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Tag: FG

  • FG okays N60bn for rice subsidy

    The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh on Friday disclosed that the Federal Government has approved N60 billion subsidy to support rice industry in the country.

    He briefed State House correspondents after a meeting of the National Food Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Ogbe who was flanked by the Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu explained that the purpose of the subsidy was to help bring down price of the commodity in the country.

    He said “There is a subsidy programme coming up. Government has approved some money N60 billion to support the rice industry to bring down prices. But we are going to handle it differently.

    “We don’t want to get into petroleum subsidy problem. So, a committee is looking at it with the Ministry of Finance.

    “We think that it is better for us to loan money to the millers, farmers and distributors at a very low interest rate, so that the capital doesn’t disappear, so they have cheaper credit to do their business that should impact on the price of rice in the market.

    “When we are ready we will let you know,” he added.

    On the plan to ban fertilizer NPK 151515 which has been in use in the country for many years, he said that the ban became imperative because it adds no value to crops.

    He said “We call for the ban of fertilizer NPK 151515 which has been used in the country for many years but recent research revealed it’s not useful for any crop or any soil.

    “Soils differ and so do crop, to believe there is one uniform fertilizer you can spread for every crop is a fallacy.   And it’s because we have done soil test and change the formulations of fertilizers, local blenders that some of the yields we are getting now are rising from two tonnes per hectares to five and six.

    ”So the president is looking into that and to how we can deal with it,” he said

    On his part, Governor Bagudu said the council’s attention was drawn to the report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which suggested that Nigeria remains a heavy importer of rice despite government’s claim to the contrary.

    He said: “We drew the attention of the council to a report by the US department for agriculture which suggested that Nigeria has been importing rice or about to the tune of about three million tonnes.

    “We informed the council that contact has been made with the US agency to tell us the basis for the report because it’s not consistent with the report available to us.

    “The only official importation in Nigeria is about 4,000 metric tonnes of rice. Secondly, the biggest exporter of rice, Thailand exported 1.1 million metric tonnes of rice to West Africa  between January to October this year and India exported 402 million metric tonnes of rice to West Africa between January to end of July this year. That is a total of 1.5 million metric tonnes.

    “Even if all was smuggled into Nigeria, that was the total amount of importation one could attribute to Nigeria.

    “So, the US authorities responding by saying that their assessment  was based on satellite imaging of flooded areas and consideration that we are about to enter electioneering period and that demand for rice by politicians or for political purposes will increase.

    “Thirdly, that most West African countries depend on Nigeria. So, because of the flooding, they concluded based on those assumptions that Nigeria will import more.

    “Certainly, that is an erroneous report. Even in spite of the flooding, the upland rice production has been quite strong this year. Even though prices have increase in response to flooding, we still have adequate paddy rice in Nigeria.” he said

  • FG committed to overhauling Onitsha port, says NIWA boss

    The Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Senator Adeleke Olorunimbe Mamora, has assured of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to making Onitsha River Port viable. Mamora who gave the assurance in Onitsha, the Anambra State capital after a facility tour of the equipment and the vast land in the NIWA premises, said such feat was achievable through the ongoing concessioning engagement.

    He lamented the level of rot in equipment and other facilities at the port, regretting that facilities which were supposed to be put in use were in a state of comatose. He attributed the deplorable state of the roads in the zone to the frequent use of heavy duty vehicles to convey goods meant to be conveyed through the sea. Mamora said, “Out of 100 per cent of goods that land in Lagos, only about 20 percent stay in Lagos, 80 percent come to Onitsha from where they are distributed to other parts of the country. “NIWA Onitsha is the most lucrative area office we have.

    It is not by accident that what you have was given to you, and I believe that the area manager is equal to the task given to her.” Earlier, the Area Manager, NIWA Onitsha Mrs. Uche Amadi disclosed that the office generated the sum of N46, 444,241.50 as at October 31, 2018. “We’re reaching out for public, private partnership in a bid to boost and diversify our revenue base to develop and industrialise our floodable plains and right of way. “We are also currently consulting with interested private individuals to reclaim vast areas particularly for estate development,” she said. Assuring her team’s readiness to increase the port’s capacity, Amadi appealed to the Federal Government through the managing director to beef up the security network in the area as well as provide the organization with operational vehicles.

  • FG begins commercialization of four river basins

    The partial commercialisation of four River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) in the country namely; Niger-Delta, Sokoto-Rima, Ogun-Osun and Upper Niger has commenced, Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex A. Okoh has disclosed.

