The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal government

  • FG to tackle food security via technology

    FG to tackle food security via technology

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has re-stated the commitment of the Federal Government to utilise the application of Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) to increase food production.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, signed by Mr Taye Akinyemi , the Deputy Director of Press in the ministry.

    Onu was speaking when the organising committee of Africa Technology and Agribusiness Forum 2016 paid him a courtesy visit.

    Onu pledged to support the committee to ensure that Nigeria had a successful hosting of the Forum.

    He said STI could help to harness available raw materials in the country to curtail insecurity, unemployment and poverty.

    “We are working closely with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to ensure that we start processing food crops by making sure food available is all year round.

    “We are also looking inward to start using local raw materials,” he said.

    The minister noted that science and technology were very crucial to ensuring that farming became a business.

    According to him, technology is needed to determine space, land preparation and management.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Mr. Samuel Olaniyan, said that the visit was to seek support from the ministry on the hosting of the 13th edition of Africa Agribusiness Forum tagged “Agribusiness 2016” in Nigeria.

    According to him, the forum is an international meeting that will involve agricultural sector, investors, producers, financiers, agro- services providers, researchers, innovators, technologists and policy makers, among others.

    He said hosting of the forum in Nigeria would attract huge investment into agricultural enterprise into the country.

    “It will strengthen the nation’s import substitution programme making the economy less-dependent on imports and turning Nigeria into a major exporter of processed agricultural products,”he said.

    Olaniyan said that the forum would be anchored by the European Marketing Research Council (EMRC) of Brussels, Belgium in partnership with the hosting government and international institutions as co-sponsors.

  • Nigeria, Sudan to deepen relations in culture, creative sectors

    Nigeria, Sudan to deepen relations in culture, creative sectors

    The Federal Government will deepen relations with Sudan in the culture and creative sectors for economic development of the two countries, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said.

    The minister disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja when he received the Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ibrahim-Bushra Ali.

    Mohammed said that Nigeria and Sudan, though not neighbours, were kindred and have cultural affiliation and exchange through education.

    He added that many Sudanese traced their origin to Nigeria and vice versa, while there were many Nigerians that studied and some still studying in Sudan.

    The minister said that the two countries would strengthen ties for economic gains, noting that “it is about time we change our concept on economic relations. It should go beyond the buying of oil, machinery and other physical items.

    “We must look at the creative industry as the area where both countries can improve relations to make up for the deficit in economic relations that we are complaining about.

    “After the global economic meltdown which led to decline in manufacturing and production industries, there has been significant increase in the export of creative goods globally.”

    The minister explained that Nigeria would work out a modality for the development of Sudanese films using the “Kannywood’’ (Hausa movies), which is very popular and acceptable in Sudan.

    Earlier, the Sudanese ambassador had told the minister that the relationship between Nigeria and Sudan was that of “kinship and blood’’ and there were more than five million Sudanese living in Nigeria.

    He said many Sudanese of Nigerian origin occupied sensitive and key positions in Sudan, adding that thousands of Nigerians were also studying in his country.

    Ali stressed the need for both countries to revitalise relations in the economic sector.

  • Humanitarian crisis: FG to partner Rock Star artist

    Humanitarian crisis: FG to partner Rock Star artist

    *Famous Irish artist commends Buhari’s social investment programmes, transparency

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday said that the Federal Government will welcome a global partnership that would ensure a concerted and focused international response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the insurgency in the North-Eastern region of the country.

    He made the remark while receiving members of the ONE campaign led by the international Rock Star artist Bono, and Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and former UK Development Secretary Douglas Alexander, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    They were at the State House to discuss the possibilities of a global partnership to address the crisis through international advocacy.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande,  Osinbajo noted that it was important that they came to offer some partnership.

    He said: “This is great and we are pleased…Partnership is certainly the way to go.”

    According to him, no matter how prepared a country could be, handling the kind of crisis in the North-East with two million displaced people including children, as a single country “would be irresponsible.”

