The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal government

  • Niger to spend N1.2bn on school feeding

    Niger to spend N1.2bn on school feeding

    The Niger government says it will spend N1.2 billion in every 20 days of the  primary school feeding programme expected to kick off Sept. 25,

    Mrs. Afiniki Dauda, Special Adviser to Gov. Abubakar Bello on Empowerment and Social Protection, disclosed this on Tuesday in Minna, during the training of 150 food vendors and desk officers on food safety and hygiene.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the training, tagged: “train the trainees”, was organised for selected vendors across the 25 local government areas, to prepare them for the feeding programme.

    Dauda said that the Federal Government would spend N70 per day, for every child involved in the feeding programme.

    “We have submitted a list of well over 800,000 pupils from 3,000 schools for the programme; its principal aim is to
    raise nutritional value among pupils and increase school enrollment,” she said.

    She said that 70,170 vendors had been captured for the programme, adding that their data had been submitted to the National Identity Management office for verification.

    The official said that government had set up a special monitoring and evaluation team consisting of desk officers, counselors, parents and teachers association to ensure its success.

    Dauda warned vendors and other officials against diverting food items meant for the pupils, saying that anyone caught would be prosecuted.

  • PDP to FG: Stop tagging opposition as IPOB sponsors

    PDP to FG: Stop tagging opposition as IPOB sponsors

    The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Federal Government to stop tagging members of the opposition as sponsors of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

    The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had accused those he described as treasury looters of sponsoring IPOB’s secessionist agitations in the South East.

    In a statement Tuesday signed by the spokesman of the PDP, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the party told the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government to look inwards in the search for sponsors of IPOB.

    The party accused the Information Minister and the APC of having formed the habit of blaming a “superficial opposition” for the continuous gaffes of the Federal Government.

    The statement said, “We had advised not a few times, that the APC should look inward and seek solutions to its self-induced challenges in government caused by its unpreparedness for governance; but since the Party seem set for self-destruction, we shall not relent in helping to expose their ineptitude to the Nigerian populace.

    “We noticed that the Minister who is much known for his unbridled capacity for constant polarization of the polity rather than ardency in the proper dissemination of government policies and information to the populace, tried once again on Sunday, to shift blames of the poor handling of the agitations of IPOB by the current Government to an opposition that exists only in his imagination.

    “It is disheartening that rather than accept blame for its ineptitude, the APC Government has continued to blame enemies, real or imaginary for its woes.

    “How on earth will a serious minded government blame opposition parties which they have conveniently labelled ‘looters’ for the activities of IPOB? But we take solace in the fact that the APC might actually know the looters, as the party has clearly demonstrated its penchant for giving covers to people considered as corrupt”.

    The PDP recalled the release of 48 houses allegedly confiscated as proceeds of crime back to an unnamed member of the APC said to be standing trial for allegations of corruption.

    “Much as we will continue to harp on the one sided corruption fight of this administration, we wish to urge the APC to look inwards in locating the looters using their ill-gotten wealth to sponsor separatist agitation against the government of the day.

    “It is instructive to note that we are aware of the internal crisis rocking the amalgam of interests that formed the APC and the struggle for power within the government, as the noise of discontent keeps rising on a daily basis from the party.

    “We wish to put on record that agitation for actualisation of the State of Biafra was a total silent voice while the PDP was in power because of the government of inclusiveness we provided for Nigerians who were made to experience what a genuine national government meant.

    “The APC should therefore, learn to mould itself into a real national party, provide good leadership for the people and let the generality of Nigerians feel safe.

    “Finally as a party, we had condemned and we are still condemning separatist movements tailored towards balkanising the nation. We therefore make bold to further state, that the APC policies have been the catalyst for IPOB problem, and as such, the party should do soul searching and correct the anomaly. No external enemy so to say, is working against this government. The government is its own worst enemy”.

  • Five ASUU demands FG must meet

    Five ASUU demands FG must meet

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suspended its five-week long strike on Monday.

    This was after ASUU President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi told reporters Monday night that they decided to conditionally suspend the strike in view of the timeline of October for the implementation of the signed agreement with the government.  The meeting was a long one with the Federal Government delegation, led by Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige.

    Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi assured the public that the union would not hesitate to resume the suspended action should the government renege on the newly signed agreement, which he called Memorandum of Action.

    Here are the five demands requested by the Association:

    1. Areas of agreement include funding for revitalization of public universities and the issue of Earned Academic Allowances;
    2. The issue of University Staff Schools;
    3. The implementation of the judgment of the National Industrial Court, National Universities Pension Management Company and guidelines for pension matters for professors;
    4. The exemption offered by the government regarding the issue of TSA, which included the issue of grants, endowment funds as well as salary shortfall, which is already being implemented by the government;
    5. The union also promised to submit a position paper to the Federal Government on their observation with a view for government to advise state governments.
  • FG, ASUU officials meeting to end strike

    FG, ASUU officials meeting to end strike

    The Federal Government and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities are holding a crucial meeting that may see the union calling off their five weeks old strike.

    The meeting, according to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige was a continuation of the meeting held between both parties on Friday.

    He added that he was convinced that a concrete agreement will be reached after the meeting that will see the union calling off their strike.

    He reassured them that the Buhari government was a different government committed  to the implementation of all agreements reached with unions.

    “If you go into other negotiations without implementation, this is a different government. That is why we put timeline in all agreement reached.”

    ASUU President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi said as a result of feedback from their members, the union held about eight hours meeting with the government on Friday and came up with concrete areas of agreement.

    He said the ongoing meeting was to agree on a final document so that an agreemn t can be reached by both parties.

  • FG has no active data on retirees, says ex minister

    FG has no active data on retirees, says ex minister

    Former Minister of National Planning, Prof. Osita Ogbu has revealed that the Federal Government does not have an active data on retirees in the country.

    He said that the government does not have the required data on retirees, their age profile, health status, income profile, where they reside and lots more that can help elevate the suffering of retirees in the country.

    Ogbu also added that many people are retiring unprepared with no intellectual resources to fall back on and no support system for expressing themselves.

    He also added that the problem with policies in the country is the absence of continuity, politics is dominating economics excessively, tenure limitations by definition reduces the vision of the leader when it shouldn’t.

    Prof. Ogbu stated this in Abuja, at the inauguration ceremony of the governing council of the Institute of Retirement Management (IRM).

    His words, ” Many people are retiring unprepared they have no intellectual resource to fall back on, they have no support system or platform for expressing themselves. The nation has no active data on retirees, their needs beyond financial obligations.

    “When you have an institution like the Institute of Retirement Management, the Institute will be acting now on behalf of the government, they can be enabled to begin to document who is a retiree, what is the age profile, health status, income profile, where they reside these are the sort of data i mean not just knowing that they exist but in a constant basis knowing the welfare of our old and how they are faring over time so if the Government cannot do it then an agency like this can begin the process.

    “The problem with policies in the country is the absence of continuity, politics is dominating economics excessively, meaning tenure limitations by definition reduces the vision of the leader when it shouldn’t. So if I have four year tenure, I am only planning for four years but certain things take beyond four years that is why people have a long term plan, medium term and short term.

    “We don’t make decisions based on those performing and those not performing, we simply like getting our own people into places.”

    Chairman of the Council and former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Sali stated that the Institute will address the challenges faced by pensioners by advising the government and private sectors on ways to reduce the tension and hardship faced by the Nigerian pensioner.

    He added that the Institute as a non-state actor will partner with the government and private sector on the best way to take care of retirees  by intervening in situations to achieve a win win situation.

  • FG warns against breach of peace, security

    FG warns against breach of peace, security

    Mr Abubakar Malami, the Attorney -General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has warned that the Federal Government would not allow any individual or group to compromise the peace and security of the country.

    Malami gave the warning while declaring open a three-day summit of the 36 states Attorneys-General holding in Yola on Friday.

    He said that where the action or interest of an individual presents an imminent threat to national interest, the individual interest must be subjected to the national interest.

    “Permit me to draw attention to the current happenings wherein some people have overheated the nation’s polity through hate speech with its divisive implication for the unity, peace and security of the country.

