The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria News

Finance ministry denies paying Maina salary after disengagement

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, on Thursday said the former Chairman, Pension Reform Task Force, Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, did not receive salary from government after his disengagement.

Adeosun said this in Abuja when she appeared before members of House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating the disappearance, re-appearance, re-instatement and promotion of Maina.

She said that from the records of the ministry, there was no trace of any payment of salary to Maina after he was disengaged from service in 2013.

“We have looked very well and we have no biometrics of Maina, so there is no way he could have received salaries,” Adeosun said.

In his submission, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Ahmed Idris, said that Maina was last paid salary in February, 2013.

According to Idris, from March, he was removed from the payroll so I don’t know where he was receiving the salary.

“If there was any payment of salary to Maina, there should be payslips and an account the payments were made; so, let whoever made the claim tender them to support the claim,” Idris said.

Counsel to Maina, Mr Muhammadu Kuta, had while before the committee on Nov. 23 claimed that his client received salary up to October, 2017.

According to Kuta, assignments were still being given to him to execute for the Federal Government even as at last month and he was getting his salary.

NAN

November 30, 2017
Yuletide: FRSC to deploy 485 personnel, 1,200 special marshals in Edo

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday said it would deploy 485 personnel and 1,200 special marshals in various highways in Edo to ensure safety during the Yuletide.

Mr Samuel Odukoya, the Edo Sector Commander, said this during the flag-off of the `Ember’ months campaign tagged “Right to Life on the Highway is Not Negotiable’’ held in Auchi, Etsako-West Local Government Area of Edo.

“We have 485 officers and 1,200 special marshals that will be on patrol in strategic routes within the various commands and units of our zone in Edo.

“The volume of vehicles that ply our roads are so enormous that we need to be proactive to ensure the roads are safer for the people during this festivity,” he said.

Odukoya, who advised motorists to always plan their journey to reduce accidents, urged them to ensure that their vehicles were roadworthy before embarking on any trip.

“We are here today to tell the people especially the drivers that this year, it is operation zero tolerance accident.

“You have to be very careful on the highway, obey the traffic regulations, ensure that your vehicles are in good condition,” he said.

Odukoya said that the command’s officers had embarked on a full-scale enforcement to curb dangerous driving, overtaking and use of phone while driving as well as speed limit violation and overloading.

Earlier, Mr Moses Bature, the FRSC unit commander in Auchi, said the campaign was geared toward educating the public on safe driving during and after the `ember’ months.

“Our gathering today is to see how we can obtain safer roads and fuller lives on our highway which is collective responsibility of FRSC and our relevant stakeholders with a view to restore sanity on our roads.

“Right to life is not negotiable on the highway and can only be achieved when we collectively come together to fight the menace that bedevil our highway,’’ he said.

Bature said that the unit had put measures in place for special intervention patrol as part of effort to drastically reduce spate of road crashes during the yuletide.

“As the year comes to an end, we passionately appeal to all road users to ensure they comply with traffic laws and maintain their vehicle while plying the road,’’ he said.

NAN

November 30, 2017
World Bank urges Niger to pay N80m counterpart fund

The World Bank has urged Niger Government to pay balance of N80 million being its counterpart funding for the implementation of FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) Project in the state.

Dr Adetunji Oredipe, the World Bank Task Team Leader, gave the advice on Thursday at the Eight Joint World Bank/Federal Government FADAMA III AF implementation supervision mission to the state.

Oredipe, represented by Dr Ahmed Ibrahim, a member of the team, said, “The mission has observed that Niger is lacking behind in terms of payment of its counterpart fund.’’

The team leader said that prompt payment of the fund would guarantee successful implementation of the project.

He said the team observed some challenges in the area of small scale infrastructural development such as roads in the benefiting communities in the state.

“We have the fear that after handing over these facilities to the benefiting communities they will be abandoned.

“We want to know if the state government has put measures in place to ensure sustainability of the facilities,’’ Oredipe said.

He urged the state government to always hold meetings of the Project Implementation Committee with the stakeholders toward the success of the project.

Oredipe said that the mission would follow up its findings of the mid-term review in the last six month and make recommendations.

