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Tag: FG

  • N18, 000 minimum wage not negotiable – NLC

    N18, 000 minimum wage not negotiable – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) insisted that the N18, 000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers is not fixed but was negotiated through a tripartite system.

    It therefore warned that any governor reneging of that agreement is breaking the law of the land, adding that such governor should resign from his position.

    NLC also hailed the ongoing war against corruption by President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that corruption had killed more people in the country than road accidents.

    NLC President Ayuba Wabba, told reporters Friday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital shortly after his condolence visit to for NLC vice president, Issa Aremu on the death of his wife.

    He said: “They have been misinforming the people about the N18, 000 minimum wage. Minimum wage is not fixed, it was negotiated through a tripartite system; ten state governors represented the governors, federal government and organized private sector were also represented. It was a tripartite process of collective bargaining.

    “We had looked at all the indices of ability to pay. It is a law and anybody that refuses to pay is breaking the law of Nigeria and we advise any such governor to resign.

    “Why is it that the salary of councilors to the highest political office all over the country despite their inability to pay is the same? If there is economic challenge why should it be the workers that will bear the burden? Councilors in least economic viable to the most economic viable states in the country earn the same salaries. So who are they fooling?

    “Can they continue to fool us? When the resources were there workers were not enjoying. Now that there is a challenge in the system why should the burden be shifted only to the workers? That is not acceptable to us. This is like a battle for us as we must continue to insist that workers should work in dignity and there must be dignity in labour.”

    On war against corruption, Comrade Wabba said: “The ongoing probe is not unexpected. Since the inception of current democracy people have assisted themselves with our commonwealth. I am sure if we are able to recover these resources from local, state to federal governments, we will have more than enough to fix our system and everybody will enjoy.

    “Now they don’t steal in millions; we hear of billions these days. They will buy houses they cannot use. They will buy houses in Nigeria, Dubai and United Kingdom. How many houses will a person sleep in at a particular night? Therefore, it is vanity for politicians to continue to loot even what they cannot use.

    For me the anti-corruption war must be consistent; it must also go down to the ladder including the organized private sector. All of us must be interrogated. Corruption has killed many people even more than road accidents. The roads are not fixed because the resources meant to fix the roads have been frittered away. Why are the hospitals not functioning optimally and people are dying? It is because, the resources are supposed to be used to fix the hospitals have been misappropriated. That is why we are canvassing for capital punishment. It has worked elsewhere.

    “The apparent slowness in the current administration is because what is required to fight corruption must be put in place; I also know that when you fight corruption the people involved will fight back. And the process will also slow the person fighting it down; but the president should continue to be consistent. He should not be deterred because it is only a clean leader that can fight corruption. We urge to be consistent in his war against corruption because that is why Nigerians voted for him for a positive change.”

  • IFAD spends $317m on 10 projects in Nigeria – FG

    IFAD spends $317m on 10 projects in Nigeria – FG

    The International Fund for Agricultural Development Fund (IFAD) has spent $317.6 million in financing over 10 projects in Nigeria, the Federal Government has said.

    The government said that Nigeria’s contribution to IFAD’s resources had increased from $4.1 million in 2013 to $11.8 million in 2014.

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Shehu Ahmed, said this on Monday in Abuja at a sharing and learning workshop on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) organized by IFAD for participating countries in West and Central Africa.

    Ahmed, who was represented by the Director, Rural Development, Mr. Olumuyiwa Azeez, said that Nigeria has been collaborating with the organization for over 30 years to increase access to finance by rural farmers.

    “Nigeria as a founding member of the IFAD has been collaborating with the body for over 30 years with IFAD financing over 10 projects in Nigeria for a total amount of US$317.6 million.

    “The Nigeria portfolio is one of the most important in the sub-Saharan Africa and globally. In addition, Nigeria has been contributing significantly to the replenishment of IFAD resources.

    “I am happy to learn that the level of disbursement of the Nigeria portfolio has improved significantly with increase of 187% from US$4.1 million in 2013 – 2014 to US$11.8 million during 2014.

    “The size of IFAD loans to Nigeria has continued to grow over the years and it has concluded country programme evaluation and would develop new country strategy for 2016/2020.

    “We are glad that the Fund will continue to work in partnership with Federal and state Governments in the adoption of market-led approach to drive inclusive growth for small holder farmers, women, youth and entrepreneur.”

    The permanent secretary pledged government’s commitment to its long standing relationship with IFAD and to the success of its programmes.

