Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: federal government

  • Nationwide Strike: FG, Labour Unions in Emergency Meeting

    Nationwide Strike: FG, Labour Unions in Emergency Meeting

    An emergency meeting between the Federal Government and the leadership of the organised labour over the ultimatum demanding government to reverse the increment in the pump price of petrol and electricty tariff is in progress at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha is heading the government’s delegation while NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba and his TUC counterpart, Comrade Quadri Olayele are leading the labour team at the meeting.

    There have been series of meetings between the Federal Government and the organised labour following ultimatum issued by the two labour centres to government to reverse its decision on the pump price of petrol and electricty tariff.

    The last meeting held last Thursday was adjourned to reconvene tomorrow, Monday, by 3pm but the Federal Government summoned an emergency meeting to apprehend the looming protest and strike after the expiration of the ultimatum by 12am tonight, Joseph Agi reports for Radio Nigeria.

  • Petrol Marketers ask FG To Take Further Step To Full Deregulation

    Petrol Marketers ask FG To Take Further Step To Full Deregulation

    The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) says full deregulation will enhance national economic growth, while it also urged the Federal Government to take a further step towards full deregulation of the downstream sector.

    The Chairman of DAPPMAN, Winifred Akpani, who comended government for its consistency in seeking ways to reposition the oil sector for effectiveness and profitability said, the association is in full support of the implementation of a fully deregulated regime which would make the downstream sector operations more seamless, enhance transparency, competitiveness and sustainable growth.

    “DAPPMAN is mindful of the commitment of the government and the functional organs managing the sector to ensuring value to every Nigerian, and we salute them for this as we are indeed up against uncertain times. However, we believe that full deregulation of the sector remains the most viable option for Nigeria to effectively navigate this period and ultimately safeguard the future of our economy and wellbeing of 200 million Nigerians,” she said.

    The association’s Chairman noted that deregulation will open up the sector for fresh investments, market deepening, diversification, and expansion.

    She added that these will bring about stable demand and supply regimes that are critical to ensuring that consumers have uninterrupted access to affordable quality products without the huge financial burden currently borne by government.

    “DAPPMAN is aware of the considerations that have dogged the issue of deregulation over the years and we believe they are very important.

    “However, we believe these considerations will be duly addressed with a deregulation regime that guarantees long-term benefits and empowers the government to commit savings made in the process to infrastructure development, job creation, agricultural revolution, education and health.

    “This will spur growth of Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) as well as large corporates, that would increase Nigeria’s human capacity index, competitiveness and ultimately drive inflow of foreign investments,” she added.

    Akpani, who is also the managing director and chief executive officer of Northwest Petroleum and Gas Company Limited, recounted the response of DAPPMAN to the COVID-19 pandemic by contributing towards the upgrade of medical facilities, distributing thousands of face masks and sanitizers, and donating relief items to thousands of beneficiaries across the country.

    “It has been a privilege for DAPPMAN to reach out to the vulnerable at this time through the association’s intervention projects and the individual efforts of our members. We continue to urge the good people of Nigeria to stay safe by strictly observing all precautionary measures to stop the spread of the virus. We will certainly overcome the pandemic working together,” she said.

    The Federal Government had In March 2020 introduced a price modulation policy where international product prices and associated landing costs in Nigeria are used as input in the determination of final pricing in the local market through the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

  • Senate orders FG to effect 1% of revenue to NASENI annually

    Senate orders FG to effect 1% of revenue to NASENI annually

    As a follow up to revelations that the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) had never received funding as contained in the 2004 National Assembly Acts, the Nigerian Senate has directed the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure remittance of 1% from the federation account into the coffers of the NASENI.

    The Senate gave the directive in line with the extant laws with effect from September this year.

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    NASENI Executive Vice Chairman, Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna revealed FG’s underfunding when he made submissions on revenue projections of the agency for the 2021 budget before the Senate’s Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning.

    According to Professor Haruna, the agency had never received 1% remittance from the federation account as provided for by the 2004 National Assembly Acts.

