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Tag: MDAs

  • MDAs electricity debts will be paid – Fashola

    MDAs electricity debts will be paid – Fashola

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said on Tuesday the Federal Government would pay the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) electricity debts by setting it off against debts owed the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading company (NBET) by the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCoS).

    He said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the payment of the verified sum of N25.9b the MDAs owed the DisCos.

    The minister stated these at the 20th monthly power sector stakeholders’ meeting in Owerri, Imo State.

    He said: “In the last month also, specifically on Wednesday 4th October 2017, the Federal Executive Council approved the verified sum of  MDAs debts totalling N25.9billion, and its payment by setting it off against the debts owed by the DisCos to NBET.

    “We are also making progress in recovering debts from international customers and you will be notified of how much has been received when the appropriate accounts confirm that they have received value for the credits we have been notified of.

    “You will be receiving official communication of how these have been applied to reduce debts owed by DisCos to NBET.”

    On investment recovery, Fashola added: “Understandably you are concerned about investment recovery and in your views, the solution is a tariff review.”

     

     

     

     

  • Govt released N336bn capital funds to MDAs

    Govt released N336bn capital funds to MDAs

    The Federal Government has, to date, released N336 billion from this year’s Budget to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for of capital projects in the first quarter.

    A statement from the Ministry of Finance said “the balance of N14 billion is being processed, pending resolution of some formalities within the agencies concerned.”

    According to the statement signed by Patricia Deworitshe, Deputy Director (Press) of the ministry, Power, Works and Housing received the largest allocation of N90 billion; followed by Defence and Security, which got N71 billion. Transport got N30 billion. Agriculture received N30 billion and Water Resources N12 billion. Other sectors received N103 billion.

    Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said the prioritisation of the release of funds was made in accordance with the objectives of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

    She said: “In 2017, the Federal Government will continue to focus on capital expenditure spending on priority sectors to stimulate economic activities and job creation.”

    “Despite fiscal constraints, the Federal Government was able to fully cash-back the budgeted capital releases so far made, which is a reflection of the current administration’s commitment to economic development,” the Minister said.

     

  • MDAs: Don’t execute projects without clearance

    MDAs: Don’t execute projects without clearance

    The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) yesterday caustioned  federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as other government establishments against  executing Information Technology (IT) projects without getting its clearance.

    It said it is in line with Section 6 of the NITDA Act, 2007 as well as service-wide circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation which makes the Agency the clearing house for all IT procurement in the public sector.

    Its Director General/CEO, Dr Ibrahim Pantami, said: “We are therefore calling on MDAs and other government establishments to ensure that their IT projects in the 2017 Appropriation Act are put forward for clearance before implementation.

    “It should be noted that a breach of the provision of NITDA Act and any other directive pursuant to the Act is an offence under Section 17 and punishable under Section 18 of the Act.”

    It said the objectives of the clearance exercise are to ensure transparency in IT procurement by MDAs and other government establishments; alignment of IT projects/investments with MDAs and other government establishments’ mandates and functions as well as government IT shared vision and policy; and integration of IT systems and services to save costs, promote shared services, interoperability and improve efficiency.

    Another is  to ensure that there is indigenous capacity for after-sales-service to sustain the project beyond the initial deployment.

     

  • Edo Sensitises Commissioners, MDA Heads

    Edo Sensitises Commissioners, MDA Heads

    To guard against corrupt practices, abuse of office and entrench accountability in governance, commissioners, and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Edo State have been charged to abide by the provisions of the state’s Procurement Law.
    This was the submission of experts at the seminar tagged “Essentials in Public Procurement Process and Organisation” organized by the Edo State Strategic Planning Team and hosted by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Edo State Public Procurement Agency, (ESPPA), Mr. Henry Idogun, at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Benin City, on Thursday.
    The seminar was an initiative of the state government to sensitise its officials and other stakeholders on the supremacy of the Public Procurement Law enacted in the state in 2012, for the sourcing of services and goods to ensure optimal service delivery and good governance.

    Mr. Idogun, in his presentation, said complications with procurement often arise because government agencies do not keep to the conventional methods of sourcing services, goods and jobs such as the national and international competitive bidding procedures.

    He noted that the use of unconventional methods, though lawful, often create conflict, which public servants ought to guard against if they are to maintain transparency and accountability.

