The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal government

  • Reps to FG: Reconstitute boards of agencies, parastatals now

    Reps to FG: Reconstitute boards of agencies, parastatals now

    The House of Representatives Wednesday urged the Federal Government to , as a matter of urgency, reconstitute the boards of agencies and parastatals so as to facilitate good governance in the country.

    The House also mandated its committee on Governmental Affairs to ensure implementation and report back to it within four weeks for further legislative action.

    The resolutions of the House followed a motion by a member, Hon. Abdullahi Umar Faruk with the title: “Urgent need to Re-constitute the Boards of Parastatals and Agencies in Order to hasten Good Governance,” which passed with majority votes on the floor.

    While moving the motion, Faruk noted that “Section 5 (1) (a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 vests executive powers of the Federation in the President which he can exercise either directly or through the Vice President and Ministers of the Government of the Federation or officers in the public service of the Federation

    “The Boards of Parastatals are saddled with the daunting task of setting out broad economic, financial, operational and administrative guidelines and targets for their various Agencies as well as managing policy issues, monitoring of institutional projects, programmes and ensuring that the parastatals’ mandates are realized.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari dissolved the Governing Boards of Government Agencies and Parastatals on July 16, 2015 and the Chief Executive Officers of the affected agencies/parastatals were directed to refer all matters requiring the attention of the Boards to the President, through the Permanent Secretaries, until the Boards are reconstituted.”

    The lawmaker said that the absence of the Boards of these Parastatals, including the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), National Universities Commission (NUC), among others has created major challenges to the operations of the agencies since critical decisions that need the Board’s attention in the face of the current economic recession are left unattended to.

    “The continued failure to reconstitute the Boards poses great economic disservice to the nation and the directive for matters requiring the attention of the Boards to be referred to the President is unwieldy and will tend to over labour the President, thereby slowing the pace of the work of the parastatals,” the lawmaker said.

    Members like the Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor , Chairperson, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnena Elendu- Ukeje, Edward Pwajok, Sadiq Ibrahim and Ogene Egoh, amongst others, supported the motion.

    When the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a vote, it was passed without dissent.

  • Senate seeks immediate teaching of history, civic education in schools

    Senate seeks immediate teaching of history, civic education in schools

    The Senate Tuesday resolved to ask the Federal Government to implement the immediate inclusion of history and civic education in the curriculum of secondary schools in the country.

    The upper chamber reasoned that the teaching of history and civic education would inculcate the spirit of Pan Africanism in youths.

    The lawmakers also urged the African Union (AU) to set aside a day for the celebration of former President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and other Pan Africanists.

    This followed the consideration and adoption of a motion entitled “Need to include Pan-Africanism in Nigerian secondary school curriculum” sponsored by Senator Shehu Sani, (Kaduna Central)

    The lawmakers noted that the struggle for unity in Africa as championed by the founding fathers of the continent was fast evaporating the psych of Nigerian youths.

    Senator Sani drew the attention of his colleagues to what he called the rapid evaporation of spirit of Pan Africanism in the mind of the youths.

    He noted that the inclusion of Pan Africanism in schools will “ensure that we do not voluntarily surrender the dream of the founding fathers of Africa.”

    Senator Sani told his colleagues that the dreams of these founding fathers may disappear if the children are not inspired about pan Africanism.

    He said “Nigeria as the giant of Africa which has helped many countries to attain self-rule, there is the need to include the spirit of Pan Africanism in Nigerian child to be nurtured in a manner that we can continue to be our brother keepers.”

    The lawmakers adopted the prayer that a day should be set aside in the country and other African countries for the celebration of the founding fathers of the continent.

  • FG takes over educational, professional goals of 21 Chibok girls

    FG takes over educational, professional goals of 21 Chibok girls

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday said that the Federal Government will henceforth take over the educational and professional needs of the 21 Chibok girls recently released by Boko Haram.

    He gave the promise while receiving the girls at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the girls have experienced the worst of life and now should be able to get the best the world can offer.

    Details later…

  • Buhari vows to provide counterpart funding for infrastructure development

    Buhari vows to provide counterpart funding for infrastructure development

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said that the Federal Government is ready to provide counterpart funding for all agreements reached with the People’s Republic of China to fast- track ongoing efforts in closing infrastructure gaps.

    He gave the assurance while speaking with the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Pingjian, at the presentation of Letters of Credence ceremony at the State House, Abuja.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, commended the readiness of the Chinese public and private sectors to invest in Nigeria, especially in areas that directly improve the livelihood of Nigerians.

