatory upgrades of the other aircraft in the PAF. The details of the aircraft scheduled for refurbishment were not specified.

    The PAF is domiciled in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Security (DSS), thereby ensuring an extremely high level of security cover.

    The Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) is seeking approval for a N6, 748,846,483 as its budget proposal for this year, even as other government agencies plan television-related initiatives to boost their visibility.

    The National Action Committee On Aids (NACA) applied for approval to spend N20 million on its media activities on radio and television, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) aims to spend N40 million on radio and television jingles  and the Federal Ministry of Science & Technology targets expenditure of N94 million on the “Establishment of a Science, Technology and Innovation Television Station in Abuja”.

    In the Budget 2019 proposals, anti-corruption and accountability agencies are to receive various allocations for recurrent and capital expenditures.

    About N3.1 billion has been earmarked for the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, N1 billion for the Code of Conduct Tribunal, N110 billion for the Judiciary and N5.9 billion for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    The EFCC’s N22 billion vote covers various projects, including the expansion of the agency’s detention facilities to accommodate those under interrogation.

    It was learnt that N2, 617,966 will be spent to ensure the completion of the EFCC detention facility in Maiduguri. The completion of the detention facility in Gombe will gulp N2, 094,373 and N3, 141,559 will be disbursed on the ongoing expansion of the commission’s cell in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

  • Strike: Fed Govt pleads for more time

    As part of steps to avert a nationwide strike over the contentious new national minimum wage, the Federal Government will today meet with Labour representatives.

    Ahead of the meeting, Labour & Employment Chris Ngige has pleaded with workers’ leadership to be patient with the government.

    The development followed Tuesday’s announcement by Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President Ayuba Wabba that workers should brace for an indefinite nationwide strike beginning from January 8.

    It was learnt that the government plans to inform NLC on the steps so far taken on the Executive Bill for the enactment of N30, 000 as the New National Minimum Wage.

    A source at the Ministry of Labour, who spoke in confidence, said:  ”The truth is that the government is not delaying the Executive Bill on the new minimum wage, it is being worked on by the appropriate ministry.

    “The bill itself is an amendment to the existing Act and it has to take cognizance of Pension Reform Act 2005, the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund Act and other laws.

    “So, it requires being painstaking to avoid any ambiguity in view of the fact that the bill will have effect on some establishments too.

    “The Friday meeting will afford the government the opportunity to brief the NLC on concrete steps taken and the timeline that the bill will be ready.

    “So far, since the submission of the report of the tripartite committee, relevant ministries and agencies have been working on the executive bill.”

    Confirming the scheduled government/labour parley, Dr. Ngige said: “The government team will meet with labour leaders on Friday (tomorrow). We are hopeful that we will be able to find common grounds. We have communicated the notice of meeting to the NLC.

    “My appeal to our labour leaders is for them to be patient. We will resolve all issues and it won’t degenerate to a nationwide strike. President Muhammadu Buhari places premium on the welfare of workers.

    “We are working on the Executive Bill, we only want to be through with it.”

    Wabba said the reluctance of the government on the new bill on minimum wage strained the relationship between the government and the Labour.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that the Federal Government is yet to transmit to the National Assembly an executive bill for the enactment of N30, 000 as the new national minimum wage.

    ”Government’s dilly-dallying on the issue has strained Government-Labour relations with a potential for a major national strike which could just be days away.

    “I want to appeal to the government to do the needful by urgently transmitting the bill on the new national minimum wage to the National Assembly.

    “We also would like to use this same opportunity to urge workers to fully mobilise for a prolonged national strike and enforce their rights.”