The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • Search of Atiku’s plane routine, says Fed Govt

    Minister of State for Aviation Hadi Sirika has explained why airport officials searched Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar.

    In a statement, Sirika said: “This is a mischievous attempt to grab the headlines. Nigerians need to know that one of the resolutions of the Atiku team at their recently-concluded, opulently-held Dubai retreat was to embark on scaremongering. This is one of such.

    “For the records, all incoming passengers on international flights go through Customs, Immìgration, health and security screening.

    “Where the aircraft is using the private, charter wing, as the PDP candidate did, such arrivals are met by a team of the Immìgration, Customs and other security agencies. They go to the arriving aircraft as a team.

    “The airport authorities confirm that this is a routine process, applying to all international arrivals, including the minister, unless the passenger is the President of Nigeria. The President, the Vice President and passengers aboard planes on the Presidential air fleet use the Presidential Wing of the airport.

    “It is also important to state that even in the Presidential Wing of the airport the President of Nigeria uses, there is the presence of Immìgration and other security officials who must stamp passports on arrival.

    “By standard procedure, all aircraft on international arrivals must first of all park at the international wing of the airport. They can move to the domestic terminal only upon the completion of the arrival processes.

    “While it is true that the Task Force on Currency at the airport did the routine action of checking the former Vice President’s travel bag, he was accorded full respect as a senior citizen.

    ”These checks are mandatory, conventional, internationally applied and routine. No one is excused from them under our laws. These checks are carried out on all international arrivals and President Buhari does not get involved in them.

    ”Law-abiding citizens are encouraged to respect the laws of the country and our VIPs should not seek to be treated over and above the citizens they wish to serve.”

  • ‘Fed Govt shielded Prince Charles from Niger Delta’

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has berated the Federal Government for not including Niger Delta in Prince Charles’ itinerary.

    He spoke yesterday when he received international preacher Evangelist Daniel Kolenda at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

    Wike wondered what parameters were used in confining the Prince of Wales to Abuja and Lagos.

    He said: “The Prince of Wales came to Nigeria and they took him to Abuja and Lagos. They didn’t want him to see the suffering people of Niger Delta.

    “It is our money and resources that they used to develop Lagos and Abuja.  Yet, they did not want the Prince of Wales to see how they have neglected the area that produces the wealth of the nation.

     

     

  • Fed Govt opposes bail for suspected illegal arms importers

    ATTORNEY-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) yesterday opposed bail applications by two businessmen, Ayogu James and Ifeuwa Moses, who were arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly importing 1,570 pump action rifles illegally.

    Prosecuting counsel/director in the Federal Ministry of Justice Mr. Julius Ajakaiye said the alleged offence was grave.

    Defence counsel Mahmud Mogaji (SAN) and Wale Adesokan (SAN) urged the court to grant their clients bail on liberal terms.

    They disagreed with the prosecution’s contention that the case bordered on national security, adding that the defendants would not interfere with the witnesses or jump bail.

    But, Ajakaiye urged the court to dismiss the bail applications for the sake of national security.

    He cited appellate court decisions in which similar bail applications were dismissed of the ground of national security.

    Ajakaiye said Moses, who allegedly shipped the illegal firearms, was elusive for more than a year and was eventually arrested by security agencies.

    The defendants were accused of conspiring with Great James Oil and Gas Ltd and Emeka Umeh Festus a.k.a. Amankwa to import the rifles between November 6 and 20 2017 using a 1-by-20ft container marked GESU 2555208.

    Moses and his alleged accomplices were accused of forging a bill of lading marked ISB0281398 issued on July 28, 2017 to read Guangdong-China instead of Istanbul-Turkey with intent that it would be acted upon as genuine by Customs officers.

    Read also: Illegal arms importer, others in dss’s net

    They were also alleged to have forged a bill of lading numbered ISB0281398, issued on July 28, 2017, to read: “230 packages of wash hand basin and W/C” as the container’s content.

    The alleged offence is contrary to section 1 (2) (c) and 1 (14) (a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 of the Laws of the Federation 2004.

    Umeh, who was said to be at large when others were arraigned, was brought to court yesterday.

    Justice Saliu Saidu ordered that he be remanded in prison pending when the AGF would consolidate the charges.

    He adjourned until November 21 for ruling on the bail applications.

  • Fed Govt sets up panel to revive Gashaka Gumti Park

    The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-member committee to implement the agreement for the development and protection of wildlife in the Gashaka-Gumti National Park.

    Minister of State for Environment Ibrahim Jibril during the inauguration in Abuja disclosed that the partnership became imperative to develop the nation’s largest park.

    He said beyond boosting eco-tourism, it would generate revenue  and support rural economy of host communities.

    The National Park Service (NPS) in 2017 signed an agreement with the Africa Nature Investors (ANI) Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation, to resuscitate the park, train rangers as well as setup demonstration camp.

