TheNewsGuru

Tag: Funds

  • Lack of funds, underground gas pipes hindering construction of Apapa-Wharf road – NPA

    The Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman has said underground gas pipelines and a lack of funds is slowing down the pace of reconstruction works on the Wharf- Apapa road.

    Usman disclosed this over the weekend during an inspection of the road.

    The NPA director expressed disappointment at the rate of reconstruction currently going on the road adding that whatever was needed to increase the pace of work will be made available.

    Usman also said that she will be meeting with the officials of the Bureau of Public Procurement to ensure that whatever funds needed to work to continue the pace of work non-stop will be made available.

    “The level of work is unacceptable. I will meet with the Federal Ministry of works and Housing and the Bureau for Public Procurement and see how the pace of work on the road can be hastened

    “The quality of work done so far is satisfactory but the time within which the work must be completed is now the issue and I will keep inspecting the project every four weeks.

    “This would impact most positively on the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product-GDP.

    “NPA’s aggressive continuous monitoring strategy is aimed at ensuring that all the components required to meet deadlines are achieved.”

    Besides the issue of funding and underground gas pipelines, officials of the Ministry of works also said that the rainy season, traffic management issues, Security, logistics and supplies which are usually delivered at night were also causing challenges for the ongoing construction works.

    She noted “Efficiency” is key in the NPA’s operation, thus, all stones would be turned to actualize the reason for the ports roads rehabilitation which basically cascades to the stimulation of the Ease of doing business at the ports across the country.

    She opined that the role of Holding Bays in decongesting the traffic gridlock in Apapa is critical pointing out that a licensing regime on the subject is being perfected between the NPA and the Lagos State Government to enable operators in this regard to have access to the ports and function under guided directives.

    Usman noted that the deployment of an electronic device in the management of access to the ports- through Biometrics mechanism was underway and appealed to stakeholder and residents in and around Apapa to be patient while the road reconstruction lasts.

     

  • We know countries sponsoring IPOB against Nigeria – FG

    We know countries sponsoring IPOB against Nigeria – FG

    The Federal Government has said it is aware that some countries are behind sponsorship of the separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and it is taking urgent steps to block the source of such funds.

    It also said it will take necessary diplomatic action against such countries for sponsoring crisis in the country.

    This was revealed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Tuesday when he appeared on a live TV programme “Good Morning Nigeria”, on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).

    “Terrorists do not publish where their funding are coming from. But we know the countries that are supporting IPOB.

    “We know the sources of their funding, though I am not at liberty to disclose them here.

    “We are taking steps to block them and we are also taking a lot of diplomatic actions in respect of the countries that are supporting them.”

    The minister said that most of the countries supporting the group were doing so based on ignorance, hoodwinked to believing that “Nigeria is a country where Muslims persecute Christians” and a country where there is genocide.

    “As we speak today, IPOB has written letters to many governments outside Nigeria, international parliaments sending fake and cloned videos, claiming there is genocide in Nigeria.

    The minister charged the international community not to adopt double standard in dealing with IPOB and to be more diligent before making any pronouncements.

    He said what the countries would never accept in their territories, should not be condoned or encouraged in Nigeria.

    The minister justified the actions of the military for declaring IPOB a terrorist group as well as its proscription by the South-East governors.

    “There are a lot of arguments regarding the constitutionality of the action of the military and the South East governors.

    “People must realise that we are dealing with issue of national security and I do not think that the military and the governors should fold their arms while the country is set ablaze.

    “I have heard a lot of comments as to whether the military has the right to declare IPOB, a terrorist group.

    “What the military has done is to catalogue all the activities of IPOB, which are not different from that of terrorists groups,” he said.

    Mohammed said IPOB set up a para-military organisation, a parallel military group, Biafra Secret Service and Biafra National Guard.

    He said the group was attacking army installations and soldiers at check points, extorting money from innocent people.

    “IPOB activities are not jokes. If there have not been the proactive actions on the part of the military and the Southeast governors, there would have been retaliations from other regions and the entire country will be set on fire.

    “We cannot be talking of semantics or procedure when the nation is moving towards crises and precipices.

    It is only in a Banana Republic that you can see non-state actors doing what IPOB is doing.

    “The actions by the military and the governors should be seen from the perspective of ensuring internal security and averting chaos,” he said.

    The minister reiterated his position that IPOB was being sponsored by the association of disgruntled politicians and treasury looters to discredit President Muhammadu Buhari”s Administration.