    “As the Chief Law Officer of the Nation and custodian of her legal conscience, we have a responsibility to ensure that the unity, peace and security of the country are not compromised by selfish interest over and above national interest.

    “The constitution under section 174 and 211 empowers us as chief law officers to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in respect of any offence under any Act of the National Assembly,” Malami said.

    He explained that the essence of the rule of law was the supremacy of the law over all institutions and persons irrespective of his political and social standing in the society.

    ”No one is above the law, for anyone who chooses to deliberately promote discord and threaten the security of the country, it is our responsibility to ensure the full weight of the law is brought to bear on such person.

    He said that all state Attorneys-General were recently directed to prosecute all federal offenses in their states on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    He urged the Attorneys-General to put the directive into action and ensure that hate speeches were quickly nipped in the bud.

    In his remarks, Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa, said that the state government would support any meaningful judicial and justice reform for the interest of the people.

    Bindow said that one of the cardinal aspects of his administration was to ensure peace, unity and stability among the diverse communities irrespective of their religious, tribal or sectional differences.

    NAN reports that over 20 state Attorneys-General are attending the seminar with the aim of reviewing some National Prosecution Policy, Code of Conduct and Guidelines for Prosecutors.

  • Strike: FG, non-teaching varsity workers reach agreement

    Strike: FG, non-teaching varsity workers reach agreement

    The Federal Government and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the non-teaching staff of Nigerian Universities have  reached an agreement over the ongoing  strike by the workers.

    The Minister of  Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige,  said this at a conciliatory meeting with the leadership of the JAC of the unions and other officials of the Ministry of Education on Friday in Abuja.

    It would be recalled that the non-teaching staff of Nigerian universities under the auspices of JAC embarked on  strike on Monday  over non- implementation of the 2009 agreement.

    The workers belong to the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities ( SSANU).

    The demands of the unions included  the payment of earned allowances, a review of the governance system in universities and  improved funding in line with UNESCO recommendations.

    Other demands included  provision  of infrastructure  in universities and payment of salary shortfall being owed members, implementation of the National Industrial Court judgment on university staff schools and  registration of NUPEMCO, the Pension Fund Administrator  proposed for university workers.

    Ngige, however, said agreements had been reached on all  the issues raised by the workers.

    “We held discussions on all these areas and we reached agreement  on all of them;  government has already approved and released  some N23 billion for earned allowances in the universities.

    “This is for teaching and non-teaching staff of the various universities in Nigeria.

    “ We agreed on this that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation is to expedite action on  mandate for this payment.

    “We have the issue of  shortfall;  the issue is already being addressed and some universities are already credited with some amount of money for their short falls, ‘’ he said.

    On the implementation of  NIC judgment  for  staff schools, he said that government through the National Universities Commission had  issued circulars directing the universities to implement the judgement.

    He also said  the Salaries and Wages Income Commission had  initiated the process of ensuring compliance with the NIC judgment, expressing the hope that this would  be completed within four weeks.

    On  non-registration of NUPEMCO as Pension Fund Administrator, he said  that the process had begun and a  consultant would be handling  this  on behalf of the unions.

    “ We have also reiterated our commitment that the appropriate filled forms and particulars be  submitted within one week while the Federal Ministry of Education will expedite action to bringing out the certificates.

    “ Also on the negotiation of the 2009 agreement,  we realised that Babalakin  Committee is handling that and has collected memorandum from the various unions,’’ he added.

    Ngige, who also reacted to the issue of inadequate infrastructure and  poor funding of universities, said the Ministry of Education was in the process of inaugurating a nine-man committee that would develop an alternative means of sourcing for  funds.

    He also said that the meeting jointly agreed that government should intensify  efforts  to checkmate the excesses of corrupt officials in the university system.

    The meeting  further  agreed that  universities  should also operate the Treasury Single Account  and that the office of the Accountant General of the Federation should  investigate cases of those operating multiple accounts.

    “We also agreed that government should expedite action and send visitation panels to federal universities that have not been visited and revisit the previous visitation panels for the purpose of implementation of their recommendations.