    Speaking at the kick-off meeting for the commencement of Transaction Advisory services by Agri-Africa Consultant A&E Law and Partnership Consortium for the partial commercialisation of the four RBDAs, the Director General expressed delight at the commencement of the project.

    He said the main objective of the advisory service is to restructure and reposition the RBDAs for partial commercialisation and optimum performance and that the kick-off meeting was to formally introduce the advisers to the minister and other key stakeholders.

    BPE’s Head of Public Communications, Amina Othman, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

    Read also: 2019: PDP in dilemma over presidential campaign in S/West

    According to the Director General, the scope of work by Agri-Africa Consultant A & E Law and Partnership Consortium is basically to provide the requisite advice and support required for the Federal Government to successfully implement the partial commercialisation of the RBDAs in a manner consistent with relevant national policies, laws and international best practices.

    He said the scope of work, among others, includes conduct of diagnostic study on the four RBDAs and define their business objectives and to develop a strategic plan to achieve its operational goals.

    It also includes to identify, verify, record, classify and value the key assets of the RBDAs including status of title documents of their lands.

    The Minister of Water Resources, Engineer Suleiman Hussein Adamu, who was represented by the Director, River Basins Authority and Inspectorate of the Minister of Water Resources, Mr. John Chigbo, said the RBDAs project was in line with the vision of the ministry and promised to support and cooperate with Adviser in the course of the project.

    On his part, the Team Leader of the Agri-Africa consultant A&E Law and Partnership Consortium, Mr. Chigbozu Ekwekwuo expressed gratitude for the opportunity availed the consortium to serve the nation, adding that the consortium had assembled a credible team to deliver the project and make agriculture work in Nigeria.

  • Minimum Wage: Nigerian workers deserve a better deal—Victor Oye

    Dr Victor Oye, National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on Wednesday in Awka said Nigerian Workers deserve all that they could get due to their contributions to development of the country.

    Oye, made the assertion in an interview with our reporter, said the economic reality of the country had made workers the “weeping boys” of the system.

    He urged the Federal Government to not only enhance their pay but improve on their working conditions.

    The APGA chairman commended the quality of negotiations between government, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Organised Private Sector that led to aversion of the threatened industrial action.

    Oye commended the Anambra Government for paying salaries on the 25th every month and for being among the first states to offer to pay N30, 000 minimum wage

    “Nigerian workers deserve a better deal considering the harsh economic atmosphere in the country; they have always been at the receiving end.

    “That the Federal Government is able to avert the strike brought a huge relief to Nigerians and averted what would have come with consequences of embarrassing proportion.

    “APGA urges the federal and state governments to take the welfare of workers seriously.

    “They must come up with a programme on how to develop the cognitive and latent talents of workers to make them more productive,” he said.

    Read Also:I’m committed to new minimum wage – Buhari

    On his part, Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central at the National Assembly, said he considered the N30,000 a meager amount that could not lift any home out if poverty.

    Umeh argued that governors could pay the amount the NLC was asking for if they could appropriate the state resources efficiently and be more innovative.

    “Nigerian workers do not have a living wage; we cannot continue to pretend and say there is no money when a lot of people are living in affluence.

    “They deserve living wage, even the N30, 000 they are demanding is not a living wage, government should know how to manage its resources to enable it pay workers,” he said.

    Umeh thanked workers for suspending the strike that was to begin on Nov. 6 and expressed the hope that all parties would respect the terms reached during the negotiations.

  • Labour, FG strike new minimum wage deal, to be revealed Tuesday

    Labour leaders, who have called off a planned nationwide strike, have agreed a new national minimum wage at the end of negotiations with a Tripartite Committee, set up by the Federal government.

    The agreed figure will be kept under wraps until 4.15 pm on Tuesday, when it will be revealed in a report to be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, spoke to newsmen at the end of the Tripartite Committee meeting on the new National Minimum wage meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He said the National Minimum Wage Negotiating committee has concluded its assignment and agreement has been reached and also documents have been signed.

    “The report will be submitted to Mr President by today and therefore, having reached this position, the Organised Labour also decided that the proposed strike is hereby suspended.

    ” Therefore, we thought this should be communicated appropriately without also divulging this information as mutual agreement has been reached,” he said.

    Ms Amma People, Chairman of the Tripartite Committee also noted that the assignment of the committee has been concluded.

