The Nation Newspaper

Tag: PRESIDENCY

  • Why distribution of free grains is delayed – Presidency

    Why distribution of free grains is delayed – Presidency

    The Presidency has provided clarification on why the planned distribution of 42,000 metric tonnes of grains to Nigerians, aimed at alleviating the current food shortages in the country, has not yet been executed. 

    Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, cited ongoing bagging of grains at seven strategic locations across the country as the primary cause for the delay.

    Onanuga added that the task of bagging the grains that will shortly be distributed to Nigerians in need has been assigned to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    He said this in a statement issued on Friday, reiterating the assurance that Nigerians will soon receive free gains.

    The presidential aide also said that 60,000 metric tonnes of rice will be provided by the federal government to Nigerians.

    He said: “The Tinubu administration through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is in the final stages of releasing 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities to support the vulnerable population across the country.

    “The grains in seven locations of strategic reserve, are now being bagged for onward delivery to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The need to bag the grains, caused the delay as the bags were freshly ordered by the government.

    Read Also: Contracts: EFCC demands anti-corruption strategies from Presidency, NASS, MDAS

    “Nigerians will not need to pay for the grain bags, as they are free. This will be complemented by the 60,000 metric tonnes of milled rice to be purchased by the Federal Government from the Mega Rice Millers.

    “Already, with the announcement of the impending releases of food commodities from the Strategic Reserve, there is a noticeable reduction in commodity prices across major grains markets in the country, Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari.”  

    The Nation reported that the Minister of Agriculture, on February 8, pledged that the federal government would distribute millet, maize, and other food commodities to vulnerable Nigerians to lessen suffering.

  • Presidency, UNDP, EU unite for acceleration of climate action plan

    Presidency, UNDP, EU unite for acceleration of climate action plan

    The Presidency has spoken on the urgency of accelerating climate action plans through national financing strategies and Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs).

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who noted this also underlined the importance of speeding up climate action plans through these frameworks.

    In a statement  by Special Adviser,  Media to SSAP-SDGs, Desmond Utomwen, Mrs Orelope-Adefulire stated this at a Climate Finance side event, hosted by her office, in collaboration with the European Union (EU), and the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP), at COP28 in Dubai.

    The event showcased Nigeria’s dedication to climate action and sustainable development on the global stage.

    In addition to stressing the event’s importance in promoting discussions on financing strategies crucial for climate action, she underlined the importance of addressing climate challenges as the world approaches the halfway point of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

    Read Also; Our transformation efforts on economy succeeding with NASS cooperation – Tinubu

    Demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment to the global climate agenda, Mrs Orelope-Adefulire highlighted the passage of the Climate Change Act 2021 and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change.

    She reminded the audience of Nigeria’s pledges at COP26 in 2021, including the ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.

    The Presidential aide underscored the integrated approach to SDGs implementation in Nigeria, aligning short and medium-term national development plans with the SDGs since 2016.

    She added that the importance of the Integrated National Financing Framework as a manifestation of Nigeria’s dedication to the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for financing development.

    With an eye towards the future, Orelope-Adefulire emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to giving top priority to the important reforms and projects included in the INFF Roadmap.

    The country wants to raise public and private funding while maintaining caution in public sector spending to promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notwithstanding global fiscal challenges.

    The Senior Special Assistant stressed the importance of partnerships with the United Nations Development system, private sector, and non-state actors for a holistic approach to implementing the INFF Roadmap in Nigeria.

    In his remarks during the panel session, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, who chairs the National Steering Committee on Nigeria’s INFF, highlighted how Nigeria would accelerate her Climate Action Plan through the INFF.

    He noted that with global efforts in the implementation of the SDGs, climate action, inclusive facing serious challenges, climate action and ambition must be accelerated through international cooperation, collaboration, and mobilization of the necessary financial resources.

    He also stressed that the SDGs require increased investments and alignments from public, private, domestic, and international sources, as the climate emergency is a global crisis that requires a global response.