    “We used to have eight national parks but we know very well that they are not in the best of shape. So we need to seek external supports. When I say external, I don’t mean  outside the country but the private sector. I hope and pray that just like people rush to Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda just to watch Gorrilas and others, they will come to Nigeria to do the same,” Jibril said.

    He added that the nation should be conscious of its natural potential in terms of flora and fauna.

    Representative of ANI Philip Ihenacho  said the project would be a global demonstration of incredible natural conservation in the nation.

    He said the partnership would include enhancing development of the park and ensuring its protection.

    Ihenacho applauded Tunde Morakinyo for the initiative, stressing that Nigerians would be proud of the project.

    “The project is in two phases. First is working with the rangers, enhancing the training of park rangers, communications and really focusing on community engagements.

    “The second phase is to be able to setup some demonstration tools, eco-tourist camps to show that it is possible to travel to places and enjoy in a comfortable surroundings, in a world class accommodation. Something is present in all parts of Africa and should be present here in Nigeria.”

    Members of the committee are: Tunde Morakinyo, Olaleye Olajide, Andrew Dunn, Okeyoyin Oladeji, Kola Yakubu, Saidu Yohana, Alh. Mohammed Yidi and representatives both from the Enviroment Ministry Department of Forestry and Planning, Research and Statistics.

  • Fed Govt pays N16b TSA cost in two years

    The Federal Government has spent spent N16 billion on Treasury Single Account (TSA) transaction costs in two years, Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) Ahmed Idris has said.

    He said the government would no longer bear the service charge on all payments to its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). These costs are now to be borne by the payer.

    Mr Ahmed Idris, the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), in a statement yesterday by Director, Press, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Johnson Oise, quoted the AGF as saying:

    “It is time for Nigerians to pay for the services that they receive and government will take whatever is due to it without necessarily incurring cost.’’

    “In the old tariff regime, the Federal Government bore the charges on all transactions to the service providers on behalf of payers.’’

    Idris said a lot of sensitisation had been done to give enough room to understanding the new tariff regime and for compliance, adding that the charges were minimal and negotiable.

    “By negotiable, I mean by introduction of more players in the market, definitely the charges will come down from whatever they are now, but right now discussions are going on to make the charges as minimal as possible.

    “We are liberalising the market and it has to be a level-playing field for all operators to operate and that is what will happen.’’

    The AGF said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as the regulator which stipulates the rates of the charges, would always intervene if any service provider charged beyond the approved rate.

    TSA is a public accounting system using a single account, or a set of linked accounts by government.

    The objective is to ensure that all revenue receipts and payments are done through a Consolidated Revenue Account (CRA) at the CBN.

    The scheme which began in 2012, uses a unified structure of accounting for MDAs to ensure accountability and transparency in public fund management.

  • Fed Govt working toward Lagos roads’ completion, says controller

    Federal Controller of Works in Lagos Mr. Adedamola Kuti said at the weekend that the Federal Ministry of Works was working toward completion of road projects in Lagos.

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that progress had been achieved on Section one of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reconstruction project.

    NAN reports that Section one of the project extends from Ojota in Lagos to Sagamu Interchange in Ogun State and it is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, while Section two being constructed by RCC, extends from Sagamu Interchange to Ibadan in Oyo State.

    The controller said it was difficult to ascribe a percentage to the construction done so far because additional works were recently added to the project.

    He said work was progressing fast.

    “The most important thing is that the contractor is on ground and is working. Right now, Julius Berger is working on the 4km stretch that should be completed any moment from now and that is around Kilometre 21.

    “Work has already begun at the section very close to the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). It has also been opened to traffic.

    “For now, the 4km stretch being worked on by Julius Berger around Kilometre 20 and 21 should be completed this month and that section will be opened to traffic,”Kuti said.

    He said the Lagos-Badagry Expressway project had just been awarded by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), adding that work would soon begin from Agbara junction toward Badagry to Seme border.

    The controller said the project was awarded to Messrs CGJ Nigeria Ltd.

    “The project was just awarded last week. Hopefully before the end of this year, there should be an official launch of the project, ” he said.

    Speaking on the ongoing Lagos-Abeokuta-Ota Expressway rehabilitation project, Kuti said a meeting was ongoing with the contractor to resolve design issues that slowed down the project.

    “Some of the sections of the road were not originally designed, while design is ongoing on some of them.

    “There are certain things you may not physically see on site, but work is going on,” he said.

    Kuti said Julius Berger was concentrating efforts on the project from Ota toward Abeokuta due to ongoing Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane construction by the state government from Abule Egba to Oshodi.

    On the Apapa-Oshodi-Oworonshoki reconstruction project, he said the project had been awarded and would be launched on November 17.