    He said: “Many would argue that drug procurement falls into emergency service. But it isn’t, because, if the official in charge requested to replenish stock as at when due, there wouldn’t be any need to classify drugs as an emergency good. We are to work in the background to ensure that everyone complies with the law, and we are committed to ensuring that this is done.”

    The Head of the Edo State’s Strategic Planning Committee, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, said the Edo State government wants everyone involved with procurement to understand the import, implication, and essence of the Procurement Act.

    He said: “That is why we have brought in experts to speak with commissioners, permanent secretaries and those heading all the MDAs in the state for this intensive one-day workshop on compliance with the Procurement Act.”

    Prof. Ihonvbere explained: “This is a different era. First, we started with a strategic plan for the state, which started with a strategic dialogue attended by all stakeholders. Thereafter, we did targeted workshops for each ministry and some departments. Then, we developed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each commissioner. We also required that using their initiative, they develop a work plan, which is aligned to the budget. We want to ensure that absolutely no procurement would be done in Edo State without compliance with the Procurement Law. So, it is part of our effort on the war against corruption and abuse of office.”

    The Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu, said the seminar was to expose government officials and other stakeholders in the procurement space to the legal and institutional framework for doing business with the state government.

    According to him, “The intent of this workshop is to ensure that government is for governance and not for looting. Once we have that as the watchword, we would bid goodbye to the days of looting. We want to ensure that sanity is brought into the way goods and services are procured. At the end of the day, when these loop holes are covered, stealing and fraud would become things of the past.”

  • MDAs’ illegal recruitments

    •This violation calls for immediate investigation and prosecution of culprits

    A review carried out by the Federal Ministry of Finance has revealed that 183 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) have been involved in illegal recruitment of staff. The list includes even the Central Bankof Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and the Nigerian Prisons service, as well as some federal universities and hospitals.

    It is only two of the existing 185 MDAs: the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Army that are not implicated in the illegal act. These two agencies, according to the report of a panel set up by the Ministry of Finance, sought permission from appropriate authorities before recruiting new staff.

    Of the 13,780 new recruits to the MDAs in the last two years, 6,117 persons were recruited without any approval. It is believed that such illegal recruitments took place despite the President’s executive order banning fresh recruitment without approval.

    Without doubt, the arbitrary use of power that drove illegal recruitment into public service in contravention of standing orders leaves much to be desired. It is more worrisome that such disobedience of standing orders is carried out under a government that came to power on the strength of its promise to stamp out impunity in public life.  Similar lack of respect by persons with any form of power for rules and regulations was the bane of governance in the last few decades. It is, therefore, sad that heads of MDAs would carry out such unwholesome acts under a government that has become synonymous with fight against all forms of corruption.

    Many of the MDAs involved in recruiting new staff without regard for rules have found solace in facile excuses like claims that no off-budget recruitments were made, arguing that those recruited were just replacements for staff that left. This shows an unacceptable narrow thinking on the part of senior civil servants expected  to protect integrity in public service. Replacing a retired officer on N300,000 monthly salary with six new recruits on N50,000 each does not make such recruitment an in-budget item, more so in a recession and at a time that the Federal Government even takes internal and external loans to shore up the budget.

    Further, bringing new people into public service in disregard of regulations is a fertile ground for growing the market of ghost workers. Employment of ghost workers derives from the type of impunity that drives arbitrary employment of workers to replace retired ones without authorisation. Apart from creating avoidable wage bills for a country in recession, unauthorised recruitment is also an excuse for circumventing the federal character provision of the constitution.

    Given the campaign commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to fight corruption, MDAs need to be weaned off the culture of impunity. The Federal Government needs to be committed to enforcing whatever guidelines it sets for employment. In other climes, an executive order by the President would have been enough to discourage recruiters of new staff.

    We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to commence immediate investigation into arbitrary employment of staff in the last two years, with the intention to identify and punish those found culpable. This matter should not be handled in the same languid manner that several announcements of discovery of ghost workers had been done: identifying commission of a crime while hiding the identity of the criminal.

    The culture of the civil service needs to be further refined.  Having senior civil servants give flimsy excuses for circumvention of regulations about recruitment suggests the need for re-orientation of a civil service that had luxuriated in the years of impunity under both military dictators and carefree civilian rulers. Public service grows in a soil fertile for rule of law, and Nigeria’s public service cannot be an exception.