    Ahmed said IFAD financed 10 projects in the country which include; Community-Based Natural Resources Management Programme (CBNRMP) and Rural Finance Institutions Building Programme (RUFIN).

    Others are; Value Change Development Programme (VCDP), Climate Change Adaption and Agribusiness Support Programme among others.

    In his remarks, the Director, West and Central African Division, IFAD, Mr. Ides de Willebios, said, the workshop had brought together project teams from seven Anglophones African countries.

    He listed the participating countries as Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Uganda and Nigeria; and IFAD country teams, specialized consultants and representatives from Ministries of Agriculture.

    He said the workshop was part of a wider regional capacity building programme for management teams of IFAD supported projects and programmes.

    According to him, said there was a great deal to learn from the variety of country context, adding that building bonds among professional practitioners confronted with similar challenges was essential.

    The director said in the last annual performance reviews of the IFAD portfolio in the region, weaknesses in management, notably strategic planning and M&E was repeatedly identified.

    According to him, M&E is still not often used as a management tool to facilitate informed decision making and projects results are not systematically documented.

    He said the ultimate goal of the workshop was to improve the performance of programmes so as to enhance the likelihood of reaching development objectives and the expected impact on reducing rural poverty and agricultural development

    He expressed IFAD’s gratitude to the Government of Nigeria for its continuous commitment to a strong cooperation with IFAD and in particular to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for its strong support.

  • FG to revive National Labour Advisory Council -Ngige

    FG to revive National Labour Advisory Council -Ngige

    Dr Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, says plans are underway to revive the National Labour Advisory Council in order to ensure international best labour practices in the country.

    Ngige who addressed newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, stressed that the resuscitation of the council was imperative in order to ensure International Labour Organisation (ILO) best practices in the country.

    “The National Labour Advisory Council is a very important organ of the tripartite committee arrangement that we have in the labour management.

    “The Council will help us to review the labour laws in the country and ensure international best practices.

    “So this ministry under my leadership will make sure that we will revive the council,” he added.

    He said part of the reason why the council was not performing optimally was due to lack of funds.

    Ngige noted that the meeting of the advisory council cost between N7 million and N10 million.

    He said that a tripartite committee meeting would be held to determine on how to revive the council and at an affordable cost too.

    “The National Labour Advisory Council is important because it is the equivalent of the public hearing which they do at the National Assembly.

    “So for us in the executive, the labour council serves as public hearing for the tripartite that is the employers, government and the unions that will have the opportunity to look at the laws.

    “ These are laws that will be enforced and make us comfortable in our various places of work.”

    Ngige said the revival of the council would afford the tripartite committee opportunity to fashion out ways to solve some problems like casualisation and contract staffing.

    He noted that there are laws guiding casualisation and contract staffing, but these laws are being abused by employers.

    “As long as we are here, we cannot permit indecent jobs and this ministry must protect Nigerians irrespective of where they come from.

    “To that extent we are going to enforce the law and that is why we have to revive the Inspectorate Department and the Industrial Relations Department.

    “They have to work together now and see how we can tackle and improve on this issue because a lot of companies are now into casualisation,’’ Ngige said.

    The minister noted that many multi-national companies are getting contracts in Nigeria, but have no labour clause that protects the Nigerian workers.

    “As I was told, most of such companies have used the opportunity to ship in their nationals to Nigeria thus depriving Nigerians of gainful employment.

    “It is very unfortunate that it is Nigerians who are breaking the laws; it is not those who are coming from outside the country who are breaking the law.

    “Nigerians break the laws at the point of entry; Nigerians break the law when these people are inside the country that is why the expatriate quota is full of flaws.

    “The Ministry of Labour will discuss with the Interior Ministry to look at the expatriate quota laws to ensure total compliance,’’ he said.

  • FG to partner British Council on cultural development

    FG to partner British Council on cultural development

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Monday expressed his ministry’s readiness to partner with the British Council on cultural orientation and development in the country.

    Mohammed said this when the Country Director of the council, Mrs Connie Price, led a delegation on a visit to his office in Abuja.

    He said the ministry wanted the council to assist in area of cultural orientation to positively change people’s attitude towards discouraging corruption, impunity and indiscipline.

    He minister requested the council to also assist in areas of capacity building, infrastructure development, digitization programme, women empowerment through cottage industries and revival of dead cultural industries.

    According to him, the ministry needs the council to stem piracy in the film industry.

    Mohammed said the partnership was imperative but it should be done in a cooperative manner.