    “ Again on whistle blowing which is the new anti-corruption policy of this administration, government agreed with the unions that  whistle blowers should be protected

    “On the issue of CONTISS  14 and CONTISS  15 for technologists,  the technologists’  union, NAAT,  is to provide the Federal Ministry of Education with information that would assist the ministry to develop appropriate scheme of service for the new cadres  among others.

    “Finally,  it was agreed that the union members should not be victimised on  account of this journey they have undertaken to go on strike and the unions also are to revert to government on Wednesday,  Sept. 20,   after presenting  this to their  National Executive Councils, ‘’he said.

    Mr Samson Ugwoke, the National Chairman of JAC,  commended the labour minister  for his  honesty and commitment  in ensuring that the strike was called off.

    “We have all dotted these items one by one and agreed on  them, but you know we are messengers;  we were sent  here by our principals and we cannot endorse any of these as either  an agreement or MOU

    “So, what we agreed on today, on these issues that  we have put our heads together  on,  will be taken back to our various National Executive Councils  for deliberation  and we will  report by Wednesday, Sept. 20, ”  he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting between the Federal Government and the unions lasted about  11 hours.

  • Ganduje calls on FG to probe S/East incidence

    Ganduje calls on FG to probe S/East incidence

    Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, yesterday in Kano called on the Federal Government to urgently investigate the unfortunate incident, which occurred in the South Eastern part of the country.

    Ganduje, while receiving the leadership of Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) at Government House, led by Chairman of the Group, Nasdura Sharif Ashir, urged the Federal Government to also punish those, who are found wanting disturbing event.

    Similarly, Governor Ganduje expressed satisfaction that the situation has been brought under control by security agents in the troubled areas in the South East.

    Also, he maintained that if such punishment were not meted to the perpetrators, it would continue to happen, which will not be good for the country.

    According to him, I believe that two wrongs cannot make a right, so, all we need is peaceful coexistence that will lead to rapid development of the country.

    He also hailed the efforts of the Group in their efforts to douse the tension that have already been generated.

    ”I consider that the incident is very unfortunate and I commend your efforts to douse down tension, which I describe as patriotic.

    ”I am not surprised of these efforts because you have been and still demonstrating that your Group believe in one Nigeria and also your disposition in the belief of President Muhammadu Buhari’s ability in stabilizing the nation.

    Earlier, leader of the Group, said their mission to the Government House is to sensitize Northerners against being provoked to reprisals, following the unfortunate Port Harcourt incident.

  • 2017 budget over bloated, says NILS DG

    2017 budget over bloated, says NILS DG

    Director General, National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), Dr. Ladi Hamalai, Wednesday faulted the over N7 trillion national budget of the Federal Government for the 2017 fiscal year.

    The NILS boss said that there was no reason why the budget should be as high as N7 trillion when the revenue projection was a little N4 trillion.

    The Federal Government ear marked N7.44 trillion for the 2017 fiscal year.

    Hamalai who spoke at a media interaction on “Reforming the budget process in Nigeria” noted that the 2017 budget should have been at most N5 trillion in line with revenue projection for the fiscal year.

    The DG wondered the logic that informed adopting a budget of over N7 trillion when the revenue projection did not support the figure.

    Over bloated budget, she said, is the reason capital budget is hardly implemented.

    The DG said that over the years the implementation of the capital budget had remained at about 8.1 per cent.

    She insisted that it is obvious that the gap between the amount appropriated to be spent and the projected revenue too large to be bridged.   

    Lamenting that the country still has a long way to go in perfecting its budget process, the DG said that there is too wide gap between budget projection and available resources.

    The DG also faulted the consideration of budget as a political tool rather than an instrument for development.

    She said, “Although government budget is very important tool of economic management and promoting growth and development, it has not generally met the expectations of improved service delivery and development in Nigeria unlike in most other countries.

    The situation has given rise to the compelling need for a comprehensive reform of the budget process to address the various flaws and challenges bedeviling the nation’s budgeting system in tandem with the current dynamics.

    In line with this, the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki inaugurated a technical committee on budget reforms to produce a budget reform strategy and draft reform bill.”

     She listed weak revenue base, late enactment of budget, limited realism of the budget, untimely and irregular release of funds, preponderance of unplanned projects, weak implementation capacity on the part of MDAs and weak budget monitoring by the executive and poor legislative oversight, as part of the problems hindering capital budget implementation.