  • Boko Haram kills 13 in fresh Borno attack

    Boko Haram insurgents have killed 13 people and sacked two villages overnight in the restive town of Konduga in Borno.

    Brigadier-General Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, confirmed the attack on Thursday in Maiduguri.

    Biu said, however, that troops had risen to the occasion and had repelled the invaders, who had repeatedly attacked communities in the Konduga Local Government Area over the years.

    He disclosed that he had visited the attacked communities, Bularin and Kofa, including camps in the communities, housing thousands of displaced people.

    “I was there. We recovered one dead body and saw burnt houses. Troops have been following up on the attackers,” said Biu.

    Alfred Audu, a member of a militia, known as Civilian Joint Task Force, who claimed he was on duty at the time of the attack, said the insurgents engaged troops in a bid to force their way into the communities.

    Audu said the insurgents were pushed back when fighter planes were deployed to confront the invaders.

    Read Also: Boko Haram: Army receives large cargo of arms

    Another eye-witness, who gave his name simply as Alhaji Modu, said that hundreds of the insurgents on trucks with mounted guns and motorcycles, attacked the communities at about 7:45 p.m.

    Modu said the insurgents launched rocket attacks and forced their way into the IDP camps and also attacked homes with ferocious fire.

    He said that nine people were killed at Bularin IDP Camp and three others in the Kofa IDP Camp.

    “An Islamic cleric together with his wife and three children were burnt to death when the insurgents sacked their home at Bularin IDP Camp.

    “They burnt down the village market, shops, houses, animals and vehicles. Many people died in the attack while others are still missing.

    “Bularin village was razed and several tents in the camp destroyed. Many people were displaced in the attack,” Modu said.

    Boko Haram, which also operates in Cameroon, Chad and Niger has persistently attacked communities in northern Nigeria, especially the country’s vast northeast.

    The Federal Government has however, said that the insurgents have been decimated, although the group has been packing deadly punches over the years.

    Boko Haram launched its deadly campaign in 2009, vowing to enthrone a strict Islamic code in Africa’s most populous nation.

  • Suspended NHIS Boss drags Ministers, NHIS to court

    Professor Usman Yusuf, the embattled Executive Secretary, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has dragged two ministers and NHIS to a Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging his suspension from office.

    In the suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1220/2018, Yusuf instituted legal action against the Honourable Minister of Health, and Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice as well as the NHIS.

    The six-page summons was filed by Chief Uchechukwu Obi (SAN) of Alliance Law Firm, Abuja, on behalf of the plaintiff.

    According to the document made available to the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, the respondents are expected to cause appearance within 21 days after the service of the summons on them, inclusive of the day of service.

    The summons read in part thus: “The plaintiff prayed whether the Governing Council of the NHIS has the powers under the provision of the NHIS Act, particularly Sections 6 and 7 of the Act, to suspend or remove from office the plaintiff who was appointed by the President.

    “Whether the Governing Council of NHIS has the powers under the provision of NHIS Act to discipline the plaintiff or to investigate allegations made against him as purported by their internal memorandum dated Oct.19, 2018.

    “Whether the Hon. Minister of Health under the NHIS Act Section 47 of the Act is equipped with the statutory powers to authorise the suspension from office of the ES of NHIS without the approval of the President.

    “Whether the decision of the Governing Council to suspend the ES of the NHIS taken by 4 out of 11 members of the Council can be said to be a decision of the council in accordance with the NHIS Act.

    Read Also: Buhari orders NHIS boss to proceed on administrative leave

    “Whether the Governing Council can appoint the General Manager, Legal Department, or any other employee of the scheme to oversee the affairs of the scheme in acting capacity without the approval of the President,’’ among others.

    Yusuf therefore prayed the court to determine all the aforementioned questions in his favour and consequently sought for the following reliefs:

    “A declaration that the Governing Council of NHIS lacks powers under the provisions of the NHIS Act to suspend or remove the plaintiff who was appointed by the President for a five year term.

    “A declaration that the members of the council lacks the powers under the provision of the NHIS Act to discipline, or set up the machinery to discipline the plaintiff or investigate allegations made against him as purported by the internal memorandum dated October 19.

    “A declaration that the internal memorandum dated October 19 which was purportedly issued by the council and signed on their behalf by its Chairman in which it purported to have suspended the plaintiff as the ES of NHIS is ultra Vires, null and void and of no effect.

    “An order of court setting aside and cancelling the purported suspension of the plaintiff from office as the ES of NHIS.

    “An order of court reinstating the plaintiff as the ES of the NHIS.

    “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their members, servants, employees, agents, officers or any person from disturbing, obstructing the plaintiff from carrying on his official duties as the ES of the NHIS,’’ among others.

    A copy of the summons was stamped received by the NHIS head office in Abuja on Oct. 30.

    The case is yet to be assigned for date for mention to be fixed.

