The Nation Newspaper

Tag: minister

  • Reps name panel to probe Shell, minister over OML 29’s sale

    Reps name panel to probe Shell, minister over OML 29’s sale

    A seven-member Ad-Hoc Committee has been raised by the House of Representatives to investigate Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke over the alleged illegal sale of Oil Mining Licence (OML 29).

    The probe panel was constituted by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha who presided over the plenary session yesterday.

    The  committee is chaired by Hon. Aminu Suleiman (Kano/APC). Other members are: Hon. Babatunde Adejare (Lagos/APC); Hon. Irona Alphonsus Gerald (Imo/PDP); Hon. Binta Maigari Bello (Gombe/PDP); Hon. Ismaila Ahmed Gadaka (Yobe/APC); Hon. Umaru Haliru Aliero (Kebbi/PDP); Hon. Sunday Akpodiogaga Emeyese (Delta/PDP).

    The Hon. Suleiman-led Ad-hoc Committee is expected to establish the validity of the transactions and report back to the House within two weeks.

    The Speaker, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had on May 27 said an ad hoc committee would be set up to probe the validity of the transaction but  did not name the committte members at the time.

    Tambuwal spoke sequel to the adoption of a motion brought on the floor by a member, Hon. Irona Alphonsus Gerald at the time titled: “Inadvertent Sale of OML 29 and other OMLS  by SPDC and other Oil majors”.

    Gerald in the motion had alleged that Shell and other oil majors may have hidden under the cover of waivers usually granted by the petroleum minister to embark on the sale of OML 29 and others.

  • Former editor petitions Sports Minister

    Former editor petitions Sports Minister

    • Backs Maigari-led NFF probe 

    The Federal Government has been challenged to probe the the multi-billion naira finances allocated to the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari, in the last 24 months.

    It has also been asked to look into the alleged fraudulent deal signed with the League Management Company (LMC) with an advertising agency.

    A petition signed by a former Group Sports Editor of Thisday Newspaper and current publisher of Gongnews.com, an online news medium, Olajide Fashikun and addressed to the Minister of Sports Dr. Tammy Danagogo, the petitioner said he decided to call for the probe of the NFF leadership “as part of the desired changes which Nigeria’s sports deserves following the years of mal-administration and loss of focus by those saddled with the responsibility of developing sports”.

    The areas that  Fashikun want the Federal Government to investigate include the $2 million paid by the Federal Government and $8 million paid by FIFA for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as some players are still claiming that they have not received their share of the participation having played in the qualifiers without playing in the finals; the $1 million reserved by the Sani Abdullahi led board for the furnishing of the Sunday Dankaro House and secretariat of the NFF in Package B at the National Stadium, Abuja; the N790 million for the 2013 African Cup of Nations; the N170 million received for the 2013 FIFA Confederation Cup in Brazil and the money paid by FIFA for same.

    The petitioner further wants the Federal Government to probe the $1.5 million grant given by FIFA to prepare the team, the Super Eagles for the 2014 World Cup; proceeds from the sponsorship deals with Globacom, Guinness, TomTom, Peak Milk and Adidas; N1.288 billion being the sum of the monthly subvention received from government from January 2013 to June 2014; N850 million received from government for the preparation and participation of the Super Eagles in the first round of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the $8 million and $6 million expected revenue from FIFA for playing in the first round and qualifying for the round of 16 respectively.

    He noted that if “Nigeria football must be saved and helped to progress without committing the same error in the future, and as a measure to prevent this from repeating itself, given as a deterrence, you must act in good faith”.

    Fashikun, in the petition dated July 4, 2014, said since Football, is one of the 26 sectors under the purview of the minister and  for the fact that Nigeria are too emotional and passionate about football it was urgent that a probe be initiated to address the anomalies in the system.

    He said: “It is sad and unjustifiable that monies taken from the public till is being fritted away for unnecessary and under developmental purposes. That is why I am demanding from the Minister of Sports, an independent committee to probe the allegations or an investigation by a competent statutory institution”.

