The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fed Govt

  • Pensioners urge Fed Govt to reintroduce gratuity payment

    Pensioners, under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS),  have called on the Federal Government to reintroduce the payment of gratuity to retirees      .

    The  union accused the government of   shying away from its responsibility as there’s no provision in the Pension Reforms Act that outlawed the payment of gratuity to pensioners.

    The Sector Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme, Comrade Sylva Nwaiwu, stated this at  its second post inaugural congress of the union in Abuja.

    He  called  for a review of their entitlements, saying the Federal Government is indebted to pensioners, who retired under the CPS. He said they will continue to fight for their gratuity within the ambit of the law.

    His words: “Gratuity is a right to any public worker who retires from service after 10 to 35 years. The introduction of the CPS was to address the burden of monthly pension liabilities on the government and not that of gratuity. Hence, there is no section of the Pension Reform Act, before and as amended by the 2014 pension reform act that explicitly removes gratuity as a legitimate right to retirees.

    Naiwu said in  the old Defined Benefit Scheme,  government pays gratuity to the retirees and thereafter continues to pay monthly pension, whereas in the CPS, government is restricted to the payment of gratuity, while the monthly pension of retirees accrues from the combined contributions by government and the workers.

    He said from the inception of the CPS, the government has tactically ignored the legitimacy of this important factor in the engagement agreement, without any legal or constitutional justification, thus short changing the CPS retirees.

  • Fed Govt deepens approach to tackling violent extremism

    Fed Govt deepens approach to tackling violent extremism

    A comprehensive strategy to tackle violent extremism has been fashioned by the government, Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said yesterday

    He told Leadership chairman Sam Ndah Isaiah during  a visit to the newspaper house in Abuja that the strategy is contained in a document, entitled ‘Policy Framework and National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism’, which was launched by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Tuesday.

    The document was developed after consultations with the agencies of government, civil society organisations, media, academia and the international community, he said.

    Mohammed said the Administration had been steadily restoring the peace and security to the North-east.

    ‘’We have put Boko Haram on the run. Occasionally, they attack soft targets, but even that is being tackled with intelligence-driven measures,’’ he said.

    The Minister also said the Administration is revamping the economy, adding that the Naira is now stable, foreign reserves have risen from 23 billion to 35 billion dollars within a year, Nigeria has been named among the top 10 reforming economies in the world and the country has leapfrogged 24 places in the ease of doing business rankings.

    ‘’We are taming inflation, which has fallen for eight consecutive months. We are building infrastructure and we are creating jobs. Also, I am glad to inform you that capital importation into Nigeria in Q3 2017 recorded a substantial increase, compared to the past few quarters, as the economy continued to recover from recession. The total capital imported in Q3 was recorded at $4,145.1 million, more than double the inflow in the second quarter of this year, representing an increased value of 147.5% on a year-on-year basis,’’ he said.

    On the fight against corruption, Alhaji Mohammed said the Administration is winning the war against corruption, having succeeded in driving corruption under the table.

    He hailed Leadership for carrying out its duties professionally, adding: ‘’You have supported us and you have criticised us, and each time you have been guided by the ethics of your profession – fairness, accuracy, impartiality, truthfulness, and objectivity,’’ he said.

     

  • Govt to sell TBS, Arts Theatre, others

    Govt to sell TBS, Arts Theatre, others

    •Monuments to go for budget funding

    THE Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), the National Arts Theatre and some selected power plants under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) are part of the key national assets the Federal Government has concluded plans to sell, House of Representatives’ members were told yesterday.

    The purpose of the proposed sale is to generate sufficient revenue to finance the country’s annual budgets for the next three years (2018-2020).

    Director General of Budget Office Ben Akabueze, who told the House of Representatives Joint Committees on 2018-2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)/ Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) about the plan, noted that the Federal Government’s non-core assets from the mines and steel sector like houses and estates are part of items slated for sale.

    According to Akabueze, items for the 2018 budget would be financed from the revenue garnered from sales of the key government assets as well as national parks.

    He said proceeds from the privatisation of the assets would be used to finance the budget deficit of N2.005 trillion, much of which will be financed through domestic and foreign borrowings, adding that the aspect had been factored into the 2018 budget.

    The country, he said, was generating too little revenue, hence it was expedient to borrow.

    The Director General of Budget Office added that the reverse would be the case, if actually the assets were generating revenues.

    “We are generating too little revenue, hence we are borrowing. If we generate enough, borrowing ratio will drop,” he said.

    However, chairman of the joint committee, Babaginda Aliu, frowned at the absence of five Federal Government agencies he described as critical to the 2018 budget consideration and passage, which were invited to the session.

