The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • Fed Govt mulls two additional satellites

    The Federal Government is set to establish two additional satellites to support the Nigeria Communication Satellite  System (NigComSat) to complement the existing NigComSat- 2.

    Minister for Communication, Barr. Adebayo Shittu, who spoke yesterday at the sixth regular meeting of the National Council on Communication Technology (NCCT),  in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said this is to further  boost the telecoms industry.

    He restated  Federal Government’s commitment to using Information, Communication Technology (ICT) as a tool to diversify the nation’s  economy.

    According to him, the economic recovery and massive employment generation for the teeming youths could be achieved faster using ICT.

    Speaking on: Leveraging ICT as a Vehicle for Economic Recovery and Growth,  Shittu said the country’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has increased from $32 billion in 2015 to $40 billion.

    He also said the telecoms industry has improved with active telecom subscribers increasing from 148,70million in 2015 to 162,05 million as at September, 2018.

    stressed the need for leveraging on technology and embracing its importance to solve human and national challenges.

     

  • Fed Govt blames insufficient fund for housing deficit

    •Fashola to address situation

    MINISTER of State for Power Works and Housing, Hassan Zarma, has restated  Federal Government’s commitment  to address housing deficit.

    He spoke this at the inauguration of three blocks of 12 units of two-bedroom flats in Abuja.

    The Minister attributed insufficient fund as being grossly responsible for the government’s inability to single-handedly provide affordable housing.

    The property was built by the ministry’s Staff Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society (SMCS), where 12 members of the group benefited from the project.

    Zarma, who applauded the group’s commitment to addressing welfare of its members, described the gesture as an indication of true representation of the peoples’ interest.

    “While the government is concerned about providing shelter for the teaming population, the gross insufficient funds due to dwindling revenue, pose a form of serious challenge to the government to single-handedly provide houses for all Nigerians,” he said.

    He, however, stressed that the problem was not peculiar to the country,  hence the need for Public Private Partnerships to address it.

    Chairman of the co-operative group, Ejiofor Frank, said the project was built on 2,400 metre square of land and cost about N86.5 million.

    He described the project as second of its kind with plans to build similar houses in other parts of the territory.

    Frank appealed to the government for more land allocation and provision of access road to the estate.

    A beneficiary, Mrs. Abimbola Taiwo, on behalf of others beneficiaries, applauded the ministry, especially the co-operative group, for sincerity of purpose in delivering the project.

    She urged other members to remain committed to the scheme in order to become house owners.

  • Fed Govt, UNIDO sign $60m new programmes

    The Federal Government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) have signed a $60million new country progrmme for sustainable industrial development in the country.

    It is going to run between 2018 and 2022.

    The programme is to guide UNIDO’s programme/projects interventions in the during the period, build on the cumulative achievements of past programmes implemented by Nigeria/UNIDO, and strengthen synergies by collaborating with other development partners, state and non-state actors, including the private sector.

    The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Okechukwu Enalema signed on behalf of the country while UNIDO Director-General, Mr. Li Yong signed for the organisation. The programme is second in the series of UNIDO’s support to the country and aligns with the priorities of the government as outlined in the Nigeria’s Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP).

  • Fed Govt blames insufficient fund for affordable housing

    MINISTER of State for Power Works and Housing, Hassan Zarma, has restated  Federal Government’s commitment  to address housing deficits in the country.

    He spoke this at the inauguration of three blocks of 12 units of two-bedroom flats in Abuja.

    The Minister attributed insufficient fund as being grossly responsible for the government’s inability to single-handedly provide affordable housing.

    The property was built by the ministry’s Staff Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society (SMCS), where 12 members of the group benefited from the project.

    Zarma, who applauded the group’s commitment to addressing welfare of its members, described the gesture as an indication of true representation of the peoples’ interest.

    “While the government is concerned about providing shelter for the teaming population, the gross insufficient funds due to dwindling revenue, pose a form of serious challenge to the government to single-handedly provide houses for all Nigerians,” he said.

    He, however, stressed that the problem was not peculiar to the country,  hence the need for Public Private Partnerships to address it.

    Chairman of the co-operative group, Ejiofor Frank, said the project was built on 2,400 metre square of land and cost about N86.5 million.

    He described the project as second of its kind with plans to build similar houses in other parts of the territory.

    Frank appealed to the government for more land allocation and provision of access road to the estate.

    A beneficiary, Mrs. Abimbola Taiwo, on behalf of others beneficiaries, applauded the ministry, especially the co-operative group, for sincerity of purpose in delivering the project.