Responding, Alhaji Yusuf Kagara, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, promised that the state government would pay the counterpart fund before the end of the week.

“Gov. Abubakar Bello has directed his deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, to go to the Ministry of Finance to ensure the payment of the counterpart fund.

Kagara said that the state would do everything possible to pay the counterpart fund as the project had impacted positively on farmers in the state.

He said that measures had been put in place to ensure sustainability of the project objectives in the state.

“Niger Government is sensitising the benefiting communities to own and maintain the facilities,’’ Kagara said.

Earlier, Alhaji Aliyu Kutigi, the State Programme Coordinator, said that N160 million out of the targeted N240 million had been paid.

Kutigi said that the project which started in 2014 was scheduled to end in 2019.

The programme coordinator said that during the period under review the state achieved 66.7 per cent in the programme implementation.

NAN

November 30, 2017
FG, UNICEF partner to reduce number of out-of-school children

The Federal Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) have called for collaboration to reduce the number of out-of-school children.

Nigeria currently has the highest number of out-of-school children with 10.5 million.

UNICEF’s Education Specialist, Swadchet Sankey, at a media dialogue in Kano, on early childhood development (ECD) said the figure was alarming.

The dialogue was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with Federal Ministry of Information.

She said Nigeria needs to get its early preprimary education right in other to begin to reduce the huge figures.

According to her, building Amajiri schools would not reduce the figure, adding that the federal government must get its early learning and preprimary education right.

Sankey, who commended the rate of enrollment in schools, called for more efforts to keep children in school.

She said: “We are contributing to the number of out-of-school children.

“One of the strategies of reducing out of school children is not just building amajiri schools, it is not just doing school feeding programmes but we need to get our early learning approach and preprimary education right and ensure that children are enrolled in school.

“We need to be able to create opportunities that allows everybody to have access to quality learning.

“We need a national parenting education program. We need parents to understand what ECC means. We need government to understand what ECC is.

“Preprimary education is very important. We need to create an opportunity that gives room for early child learning. Early learning matters because it helps the children to lay the foundation for school.

“Development cannot occur without adequate attention to early childcare. Parents no longer have time to engage with their children. We need to create an enabling environment for parents to support their children.

“Right now in Nigeria our enrollment shows 20 per cent even though the survey is a little bit higher.”

Also, Assistant Director, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Mayowa Aleshi, said the federal government has allocated funds to early childhood development program.

He called for adequate planning and utilization of resources to expand ECD in the country.

He disclosed that there are about 62,406 primary schools as at 2014, adding that only 28,026 of them had Early Childhood Care and Development Education centres.

According to him, the centres have 56,588 teachers and caregivers with 74% of these population qualified.

He also disclosed that the federal government has set aside “2% of consolidated revenue fund for implementation of UBEC Programme Funding; segregated to a matching grant of 50%, instructional materials at 15%, teachers’ development at 10% and 5% each of the three components on pre-primary schools.”

November 30, 2017
Emir Sanusi attributes quest for illegal migration to poverty, unemployment

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has attributed the excessive quest by Nigerian youths to engage in illegal migration to poverty and unemployment.

The Emir made the remark on Thursday in Kano when the President and members of Pan African Institute for Global Affairs and Strategy ( PAIGAS )paid him a courtesy visit.

According to him, the hunger to move across the shores of this country in an elusive search for greener pasture abroad can be effectively tackled when viable alternatives are made available to engage youths.

He called on the leadership of the country to rise up to the challenge by creating an enabling environment that would encourage wealth creation and empower the youth population in Nigeria.

The monarch commended PAIGAS for the initiative to partner the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to sensitize corps members against illegal migration.

According to him, as leaders, we must do everything possible to give the youth population in Nigeria a hope of a better future.

Earlier, President of PAIGAS, Amb. Martins Uhomoibhi informed the emir that their visit to Kano was to sensitize corps members on the dangers associated with illegal migration.

According to Uhomoibi, the sensitisation is part of the NGO’s contribution to the development of the society.

“My youth service year experience in Koko; Kebbi, inspired me to rededicate my life to serve Nigeria throughout my life time on earth,” he said.

Uhomoibi described the emir as a unique personality who combined the rare attributes of royalty, tradition and diplomatic experience.

