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Tag: Federal government

  • FG to commence payment of salary, promotion arrears of workers

    FG to commence payment of salary, promotion arrears of workers

    The Federal government is to commence the payment of salary arrears, promotion arrears and other entitlement of civil servants in the country on or before Wednesday, September 20, 2017 as a way of averting further strike by civil servants in the country.

    This was part of the four point agreement reached between the government and the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria to avert the proposed strike action by the union.

    However, while the government says that union has agreed to temporarily suspend the strike till Wednesday, President of the union, Bobboi Kaigama said the union was only being proactive, pointing out that if they fail to commence payment on Wednesday, the strike action will begin.

    A communique signed at the end of the meeting by the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour, Bolaji Adebiyi and National President of the Association, Bobboi Kaigama said a seven man committee is to be set up to monitor the implementation of the agreement.

    The communique reads: “Following the seven day ultimatum dated 8th September, 2017 issued by the Association of Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria on the issue of non-payment of salary arrears and other entitlements of public servants especially promotion arrears failing which the Association, propose to embark on an industrial action effective from Monday, 18th September, 2017, the Minister of Labour and Employment convened a conciliatory meeting on tuesday 12th September 2017.

    “Present at this meeting were all the 40 Chapter Chairmen of ASCSN branches and their Secretariat led by the President of ASCSN/TUC-Bobboi Bala Kaigama after an extensive deliberation on the issue of Public Servants unpaid promotion arrears and other entitlements.

    “At the end of the meeting, it was greed that Government will do all that is needed to ensure the commencement of payment of promotion arrears on or before Wednesday 20th September, 2017.

    “It was also agreed that the 30 Ministries, Department & Agencies (MDAs) that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) reported that have been cleared whose payment bill amounts to 1.165billion naira should start to receive credit of payment by Wednesday 20th September, 2017.

    “The OAGF should provide the list of the 30 MDAs that have been cleared to the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment and the Association by Wednesday, 13th September, 2017.

    “A seven man Committee to be chaired by the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment composed of 3 members from the Association and 3 from Government side to midwife, fine tune and monitor the implementation of these decisions.”

    Addressing the union before the commencement of the meeting, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige restated the unflinching commitment of the Buhari administration to the welfare of workers.

    He said: “the arrears in question accumulated for up to a decade but the President very much concerned about the welfare of the citizens resolved to settle the backlog, knowing that government is also a continuum. This is a government that has the interest of workers at heart, the very reason we stoically refused to retrench any civil servant despite dwindling resources we met and worsened by the recession”.

  • Make every Naira count, FG urges agencies

    Make every Naira count, FG urges agencies

    The federal government has urged Government Agencies to recognize the current financial priorities of the nation and cut their costs, eliminate wastages and block revenue leakages.

    Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun made the appeal at a one day workshop on “Compliance with Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 (As Amended) and Presidential Executive Order No.002 of 18th May, 2017 held at the Federal Ministry of Finance Auditorium Tuesday for heads of Public Revenue Generating Agencies (PRGA).

    The finance Minister warned agency heads that “under the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, ‘Every Naira Counts’ and that “whether funds were generated from oil or from fees” the same standard of accountability for public money would apply.”

    Adeosun explained that many agencies were engaged in quasi commercial activities on behalf of government and were therefore expected to manage those organisations in a manner that maximized operating surplus.

    She noted that in other countries like United Kingdom and United States of America, government functions such as VISA processing, Passport issuance, Company Registration and regulation were major revenue earners.

    However, in Nigeria many agencies were operating in such a manner that returned minimal funds to Government.

    Adeosun said the cause of these dwindling revenue include wastage, illegal recruitments, bloated expenses, loans to staff and use of expensive consultants.

    The Minister reminded Agencies that a Circular had been issued which restricted allowable expenses in line with reforms occurring across Government businesses.

    She further informed agencies that compliance checks would be undertaken regularly to ensure that all agencies adhere to the new requirements.

    Adeosun also commended a number of agencies that have improved considerably in their revenue remittance to the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF), these include the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) which had remitted over N5 billion and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) which has significantly improved its remittances.

