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Tag: Ministry

  • FG orders enforcement of screening at airports

    The Federal Government on Tuesday ordered airlines and agencies at airports that are presently in operation to enforce the screening of all passengers who use facilities at the airports.

    According to the Federal Ministry of Aviation, the order was issued to airline operators and agencies in order to control the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

    The ministry further stated that all airline operators had been directed to deploy some additional measures in order to protect passengers and the general public against the further spread of Covid-19.

    It said, “All persons, without exception, entering any airport terminal (domestic and international) must undergo temperature check and hand cleaning with sanitisers.

    “All passengers, no matter their status, must undergo temperature check and hand sanitisation before being allowed to board any aircraft. All airplanes must be disinfected before boarding by passengers.”

    It said the orders had been conveyed to all airline operators by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, adding that the Federal Government would not take any disregard kindly.

    On the recent announcement of restriction of international flights into Nigeria as announced by NCAA, the ministry explained that flights considered essential for which permissions for landing may be sought and granted include aircraft in a state of emergency.

    It said such aircraft would have to do with flights and operations related to humanitarian services, medical and relief services.

     

  • A Ministry for Aides, By Udeme Nana

    A Ministry for Aides, By Udeme Nana

    By UDEME NANA

    Barely two months ago, President Muhammadu Buhari rejigged his government by creating five new Ministries.Of that number, three ; Power, Aviation and Police Affairs were not entirely new like the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs , Disaster Management and Social Development and the Federal Ministry Special Duties and International Affairs although there used to be a Federal Ministry of Special Duties in the Sani Abacha era.This means that the Ministries of Police Affairs and Aviation have only been resuscitated having existed previously.
    This writer is advocating for the establishment of a Ministry for Aides to bring all Aides in our dear country into one big canopy , a Federal Ministry.
    The numbers are ample ; Councillors in the 774 Local Government Councils in Nigeria have more than one, Supervisors at the same tier have “employed” one or two, other top functionaries at that level are not left out and the Chairmen, elected or appointed have a coterie of Aides.
    At the state level, Legislators are in competition for the number of this category of “workers” , this writer knows one who has more than 20 on his payroll , imagine the number of Legislators in the 36 states of Nigeria with these set of staff !
    Members of the state Executive Council, Special Advisers , ordinary or honorary , Senior Special Assistants , Special Assistants and Personal Assistants also have their own Aides !
    The Governors as Chief Executives have a large contingent.In the history of Akwa Ibom State , a particular Governor had not more than 9 Aides for 8 years but his successor had more than 500! Imagine the jam and confusion on the major roads to the Airport when that Leader went on a trip or returning.It used to be carnival like both on the streets and at the airport with Aides struggling to undo one another in cheers, songs, shouts – noise levels which resonated like sustained thunder clap around the capital city.And such days were many. There was even a big – ben ( bell) wielding Aide. The joke then was than it was a strategy in “empowerment” ! No office space , empty job specifications except regular sights and sounds of able bodied youths – boys and girls who danced on the streets during events or trips , in sunshine or in the rain ! In Cross River State , Governor Ayade got more than 1000 such operatives whose monthly wages ranged from twenty thousand naira .
    Still at the states’ level, Chairmen of and Members of Boards and Commissions, Extra – Ministerial Departments , Permanent Secretaries , Directors etc all have Aides.
    At the National Assembly, each Senator , each Member of the House of Representatives , each Minister , Minister of State , Head of Service , Secretary to the Federal Government etc have quadrupled the number of Aides at the State level , afterall, their pay cheques are bigger than that of others.
    Political Party officials are not to be denied this eppaulet which signifies their level of importance in the scheme of things and the higher the status , power wielded and access to funds , the more the number of Aides recruited into the service at this level.
    Men and women of ” God ” who have ” made it ” in life are not left out in the craze for Aides.They have those who see to schedules, those who carry Bibles, those who carry hymn books , those who carry handkerchiefs, those who carry bottled water , those who carry their jackets , those who stand as “guards” in front , at the back and on both sides during ministrations.
    This category of employees hit the road at day break and could be seen wasting precious time outside the gates, inside gate houses, inside Hillux vans , around other several vehicles while the more important ones stay in ante – rooms to ” monitor ” the situation .
    The job specification of this segment of service boys and girls is not clear – cut. There are a whole lot whose responsibilities add much needed value to overall service delivery , there are a whole lot who contribute to policy making and programme implementation but majority are just waste pipes wasting their youthful energy, their years and productive capacities on menial chores and self depreciating and denigrating errands including pimping or clutching cigarette lighters for those very very important persons who still smoke.
    Women Executives are not to be undone, the job specification of some of their Aides range from those who do their nails , hair, eye lashes whether fixing or scrapping, those in charge of powder, lip gloss , shoes, slippers, tissue paper , handbags, headgear and what have you !
    Recruitment into this workforce is at best confusing as the Executives who recruit do it at whim, most Aides are not certificated and the judgement by the Supreme Court in the matter of posession of certificates for qualification to occupy even the highest office in the land has further reduced the importance of the certificate as a pre requisite for consideration for employment.In the case of Aides, the basic meal ticket seems to be physical size, large biceps, a large chest , a menacing look – sheer brawn even without brain. A capacity for ameboism, blackmail, subterfuge , pitching one against the other are added advantages.Nevertheless, this group humour themselves by forming unions where their leaders assume such amusing titles as Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Provost , Rector , Dean or Chair – Chair etc…
    In a country where the productive capacities and energy of youths are so misdirected , methinks it would amount to much if a Ministry is created for this category of employees.As at now, there is no wage structure for these hirelings.Some “big men and women” treat their Aides as slaves . Such a Ministry would have a responsibility to fix the wages, determine leave , housing , medical , lay off and retirement packages for these level of workers.
    The Ministry would , at the first instance , receive complaints concerning abuses , harrassments , non payment of wages and other fall – outs.
    The Ministry would prepare an Administrative Organogram so each Aide knows his / her appropriate status, exact roles in the scheme of things and mobilty pathway. The Ministry would streamline the cadre and set standards of discipline and minimum wage apart from determining a dress code so these group could also access wardrobe allowances, afterall, Aides have become the new role models in town. Great countries are those which mobilize and harness the potentials and creative capacity of their youth population to quicken growth through various productive sectors, but since Nigeria is one country which eats and wastes its youths, a Ministry for Aides could help.