He expressed delight for the honour to visit the emir.

NAN

November 30, 2017
OPEC may include output quotas for Nigeria, Libya – Oman Oil Minister

OPEC and other oil-producing states could set quotas on oil production for Nigeria at 1.8 million barrels per day and for Libya at one million barrels per day, Oman ’s Minister of Oil and Gas Mohammed Rumhi said Thursday.

Later in the day, the oil and energy ministers of all the parties to the oil output cut deal between the OPEC and a group of non-cartel states will hold a meeting in Vienna to discuss the future of the accord and its potential extension.

Ahead of the meeting, the Austrian capital hosted the session of the Joint OPEC-Non-OPEC Ministerial Monitoring Committee ( JMMC ) established to control the implementation of the accord.

“I think they will try today to put a number for them [Libya and Nigeria], to try to get an agreement.

“Like last [time] you remember, I think, [the quota of] Nigeria was 1.8 [million barrels per day], [and the quota of] Libya – like one million barrels per day.

“So maybe today we will try to confirm that,” Rumhi said.

The oil producers’ JMMC on oil output cuts has recommended to extend the deal between OPEC and non-OPEC states by nine months, the minister told reporters answering a corresponding question.

OPEC and several non-cartel oil producers reached a deal in the Austrian capital of Vienna in 2016, agreeing to cut oil output by a total of 1.8 million barrels per day in an effort to stabilise global oil prices.

Non-OPEC states pledged to jointly reduce oil output by 558,000 barrels per day, with Russia pledging to cut production by 300,000 barrels daily.

In May, the deal was prolonged for nine more months, until the end of March 2018.

Libya and Nigeria, both OPEC member states are exempted from the obligation to cut production within the deal.

NAN

Read Also: Budget 2018 at risk as OPEC mulls capping Nigeria’s output at 1.8m bpd

November 30, 2017
Davido wins “Best African Act” at MOBO Awards

Nigeria’s ace singer David Adeleke, a.k.a Davido, has won the “Best African Act”, at the 2017 edition of the prestigious Music of Black Origin ( MOBO ) Awards.

The 22nd MOBO Awards was held on Wednesday night at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, United Kingdom.

David edged out Wizkid, Mr Eazi, Tiwa Savage, Wande Coal, Maleek Berry and others to pitch the “Best African Act” award.

Nigeria’s star boy, Wizkid who did not disappoint his fans also won the Best International Act, beating top artists like Drake, SZA, Cardi B, JAY-Z and Kendrick Lamar,among others.

On the international scene, English grime and Hip Hop artist, Stormzy, was the biggest winner of the night winning in three prestigious categories – “Best Male Artist”, “Best Grime Act” and “Best Album”.

Dave emerged as the “Best Newcomer” edging out Jorja Smith, Kojo Funds, Stefflon Don, Yxng Bane, and others while “Best Song” went to J Hus for his chart-topping song titled “Did You See.”

NAN reports that MOBO Award show is held annually in the United Kingdom to recognise artists of any ethnicity or nationality performing black music.

See the full list of winners below:
Best Male Act: Stormzy
Best Female Act: Stefflon Don
Best Album: Stormzy – Gang Signs & Prayer
Best Newcomer: Dave
Best Song: J Hus – Did You See
Best Video: Mist – Hot Property
Best Hip-Hop Act: Giggs
Best Grime Act: Stormzy
Best R&B/Soul Act: Craig David
Best International Act: Wizkid
Best African Act: Davido
Best Reggae Act: Damian Marley
Best Jazz Act: Moses Boyd
Best Gospel Act: Volney Morgan and New-Ye

NAN

November 30, 2017
FG approves N1.7bn for Gurara dam pipeline project

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the payment of N1.712 billion for the contractor handling the 75-kilometre Gurara Dam water pipeline project in Niger State.

The FEC meeting, which lasted for about four hours, was presided over by Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo.

While briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting, the Minister of Water Resources Mr Suleiman Adamu, said, the memo was complimentary to the earlier one he presented at the last FEC meeting on Nov.22.

Adamu said, the pipeline contract from Gurara Dam to lower Usuma dam was for the laying of a three diameter pipeline.