    The Act establishing the agency provided that NASENI shall draw from the federation account, 1% revenue accruing to the Federal Treasury beginning from the year 2000 yet the agency had never received a dime from the federation account as stipulated by the law.

    Alarmed by the revelation, the joint committee led by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola ( APC Lagos West) ordered the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Ahmed Idris, to commence the disbursement of 1% allocation from the federation account into the covers for NASENI from September this year.

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    “The Act setting up NASENI was the Act of the National Assembly and the Accountant General of the Federation could not be allowed to flout the law.

    “Therefore, since the AGF is here, please ensure that the executive starts implementation of the law from September this year because NASENI has potentials to develop and industrialise the Nigerian economy through the core mandates given to it by the extant laws,” he said.

  • Education: COEASU accuses Buhari Government of insensitivity, issues fresh 14-day ultimatum

    Education: COEASU accuses Buhari Government of insensitivity, issues fresh 14-day ultimatum

    The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, (COEASU), has issued additional 14 days ultimatum after the expiration of the earlier 21 days ultimatum issued by the union to the Federal Government to address lingering and emerging issues of an industrial concern, which it says affects its members.

    The General Secretary of the union, Taiwo Olayanju, in a letter of ultimatum to the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, said the 14 days extension was coming because the government was yet to respond to its demand.

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    Olayanju accused the government of insensitivity to issues bedeviling the advancement of the nation’s teacher education industry on the grounds that government refused to address the issues raised in the earlier ultimatum.

    “Please, recall that our Union, following the decision of her Expanded National Executive Council (ENEC) meeting, issued a 21-day ultimatum within which the Federal Government was expected to address lingering and emerging issues of industrial concern, vide a memo reference no. COEASU/NS/01/19, dated 13th July 2020. As acknowledged, your office was in receipt of the memo on 15th July, 2020.

    “We are, however, irked by the fact that your office till date is yet to find time in any way or pay attention in any form to our demands and ultimatum. This further qualifies governments insensitivity to issues bordering on the advancement of the nation’s teacher education industry.

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    “Having considered the implication of the insensitivity of the Government to all the issues of industrial concern, as they affect our members specifically, and the Colleges of Education in general, the Union may have no cause to wait any longer after fourteen (14) days, should government’s posture to our plight remain the same, but call on its members to commence a nation-wide strike action that will affect every form of service being currently rendered by them.

    “The Union, therefore, expects your positive response to this extension of ultimatum so as to forestall a possible industrial action.”

  • How we spent N500m on school feeding programme during lockdown – Minister

    How we spent N500m on school feeding programme during lockdown – Minister

    The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government Monday said it expended about N523.3 million on school feeding programme during the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)-induced lockdown.

    This was disclosed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (MHADMSD), Sadiya Farouq, while speaking at the Presidential Taskforce briefing on COVID-19 in Abuja.

    Explaining that ‘Take Home Rations’ under the modified Home Grown School Feeding programme was not a sole initiative of MHADMSD, the minister said each ration was valued at N4,200 and that the figure was arrived at after proper consultation.

    Farouq noted that the figure was generated from statistics provided by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN).

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    “According to statistics from NBS and CBN, a typical household in Nigeria has 5.6 to six members in its household, with three to four dependents.

    “So, each household is assumed to have three children.

    “Based on the original design of the Home Grown School Feeding programme, long before it was domiciled in the ministry, every child on the programme receives a meal a day.

    “The meal costs N70 per child.

    “When you take 20 school days per month, it means a child eats food worth N1,400 per month.

    “Three children would then eat food worth N4,200 per month and that was how we arrived at the cost of the ‘take-home ration.’

    “The agreement was that the federal government will provide the funding while the states will implement.

    “To ensure transparency in the process, we partnered with the World Food Programme (WFP) as technical partners,” the minister said.

    Farouq added that her ministry invited government agencies like Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Department of State Services (DSS) and some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to monitor the process.

    “TrackaNG monitored and gave daily updates validating the programme.

    “In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 29,609 households were impacted, 37,589 households in Lagos and 60,391 in Ogun, making a total of 124,589 households impacted between May 14, and July 6.

