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  • FG says 1.5m vulnerable households have received N25, 000 stipends

    FG says 1.5m vulnerable households have received N25, 000 stipends

    The national coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Halima Shehu has said that about 1.5 million household have received N25, 000 monthly stipend under the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme since it was kicked off in Kogi. 

    Shehu said the target of the programme is to reach 15 million households with N25, 000 each for three months. 

    She said this at a briefing on Saturday to highlight some of the progress made by the agency. 

    The national coordinator said: “Under my watch we have successfully kick started the conditional Cash Transfer Programme founded by World Bank with twenty thousand naira (25,000 naira) monthly stipend for 3 months and we are targeting 15 million household and so far continue over one million five hundred thousand (1,500, 000) beneficiaries have received this stipend.

    “We have flag off the Grants for Vulnerable Groups in Kogi with a twenty thousand Naira one off Grant that target the higher percentage of persons living disabilities both grants are to smoothen consumption and cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.”

    She also said the agency has relaunched and expand the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) that has components of Traders Moni, Farmers Moni and Market Moni and disbursement of the loan to beneficiaries will start in January 2024.

    The national coordinator said the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, which has been moved to the Federal Ministry of Education, would resume as soon as schools resume with an expansion to feed out-of-school children especially the Almajiri and they will be in cooperated into the agency’s empowerment and skills programme in collaboration with ministry of education. 

    “This sort of empowerment under the Renewed Hope Agenda will assists the at risk and out of school children to earn a means livelihood,” she said.

    The national coordinator also said government was working towards an exit strategy for the existing N-Power beneficiaries, adding that as soon as that was done, a portal for the enrolment of Batch D will be introduce capturing the different components of N-Power such as N-Tech, N-Creative, N-Teach, N-Knowledge, N-Skills, N-Agro and N-Build.

    “There is no doubt that any agency saddled with the responsibility to impact on the lives millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians becomes the Human Face of any administration.

    “Therefore, the N-SIPA is the Human Face of the Renewed Hope Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and we are very much aware of the responsibilities bestowed upon us as an Agency and we are committed to surpass Mr President’s expectation.”

  • FG probes misconduct of Immigration personnel at Seme border

    FG probes misconduct of Immigration personnel at Seme border

    The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has expressed sadness over the alleged unprofessional activities and misconduct of personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at the Seme border.

    The government therefore directed that immediate investigation and action be taken to ensure that such occurrences are stamped out.

    The personnel were said to have behalf in manners not in tandem with the Standard Operating Procedure of Service.

    Also, the Comptroller General of Immigration, Caroline Wura-Ola Adepoju, has declared that if the allegations against the personnel were proven to be true, the Service would mete out severe consequences on the culprits.

    Adepoju insisted that such misconduct is not reflective of the values and standards upheld by the NIS.

    According to a statement endorsed by the Public Relations Officer of Immigration, Dr Dotun Aridegbe, the CG expressed dismay at the behaviour of the personnel and therefore assured the public that immediate steps are being taken to investigate the matter thoroughly.

    Aridegbe said: “The NIS is committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and service to the nation.

    “In response to these allegations, the NIS is implementing changes at our borders to ensure the smooth passage of migrants without compromising national security.

    “The Comptroller General is personally overseeing these changes to address any shortcomings and to reinforce a culture of accountability within the Service.

    “The NIS acknowledges the importance of public trust and wishes to encourage the general public to report any unprofessional conduct or provide feedback through the following official platforms:

    X (Twitter): @Nigimmigration Instagram: Nigimmigration NIS Contact Center: 09121900655, 09121556359 and 09121477092.

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    “The Service assures the public that all feedback and complaints will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate action will be taken to address any misconduct.

    “The Comptroller General is confident that, with the continued support of the Honourable Minister of Inter, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and his dedication to fostering a disciplined and effective workforce within the NIS, the Service will overcome challenges and strengthen its commitment to professionalism, accountability, and public trust.

    “We remain committed to our mandate of ensuring the security of our borders and facilitating the smooth movement of people. We appreciate the cooperation of the public in helping us maintain the highest standards of professionalism and accountability.”

  • FG declares December 25th, 26th, January 1 public holidays

    FG declares December 25th, 26th, January 1 public holidays

    The Federal Government has declared Monday 25th, Tuesday 26th December 2023, and Monday, January, 1st 2024 as public holidays to mark Christmas and New Year’s Day, respectively.

    The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.

    Tunji-Ojo felicitated with Christians and all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion.