    He noted that notwithstanding the late submission of the MTEF/ Fiscal Strategy Paper, the committee was committed to streamline its activities  to pass the document and ensure the budget is passed in record time.

    The Minister of State for Budget and Planning, Hajia Zaniab Ahmed, representative of the Governor of Central Bank, Adelabu R.A. and Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) Dr. Tunde Fowler made presentations during the session.

    Also present were the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance Alhaji Mohammed Isa Dutse, who represented the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; and the Comptroller-General of Customs Col Hameed Ali was represented by Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in charge of T&T, Alu S.R.

     

  • Fed Govt pays N164.7m school fees for Chibok girls at AUN

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved N164.7 million for the payment of second semester school fess of the freed 106 Chibok schoolgirls at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State.

    The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said in a statement that the President expressed satisfaction over the progress so far made in the rehabilitation of the freed Chibok schoolgirls.

    According to him, Buhari expressed his feelings while reviewing the progress report on the affected girls.

    He said the report was submitted to the President in line with his commitment to personally monitor the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of the freed Chibokgirls.

    Shehu said the President also assured that the government would continue to provide full support for their education.

    The statement reads: “The President has approved payment of the sum of N164,763,759 million  for the second semester school fees of the 106 Chibok girls at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola.

    “According to the progress report received by the President, the decision to pursue avenues in addition to military action to free the abducted girls is in the resolve to protect the lives of all Nigerians.

    “To end the insurgency in the Northeast of the country, and to fulfill one of the campaign promises of the President.

    “In line with this, the Federal Government entered into negotiations with the Boko Haram terrorist group for the release of the Chibok girls who were kidnapped from their school dormitory on the night of April 14, 2014.

    “So far, two batches of 21 and 82 girls have been freed as a result of those negotiations.

    “Three additional girls were rescued by the gallant efforts of our armed forces, bringing the total number of freed Chibok girls so far to 106.”

    Shehu noted that as a result of their experiences while in captivity, the freed girls were severely traumatised and afflicted by various ailments and injuries.

    He stated that the girls were taken to secured medical centres for attention.

    The statement further reads: “They also went through debriefing and de-radicalisation by security operatives, after which the girls were handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    “The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development was assigned the main role in supervising the rehabilitation and reintegration of the girls back into society.

    “Long before the girls were released, the Federal Government had established the ‘Chibok Girls Desk’ in the ministry, responsible for acting on matters relating to the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, and serving as a channel of communication between relevant agencies and the parents and relatives of the abducted girls.”

    The media aide said that the Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), UN Women and other donour agencies, embarked on programmes earmarked to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of the Chibok girls with a nine-month timeframe.

    According to Shehu, a hostel in the National Centre for Women Development was converted into a suitable shelter, where the girls were kept for the nine-month period.

    “The programme, which began in January, ended in September 2017. During the period, the 106 girls were given lessons in English, Mathematics, Biology, Agriculture, and Civic Education. In addition, they were trained on ICT and vocational skills.

    “Professionals were engaged to provide them with psychosocial therapy and one-on-one counseling to help them overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”

    The Presidential spokesman  noted that the girls were also provided with religious instruction and comprehensive care by two in-house doctors and two nurses.

    He said periodic visits from the girls’ parents to stimulate family support and reunion were sponsored and organised by the ministry.

    “Having successfully achieved the desired goals of the rehabilitation and reintegration programme, with recorded significant improvement in the academic performance of the girls, in September, a final send-off party was organised for the 106 Chibok girls.

    “They were subsequently moved to the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola for their foundation studies and continuation of their education.”

    He disclosed that the AUN had successfully established a foundation school for 14 out of the 57 Chibok girls who earlier escaped when the rest of their classmates were taken to the Sambisa Forest by Boko Haram in 2014.

    The presidential aide observed that the absorption of the girls into the AUN marked the beginning of their integration into the larger society, thus fulfilling Buhari’s promise of providing the best education for them.

    “Although they have been officially handed over to their parents, the Federal Government will continue to be responsible for the payment of the Chibok girls’ school fees up to their graduation,”  Shehu said.

  • No import waivers denial, says Fed Govt

    The Federal Government has not refused to grant import duty waivers for the importation of drugs and health commodities into the country.

    In a statement, the Federal Ministry of Finance, said there are laid down statutory procedures governing the granting of import duty waivers to importers and NGOs. It said these are part of holistic measures put in place to check abuses of the Federal Government’s fiscal incentives and to put a halt to rampart corrupt practices in the economic sector.