    She urged other members to remain committed to the scheme in order to become house owners

  • Fed Govt rushes to settle oil marketers

    The Debt Management Office (DMO) is accelerating the implementation of the Promissory Note Programme and Bond Issuance to settle inherited local debts and contractual obligations due to various categories of creditors, including oil marketers.

    The measure is intended  to stave off any intended
    confrontation with oil
    marketers and other creditors, a statement from the DMO has said. It added that the Programme will be implemented in accordance with the process approved by Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    According to the statement, “the claims by oil marketers are for accrued interest and foreign exchange differentials,” pointing out that whilst some of the issues involved in the implementation of the Programme have been explained to representatives of the oil marketers, the DMO nevertheless, has invited the oil marketers to a meeting this week to explain the process to them and provide a status report.

    FEC approved the establishment of the Promissory Note Programme and Bond Issuance to settle inherited local debts and contractual obligations due to various categories of creditors, including oil marketers in July 2017.

    These represent unpaid obligations carried over from previous administrations.

    The DMO said “the amounts presented to FEC and subsequently to the National Assembly, were derived by simply collating figures from various MDAs in order to kick-start the process.”

    However, given that these were largely unverified amounts, the DMO explained that “it became prudent on the part of Government to include processes that would be adopted in the implementation of the Programme that would ensure transparency and Value for Money before the Promissory Notes are issued.”

    One of such processes is the validation of the amounts against each creditor by an International Accounting Firm operating in Nigeria.

    “Based on the approval by FEC, the DMO initiated steps towards the implementation of the Programme, one of which is the appointment of advisers using the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007” the release said.

     

    However, since the Programme involves the issuance of Sovereign debt instruments, which require the approval of NASS, as provided in the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, there was a limit to what the DMO could do without a NASS approval. The required NASS approval was only received on September 26, 2018 through a letter from the Clerk of the National Assembly.

  • Fed Govt. makes States insurance agents in new guideline

    The Federal Government through the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) yesterday released a guideline to empower States as insurance agents to facilitate the enforcement of compulsory insurances and provide jobs.

    Compulsory insurance includes Third Party Motor Insurance, Builders Liability, Occupiers, Health Care Professional Indemnity, Statutory Group Life Insurance and Workmen’s Compensation.

    The guideline made available to journalist by the Commission’s Assistant Director, Rasaaq Salami is titled State Insurance Producer (SIP) and would take effect frSalami said the newly released guideline is part of the Commission’s initiative to enforce compulsory insurances in States and deepen insurance penetration.

    Besides, he said the new development is also expected to boost premium income generation and the sector’s contribution to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    Further breakdown of the guideline revealed that a SIP shall be government agency so licensed by the Commission to provide intermediary services as defined by the guideline and remunerated in accordance with the provisions contained therein.

    The States are to employ insurance officers that have a diploma certificate of Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria or its equivalent to act as SIP on their behalf.

    Similarly, a signed undertaking shall be signed by an officer of the State Government not below the rank of a Permanent Secretary that the state undertakes and agree that the sum N2 million shall be deducted from accrued commission to be earned by the licensed SIP before payment of commission is made to the coffers of the Government.

    Under the terms of agency, the SIP shall maintain a separate insurance unit or department for proper monitoring of the activities of the agency with the insurance officer reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the licensed agency.

     

  • Fed Govt ‘committed to ILO standards’

    The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, says the Federal Government is committed to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards on labour practice, social protection and equal opportunity for all.

    Ocheni gave this assurance when he received the ILO officials led by Ms Sukti Dasgupta, Chief of the Employment and Labour Branch of ILO, in Abuja. According to him, the Federal Government of Nigeria is irrevocably committed to ILO’s ethics in all its ramifications, especially on social protection and equal opportunity for women, men, physically challenged persons and other groups in the country.

    Ocheni said  the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved the National Policy on Employment.

    The minister said the government had also expressed its readiness to implement the policy in addition to hosting of the Global Youth Employment Forum.

    “On the issue of the National Policy on Employment, the Federal Executive Council approved the policy document in 2017 and the National Council for the implementation of this document was recently inaugurated by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige,” he said.

    The minister of state expressed with delight the government’s willingness to host the Global Youth Employment Forum by 2019, which would coincide with the ILO’s centenary.

    He said adequate security will be provided and also assured the delegates of necessary support for successful hosting of the youth forum.

    Earlier in her remarks, the leader of the delegation, Sukti Dasgupta said Africa needed empowerment and more interventions in the areas of Youth Employment; hence, ILO focuses on Nigeria to host the Global Youth Employment Forum.

    She also felicitated with Nigerians on the recent agreement reached with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on the new National Minimum Wage.