    He however said that a global partnership to address the situation should be coordinated and more focused on what is required to be done, for instance, in addressing the issue of malnourished children and not attempting to do too much things at once.

    Speaking earlier the Irish born artist Bono said he has visited some of the IDPs and said “we want to be useful to you,”

    He stressed that what he saw in the region was “deeply disturbing.”

    Bono also commended the social investment programmes of the Buhari administration saying “we have heard of the incredible plans, the social investment funds,”

    He said that the level of transparency already seen in the administration is very exciting and transforming.

    The ONE campaign is an advocacy organization with more than seven million people around the world taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable diseases especially in Africa.

    It has on its board people like Mo Ibrahim, Bill Gates, Michael Bloomberg among others. It was founded in 2004.

  • JAMB set to upload names of successful candidates

    JAMB set to upload names of successful candidates

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it will soon commence the uploading names of candidates who have been offered admission into tertiary institution on their website.

    The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

    According to him, the board will ensure that Nigerian children are not unjustly denied admission in any institution of their choice.

    He said that the names of candidates that had satisfactorily met the admission rules and regulations of the institutions and that of the Federal Government would be uploaded soon.

    “We have just concluded a five-day Technical Committee meeting on Admission that started on Aug. 22 at the Bayero University Kano.

    “A lot was deliberated upon and at the end everything came out successful.

    “We have ensured that the admissions are done in line with the set rules and regulations as provided by the Federal Government and the various institutions.

    “We are aware that the function of admission of candidates is solely the job of the Senates of institutions and what we do as a board is to see the guidelines used in admitting the candidates and ensure ratification.

    “We are passionate about ensuring that no candidate that meets any of the admission rules and guidelines as provided by both the institution and government is denied admission for whatever reason,’’ he said.

    The Registrar of the board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, had at the opening of the meeting said that admissions would be carried out based on guidelines approved for each institution by their respective proprietors.

    He also said that preference expressed for the institutions and courses by the candidates would also be followed.

     

  • FG reaffirms commitment to planning for economic development

    The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment toward adopting the principle of strategic planning in the management of the national economy.

    The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mrs Nana-Fatima Mede, stated this at the 15th meeting of the Joint Planning Board and National Council on Development Planning in Kano on Tuesday.

    Mede said the meeting would give participants the opportunity to interact on the modalities for strengthening strategic planning to enhance policy formulation and implementation.

    “This is expected to pave way for effective implementation and mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into National and States Strategic plans.

    “This will also enhance the capacities of Public servants for sustained implementation of the strategic plans at the federal and state levels, “she said.

    According to her, the meeting will also provide a greater opportunity for participants to harvest and learn from their collective experiences, especially in the area of deepening National strategic planning.

    The permanent secretary also said that an improved strategic planning framework would assist in diversifying productive and revenue base of the National and State economies from oil.

    She urged all the participants and other stakeholders to put in their best and make meaningful contributions during the meeting.

    The Kano State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Hajiya Aisha Bello, said the meeting would offer the state government the opportunity to showcase strategies toward the implementation of social and economic development projects in the country.

    According to her, the meeting would keep Nigerians abreast of developments in respect with the Nigeria vision 20:2020.

    NAN reports that the meeting which is being attended by stakeholders from across the country has its theme as: National Strategic Planning as a Vehicle for Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals in Nigeria.

     

  • Nigeria targets 50% reliance on renewable energy by 2020 – Osinbajo

    Nigeria targets 50% reliance on renewable energy by 2020 – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said that the Federal Government has set a time target of year 2020 to expand its reliance on renewable energy to 50% of its power output.

    He made the remark while receiving a delegation led by the Indian High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. B. Nagabhushana Reddy, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said: “We are doing some expandable work in solar energy adding about 1000MW of solar. We are looking at 50% reliance on renewable energy sources by 2020.”

    Noting that the Buhari presidency is determined to improve access to electricity, he said that solar is one of the options being actively considered.