    Also speaking, UNDP’s Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, praised Nigeria on the INFF initiative. She stated that Nigeria recognises that understanding its internal financing landscape, making deliberate efforts to consider all economic dynamics, would benefit economic development, social enhancement, and the tackling of climate change.

    She noted that to bridge the disconnect between the issues and funding, over 80 countries are turning to the INFF, insisting that the INFF, as one of the 12 SDGs stimulus packages, can help finance national climate goals and integrate the financing of climate actions and Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs.

    “Let’s not forget, climate change has an unwavering attack and impact on development gains. We are losing a lot of ground because of climate change. Many investments that have been made over decades are being lost. So, what we are looking at today is a serious threat to our very essence. Let’s fight back by using the INFF as a tool to accelerate and build a resilient economy and resilient communities.” She sated.

    These positions were also echoed by the Deputy Minister on Maritime and Natural Resources/Head of National SDGs Secretariat Ministry of National Development Planning, Vivi Yulaswati, Director Global Committee on social business for SDGs China, Alex Wang, and Ahmad Salihijo of the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria, who were the other members of the panel.

  • Presidency, UNDP, EU push for acceleration of climate action plan through INFF

    Presidency, UNDP, EU push for acceleration of climate action plan through INFF

    The presidency has echoed the urgency of accelerating climate action plans through national financing strategies and Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs).

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who noted this also underlined the importance of speeding up climate action plans through these frameworks.

    In a statement issued by SA Media to SSAP-SDGs, Desmond Utomwen, Orelope-Adefulire stated this at a Climate Finance side event, hosted by her office, in collaboration with the European Union (EU), and the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP), at COP28 in Dubai. 

    The event showcased Nigeria’s dedication to climate action and sustainable development on the global stage.

    In addition to stressing the event’s importance in promoting discussions on financing strategies crucial for climate action, she underlined the importance of addressing climate challenges as the world approaches the halfway point of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

    Demonstrating Nigeria’s commitment to the global climate agenda, Orelope-Adefulire highlighted the passage of the Climate Change Act 2021 and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change. 

    She reminded the audience of Nigeria’s pledges at COP26 in 2021, including the ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.

    Read Also; INEC yet to access N18 billion supplementary budget – Yakubu

    The presidential aide underscored the integrated approach to SDGs implementation in Nigeria, aligning short and medium-term national development plans with the SDGs since 2016. 

    She added the importance of the Integrated National Financing Framework as a manifestation of Nigeria’s dedication to the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda for financing development.

    With an eye towards the future, Orelope-Adefulire emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to giving top priority to the important reforms and projects included in the INFF Roadmap. 

    The country wants to raise public and private funding while maintaining caution in public sector spending to promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notwithstanding global fiscal challenges. 

    The Senior Special Assistant stressed the importance of partnerships with the United Nations Development system, private sector, and non-state actors for a holistic approach to implementing the INFF Roadmap in Nigeria.

    In his remarks during the panel session, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun, who chairs the National Steering Committee on Nigeria’s INFF, highlighted how Nigeria would accelerate her Climate Action Plan through the INFF. 

    He noted that with global efforts in the implementation of the SDGs, climate action, inclusive facing serious challenges, climate action and ambition must be accelerated through international cooperation, collaboration, and mobilization of the necessary financial resources. 

    He also stressed that the SDGs require increased investments and alignments from public, private, domestic, and international sources, as the climate emergency is a global crisis that requires a global response.

    Also speaking, UNDP’s Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, praised Nigeria on the INFF initiative. 

    She stated that Nigeria recognises that understanding its internal financing landscape, making deliberate efforts to consider all economic dynamics, would benefit economic development, social enhancement, and the tackling of climate change. 

    She noted that to bridge the disconnect between the issues and funding, over 80 countries are turning to the INFF, insisting that the INFF, as one of the 12 SDGs stimulus packages, can help finance national climate goals and integrate the financing of climate actions and Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs.

    “Let’s not forget, climate change has an unwavering attack and impact on development gains. We are losing a lot of ground because of climate change. Many investments that have been made over decades are being lost. So, what we are looking at today is a serious threat to our very essence. Let’s fight back by using the INFF as a tool to accelerate and build a resilient economy and resilient communities.”