    He said: ‘‘we really appreciate the efforts of the Chinese government and its people in supporting Nigeria’s development by always seeking to improve our bilateral relations.

    ‘‘We are also happy that China is working with Nigeria as partners in progress. We will work hard to always meet the counterpart funding for all the agreements reached during my visit to China in April, as we look forward to stronger ties,’’ the President said.

    He also noted that the relationship between Nigerian and China had over the years bolstered the country’s economy through technology and skills transfer in areas like rail, road and energy constructions.

    The President said Nigeria was ready to receive prospective investors from China who had signified interest in the country.

    Speaking earlier, the Chinese ambassador said he had been inundated with so many requests by investors from his country who had been ‘‘falling over one another” to explore business opportunities in Nigeria.

    Pingjian said the investors had been attracted by the ‘‘remarkable and audacious’’ change process that President Buhari’s administration implemented in safeguarding security, fighting corruption and restoring integrity and sanctity in all public sector transactions.

    President Buhari also received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria, Mr. Warner Senfter; Ambassador of the State of Israel, Mr. Guy Feldman and Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Mr. Jens-Petter Kjemprud.

  • AUN commends FG over released Chibok girls

    AUN commends FG over released Chibok girls

    The American University of Nigeria (AUN) at the weekend commended the Federal Government on the release of 21 Chibok Girls kidnapped by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno state in 2014.

    AUN President, Margee Ensign made the commendation in a statement issued by the Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Daniel Okereke, in Abuja on Sunday.

    She commended the government for its ongoing efforts to seek the release of the remaining women, and urged authorities to work tirelessly to free those still being held.

    “The American University of Nigeria (AUN) today hailed the news that 21 young women kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists were released 913 days after their abduction from the village of Chibok in the country’s northeast.

    “I am thrilled that the young women have been released and hope that after they recover they are able to continue their lives and education in peace.

    “We stand ready to help rebuild the lives of all of these young women and their families,” Prof Ensign said in the statement.

    She stated that the institution has a special bond with all of the victims and their families, adding that 24 of the 58 girls who escaped been kidnapped are now studying at the institution.

    “AUN has a special bond with all of the victims and their families. Of the 58 young women who escaped that night in April 2014, 24 are now studying at AUN on full scholarships provided by a donor from the U.S.

    “They are placed under a preparatory Foundation program at AUN where they receive specialized tutoring in English and math. Last year two of the young women were admitted into the university’s undergraduate programs, having met JAMB requirement, and four more were fully enrolled this fall,” she said.

    One of the escaped Chibok girl who is studying medicine at the university expressed happiness in the release of the girls.

    “We are happy beyond words that some of our sisters and friends are now free. We hope and pray that those still held will be given their freedom soon, and that some will join us here so that we can all work to rebuild our home,” she said in the statement.

    “AUN does not release the identities of the students for security reasons,” the statement added.

  • Chibok girls: FG will provide medical care – Minister

    Chibok girls: FG will provide medical care – Minister

    The Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole has said that the Federal Government has the capacity to provide quality medical care to the 21 released Chibok girls, and those to be released later.

    The Minister stated this when he visited the released Chibok girls in Abuja, to assess their wellbeing.

    He said that the girls were in one of the excellent medical facilities in Abuja, and a team of Medical Doctors, Nurses, Psychologists, Oncologist and other professionals from the Ministry, National Hospital and Federal Medical Centre, Jabi Abuja are attending to them.

    “This facility is one of the excellent facilities you can have around; we have assembled a team of professionals with support from National Hospital and Federal Medical Centre Jabi, Abuja to look after them.”

    The Minister said that the team would monitor the girls in the next couple of days to ensure that their health status improves, including paying attention to their nutritional support and subsequent integration into the society.

    Earlier, in his remarks, the Majority Leader, Senator Muhammad Ali Ndume, Senator Representing Borno South, Borno State commended the Federal Ministry of Health for their prompt response in the at provision of medical care to the girls immediately they were brought to the hospital.

    He said: ‘’ I was excited with at the level of response from the Federal Ministry of Health, it means that appropriate things have been done when the girls were brought here, that is why the responses are visible in them”.

    While calling on Nigerians to show love and support to the 21 released Chibok girls, he expressed delight that there is a clear difference between when they were brought into the hospital and now.

    “It is quite clear that their physical condition has improved and their health status has also improved,” he added.

  • FG raises panel for revenue on voice and data traffic

    FG raises panel for revenue on voice and data traffic

    The Federal Government has inaugurated an inter-Ministerial Committee on International Gateway Management Service to enable the government earn revenue from international voice and data traffic.