    She encouraged other agencies to urgently review their operational cost and revenue with a view to increase remittances to Government coffers.

    Adeosun informed the participants that the Ministry of Finance planned to publish the performance of agencies.

    In his address, the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, also advised the Agencies to use Professional Treasury Officers in accounting proceedings to ensure efficiency in line with International Public Sector Accounting.

    Former Accountant General of the Federation, Chief Kayode Naiyeju encouraged heads of agencies to look inward and be more creative in generating revenue for the government.

     

  • Buhari to governors: no excuse on workers’ pay

    Buhari to governors: no excuse on workers’ pay

    • There are Nigerians who haven’t been paid for six months, says President
    • Governors got yesterday a subtle rebuke from the President.
    • He urged them to ensure payment of salaries to workers and pension to retirees.

    The Federal Government has released N760.17 billion in two tranches of the Paris Club loan refund to states for outstanding salaries and pensions but some governors are believed to have spent the cash on other things.

    President Muhammadu Buhari told traditional rulers at a meeting in Abuja that he was “living with the problems of this country day-by-day, and mostly those of the ordinary people”.

    “There are Nigerians that haven’t been paid for six months; there are Nigerians that have not been paid their retirement benefits for years.

    “I’m appealing to the governors (that was why we voted money; we borrowed money), please make sure anybody under you, pay them because most of them depend on that salary to pay rent, school fees,’’ he said.

    He stressed that the mismanagement of the national revenue over the years was responsible for the economic challenges facing the nation.

    Buhari promised to pursue programmes and projects that would better the lot of Nigerians. Nigeria, he said, should use its huge population to advantage.

    The President spoke also on security, saying all hands were on deck to secure the country.

    On unity, he said: “We know our limitations, we have to continue to strengthen our constitution, to strengthen the resolve of our people to live together, work together.

    On agriculture and this year’s planting season, Buhari said: “We are lucky this year than last year and this year the rainy season is good. If it were not good I must confide in you that I was considering which country to run to.

    “But God answered the prayers of many Nigerians. The rainy season last year was good and this year, with the report I’m getting, it is good. We thank God for that; otherwise, there would have been a lot of problems in this country.”

    Members of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria were led to the meeting by Sultan of Sokoto Sa’ad Abubakar III, who thanked God for bringing the President back in sound health. He urged the President to tighten his belt and take on the mantle of leadership.

    He said with a monarch from each of the gropolitical zone assuring Buhari of their support, the President should take their comments as honest and the tonic he needed to work hard for the nation.

    He said: “We will continue to preach peace and stability, justice, transparency and accountability and anti-corruption.”

    One traditional ruler each from the six goe-political zones spoke at the meeting.

    For the Southwest, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwunsi, thanked God for the President’s safe return and for restoring him to good  health. Buhari was away in London for medical reasons. He spent 103 days.

    He said: “From the Southwest, we thank God for your life and we pledge  to support you from our communities because we are closer to our people. We will continue to preach to our people that we should continue to foster peace in our country. We will continue to caution our youths against hate speeches.

    “We cannot leave the development of the country all to the government but we have to work hand in hand. We assure you that we will support all your initiatives.”

    For the Northwest the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, said the traditional rulers identified with Buhari’s commitment to national security.

    For the Southsouth, the Jaja of Opobo said: “We express our commitment to your programmes.

    “We know there is tension here and there, but as traditional rulers, we don’t eat politics. The economy has to be fixed. Coming from the region that produces the mainstay of the economy, even though the country will soon diversify the economy, before we diversify let’s protect the one that we still have.

    “We are pleased to work for peace and stability of the region so that we can all see the benefits of the commodity.”

    For Northcentral, the Gbom Gwom Jos, Jacob Buba Gyang, also thanked God for  bringing the President back to celebrate Sallah with fellow Nigerians.

    He said: “The issues of health and security are not issues to play politics with, but issues in which we should put heads together so that the country can progress.

    “We commend your efforts on security and agriculture.

