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Tag: Fed Govt

  • Fed Govt to rice millers: we’ll reduce interest rates

    The Federal Government has assured rice millers of plans to ensure reduction in interest rates paid on loans.

    Kebbi State Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who is the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Rice, gave the assurance at the weekend in Lagos at a stakeholders’ meeting with Rice Distributors Association of Nigeria and Rice Millers.

    He said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration would ensure rice availability and affordability.

    Bagudu said: “On the reduction of interest rates on loans requested by the millers, I think it is right. It will be done.”

    He said based on the contributions of stakeholders, it was apparent that what Nigerians wanted was not making subsidy available on rice production, but making it affordable and accessible such that they could produce rice that would compete with imported ones.

    “The mandate given to this task force, which is under the leadership of President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is to ensure the country has self-sufficiency in rice and wheat production.

    “But so far, stakeholders within the value chain, either as farmers, distributors or millers are not talking about subsidy. What they are saying is that help us tell President Buhari that we will like to have rice at a competitive price with the so-called imported rice. This has to do with affordability. I can tell you that the President is committed to this,” the governor said.

    He said the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) had responsibilities to discharge, adding that the government would intensify efforts in that regard.

    National President of Rice Distributors Association of Nigeria Deaconess Olufunmulayo Akinsanya implored the Federal Government to assist millers in producing at a cost that could be afforded by the less-privileged.

    Iyaloja-General Chief Folashade Tinubu Ojo said there is hunger in the land, urging governments to ensure efforts are intensified to make Nigerians feed well.

  • VAIDS: Fed Govt warns against fake tax officials

    VAIDS: Fed Govt warns against fake tax officials

    The Federal Government has raised the alarm over the activities of fake tax officials, who want to swindle unsuspecting public over the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).

    Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun yesterday advised tax payers to demand for written notice when they receive phone calls from tax officials.

    She gave this advice in response to the activities of some fake tax officials alleging to be officials of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).

    A statement issued yesterday  by Special Adviser, Media and Communications to the minister Oluyinka Akintunde said: “My attention has been drawn to reports of some unidentified tax officials requesting for bank details and address of tax payers.

    “If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from the Tax Office, do not panic. Ask them to send you a written notice. Do not provide any details like your address or bank details,” she urged.

    The statement added that Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai and Mrs. Adeosun honoured a consistent tax-payer, Elder Lema Jibrin.

    It said: “Jibrin was honoured during the VAIDS sensitisation programme in Kaduna last Thursday.

    The governor noted that Jibrin had consistently paid tax to the government for 40 years.

     

  • Fashola: Fed Govt will repair its roads in Ekiti

    Fashola: Fed Govt will repair its roads in Ekiti

    The Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has said the Federal Government will soon begin the repairs of its roads in Ekiti State.

    Fashola spoke at the weekend during a fact-finding visit to some roads President Muhammadu Buhari approved recently for repairs in the state.

    He said it was the resolve of the Buhari administration that all federal roads must be made motorable to Nigerians.

    Represented by the Southwest Zonal Director in the ministry, Mr. Emmanuel Adeoye, the minister said priority would be given to the Federal road linking Ifaki Ekiti and Ikole Ekiti road network.

    Fashola said most of the roads currently witnessing major repairs had long been awarded but their repairs stalled due to non-receipt of further mobilisation by contractors.

    The minister said the government’s concern for those using the roads made it to consider the return of contractors to sites, after paying them the due mobilisation.

    He urged motorists to use the roads well, adding that the residents should avoid illegal activities, such as cutting the roads or setting bonfire on them to guarantee their durability.

    Also, the representative of Kopek Construction Company, the contractor handling the Iwaraja-Erinmo-Efon federal road axis rehabilitation project, Mr. Pascal Harfouch said the contract was originally awarded to his company since 2011 at a total cost of N3.5b.

    He said the job which covers a distance of 21.8 kilometre was stalled as a result of unpaid certificates amounting to over N1 billion.

    However, he said the company had to return to site to complete the job, having received mobilisation from the Buhari-led government.

    This was coming just as he called for an upward review of the contract sum which he said was no longer in tune with the economic realities of the present day Nigeria.

    Welcoming the team, the Vice Chairman of Ado-Ekiti branch of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Olumide Ogundipe and the state’s head of the ministry, Mr. Ezekiel Kehinde, said they would continue to monitor the progress of work on the project which they said had reached over 86 percent completion stage.

  • New minimum wage ’ll address poverty gap, says Fed Govt

    New minimum wage ’ll address poverty gap, says Fed Govt

    THE Federal Government has assured workers that it was working towards ensuring a new national minimum wage that will address issue of social imbalance, inequality and the wide gap of poverty.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha gave the assurance at an award dinner to end the 40th anniversary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja.

