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Tag: states

  • Photos: National Refugee Commission Distributes Food Items, Palliatives, Clothes in 11 States

    Photos: National Refugee Commission Distributes Food Items, Palliatives, Clothes in 11 States

    The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), under the leadership of Honourable Federal Commissioner, Senator Basheer Garba Mohammed is set to distribute another set of food items, clothes, academic materials, agricultural facilities and palliatives in 11 more states.

    According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity of the Commission, Sadiq Abdullateef, on Sunday. The beneficiary states are; Kwara, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Cross Rivers, Sokoto, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Plateau states.

    Speaking on behalf of the Honourable Federal Commissioner shortly before the departure of the officials to the respective states, the head of IDPs at the comission, Hajiya Fatima Mamman Daura said, in line with its mandate of ensuring continouos welfare for Persons of Concern (POCs) in the country, the commission is set for another disbursement of food items, clothes and palliatives to 11 more states.

    She further added that, the commission is totally concern about the plight of displaced persons in the country especially during this time of rain and they will continue to provide the neccessary facilities and amenities for the POCs to ensure a safer and better living.

    Also speaking, the head of refugees at the commission, Dahiru Bagiwa added that, since his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, Senator Mohammed has embarked on an aspiring task of making life better for the POCs.

    Photos: National Refugee Commission Distributes Food Items, Palliatives, Clothes in 11 States

    “With the President’s blessing and support as well as the guidance of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouk, the commission will build the first NCFRMI Resettlement City Development Project in several states and aim to relocate our countries 2.4 million displaced persons”, Bagiwa added.

    “This does not mean the commission will stop its emergency and protection based interventions afterwards. By definition of our mandate, we will continue to support the POCs in providing care and maintenance services as well as special interventions as the needs arise”, he concluded.

  • FEC approves N148bn refund to six states for fixing federal roads

    FEC approves N148bn refund to six states for fixing federal roads

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the refund of N148, 141,987,161.25 to five states as the cash they disbursed in fixing federal roads in their domains.

    Information, Culture and Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed, who dropped the hint in a chat with State House reporters after Wednesday’s virtual FEC meeting, listed the beneficiaries as Cross River, Ondo, Osun, Bayelsa and Rivers states.

    The minister said the memo for the refund was presented by Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fasola.

    According to Mohammed, the virtual meeting, which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, considered claims of the five states in the approved memo.

    A breakdown of the refunds shows that Cross River will get N18,394,737,608.85; Ondo (N7,822,147,577.08); Osun (N2,468,938,876.78); Bayelsa (N38,040,564,783.40) and Rivers (N78,953,067,518.29).

    Mohammed, however, noted that the Council had warned that there would be no more of such refunds in future, should any state government venture into projects without first getting a mandate from the federal government.

    He said: “You will recall that in 2016, 36 states of the federation sent a very huge bill to the Federal Government, asking for compensation for money that they have expended on federal roads.

    “This prompted Mr. President to set up a committee to go and verify the claims of these 36 states, whether indeed these projects were actually constructed, were they completed, in line with the federal government standards.

    “At the end of that exercise by an inter-ministerial committee, chaired by the Honorable Minister of Works and Housing, but also had ministers of Education, Transportation, Finance, Minister of State for Works, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) Director-General and the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office as members.

    “At the end of that exercise, the committee recommended that the federal government should refund N550,364,297.31 billion to 31 of the 36 states, after they were convinced that, yes indeed, the projects were completed and there were federal government roads.

    “But, the claims of five other states – Cross River, Rivers, Ondo, Bayelsa and Osun failed on the grounds that they did not do proper documentation and the committee felt they needed proper documentation.

    “So, the committee went back with new terms of reference to ensure that the claims of the five states were in order. That is why the BPP is on the committee. So, at the end of the exercise, the committee now reported that the five states – Cross River with 20 roads and one bridge will get a refund of N18,394,737,608.85, Ondo with six roads to get a refund of N7,822,147,577.08, and Osun with two roads and one bridge to get a refund of N2,468,938,876.78.

    “Others are Bayelsa with five roads and one bridge is to get a refund of N38, 040,564,783.40 and Rivers with three roads and three flyovers bridges is to get a refund of N78, 953,067,518.29.”

    The minister said the committees confirmed the roads and the bridges; that not only were they completed, they are in substantial good form, adding that some of the bridges and roads were built about 10 years ago.

    However, Mohammed said the FEC placed a caveat on similar circumstances as gave rise to the demand for refunds, saying “the Federal Government will pay the states but however, henceforth, if any state takes on federal road, it will not be paid, they will not get any refund.

    “Even if you want to pay from your own pocket, you will still need the permission of the federal government and it will be supervised by the federal ministry of works and housing.”