  • People nearly brought down my ministry when I started – Ooni of Ife's wife

    The Ooni of Ife’s wife, Olori Naomi Ogunwusi, has admitted that she has always loved the white garment church, Cherubim & Seraphim.
    Speaking on Saturday at the Seraphim Media Summit held at Seraph Land, Maba, Ogun State, Olori said she was born and raised up in a Bible-believing church but whenever she preached as a young girl, they said she sounded like a member of C&S.
    She said, “When I began preaching at a tender age, it was strange to the church I worshipped. They said I preached like the people from C&S. I thank you for bringing me here today because I have always wanted to be identified with the people they say I preach like. I love the church so much and I will always speak for you anywhere.”
    She advised members to shun negative criticisms, saying that it was a deliberate act by certain people to ridicule what the church stood for.
    She explained, “I rejoice with the church today because of the foundation. When I wanted to learn about indigenous men of God, the first person that came to my mind was the late founder of the church, Moses Orimolade. I want you to know that you are a beautiful brand regardless of what people say about you. You have a beautiful mark of identification; with your white garment, you don’t need any further introduction to anyone.
    “We all know that in every original product, there are fake ones. People will always try to bring you down. When people said I was preaching like a C&S member, they were trying to bring me down,” she said.
    Delivering her keynote address, the Founder of Love of Christ Generation in London, Rev Mother Esther Ajayi, said the mission of C&S was to renew the image of the church.
    He said, “This summit is important because we live in a world that is changing. We are called all sorts of names by people. Even people who come to us for help tarnish us in the daylight. But like other denominations, we all have our shortcomings and humans will always be humans.”
    She also said the founder of the church was never a cultist, maintaining that C&S is the only indigenous church that doesn’t have any western influence, “Our late founder was not a cultist but he was feared by cultists. When I met with Pastor Enoch Adeboye recently, he said his late mother was always saying that fetish people feared C&S because they knew they were powerful.
    “I urge the media to be free and fair when reporting C&S like they are with others. Nollywood practitioners should stop using white garment to portray bad characters. Members must also avoid dragging the name of the church through the mud,” Ajayi added.
    Meanwhile, the Supreme Head, Cherubim & Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, Dr Prophet Solomon Alao, who appreciated the organisers of the summit said that with all the church has done to provide spiritual and physical supports for humanity, that it was unbelievable many take joy in tagging the church in ungodly names, which negate the essence of the church.
    He added, “We are pleading with them to fear God. I admit that we have a few bad eggs among us but this is not peculiar to our church alone.”