    These positions were also echoed by the Deputy Minister on Maritime and Natural Resources/Head of National SDGs Secretariat Ministry of National Development Planning, Vivi Yulaswati, Director Global Committee on social business for SDGs China, Alex Wang, and Ahmad Salihijo of the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria, who were the other members of the panel.

  • COP28: Fed Govt didn’t sponsor 1,411 delegates to Dubai, says Presidency

    COP28: Fed Govt didn’t sponsor 1,411 delegates to Dubai, says Presidency

    The Presidency has debunked some social media claims that the Federal Government sponsored all Nigeria’s representatives to the ongoing 28th Convention of Parties on Climate Summit (CoP28) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, the Presidency explained that President Bola Tinubu and other senior officials of his administration were attending the global event for serious business and not for mere jamboree.

    The Presidency was reacting to various concerns raised by diverse interests, especially in the social media space, over the large number of the Nigerian contingent to the event, which also attracted over 97,000 participants from more than 100 countries from across the world.

    Information on the registration platforms of the organisers of the CoP28 showed that 1,411 Nigerians were registered to participate at the event.

    Read Also: Igboho to security agencies: step up efforts against killer herders

    There have been speculations that the Federal Government sponsored all the participants with public funds.

    But in his piece, titled: Nigeria at COP28: Separating the facts from fiction, Ajayi explained that “the people coming together to advance their different agenda and interests from governments, businesses and civil societies are the parties to the convention who represent various shades of opinions and pushing for various mitigating actions”.

    He added: “…It is important to state here that delegates from all countries, whether from government, private sector, media and civil society groups, attend COP summits and conferences as parties and the number of attendees are registered against their countries of origin.

    “This does not mean that they are sponsored or funded by the government. It must be said also that the fact that people registered to attend a conference does not mean everyone that registered is physically present.”

  • Presidency to PDP, Atiku: Stop campaign of calumny, blackmail against judiciary

    Presidency to PDP, Atiku: Stop campaign of calumny, blackmail against judiciary

    Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has called on the PDP and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, its presidential candidate, to stop their campaigns of calumny and blackmail against the judiciary.

    Onanuga made the call in a statement on Monday in Abuja while reacting to Atiku’s recent allegations against the country’s judiciary .

    “In separate statements, the PDP and the spokesman of Atiku Abubakar, its defeated presidential candidate in Feb. 25 presidential election, threw caution to the winds.

    “They assaulted the integrity of the judiciary and made wild and libelous allegations against President Bola Tinubu.

    “In the wake of the poor run of some elected governors of the party at the appeal court, the PDP and former vice-president and his spokesman have become overtly desperate to hang their woes on President Tinubu and the judiciary, an important arm of government in Nigeria.”

    He added that in blaming others, Atiku and his party failed to demonstrate whether they had done any soul-searching before going public with their weighty, specious and reckless allegations.

    He urged Nigerians to disregard the malicious allegations by the PDP and its candidate that Tinubu while he was Governor of Lagos State, silenced the opposition and corrupted the judiciary.

    He also asked the public to disregard the allegation that Tinubu was planning to foist a one-party state on the country by appointing loyalists as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs).

    Onanuga stressed that Tinubu was a democrat to the core who had never interfered with the judgment of the judiciary.

    “We had witnessed how under his watch, the PDP governor in Osun defeated the APC at the Supreme Court.

    “Similarly, the PDP governor in Bauchi also won his case in the Appeal Court, beating the APC.

    “President Tinubu is also not planning to impose a one-party state as Atiku has serially alleged and his party and spokesman have now parroted.

    “These allegations are deliberately aimed at unnecessarily heating up the polity and causing disenchantment in our country. They exist only in the imagination of the PDP and the former Vice-President,” Onanuga said.

    He added that unlike Atiku Abubakar, President Tinubu’s record as a democrat par excellence and a strong advocate of the rule of law had been globally acknowledged.

    According to Onanuga, Tinubu’s record of service as governor which witnessed giant strides in various facets, is responsible for the dominance of his political structure in Lagos State and not by any undemocratic conduct.