    According to the Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, revenues earned from the sector would argument for the shortfalls from the nation’s earnings in the oil and gas sector.

    The Minister while inaugurating the committee in Abuja lamented that the steep drop in revenue derivable from oil resources has impacted negatively on the economy and resulted partly in the current recession Nigeria is going through.

    “Apart from the importance of tracking incoming and outgoing voice and data traffic to and from Nigeria, there is the need to ensure the Federal Government derives appropriate revenue from international voice and data traffic”, the Minister asserted.

    The Minister, in a statement signed by the Assistant Director of Information, Ozoya Imohimi, urged the Committee to discharge its responsibilities effectively in the interest of the country, saying the Committee should get to work immediately.

    The statement reads: “the Committee is chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Communications, Arc. Sonny Echono, while members are drawn from Federal Ministry of Communications, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Justice, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Department of State Services (DSS), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Galaxy Backbone Limited.

    “The Committee is expected to work out modalities and framework including agreement between the Federal Government and the Gateway Service Manager for actualizing deployment of Gateway Communications tracking technology in Nigeria.

    “However, the report of the Committee is expected within a month from the date of its inaugural meeting.

    “It should be noted that the Gateway represents the access of the Country to the world and it can be connected either through satellite, marine or through international fibre cables.

    “The exclusivity of the Gateway for incoming and outgoing international traffic to the Government will result in restoration of lost revenues through proper management, prohibiting illegal Gateways to operate hence achieving more control over security issues”.

  • FG promises education, employment for 21 Chibok girls

    FG promises education, employment for 21 Chibok girls

    The Federal Government on Thursday promised to facilitate education and employment of the 21 Chibok girls released by Boko Haram.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the promise when he visited the girls in Abuja.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo also told the girls that President Muhammadu Buhari was very excited with their release from captivity.

    He said: “Welcome back girls. I am sure you know that the whole country has been waiting for you to come back, all these many months, the whole country has been waiting that one day we will see you again and we are very happy to see you back!

    “We are going to bring your parents; your parents will be coming here to join you. You can’t immediately be taken out of here because we need to be sure that you are in very good health.

    “I am sure you are going to be very well taken care of. We have provided very good accommodation for you where you will stay where you will sleep and your parents will come and meet you there also.

    “We are also going to see to it that everything that you require going forward, perhaps your education, those who need to go back to school, those who need to find employment, we are going to make sure that we make all the provisions for you.” He added

    He said that the Federal Government is very committed to their rescue and welfare.

    “The president in particular, has asked me to tell you, how excited he is. When you were away, he kept saying that if it were his daughter he wouldn’t even know what to do.

    “So we are all very excited that you are here. We are all happy that God has preserved your lives and brought you back.

    “We know that very soon all will be well and I am sure that when you meet with your parents they will be very excited to meet you,” he said.

    The Vice President told the girls that the government has already contacted their parents who will soon join them.

    “So we are all looking forward to how you are going to settle in very nicely. The doctors have all the kinds of treatment that you will need, so you are all welcome back and we are all very excited to see,”  he stated.

    The Vice President had earlier prayed for the girls.

    The names of the 21 girls, according to another statement, included Mary Usman Bulama, Jummai John, Blessing Abana, Luggwa Sanda, Comfort Habila, Maryam Basheer, Comfort Amos, Glory Mainta, Saratu Emmanuel.

    Others include Deborah Ja’afaru (whose baby’s name is Bukar Amos), Rahab Ibrahim, Helen Musa, Maryamu Lawan, Rebecca Ibrahim, Asabe Goni, Deborah Andrawus, Agnes Gapani, Saratu Markus, Glory Dama, Pindah Nuhu and Rebecca Mallam.

  • Reps to FG: Declare state of emergency on Kidnapping

    Reps to FG: Declare state of emergency on Kidnapping

    The House of Representatives Wednesday urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on Kidnapping in the country.

    According to the Green Chamber, the Federal Government “should urgently convene a security summit that will include all security agencies, all GSM service providers, the House committees on National Intelligence, Army, Airforce, Navy, Police and Communication to fashion an effective response to the kidnapping phenomenon.”

    The lawmakers also advised the Federal Government to make provisions for the purchase of sophisticated equipment especially those used for tracking in the 2017 budget in order to militate against kidnappers.