    The petitioner stated that had the NFF board used the funds available to them judiciously “the eventual protest of the players that embarrassed the nation would have been avoided. The cost of that embarrassment cannot be quantified in money matters”.

  • Minister begs ASUP to call off strike

    Minister begs ASUP to call off strike

    …as committee to bridge HND/B.Sc dichotomy submits report

    The Supervising Minister of Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike, yesterday appealed to the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to call off its 11-month-old industrial action in the interest of the country.

    Wike assured that government is working assiduously to see that issues surrounding the strike are properly addressed.

    He said this in Abuja at the presentation of the report of the technical committee set up by the Federal Government on the removal of ceiling on career progression of HND holders and dichotomy between HND holders and degrees holders.

    The minister promised that the report would be forwarded to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for immediate action.

    His words: “Let me on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for completing the assignment given to them. Of cause we all know that this assignment is very serious; it is not any easy one, but what is important is that you have come up with far reaching decisions that would help to address some of the challenges that have been identified in the polytechnic sector.

    “It is for ASUP to know that government is willing to solve the entire problem, but ASUP should know that the interest of this nation is paramount to everybody and that government is doing a lot of sacrifices to meet up on its own demand. ASUP should also in the interest of the nation call off the strike.”

    The committee called for the strengthening of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) so that it can continue with the review of curricular of the polytechnic sector and bring it in line with global and industrial standard.

    Presenting the report the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Mr. MacJohn Nwaobiala, who is also the chairman of the committee, explained that the committee identified the imperative for changes to be made in classification of HND holders in the Scheme of Service as a first step to opening the career ladder to enable them reach the maximum grade levels in the civil service.

    He also underlined the need to maintain standards, by not creating two different B. Tech degrees, and therefore considered it more beneficial to synchronize the B. Tech Curriculum proposed by the NBTE, for the polytechnics with the B. Tech degree approved for the universities by NUC, to avoid further dichotomy.

    Speaking to journalists shortly after the presentation of the report, the President of ASUP, Chibuzor Asumogha, disclosed that the presentation of the report was “a step forward” in calling off the strike.

  • FCT MINISTER: Complete Karshi-Apo Road

    FCT MINISTER: Complete Karshi-Apo Road

    I must commend the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, for his transformation agenda to give the territory a facelift.

    The minister is working, and my advice is that he should not relent in his efforts in this respect.

    As the minister goes on with his transformation, he should not forget to complete the road that links karshi Satellite Town and Apo, that is, the Karshi-Apo Road.

    This road, among other benefits, will ease the traffic jam on the Abuja-Nyanya-Mararaba Road.

    The people in Karshi Satellite Town are your supporters. They are solidly behind your transformation agenda and political activities.

    We are expecting action soon on the road.

     

    R. B Kefas,

    Karshi Satellite Town,

  • Minister, NNPC file fresh suit against National Assembly

    Minister, NNPC file fresh suit against National Assembly

    Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have filed a fresh suit against the National Assembly to stop the House of Representatives’ from probing her alleged spending of about N10 billion on chartered aircraft.

    The minister and the corporation are, by the suit filed before the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the constitutional powers of the National Assembly to probe them over the jet lease scandal.

    The new suit was filed amidst the pendency of an earlier suit filed by both plaintiffs. The earlier suit is pending before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the same court.

    The earlier suit generated controversy when the House of Representatives wrongly informed the public that it had been restrained from proceeding with the probe, even when the court had not granted such order.

    The House’s “mistake” prompted Justice Mohammed to summon it and its leadership to explain where it got the purported order, which the judge denied granting.

    When the case came up on May 5, neither the House nor its representative honoured the judge’s summons.

    The judge, therefore, restated his summons and insisted that the House must appear before him on the next date to explain where it got its supposed order from. He adjourned the matter till May 26.

    The minister and the NNPC are contending, in the new suit – filed for them by Mike Ozekhome (SAN) – that the lawmakers lacked the powers to summon or investigate her.

    They have also written to House of Representatives Speaker and the Senate President not to take further steps on the probe because it would amount to contempt of court.

