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Tag: Fed Govt

  • ASUU storms out of conciliatory meeting with Fed Govt

    THE leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) yesterday stormed out of a conciliatory meeting between them and the Federal Ministry of Education summoned by Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige.

    The meeting, which was scheduled to begin at 5.00pm, started about one hour behind scheduled,  but ended abruptly as the ASUU delegation, led by its President,  Prof.  Biodun  Ogunyomi, walked out less than one hour after the meeting began.

    But the leadership of ASUU, however, refused to comment on why they were walking out of the meeting.

    Speaking at the commencement of the meeting yesterday, Ngige expressed shock that the issue of shortfall in salaries of university lecturers was still lingering,  but expressed hope that the ongoing strike action by ASUU members would soon be resolved.

    The minister said he expected the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to brief the meeting on steps being taken to clear the shortfall.

    Ngige said both parties would consider reports on the outstanding issues with a view to reaching an understanding on the way forward.

    The university lecturers have been on strike since November 4 following government’s failure to implement their terms of settlement and address the problems facing public universities.

    Among the issues, which the minister assured at the last meeting that he would be providing a feedback on include the payments of salary shortfalls, Revitalisation Fund and Academic Earned Allowances.

    Ogunyemi said lecturers are waiting anxiously to hear from the government over the promises it made at the last meeting. He said it was based on the response from government that the union would be able to decide on their next line of action.

  • Fed Govt opens Lagos-Ibadan road for Yuletide

    From the Federal Government came a Christmas gift to all Nigerians.

    The government today temporarily opened the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, which has been undergoing major repairs for close to two decades.

    The opening brought instant relief to residents, travellers and users of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway corridor.

    Speaking with our correspondent, the Federal Controller of Works Mr Fred Kuti said impediments on all the junctions on the expressway were being removed to pave way for free flow of traffic, especially during the Yuletide.

    Kuti debunked speculations in the social media that the road would have been opened earlier, saying no date was fixed for the opening of the road earlier than December 19.

    The controller said the reason was to give relief to travellers during the festive period.

    On phone yesterday, Kuti added: “I am on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway right now for a final check on the road before we open it up tomorrow (today). It is not as if we gave another date apart from this. I have had cause to debunk such reports. We are going to open up all areas that were blocked to pave the way for free flow of traffic during the festivities.”

    He said the roads would be closed again after the festivities for works to continue on its repairs and rehabilitation.

    According to him, it is in the interest of everybody that the road be closed so that the work would be completed on schedule.

    Kuti said the Ministry of Works resolved to remove all barriers at affected junctions to ensure free flow of traffic, thereby reducing the pains and stress of travellers, motorists and commuters.

    The controller, who thanked the motoring public for their understanding, patience and cooperation throughout the period of the closure and diversion on portions of the road, added that the opening was intended to absorb the high volume of traffic due to the Christmas and New Year festivities, with many people travelling in and out of Lagos State.

  • U.S. advises Fed Govt on economic diversification

    UNITED States (U.S.) Ambassador to Nigeria Stuart Symington has advised Nigeria to diversify its economy toward pursuing deeper growth and development.

    Symington gave the advice at the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) Annual Dinner and Inauguration of Otunba Oluwatoyin Akomolafe as NACC’s 18th President in Lagos.

    Symington, in a statement yesterday by Ebuka Ugochukwu, the Communication Manager, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce said that the Federal Government should reduce its dependence on crude oil.

    He said: “Let us make the Nigerian brand what God has made it which is the green and white. There is need to diversify the economy in order to pursue development and a better future.

    “The entire world is getting old while Africa and Nigeria is getting younger, because they are growing six times faster over the next three years, faster than even India or China. The question about this growth being a blessing or a curse, is dependent on us as a country.”

    According to him, Nigeria has the opportunity to leverage the very best of U.S-Nigeria relationship, joined together by ties of blood, education, investment and other factors to unite it.

    The envoy said: “We all have a secret opportunity to do well alone and to do good together.