    News Agency Of Nigeria recalls that Yusuf was first suspended by the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, on July 6, 2017, over alleged maladministration, but was recalled by the Presidency on Feb. 6, 2018.

    Again, the Governing Council of NHIS led by Mrs Ifenne Enyanatu, later slammed an indefinite suspension on Yusuf on Oct. 18 over similar allegations of fraud.

    The latest action prompted the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, to advise members of boards and governing councils at a retreat that they do not have powers to suspend or meet disciplinary actions on chief executives without recourse to due diligence.

    On Tuesday (Oct. 31), the Presidency asked Yusuf to proceed on administrative leave to allow unfettered investigations of the allegations leveled against him.

    It appointed Mr Ben Omogo, Director, Administration Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of Federation to oversee the affairs of the scheme.

    The government also instituted a 7-man panel led by Dr Hassan Bukar, and Mrs Jummai Idako from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as Secretary, to probe and report their findings within two weeks for appropriate action.

  • Fed Govt moves to settle oil marketers

    The Federal Government has commenced the process of paying oil marketers the arrears it owes the marketers.

    A statement from the Debt Management Office (DMO) last night stated that it has “commenced the accelerated implementation of the Programme in line with the process approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    The approved process the DMO revealed will be through the issuance of promissory notes to the oil marketers.

    The DMO also indicated that it would meet with the oil marketers in November 2018.

    The obligations due to the oil marketers represent interest accruals and foreign exchange differentials.

    The DMO explained that “the government of President Buhari, as one of its strategies to address inherited arrears to various contractors, approved the issuance of Promissory Notes to various categories of creditors.”

    “After the approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the President presented a request to the National Assembly, as required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007. The categories of creditors for whom the settlement of arrears was approved by FEC include pensioners and staff, contractors, construction companies, exporters, DisCos, GenCos, State Governments, Judgement Debts, as well as the petroleum marketers.”

    To ensure Transparency and Value for Money to the Federal Government in the settlement of these arrears, the FEC had specified the processes to be adopted in the issuance of the Promissory Notes, one of which is the validation of the claims by an International Accounting Firm operating in Nigeria.

    The benefits of this initiative by the Buhari Administration include “the return by contractors to project sites, thereby improving infrastructure and creating jobs. Another benefit is that there would be an improvement in the ability of banks to lend to the real sector, since some of the creditors to be settled are indebted to banks and the issuance of the Promissory Notes will enable them to repay their debts to the banks.”

    To arrive at the decision to expedite the settlement of oil marketers arrears, the DMO in its statement said “the Senate Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector called a meeting of stakeholders on Wednesday, October 31, 2018 to discuss the issue of the outstanding payments to oil marketers. At the meeting were the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Debt Management Office (DMO), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and representatives of oil marketers.”

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Kabiru Marafa, was said to have he called the meeting to ascertain the status of the implementation of the approvals given by the National Assembly for the settlement of arrears to oil marketers.

    The Committee also requested the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) “to confirm the position on a statement by oil marketers that there was an agreement to stop the accrual of interest on loans owed by the oil marketers to banks.”

    The Senate Committee had earlier approved an amount to be paid to the oil marketers in July 2018, but the complete approval of the National Assembly, required by law for the issuance of Government Debt Securities, was only received when a resolution conveying the approval of the House of Representatives was issued on September 26, 2018.

    “On the strength of the provisions of the law, therefore, implementation could not have commenced prior to September 26, 2018” the DMO said.

  • Why we’re reluctant to sign African free trade pact, by Fed Govt

    THE Federal Government said yesterday said that the interest of the nation and its comparative trading advantage will guide its final decision on the African Free Trade Area agreement.

    Nigeria is one of the few countries yet to show commitment or sign the agreement despite participating in 10 rounds of negotiations.

    Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters (Office of the Vice President) Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu stated this yesterday in Ibadan at the 60th anniversary lecture of the Department of Economics, University of Ibadan.

    According to him, Nigeria’s reluctance in signing the African Free Trade Agreement was based on its commitment to ensure that only what would benefit its economic interest and boost its comparative trade advantage is implemented as policy.

    Dipeolu, who said Nigeria presented the best of team from its Office of Trade Negotiation, said Nigeria would not rush into signing something that might eventually make it a dumping ground.

    “The reluctance to join the African Free Trade Zone Area agreement is because Nigeria sees it as a no-brainer to our comparative trading advantage and the benefits of free trade, which are quite evident to the country.”

    Coordinator, African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Dr. David Duke said it was important for African countries to open up their economy and encourage intra-regional trade to boost their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment.

    According to Duke, who spoke on the “Economic rationale of the African Continental Free Trade Area”, noted that Nigeria would benefit from the intra-African trade as it would become a game changer in stimulating growth and boosting industrialisation.