    He admonished the media and opinion leaders to be circumspect in their publications and discussions on IPOB in order not to aggravate the crises the more.

    “The kind of comments and headlines in the media as well as comments from certain quarters are the types that give oxygen and confidence to the IPOB.

    “They must exercise restraint because the only reason we practice our profession or be a commentator is simply because there is peace in the country,” Muhammed said.

     

     

  • N760.17b Paris Club refund: We’ll expose governors who lavish funds on mundane things – Wabba

    The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has promised to name governors who wasted the first and second tranche of the Paris Club refund released to them by the Federal Government.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that so far the federal government has so far released N760.17 billion to the governors.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Muhammadu Buhari recently expressed his displeasure at how the funds was poorly utilized by the governors.

    Angered by the refusal of the governors to clear workers’ backlog of salaries and pension despite the release,the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba on Tuesday said President Buhari should demand that the governors account for the money earlier received before any further release is made.

    Wabba said it was unfortunate that despite their promises to pay workers’ salaries and pension, the governors refused to live by their word.

    He said that some of the governors had even refused to disclose how much they received and how it was spent.

    Wabba accused the Chairman of the Governors Forum, Zamfara State Governor Abdulazeez Yari, who made a commitment on behalf of his colleagues of not spending the money judiciously.

    He said the President was reacting to its letter asking him not to approve the release of the third and last tranche of the fund to the governors until they account for what they have received.

    Wabba said: “It is our letter he was reacting to. At our CWC meeting, we called on him not to release the last tranche of the Paris Club refund to the states because the governors have not kept their word.

    “You remember that Chairman of the Governors Forum alluded to the fact that they are committed to using the money to address the liability of pension and salaries. Unfortunately, the Chairman of the Governors Forum has not lived up to those words.

    “As you are aware, our workers in Zamfara have shut down the state. He himself who made the pronouncement could not honour the words that he pronounced on behalf of his colleagues. That is to show the level of deceit that is actually in the system and that is why we decided to write to the President to ensure that there is a level of accountability to show that he is actually on the same page with the governors.

    “Before the second tranche was released, they made commitments and used the payment of workers salaries and pensions as a bait to get the President to approve and get the money across to them. But immediately they got the money, majority of them diverted the money. Right now, we have a standard data as to what the situation is in all states of the Federation.

    “Let me make the point that some has actually judiciously untilised their own, but some states… have refused to make available how much they received.”

    Wabba recalled that at the Kogi State House of Assembly, a member raised a motion to demand accountability on the Paris Club refund “and that resulted in the chaos we witnessed in the Assembly. That member had his head broken and the Speaker removed. That is the level of decay that is prevailing in some of those states.

    “It means that Mr President is in touch with the real issues that is happening in every state. The fact that he is aware that some of the governors have not utilised the money in the direction that he appealed to them means that he is aware of what is happening.”

    The NLC chief spoke also on the use of consultants to get the refund.

    He said: “We learnt that about 5 per cent was deducted from source and used for the payment of consultants which eventually ended up in people’s pockets. We are also aware of those who diverted the money to build hotels and pay mortgages. It is really a bad situation.

    “If we must fight corruption, those issues are issues that we must follow up and fight to their logical conclusion.

    “In some of the states, our members used the Freedom of Information Act to demand how these money was utilised, but there has been no responses and I think that is most unfortunate. We have records of those states. We have also promised that we are going to name and shame those states that have not adequately utilized the bailout.

    “We are working on the data and once they are ready, we will make them, available and we are going to engage states that have not transparently utilised the bailout fund for the purpose that it was meant for and for the benefit of their people. That is where we are now… that is why the situation of workers have not improved.

    “ Let me emphasied that some states have done extremely well and we are going to point this out very clearly.”

     

  • ‘Hidden’ N249b TSA fund: FG to pay 6 banks N1.2m as court strikes out suit

    ‘Hidden’ N249b TSA fund: FG to pay 6 banks N1.2m as court strikes out suit

    A Lagos Federal High Court on Wednesday in Lagos struck out a suit filed by the Federal Government seeking to recover 793.2 million dollars allegedly kept by seven commercial banks in violation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.

    The defendants are: Diamond Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), First Bank, Skye Bank, Fidelity Bank, Sterling Bank and the defunct Keystone Bank (now Heritage Bank).

    The vacation judge, Justice Chuka Obiozor, struck out the suit following a motion of discontinuance filed by the federal government.