    “We are going to present our report to Mr President today at 4:15 ,pm and he will reveal the figure that we have recommended, ” she said.

    Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary of the Government of the Federation commended members of the committee for their time and commitment on the processes of recommending the new minimum wage.

    “I am confident that government will give expeditious consideration of the report when submitted tomorrow to Mr President. And very soon the processes will be put in place to truly actualise your recommendations so that the status of our working populace will be enhanced and they would receive appropriate and commensurate payments for the services they offer to our nation and to the different sectors of our economy, ” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the organised Labour had threatened to commence nationwide strike on Nov. 6 over government rejection of a N30,000 minimum wage. Government offered N24,000, which labour also rejected.

  • ‘FG, ECWA working hard for Leah’s release’

    The Federal Govern-ment and Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) are working round the clock to ensure the release of the remaining Dapchi girl, Leah Sharibu, from Boko Haram captivity.

    Vice President, ECWA Theological Seminary (ETS) and ECWA College, Igbaja, Ifelodun local government area of Kwara State, Rev John Aina, and Chairman, Governing Board, Dr. Samson Opaluwah, told reporters yesterday in Igbaja at the 54th graduation ceremony of the institution.

    Aina said “of recent ECWA as a body had a roundtable discussion with the representatives of the federal government and they explained how they have been negotiating with the Boko Haram members. The federal government is not relenting on getting the girl released. We are encouraging, praying for the family and ECWA is impressing it on the federal government to ensure her release.”

    Opaluwah hailed the girl for holding fast to her faith even in the midst of threat to her life. “We give glory to God for the life of Leah Sharibu. We have seen that she has stood for Christ. That is why that little girl could confront the guns of the tormentors and said she would not deny her faith. ECWA will not stop praying for her and we are praying also for her captors that like Apostle Paul they would become people that would propagate the gospel because of the sacrifice of this our little girl,” he said.

  • FG to set up science and technology schools

    • Partners Grange School to train teachers nationwide

    The federal government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Grange School to build capacity of teachers across the country, Vice President Prof.  Yemi Osinbajo has said.

    He gave this hint at a public forum recently to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Ivy League school in Lagos.

    According to Osinbajo who was the keynote speaker at the event, the federal government quest to improve teaching and learning outcomes in schools across the country, especially in line with the 21st century expectations has made it very inevitable to take certain measures such as forging a synergy of cooperation with willing partners like the Grange School.

    The Vice President, whose address centred on ‘Academic Excellence as a Tool for nation-building,’ lamented the growing menace of out of school children in the country which currently stands at about nine million.

    Thankfully, he said the federal government is determined to address the issue even as he recalled that past efforts towards addressing the problem has yielded some positive results.

    Specifically, he said the federal government School Feeding Programme which has been deployed in about 26 states of the federation has helped in no small measure to increase enrollment in schools.

    While reeling out plans by the government to address the issue bedevilling the education sector, Osinbajo who chairs the National Executive Council (NEC) with the governors hinted that a three-pronged approach has been adopted.

    “The real slogan for us is every child counts and that is to ensure that the number of children especially those out of school all of them deserve to get a decent education. “We need to educate the Nigerian Child regardless of where they are from because the whole work of changing the educational phase in Nigeria is an ongoing one.”

    Expatiating, he said the government is mindful of the dynamic nature of teaching and learning which leans towards science and technology, hence has set machinery in motion to work in line with the new realities.

    “We are investing in science and technology. We are setting up technology driven schools where our pupils can learn computer coding, robotics engineering and all. Already we have set up the Learning Centre in Maiduguri, Borno state; it’s a world class centre boarding free for children who are all victims of the crisis in the north east. Grange School is working to train teachers in the conflict areas. It will also extend to many parts of the country, where teachers require the right skills to be able to impact the right knowledge. Our plan is to embark on massive nationwide teacher education programme.”

    Speaking earlier, the Chairman Board of Directors, Mr. Dayo Lawal said the school has come a long way.

    According to Lawal, who was represented by another board member, Mr.  Segun Ogunsanya, the school which had a humble beginning has since become one of the top ranking schools in terms of academic excellence all thanks to the tireless efforts of some corporate individuals who have stood committed to the ideas and ideals Grange is known for.

    Also speaking at the event, the Headmaster/CEO of Grange School, Mr. Guy Cassarchis said the school founded in 1958, has built a strong tradition of excellence which has been sustained by successive generations, a development, he said has been made possible by the goodwill of several individuals both locally and internationally and for which the school management remains eternally grateful.