  • Unbundling the power, works & housing ministry

    By Paul Ojenagbon,pauloje2000@yahoo.com

    It was the biggest gamble to merge Power, Works & Housing into a humongous Ministry in 2016 following the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari. A more focused nation would never dare that. It was clearly an unthinkable thing to do. No nation still wallowing in the throes of development would attempt to place the most critical sectors of its economy under the control of a super minister. It is akin to laying all one’s eggs in one basket! What it means is that if the minister failed, the entire nation would ultimately fail in all these important indexes of development. Even the developed nations with perhaps lesser risks to take would not attempt it. If the thinking was to curtail the administrative overhead of running these key ministries separately, it follows that the magnitude of the resultant failure now staring the nation in the face has been more monumental not only on the economy but also on Nigerians generally.

    Give it to him, Babatunde Fashola was an excellent performer as governor in Lagos which probably informed his being given this portfolio but like most Nigerians am yet to see a commensurate performance as minister in charge of the consolidated ministry. Instead, it has been baskets of excuses why Nigerians are not enjoying reasonable power supply. Most times, Fashola speaks on power situation in the country; his oft bloated assessment is starkly different from the reality on the ground.

    As I write this piece, my area has been in darkness for three days not because the transformer has broken down but for reasons that only EKEDC can adduce. Not all of us have the resources to run substations called generators throughout the dreadful night transition period. It is no longer news that mains power is now the ‘standby’ source of power in many homes and offices and no longer generators. Most Nigerians put off their generators between 12 midnight and 1am and resort to the use of rechargeable lamps and fans. Because they have worked for long spells of time longer than they were meant for, the rechargeable lamps soon lose their brightness and the fans go off exposing the ‘inmates’ to heat and mosquitoes. At that point, it is very difficult to sleep but to wish that the day break would come quicker than before. This is a routine experience of most Nigerians that clearly indicate our terribly poor quality of life. But what are governments meant for? I would never stop praying for better leaders!
    Kudos to the Chinese, a country with a monstrous population about ten times ours who never stop to think and create a better world for hapless societies like ours that cannot invent even the most basic things. We eagerly look forward to when the Chinese shall come up with rechargeable refrigerators and even air-conditioners.
    But electricity supply in my area has never been this bad. Before now, we took consolation in the fact that though we were denied during the working day hours, most nights it would come and we could sleep with it till the following morning. Now they would rather bring it for few hours, 2 or 3 of the day and that is all for the whole day. Now, we are counting days, not sure when it will come again.

    Some energy statistics running currently in the social media credited to African Outlook of power generation in certain parts of the world would clearly show that the so called giant of Africa is still light years away from true civilization. India with a population of 1,339,000,000 generates 1,368,000,000MW with power to population ratio at 1.022, USA with a population of 320,000,000 generates 4,324,000,000MW with a power to population ratio of 13.513 and the UK with a population of 67,000,000 generates 338,000,000MW with a power to population ratio of 5.045. Nigeria with an estimated population of 180,000,000 generates 5000MW accounting for power to population ratio of abysmally 0.000027. Any little wonder why the country stagnates, the economy is down and teeming population are unemployed. Power supply is the catalyst of any growth in a country. The industrial revolution in Europe was driven on power from coal. Today, they are advanced and their citizens have all the comforts. What values are politicians or indeed democracy adding to the fortunes of the country? Is it just to enjoy the spoils of office and abdicate the responsibilities? What a shame.
    Like several other matters choking on the front burner of our polity, the federal government-past and present have not done enough to exorcise the abiku called electricity supply. The reforms brought in were cosmetic and not deep. The Discos cannot distribute what they do not have; generation is still largely the problem though there is barrage of other problems. Often times, the solution to our problems stare us right in the face but lack of political will makes us to jettison them. The present structure is one glaring example. Power, Works and Housing are three key, troublesome sectors that would galvanize the growth and development of this country. Each of them has enough problems of its own and to have merged them is to multiply these problems by three and to commit them into the hands of one minister to solve. The minister cannot give adequate attention to the needs of each of them. Focus is not guaranteed either. Why are the Independent Power Projects (IPPs) not working out? To underscore the urgency of the situation, a state of emergency would have been suggested but has this ever made a difference? Fashola has too much on his hands to manage these ministries together as one. Besides, what is a lawyer doing in power sector? Do you have non-lawyers managing the Justice Ministry or non-doctors the ministry of health?