    “In contrast, it is on record that Atiku Abubakar recently confessed about the electoral heist his party executed in the South-West in 2003 which Tinubu survived out of the six governors of the defunct Alliance for Democracy.

    “Atiku and PDP are now crying wolf over the Appeal Court rulings on  governorship polls in Plateau, Zamfara and Nasarawa States.

    “We hasten to ask the former vice- president where he was in 2019 when the court ruled against the APC in Zamfara and awarded all the positions won by the APC to PDP,” he said.

    Onanuga wondered where Atiku was, also in 2019 when in Rivers, the court stopped APC from fielding any candidate in both the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

    He further wondered where Atiku and the PDP were in 2019 when on the eve of the swearing-in of Bayelsa Governor-elect, David Lyon, the Supreme Court handed the victory of the APC  to the candidate of the PDP, Gov. Douye Diri.

    “Atiku and PDP then savoured all these court-handed trophies as sweet victories for PDP and celebrated the courts as protectors of democracy.

    Read Also: Presidency tackles Atiku over claim on court verdicts

    “Now that the same courts are annulling PDP victories, based on the blatant violations of the law by the lawless party, the party is mudslinging the judiciary and President Tinubu.

    “We once again implore Atiku and PDP to stop their campaigns of calumny and blackmail against the judiciary and the honourable judges and justices.

    “Judgments are based on law and evidence. In election petition cases, they are based on the Electoral Act and the Constitution, not on sentiments and emotions,” Onanuga stressed.

    He added that it was irresponsible and a disservice to our country for the opposition, after failing to observe the letters and spirits of the law, to now turn around to tear down an important arm of government.

    (NAN)

  • Social Investment may return to Presidency

    Social Investment may return to Presidency

    An amendment to the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act (NSIPA) 2023, aimed at moving the agency from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Presidency began yesterday.

    Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele initiated the Bill seeking to amend the National Social Investment Programme Agency Act, 2023.

    Senator Bamidele said the bill seeks to amend Sections 9(3), 14(1), 21(1), 22(1), 26(1) and 33 of the NSIPA Act, 2023 by transferring the agency from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to the Presidency.

    He added that the agency “will now be under the direct supervision of the President.”

    The senator further explained its significance to poverty alleviation and social inclusion, saying the plan to amend NSIPA Act, 2023 “is to ensure that the social investment programme are standard, transparent, effective and accountable.”

    He explained that the amendment “is a result of the commitment of the Renewed Hope mantra of President Bola Tinubu in ensuring that social investment programme are standard, transparent, effective and accountable structure of delivery, adequate coordination and synergy among key government agencies.”

    Read Also: Senate queries lack of substantive AuGF

    Bamidele (Ekiti Central) noted that the amendment “is in fulfilment of Section 17(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”

    Under the Section, the state shall direct its policy towards ensuring that all citizens, without discrimination on any group whatsoever, have the opportunity for securing adequate means of livelihood as well as adequate opportunity to secure suitable employment, among others.

    He explained that with the amendment, a wide range of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including poverty reduction, education, health, social inclusion and empowerment could be achieved through the NSIPA

    Former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, pointed out that the Ninth Senate passed the bill, though its implementation was flawed because those who should be given support are those difficult to reach in rural areas.

    Lawan, (Yobe North), said: “In achieving social inclusion, funds were distributed, and the beneficiaries have no bank accounts. After passing this, it is time we must participate fully to ensure the capturing of the beneficiaries that need the support in such a way the National Assembly is satisfied.”

    He further explained that the National Assembly “should be part of the process, but that was not done. The support was sent to each state of the federation. All senators were onlookers, which is unacceptable.”

    In his contribution, Senator Seriake Dickson urged the lawmakers to use the opportunity to look at other issues raised during its implementation under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Dickson explained that the amendment should include the mode of selecting the beneficiaries of the programme.

    He said the previous government had initiatives like TraderMoni and COVID palliatives without parliamentary approval. Recommendations should also be made at the committee level.