    “Few days ago, just when we thought peace had returned to the plateau up, it was truncated with the attack on Ancha village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, leading to 20 deaths.”

    Gyang praised the President for ordering the security agencies to fish out those responsible for the attacks.

    Speaking for the Southeast, South East Traditional Council Chairman Eberechi Dick  said: “Our hearts are full of joy that you are back. You shook our hands when you came in and that shows you believe in one Nigeria. We prayed for you and you are back. We prayed for you because your agenda for Nigeria is good.

    “As your children, when we cry, it is for you to ask us to stop crying, that you will fix whatever is making us cry like the bad roads.”

    Speaking for the Northeast, the Lamido Adamawa, said Nigerians were happy to have the President back to the country hale and hearty.

    “God brought you back to Nigeria and we are all very happy. We will continue to pray for God to strengthen you more and give you the courage to continue to do more for the country,” he said.

  • FG gives conditions for further support to states 

    FG gives conditions for further support to states 

    …RMAFC designing new sources of revenue for states and LGs

     

    The federal government has warned state and local governments that further financial support to them will be based on how well they implement the 22 Action points of the Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP).

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made this declaration Monday in Abuja at a workshop organized by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) on alternative sources of revenue generation for sustainable development in states and local government councils in Nigeria.

    Represented by the finance minister Kemi Adeosun, Osinbajo noted that “independent monitoring and evaluation of states against agreed milestones under the FSP, has been conducted and further consideration for support to states, will be solely dependent on reports from this exercise.”

    The Vice President stated that “fiscal discipline, improved revenue generation, rational allocation and efficient use of resources, must be strategies adhered to by every tier of government if we must return to a path of sustainable growth.”

    The 22-Point FSP for states and local governments he said “was introduced and acceded to by states governments in 2016 with the view to enhancing fiscal prudence and transparency in public expenditure, monitoring the ongoing public financial management reforms being undertaken by the federal government.”

    Osinbajo added that the strategic objective 2 of the FSP was focused on improving public revenues, requiring each state to set realistic and achievable targets for improving Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from all revenue generating activities of the state in addition to tax collection.”

    The idea he said; “was for each state government to look inwards and come up with a plan that was best suited for their states based on available resources.”

    Other action points for the state governments include privatization of state owned enterprises, establishment of efficiency units to reduce overhead expenditures, biometric capture of all civil servants, implementation of continuous audit to reduce revenue leakages and measures to achieve sustainable debt management.

    Earlier in his address, the Acting Chairman of the RMAFC, Alhaji Shettima Umar Abba-Gana, said the commission was designing new additional sources of revenue and ways and means of generating and collecting these revenues for the benefit of the states and local governments.

    He lamented that the challenges of a troubled economy, occasioned by drastic fall in the international price of crude oil, the fall in the level of oil production security challenges and General drop in national productivity negatively affected the inflow of funds into the Federation Account.

    Abba-Gana expressed optimism that in due course, the over dependence on statutory transfers of funds from the Federation Account for governance by the states and local governments will begin to reduce.

     

  • FG targets 86 million dollars revenue from Space Satellite

    FG targets 86 million dollars revenue from Space Satellite

    The Federal Government has repositioned the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) for global competitiveness to enable it generate an annual revenue of 86 million dollars into government coffers, the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu has said.

    The Minister made the disclosure during the inauguration of three Executive Directors of NIGCOMSAT in his office.

    A statement from the Director of Public Affairs in the Ministry, Pauline Sule quoted the Minister as saying that ever since the launch of NIGCOMSAT 1R in 2011, several efforts have been made to optimizing the value of the satellite limited success.

    “Of note, however has been the recent initiative to introduce Direct-To-Home Television Broadband and Global Positioning Services in the first robust attempt to commercialise NIGCOMSAT 1R and appropriately position the Company in global $86 million annual revenue industry”, the Minister added.

    According to him, the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) is now a competitive commercial service provider, and is capable of managing government investment in communications satellite through commercialization of the services of the satellite.