    The ILO chief further commended the National Employment Policy, which she described as well drafted. She enjoined the Federal Government to ensure its implementation.

  • Fed Govt, Southeast have abandoned us, say Igbo Muslims

    Igbo Muslims under the aegis of South Eastern Muslims Organisation of Nigeria (SEMON) have accused the Federal Government and Southeast states of marginalisation.

    They said they had been excluded from the political scheme in Nigeria and had benefitted nothing from the Federal Government since 1914.

    ‘According to them, it was a calculated plan “to make them irrelevant as second-class citizens in Nigeria.”

    They made the claims in a communiqué issued at the end of a Conference of Igbo Muslims held on Sunday.

    “The governments of states of southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria do not even recognize the existence of Muslims of Igbo extraction, thus no single plan for them, politically and socio-economically,” the communiqué read.

    The group lamented the “non-participation of Ndigbo Muslims in Nigerian politics,” blaming it on an “unfavourable political climate in their hometowns and lack of support from their politically influential brethren outside Igboland.”

    It urged Igbo Muslims to join politics and aspire and contest for every possible position during the general elections, “including the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governorship, National and State Assembly positions, as well as Local Government and Councillorship

    “A situation where no appointment is allocated to Igbo Muslims by the federal and state governments after every general election is unacceptable and condemnable.”

    The group thanked President Muhammadu Buhari “for his efforts in developing Nigeria”, but urged him “to remain focused in the fight against corruption and to be detribalised in his appointments even while putting merit above other considerations.”

    The communiqué added: “We pray for him and we promise to always support good leadership for Nigeria.

    “On the same note, we call on the Southeast governors and local government chairmen to protect us and our worship places and to carry us along in the socio-political and economic arrangements for citizens without discrimination against us.

    “We pray for the peace and unity of Nigeria and plead with politicians to play by the rules as the 2019 general elections approach. And despite the unfavourable political climate for us in our hometowns and states, we wish Igbo Muslim politicians the best in future general elections.”

     

  • Fed Govt releases N206b for Second Niger Bridge project

    THE Federal Government has awarded N206 billion contract for the main work on the Second Niger Bridge, Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola said yesterday.

    Fashola, who spoke in Abuja during an interactive session with reporters, noted that the contract was awarded to Julius Berger Construction Company.

    He said the project, expected to be completed in 36 months, would be funded under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF).

    According to him, funding the project under PIDF means that work would no longer stop on account of lack of funding.

    He added that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road projects would also be funded under the PIDF.

    Fashola said the contract for the main work on the Second Niger Bridge was awarded after the completion of the four phases of the project.

    According to him, the early works were preliminary projects to be completed before the main work, adding that all the early works were done in the river and not visible from the existing bridge.

    With the award of the main work, the minister said there will be a lot of piling works in the water and that is what people will see.

     

  • Fed Govt advises NEMSA on meters, transformers

    The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing yesterday directed the Nigeria Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA) to encourage the electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to provide innovative meters to their customers.

    It urged the DisCos to go beyond the former ways of providing meters, stressing that there must meters that meet the present day technical reality.

    The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Louis Edozein, who represented the Minister, Babatunde Fashola at the second NEMSA stakeholders forum in Abuja, said power generation and transmission had improved significantly but the distribution chain of the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry was yet to meet up with the available capacities.

    He urged the DisCos to accelerate the roll out of meters to their customers, who were already agitating against crazy estimated billings owing to lack of meters.

    According to him, the ministry and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission  (NERC) promulgated the Meter Assets Provider (MAP) regulation to tackle the challenges of metering.

    The last census that the commission conducted, according to him, showed that there were over 12million consumers in the industry, and most of them had no meters.

    He said: “There are two shortcomings that we have observed. The first one is meters, I am sure we all know that customers all over the country are agitating because when they get bills and it is not measured. This is why the ministry has been questioning the DisCos. Please accelerate your meter roll out.

    “That is why the ministry worked with the regulator to promulgate the MAP Regulation in order to meter the consumers in the market.”

    According to him, there were new technology of quickly rolling out meters.

    Fashola said: “NEMSA, this is where you have to be more creative and innovative. There are new technologies emerging for roll out of 33Kv infrastructure, and 11Kv infrastructure cheaper. There are new storage technologies; the utilisation of capacitors. I want to challenge NEMSA, encourage the operators… to innovate, create, that is the way you will grow this industry and satisfy our customers better.”

    Earlier, the NEMSA Managing Director, Engr. Peter Ewesor, said what contributed to poor power supply and electric accidents in the country included the poor state of distribution network.