    He said the modalities of refund was being worked out, while payment would be made over a period of time, even as he said 31 states were earlier paid the sum of over N500 billion.

  • COVID-19: Its foolishness to shut churches and open markets, hospitals where people die everyday – Oyedepo tells FG, States

    COVID-19: Its foolishness to shut churches and open markets, hospitals where people die everyday – Oyedepo tells FG, States

    Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo has chided the Federal and State Governments for opening markets and continue to lock up churches in the country.

    Oyedepo, in his sermon, said the churches should be opened, wondering why government took such a foolish decision.

    He said there was something wrong for government to allow markets to open for six hours and not allow churches to open for two hours.

    “There should be opening of the churches around the world. Sir, there is something wrong for people to be allowed to be in the market for six hours and can’t be in Church for two hours.

    “It is an upside down ways of looking at things, while quoting Ecclesiastic 4:13 which said “Better is a poor and wise child than an old foolish king who will no more be admonished.”

    “Which one is more orderly, the market or the church? I can smell a rat, the Lord spoke to me about it yesterday. Behind all this, how do we stop the church from exploding?

    “The greatest headache of the power of darkness is the expansion and progress of the church. No civilization had ever endured without a foundation in Christ.

    “I can smell a rat, the forces of darkness are influencing people against the church, targeting the church. But the gate of hell shall not prevail against the church, they shall gather but they shall fall. The devil and all his agents will pay for this.

    “Hospital where people die everyday is opened and the church is closed,” he stated.

  • COVID-19 lockdown: FG reacts to accusations of releasing spoilt palliative rice to states

    COVID-19 lockdown: FG reacts to accusations of releasing spoilt palliative rice to states

    The Federal Government has said the bags of rice distributed to Oyo and other Southwestern states were inspected and certified fit for human consumption by the National Agency for Food Drugs and Administration Control (NAFDAC).

    The reaction came, following allegations that the rice distributed by the Federal Government to Oyo State to cushion the effect of the lockdown was unfit for human consumption.

    Oyo State had alleged at the weekend that the bags of rice were infested with weevils.

    The state also said plans were in place to return the 1800 bags of rice.

    Speaking yesterday in Abuja during the daily Presidential Task Force briefing, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, said the news that the rice the Federal Government distributed to the Southwest was unfit, was “fake news”.

    The minister also noted that she spoke with the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi, to ascertain the true position of the rice delivered and he confirmed that the rice was in good condition.

    Farouq said: “As you may recall, we mentioned here that we distributed the rice relief to the states. The rice was handed over to us by the Nigerian Customs Service and it was assessed by NAFDAC who issued a clearance before the goods were released for onward distribution to the states.

    “So, as far as we are concerned, the rice was certified fit for human consumption.

    “We had an issue in Oyo, which was officially reported this morning, but two or three days ago, we saw news flying around that all the rice we took to the Southwestern part of the country were bad and that Lagos had taken its delivery to the lagoon and other states have rejected theirs.

    “I want to say very categorically that it is fake news. It is not true. This afternoon, I spoke with the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi and he assured me that the one he received in Ekiti and other states are in good condition.”

    The minister, however, noted that the process of storage of grains might affect its colouration or make it damp.

    “Let us be very clear on this issue of rice. We all know that even in our houses, if we keep foodstuffs in damp places especially grains of that nature, it is bound to have some colouration, but it does not mean that it is not fit for human consumption.

    “The states are very happy that the Federal Government has come to support them and it is going a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the targeted beneficiaries.”

    On diversion of payment meant for N-Power enrollees to procure palliatives for COVID-19, she said: “I know that we all know that it is practically impossible for anybody, be it a minister or a chief executive in this country to divert funds that have been appropriated and that are in a particular budget line for another budget line for the single reasons that we are operating the TSA.

  • COVID-19 Palliatives: FG sacks two contractors for delaying cash disbursement in four states

    COVID-19 Palliatives: FG sacks two contractors for delaying cash disbursement in four states

    The Federal Government has terminated the contracts of two Payment Service Providers (PSP) for failure to meet up with the contractual agreement to commence Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) to beneficiaries in four states.

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, made the disclosure in a statement on Tuesday signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Salisu Dambatta.

    The minister said the termination was with immediate effect.

    The statement said the termination was in line with the World Bank procurement guidelines to ensure that payments commenced in the affected states on or before April 28.

    It listed the affected states as Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom in the South South region, Abia in the South East, and Zamfara in the North West.

    The statement revealed that the PSP whose contracts were terminated were, Data Mining Company and Innovative NIPOST.