    Earlier, Price said that the UK Government had sustained its cordial relationship with the Federal Government.

    She said the purpose of the visit was to discuss with the ministry and identify programmes that required the council’s intervention.

  • FG empowers unemployed graduates in Lagos

    FG empowers unemployed graduates in Lagos

    The Federal Ministry of Finance has empowered no fewer than 100 unemployed graduates under its Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) programme in Lagos State.

    The three-day training was held between December 7 and 9 at the NECA building Alausa, Ikeja.

    The director of the scheme, Mr Peter Papka, in his speech delivered by his representative, John Umoren, said: “The orientation and employability training are meant for the graduate interns but we have deliberately included partnering firms and organizations as part of government’s commitment in contributing to enhancement of their capacity in service  effectiveness, especially through staff assessment\development through structured mentorship and other critical lines which are necessary for growth of any firm and organization. It also provides an opportunity to share with other partners and interns on workplace and performance and how to optimize on the benefits of the scheme.”

    The objective, according to him, is to: “Enable interns optimize their internship period by developing useful skills and positive work habit. It is also aimed at providing an opportunity share experiences with other participants, including partner representatives on opportunities and challenges in the work place. Another aim of the programme is to expose participants to opportunities for life after internship and to contribute to service delivery and performance of partners.”

    He added: “The key outcome of these trainings has been the enthusiasm with which they were received as almost all inters admitted that this was the first formal training they are receiving on workplace and work life and it has added value to their lives.  They also admitted a clear and present opportunity of GIS  provides for them to chart the course of their future. Many interns are beginning to jettison the idea of waiting for a job from government as some are venturing into entrepreneurship.”

  • 25 percent of 2016 budget for Subsidy – World Bank

    25 percent of 2016 budget for Subsidy – World Bank

    World Bank Tuesday reported that 25 percent of the federal government budget for 2015 will be spent on funding subsidy.

    As a result of this huge spending on subsidy, the World Bank stated that Nigeria was unable to accumulate enough in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) because of the $35 billion cost of fuel subsidy incurred between 2010 and 2014.

    The World Bank in its economic report on Nigeria said the cost of subsidy in 2015 is expected to be around “18 percent of all oil revenues to the country, equivalent to 25 percent of federal budget.”

    The World Bank also warned that reports of wide-spread fraud will be costly to the reputation of the government and attempts to crack down on fraud can reduce supply while price distortions encourage overconsumption of fuel.

    According to the report which was presented by John Litwack, the report lamented that “the short run outlook remains difficult due to expected low oil prices. Even if oil prices recover, government oil revenues should continue to decline in the medium term relative to the size of the Nigerian economy.”

    To address this economic crisis, the World Bank noted that “fiscal adjustment will be of critical importance. Investors stand willing to bring considerable investment to Nigeria if they receive credible signals from the new Government of commitments to policy directions and regulations consistent with strong private sector growth.”

    The report said; “the benefits of the fuel subsidy in Nigeria appear quite limited, while the costs are high. For given fixed domestic fuel prices, the burden of the fuel subsidy, i.e. its share of government oil revenues, will likely increase over time regardless of whether oil prices remain low or recover.”

    In 2014-2015, the report stated that “the FAAC distributions of oil revenues to budgets have been crowded out by the costs of the fuel subsidy and cash calls to NNPC.”

    The report disclosed that “the value of the subsidy received by the wealthiest 10 percent is 30 times the value received by the poorest 10 percent. The vast majority of benefits to poorer Nigerians would have been from the kerosene subsidy if it was enforced. Without the kerosene subsidy, estimated per capita benefits to the poorest 10 percent of Nigerians is only 18 naira a month, most of which comes from transportation.”

    It was reported that the benefits of the petrol subsidy are even less now, given that the world price is lower and enforcement at the pump has weakened. “The share of the fuel subsidy in oil revenues to the Nigerian government is growing,” the World Bank warned.

    In his presentation, Masami Kojima lamented that Gas prices in Nigeria are not adjusted regularly, while announced gas prices are not always implemented. He noted that the country’s Department of Gas was not operational until 2012, and under-resourced.

    Masami Kojima added that “allocation of gas supply obligation are not announced at the beginning of each year but gas aggregator became operational since 2010, but the aggregation has not begun, and hence there is no aggregate price for gas in Nigeria.”

     

  • 2016 budget: FG votes N500b for social welfare

    2016 budget: FG votes N500b for social welfare

    The Federal Government has earmark the sum of N500 billion for social welfare intervention programmes for 2016 fiscal year.