    Shittu congratulated the Managing Director, newly appointed Executive Directors and the entire management staff of NIGCOMSAT for putting all hands on deck and cooperate with one another to ensure the successful commercialization of NIGCOMSAT.

    He expressed optimism that NIGCOMSAT would be self-funding as well as a source of major revenue generation to the Federal Government.

    The Managing Director NIGCOMSAT, Abimbola Alale represented by Mr Shehu Malami Bello congratulated and welcomed the newly appointed Executive Director’s, and expressed readiness to work with them.

    And she said that the newly appointed Executive Director’s would resume work immediately.

    The three newly appointed Executive Directors are; Mr Kazeem Kola Raji, Alhaji Mohammad Lema Abubakar and Barr. Samson Osagie.

    In his vote of thanks on behalf of the Executive Directors, Alhaji Mohammed Lema Abubakar lauded the Federal Government for their appointment and promised that they would work hard to deliver the expected goals.

  • FG to launch new Family Planning Campaign

    FG to launch new Family Planning Campaign

    The Federal Government is set towards achieving its goals of decreasing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rate by ensuring that about 7.3 million women have access to family planning in the country.

    The Director, Family Health Planning, Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Dr Abebimpe Adebiyi, said during a news conference on Friday in Abuja sa that the campaign, would close the contraceptive gap in the country.

    The FMoH plans to do this with the use of a new National Family Planning Communication Campaign.

    Adebiyi noted that the fear of side effect, norms and belief, misconception among others were the major factors affecting the use of contraceptives in Nigeria.

    She also said that most Nigerians did not have the basic knowledge about the importance of family planning.

    “Years after the first National Family Planning Campaign was launched, Nigeria has remained stagnated.

    “The significant gaps still persist between knowledge and contraceptive use thereby creating marginal shifts in unmet needs for family planning in the country,”  she said.

    Adebiyi also said that the new campaign with ” The Green dot” would serve as the official marker for public and private locations where people can obtain family planning services that are Safe, affordable and effective in Nigeria.

    The Director, Media and Public Relations,FMoH, Mrs Boade Akinola, urged the media to address misconception about family planning by educating people on the effects and to promote empathy and understanding among men.

    Boade also called on the media to create awareness on other likely effects of lack of family planning like the socio-economic and health issues, to push the family planning issues to the mainstream agenda.

    “The media most often targets reproductive health programming at women or speak about family planning and other health issues at programs that target women.

    “However, evidence shows that the decision on whether or not to adopt family planning is made by the husbands,” She said.

    Boade, therefore, pointed out that men needed to also be educated on how to assist their spouses.

    She noted that promoting family planning is beyond profit making and it places a duty on any organisation or individual to act in the best interests of the environment in which it operates.

    The new campaign has a new logo, “a green dot.” it is simple, easy to describe, easy to remember and not Illustrative.

  • Court outlaws cash payment for services

    Court outlaws cash payment for services

    The Federal High Court has outlawed cash payment for all its services.

    It has accordingly barred all officials working in its account departments and payment points nationwide from accepting cash for payment for any service rendered.

    The court said it has provided means of electronic payment including computers and Point of Sale (POS) devices in it cash offices in addition to the bank option.

    It said the new practice was informed by the cashless policy of the Federal Government.

    The information is contained in an undated circular issued by the court and pasted on all notice boards at the headquarters building of court in Abuja Friday.

    The circular signed by N. A. Mba-Omotosho is titked: “No more cash collection by staff of this honourable court for any form of official transaction from litigants and counsel requiring the services of the court.”

    It reads: ” I have been directed to inform all the Deputy Chief Registrars, Assistant Chief Registrars and Station Registrars that, in consonance with the Federal Government cashless policy, there shall be no longer be cash transaction on payment of any court fees from litigants and counsel henceforth.

    “To enhance better collection of revenue, the court has provided computers and POS to all the divisions, and no Secretary is permitted to type affidavits to any litigant or lawyer.

    “A litigant can pay to the bank after the RRR has been generated where the POS fails to respond in Federal High Court Cash office.

    “The Deputy Chief Registrars, Assistant Chief Registrars, Station Registrars and Account Staff are to strictly comply with this circular.”