    The statement, signed by the Director of Information, Salisu Na’inna Dambatta, lamented that the ministry has recently observed the “flagrant abuse of the import duty waivers by some NGOs and importers, who smuggled other imported items into approved waivers issued for the importation of medical equipment and drug related items.”

    It said this practice, “is in contravention of the provisions of Section 46 of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) of 1958 (as amended).”

    The ministry listed the procedures for granting import waivers to include “submission of an application by the importer and NGO to the Federal Ministry of Finance through the Federal Ministry of Health; evidence of registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission; submission of an approved Memorandum of Understanding duly signed by the Honourable or the Honourable Minister of State, Budget and National Planning between the Donor Agencies, Federal Government of Nigeria and the Recipient-NGOs.”

    Other demands include, “presentation of a certificate of exemption from tax from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (only for those who engage in non-profit making activities in line with their objectives), submission of a proforma invoice, indicating the value of the imported items, bill of laden and if the imported items are donated, the NGOs are required to provide the Federal Ministry of Finance with authenticated letter from the donor agencies.”

    It said additional documentation may also be required where the need arises.

  • Fed Govt to tax evaders: no hiding place for you

    •Tax profiles of major companies reviewed  •Liaison officers deployed to 36 states 

    The Federal Government has warned that there is no hiding place for tax evaders residing in Nigeria or abroad, noting that it had put in place a data mining mechanism to fish out such people.

    Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun issued the warning at the weekend in Lagos at a workshop organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Inland Revenue Service and Joint Tax Board for lawyers, accountants and other professionals advising clients on participation in the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS).

    To show its seriousness, it has recruited and trained 2,190 Community Tax Liaison Officers (CTLOs) under VAIDS.

    The minister, in a statement by her Special Adviser, Media & Communications Oluyinka Akintunde, confirmed the review of the tax profiles of companies that received major payments from the Federal Government in the last five years.

    She confirmed that 1,710 CTLOs have been deployed to 33 states, out of 2,190 tax officers recruited and trained to raise awareness about the scheme and taxation in general.

    The CTLOs, Mrs. Adeosun said, are now operating in Adamawa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Kaduna, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun and Oyo, among others.

    VAIDS, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the state tax authorities, is a revolutionary programme that provides tax defaulters a nine-month opportunity to voluntarily and truthfully declare previously untaxed assets and incomes.

    The tax amnesty period is expected to lapse on March 31, 2018.

    Job creation is one of the spin-offs of the VAIDS initiative, with the scheme expected to create a total of 7,500 opportunities for Nigerians as CTLOs through the N-Power scheme of the Federal Government.

    The minister said: “The unique cooperation between the various arms of Federal Government, state governments and foreign governments has provided an unprecedented level of data that allows the Nigerian Government to profile taxpayers accurately and identify those whose lifestyle and assets are not consistent with their declared income.

    “A lot of data mining is going on daily, both locally and internationally, on property ownership and other items. Data is an extremely powerful tool that is now being utilised. For instance, we have reviewed all companies that received major payments from the Federal Government in the last five years and found that even those who made money from government, under-declared.”

    Mrs. Adeosun noted that the government’s tax compliance team had looked at import records and compared the value of goods imported to the tax declarations of the importers, but the discovery was worrisome as “the variance was disturbingly wide”.

    “On personal income taxes, we reviewed property and company ownership as well as registration of high value assets and foreign exchange allocations, which gives us a sense of the lifestyles of the persons.

    “But again, we found major non-compliance. In some cases, people declared as little as N10 million as income but purchased expensive property overseas and in Nigeria,  registered high specification vehicles and funded luxurious personal events costing multiples of the declared income.

    “We have blocked a major loophole by using data to profile tax-payers. Thus, someone owning properties across multiple states and overseas can selectively declare knowing that tax authority had no means of cross checking.

    “This is especially the case with overseas assets and income where state governments lacked jurisdiction. But with the centralisation of data under Project Lighthouse within the Federal Ministry of Finance, a major loophole has been plugged,” she added.

    She reiterated the willingness of the Federal Government to prosecute tax evaders after the tax amnesty period had elapsed.

    She, therefore, called on professionals to advise their clients to uphold honesty in the declaration of their assets and income as well as the regularisation of their tax status.

    Mrs. Adeosun told the gathering of professional advisers that the Federal Government had compiled a list of 500 prominent Nigerians with property and trusts abroad in order to determine their tax compliance status at home.

    The 500 prominent Nigerians, according to her, will receive their letters beginning from today, asking them to take advantage of the tax amnesty to regularise their tax status and avoid prosecution and fines.