    “Nigeria is a land of the free and the home of the brave. Changing the world and making it a better place is a task left for us all to do.”

    A former Chairman of Nestle Foods Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye, said that Nigeria has to unearth the golden opportunities for economic growth and development with agriculture and ICT which were viable alternatives to crude oil export.

  • Access to World Bank’s $750m loan, grant coming, says Fed Govt

    The World Bank’s $750 million loans and  grants will soon be accessed by the 36 governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, broke the news at the seventh Community of Practice (CoP), which comprise state Commissioners of Planning and Budget, in Abuja at the weekend.

    She said: “We are in the process of going to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to get the approval; the World Bank on its own has already approved this and others.”

    Mrs. Ahmed expressed optimism that states would continue with their fiscal responsibility, which would serve as a platform to access the loan and grant.

    “So, we hope that you will continue to implement your fiscal responsibility so that you will qualify for this facility as well as the grant,” she said.

    The Community of Practice meetings enhance Commissioners of Planning and Budget’s capabilities to perform their functions, and serve as platforms for facilitating peer learning and information exchange, strengthening co-ordination, collaboration and networking.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance on Media and Communications, Paul Ella Abechi, quoted the minister as saying during the meeting: “We had the benefit of hosting the World Bank and several other communities, including the Governors’ Forum”.

    She  continued: “During  this exercise, the Ministry of Finance had to, on instruction from the President, provide bailouts to the states because at one point they were not able to pay salaries.

    “Part of the conditions that was given for those bailouts is a fiscal responsibility plan, which needed to be implemented for the states to continue to be qualified to access the funds that the Federal Government was giving.

    “This FRP was quite successful because as a result of that we saw improvements in the public financial management in a lot of states, some of which are evident in the increase in their IGR and also the increase in the frequency of the preparation of financial statement in the availability of budget that used to never been found anywhere.

    “This year, it was so good that the World Bank said this group has done well and therefore, we are going to give $750million in the form of concession loans and grant which will be available soon for the states to access.

    “Those principles agreed by NEC are still as relevant today as they were in 2016. So I want to urge the CoP to ensure that the monitoring aspect of this is still continuing in one way or the other” Mrs. Ahmed told the states.

  • Fed Govt tips minining to drive GDP growth

    The Federal Government is determined to develop the mining sector to act as catalyst for sustainable Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bwari has said.

    He spoke yesterday at the ground breaking ceremony of the  Nigeria’s first gold refinery being constructed by  Kian Smith Trade & Co Limited, in Ogun State.

    “The present administration is determined to develop the mining sector to act as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth of the country,” Bwari said.

    He explained that part of our marching orders in the Mines and Steel Development Ministry was to enable them develop the sector, increase its contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), improve capacity to create jobs and engender sustainable mining.

    He explained that  it was in keeping with his ministry’s mandate that a roadmap was developed for the growth and development of the mining sector.

    Continuing, he said: “During the focus labs of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of this administration, we discovered that a well organised gold value chain can trigger an economic revolution like it did in India, South Africa, Switzerland and others,” he said further.

    Bwari noted that the ministry has continued to work in this light to develop a gold value chain for the country.

    The refinery will start with a production capacity of three tonnes per month of 99.99 per cent gold and one ton per month production of 99.99 per cent silver.

    Vice Chairman at Kian Smith, Nere Teriba said: “We will be supplying the Central Bank, the Jewelery and the Electronic Industry”.

    “We have already secured a significant monthly supply of gold from Zamfara, Kebbi, Kwara, Niger, Kaduna, Ibadan, Ile-Ife, Ilesha and about 100kg per month from other parts of Africa. We are presently finalizing supply agreements and terms from suppliers in Kano. Next week, we will be securing supply from Kogi State,” she added.

    According to Teriba, the refinery when completed will provide more than 500,000 jobs in two years as it continues to support its suppliers in their bid to become registered business entities in the mining sector.