    Counsel to FG, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), on Tuesday informed the court that he had the instruction of the Attorney-General of the Federation to discontinue the case in the “overall interest of the public”.

    Consequently, he filed a motion of discontinuance in accordance with Order 50, Rule 2, Subsection 1, of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009, asking the court to strike out the suit.

    The federal government had in the suit alleged that the banks connived with some government agencies to illegally conceal 793.2 million dollars meant to have been transferred to the TSA domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    But the banks, through their counsel, had denied the allegation.

    The banks were represented by Dr Ajibola Muraina (UBA) Mr Seyi Sowemimo (SAN), (Fidelity Bank); Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, (SAN), (Sterling Bank); Mr N.A Oragwu (Diamond Bank), Mr E.A Okorie (First Bank) and Mr Babatunde Ogungbamila (Keystone Bank).

    All the defendants on Tuesday in a reply to the federal government’s notice of discontinuance, demanded between N10 million and N20 million as costs from the plaintiff.

    While striking out the suit, Obiozor ordered the federal government to pay N200,000 as cost to all the banks except Skye Bank which had no representation in court.

    Obiozor said:“I have considered the reason given for the discontinuance, the demand, as it were, of public interest.

    “I have also considered the fact that when a notice of discontinuance is duly and validly filed, it cannot be recalled, as the suit ceases to exist, the moment it is effectively discontinued subject to the payment of costs.

    “I find that as I have not adjudicated on claims in the action before me for a pronouncement on the merits of the issues arising therefrom.

    “The proper order to make, with respect to this matter, is one striking out this suit and not of dismissal and I so hold.

    “In the instant case before me, the matter is yet to proceed to trial, I do not find that the justice of this case demands that this matter should be dismissed.”

    On costs, the judge ruled:“Nevertheless, I shall not turn a blind eye to the effect of the interim order on the defendants.

    “This case cannot now go on, I find no reason not to compensate the defendants with costs at least to those of them who have appeared in this matter.

    “I find the request for N10 million or N20 million as costs to the defendant not to be founded on with respect to established
    principles.

    “The defendants deserve compensation which I assess and put at N200,000 against and in favour of and to be paid to each of the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh defendants.

    “In the final analysis, the suit is hereby struck out and the plaintiff shall not re-list this suit without the prior leave of court.

    “The interim order of this court made on the 20th of July 2017, is hereby set aside, truncated and discharged.”

  • 2019 Elections: We are ready to conduct Diaspora voting if…INEC

    2019 Elections: We are ready to conduct Diaspora voting if…INEC

    The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said it is ready to conduct diaspora voting if the government provided the Commission with adequate funds for t exercise.

    The INEC chair also urged the National Assembly to quicken the amendment of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    Yakubu made the call in Ibadan on Wednesday, at an International Conference organised by the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan.

    The theme of the conference is “Enfranchising the African Diaspora: Comparing Notes across Sub-Saharan Africa.’’

    Yakubu was represented by a National Commissioner of INEC, Prof. Anthonia Simbinne.

    He said that the conference was organised to underscore the importance of the card reader and electronic voting towards deepening the electoral process and allowing Diaspora voting.

    The chairman said that although the 2015 elections cost approximately N100 billion, conducting Diaspora voting in the next 18 months would gulp millions of dollars.

    He explained that Diaspora voting would start with registration of Nigerians in Diaspora.

    “The commission is ready for Diaspora voting, but problematic issues related to Diaspora voter registration components must be resolved,’’ he said.

    Yakubu said that there was the need for deeper and further consultations with stakeholders in as much as the Diaspora voting was desirable and possible.

    “It is important to state categorically that the commission is committed to implementing any and every activity that will improve the electoral process and accessibility of franchise to all Nigerians.

    “The introduction of card reader and electronic voting has led to instances where polls have had to be cancelled due to non-use of smart card reader,’’ he said.

    In her address, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said that the discussion about Diaspora could no longer be relegated.

    Represented by her Special Assistant on Media, Abdulraham Balogun, she said that there was the need to examine certain dynamics, intricacies and realities of the Nigerian Diaspora.

    According to Daburu-Erewa, there are several ways African nations can move to enfranchise their Diaspora when adequate legislative frameworks have been affirmed.

    “I do not propose an absolute or sweeping legislative framework. The political climate of individual nations should dictate the texture of the policy formulation,’’ she said.

    The Head, Diaspora and Transnational Studies, Institute of African Studies, Dr Senayon Olaoluwa, said that the conference was organised to attend to the political needs of Nigerians in Diaspora.