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the bill to the committee of the whole for consideration today to allow senators go through the bill clause by clause.

    The NSIPA Act was enacted May 2023 to address socio-economic inequalities and alleviate poverty among Nigerians. NSIP was created in 2016 under the administration of former President Muhammadu.

    The programme was founded on four pillars – N-POWER Programme; Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme and Conditional Cash Transfer Programme.

    Each of the pillars was designed to empower the poorest of the poor and most vulnerable Nigerians to attain an acceptable standard of living, irrespective of their locations nationwide. 

  • Eight National Assembly terminates midnight June 8, says Presidency

    The life of the Eight National Assembly will terminate on June 8th, 2019, it was learnt on Thursday.

    This followed a new proclamation letter addressed to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori.

    The first proclamation was not addressed to the Clerk to the National Assembly as required by law.

    The letter sighted by our reporter signed by President Muhammadu Buhari detailed how the Eight National Assembly will be dissolved.

    The letter showed that the Eight National Assembly will stand dissolved by 12 am on 8th of June 2019.

    Read also: Ninth Assembly: Independence of Senate may be under threat, Ndume warns

    It also indicated that the Ninth National Assembly will be inaugurated by 10 am of Tuesday, June 11th, 2019.

    Sani-Omolori who confirmed the new letter said: “I have received a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari, announcing the end of the Eight National Assembly. The letter has clearly stated that by 12 am of 8th of June, the Eight National Assembly will stand dissolved.

    “The letter was duly addressed to me. The letter also indicated that the Ninth National Assembly will have its first session on the 11th of June. It also stated that it will be inaugurated by 10 am on Tuesday.”

     

  • Presidency backs Ngige on NSITF board

    The Presidency has intervened in the leadership crisis of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) which has pitched the Nigeria Labour Union (NLC) against the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige.

    The Presidency yesterday recognised the appointment of Mr. Austin Enejamo-Isire, a Chartered Accountant, as the rightful chairman of NSITF.

    It noted that Comrade Frank Kokori was pencilled down for the headship of Labour Training Institute, said a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.

    The Presidency also expressed deep concern and regrets over the turn of events that culminated in a skirmish at the private home of the minister in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    Condemning the picketing of the minister’s home, the Presidency also appealed for calm, saying efforts were on to resolve the issue.

    The statement reads: “Following the disagreement between the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the appointment of the chairman of the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), the Presidency wishes to clarify as follows:

    “That the NSITF is 100 per cent Federal Government of Nigeria-owned insurance parastatal, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment designed for the role of insuring workers (employees) in the public and private sectors. The organisation is empowered by law to implement the Employee Compensation Act (ECA) 2010 with mandate to insure workers and pay them compensation for accidents, deaths and injuries in the course of work.

    “The NSITF was bedevilled and riddled with corruption between 2012 and 2015, which resulted in a colossal loss and mismanagement of about N48 billion out of the total N62 billion contributions during the period.

    “These were contributions by the employers – viz government and the private sector – for payment of compensation to workers and even to employers for loss of man-hours by their workers. This fraud has been investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the last chairman and some members of the former board and some officials of the NSITF are presently being prosecuted by the EFCC.

    “All actions taken by the Minister of Labour and Employment towards the resuscitation and repositioning of this ailing agency, including the Administrative Panel of Inquiry into the affairs of NSITF and the suspension of the inauguration of the board in 2018, were part of the special work plan approved for the Honourable Minister by Mr. President.

    “The appointment of the Chairman of this board, which is in consonance with Section 4(a) of the NSITF Act CAP N88 of 2004, was also approved by Mr. President since July 23, 2018, on the recommendation of the Minister.  Mr. Austin Enejamo-Isire, a Chartered Accountant, Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and renowned Insurance expert, Senior Member, Chartered Institute of Insurance of Nigeria (CIIN), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), was approved by Mr. President for this position. Also approved by Mr. President were the Managing Director and three Executive Directors, who had assumed duties since April 18, 2017.