    She noted that stakeholders have expressed concerns about oversight performance by the National Assembly.

    Speaking specifically about the 2017, she said that the late submission of the 2017 budget did not help matters.

    She also identified weak linkage between the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the 2017 budget.

    According to Hamalai, “Despite being a recession budget, the content of the budget does not differ from previous budgets-; it is characterized by opaqueness, frivolous spending, inadequate prioritization to mobilize resources to critical sectors such as health, education and infrastructure.

    “In some countries all non-essential spending and third party contracts were completely done away with.”

    The NILS DG also highlighted lack of continuity segmentation in capital projects which leads to opaqueness

    She said that Nigeria could adopt 25 per cent annually for heavy projects while light projects could be budgeted for within one year.

    The NILS DG who said that the fragmentation resources continue in the 2017 budget said that resources should be aggregated to key projects rather than diffused.

    The problem, she said, will persist as long as the current budget template subsists.

    The NILS DG acknowledged that undoubtedly the 2017 budget is a significant improvement on the 2016 budget with drastic cuts on wasteful spending.

     “However, more can be done to limit spending on controllable expenditure particularly during recession. This underscores the need for economic frugality as espoused by the APC led government of President Muhammadu Buhari.”  

  • Bonny Bodo: FG, NLNG, Julius Berger sign N120b tripartite agreement

    Bonny Bodo: FG, NLNG, Julius Berger sign N120b tripartite agreement

    The Federal Government has signed N120 billion tripartite agreement with the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to construct Bonny Bodo road in the Niger Delta.

    The contractual agreement will ensure the project is completed and delivered in four years.

    The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing made a commitment of N60 million for the project while NLNG will provide the remaining  N60 million to ensure successful completion of the project.

    Speaking at the agreement signing on Wednesday in Abuja, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola described the meeting as concluding part of the procurement process for the project execution.

    He said the gesture was in compliance with the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) of the federal government, commitment to develop the Niger Delta as well as the partnership with the private sector as major contributor to national growth.

    Fashola said: “Essentially we will formally sign the agreement today. It concluded the procurement process for starting the constructing process of the Bonny bridge.

    “This is important for many reasons. First, it complied with the ERGP which the President launched to revive the economy and one of the pillars of that plan is infrastructure provision….therefore NLNG has decided for reasons which you will hear from them to add funds on equal basis to the project to the value of N120.6 billion and they will be taking 50 per cent of the cost of delivering the project while government takes 50 percent of the cost.

    “This is a major statement in partnership with private sector to deliver public use. We gather here to improve the quality of lives in the Niger Delta, spend more in developing infrastructure. We assure that immediately work starts, we will start to see improvements in the various value chains.”

    In his remarks, NLNG Managing Director, Tony Attah, said the project will open the Niger Delta to new frontiers of development and secure better opportunities for the rural communities.

    He said the gesture was part if their efforts to contributing to the development of the region.

    According to him, the NLNG has drastically reduced gas flaring from over 65 per cent before it commenced operation to 20 per cent today.

    Beyond the project, he disclosed plans to make the Bonny mini-Dubai, such that a sum of N3 billion will be committed to the region for genuine development in the next 25 years.

    Attah attributed high poverty rate as major reason for unrest in the region stressing that the community still host major federal government investments

    “This is a 40 kilometres road that connects Bonny kingdom to Port Harcourt and open up the community to the rest of the world. If you live in Port Harcourt and  you want to visit Bonny, you can only do that through boat but now it will open it for greater opportunities,” he said.

    The Managing Director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Wolfgang Goetsch, said the tripartite agreement and the agreement between the construction firm and FMPWH have demonstrated government commitment to the nation’s development.

    He said local enterprises would be engaged to supply raw materials while the project wi also create jobs for the rural communities.

    Goetsch pledged timely delivery of the project in alignment with the contract agreement.

    “The contractual time for delivery of the project is four years if everything go as planned. We are already doing mobilisation and soil assessment, the dry season is approaching which is better for us in this type of project,” he added.