“Last week, we got approval to engage a contractor for one year and to have a training contract with the contractor so that we can prepare to handover the project to the FCT Administration.

“So, this memo that was considered today has to do with the backlog of payment for the contractor because the contractor, as you are aware, has been maintaining the pipeline since the project was completed in 2008.”

The Council also approved the sum of N1.5 billion on voluntary Assets Declaration to cover advertising campaign for nine months.

The Minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who presented the memo, also briefed the FEC on the progress under the tax amnesty.

She informed the council that there were individuals who are ready to declare and pay.

“We have sent out over 500 letters under the first batch, there are thousands of Nigerians being targeted but the first 500 letters have gone out.

“We have started getting responses back and many people are asking for time to pay. Most of the governors have agreed to give more time for people to make arrangements for payments.

“This is indeed, a very good news for Nigeria as it will help reduce over reliance on oil.

“So, whether oil prices are high or low, we will be able to provide basic services for our people. Very high net worth people are now being brought into the tax revenue profile and we hope to exceed the target that has been set.

The Minister said, it was too early to give exact figure of the number of responses since the ministry had just started dispatching the letters on Monday.

“But, we have a telephone line dedicated to the project and a lot of people have called in to express their readiness to cooperate.

“We meet the governors just two days ago and they all agreed because personal income taxes are also going to the state government coffers.

She said they also agreed to accommodate those who agreed they are owing but have not got the cash to pay.

“Some people might have the house but didn’t have the cash, we need to give them chances to bring this money and we asked that they should give them time to bring in this money and they have agreed to do so.”

She said that government was targeting 0ne billion dollars and had already realised 110 million dollars from two companies.

She said government used information from land registries of states governments and the FCT as well as Bank Verification Numbers and Corporate Affairs Commission to get those who are defaulting.

“We also looked at people whose names appeared in the Panama and Paradise papers, we also looked at people who have companies but are not paying the right taxes,” Adeosun said.

On the payment to Whistles blowers, the minister said, the Federal Government had earmark N421.3 million to pay the first batch of beneficiaries.

She said, the only condition necessary for payment was that the money would be paid to the Whistle-blower who signed the agreement with government not to any third party.

“If we get the court judgement, we have to wait first three months to ensure that there are encumbrances as regards to any further legal challenge.

“We get in touch with the state government where the person is domiciled, we pay the tax directly to the state and issue the tax receipt. So we built in these procedures to protect the whistle-blower.”

NAN

November 30, 2017
EPL: Sterling stunner keeps City clear, as chasing pack gets wins too

Just when the chasing pack thought the Manchester City juggernaut was suffering a misfire Raheem Sterling scored a stunning stoppage-time winner to give the English Premier League leaders a lift.

They earned a 2-1 victory over Southampton on Wednesday to move to 40 points.

With Manchester United having cut the gap to five points and Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool winning, any City stutter would have been cause for celebration.

But Pep Guardiola’s side thundered on with a club record 12th successive league victory.

Former Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu had cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne’s opener in the 75th minute.

But six minutes into stoppage time Sterling, for the third match running, snatched City’s winner, this time with a sublime curling shot.

Manager Antonio Conte was sent to the stands after a verbal meltdown at Stamford Bridge as his Chelsea side laboured to a 1-0 defeat of struggling Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.

Antonio Rudiger’s first Premier League goal sealed victory.

“I have apologised because I did the wrong thing,” Conte said of his angry reaction to a fourth official when his side were denied a corner kick in the first half.

“I have been in to see them after the game. It’s right to speak and apologise with them.”

Arsenal struck three goals in four second-half minutes as they thrashed Huddersfield Town 5-0 with Mesut Ozil scoring one and supplying assists for Olivier Giroud, who scored a brace, and Alexis Sanchez.

Alexandre Lacazette’s early goal had separated the sides before the interval although the French striker went off with a suspected groin injury.

He will probably miss Saturday’s home clash against Manchester United.

Arsenal have won 12 consecutive home matches.

Liverpool moved into fifth place with Mohamed Salah taking his tally for the season to a chart-topping 12, thanks to a double in a 3-0 victory at Stoke City.