  • RMAFC uncovers N115bn tax liabilities against FG, States MDAs

    RMAFC uncovers N115bn tax liabilities against FG, States MDAs

    The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC) has uncovered over N115 billion tax liabilities established against Federal and States’ Ministries, Departments and Agencies, (MDAs).

    Also found enmeshed in tax liabilities are Local Government Councils across the nation.

    The RMAFC stumbled on this revelation following tax liabilities recovery exercise carried out by the Commission.

    According to a Press Statement signed by Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, RMAFC’s Spokesperson, “the Commission was able to establish the total sum of N115, 811, 884,454.01 as tax liabilities in the first phase of the exercise covering the period between 2005 and 2015 spread across 30 States of the Federation.”

    Adamawa, Borno, Delta, Ebonyi, Katsina and Kebbi States were given clean bills of health “as they are bereft of any tax liabilities. At the end of the exercise which is ninety per cent completed, an additional sum of N40 billion is expected” to be realized as tax liabilities against both federal and state MDAs.

    The Statement added that “all the States, LGCs and other Agencies so far covered have passionately pleaded for waiver of penalty and interest totaling N24,030,004,256.31 comprising N9,748,742,417.28 as penalty and N14,281,261,839.03 as interest respectively.”

    Ibrahim Mohammed said that “in the course of the exercise, it was discovered that some Federal Government Agencies domiciled in the States were not remitting Pay As You Earn (PAYE) to the state governments thus depleting their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base.”

    In the same vein, RMAFC also “called on the Federal Government to reimburse some of the State Governments that executed Federal Government projects in their States so as to enhance their revenue profile.”

    The Commission also urged states like Bauchi, Cross River, Edo, Enugu and Rivers which are yet to participate in the exercise to do so in the spirit of equity and fair play since they continue to enjoy the proceeds of tax remitted by their counterparts.

     

  • Budget: Presidency awaits feedback from MDAs before assent

    Budget: Presidency awaits feedback from MDAs before assent

    The Presidency is yet to assent to the 2017 budget because it is awaiting feedback from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the bill passed by the National Assembly, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    The government has asked ministers to study the budget to determine the extent of adjustment, alteration and tampering.

    The government is said to be trying to avoid a repeat of the padding of the budget as the case in 2016.

    The National Assembly on May 11 passed the 2017 Appropriation Bill and raised the estimate from N7.28 trillion proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari in December last year to N7.44 trillion.

    Although the Assembly exercised its constitutional right, the government was not expecting that the Appropriation Bill would be raised up.

    But the Presidency has asked ministers and the agencies under them to “go through what was passed.”

    The Presidency made the budget available to ministers last Tuesday and Wednesday.

    The MDAs have about a week to go through the document.

    It was gathered that the Presidency does not want to rush into signing the budget without verifying the proposals approved by the National Assembly.

    A source in the Presidency said: “There is no problem about assent to the 2017 budget; the Presidency is only awaiting feedback from MDAs.

    “The last time I checked, the feedback was still coming from ministers and the agencies. But the government is tidying up the process.

    “This is to show you that everyone is involved in the process. We want to make the budget as transparent as possible.”

    A top government official also said: “Actually, the budget was given to ministers to check the details to avoid a repeat of the padding of 2016. The purpose is to ensure that the proposals of the government for 2017 were not significantly tampered with.

    “At the end of the day, the government will evaluate the aggregate of the adjustments made to the budget before deciding whether or not to sign it into law or draw the attention of the National Assembly to significant alterations.

    “If the aggregate of alterations is less than five per cent, the President or the Acting President (as may be directed) will then sign it into law.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The analysis of the budget by MDAs is also good for the records in comparison with past budgets.

    “On assent to the budget, I can tell you that this government is one. It can either be President Muhammadu Buhari or the Acting President as may be directed. There is no problem at all contrary to insinuations.

    “We are all hopeful that the President will be well enough within the next one week or two to sign the budget. Otherwise, the Acting President will assent to the document.”

    Buhari presented the budget to the National Assembly on December 14, 2016.

    It was learnt that two significant aspects of the budget are sxciting to government officials.

    The aspects are Clause 11 of the Appropriation Bill which provides that the budget will run for 12 months, starting from the date it is signed into law and the allocation of 30 per cent to capital expenditure.

    By implication, the budget cycle may run from May to May.