    Tunji-Ojo in a statement signed by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Peter Egbodo enjoined Christians to emulate the life of Jesus Christ in His practice and teachings of humility, service, compassion, patience, peace and righteousness that His birth signifies.

    He emphasized that peace and security are critical prerequisites for economic development and prosperity.

    Read Also: BREAKING: FG declares December 25, 26, January 1, 2024, public holidays

    The Minister assured that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would continue to put in place effective measures for the security of lives and property.

    The minister urged Nigerians to be security conscious, and report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest security agencies.

    He reiterated that the Yuletide season calls for discipline to protect the lives and property of everyone in their respective communities and the nation as a whole.

    He admonished all citizens to remain focused that, the year 2024 will be a better year with the Renewed Hope agenda of the President.

  • FG to FERMA: Brace up for massive road maintenance

    FG to FERMA: Brace up for massive road maintenance

    The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, Senator has called upon the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to prepare for an unparalleled surge in road maintenance nationwide. This initiative is a crucial part of the impending road infrastructure revolution set to transform the sector.

    He emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s allocation of substantial funds towards nationwide road construction, rehabilitation, and repair serves a significant purpose in reinvigorating the nation’s economy.

    Umahi, in Abuja on Thursday during the inauguration of the members of the Governing Board of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), urged the board to demonstrate steadfast commitment to the road maintenance programs under the administration’s Renewed Hope initiative.

    On Thursday, the Minister’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Orji Uchenna Orji, highlighted in a statement that road infrastructure plays a critical role in the socio-economic development of our nation while emphasizing that pivotal sectors contributing to economic growth heavily depend on the development of road infrastructure.

    The Minister’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Orji Uchenna Orji, in a press statement, said road infrastructure was critical to the socio-economic development of the country noting that the critical sectors that drive economic growth rely greatly on road infrastructure development.

    “We have a very critical situation with our roads all over the country, and for me, the number one thing Nigerians needed like yesterday is road.

    “Road is everything. If we fix our roads today, we will bring down inflation in this country, because bad road is affecting every aspect of our economic activities”, the Minister was quoted as saying, while maintaining that the enhanced budgetary provision for road infrastructure under our dear President shows his commitment in changing the narrative of our road infrastructure.

    Read Also: FERMA begins rehabilitation of N300m roads in Adamawa

    “This underscores the fact that Mr. President understands the plight of our people as far as our road infrastructure is concerned, he’s doing everything within the budget and outside the budget to fix our roads.

    “And I want to assure Nigerians on behalf of Mr. President that our hopes are renewed in tackling our road infrastructure decays”.

    During his acceptance speech on behalf of the newly formed board, the agency’s Managing Director (MD), Chukwuemeka Chijioke Agbasi, committed to fulfilling their duties with with the fear of God and adherence to the policies of the Federal Minister of Works, as well as aligning with the mandate of FERMA.

    He conveyed FERMA’s dedication to significantly improving road conditions and enhancing the travel experience for commuters across the country.

  • FG unveils gas leakage detector factory to generate 400 jobs

    FG unveils gas leakage detector factory to generate 400 jobs

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, on Thursday, December 21, commissioned the Amal Technologies Limited factory for gas leakage and smoke detection devices in Abuja.

    The facility which can generate employment for 400 people can also yield $22 million in revenue annually.

    The Director, Upstream, Engr. Kamaru Busari, who represented the minister, said the facility was formally established to produce gas leak detection devices and Printed Circuit Boards (PCB).

    According to him, the ceremony represents a significant landmark in the administration’s quest to promote a Research culture in the oil and gas industry, through the nurturing of innovation-driven startup companies.

    He added that it also represents a breakthrough in local manufacturing of electronic circuitry and devices.

    The minister said the establishment is in line with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s mandate to drive indigenous technology development in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, saying that the Governing Council of the Board approved the Research and Development roadmap, with a particular focus on providing institutional and funding support for market-driven Research and commercialization of breakthrough innovations with high market prospects.

    He called on the private sector, especially the Nigerian oil and gas service providers to follow the lead of NCDMB by funding research and development programs with the capability to develop homegrown technology and reduce capital flight associated with the importation of foreign hardware and software solutions.

    Lokpobiri noted that one of the proposals that have benefited from the NCDMB Research and Innovation intervention is the Amal Technology gas leak device, “which adopted the Internet of Things (IoT) to introduce into the market a device that generates a short message system (SMS) and calls on phones of homeowners in the event of a gas leak.”

    He added that the facility also has the capability for Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing.

    According to him, a major plank under the renewed hope Agenda of Mr. President is the commitment to deepen Gas penetration and gas-based industrialization anchored on the penetration of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, and gas conversion for power generation, fertilizer production, among so many other uses of gas.