    The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, late Pa Micheal Imoudu, late Olaitan Oyelunde, late Chima Ubani, late Prof. Festus Iyayi as well as the congress’ past presidents and general secretaries and a host of others were honoured and inducted into Labour Hall of Fame for their contributions to the labour movement.

    Mustapha said the welfare of workers was top on the priority list of the Buhari administration, adding that because of the importance the government attached to the issue, it was making a lot of efforts to resuscitate the economy.

    He said: “The importance of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the affairs of any government cannot be overlooked. It is the soul of the government because without the workers, be they civil servants, private sector workers or even pensioners, there will be nobody to man the system.

    “That is why this administration takes the welfare of the Nigerian worker as priority by putting so much effort into the resuscitation of the economy. I must underscore the fact that the primary objective of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan is to diversity the economy, grow skills, create wealth, gain infrastructure, ensure food security and provide jobs.”

    Mustapha added: “The Federal Government is conscious of the need to bring wages to meet economic realities. It is in this regard that the tripartite minimum wage committee was inaugurated to review the national minimum wage. The committee is determined to complete its assignment before the end of this year and I am confident that the outcome of their assignment would address the issue of social imbalance, inequality and the wide gap of poverty in the country.”

    He congratulated the NLC leadership for deeming it proper to reward past services through recognitions.

    “I congratulate the awardees and say that your recognition tonight is a challenge to all of us to continue to contribute our best to the service of our nation,” the SGF said.

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba said the dinner was organised to honour those who have contributed to the growth of the Labour movement in the country, some of who paid the supreme price and others who spent several months in detention during the military era to strengthen the labour movement.

    He said with the high level of discussion during the anniversary, it was evident that the future would be bright for workers.

    He called for cooperation of Nigerians in the struggle to make the country a better place.

    Wabba said: “As enumerated during the three-day brainstorming event, and from the volume of discourse, it is very clear that the future will be bright because we have assembled the best from among our rank and file…

    “I am certain and all of us are convinced that from the issues that were discoursed, we have reasons to look into the future and build NLC of our dreams.”

  • Adeosun on VAIDS: Fed Govt’ll name, shame, prosecute tax evaders after March 31

    Adeosun on VAIDS: Fed Govt’ll name, shame, prosecute tax evaders after March 31

    The Federal Government will name and shame tax defaulters after the expiration of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), Finance Minister Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has assured.

    She said the government will go a step further to prosecute whoever failed to take advantage of the tax amnesty programme – the VAIDS –  to regularise his/her tax profile.

    The minister was quoted to have assured foreign countries that any information volunteered to “the Federal Government would strictly adhere to the confidentiality of the Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information in Tax Matters, in line with the guidelines of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).”

    In a statement, Mrs. Adeosun’s media aide,  Oluyinka Akintunde, said the minister made disclosure at a symposium orgarnised yesterday in Kaduna for VAIDS stakeholders.

    Adeosun stated that the government has the political will to prosecute tax evaders after the expiration of the tax amnesty programme by March 31.

    She said: “We will close VAIDS at the expiration of the programme on March 31, 2018. And once the programme is closed, we will name and shame and also prosecute tax evaders.

    “The Federal Government has the political will and data to go after tax evaders who fail to take advantage of the tax amnesty programme.

    “Many Nigerians cannot explain their lifestyles or match their lifestyles, assets and income with their tax payment.

    “We will close VAIDS at the expiration of the programme on March 31, 2018. And once the programme is closed, we will name and shame and also prosecute tax evaders, since they refused to take advantage of the opportunity.”

    On data sharing with foreign countries, the minister noted that the information sourced would be strictly used for tax purposes.

    “The guideline requires that the automatic exchange of financial account information must be specifically designed with residence jurisdictions’ tax compliance in mind rather than be a by-product of domestic reporting for it to be effective”, she said.

    She added that the automatic exchange of information had become necessary to combat tax evasion and protect the integrity of tax systems.

    The VAIDS, according to her, has been strengthened by the data on financial accounts, property and trusts shared by other countries.

    The urged offshore asset owners to utilise the VAIDS window to regularise their taxes before the end of the amnesty programme.

    Her words: “The offshore tax shelter system is basically over. Those who have hidden money overseas are being exposed and whilst Nigerians can legally keep their money anywhere in the world, they must first pay any taxes due to the Nigerian Government so that we can fund the needs of the masses and create jobs and wealth for our people.”

    In his remark, Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai said he had declared his assets last year, he lauded the collaboration between the federal and state governments on tax.