    “There’s at presently at least 1,000,000 unregistered business participants in the Nigerian market (considering gold miners, sponsors, dealers, processors, aggregators and gold-workers). The formalization, organization and development we bring to the value chain will provide quick wins to the Nigerian economy,” Teriba said.

    Also speaking, the Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosu, who was represented by the Commissoner for Agriculture Adepeju Adebajo expressed enthusiasm about the refinery project which she said was in line with the state government’s industrialisation plan. According to her, the project is a major boost to the Nigerian mining sector. “Apart from the fact that the strengthening of our mining industry will reduce importation of refined products, it will go a long way in affirming our country’s status as a world mining power.”

    The refinery will  start production in 2019, sourcing most of its ore from local mineers. It is expected to be completed by the end of first half of 2019 and will  create more than 500,000 jobs in two years.

    It will  start with a production capacity of three tonnes per month of 99.99 per cent gold and one ton per month production of 99.99 per cent silver.

  • Fed Govt to establish regional geriatric centres

    President   Muhammadu Buhari has promised  to establish regional geriatric centres at the tertiary health institutions for clinical care in line with the declaration of plan of action on Healthy  Ageing by 2020.

    Represented by the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, President Buhari made this declaration in Abuja at the first National Summit  on  Healthy Ageing  with the theme: ”Promoting the healthcare agenda of the present administration on vulnerable populations with focus on the aged.”

    He noted that  there would be training of healthcare workforce through effective collaboration and technical  support of international organisations.

    According to him, there would be research on chronic diseases of the aged and community-based health-social support.

    “We would ensure that resources and support are provided to enable us achieve the desired results.We are aware that some states give free healthcare services to under-fives and women; we hope to extend these services to people over the age of 60 years.We must make healthcare services available to our senior citizens as part of the government  appreciation and social responsibility and a way of recognising their immense contributions to national development,” he added.

    The President, therefore, urged the Federal Ministry of Health to continue with the implementation of healthcare for the programme for the aged in addition to providing leadership in their work with states and development partners.

    Earlier , Adewole, who was represented by the Director, Hospital Services, FOMH, Dr. Joseph Amedu, pointed out that the national policy on healthy ageing was the first in sub-Saharan Africa and it would serve as a policy model for the provision of healthcare to the aged in Africa.

    Adewole pledged that the policy would be integrated into the Universal Health Coverage strategy,  to achieve and sustain healthy ageing among rural and urban geriatric population in Nigeria.

    In his welcome address, the Chairman, Nigeria Health Institutions, Dr Sam Jaja, said the aim of the summit was to discuss the truth and beauty of healthy ageing, with emphasis on geriatric medicine.

    He said: “Nigeria ranked 86th among 96 countries in the global age index 2015, which ranked countries by how well their older populations were faring. The index covers 91 per cent of the world’s population of those aged 60 and above.”

  • Yoruba leaders rally support for Buhari’s second term bid

    The Yoruba Leaders of Thought have thrown their weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s bid for second term in office.

    Meeting on Tuesday at the Osogbo residence of Senator Ayo Fasanmi, one of the few remaining associates of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, they commended Buhari, his Vice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the APC national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, for taking progressives steps to actualize gradual restructuring of the country.

    Read Also:PDP to Buhari: Stop shielding corrupt relatives

    The leaders in attendance include, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (Rtd.), former vice chairman (South West) of the All Progressives Congress. Chief Pius Akinyelure, former Secretary to Osun State Government, Engr. Sola Akinwumi, former Osun State chairman of APC, Elder Adebiyi Adelowo, Prof. Anthony Onipede, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Senator Biyi Durojaye representing Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Akin Fasae representing Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, Prof. Bayo Ademola, Otunba Akin Oluwadere, and Hon. Bayo Aina, noted that the Buhari’s administration has granted autonomy to the judiciary and legislature as well as local government administration.

    They said all steps to ensure survival of institutions of government by the current Federal Government are necessary to the attainment of restructuring goal.

    The leaders hailed the governors and people of the South West for their abiding commitment to Nigeria and efforts for restructuring.