    He said that students of Grange School were taught to be role models and mentors who would be capable of facing whatever challenge after school.

    The high-point of the occasion was the unveiling of the 60th anniversary logo by Osinbajo in the company of Mrs. Awuneba Ajumogobia, Chairperson of the Governing Council of Grange School, Segun Ogunsanya and Guy Cassarchis.

     

  • Trade policy: FG vows to protect emerging industries

    The federal government has vowed to deploy fiscal policies that will protect the nation’s industries and encourage investments in critical sectors of the economy.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, made the commitment in Abuja at the opening session of 4th Meeting of the ECOWAS Finance Ministers on the Consolidation of ECOWAS Customs Union held yesterday at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters in Abuja.

    The Finance Minister insisted that ”Nigeria will continue to deploy fiscal policies to support or protect emerging industries, encourage investment in critical sectors and promote local production.”

    Some of the measures already taken she said include “an Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) list which involves additional taxes on 177 tariff lines of the CET 2015-2019; a national list consisting of items whose import duty rates have been reviewed downwards to encourage rapid development in strategic sectors of the economy and an import prohibition list (Trade) applicable only to certain goods originating from Third Countries.”

    She said this ”is with a view to achieving the effective implementation of the country’s Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP) and the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) within the transitional period of five years of implementation of the Common External Tariff (CET) (2015-2019).”

    She reminded the ECOWAS gathering that this is without prejudice to the spirit of regional integration and free trade protocols as Nigeria has been in the forefront of supported trade policies.

    According to her, “like every developing economy, Nigeria’s vision to industrialize is very strong. Accordingly, we believe ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) should be designed to promote regional industrialization in a manner that on the long term reduces dependence on imports. We will continue to work within ECOWAS to achieve these laudable objectives.”

    Nigeria, she said “believes fervently that ECOWAS regional policies such as the CET, the Customs Union and other fiscal policies should aim seriously at achieving economic growth and industrialization for member states, while reducing import dependency.”

    According to Mrs. Ahmed “the economies of scale that result from successful integration should serve as catalysts for economic development of the region. Nigeria, therefore, believes West Africa, while desiring integration into the global economy, should diversify its economy through manufacturing, processing of primary products and other forms of economic modernization.”

    She reiterated that “Nigeria undoubtedly supports a regional common tariff and a customs union for ECOWAS as major steps towards the achievement of the objective for which the ECOWAS itself was established.”

    Ahmed assured ECOWAS of “Nigeria’s unflinching commitment to the success of the ECOWAS project, particularly in the areas of trade liberalization and economic integration. Nigeria’s current economic policies, in several aspects, seek to identify with, and actively participate in the effort to achieve regional economic development through cooperation. In this regard, Nigeria effectively commenced the implementation of the ECOWAS CET in April 2015, with additional measures under the ECOWAS approved Supplementary Protection.”

    The minister also used the occasion to advocate for more controls on tobacco in the subregion to minimise the health hazards associated with tobacco.

    “In particular, we hold the belief that the establishment of a Track and Trace System for Manufactured and imported Tobacco Products represents ECOWAS’ genuine desire to enthrone best practices in tobacco taxation and control the public health hazards of these products,” she said.

  • FG summons envoy over closure of Nigerian shops in Ghana

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the High Commissioner of Ghana to Nigeria, Ambassador Rashid Bawa, over the continued closure of over 400 Nigerian shops in Ghana.

    Bawa was invited to give a definitive explanation on the treatment of Nigerian traders in that country.

    The closure of over 400 Nigerian businesses in Ghana had sparked protest by the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) and Nigerian Union of Traders Association Ghana (NUTAG).

    Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama yesterday said: “There had been some horror stories that we have been hearing and a case of suicide of Nigerian lady and when this broke out the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ghana came here

    “And we were assured that Nigerians were not the target and that efforts were being made to calm the situation.

    “Again in New York, assurances were made by President Nana Akufo-Addo and we were shown the text that the shops that had been closed that belong to Nigerians would be reopened”.

    He noted with concern that there are however conflicting reports on the reopening of Nigerian traders’ shops in Ghana.

    Onyeama noted that a committee was being set up at a highest level in Nigeria to look into the matter and as the government to look at how to respond to the situation.

    He said: “The Ghanaian envoy was invited to  brief us  on the closure of Nigerian businesses in that country”.