    He pledged to provide land ownership data to tax authorities at the federal and state levels, as part of measures to bring more income earners and asset owners into the tax net.

    The governor assured that the revenue from taxes would be judiciously used in improving the lives of residents of the state through investment in infrastructure, primary healthcare and education.

    The FIRS Executive Chairman, Babatunde Fowler reinforced the need for Nigerians to join hands with the federal and state governments to improve the standard of living through compliance with tax payment.

    Dignitaries at the event include, Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Idris Ahmed, captains of industries and business owners.

  • Fed Govt seeks UNESCO’S help to train information managers

    Fed Govt seeks UNESCO’S help to train information managers

    The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has been urged to assist Nigeria in building the capacity of public information managers, in view of the changing dynamics of the information landscape due to the advent of the social media.

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed made the appeal in Abuja on Tuesday when he received a delegation from UNESCO in his office.

    “The information era of the 60s, 70s and 80s are not exactly the information era of today. In the 70s and 80s even up to the 90s, we depended largely on the print, radio and television to mould opinions and views. But today, with the social media, I think it’s a completely new ball game and this is where UNESCO will also need to adapt, especially in the area of support they give to us.

    “Today, our young ones – I think it’s correct to say that about 80 per cent of them, don’t rely on the traditional media: newspapers or even radio or television, as their source of information. Today, they rely more on the social media. Even the traditional media today also have realised that unless they are also present in the social media, their impact will probably not be felt.

    “So I want to appeal to UNESCO…to look at how you can assist us in capacity building in the area of social media,” he said.

    Mohammed said such assistance becomes imperative because the social media has now become a platform for the dissemination of fake news and disinformation, which is a nightmare for public information managers.

    He, therefore, appealed to UNESCO to focus more on building capacity on how to manage information emanating from the social media.

    In the area of culture, the minister said Nigeria has now become a powerhouse in the creative industry through the proliferation of its films, music and other forms of entertainment.

    Leader of the delegation and Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Africa Mr. Edouard Matoko said the organisation was ready to support the development and implementation of the Creative and Culture Industry Action Plan for Nigeria to build the capacity of the youth, especially in the film and entertainment sector.

  • Fed Govt to expose tax evaders

    Chairman of the Federal In-land Revenue Service (FIRS), Tunde Fowler, has urged members of the Institute of Directors (IoD) to take advantage of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) as tax evasion will no longer be allowed.

    Fowler gave the advice in Lagos while making a presentation on the tax amnesty scheme to IoD members.

    In the presentation titled: “Achieving Voluntary Tax Compliance: The VAIDS Option”, the FIRS chief explained that the key motivation for introducing the scheme is that the country’s tax remittance rate remains low despite having some of Africa’s most profitable and well capitalised companies.

    “Nigeria’s low tax revenues are inconsistent with the lifestyles and spending habits of a large number of citizens. Many are engaged in transfer of assets overseas, use of offshore companies in tax havens and registration of assets in nominee names,” he said.

    He noted that tax evasion constitutes a significant challenge to the government and listed a number of ways through which taxes are evaded.  Among these, he said, are manipulation of accounting records, use of complex structures for transactions, non-registration for Value Added Tax (VAT), non-payment of Capital Gains Tax ( CGT) on asset disposal and escaping detection of income due to lack of machinery for tracing such.

    The FIRS boss, however, warned that under VAIDS, tax evaders will not escape. He explained that the Federal Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with relevant tax authorities, is building a revenue assurance platform through extensive  gathering of data from sources that include Bank Verification Number (BVN), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Corporate Affairs Commission  (CAC), land allocation and land ownership records, foreign exchange allocation returns and bureaux de change records.

     

  • Fed Govt: new minimum wage ready by Sept

    Fed Govt: new minimum wage ready by Sept

    Fed Govt: new minimum wage ready by Sept 

    A new national minimum wage for workers will to be announced by the Federal Government before the end of September, Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige has said.

    The minister spoke just as the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ayuba Wabba warned against attempt by individuals and group to frustrate the ongoing negotiation for a new national minimum wage.

    Such action, Wabba said, would not augur well for industrial harmony.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the NLC’s 40th anniversary celebration in Abuja, Ngige said while the new national minimum wage negotiation may be concluded before the third quarter, the committee put in place by the President has set a timeline of the third quarter to conclude its work and make available to Nigerians a new minimum wage.

    The minister’s announcement was greeted by a loud chant of “no, no no” from the workers, who felt that the new minimum wage was taking too long to be achieved.

    Ngige said in line with the ILO Conventions 144 on tripartite consultation, the government would put in place the Nigeria Labour Advisory Council before the end of the second quarters.