    Read Also: 50% transportation rebate: FG targets 5m passengers, says minister

    The minister noted that the deployment of the flagship Amal technology gas leak detection device provides a significant safety tool that will accelerate the adoption of gas as a preferred source of energy for homes, transportation, and industry.

    Lokpobiri revealed that the NCDMB Innovation process has led to the establishment of PCB production capability in Nigeria.

    The federal government at COP26 in August 2022, he recalled committed to a net-zero target by 2060 and Nigeria has chosen Natural gas as its transition fuel.

    He stressed that to support this initiative, projects are underway to establish fuel-to-gas conversion centres and CNG refuel stations nationally.

    The minister said the Federal Government expects that the deployment of the Amal Technology safety device will also complement our efforts to accelerate the net-zero pathway.

  • CoP28: FG didn’t sponsor 1,411 delegates to Dubai — Presidency

    CoP28: FG didn’t sponsor 1,411 delegates to Dubai — Presidency

    The Presidency has debunked social media claims that the federal government sponsored all Nigerian representatives at the ongoing 28th Convention of Parties on Climate Summit (CoP28) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    In a piece written on Sunday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, the Presidency also pointed out that President Bola Tinubu and other senior officials of his administration have attended the important global event for serious business and not mere jamboree.

    Ajayi was reacting to various concerns being raised by diverse interests, especially in the social media space, over the large number of the Nigerian contingent to the event, which also attracted over 97,000 participants from more than 100 countries across the world.

    Data available on the registration platforms of the organisers of the CoP28 showed that 1,411 Nigerians have been registered to participate in the ongoing event, however, feelings and opinions being passed around in the conversations have suggested that all the participants had been sponsored by the federal government, on public funds.

    But in his piece, titled ‘Nigeria at COP28: Separating the facts from fiction’, Ajayi pointed out that “the people coming together to advance their different agenda and interests from governments, businesses, and civil societies are the parties to the convention who represent various shades of opinions and pushing for various mitigating actions.

    He said: “In Nigeria like so many other countries, interested parties comprising government officials from both the Federal and sub-national governments, business leaders, environmentalists, climate activists, and journalists are present in Dubai.

    “Also participating are agencies of government such as the NNPC and its subsidiaries, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, NIMASA, and NDDC. Many youth organisations from Nigeria especially from the Northern and Niger Delta regions whose lives and livelihoods are most impacted by desert encroachment and hydrocarbon activities are also represented.

    “The President of Ijaw Youth Council, Jonathan Lokpobiri, leads a pan-Ijaw delegation of more than 15 people who registered as parties from Nigeria. Among delegates from Nigeria are also over 20 journalists from various media houses.

    “Their participation is very important. It is not for jamboree as it is being mischievously represented on social media. It is important to state here that delegates from all countries whether from government, private sector, media, and civil society groups attend COP summits and conferences as parties and the number of attendees is registered against their countries of origin.

    “This does not mean that they are sponsored or funded by the government. It must be said also that the fact that people registered to attend a conference does not mean everyone that registered is physically present.”

    Meanwhile, while pointing out the importance of Nigeria’s participation and achievements being made from CoP28 by the Tinubu administration, Ajayi said besides re-echoing the essence of just treatment for Nigeria and Africa in the energy transition process, President Tinubu has also used the opportunity to broker deals and attract new commitments from various levels of relations.

    Read Also: COP28 climate summit kicks off in Dubai

    Ajayi said: “Like former President Muhammadu Buhari and other African leaders who demanded fair deal and climate justice for Africa at previous UN Climate summits, President Tinubu is leading the charge at COP28 on behalf of Nigeria and the rest of the continent, demanding from the West that any climate decision and action must be fair and just to Africa and Nigeria in particular, especially the debate around energy transition.

    “President Tinubu has been unequivocal in his position that Africa which is battling problems of poverty, security and struggling to provide education and healthcare to her people cannot be told to abandon its major source of income which is mostly from extractive industries without the West providing the funding and investment in alternative and clean energy sources.

    “President Tinubu and other officials on the Federal government delegation are in Dubai for serious business, not jamboree. Our President has been very busy representing our country well. Since Thursday morning when he arrived in Dubai, President Tinubu has spent not less than 18 hours daily attending very important sessions, pushing our national agenda whilst holding bilateral and business meetings on the sidelines.”

  • FG unveils decent work programme to strengthen employees’ rights

    FG unveils decent work programme to strengthen employees’ rights

    The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has launched the Decent Work Country Programme III (2023-2027) to further protect and promote the rights of workers in the country.