    “If 124,589 households received take home rations valued at N4,200, the amount will be N523,273,800.”

    Establishing the process that led to the creation of take home rations from the Home Grown School Feeding Programme, Farouq said the programme was modified and implemented in three states following a March 29 presidential directive.

    The minister said: “It is critical at this juncture to provide details that will help puncture the tissue of lies being peddled in the public space.

    “The provision of ‘Take Home Rations’ under the modified Home Grown School Feeding programme, was not a sole initiative of MHADMSD.

    “The ministry, in obeying the presidential directive, went into consultations with state governments through the Governor’s Forum, following which it was resolved that ‘take home rations’ remained the most viable option for feeding children during the lockdown.

    “So, it was a joint resolution of the ministry and the state governments to give out take home rations.

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    “The stakeholders also resolved that we would start with the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states, as pilot cases.”

    Farouq also used the occasion to insist that she never said every Nigerian received COVID-19 palliative during the lockdown, saying it’s impossible to give palliative to all Nigerians.

    “Every state government received its shares of palliatives for onward distribution. I never said every Nigerian has received COVID-19 palliative. It is impossible to give palliative to all Nigerians,” she said.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • FG says NECO exams will hold from Oct 5 to Nov 18

    FG says NECO exams will hold from Oct 5 to Nov 18

    The President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government Wednesday said the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) organised by the National Examination Council (NECO) for the students would commence on October 5 and end on November 18.

    Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuiba, disclosed the dates for the examination at the end of a virtual meeting with chief executives officers of examination bodies in the country.

    The minister, in a statement by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Ben Goong, said the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into Unity Colleges would hold on October 17.

    The ministry also said the Basic Education Certificate Examinations, (BECE) for JSS 3 pupils also conducted by NECO would start on August 24 and end on September 7.

    The statement added that registration for NECO (SSCE), which is on-going, would end on September 10 and that there would be no further extension.

    The statement said the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) examinations would start on September 21 and end by October 15.

    The National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) is scheduled to hold from September 23 to October 17, said the statement.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • FG to receive $200m from Netherlands, Switzerland, recovers N800b loot

    FG to receive $200m from Netherlands, Switzerland, recovers N800b loot

    Nigerian Government says it is awaiting the return of $200million from the Netherlands and Switzerland, as part of proceeds from the Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245 Malabu oil deal.

    This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, when he gave a presentation at a one-day capacity building workshop organised for judiciary correspondents in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The Minister, at the event, presented a scorecard of the Ministry of Justice in the last one year during which he outlined the efforts of the present administration in tackling corruption.

    “On the fight against corruption and associated recovery of looted and illicit assets, I am happy to inform you that within the period in contention, Nigeria succeeded in recovering $311 billion from U.S. and New Jersey and the money has been repatriated to Nigeria,” Malami said.

    He stated that due to the anti-corruption crusade, the Federal Government facilitated the recovery of $62 billion arrears from oil companies as part of its Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).

    According to him, the money has been paid into the Federal Government treasury for utility development such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Kano-Abuja Expressway, and the Second Niger Bridge, in line with the agreement reached with the foreign partners.

    Malami also disclosed that over N685 million was recovered through the help of whistle-blowers within the last one year while N500 million was recovered from forfeited vessels, trucks, and barges.

    Elsewhere, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the government has recovered looted funds in excess of N800 billion with over 1,400 convictions secured.

    Mohammed, who also addressed reporters in the nation’s capital, stated that the present administration’s fight against corruption was as strong as ever.

    While stressing that there were records to back up his claim, he said Nigerians have recently been inundated with allegations of monumental corruption in a number of government agencies.

    He listed some of the agencies to include the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

  • FG meets resident doctors over planned strike, promises to address issues

    FG meets resident doctors over planned strike, promises to address issues

    The Federal Government has assured the leadership of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) that it will address issues raises by the medical practitioners.

    over the planned industrial action of the

    This assurance was made during a conciliation meeting which held on Monday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The meeting ended with high expectations that the planned strike would be shelved.

    At the discussion, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who convened the meeting gave an assurance that the government would address the issues raised by the doctors.