    “Others also approved as non-executive directors are: two members to represent the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), two members to represent the Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and one member each to represent the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. Members of this board are to be formally inaugurated at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 13 (today) by the Minister of Labour and Employment at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja.

    “Comrade Frank Kokori, our respected veteran labour leader, has Mr. President’s immense respect and has also been appointed on the recommendation of the Minister of Labour and Employment to chair the board of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS),  a diploma-awarding labour institution…”

    Also, the NLC last night dismissed claims by the Presidency that the NSITF is a 100 per cent Federal Government establishment.

    The umbrella labour union said the response of the Presidency to the crisis between labour and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngigie, over the board of the fund was coming late.

    Reacting to a statement by the Special Adviser (SA) to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, NLC President Ayuba Wabba blamed the government for the prolonged controversy on the matter.

    The union leader said if the government had offered its position earlier, labour would not have wasted its time.

    In a telephone interview, he said: “The issue has dragged on for two and a half years and the response is certainly coming late. We ought to have known the position of government. But you know after two and a half years, it is coming late because these are the issues we have written severally on; we have campaigned severally about it and in all our meetings, including the delegates’ conference, we have talked about it.

    “One: it is about inaugurating the board because all the Federal Government board of parastatals were inaugurated more than two years ago. But this particular board was singled out, and inauguration has not taken place and somebody has continued to run the place as a sole administrator, appointing people and also exercising the powers of the board. Nowhere in the Act has such a power been given to one person. That is why we have been so concerned.

    “For instance, overnight he employed over 300 people without advertisement and most of them from his village. Nowhere has such power been granted to anybody. This is what we have raised and that is why the first agitation was about inaugurating the board.

    “The issue of Frank Kokori was something that was introduced much later because in the first place, we were not even aware that Kokori was appointed as the chairman of the board. It is the same minister that informed us after inviting Kokori on various occasions.”

  • Presidency to PDP: Stop your smear campaign against Judiciary

    The Presidency yesterday warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop dragging the presidency into what it called the party’s sponsored media smear campaign against the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in a statement in Abuja described reports claiming that an agency of the government, the Department of State Services (DSS) had indicted Bulkachuwa of corruption were the latest of this sponsored campaign.

    The presidential aide noted that the campaign was aimed at causing disaffection between the Executive and the Judiciary, the two arms of government that had operated smoothly under the present dispensation.

    His words:”While the PDP and its candidates are free to exercise their right to challenge the results of the 2019 presidential election, it is unacceptable to drag the name of the President or other organs of the executive branch into the campaign of character assassination against the President of the Court of Appeal.

    Read also: Rivers SARS commander replies PDP: Your agent was a cultist, murdered by his friends not police

    “The DSS doesn’t conduct its duties in the manner so described and you can’t use a fake security report to drag the presidency into a smear campaign against the President of the Court of Appeal.

    “Attacking judges because the outcomes of cases don’t favour you and keeping quiet when the verdict is in your favour smacks of insincerity, double standard and mischief.

    “Intimidating and impugning the character of judges in order to force them to bow to blackmail is against the spirit of an independent judiciary,” he said.

    Shehu recalled that   the PDP praised the verdict of the Osun gubernatorial election tribunal because it favoured it , but began singing a different tune after the tide turned against it at the Court of Appeal.

    He said: “We cannot keep changing the definition of an independent judiciary to suit our political convenience and bias without ultimately creating chaos in the system.

    “If the PDP continues to blackmail and smear judges with fake news stories, we will ultimately find ourselves dealing with a situation where judges may be afraid to handle cases, thereby creating delays in the dispensation of justice.”

    The presidential aide maintained that if the presidency had any influence on election petition tribunals, APC candidates would not have lost a single case before the courts.

     

  • Zamfara crisis: Presidency begins screening of mining operators

    The Presidency is demanding details of all those licensed to do mining operations in Zamfara State and the pattern of illegal mining.

    This is for the purpose of tackling the crises in the state, The Nation gathered yesterday.

    Tasked with providing the required information are the Mining Cadastral Office (MCO) and other relevant government agencies.