    The plaintiffs prayed the court to determine whether, by virtue of the provisions of the Constitution,  particularly Sections 88, 89 and 214, the respondents or any of their committees are legally and constitutionally empowered and/or competent to probe or conduct investigation into allegations of fraud or other criminal activities said to have occurred in the agencies under the applicants’ supervision when there exist agencies that are legally and constitutionally empowered to carry out or conduct such investigations into alleged fraud or other criminal acts and prosecute offenders upon conclusion of their investigations.

  • Minister: seven kidnapped expatriates yet to regain freedom

    Minister of Works Mike Onolememen said yesterday in Abuja that seven expatriate construction workers abducted from a site by Boko Haram insurgents in Borno State are yet to be released, one year after their abduction.

    He said the insurgents had killed five workers of another construction firm working on roads in the state.

    The minister, who spoke at a leadership forum organised by the Nigerian Newsworld magazine, lamented that most contractors had abandoned work in the state due to the incessant attacks, killings and abductions.

    Onolomemen said all federal road projects in Borno State remain suspended, until when peace returns to the state.

    He said the government planned to expand the Oshodi-Murtala Mohammed International Airport Expressway, Lagos to eight-lane driveway with flyovers in addition to the expansion of other roads in the Southwest in line with transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He said: “The various insurgencies in the Northeast are definitely affecting our speed of work. Today, as we, speak all the Federal Government road projects in that zone have been suspended. So there are challenges, and we are aware of it.

    “Contractors and workers of the ministry have died there. I will just give you a rundown; CCECC that is in charge of Section 5 of that road from Damaturu to Maiduguri has lost five workers, including foreigners. The insurgents broke into the site of Setraco Nig Ltd and abducted seven expatriates over a year ago and up till now nothing has been heard about them.

    “The Ministry of Works lost two of its workers in Maiduguri. So these are some of the challenges we are facing there.

    “But despite the challenges, apart from Section 5 where we noticed that the spate of insurgency is very high, work is still going on at the remaining sections; from Kano, Jigawa to Bauchi to Yobe work is still going and the entire Kano- Maiduguri dualisation project work is still going on, despite the insurgency.”

    The minister also explained that Nigerians may start paying fuel tax as soon as the enabling law is put in place. He said the fund would form part of what would be used for road maintenance.

     “Relying on the yearly Federal Government budget is not enough to maintain the over 35,000km of federal roads.

    “We have made a strong case for the collection of the fuel tax; we are engaging critical stakeholders for the need for them to give effect to that act, which is a law in our country.

    “And at the highest level of government in this country, we have had to discuss that and I want to believe that, sooner or later, the implementation of the five per cent fuel tax will come on scene so that could partly guarantee the sustenance of federal roads.”

    He said: “On the Oshodi-Murtala Mohammed Airport Road in Lagos, the ministry is at the detailed project development stage in the planned expansion of the road to an eight-lane expressway with flyovers and pedestrian bridges to ensure a befitting gateway to our foremost commercial city. Early work on this project is expected to commence soon.”

  • Why we suspended work on 2nd Niger Bridge — Minister

    Why we suspended work on 2nd Niger Bridge — Minister

    The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, admitted yesterday that the Federal Government erred in commencing work on the construction of the Second Niger Bridge without consideration for the Environmental Impact Assessment Law, EIA.

    Government,according to her, failed to comply with the requirements of the EIA law in embarking on the project.

    The ministry has consequently stopped work on the project.

    The minister told a Turkish delegation during a courtesy call on her that the bridge construction had to be suspended because “ they did not comply with our ministry’s rule.”

    “The Minister of works had to run to me so that we might give them certificate to resume work,”Mrs Mallam said.

    The Director, Environmental Impact Assessment Director, Mr. Kehinde Odusanya, who was with the minister, said in response to a question that: “Because of the national interest in that particular project, the Federal Ministry of Works had to request for an interim approval just to commence preparation activities.”

    The Environmental Impact Assessment is a formal process used to predict the environmental consequences (positive or negative) of a plan, policy, programme, or project prior to implementation.