    Power sector needs a dedicated minister who is a specialist and has very good knowledge of the workings of the system. He would understand the challenges and be able to navigate a road map for their solution. Power sector needs a minister who can make it his focus of attention. Power sector once had Prof. Barth Nnaji and he was not doing badly but continuity broke up. Where are the Philip Emeagwalis of this country that we exported to the world? There are lots of competent Nigerians who can head that Ministry and do the needful but politics should be kept out of that place. If not, we cans get expatriates to do it for us with a clear mandate; there is no shame in that. Politicians should cease seeing the power ministry as their cash cow. They should let Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy for once. The multiplier effects of stable power supply would reduce criminality, youth restiveness and even terrorism because most of those who involve in these vices would be gainfully employed. As Buhari warms up to mount the saddle for second term, barring the outcome of the appeal filed by his PDP rival, Atiku Abubakar, Nigerians collectively ask him to break up the present humongous ministry and get power a separate minister who will get Nigeria out of darkness in record time.

  • Reps to probe ministry over fish importation

    By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday has resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to investigate the incessant issuance of fish importation licence by Ministry of agriculture.

    It also urged the federal ministry of agriculture and the bank of Agriculture to provide incentives to local fish farmers that would boost up production.

    The decision is sequel to a motion of Urgent Public importance moved by Jonathan Gaza (PDP, Nasarawa) during plenary.

    Leading the debate on the motion, Mr Gaza stated that “in the last few years, Nigeria has gone through a recession and has resurfaced and this recovery can be largely attributed to the diversification at our economy especially in the field of agriculture:

    He noted “that Fisheries which is on important subsector of Nigerian agriculture with the country being rich in perennial rivers (Benue. Niger, Ogun, Osun etc) and takes like kanji and other dams and ponds, and has also attracted a large influx of fish farmers using latest technology has led to an increase in fish production and employment;

    “in the past, the minister of state for agriculture during a meeting with the Ijebu initiative on poverty reduction (IDIPR) in Abuja sometime in August 2017, stated that the Federal Government wit stop issuing fish importation quota to importers saying the venture was no longer sustainable.

    “Frantic calls have been made by various quotas including this hallowed chambers to ban the importation of fish into the country as it has a negative effect on our economy and also on our health as we cannot ascertain the total health status of all the fish imported into this country all the time. “

    The lawmaker also noted that the situation is turning Nigeria into a dumping ground for Fish products, at the detriment of local fish Farmers.

    Contributing to the debate on the floor, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Lasun Yusuf (APC, Osun) noted that the importation is meant to fill the gap as a result of inability of Nigerian farmers to meet the demand of consumers.

    “we have production capacity of 1.2million tonnes, but our need is about 4million tonnes.” adding, “That is the gap those given licences are supposed to fill. As legislative, all we can do is to talk, in the area where bills are being returned with speed of light. The executive must show the commitment.

    Lasun therefore called on the federal government to subsidize the Agricultural sector by minimum of 50%.

    For Nicholas Osas (PDP, Delta), the motion requires investigation to understand the situation.

    “Is there a shortage of fish in this country? Do we have a national plan to fill this gap? This is an investigative matter. If demand is greater than supply, there is a shortfall, and we need to investigate. When you suggest ban, it’s for local industry to thrive. This motion will unravel a lot. Policy formulation should start from the House.”

    Muhammed Monguno (APC, Borno), the Chairman of the House committee on Agriculture while explaining the situation said that there is plan by federal government to end importation of fish.