    Olaoluwa said that the place of the Diaspora on their homeland development could no longer be undermined.

    The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, said that the institution had continued to offer leadership by being the first to have a programme focusing on the Diaspora and Transnational Studies.

    Olayinka said that African Diaspora could not continue to be pushed to the margin.

    He said that African Diaspora had taken the centre stage in the transformation of Africa in politics and economy as well as social fronts.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • Osinbajo approves release of funds for Super Eagles despite disappointing outing against S’Africa

    Nigeria’s Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has approved the release of funds to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following a meeting with top officials from the Glass House last week.

    The money is to be used to offset bills, as the Super Eagles prepare to take on Cameroon in a crucial 2018 World Cup qualifying double-header in August.

    “The NFF have the cash for the World Cup qualifiers against Cameroon thanks to the generosity of the federal government.

    “The NFF also got the cash for the AFCON qualifier against South Africa and had the Eagles won, they would have been paid their win bonus immediately after the game,” a top official said.

    Nigeria will welcome the Indomitable Lions on August 27 in Uyo, with the reverse game in Limbe four days later.

    The Eagles are top of their qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup with six points from two matches. Cameroon are second on two points, while Zambia and Algeria are on a point each.

  • Stolen, diverted public funds must be accounted for – Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said public resources that were looted in the past few years in the country would be accounted for by those involved.

    Osinbajo stated this on Monday in a nationwide broadcast to mark the second anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    He said that accounting for the funds had become imperative in view of the determination of the administration to bring persons accused of corruption to justice.

    According to him, funds appropriated to build roads, railway lines, power plants, and to equip the military, that have been stolen or diverted into private pockets, must be retrieved and the culprits brought to justice.

    “We believe that the looting of public resources that took place in the past few years has to be accounted for.

    “Many have said that the process is slow, and that is true. Corruption has fought back with tremendous resources and our system of administration of justice has been quite slow.

    “But the good news for justice is that our law does not recognize a time bar for the prosecution of corruption and other crimes, and we will not relent in our efforts to apprehend and bring corruption suspects to justice,” Osinbajo said.

    He stated that the government had also started re-equipping the prosecution teams, and that part of the expected judicial reforms was to dedicate some specific courts to the trial of corruption cases.

    The acting president disclosed that the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government was also institutionalizing safeguards and deterrents in the process.

    He said, “We have expanded the coverage of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    “We have introduced more efficient accounting and budgeting systems across the Federal Government. We have also launched an extremely successful Whistleblower Policy.

    “The Efficiency Unit of the Federal Ministry of Finance has succeeded in plugging leakages amounting to billions of naira, over the last two years.

    “We have ended expensive and much-abused fertilizer and petrol subsidy regimes.

    “We have taken very seriously our promise to save and invest for the future, even against the backdrop of our revenue challenges.

    “We have in the last two years added 500 million dollars to our Sovereign Wealth Fund and 87 million dollars to the Excess Crude Account.

    “This is the very opposite of the situation before now, when rising oil prices failed to translate to rising levels of savings and investment.”

    Mr. Osinbajo, however, acknowledged that the economy had proven to be the biggest challenge of all.

    “Let me first express just how concerned we have been since this administration took office, about the impact of the economic difficulties on our citizens.

    “Through no fault of theirs, some companies shut down their operations; others downsized. People lost jobs and had to endure rising food prices.

    “In some states, civil servants worked months on end without the guarantee of a salary, even as rents and school fees and other expenses continued to show up like clockwork.

    “We have been extremely mindful of the many sacrifices that you have had to make over the last few years.

    “And for this reason this administration’s work on the economic front has been targeted at a combination of short-term interventions to cushion the pain, as well as medium to long term efforts aimed at rebuilding an economy.

    “The economy is no longer helplessly dependent on the price of crude oil.’’

    According to him, the short-term interventions include putting together a series of bailout packages for state governments to enable them bridge their salary shortfalls, an issue President Buhari has consistently expressed his concerns about.

    Osinbajo said the government had also begun the laying a framework for its Social Intervention Programme, which he described as “the most ambitious in the history of the country’’.

     

     

    NAN

  • We’ll empower small scale miners with additional funds – FG

    The Federal Government on Tuesday said it has earmarked additional funds to scale up mining activities from its current zero level in the country.

    This was revealed by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

    Fayemi said on Tuesday in Enugu at a meeting with stakeholders in the mining industry, that the fund would be used to support small scale miners.