    Welcoming the Indian High Commissioner who recently resumed in Nigeria, he said he has resumed work in Nigeria at a time of “incredible opportunity.”

    He welcomed the $100m credit facility from India to be injected into the Nigeria economy especially in the power sector and called for more active engagement between both countries.

    Osinbajo also said that opportunities exist in agriculture and technology for Nigeria and India to cooperate, adding that diplomatic and economic relationship between both countries have been “extremely good.”

    Speaking earlier, the Indian High Commisioner said his country supported the plan of the Buhari administration to “make the Nigerian economy strong.”

    He also welcomed the recently launched “Green Alternative,” the agricultural road map of the Federal Government, saying India has a keen interest in expanding domestic agric production in Nigeria and also in making quality agric products for exportation.

  • FG releases admission result of candidates into unity schools

    FG releases admission result of candidates into unity schools

    The Federal Government has approved the release of admission list of successful candidates into the Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) for the 2016/2017 academic year.

    Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said this in a statement issued by the ministry’s Deputy Director (Press), Ben Bem-Goong, on Thursday in Abuja.

    The Minister said the list has been posted online at www.fmeinterviewtest.com.

    He urged candidates who took part in the National Common Entrance Examination (NECO) to check their names on the website.

    The statement said a total of 89,231 candidates took part in the examination, out of which 46,869 met the cut off mark.

    “Of those that met the cut off mark, 24,422 candidates have been admitted, with Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC) Bwari, Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC) Enugu and Federal Government College (FGC) Owerri topping the list with a total of 400 students each, while Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC) Otukpo and Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC) Tambuwal had the least number of 120 candidates each,” the statement said.

    The statement directed all Unity Schools to resume on 19th September, 2016

  • FG to assist states access N64.8b UBE funds

    FG to assist states access N64.8b UBE funds

    The Federal Government Wednesday said it was working on a decision that would allow states that have not been able to access the N64.8 Universal Basic Education funds for the development of basic education in the country have access to do so.

    Only nine out of the 36 states and FCT were able to access the funds in 2015. 28 states could not because they failed to provide the matching grants or afford to pay counterpart funds required to access the funds.

    Some of the states include: Oyo, Ekiti, Kwara, Bayelsa, Zamfara, Enugu, Plateau, Rivers, Nasarawa, Abia, Niger amongst others.

    Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, had said the ministry was working to reduce or do away with the requirements for matching grants by states for them to have access to the funds.

    “Meanwhile we at the ministry we are doing our best to reduce or do away with the requirements for matching grants so that states can just apply to UBEC and get what is their share,” he had said.

    Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Hameed Bobboyi, told journalists during a meeting with state chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), in Abuja on Wednesday that for states to be able to access the funds without meeting the requirements, the UBE Act 2004 has to be amended.

    Bobboyi stated that ministry of education has presented the challenge faced by states before the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for consideration.

    He said: “The Federal Ministry of education and the relevant agencies has been doing quite a lot to ensure that the funds that are un-accessed are accessed by the states. This case is before ministry of education which is taking up the issue with the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and I think when the FEC makes its decision these things will be available for each and everywhere person to know just where we stand on this issue.

    “There are two parties involved here and I think we should understand the major reason of instituting the matching grant of the UBE Act is to ensure that you build sufficient resources for the basic education sector where whatever the federal government brings the state governments will also match those funds and that is how the funding formula was developed.

    “The idea is for us to push and ensure that people understand the initial impact of having the matching grants but subsequently also to see what could be done to see policy changes which could come from government because it involves change in UBEC Act that will facilitate or institute a lower percentage of matching grants to enable a large number of states which may be in some difficulties to access the funds.”

    He blamed some states for failing to take basic education seriously even before the present economic challenges affecting the country.

    According to him, the government is worried about the numbers of out-of-school children in the country and the poor quality of teachers in the basic education sector.

    He added that teacher development was crucial to sustaining the quality of basic education in Nigeria.