    The minister indicated that non-receipt of a letter should not be taken as an indication that government had not identified a potential evader.

  • ACCI backs Fed Govt’s external borrowing

    ACCI backs Fed Govt’s external borrowing

    The Director-General, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Chijioke Ekechukwu has said Federal Government’s plan to borrow $5.5billion Euro bond loa will not strangulate the economy.

    In a statement endorsed by its Media and Protocol Officer, Gena Reuben Lubem, the DG said when the government got approval of the National Assembly to source for the foreign loan,  many  believed it would hut the economy.

    He said: “The borrowing is targeted at infrastructural projects and refinancing of maturing domestic debt with less expensive long-term external debt, there is no cause for alarm; many other countries have borrowed far above what Nigeria is taking from the Eurobond.

    “We shouldn’t be shy to borrow money to fund the deficit of the budget, infrastructural development and local projects. There is no problem with that and Nigerians should not worry.

    “On hiring of Malaysian expatriates to fix the economy, such actions should be discouraged as Nigeria has competent hands that can successfully navigate the country out of the economic quagmire it has found itself.”

  • Fed Govt to shut depots over Apapa gridlock

    Fed Govt to shut depots over Apapa gridlock

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) yesterday said it will not hesitate to shut any depot that still has trucks on the Lagos Apapa roads.

    Its Director, Mordecai Ladan who gave the warning in Lagos said parking on the road is against the rule in the petroleum industry.

    Speaking at the DPR (Lagos Zonal Office) 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) which had in attendance stakeholders in the downstream oil sector, Ladan said bad roads and inadequate infrastructure have contributed to the gridlock, arguing that the refusal of depot operators to abide by the laid-down rules has further complicated the problems.

    The Director told the depot operators to prevent the wrath of the law complying to fall on them by obeying laid down rules in the industry.

    He said: “For example, all trucks now proceed directly to the depots to queue up for loading instead of staying at the holding bays to be invited when it is their turn to load. Let me reiterate that this practice encouraged by the depot operators is contrary to the terms of their licenses.

    “I therefore wish to remind all depot operators that part of the conditions of their licences is that every depot should operate a holding bay, where trucks are required to park and wait until it is their turn to load at the depots.

    “Government has the power to shut down operators among other punitive measures for defaulters.

    “We are partnering with Lagos State government to ensure that operators strictly abide by the rules, for general safety and decongestion of the depot area.”

    Speaking on the theme of the forum-Safety: Our Joint Responsibility, Ladan lamented that illegal lubricant sales outlets have continued to spring up in the country, adding that it has continued to take toll on safety and quality of products in the downstream sector.

  • Rice importation drops to 21,000 MT from 644,131MT in two years, says Fed Govt

    Rice importation drops to 21,000 MT from 644,131MT in two years, says Fed Govt

    The Federal Government yesterday said rice importation from Thailand had dropped from 644,131 Metric Tonnes to about 21,000 MT between September 2015 and September 2017.

    It said with this, Nigeria is close to achieving self-sufficiency in the production of rice, a major staple food in the country.

    Nigeria is targeting the production of seven million tonnes by next year given that as at 2015, rice demand in the country was 6.3 million MT

    Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke at a news conference in Abuja, said the sharp drop in importation was based on figures from the Thailand Rice Exporters Association.

    He predicted that the price of rice would soon fall due to mass production.

    ”We are happy to tell Nigerians of a giant stride made by the Administration in the agriculture sector, specifically rice production: Nigeria is inching closer to achieving self-sufficiency in rice, due to the success recorded by the Administration in the local production of rice.

    “ In fact, the Thailand Rice Exporters Association has recently revealed that within a spate of just two years – From September 2015 to September 2017 – Nigeria’s rice importation dropped from 644,131

    Metric Tonnes to just about 21,000MT.

    “There is more good news to report: As a result of this Administration’s success in local production, some investors from Thailand have shown interest in establishing rice milling plants in Nigeria, and this is sure to further boost rice production in Nigeria.

    “Four investors from Thailand are already in discussion with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to establish rice milling plants in Nigeria.

    “You must understand that the investors from Thailand are here because they have lost over 600000 metric tonnes of imported rice into the country and it is a good decision to participate in what is happening here.

    “A few years ago, this would not have been possible since Nigeria was not considered a top rice producing country. Today, Nigeria is one of the largest producers of rice.”

    “Gentlemen, the improvement in rice production across the country did not happen by accident. It is largely due to the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari, which supports farmers through inputs distribution and loans to boost rice production.

    “The increased rice production has, in turn, led to the establishment of rice mills, including the 120,000MT WACOT Mill in Kebbi and the 1,000, 000MT Dangote Rice Mill.