    Already, the Federal Government has ordered cessation of mining activities and ordered in the military as part of measures to tackle widespread banditry in the state.

    Sources in Abuja said that the various security agencies’ reports on Zamfara State are being taken together for special analysis.

    Page 23 of the 100-page  “Roadmap for the Growth and Development of the Nigerian Mining Industry” published by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development states that cumulative mineral licenses granted to various enterprises operating in Zamfara State was 206 as at 2015 but the number is believed to have increased within the past three years.

    The publication notes five categories of those involved in mining activities in Nigeria, starting with the majors or international firms, Junior Explorers, Small-scale miners and the overlapping hordes of Artisanal Miners who operate without mining licence and the Illegal Miners, a group that includes Nigerians and numerous non-Nigerians.

    The document, on page 40, identifies $27 billion as annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) target for Nigeria’s mining sector by 2025.

    Stressing that any firm that begins mining solid minerals with its Exploration Licence and without a Mining Lease is an illegal miner, the Director-General of MCO, Mr. Obadiah Simon Nkom told The Nation on Sunday that several categories of people doing mining activities tend to cluster around areas covered by a firm with valid Mining Lease, adding that a specialized unit under the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development works with other security agencies in efforts to ensure peace and order.

    Although the MCO’s Director-General, Mr. Nkom, a mining engineer, declined to disclose the number of licensed firms and when its database on mining operations and relevant recommendations would be forwarded to the Presidency, he emphasized that there is much cause to be optimistic about the Federal Government’s determination to restore normalcy in the state.

    He said:”MCO’s statutory focus is on leases while bodies like the Mines Inspectorate Unit under the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development focuses on how to maintain law and order in mining activities.

    “Mechanized mining is great, but because we have over-depended on oil for a long time, we need to grow our solid minerals sector gradually and it may take a while to see results; the most important thing is that we all owe this country a duty to make things work,” said Nkom who was formerly MCO’s Director of Concession.

    According to Nkom who is also the President of Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), the Federal Government is serious about its intention to boost mining and develop it into a multi-billion dollar revenue earner for Nigeria as part of the steps towards actualizing the lofty objectives of the Economic Recovery and Growth Programme.

    Read also: Army confirms killing 4 bandits in Zamfara

    “It is very important for all of us, including the mass media and all stakeholders to discharge their responsibilities with patriotism towards moving this nation forward,” he said , adding that the prevailing situation and the security strategies being implemented by the Federal Government do  not favour much disclosures about mining and other issues in Zamfara State at the moment.

    Emphasizing that mining has a long gestation period, he stated that the MCO is being repositioned towards boosting Nigeria’s revenue potentials from mining, Nkom said  that  new strategies are being implemented to attract more domestic and international investors into the sector.

    Responding to inquiries about the much-delayed Baba-Tsauni mechanized project in which a Nigerian company, Iron Ore Mining Nigeria Limited which holds the Mining Lease is bringing in Germany-based parent company of Julius Berger Plc as Technical operator with a target of generating 8, 000 employment for Nigerians, Nkom stated that he feels constrained to respond because the matter is in court.

    “We carry out our statutory responsibilities without political or any other sentiments and we comply with all legal processes; the MCO has not lost cases in court over the years and we are prepared to abide by the outcome of any pending legal matter,’ he added.

    Nkom said  that his priorities for attracting foreign investors include putting all lease applications and other mining processes online so that mining firms across the world can develop more interest in Nigeria’s mining sector.

    “Also, a prototype has been developed and within the next few months, MCO would physically establish a presence in each of the nation’s six geo-political zones instead of having a single office located in Abuja  as part of measures towards making MCO more accessible to prospective miners in Nigeria.

    “MCO aims for maximum transparency in the best interest of Nigeria; anything outside the law is not acceptable and we are working with Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and others; you do not need to know anybody or come from some particular state or political party; if your application reaches us before that of Dangote, yours takes precedence,” Nkom said.

    The Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office (MCO) was established under the Mining and Minerals Act (2007)  as an autonomous· body· for administering mining titles also has capacity to supply useful information and recommendations on illegal mining operations.