  • ‘Gas flaring in Nigeria to end soon’

    ‘Gas flaring in Nigeria to end soon’

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has said that plans to end gas flaring in the country has reached advanced stage through the National Gas Flaring Commercialisation Programme.

    It said 48 sites across the Niger Delta region have been identified in the first phase where the gas would be harnessed for cooking, electricity and other industrial use.

    This was disclosed by Special Adviser to the President Muhammadu Buhari, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh,  at Gelegele in Ovia North East local government where he inaugurated a borehole project.

    Brig-General Boroh stated that 36, 000 direct jobs as well as 200, 000 indirect jobs would be created in Niger Delta region alone from the ending of gas flaring.

    Boroh who is also the National Co-ordinator of the Amnesty programme said the programme would be private sector driven.

    He noted that six million households would have access to clean and renewable energy in the Niger Delta when the programme is implemented.

    Boroh assured the people that President Buhari was committed to the development of the Niger Delta region by ensuring implementation of programmes that would uplift the people.

    He noted that part of the plans to end attacks on oil pipelines was to ensure that pipelines monitoring and protection are community driven.

    According to him, “I want  you all to know that the government is quite disturbed about the health and environmental impact of  gas flaring and is working hard to put an end to this very soon.

    “Through this programme also, 6 million house hold would have access to a clean and renewable energy.

    “For the pipeline security scheme, it is going to be community driven. The community People where we have these oil installations and facilities are expected to drive this process.

    The modalities for this is still being worked out.

    “For the modular refinery which is also going to be private driven, it is being initiated in order to put an end to the menace of illegal refinery. The blue print on this will be out soon,” he stated.

    Zonal President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Robinson Ogunkoru, called for the establishment of amnesty office in Edo State.

    He appealed for pipeline surveillance slot for INC in Edo as well as provision of skill acquisition center in five Okay clan of Edo.

  • Strike: FG, ASUU reach compromise

    Strike: FG, ASUU reach compromise

    The Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities ( ASUU ) have reached a fresh agreement that will see striking lecturers going back to the classroom within the shortest possible time.

    At a conciliatory meeting coordinated by the Minister of a Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, the government agreed to commence immediate payment of salary shortfall to the lecturers as well as the payment of quarterly revitalisation funds to universities immediately.

    The ASUU leaders however promised to communicate the decisions reached at the meeting which started at 1.40pm on Thursday and lasted for about 15 hours to its National Executive Council with a view to calling of the strike and reconvene a meeting with government.within one week.

    Details later

  • FG tasks states, LG’s on flood challenges

    FG tasks states, LG’s on flood challenges

    The Federal Government has urged States and Local Governments to apply necessary environmental regulations in their areas to guard against recurrence of flood.

    The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

    “Well, let me say that by the nature of our governance structure, each tier of government has its laws. In addition to the federal government, they also have their laws.

    “So I am sure all the states of the federation have environmental laws that guard against what is happening especially issues like erecting buildings on the watercourse.

    “So, I don’t think they need to be reminded of this; they just need to make sure that their agencies are making the necessary surveillance and kind of regulating this development.

    “Number two issues like cleaning of drainages and so; I think this is something that everybody should do not only the government at state or local government level, even the community themselves should be involved.

    “Why do we have environmental sanitation in many states, it is for them to be able to do this and we know that this thing is going to happen and they are the ones directly affected.

    “Why must they wait for the government to come and do this thing for them and what are the local governments doing.

    “But let me also say that the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) we normally provide is not for show. It is serious government’s business to alert the nation of what is likely to come.

    “And then it is the responsibility of those sub-national governments to take it up from there.

    “We have shared the information with everybody, with all the states. It’s their responsibility to take it down to the local governments. “

    Adamu said that the dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue were part of government’s effort at curbing the menace of flood in the country.

    “We approved such an idea to dredge Rivers Niger and Benue which we have found very useful and we will do a lot to safeguard the banks of the rivers and the communities downstream from excessive flooding,“ the minister said.