    In a communique signed by Senator Ayo Fasanmi, among other leaders after the meeting, they advised Nigerians to stand by Buhari and return him to office in 2019 for the next generation to be empowered and enjoin the gains of the fight against corruption.

    The leaders said support for Buhari will create an opportunity for the next generation to be strengthened and to be able to chart a prosperous course for Nigeria from 2019 and beyond.

    The leaders also said the summit of the Yoruba people holding in Ibadan, Oyo State capital on January 2019 will address strategy to protect interest of the South West geo-political zone ahead of 2019 general elections.

    They said the summit would further address issues and plans to ensure victory for the All Progressives Congress which the leaders said will guarantee lives in abundance for Yoruba people and Nigerians.

  • Our achievements in Niger Delta, by Fed Govt

    The Federal Government, at the weekend, named the take-off of the Maritime University in Delta State, Ogoni Clean-up, and approval of modular refineries as some of its achievements in Niger Delta.

    The government added that the continuation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), and investments in infrastructure and others, were in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision in Niger Delta.

    The government explained that Buhari’s Niger Delta New Vision (NDNV) was designed to develop a prosperous Niger Delta through partnerships with states, the private sector and local communities.

    A statement by Mr. Arukaino Umukoro, special assistant to the President (Communication Projects/Niger Delta), Office of the Vice-President, said the projects underscored the government’s renewed zeal to correct wrongs of the past in the oil-producing region.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had approved an increase in the take-off grant for the Maritime University from the N2 billion earlier announced to N5 billion,” he said.

    The statement named some projects as training of Ogoni graduates in Environmental Sciences to develop capacity for the clean-up, and the demonstration of technologies in some oil-impacted areas in Ogoniland – Bodo, K-Dere, B-Dere, Korokoro, Kwawa, Nsisioken.

  • Subsidy claims: Fed Govt. promises to pay N236b Friday

    Oil marketers should expect N236 billion payment from the Federal Government on Friday as the first tranche of the outstanding N348 billion subsidy claims by the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA).

    News of the proposed payment emerged yesterday after a meeting between officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and representatives of the petroleum product marketers.

    The oil marketers had said earlier yesterday that contrary to reports, they were yet to reach an agreement with the Federal Government on the N800 billion subsidy arrears and declared the ultimatum to stop depot operations tomorrow remained unchanged.

    Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN Olufemi Adewole said in a statement in Lagos that offers by government failed to meet the legitimate demands of the association.

    “We did not sign the purported document with government as claimed. We still stand by our ultimatum which will expire on Monday,” Adewole said.

    But a few hours thereafter, the Chief Operating officer, Downstream of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation  (NNPC) Henry Nkem-Obih said an agreement had eventually been reached by the two parties.

    According to him, the first tranche will be paid on Friday while an arrangement will be made on the payment of the balance.

    His words: “We agreed that after the first tranche is paid, the marketers would form a committee to work on details of how the next tranche will be paid in 2019 and the last tranche in 2020.

    “Government is fully committed to pay the first tranche as promised and will be paid through promissory notes that would be issued by the Debt Management Office (DMO).”

    He said the decision to pay through promissory notes was based on the need to manage cash injection into the economy, noting that injecting cash of that magnitude into the economy might affect the country negatively.

    The NNPC downstream boss said the mode of settlement had been agreed between the Federal Government and the oil marketers since 2017, adding that the decision was not new.

    He noted that the Federal Government had decided to pay the money to the oil marketers in full and had directed that there would be no deductions from the marketers’ account to settle debts owed government.

    Continuing, he said: “Some oil marketing companies, DAPPMA and MOMAN members are indebted to Federal Government agencies like the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) but the government has directed that the debts should not be deducted from the payments. This is because if we do most of the marketers would be left without a dime.”

    Explaining the disparity between the N800 billion claimed by the oil marketers and the N348 billion approved by the National Assembly, the downstream chief executive said the debt position of all the marketers to the government was considered and agreed upon as at June 30, 2018 and presented to the National Assembly for approval, which after consideration of the debts, approved the sum of N348 billion.