    Hailing the NLC for its successes over the years, the minister expressed concern over the seeming crisis within the labour family occasioned by the outcome of the last congress elections.

    He asked the union’s veterans to reawaken the peace process they put in place earlier to unite the labour movement.

    Ngige, however, frowned at what he described as misnomer, the practice within the trade union movement to dictate to employers how to manage their business or who to appoint into positions, adding that union leaders have no right to do so.

    The minister stressed that irrespective of the NLC’s trials, which included dissolution during the military era in Nigeria and the appointment of a sole administrator at one time to manage its affairs, the congress has recorded tremendous successes in championing the cause of its members to achieve decent workplace and to attain the social protection floor in the nation’s socio-economic institutions.

    He said: “Over the years, the NLC has shown its commitment to advance the welfare and protection of workers in line with principles put in place by the founders of ILO. It is particularly interesting to observe the quests by the NLC to ensure the whole essence of the freedom of association, the protection of the right to organise and to bargain collectively is practically realised.

    “I must use this opportunity to implore the NLC to be mindful of trade disputes of interest.”

    Ngige urged the NLC to “always bear in mind that social dialogue remains the critical tool in pursuing disputes of interest in order to fully realise the intent of declaring the dispute in the first instance”.

    “Also, over the years, it is equally important to note the efforts of the Federal Government to ensure a sound industrial relations system by maintaining a good employment   relationship with Labour. In this regard, the government has established a viable legal framework for Labour administration.

    “By the second quarter of this year, the Nigeria Labour Advisory Council will be revived in consonance with the provisions of the ILO Convention 144 on tripartite consultation. These and more are efforts made and being made by the government to guarantee a good employment relationship and fair Labour practices for its workers.

    “In furtherance to the determination by the Federal Government to attain decent works agenda, which involves opportunities for work that are productive and deliver a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, there have been overtime, three minimum wage reviews and currently, the tripartite committee on national minimum wage is set to review the current minimum wage. Memoranda are being received from relevant bodies and persons to enable the determination of a new minimum wage for the nation.

    “It is pertinent to point out a misnomer that exists among the trade unions in their pursuit of their relative happiness in terms of industrial relations. Often, the workers through their respective trade unions, do over step by dictating to the employers who to appoint or otherwise. This is not right,” the minister said.

    Wabba said the alarming rate of unemployment in the country was a misnomer, adding that the welfare of workers was very important, which gave rise to what he described as legitimate demand for a review in workers’ salaries.

    The NLC president said those who slow down the process of review of the minimum wage should know that it will not augur well for them to deny workers their legitimate right as the current minimum wage cannot take care of their needs.

    He explained that the anniversary was organised to acknowledge the strategic contribution of the working people and their allies in the struggle for a better society and improved conditions of service for workers and pensioners.

    He drew attention to the alarming state of insecurity in the country, adding that the number of Nigerians who are losing their lives in attacks and counter attacks across the country portrayed a nation at war. Government need to step up to ensure adequate security.

     

  • PDP, CAN, knock Fed Govt as NOA cautions

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has knocked the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over last week’s abduction of 110 female students.

    A statement by National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan accused the Presidency and the APC of shedding crocodile tears in the abduction saga.

    “We challenge the Presidency to come out clean on issues surrounding this abduction. Who authorised the said withdrawal of troops from the area and for what purpose?

    “What alternative security measures were put in place to protect the people after the troops were withdrawn? Who controls security intelligence gathering and consequential protection action and what action was taken to guarantee adequate security in the area?

    “Furthermore, we charge the Federal Government to open up on who scripted and released the false rescue report, which frustrated prompt action that would have led to the recovery of our innocent girls? Why was that misleading report issued and whose interest did it serve?

    “Indeed, from all indications, every right thinking Nigerian has deduced that there are more than meets the eye in this ugly episode for which those in authority have a lot of questions to answer.

    The opposition party said it’s appalled by “crocodile tears” being shed by the APC-led Federal Government instead of scaling up actions on the matter.

    The Northern States chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) expressed sadness over the abduction of the school girls .

    Spokesman of the 19th Northern States CAN, Rev. John Joseph Hayab told reporters in Kaduna that the Christian body is deeply concerned about the “return of kidnapping of large number of girls again in Nigeria.”

    Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) Dr. Garba Abari however cautioned Nigerians against making unnecessary speculations over the Dapchi abduction.

    A statement by Head, Press Unit NOA Paul Odenyi said:  “The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has noted the unfortunate incident at the Government Girls Science Secondary School, Dapchi in Yobe State and wishes to empathize with the parents of the missing children and Nigerians at large. The Agency at this time would like to caution against unnecessary speculation over the depressing incident saying at moments like these Nigerians should step up their vigilance, stand in prayers and cooperate with security agencies.