    Mohammed said Nigeria was very close to rice sufficiency and likely crash of rice per bag.

    He added: “So what does the increased production of rice portend for the country? It means, as I said earlier, that Nigeria is very close to achieving self-sufficiency in rice. By 2018, the Administration

    targets rice production of 7 million MT. As at 2015, Rice demand in Nigeria stood at 6.3 million MT. There is also the fact that locally-produced rice is safer, tastier and healthier, in the words of the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe.

    “ I know the question agitating your minds now will be: Why is the price of locally-produced rice still on the high side despite the increased production.  Suffice it to say, however, that the increased production is bound to eventually bring down the price of rice and also bring succour to Nigerians.

    “While I must admit that prices of rice have not come down to the pre-2014 level because the countries where we import from always heavily subsidize their farmers, we must understand that prices would be coming down gradually and Nigerians will soon feel the impact. The most important thing is that we have taken a major step to cut down on imports and we will soon feel the effect of that in the price.

    “There are other incentives that we have introduced to encourage those in the sector. For example, fertilizers used to sell for N11000 per bag but now sells for N5,500 and it is now available before planting season.

    “We are peaking staple food where Nigeria has qualitative advantage like rice, maize and wheat. Maybe the impact of the drop is not being  felt now because a lot of the farmers are exporting these cereals which, in some sense, is a good thing.”

  • Fed Govt to avoid housing mistakes, to award contract for 69 roads

    The Federal Government has said it is working hard to avoid mistakes committed in previous housing initiatives, just as it has concluded plans to award contract for reconstruction and rehabilitation of 69 highways nationwide.

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola disclosed this at an interactive session with members of 21 Civil Society Organisations and the media in Lagos.

    Fashola explained that government was working on avoiding mistakes of previous housing projects that saw the houses abandoned. He explained that some houses constructed by some past administrations were not occupied because they did not take into cognisance the issues of culture of the people, climate and location of projects.

    “All across the country you will see houses but they are not occupied,” he said.

    He said that in 2016, the government took time to sample opinions of Nigerians across the country on what type of houses they wanted and how much they could pay, while state governors were approached for land at suitable locations to make the houses attractive for intending house owners.

    “At this moment we are constructing in 33 states, when we finish then we would subject that design to affordability test. When we find its works then we will subject it to acceptability test,” he said.

    “This is the first time that Nigeria is undertaking a national housing scheme after Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s housing scheme.

    “There has been other interventions, previous governments have been building houses but a national housing scheme, this is the second time. Shagari’s was the first.”

    In a  similar vein, he disclosed that 25 roads would receive attention soon as bid processes to deliver the Sukuk bond were almost completed.

    “Each zone of the country is getting N16.67 billion and they are going to those major arterial roads that take us from the ports to the Sahel. Since the Sukuk was agreed we had to follow due diligence,” he said.

    He said that with the dry season ahead, a lot of construction would be witnessed nationwide, adding that the 44 other roads captured during a nationwide tour of roads were also under procurement process.

    “If we complete the procurement we would award the contract to cover six zones of the country,” he said.

    The minster expressed hope that all the 69 roads to receive attention would become motorable within a short time.

    Fashola sought public support in the fight against illegal mining of sand on road edges and other forms of road abuses.

    He expressed worry over activities of illegal sand miners who dig up road verges (edges) to cause rapid road degeneration and collapse of federal highways.

    He said that it was unfortunate that some people took pleasure in “destroying our common assets” and appealed to members of the public to join in the surveillance.

    He said gadgets like cell phones could be used to get evidence of such acts to ensure perpetrators were brought to book, adding that there was a law against road abuses that needed enforcement.

    “We have set up a Right of Way (RoW) Recovery Committee and I know that it has started working.

    “We are trying to recover all the RoW that used to belong to the Federal Government across the country breaking them into zones.

    “It is a lot of work, but  there was no budget for it, so, all of the costs are being compiled and then we are hopeful that in 2018 we would be able to do something if we get the project approved.

    The minister explained that vegetation control was also ongoing as part of its RoW recovery plan.

    He added that the government was ready to hand over more roads to states governments who were willing to take them over.

    Speaking on the Ota-Abeokuta Road, he said that the project was going to be redefined because the road was not initially in the 2018 budget and the contractors made some additional claims.

    He said that the road would be stabilised before the end of the year.

    Some of the civil society groups include Centre for Democracy and Social Economic Rights, Alliance for Good Governance, Grassroot Democratic Initiative and Centre for Social Economic and Human Rights.