    The minister disclosed that the government would also support the miners with technology and mining equipment.

    According to him, the government will ensure the safety of communities where mining is taking place and ensure that all abandoned mine sites are reclaimed.

    He said that government also plans to address areas ravaged by erosion, especially in the southeast, due to mining activities.

    The minister said some of the challenges confronting the ministry were lack of sufficient geological data, funding, illegal mining and inadequate infrastructure.

    According to Fayemi, insufficient geological data about mineral quantity, the reserve, commercial viability had affected the sector over the years, adding that the ministry is working out modality to solve the challenge.

    He said the tension between states and Federal Government over rights to land resources would soon be resolved.

    The minister noted that majority mining operators in Enugu State were operating illegally and warned them to regularise their operations or be prosecuted.

    “The same thing was discovered in Abia and Anambra; even those with licenses are not using them, this will make the ministry to counsel or revoke their licenses and give them to serious minded miners.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Fayemi and his Minister of State are on a nationwide tour to all mine sites to build stakeholders confidence, get feedback, identify challenges and proffer solutions.

    The ministers have so far visited Kaduna, Lagos, Ogun, Nasarawa, Benue and Enugu states.

     

     

    NAN

  • We don’t have funds to pay salaries, pensions – FG

    The Federal Government on Thursday said the present economic recession has made it impossible for it to generate the needed funds to pay salaries and pensions of workers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies under its jurisdiction.

    This was revealed by the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udoma, while fielding questions from members of the House of Representatives.

    Udoma noted that half of the projected revenue in the 2017 budget is for salaries and pensions, but that funds to pay are not available.

    Udoma disclosed that the Federal Government was making efforts towards resolving the issues relating to the welfare of workers and retirees.

    Noting that a committee has been set up to address the issues, Udoma said the government would have to look for ways for creating funds to pay pension arrears.

    Udoma said, “I ask for your understanding. In the 2017 budget, about half of our total projected revenues are for salaries and pensions but the resources are not there.

    “Most of these categories are up to date, however there have been issues with reconciliation of the numbers.

    “The president is extremely concerned about this. He has directed us to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible and a committee headed by the minister of finance should meet with all the relevant agencies and reconcile numbers.”

  • Scarcity of funds not major challenge to completion of federal roads – Fashola

     

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola has said paucity of fund is not the major challenge to the completion of ongoing Federal Government’s road projects.

    Fashola spoke to reporters on Saturday in Port Harcourt after an inspection tour of ongoing road projects in the South-South zone.

    “There is no problem of paucity of fund on this road again; this road is now a function of man hours.

    “If you have all the money needed to construct this road, you would not finish it today.

    “So let us understand that these roads are built long and wide, and so will take years to be completed because roads are connecting several states.

    “As we are building, it will get better but funding is not going to be a problem on this road again because we make sure that the contractors are paid,” he said.

    He said the contractors handling the road projects would be paid based on presentation of certificate of performance.

    Fashola cautioned contractors against the use of budgetary provisions as excuse not to be on site, adding that the budget had not solved the problem in the past.

    “As at the time we had money, when a barrel of oil sold for 100 dollars, we did not take the issue of roads seriously, because the capital budget then used to be 15 per cent.

    “It is Buhari’s administration that is increasing capital budget to 30 per cent, which means that this government is taking the issue of roads seriously and that is why we are here.

    “Contractors are coming to site after three years of lay off and as you pay a contractor, you are invariably bring people back to work, and that is the commitment that I made,” he said.

    The minister expressed dismay over failure of the past administration to fund the projects it originated.

    “You heard the contractors saying they were not able to continue with the projects because funds were not released until December, 2016.

    “You also heard from all the sites we visited that contractors were not paid for three to four years and that was at a time we were having income of 100 dollars per barrel of oil.

    “People were laid off by the contractors, they could not continue the projects, so the foundation for the recession was built three years ago.

    “In spite of the fall in oil income, the Buhari government is now saying that whatever it will take, we must pay contractors and that is why they have all returned to site,” he added.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the projects visited by the minister during tour in Rivers were the Aba-Port Harcourt dual carriage way and the Bodo-Bonny bridge projects.

    The minister said the Bodo-Bonny bridge, when completed, would be the only road linking the people of Ogoni land to Bonny Island.

    He said the project was awarded several years ago but the contractor abandoned the site because it was not funded.

    He said the Federal Government made provision to finance the project in partnership with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) in the 2017 budget proposal.