    The government also made a provision of N63.29 billion as the Federal Government share of the controversial oil subsidy payment for the same fiscal year.

    No provision was however made for kerosene subsidy for the year under reference.

    Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) will be funded with the sum of N241.51billion under the headline Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Excess Crude Account (ECA) & SURE-P.

    But essential requirements to benefit from the social welfare package are evidence of school enrolment and immunization certificate.

    This is contained in the 2016- 2017 and 2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (PSP) submitted to the Senate for consideration and approval.

    The document read and circulated to Senators by Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki is expected to be the basis for the 2016 appropriation estimate for presentation to the National Assembly.

    According to the document, the Federal Government will collaborate with state governments to institute well-structured social welfare intervention programmes such as: School feeding programme initiative, conditional cash transfer to the most vulnerable and post-National Youth Service Corps grant.

    It said that “N500 billion has been provisioned in the 2016 budget as social investments for these programmes.”

    The government said, “These interventions will start as a pilot scheme and work towards securing the support donor agencies and our development partners in order to minimize potential risks.”

    Under special intervention including cash transfer, home grown school feeding programme and micro credit loans (SMEs, market women etc) which is also covered by the social intervention programme, the government provided the sum of N300 billion for 2016, N339.05 for 2017 and N338.93 for 2018.

    The document put the arrears of 2015 Subsidy on Domestic consumption as N150 billion.

    The government had also included the sum of N108 billion as the cost of fuel subsidy to cover October to December 2015 in the recently passed 2015 Supplementary Budget of N521 billion.

    In 2015, the SURE-P gulped N0.25 billion for running cost and the sum of N20.78 billion as capital expenditure.

    The budget for the Presidential Amnesty Programme was slashed from N47.39 billion in 2015 to N20 billion in 2016.

    Provisions were not made for the programme for 2017 and 2018 fiscal years.

    Provision was made for Frontier Exploration Services to the sum of N39.88 billion.

    The budget of the National Assembly was put at N115 billion for 2016 down from N120 billion for 2015.

    The government put the sum of N50 billion under the heading of “recoveries of other misappropriated funds.”

    Still on recoveries (refunds/recoveries from Strategic Alliance contracts) N137.90 billion while NNPC/CBN N162.43 billion.

    The total under the subhead of recoveries of misappropriated funds is therefore N350.33 billion.

    On social development, the government said that job creation and social inclusion are key to the administration’s development programme as a means to reducing the rates of unemployment, poverty and inequality.

    It said that a phased social welfare programme will be created to cater for a larger population of the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians upon the evidence of children’s enrolment in school and evidence of immunization.

    The government said that it will, in the near-to-medium-term, continue to prune the size of the federal government and its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) to more efficient levels without compromising efficiency and effectiveness.

    It noted that over the medium-term, however, “government will revisit the need to rationalize the agencies of government and strategically implement relevant provisions.”

    On the introduction of Treasury Single Account (TSA) the government said that the multiplicity of government accounts had made it difficult to have an accurate picture of the public financial resources.

    “Government has therefore enforced the full implementation of the TSA system. Already, this is facilitating a more effective aggregate management and control of government cash balances, which, hitherto, had been maintained in several bank(s) accounts. Government has similarly enforced the full implementation of the integrated payroll and personnel information system (IPPIS) in all MDAs, which should result in some saving,” the document said.

    The government also said that the mounting number of claims for increases in salaries and allowances including pensions and other benefits should be curtailed as part of the efforts at rebalancing the structure of government spending.

    The government said that the 2016 budget will be structured to provide a stimulus to reflect the economy by investment in key infrastructure and the development of an inclusive economic recovery.

    It said that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio, which at 12%, is one of the lowest in the world, gives room for the fiscal expansion.

    It added however that government will ensure that additional borrowing is kept within prudent limits and channeled towards infrastructure.

    To that extent, government said that a budget size of N6.04 trillion is being proposed and federal government’s revenue is projected at N3.82 trillion implying a projected deficit of N2.22 trillion.

    It said that the ratio of capital to recurrent expenditure is envisaged to move from the current 16/84 to about 30/70 in 2016.

    It said that fiscal deficit is targeted at not more than 2.16% of GDP (about N2.22 trillion in normal terms.)

  • FG will facilitate passage of Disability Bill, says Alhassan

    FG will facilitate passage of Disability Bill, says Alhassan

    The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Jummai Alhassan, has assured that the federal government will facilitate the passage of the Nigerian Disability Bill.