    “It is true that there is deficit in our production, hence importation. Over the years the fishery sector have been neglected by successive governments. It is true that licences has been given by Ministry of Agriculture, steps are being taken, as steps are taken to fill in the gap and stop importation in the next few years.” He noted.

    To this end, an adoption on the motion was made by the House when put up for vote by the presiding officer, Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    The committee is expected to report its findings within two weeks to the house for further legislative action.

  • Ministry clears air on alleged insertion of ‘illegal company’ in 2019 budget

    Hours after the Senate Committee on Trade and Investment rejected its 2019 Budget proposal of N15.63 billion, the Ministry of Trade and Investment has clarified the status of the Special Economic Zones Company.

    Recall that the Senate committee said it rejected the proposal after it discovered that the company listed as a parastatal under the ministry is a private company.

    The committee made the discovery when it contacted the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on how the company was registered.

    But in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Bisi Daniels, the ministry said the Nigeria SEZ Investment Company Limited (NSEZCO) is a presidential initiative.

    He said it was incorporated as a special purpose vehicle to deliver Project MINE (Made in Nigeria for Exports).

    The ministry said the company was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in June 2018, with the endorsement of the Economic Management Team, as the holding entity for FGN investments and proprietary interests in existing and future SEZs.

    “The FEC approval also provides that all current and future capital appropriations for Project MINE should be transferred to NSEZCO’s account, as soon as opening formalities are completed.

    “With the formalities completed, NSEZCO became the platform through which Federal Government’s capital budget appropriations for SEZs are converted into long term value-creating investments.

    “NSEZCO is a public-private partnership (PPP) company to operate world-class standards of governance and management, to facilitate mobilisation of capital and other resources from PPP partners, in order to overcome budgetary constraints to the provision of critical infrastructure for SEZs,” the statement said.

    The ministry said by aggregating and harnessing FG’s investment in a strong corporate special purpose vehicle, NSEZCO will facilitate the mobilisation of additional capital from development finance institutions (DFIs) and private investors.

    It said the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) holds the FG’s interest of 25 per cent being the shareholder in NSEZCO while the balance of 75 per cent is currently held in trust on behalf of other prospective shareholders, pending completion of investors’ diligence and documentation and approval procedures.

    The ministry said NSEZCO, on February 8, signed investment agreements with three Development Finance Institutions; Afreximbank, Bank of Industry, and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

    It quoted President Muhammadu Buhari at the signing ceremony as saying: “When we committed to the implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan and launched our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan to fast track implementation, we had a vision of Nigeria as the pre-eminent manufacturing hub in Sub-Saharan Africa and a major exporter to our immediate West African sub-region, the rest of Africa and indeed the World.”

    “Already, NSEZCO is a public-private partnership, mobilising capital from the Federal Government and the development finance institution shareholders, for the development of Special Economic Zones across Nigeria.”

    It said the Pilot projects in the first phase are Enyimba Economic City, Abia State, Lekki Model Industrial Park, Lagos State, and Funtua Cotton Cluster, Katsina State.

    It adds that pre-development studies are ongoing in Benue, Kwara and Sokoto states whilst studies will soon commence in Ebonyi, Edo and Gombe states amongst several others.

  • Senate rejects ministry’s 2019 budget over alleged insertion of illegal company

    The Senate Committee on Trade and Investment has rejected the ministry’s 2019 Budget of N15.63 billion.

    The rejection followed alleged discovery of an illegal Special Economic Zone Company, listed for appropriation when the Minister of Trade and Investment Dr Okechukwu Enelamah appeared for budget defence on Monday.

    The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Sabo Mohammed while referring to item two on page seven of the budget booklet presented by the ministry, said the company was not known to be one of the 17 agencies under the ministry.

    The ministry had in the course of the defence, presented the booklet containing 2019 budget proposals for all agencies under the ministry.

    According to Mohammed, a document obtained by them from the Corporate Affairs Commission ( CAC) containing information on how the company was registered, shows that “it is a private company.

    “Liability of the members are limited by share, which gives federal government 25 per cent and 75 per cent to private individuals.”

    He directed the minister to forward detailed written explanation on how the company got into the appropriation list, its management staff list and its staff strength as well as statement of account before consideration of 2019 budget proposal.