    The High Commissioner, in his response, said he visited the areas that experienced distress by Nigerian traders.

    Bawa confirmed that about 80 to 85 per cent of shops that were locked had been re-opened and that “the exercise is still ongoing”.

    He said the Ghanaian authorities were making efforts to ensure that Nigerian traders who were conducting businesses in Ghana were registered and had resident permits.

    “I was in Accra to have a look at what was happening on the ground. I spent two days on the ground, meeting with all stakeholders.

    “Some of the shops at the time I visited, ten days ago, have been opened. Some have not yet been opened. Opening of shops is still ongoing as we speak.

    “Those that have not been opened are locked because owners were not present at their shops. GUTA wants to open the shops with owners present.

    “ I can say that about 80-85% of shops that were locked have been opened. We insisted that before shops are open, the owners should be there.”

    The envoy dismissed reports that a Nigerian in Ghana, Mrs Stella Upaleke, committed suicide because of frustration occasioned by the closure of her shop.

    “I was with the regional police commander where the issue happened. The police statement, written by the husband and daughter of the woman, indicated that the suicide was not as a result of the lock-up of her shop,” he said.

    A former Secretary General of the Nigerian Union of Traders Association Ghana (NUTAG), Mr Jasper Emenike, confirmed that some shops had actually been re-opened.

    He noted that some Nigerian traders refused to show up because of harassment by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA).

    Emenike, therefore, appealed to the Ghanaian authorities to reduce the cost of registering business and exempt Nigerian traders from the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) Act.

    He said  the charges were  contrary to the spirit and letter of ECOWA’s free movement protocol.

    He  appealed to the government to stop the relocation of Nigerian traders from their shops.

    “We want to appeal that in furtherance to the efforts being made, there is need to put a permanent end to this issue.

    “There is also the need to stop charging Nigerian citizens identity card fees, which cost 120 dollars for registration and 60 dollars for renewal every year,” he said.

  • Embarrassing moments for FG and NHIS boss

    IT is hard to explain why the federal government is not embarrassed by the controversy swirling around the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Usman Yusuf, a professor of medicine. The government is unreasonably sustaining him in office to the irritation of most Nigerians. Last Thursday, about eight months after his first suspension in June 2017 was unbelievably overruled by President Muhammadu Buhari, he has again been suspended, this time by the agency’s governing council. When he was suspended last year, it was alleged that he misappropriated about N900m. He at first defied the suspension order, but after investigations by a panel comprising senior Health ministry officials, men of the Department of State Service (DSS), and officials of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), Prof Yusuf stayed away from the agency until his reinstatement in February 2018.

    But the controversies have refused to go away. Citing an avalanche of petitions against the professor and an investigation conducted in-house, the NHIS Governing Council led by Enyantu Ifenne has again placed the NHIS boss on suspension. He was not recalled by the Health ministry in February, but by the president, despite ongoing probes by both EFCC and ICPC. When he was recalled, the presidency made no reference to the Health minister, Isaac Adewole, also a professor of medicine, except to copy him the reinstatement letter. And when he was first suspended, Prof Yusuf reserved expletives for the minister, insisting that he was answerable only to the presidency. It is not clear how he would take this new suspension or how the presidency would react. But already, there are signs he would love to remain defiant and insubordinate, with the presidency in February insinuating that the NHIS boss suffered biases at the hands of his detractors.

    In announcing last Thursday’s suspension, Dr Ifenne said: “Let those who hide under cover of the Presidency to protect corruption know that Nigerians are keenly watching. I am convinced that if President Buhari is fully briefed about a tenth of Yusuf’s atrocities, he would throw him out! The truth, like health, has no colour, no tribe and no religion and no social class. The council stands by its decision.” The presidency will now have to determine whether to defy both the Health ministry and the NHIS Governing Council in favour of an official who has shown no regard for his supervisors and colleagues.

    It was atrocious and insensitive in the first instance to recall Prof Yusuf in February, when the allegations against him were still being investigated by the EFCC and ICPC. Believing that he had high-level support, Prof Yusuf neither mended his ways nor found the humility to work with the Health ministry, as counselled by the presidency. Now, he has attracted the fury of the board of the agency. The presidency has defied many things in the past three years, including common sense, and has shown little or no inclination to appropriately weigh negative public opinion. It will, however, be interesting to find out how they will handle this unfortunate little matter concerning an official who has proved without a shadow of doubt that he is not worth defending, let alone risking the credibility of an entire presidency.