    Other highlights in the budget are  Statutory Transfers ( N434 billion);  Debt Servicing (N1.8 trillion); Sinking Fund for Maturity Bonds( N177.5 billion);  Recurrent Non-Debt Expenditure (N2.99 trillion) and Development Fund for Capital Expenditure, exclusive of the capital expenditure in statutory transfers for the year ending Dec. 31, 2017(N2.2 trillion).

    The crude oil production benchmark for the budget is 2.2 million barrels per day with foreign exchange rate at N305 to the US dollar.

  • Kwara releases details of its April Federal allocation

    Kwara Government on Thursday said it received N2.488 billion as its share of the federal allocation for April.

    The state’s Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, who made the disclosure in a statement in Ilorin, said that the sum was an increase over the N2.232 billion the state got in March.

    Giving a breakdown of the allocation, Banu said the sum comprised statutory allocation of N1.244 billion; Value Added Tax (VAT) of N750 million; Exchange Difference of N371 million and excess Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) of N121 million.

    He further said that 16 Local Governments in the state received a total of N1.822 billion as allocation for April as against the N1.658 billion they collectively got in March.

    Banu said the local councils’ sum was made up of statutory allocation of N1.071 billion; Value Added Tax (VAT) of N425 million; Exchange Difference of N245 million and excess Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) of N80 million.

    The commissioner, however, noted that in line with the financial arrangement with the Federal Government, elements of the monthly allocation were received at separate intervals.

    He added that this action was usually responsible for the occasional delay in the payment of pensions, overheads and subventions to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the State.

  • Osinbajo inaugurates National MMSE Council to drive economic growth, job creation

    Osinbajo inaugurates National MMSE Council to drive economic growth, job creation

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday announced the reduction of the membership of National Council on Micro, Medium, and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) from 43 to 21.

    Osinbajo said at the inauguration of the council that the reduction  was  to ensure  effectiveness and proper coordination.

    “This Council shall be the apex body on MSMEs development in the country, providing guidance and coordination on the establishment of strategies and policies for the wholesome support of MSME development in Nigeria.

    “The next few years will be decisive for Nigeria in many profound ways.

    “Our ability to create a modern industrial economy able to provide livelihoods for millions and a future for multiples will be tested.

    “The challenge calls for our sharpest minds and best talents.

    “And you ladies and gentlemen who form this council are of that required caliber, we simply cannot afford to fail.’’

    The vice president described the council as a fresh, streamlined and refocused National Council on MSME.

    He said that the council “was the coordinating platform for the implementation of all development programmes within the sub sector, especially the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP)’’.

    He said NEDEP was the administration’s repackaged and strategic platform to deliver growth and sustainability within the MSMEs subsector.

    He said the importance of the MSMEs was enormous as they were the bedrock of the nation’s industrialization and inclusive economic development and also the most important component of industrialization.

    “This is the primary driver of employment, wealth creation and poverty alleviation for our government,’’ he said.

    Osinbajo recalled the survey by SMEDAN and National Bureau of Statistics showing that over 37 million MSMEs existed in the country employing no fewer than 59.7 million persons, contributing 48.4 per cent to GDP and 7.27 per cent to exports.

    He, therefore, said that if each MSME employed an additional person the administration would create over 37 million extra jobs.

    “With NEDEP we are making MSMEs a central part of our national growth and economic policy.

    “”This is a new model for national enterprise development and would reach every one of the 774 local governments in Nigeria.

    “”We have identified and are supporting at least one product in each of the local governments based on each local government’s area of competitive and comparative advantage.

    “”NEDEP will unlock the Nigerian MSMEs sub sector by resolving the issues that most small businesses have to contend with.

    “”These are access to finance, access to markets, weak business development dearth of technical skills, lack of infrastructure and insufficient market information,’’ he said.

    The VP said that with NEDEP the administration would create enterprise zones with the required infrastructure for small businesses to succeed.

    Osinbajo said the programme would transform the country through employment generation, facilitating economic linkages and engendering rural industrialization.

    ““As we look ahead, it is important that we not only sustain the momentum of NEDEP and other development programmes such as the highly successful nation-wide MSME clinics but we must coordinate their impact for effectiveness and sustainability.

    ““This is the crucial relevance of the National Council on MSMEs,’’ he said.

    “The Council will effectively coordinate the enterprise development efforts made by the various tiers of government, International Development Partners (IDP) and the private sector towards job creation, wealth creation and poverty alleviation in Nigeria.

    “The Council will draw its membership from the public and private sectors and its secretariat shall be the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

    “”It is important to re-emphasize the point that this Council will have the same success delivery platform as the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Committee (PEBEC).