    The minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, who unveiled the programme in Abuja, said the document, when implemented, would close the prevailing decent work deficits and gaps in the country.

    He said decent work deficits have continued to abound in the economy as informal employment has become the norm while well-paying jobs that offer social protection benefits are the exception.

    The minister said: “Workers in the informal economy are exposed to poor working conditions, low pay, long hours of work and low rate of unionism as well as absence of efficient employment and job creation opportunities and condition of underemployment, among others especially among the youths and women; high prevalence of child labour, forced labour and human trafficking; gaps in labour administration including existence of obsolete extant labour laws and regulations; insufficient manpower and capacity for labour inspections; poor, unhealthy and unsafe working environments as well as gaps in social dialogue including anti-union stance of some employers. Implementation of DWCP III will no doubt help in addressing some of these decent work deficits.”

    Read Also: FG restates commitment to end HIV/AIDS by 2030, unveils national strategy

    He assured that the implementation of Decent Work Country Programme III would ensure that existing and new jobs in both the public and private sectors are productive, provide opportunities for career progression and deliver a fair income and social security for the family.

    He said: “It will also ensure that the tenets of decent work are mainstreamed into all employment generation activities.

    The country director, ILO, Dr Vanessa Phala, explained that the process of developing the DWCP was robust, inclusive, and consultative, with the participation and representation of all the major stakeholders.

    According to Phala, the ILO, in 2021, conducted a diagnostic study on the decent work situation in Nigeria, which gave it reliable data on the situation at hand, and several recommendations were made to address the decent work deficits.

    She noted that the DWCP being launched would serve as a tool in addressing the country’s social and economic challenges and ensure job-rich, inclusive, and sustainable growth.

    She said: “It is also an instrument that the government and social partners can use to mobilise resources needed to address productive employment and decent work.”

  • FG reels out new policies on road infrastructure

    FG reels out new policies on road infrastructure

    The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is committed to outstanding quality, value for money, innovation, responsiveness, fast deliveries, and technical expertise in road infrastructure development in Nigeria.

    This was contained in the message of the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, when the national leadership of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), led by its President, Engr.   Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari Wudil paid him a visit to his office in Abuja.

    According to a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of Works, Orji Uchenna Orji, the minister emphasized the importance attached to quality delivery of construction works by the Renewed Hope administration of Mr. President stressing that the ‘business as usual’ syndrome in road construction is no longer tenable under the Renewed Hope administration of Mr. President. He reeled out the new policies on road infrastructure to include:

    “good stabilized and tested subgrade, sub-base course before pavement placement; expose subgrade, sub-base, and base course to 60 days vehicular movement and continuous sheep-foot rolling before pavement placement.

    “Introduction of reinforced concrete road pavement in most roads, carriageways, and shoulders;  continuous maintenance of all roads under construction throughout the life of the project under contract.

    “Effective design of road infrastructure anchored on a detailed report of environmental site conditions and geotechnical report; community relations in terms of keeping roads motorable under the period of the contract.”

    The minister said that supervision was necessary in the actualization of quality delivery of road construction whether concrete pavement or asphalt, noting that each of the two models has its own attendant conditions.

    “When you start to compare asphalt and concrete, it is if all things are equal, here all things are not equal, there are many factors why we are talking about concrete.”

    He noted that the stand of the Ministry is not about comparing asphalt and concrete pavement but that if you are using either of them, there are conditions attached to them.

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    He said there are certain terrains on our roads that make it imperative for concrete pavement to be used. “You cannot put asphalt in water but you can put concrete in water”

    The Minister explained that the rate of increase in the cost of materials for construction of the  two models  is alarming  and argued that the cost of materials for asphalt is in geometric progression while the cost of  materials for  concrete pavement  is in arithmetic progression.

    He reiterated that prudence and value for money are the watchwords of the Ministry of Works under him, and this involves getting materials at the minimum purchase price and maximum efficiency and effectiveness of the product.

  • FG, World Bank launch $750m SABER programme for business reforms

    FG, World Bank launch $750m SABER programme for business reforms

    The federal government has partnered with the World Bank to introduce a new initiative called the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) programme.

    This programme is a continuation of the successful States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme and aims to enhance Nigeria’s business environment at the state level. The SABER programme will be implemented from 2023 to 2025.

    The announcement was made by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, during the four-day Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) retreat in Asaba, Delta state.

    Edun stated that the $750 million SABER Programme is awaiting approval from the National Assembly as part of an abridged External Borrowing Plan.