    Responding, Enelamah said the company was established through a Presidential Initiative and its approval was given at a Cabinet meeting held in May 2018 .

    “One of the areas that this government has focused on is infrastructure. The second area is industrialisation and the two have something in common.

    “If the government tries to do it alone, it would be extremely tasking.

    “So the President directed that we should bring other partners that can combine with whatever monies we have to build world class infrastructure which led to the establishment of the company in partnership with other investors,” he said.

  • Ogoni Clean Up: FEC approves $200M; Ministry releases $177M – Minister

    * Environmental issues are taking dangerous dimensions- Chidoka

    The Minister of State for Environment Mr Ibrahim Usman Jibril has said that the Federal Executive Council has approved the sum of $200 million while only $177 million has been released for the clean up of the environmental pollution in Ogoni land in Rivers State.

    This is as the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Environment and Habitat Hon. Obinna Chidoka has lamented that environmental issues such as pollution, erosion and environmental degredation are assuming dangerous dimensions in many parts of the country.

    The Minister made the revelation on Monday during an investigative hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Environment at the National Assembly.

    Jibril said that out of the total sum of $200 million approved by the Federal Executive Council FEC, only $177 million has been released by the Ministry of Finance while a balance of $23 million is still left as balance with the ministry for the implementation of the project.

    He told the Committee that the Ministry of Environment came up with a blueprint and recommended a $200,000 million be approved for the clean up exercise and added that $177 million has been paid to the ministry’s escrow account.

    He further told the Committee that the the ministry has awarded the contact for the clean up exercise to Hyprep as the National Project Coordinator and added that regrettably the pace of work on the clean up had been slow.

    The Minister however assured the Committee that the Ministerial Tenders Board would meet tentatively next week to take a final decision of the commencement of the clean up exercise.

    On the challenges being faced by the ministry for the kick-off of the project, he said that public perception of the people is one of the greatest challenges of the smooth take off of the project.

    In his remarks at the hearing, Chairman of the House Committee Hon. Obinna Chidoka said that environmental issues are assuming an alarming dimension in the country that requires everybody’s attention.

    Chidoka and other some lawmakers notably Hon. Uzoma Abonta (Abia,PDP) said that the amount of public funds already expended on preliminary work on the clean up of the project does not match the public expectation on the project.

  • Ministry tasks stakeholders on completion of Science, Technology Park

    Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) has implored relevant stakeholders to collaborate with the Federal Government to actualise the completion of the Science and Technology Park.

     

    Dr Adeneye Talabi, the Director of Technology Acquisition and Adaptation in the ministry made call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

     

    According to him, the partnership is noteworthy to fast-track accessing the benefits of the Science and Technology Park for overall national development.

     

    Talabi further appealed to the Federal Government to improve the funding level of the Science and Technology Park project to facilitate its early completion.

     

    He said such measure would enable Nigerians derive benefits from the activities that would transform the country into a technologically advanced nation.

     

    He said the Nigerian Science and Technology park model was an attempt at evolving wholesome approach to the nation’s development in all spheres.

     

    “ Science and Technology Park programme has been globally celebrated as one of the essential tools that have tremendously transformed the developmental landscape of the nations that embraced it.

     

    “The Nigerian model, which was designed based on the nation’s peculiarities, captured the essence of the abundant raw materials in the six geopolitical zones, the capacities and capabilities of the Tertiary Institutions within these zones.

     

    “More importantly, it embraced the need to effectively bridge the yawning gap between research activities and the industries, “ he said.

     

    On National Science and Technology Museum (NSTM) located within the Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), he said the ministry was working toward commencement of development and equipment.

     

    “When the NSTM is fully developed it will enhance the culture of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) in Nigeria.

     

    “It will also serve as a national monument and a repository for Science and Technological materials.

     

    NAN reports that the Federal Government is plans to establish a flagship Science and Technology Park, also known as Abuja Technology Village along the Abuja International Airport road.

     

    The park is poised the become Africa’s technology research, incubation, development, and outsourcing destination encompassing four focus areas.

     

    They are biotechnology, information and communications technology, energy technology and minerals technology, providing one-stop response to the challenges of doing business in Nigeria with superior infrastructure, facilities and value adding services.