    The resolution of the House which was passed unanimously by the members was sequel to a motion sponsored under Matters of Urgent National Importance by a member Hon.  Babatunde Gabriel Kolawole (APC Ondo State)

    Kolawole while  moving the motion, noted that  in the last ten years, the incidence of Kidnapping for ransom in the country has escalated to a very disturbing level and has reached a point where no one is safe anymore.

    The lawmaker noted that NYA International, a London-based firm that gathers intelligence on crime reports that in the first half of 2013, alone, Nigeria had the most kidnap attempts in the world, accounting for 26% of all such recorded incidents, followed by Mexico with 10%, and Pakistan with 7%.

    ” As at 2014, Nigeria was number 5 on the global kidnapping hotspots.,” he said

    Kolawole gave the list of prominent people kidnapped in the past to include amongst others include: “Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s foster father, 72-year-old Inengite Nitabai, Kaduna State House of Assembly member, Ibrahim Ismail, Margaret Emefiele, wife of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Former Minister of Environment Laurencia Mallam and her husband Pius Mallam , House of Representatives member from Katsina, Hon Sani Bello Mashi,

    Others, he said included  Mike Ozekhome, Archbishop Ignatius Kattey and his wife, Mrs. Kamene Okonjo, Mother of Former Finance Minister, Chief Olu Falae and that “thousands of other unreported cases of kidnapping had occurred because of people’s distrust of the Police and the believe they’re in partnership with kidnappers.”

    The lawmaker said “some victims are deliberately executed when ransom is not forthcoming or security agents move in, while some are killed even after ransom has been paid, making kidnapping the new face of terrorism.

    “Presently, school children are no longer safe as the shown by the kidnapping 3 female students from Babington Macaulay Junior Seminary School in Ikorodu, Lagos State on Monday February 29th this year; and also two principals and students of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla,  Épe, Lagos who were kidnapped early hours of Thursday October 6, 2016.”

    Kolawole expressed concern that Nigeria is now seen as the Kidnap capital of the world having risen from 475 reported cases in 2011, 500 in 2012 to presently over 1, 500 cases annually.

    “These records no doubt affect the tourism and investment potentials of Nigeria which is trying to diversify its revenue base as some countries issue constant travel warnings to their citizens about Nigeria.

    Members who supported the motion include, the Deputy leader, Buba Jibrin, Minority Leader, Leo Ogor,  Chief whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa, the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Orker Jev, Chairman House Committee on Drugs and Narcotics, Jagaba Adams Jagaba, Diri Douye, Tope Olayonu amongst others.

    In order to ensure compliance, the House mandated its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance and report back to the House within three weeks.

  • Power: FG to concession eight dams

    The Federal Government Wednesday said it has earmarked eight hydropower dams for concession in order to improve power generation.

    The hydropower dams, the government said, will be handed over to the unnamed firms soon.

    Assistant Director, Hydropower in the office of Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this when officials from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources carried out a familiarization tour to Bakolori Irrigation Scheme in Talata Mafara, Zamfara state.

    Aliyu said the ministry of power, works and housing was partnering with Federal Ministry of Water Resources to increase power generation in the country.

    “Eight hydropower dams have been earmarked to be concessioned on power generation. It will take effect soon,” he said.

    Earlier, Project Coordinator, Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING), Mr. Peter Manjuk, said about six states will benefit from the irrigation project.

    The states include Zamfara, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Gombe.

    He said the project is targeted at rehabilitating all existing dams to make them meet irrigation and hydropower needs of the country.

    Manjuk noted that Nigeria must get it right if it hopes to meet the demands of food production and food security.

    He stated that despite huge investments on dams and irrigation in the country by the government, Nigeria had not achieved any meaningful socio-economic impact, adding that there was need for deliberate efforts to meet this target.

    He stressed the need for farmers to take ownership of all irrigation projects to enable them boost food production at its optimum level.

    The project coordinator said the World Bank sponsored project has begun rehabilitation of the Bakolori irrigation scheme, adding that it would be completed within three years.

    Project Manager of Bakolori Irrigation Scheme, Alhaji Lawal Maidoki, said since 1983 that the dam was created, it had been providing domestic water supply to Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.

    Maidoki said there was need for investors to come in to rehabilitate the dam towards improving food production, flood control and power generation.

    He said the dam was faced with low workforce, due to retirement, and infrastructure vandalisation, calling for improved security to reverse this trend.

    Maidoki added that with the TRIMING project, farmers would put in their best to increase food production.

    Federal Government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Songhai Farms Limited in Porto Novo to reposition the River Basins across the country.

    Part of the provision is the introduction of the Graduate and youth empowerment scheme to boost food security.