    “The Federal Government cannot accept delays in the current payment round of N20,000 stipends to beneficiaries in poor and vulnerable households under any excuse in the four states or any other state of the federation.

    “The failure of any payment service providers to meet their contractual agreement is unacceptable.

    “The Federal Government through the Ministry cannot allow contractors to derail the immediate CCT to the poor and the vulnerable,” it explained.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari, during his first national broadcast announced the payment as a measure to cushion the effect of the coronavirus lockdowns in the country on poor and vulnerable households.

  • Other states must understudy how Lagos is tackling COVID-19 pandemic – FG

    Other states must understudy how Lagos is tackling COVID-19 pandemic – FG

    The Federal Government has said other states will have to understudy Lagos State’ anti-coronavirus efforts.

    Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, stated this during the briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Tuesday in Lagos.
    According to him: “Other states are as prepared as can be but Lagos is of course the frontrunner. More than 50 percent of all the cases of coronavirus in the country are here in Lagos, and because of Lagos International airport, and the fact that most travelers coming into the country come in through Lagos.

    “Lagos states has the additional advantage that they did very well in 2014 when they were handling the Ebola case, so there is a lot of institutional memories which is left over, which is helping a lot and I have told the Commissioner that as other states begin to develop their public health response and protocols, they will come here and do some studies, maybe one or two weeks of hand-on to learn the tricks that Lagos has.

    “Lagos is very well prepared and other states are trying, and there are only few cases outside, so there is no comparison with what is here in Lagos”.

    Concerning finding a cure for the virus, especially locally made cure, Ehanire said: “As to local cure, we look into every assertion.

    “Some people say they have the herbs, some say they have the concoction, but for those who are serious, we have a department in the Ministry of Health which is the department for traditional complementary and alternative medicine which will look into their claims.
    “We do not throw away any suggestion but the efficacy and effectiveness of the medicine has to be proven before we can recommend it for people to take. So those traditional methods of cure are subject to study.

    “The coronavirus is new and the medicines that might work against it are not very clear. Different trials are going on in different places.

    “The use of convalescent plasma is being tried, which is seeking from people who had coronavirus and have been treated successfully, so you can take their plasma and see if you can use it for other people who are seriously ill.

    “Chloroquine has also been found in some tests to work outside the body what they call in vitro testing but if you swallow it and take it, whether it really works the same way as it works outside in a test tube, is not very clear.

    “Most of the countries in this world depend on declaration from the World Health Organization (WHO), because it collates all these researches, studies them and then make a recommendation for countries to take.

    “We are joining in some of the studies that WHO is organizing here in Lagos, and the Commissioner for Health is doing all he can to participate in the clinical trials for convalescent plasma, hydroxyl chloroquine, and the Azithromycin that is being used in France”.

  • Coronavirus: NEC sets up committee to coordinate FG, States’ response

    In what reflects a continuous and consistent confrontation of COVID-19 in Nigeria, State governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC) have set up a Special Committee to coordinate Federal and State governments’ response to deal with the fallout of the Coronavirus pandemic.

    The Committee which started deliberations immediately after the NEC meeting on Thursday is chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, with the Governors of Jigawa, Edo, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kebbi and Ogun States as members.

    A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, the establishment of the Special Committee mandated to coordinate the responses of the Federal Government and States especially as it relates to the socio-economic implications of the pandemic on Nigerians, was the major outcome of the Council meeting which featured several presentations on COVID-19 ranging from the economic to the financial and public health dimensions of the matter.

    The statement reveals that NEC also strongly recommended that public gatherings should be discouraged and the maximum numbers in any large gathering should be worked out by respective State governments, including schools, social gatherings and worship centres.

    Briefing NEC on COVID-19 and Nigeria’s response, the Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora and the Director-General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, noted that as at March 17, 2020, 152 countries are confirmed with coronavirus.

    The presentation disclosed that in Nigeria there were 53 persons tested, 12 confirmed cases, zero deaths, 1 case discharged, and 3 states with confirmed cases were Lagos, Ogun and Ekiti States, while the type of transmission showed six cases imported from Italy, United States of America and the United Kingdom.

    Ehanire who led the presentation said the strategic objective of the response include early detection, confirmed cases and contact tracing, developing and maintaining capacity to effectively manage cases, coordination and communication with Nigerians, noting that about 80% of people recovered from the disease without the need for special treatment.