     

    The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) are currently working to transform the Abuja Airport Road into the largest Science and Technology Park in Africa to be known as Africa’s Premier Innovation Corridor (APIC).

  • Drama as Senate uncovers padding, duplication of items in Fashola’s 2018 ministry budget

    Drama as Senate uncovers padding, duplication of items in Fashola’s 2018 ministry budget

    There was mild drama on Monday as the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy uncovered padding of proposed expenditures and duplication of items in the in the 2018 budget estimates of the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.

    In the budget proposals, the Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP, Abia South-led Senate Committee discovered that N120 million, N480 million and N288 million respectively, were budgeted for the purchase of utility vehicles by the ministry headed by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

    In the case of NEPZA, it emerged that the agency had raised its 2018 personnel budget by N205 million. That was besides the claim that the same agency in 2017 succeeded in padding its budget by N122 million.

    According to the lawmakers, duplication of items has remained a recurring episode, where the Ministry present the same items repeatedly in the budget and ask for more funds to execute them.

    During the 2018 budget defence, the Committee members queried the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Mustapha Baba Shahuru and the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Frank Edozie for duplicating items in the budget. In the 2018 budget, the Ministry earmarked N100 million for transfer and management of office files with the senators expressing anger over what they described as repetition of projects by the ministry.

    The duplications were discovered when Senator Clifford Ordia, PDP, Edo Central raised the alarm over the duplication of purchase of utility vehicles, captured in three separate pages of the budget document, just as he asked the Minister and the Permanent Secretary to explain how the Ministry would spend N100 million to transfer files, despite another huge provision for ICT.

    Senator Ordia said: “I need to understand this thing. Look at the different pages. You earmarked N120 million, N288 million and N480 million for the purchase of vehicles. I do not understand. Are these vehicles different? If you add up this figure, it gives you about N888 million. “You also said that you want to spend N100 million on transfer of office files. How do you intend to do that? The people in your office, what have they been doing? I can also see from your estimates here that you captured another item for ICT, different from the N100 million for transfer of files. You need to explain these things.”

    Corroborating Ordia, Senator Hassan Mohammed, APC, Yobe South, who took a swipe at the ministry officials, said that as lawmakers, they were tired of being bombarded every year with the same items, adding that the Ministry must put its house in order.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who revealed that the 2017 budget (capital) of the Ministry only recorded 18 per cent performance, said: “We will take it that the 2017 budget was abysmally low at only 18 per cent performance. This is unacceptable and I need to put it on record.” Senators were surprised when the Minister of State, Shahuru, could not respond to questions posed to him and appealed to the committee to allow the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Edozie to provide answers on his behalf.

    There was, however, a mild drama when the Senators vehemently rejected his proposal that the Permanent Secretary should answer all the questions because he had already introduced himself as the representative of Fashola.

    Turning down Shahuru’s request, Senator Abaribe said: “You were sent here to represent the Minister. It means you are here to respond to our questions. Last week, we invited the permanent secretary to respond. Today, it is your turn. “My colleagues asked me how come you are the person here and not Fashola. But I told them since you were also a Minister, you could be here to on behalf of your Minister.”

    Defending Fashola, the Minister of State told the lawmakers that Fashola was attending to other state matters. Last week, the committee walked out Fashola over his alleged “unpreparedness to face the committee for his 2018 budget defence” because he did not come with necessary documentations.

    Speaking on Fashola’s refusal to face the Committee, Senator Abaribe said: “Maybe Fashola decided to snub us because of some media reports, last week. But he ought not to have been angry by that. I am sure that was why he sent you because he did not want to come here. “I said it that it was deliberate that Fashola did not show up. What we need to scrutinise the budget was not provided. We needed some things to make the process easy. Nobody is satisfied with these vague items. We are going to have to adjourn this meeting, pending when we will get these submissions from you.”

    Abaribe asked the Minister of State and the Permanent Secretary to inform Fashola that he must present himself at the next yet -to-be date for the budget defence session. The Minister of State and other officials of the Ministry were asked to go back and return prepared next time.

    Abaribe said: “We are asking you to inform the Minister to be here to properly respond to all the questions we need to ask. We will do a comprehensive letter asking for explanation on items where we have raised questions. That will guide you in giving your submissions. We need you to be prepared when next you come.”