    This comes two days after the resident doctors issued a three-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to address the issues raised by the union or risk a nationwide strike.

    The demands include the doctors’ welfare, the residency training programme, and the poor state of infrastructure in government hospitals.

    Government officials also at the meeting include the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunnimbe Mamora, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr Festus Keyamo.

  • COVID-19: Nigeria extends phase-2 of eased lockdown by 1wk due to Sallah

    COVID-19: Nigeria extends phase-2 of eased lockdown by 1wk due to Sallah

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has extended the second phase of easing COVID-19 lockdown regulations due to breach of guidelines and non-pharmaceutical measures put in place.

    The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha made this known during the daily briefing on Monday.

    Mustapha, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) expressed fear that: “Majority of Nigerians irrespective of status, creed and level of education continue to live in denial on the virulent nature of the virus and consistently breach the guidelines and non-pharmaceutical measures put in place”.

    The SGF, who noted that the PTF, having reached an advanced stage of the process, has considered extending the second phase of eases of lockdown by one more week.

    “Due to the upcoming Sallah (Eid El-Kabir) festivities which coincides with the expiration of the current phase it would be prudent to extend by one week, from 29th July, 2020 till Thursday 6th August, 2020. It has accordingly secured permission to retain the existing guidelines till that date.

    “Our analysis has shown that people over 50 years of age especially those with underlying factors remain most at risk. This position is backed by the fact that 65% of fatalities recorded in Nigeria are in this category, Mustapha said.

    I’m his advise to Nigerians, the PTF chairman said: “If you do not need to go outside your home, please stay indoors. Avoid large gatherings and observe all the measures.

    “As we prepare for the Eid El Kabir celebration, we also want to urge all our Muslim Brothers and Sisters and indeed all Nigerians to continue to observe all measures, he said.

    Recall that the first phase of the relaxed lockdown was extended by two weeks and elapsed midnight June 1. The second phase commenced on June 2 and was to elapse midnight, June 29. During the PTF briefing of that day, Mustapha announced that President Muhammau Buhari had approved that the Phase Two of the eased lockdown be extended by another four weeks with effect from Tuesday, June 30, 2020, through Midnight of Monday, 27 July, 2020.

    Although, some of the regulations have been lifted, such as reopening of domestic flight operations and resumption of interstate travels, and state governments have modifications, the Phase Two of the eased lockdown are as follow:

    The nationwide curfew of 10:00 P.M.
    4:00 A.M. daily.

    Healthcare workers and journalists are
    exempted from this curfew.

    Banks may resume normal working hours.

    Government offices will be open between
    9:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. Monday – Friday.

    The ban on interstate movement except for
    agricultural produce, petroleum products,
    manufactured goods, and essential services (now lifted).

    All airports remain closed to domestic and
    international travel, except for emergency
    flights. (Domestic flight operations now
    resumed).

    The PTF is considering plans to reopen
    airports for domestic flights by June 21, 2020 if proper protocols are put in place by the
    aviation industry. (Now implemented).

    Kano State is approved to enter phase one of eased lockdown.

    Face masks or coverings are mandatory in
    public settings and handwashing/sanitizing
    practices must continue to be followed.

    Ban on gatherings of more than 20 people
    outside of a workplace.

    Relaxation of restrictions on places of
    worship based on guidelines issued by the
    PTF and State governments.

    By Tobiloba Kolawole

  • FG knocks down proposed courier service licence fee by NIPOST

    FG knocks down proposed courier service licence fee by NIPOST

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has rejected a proposal by the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), to increase license fee for courier services.

    FG’s position was made known Saturday morning in a tweet by the the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, who noted that such increase was not part of the regulation he approved for the agency on Friday, July 24.

    “Our attention has been drawn to an increase of licence fee, which was not part of the regulation I earlier approved for you,” he stated.

    Pantami added that he had issued a directive to the NIPOST Chairman and Post Master General, who “were yesterday (Friday) contacted to put the implementation on hold and send a report to our ministry by Monday.”

    NIPOST’s proposed increase as announced, has generated huge outrage in the public.

    By Tobiloba Kolawole