    It proposes measures to adjust impacts to acceptable levels or to investigate new technological solution.

    Although the EIA law can lead to difficult economic decisions, strong political and social commitments, it protects environment with sound basis for effective and sustainable development.

  • Minister urges local farmers on patronage

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, has urged Nigerians to patronise local agricultural products, to support the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan in job creation.

    Adesina made the call over the weekend at the inauguration of the Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA) Headquarters, official shuttle buses, guest house and the association’s official web site in Abuja.

    The minister noted Nigeria is the largest world’s largest cassava producer was that the government was more determined to become the largest processor of the product.

    He said the government was working hard to ensure higher percentage inclusion of cassava flour in bread.

    “Anytime you buy Nigerian bread, you are supporting a Nigerian farmer and making sure that the income goes into the Nigerian community.

    “The only way you can create jobs is to buy what is produced, processed and marketed by Nigerian farmers; by so doing, you are creating jobs for your own children,” he said.

    Adesina underscored the need for Nigerians to support President Goodluck Jonathan to excel.

    Earlier, the President of the association, Rev. Segun Adewumi, commended the efforts of the government toward in recovering the “lost destiny of Nigerian farmers” through the GES scheme.

    He requested that government intervention in the agriculture sector be shifted from subsidy on farm inputs to the provision of finance facilities.

    According to him, the funds can be used to settle the interest rate on agricultural loans obtained from the capital market taken by the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

    “Let market forces determine the price of farm inputs; let us have real commercial agriculture that willd generate millions of jobs for youths and revenue for government at all levels,” he said.

    Adewumi noted that the Agricultural Mechanisation Department of the ministry had provided 190 tractors, 10 boom sprayers, 10 cassava planters and harvesters for the association.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highlight of the event was the presentation of NCGA membership card 001 and 002 to President Jonathan and the minister respectively.

  • Minister raises District courts’ jurisdiction

    •Ombudsman Unit inauguration

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed has approved the recommendations the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Ibrahim Bukar for an increase in the jurisdiction of the District Court of Judges.

    The minister has accordingly signed into law, the increase in jurisdiction of District Court of Judges, and it is to be cited as the District Courts (Increase in Jurisdiction of District judges) Order 2014 and comes into force on February 14, 2014.

    The Head of Information, FCT High Court, Mrs Tabitha Kangiwa said in a statement that Justice Bukar’s recommendation to the minister  was pursuant to the provisions of Section 17 of District Court Act (Cap) 495) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and Section 18 Paragraph (b) of the FCT Act Cap 503 laws of the Federation 2005 (Abuja).

    She explained that with the coming into effect of the new order, a Chief Judge I and II as well as District Judge I shall have and exercise jurisdiction in civil cases in all personal suit from contract or tort above the earlier value.

    “In the Order, any annual value of rent that do not exceed N5million is under the jurisdiction of Chief District Judge I, N3million in the case of Senior District Judge II and N1m in the case of District Judge I. The above shows an increase in the amount to what was obtainable in the courts prior to this Act. With the development, the Order of 1997 is revoked.

    “In view of this, the High Court of the FCT deems it fit to inform the general public of the order, duly signed by the Minister,” she said.

    Mrs. Kangiwa said the increase in the jurisdiction of District Judges in the FCT was last done in 1986 by the then Minister, Gen Jeremiah Useni (rtd).

  • Minister promotes 2,201 workers

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, has approved the immediate promotion of 2,201 staff of the FCT Administration.

    The minister, who disclosed this, said it has become necessary to motivate the staff and increase their productivity.

    Mohammed stated that this gesture of the government would spur the workers to greater heights and by extension increase service delivery to the residents of the Federal Capital Territory in accordance with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

    His words, “The promotion exercise became necessary in order to motivate staff, enhance productivity for better service delivery”.

    The minister revealed that out of the 2,201 being promoted, 1,892 are senior staff while the remaining 309 are junior staff.

    Senator Mohammed charged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by giving better service to the country.