    He assured Nigerians that the NNPC was ready to ensure stable supply of petroleum products during the Yuletide period and beyond, stating the corporation currently has over 2.8 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol, which would last the country for 55 days while 90,000 metric tonnes of diesel, imported by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and NNPC Retail, would arrive the country in a few days time.

    Ikem-Obih said MOMAN, DAPPMA and IPMAN had assured the Federal Government that their facilities would be available throughout the festive period, while all the NNPC depots across the country and its 618 retail outlets would also be dispensing the products.

    Chief Executive Officer of A.A. Rano Limited, Alhaji Aliyu Sa’id dissociated the company from the planned shutdown by DAPPMA and MOMAN, stating that the timing was wrong.

    He said oil marketers should not be seen as sabotaging efforts of government in ensuring stable fuel supply during the Yuletide season and beyond.

    Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of A.Y.M. Shafa  Ahmad Abdullahi, declared that at this time that the country is going through series of challenges, security and financial, any attempt to worsen the plight of Nigerians would be seen as an attempt to put the country in chaos.

    Group Managing Director of Obat Oil and Gas, Prince Akinfemiwa Akinruntun, said the company was ready to support the government by loading products on a 24 hours basis, noting that the NNPC had been supportive of oil marketers over the years.

    He noted that national interest supersedes personal interest.

    He urged Nigerians to avoid panic buying  as efforts would be geared towards ensuring stability in petroleum products supply.

  • Fed Govt, AfDB launch $258m rehabilitation programme for Northeast

    The Federal Government and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have launched a $258 million comprehensive multi-sectoral intervention aimed to bolster rehabilitation in the Northeast.

    Known as the Inclusive Basic Service Delivery Livelihood Empowerment Integrated Programme, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo launched the programme at the bank’s office yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    Heb said: “It has been gratifying to note how enthusiastically our friends and partners have rallied to our support, mobilising resources to tackle the crisis in the Northeast. We would like to express the profound appreciation of the Federal Government to the AfDB for being a partner in progress with us. When the story of the region’s recovery is told, the work of the bank will occupy a well-merited and prominent chapter.”

    The Vice President lauded the programme as a landmark intervention for the beleaguered region, which has suffered devastation from insurgency.

    State governments in the Northeast will implement the AfDB’s $258 million programme with Federal Government’s support.

    On the impact of insurgency in the region, 14 million affected people, including 2.3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), will benefit from health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation services.

    The programme is targeting 9,000 IDPs and heads of vulnerable households who will receive direct economic assistance, while 2,023 small and medium scale enterprises (79 per cent women) will receive business development support.

    About 2,900 construction artisans and mechanics in the informal sector will also get help to improve their productivity: the initiative envisages that 2,000 unskilled youths will be trained for employment.

    AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina, who was represented by the bank’s Senior Director in Nigeria, Ebrima Faal, highlighted the programme’s emphasis on inclusivity.

    He said: “It incorporates special gender considerations by ensuring that women are active participants in all stages of the project and providing training for women and youth entrepreneurs to increase their chances for employment and business opportunities.

    “The bank has remained a strong partner of the Federal and state governments in their efforts to restore livelihoods in the Northeast. For instance, throughout the period of heightened conflict in the region, the bank intervened with two critical programmes in Yobe and Taraba states. The experience gained and lessons learnt from implementing these two projects are incorporated in the design of the current intervention.”

    Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar thanked the bank for putting together what he called the first integrated and inclusive plan for rebuilding of northeast Nigeria.

    Abubakar said: “Part of the underlying factors that led to the crazy phenomenon of Boko Haram is illiteracy and lack of economic capacity. For the first time, we have now a programme that attempts to address all these issues at once.”

    The intervention seeks to reduce fragility aggravated by the Boko Haram insurgency by contributing to emergency transition, recovery and peacebuilding efforts.

    It focuses on three main components: service delivery, economic recovery and institutional strengthening.