    She spoke in Abuja at an event to mark the 2015 International Day of Persons with Disabilities with the theme ‘Inclusion Matters: Access and Empowerment for people of All Abilities.’

    The theme was aimed at empowering people with disability towards maintaining the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) agenda.

    She said disability was one of the major challenges that continually threaten human existence and the attainment of meaningful development, noting that marking the day was a wake-up call in ensuring the domestication of the law in Nigeria.

    She further explained that the UN conventions on the rights of persons with Disabilities by Nigeria in 2007 and 2010 were geared towards the development, care and welfare of persons with disabilities.

    The minister also said that the aim of the call was to awaken UN member states toward encouraging and promoting activities that would ensure interaction, mainstreaming and empowerment of persons with disabilities.

    While urging the society to assist and empower people with disabilities, especially in the areas of job creation, health, nutrition, education as well as social protection, the minister added, “It is only when people are empowered that they can prepare to take advantage of opportunities and become agents of change and can more readily embrace their civic responsibilities.’’

    In her address, Mrs. Binta Bello, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, said the objective of the day was to create awareness, promote understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for dignity and rights of persons with disabilities.

    Bello, who gave an estimated number of 19 million Nigerians living with disabilities, noted that it was an area that must be given adequate attention.

    The permanent secretary urged stakeholders to work out plans that would meet the needs of such persons, adding that budgetary allocations could not shoulder all their needs.

  • FG approves promotion of 907 FRSC officers

    FG approves promotion of 907 FRSC officers

    President Muhammad Buhari has approved the promotion of 907 Federal Road Safety Corps officers to various ranks.

    This was made known yesterday by Head of Media Relations and Strategy of the Corps, Bisi Kazeem.?

    In a statement by him, he gave the breakdown of the number of officers promoted to the following positions as: 90 Assistant Corps Commanders promoted to the rank of Deputy Corps Commanders; 35 Senior Route Commanders promoted to the rank of Chief Route Commanders; 24 Route Commanders promoted to the rank of Senior Route Commanders; and 758 Deputy Route Commanders promoted to the rank of Route Commanders.

    Kazeem disclosed that the Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi, has expressed gratitude to the President for the approval and also commended the performance of the newly promoted officers while encouraging Officers of the Corps to put in the best in the course of their duties.

    According to Kazeem: “The Corps Marshal is assuring Officers of the Corps that there are more opportunities for promotion in the near future, and is calling on all Officers to work hard and put in a great effort to enable the Corps achieve its mandate of Road Traffic Crash Reduction.”

    He added that that the management of the Corps will be assigning job designations to the newly promoted officers that befit the new ranks they now occupy.

     

  • Court to FG: Don’t seize Kashamu’s property

    Court to FG: Don’t seize Kashamu’s property

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has restrained the Federal Government from seizing Senator Buruji Kashamu’s properties over drug trafficking allegations.

    Justice Ibrahim Buba held that it would amount to an abuse of powers for the respondents to infringe on Kashamu’s property rights without following due process.

    The judge, therefore, barred the Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) from violating the senator’s rights to own property.

    Kashamu sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining NDLEA and the AGF from taking possession of his assets.

    He said he learnt of moves by agents of the Federal Government to seize his properties, including a 24-flat housing estate at Egbe and several hectares of land on Lekki Peninsula, Lagos.

    According to him, he acquired the properties, which he said were worth N20billion, by dint of hard work and through his legitimate business.

    He said contrary to NDLEA’s alleged claim, the property were not proceeds of drug trafficking.

    The Senator said his right to own property as guaranteed by sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution would be breached if the respondents were not perpetually restrained.

    Ruling in his favour, Justice Buba held that since previous judgments stopping Kashamu’s extradition had not been discharged or vacated, the prosecution could not take steps against him when the restraining orders were still subsisting.

    He said the prosecution was bound to obey the orders until set aside by the Court of Appeal.

    “The judgments of this court are binding on the parties and on this court until set aside on appeal,” he held.

    Justice Buba said the Federal Government cannot sieze Kashamu’s assets on the basis of the same allegations that had been decided upon by the court “whether rightly or wrongly.”

    “Consequently, this application has merit. Same is granted in the light of the judgments referred to in this ruling,” Justice Buba said.

    Justice Buba had, on June 23, re-affirmed a May 27 order by Justice Okon Abang of the same court stopping Kashamu’s arrest and extradition.