    The VP outlined the responsibilities of the Council to include coordinating the activities of all stakeholders in both the private and public sectors to ensure that all efforts and activities are geared towards the priority sectors of the economy.

    Others are guiding the Federal Government on the formulation of broad policies and strategies to drive the wholesome development of the MSMEs sub-sector in Nigeria.

    The council will be coordinating the roles and responsibilities of Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies  (MDAs), State and Local Governments and other stakeholders responsible for MSME development.

    It will be promoting inter-agency synergy and cooperation in MSME development and encouraging and strengthening Public-Private-   Partnership and Public-Public-Partnership in MSME development.

    It is to ensure the creation of an enabling environment to facilitate the development of MSME clusters,     infrastructure upgrade, access to finance, MSME capacity building and fostering increased awareness and ensuring  stakeholders’ buy-in on MSME development   programmes, initiatives and projects.

    The council will also ensure the institution of an effective framework for monitoring and evaluating the impact of MSME policies, programmes, projects and initiatives as well as ensure that the principles of the National Policy on MSMEs are achieved and reviewed as the need arises.

    The minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Aisha Abubakar, in an address said the Council looked forward to creating an MMSE sub-sector that could drive the administration’s diversification programme.

    Also the D-G of SMEDAM, Dr Dikko Radda, said that the inauguration was good for the development of the economic sector and showed the importance the administration had given to MSMEs in the development of the nation’s economy.

    According to him, the creation of additional 37 million jobs being proposed to the council, will eliminate joblessness in the country.

  • Presidential panel ratifies two days for new business registration

    The Presidential Ease of Doing Business panel has reduced the number of days required for registration of new businesses in Nigeria from 10 to two days.

    The panel also approved 24-hour timeline for company registration from when application form was completed and all required documents made available.

    Those were among highlights of a report presented at a Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), on Monday at the Presidential Villa.

    The report was presented by Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Trade and Investment and came as reforms targeting the end of the 60-day Action Plan on Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.

    According to the recommendations prospective business owners can now search on Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) portal   (www.cac.gov.ng) to avoid duplication of names and prevent selection of prohibited names.

    Also it is now optional for SMEs to hire lawyers to prepare registration documents for companies.

    The Council, established by President Muhammadu Buhari, is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    However, Monday’s meeting was chaired by Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, as the Vice President was busy with the work of the Presidential Investigative Panel set up for two top government officials.

    According to the report, CAC has introduced single incorporation form (CAC1.1) to save time and reduce costs while the agency has introduced document upload interface on its website to enable e-submission of registration documents.

    Other aspects of the reforms actualized in the last 60 days include the Integrated FIRS e-payment solution into CAC portal to enable e-stamping while the reform empowers CAC internal lawyers to certify company incorporation forms and conduct statutory declaration of compliance for just N500.

    According to the report, the PEBEC listed “dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit and paying taxes,” as some of the areas where the council recorded progress in the past 60 days.

    The report also highlighted the completed reforms on the “Entry and Exit of People,” indicator which includes Simplified Visa-on-Arrival process, Infrastructural improvements at the Abuja airport, and the new Immigration Regulation 2017.

    It also indicated that the completed reforms were being closely monitored to ensure diligent implementation with minimal disruption while pending reforms were being escalated to ensure completion in the coming weeks.

    On Trading across Borders, some of the completed reforms include palletisation of imports, advanced cargo manifests, reduction in documentation requirements and scheduling of Joint Physical Examination by the Customs Service.

    The National Action Plan contained initiatives and actions implemented by responsible Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the National Assembly, a number of State Governments, as well as some private sector stakeholders.

    The Council emphasised that with the conclusion of implementation of the Action Plan, it would move into the next phase.

    That phase would involve “deepening existing reforms; completing and implementing pending initiatives; engaging with the public; validating completed reforms and kicking-off medium-term reforms.”

    The Council would also begin “sub-national reforms across Nigeria’s 36 states; trading within Nigeria; initiatives and reforms improving business processes and regulations within Nigeria; and ease of movement of goods within and across regions in Nigeria.”

    Ministers at the meeting included Foreign Affairs Ministers Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of State for Industry Trade and Investment Aisha Abubakar, and her counterpart in Budget and National Planning Zainab Ahmed.

    Other government functionaries at the meeting included the Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, and several heads of MDAs.