    The programme’s objective is to incentivize and strengthen the implementation of business-enabling reforms, including land administration, the regulatory framework for private investment in fibre optic infrastructure, public-private partnership and investment promotion frameworks, tax administration, and the business-enabling regulatory environment.

    Edun reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to fiscal and monetary reforms, which will create a conducive business environment, diversify the revenue base, facilitate investment in critical infrastructure, and ensure macroeconomic stability. He expressed confidence that together, the government and the World Bank will build a resilient economy for Nigeria.

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    He also acknowledged the success of the $1.5 billion SFTAS Programme-for-Results, which will conclude in December 2023. He applauded all 36 states for their remarkable achievements in areas such as fiscal transparency and accountability, domestic revenue mobilization, efficiency of public expenditures, and debt sustainability.

    The minister urged the sub-national governments to continue these reforms beyond the SFTAS period.

    The World Bank Senior Economist, Samer Matta, commended the Federal and State Governments for their fiscal reforms under the SFTAS Program.

    He emphasized the importance of sustaining these results, especially for new administrations, by adhering to the SFTAS Charter signed by Governors in August 2022.

    Matta attributed the success of the programme to various factors, including transparent and credible results verification, robust eligibility criteria, performance-based assessment, and active peer learning among states facilitated by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.

    Bertine Kamphuis, the World Bank Task Team Leader for SABER, also expressed optimism about sustaining the SFTAS achievements. She highlighted the incorporation of SABER into the sustainability strategy, utilizing two SFTAS eligibility criteria, namely the timely publication of the National Chart of Account-compliant budgets and IPSAS-compliant audited financial statements, and the importance of debt sustainability reporting.

    The launch of the SABER programme underscores the commitment of the Federal Government and the World Bank to improve the business environment and promote economic growth at the state level in Nigeria.

  • FG kicks off nationwide capacity training of 120,000 frontline health workers

    FG kicks off nationwide capacity training of 120,000 frontline health workers

    To sustain the efforts of the rejuvenation of Nigeria’s health sector and health security, the Federal government will commence the training of Frontline health workers in the primary health care facilities nationwide next, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate has disclosed.

    Accordingly, to sustain an all-inclusive health sector rejuvenation, the Federal government launched the National Mental Health Policy and the National Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework 2023-2030 in Abuja on Wednesday during the Ministerial Roundtable on Mental Health organized by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare towards mainstreaming mental health into universal health coverage (UHC) as it diligently implementing the National Health Act, 2021.

    Records have shown that one in every four Nigerians has some sort of mental challenge while one put 10 gets referred for treatment.

    Pate, while launching the two documents said, “The unveiling of these two important documents is coming from the back of a law that has been upgraded National Mental Health Act, 2021, to mainstream mental health, to prioritize it, to make it different levels and to bring all stakeholders together, so that our people have better quality, preventive, curative and rehabilitative interventions to improve their mental health and wellbeing is very much consistent with our policy parameters”.

    Represented by the Director, of Public Health, Chukwuma Anyaike, the Minister disclosed that plans have been concluded for the capacity training of 120,000 frontline health workers in primary healthcare centers (PHCs) across the country.

    According to him, in line with the government’s agenda for the sector, being the first point of call, the PHCs which are in every ward across the country, the government is determined to make them serve their primary purpose.

    “For all the diseases that form the component of primary healthcare, we are going to develop an integrated training protocol for the healthcare workers at the primary healthcare center, so that any health personnel at the PHC should be able to handle mental health, tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, viral hepatitis, diarrhea, you know all the diseases entities that had to do immunization protecting women of reproductive age and also for the children”, he stated.

    However, Dr. Toyin Saraki, the wife of the former President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, and Founder of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, emphasized the need for the private sector, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and other critical stakeholders to collaborate with the government for a holistic approach to address mental health issues in the country.

    Read Also: Speaker Abbas laments neglect of Primary Health Care

    She said funding, access to care, stigma, lack of support, and health workforce training are gaps that are militating against mental health issues in the country, noting, “What we want done, is to normalize health services into the standard national provisions for health services.

    “What we are asking for now is for mental health checks to be standard from the primary health level to the secondary, Community, school levels, and workplaces.

    “We should be treating mental health the same way we treat diabetes, malaria, anemia, and the rest”.

    On her part, the Minister of Youth Development, Jamila Bio Ibrahim said her Ministry is collaborating with the Health Ministry on how to leverage the PHCs network across the country to reach the youth and adolescent demographics with the programs and policies of the government.

    She said mental health is a prioritized subject in her Ministry and she is set to introduce a new Department mainly to address mental health as it relates to the youths.