    “Director General of the Agency, Dr. Garba Abari stated that President Muhammadu Buhari has already dispatched high powered government officials, including four ministers, to the area to ascertain the true state of affairs and report back to him.”

  • 297,000 vulnerable households get stipends in 20 states, says Fed Govt

    The Federal Government has captured 455,000 vulnerable households in the National Social Register, presidential aide on National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) Mrs. Maryam Uwais has said.

    Mrs. Uwais, who spoke to reporters while presenting the scorecard of the NSIP at the State House, Abuja, said no fewer than 297,973 households had been mined and being paid stipends in 20 states.

    According to her, there are no fewer than 80 million poor Nigerians and the office want to get the poorest persons data using appropriate means.

    She said: “So far, we have 455,857 poor and vulnerable households uploaded onto the National Social Register, from which 297,973 households have been mined and are being paid stipends in 20 states.

    “These states are Jigawa, Bauchi State, Kogi, Osun, Cross Rivers, Anambra, Katsina, Kano, Taraba, Gombe, Adamawa, Niger, Nassarawa State, Benue, Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara, Borno (IDP), Kaduna and Plateau.”

    She observed that credible targeting was a major concern in National Cash Transfer Programme, prompting the National Social Investment Office (NSIO) to develop a Social Register in all the states that met the criteria provided in the agreement signed with it.

    Mrs. Uwais added that 259,541 beneficiaries in 4,784 cooperatives were paid in the Government Enterprise and Empowerment in 36 states and FCT while the next batch of 148,611 loans had been approved for disbursement.

    In the National Home Grown School Feeding (NHGSFP), Mrs. Uwais stated that 7,054,687 pupils were currently being fed daily in 20 states with two states (Katsina State and Gombe State) to begin soon.

    “We have also hired and empowered 72,510 cooks in the 53,541 schools being serviced.

    “These states are: Anambra, Enugu State, Oyo State, Osun, Ogun, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Delta, Abia, Benue, Plateau, Bauchi State, Taraba, Kaduna State, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Imo, Jigawa, Niger and Kano State.’’

    She noted that in almost two years into the implementation of the programmes, the NSIO was continuously learning lessons and building bridges designed to achieve its overarching goals.

    The presidential aide acknowledged that no fewer than 200,000 graduates were enrolled in the N-Power job scheme with 20,000 beneficiaries in the non-graduate category set to begin training in 34 states.

    She noted that the organisation already had 2.5 million young people in its database for employment.

    The presidential aide said the Humanitarian Hub in Adamawa State, supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Presidential Committee on the Northeast Initiative and National Emergency Management Agency, had already selected successful applications and had prepared for the first batch of pitches.

    She added that the Lagos Climate Change Hub, supported by the World Bank and the Lagos Business School, would throw open its challenges in March as the other six situated in the six geo-political zones were at various stages of development.

    She identified the goals as empowering the unemployed, giving opportunities to children who could not or did not have access to a meal a day and also providing sustenance for the poor and the vulnerable.

    She included granting access to small and medium-sized enterprises that were hitherto unable to gain access to finance.

    “We have trained 2,495 community facilitators, whose responsibility it is to engage the caregivers in the households being paid, facilitate the forming of cooperatives, basic financial training, skills and support.

    “We also have collated data on the coordinates and demographics on each community we engage, relating to education, health, access, payment and connectivity.

    “What we have achieved thus far is a result of the dedication of an extraordinary, indefatigable and focused team of staff and the strong support of our top leadership, in the persons of the president and vice-president of Nigeria.

    “We have created a level-playing field for all our beneficiaries and, with a selection process that is objective, transparent and efficient,’’ the presidential aide said.

    Mrs. Uwais also called on Nigerians to join the programme and reap its benefits, especially on employment.

    According to her, NSIP programme comprises N-power, National Home Grown School Feeding, Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme and the National (conditional) Cash Transfer Programme, designed to support citizens facing economic challenges.

    Uwais noted that the targets for the schemes were to provide 500,000 jobs to the unemployed graduates and/or non-graduates through N-power with eight technology hubs in the pipeline.

    “N-power has 200,000 graduate beneficiaries that are currently enrolled and working in various institutions around the country.

    “The selection of the next batch of 300,000 beneficiaries has been completed and those selected will be engaged in the next few months.

    “20,000 more beneficiaries in the non-graduate category are set to commence training in 34 states around the country, while we continue to audit the skill centres we can utilise in the remaining states,’’ she said.