    “But unfortunately because of certain factors, even before the economic crisis that people are talking about, there are some states, perhaps who have not taken basic education very seriously. UBE has a road map for the development of basic education in this country. Any Executive secretary who comes will look at this and see what the priorities of government at any moment are.

    “This government from the discussions and mandate that was given to us when we were inaugurated is to look at such key areas and ensure those concerned areas are addressed.

    “The worrying areas of out of school children, issues of teachers’ development are crucial to sustaining the quality of basic education in Nigeria because if we don’t develop the teacher it becomes very difficult for us to realize the quality we are looking for.

    “You know the key area that concerns this government is that area of accountability and transparency in the use of funds. And I think UBEC is going to improve its monitoring processes to ensure that whatever funds that come from UBEC are utilized in a transparent and accountable manner so that we can realize the core mandate of the organization that has been put in charge.

    The Executive Chairman/Dean of SUBEBs, Prince Stephen Alao, confirmed that some states have been able to access 78 per cent of the funds.

    He said: “Most states as I speak today have been able to access 78% of the fund for major infrastructural development across the nation and it is a continuous process.

    “Most of the governors take basic education as a priority and the money that they have to pay for them to access is quite a lot of money and I am very happy, for example we have been able to access and we are working.

    “There are some states that have not access for quite some time. I will mention like Ebonyi state. I want to commend their governor. Today they have accessed almost all their funds in UBEC and a lot of work is going on there.

    “Our job is to talk with our various chairmen to dialogue with their governors. Of course most governors know that basic education is a priority in this country. You and I know if that if you miss basic education there is no nation. So I think all of us are on the same page in this matter.”

  • FG earmarks N3b for varsity research

    FG earmarks N3b for varsity research

    The Federal government has earmarked N3 billion for high impact researches in federal and state public tertiary institutions, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETFUND), Dr. Abdullahi Baffa, has said.

    Baffa, stated that the fund has allocated N15 million to lecturers in the universities and N10 million to polytechnics and colleges of education lecturers to fund their researches.

    The TETFUND boss who said this during a meeting with reporters in Abuja, added that the funds are research grants awarded to qualified scholars who participate in rigorous process of screening, after sending their proposals.

    Baffa said TETFUND was determined to support cutting edge research that would help the future of Nigeria.

    He said: “Research is one of the core mandates of the fund; the fund is supposed to bridge the infrastructural gap in our public tertiary institutions. About N3 billion has been earmarked to support the high impact research at the National Research Fund level.

    “We have been supporting research institutions, where we can allocate up to N15 million for academics in the Universities and up to N10 million to academics in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

    “Such research would increase our production and improve our efficiency and easing the lives of our citizens. The more we research, the more we industrialize ‎our country. And the more we create more jobs.

    He stated that there was no plan to extend TETFUND’s intervention grants to private tertiary institutions.

     

  • No petrol price increase now- NNPC GGM

    No petrol price increase now- NNPC GGM

    The Group General Manager (GGM) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru on Tuesday ruled out possibility of imminent increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.

    There are online reports suggesting that the Federal Government will soon increase the price which was increased in May from N86 to N145 per litre.

    But speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Baru said that he has not received any directive for increase.

    Noting that the request for forex for importation of petrol has been met, he declared that the supply situation for fuel is the country is robust and won’t push price increase.

    He said: “I have not been directed to increase pump price, even the other price was based on recommendation from the regulated body. I’m not aware that they are planing to do any increase, you know there are several factors that necessitated that especially the issue of exchange rate that has moved and we don’t expect any serious changes.

    “So far the request for forex for importation of gasoline popularly called petrol has been met, and our own supply situation is robust.

    “We are meeting demands. We have over 1.4 billion liters on ground. So I don’t see any basis for increase.

    “However, the review could be done by the right body, you should contact PPPRA, that is the regulatory body as far as petrol pricing is concern.” He added