After 14 games City have 40 points, with United on 32, Chelsea 29, Arsenal 28 and Liverpool 26.

Burnley are now sixth, ahead of a sliding Tottenham Hotspur, as Chris Wood and Robbie Brady scored in a 2-1 victory at Bournemouth — their fourth win in five league games.

“Where we are in the league, everyone will be surprised by that,” Burnley boss Sean Dyche said.

Wayne Rooney scored a hat-trick, the third with a wonder goal from inside his own half, as Everton thrashed West Ham United 4-0.

It was a horrible return to Goodison Park for David Moyes whose West Ham side remained in the bottom three.

Sam Allardyce, who will be named shortly as Everton’s new manager, watched on from the stands as caretaker boss David Unsworth signed off with a victory that lifted Everton to 13th.

Whatever happens below them, City are looking unstoppable and with 40 points from 14 games and a goal difference of 35 they have recorded the best start in Premier League history.

They were not at their fluent best and Southampton came closest to scoring before the break with Wesley Hoedt striking the woodwork for the visitors.

But Sterling’s effort sparked wild celebrations at the Etihad as the former Liverpool player struck yet another late goal to take his tally for the season to 13.

He has now earned City nine extra points this season with his timely interventions and his latest effort was arguably his best, picking out the top corner with an unstoppable effort.

“Raheem is a match-winner, I am so happy for him. He is special, it was an amazing goal. It is more than important, it is beautiful,” Guardiola, whose side have dropped only two points this season, said.

City are now two wins away from matching Arsenal’s record 14-match winning run in the Premier League.

NAN

November 30, 2017
Ezekwesili wants financial literacy for students early

Dr Oby Ezekwesili, a formerMinister of Education, on Wednesday said Nigerian youth should be equipped with skills and knowledge that would aid their understanding of financial matters right from secondary school.

Ezekwesili stated this at the 2017 Nigerian Stock Exchange Essay Competition Awards Ceremony in Lagos.

“We need to offer children financial literacy before they get to senior secondary schools.

“It help and guarantees the young ones to grow into adults that can achieve financial security and success, and make informed decisions,” she said.

The ex-minister said an individual who has acquired financial literacy is considered financially secured and able to succeed.

“We must handle our youths with tools such as financial literacy because for too long, we have been made the poorest region in the world,” she said.

Ezekwesili said Nigeria needs a newer generation that would help in changing the story.

“Every country that has managed to do better, every country that has climbed out of poverty, has improved in education.

“The basis of improvement is quality education.

“We should be more interested in the state of the school system in Nigeria.

“Anytime I see these young children excelling, I feel excited because I really don’t want their generation to repeat all the failures of my generation and the generation before me.

“I am so such optimistic that Africa can claim its place in the 21st century because of our young ones,” she said.

Ezekwesili commended the stock exchange for its investment in the education sector and called for more support from the private sector.

“We need a collective effort on education.

“The more the stock exchange will lead this process, the more the private sector understands that if they will find world class talents in this country, they have to be interested in what goes on in the education; so, it becomes a collective effort,” she said.

Mr Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, the Nigerian Stock Exchange said the NSE would continue to invest in and develop financial education in schools.

Onyema said the NSE was committed to playing its part in building a financially savvy generation, leveraging the essay competition and other initiatives.

According to him, teaching students at a very young age the basics of finance and the capital market is essential to their broad financial literacy education.

“Year on year, the participation and interest continues to increase, affirming the appetite of these future leaders for personal development.

“The 2017 edition had a 36 per cent increase from the 2016 one, with over 10,100 entries received nationwide.

“Through partnerships with Access Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Prime Atlantic Energy, the competition was a success.

“In developing the entries, students are encouraged to consider real-world economic events and trends, conduct research online, develop investment knowledge and in the process gain the skills to prepare for their own financial future,” he said.

Onyema said the the 2017 winners emerged from a rigorous and phased assessment process carried out by capital market professionals.

“From the process, 10 national winners were selected, who further competed at the final stage to determine the overall best three entries and winners,” he said.

According to him, the outstanding performance of the brilliant young is being recognised and rewarded today with equity investments, scholarship and sets of computers.

“It is a win for the students and their schools,” he said.

NAN

November 30, 2017