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha who heads the Presidential Task Force also briefed Council on steps already taken by Federal Government to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

    At the Council meeting, the following presentations on COVID-19 were made:

    i. Briefing on COVID-19 pandemic and Control Measures by the Minister of Health

    ii. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian Economy by the Chairman Economic Advisory Council

    iii. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on the Nigerian Economy: What is being done, by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

    iv. Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerian petroleum revenues: What is being done, by the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

    v. Managing the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on monetary policy by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    Also giving an update on the effect of COVID-19 on the oil and gas sector, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Mele Kyari, said the pandemic has impacted negatively on crude oil production and consumption and is further complicated by the quantity of the crude oil available before the pandemic came in, stressing that this has led to a sharp decline in the price of crude oil to about $22 pb as today.

    He said “the price of production now is higher than the selling price of oil, making it very difficult for oil producing companies and nations.”

    He however noted that it is not a hopeless situation for Nigeria as measures are being taken to curtail the negative impact it may bring such as reducing the cost and increasing the production “even though budget level for crude oil is $57pb and when the reality of $30pb comes to play, we will still fulfill our obligation to FAAC.”

    The NNPC boss also noted that the drop in the crude oil price has significant impact on the price of petroleum products and as a result of that change the price of petroleum products particularly PMS has been brought down to N125 on Wednesday and all NNPC service stations have been directed to comply.

    NEC also got update on the balances of the Excess Crude, Stabilization, and the Natural Resources Development Fund, accounts.

    The Excess Crude stood at $72, 220,756.74 as at 17th March, 2020, while Stabilization account was put at N35, 806,389,699.67 during the same period. Natural Resources Development Fund account stood at N109, 360,903,475.60 during the period under review

  • ‘Only Three States Can Survive in Nigeria Without Federal Allocation’

    ‘Only Three States Can Survive in Nigeria Without Federal Allocation’

    Only three of the 36 states of the federation can finance their recurrent expenditure without depending on the monthly allocation from the federal government, a report from Nigeria’s civic tech organization, BudgIT, has said.

    This report published under the title State of States 2019, showed that only Lagos, Rivers, and Akwa-Ibom States can finance themselves without the disbursement from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

    The report, released in Abuja on Wednesday, confirmed that if the allocation from the federal government were to be affected by any event such as fluctuations in oil prices, many states would be at risk.

    The State of States report revealed that the fiscal sustainability of Nigerian states is anchored on three key indices; Index A: states’ ability to meet their recurrent expenditures independently of the Federal Government (weighted average of 0.35 per cent), Index B: the state’s ability to meet their recurrent expenditures with both its internally generated revenue (IGR) and federal allocations (weighted average of 0.50 per cent), and Index C: how long it would take states to pay off their total debt stock (weighted average of 0.15 per cent).

    The report also showed that considering the ability of states to meet up with their recurrent expenditure obligation with their IGR, Value Added Tax (VAT), 13 percent share of oil derivation paid to oil-producing states, states like Lagos with index 0.48 sits at the top, followed by Rivers with 0.73 and Akwa Ibom with 0.91 in third.

    In its analysis, BudgIT said it was a recurring development to see states in the South-South region running high recurrent bills, mainly driven by the high revenues earned as a result of the 13 percent derivation principle.

    The firm said it was also interesting to see states such as Cross River with a high budget of N1.04 trillion spend less than N93 billion on an annual basis.

    Speaking on the outcome of the report, the Lead Researcher, BudgiT, Mr Orji Uche, said only 19 states out of 36 could meet their expenditure with internally generated revenue and federal allocation.

    “We discovered states, such as Delta, running huge recurrent expenditure reaching N200 billion. Bayelsa, despite its size and population, has a high recurrent bill as high as N137 billion, compared with Ebonyi with a recurrent bill of N30 billion, Sokoto N38 billion, Jigawa N43 billion, Yobe N35 billion etc,” he said.

    BudgIT recommended that Nigeria needs to create incentives for states to expand growth and earning potential, thereby activating resources needed to improve the state of health, education, and access to opportunity.

    It further recommended states to invest in their unique resources to boost their income by keeping their recurrent costs lean to free up more spending for social and economic infrastructure.

  • FAAC: September revenue shared to FG, States, councils shrinks

    FAAC: September revenue shared to FG, States, councils shrinks

    The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) on Thursday in Abuja, shared a total of N693.529 billion to the three tiers of government for the month of September, 2019.

    The N693.529 billion comprised revenue from Value Added Tax(VAT), Exchange Gain and Gross Statutory Revenue in the month.

    A communiqué read by the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Mr Ahmed Idris, confirmed that the gross statutory revenue for the month of September was N599.701billion.

    The amount was less than the N631.796 billion received in the previous month by N32.095 billion.
    For the month, gross revenue of N92.874 billion was generated from VAT as against N88.082 billion distributed in the previous month, indicating an increase of N4.792 billion.

    According to the communique, N0.954 billion was also realised from Exchange Gain for the month.

    A breakdown of the allocation showed that from the total revenue of N693.529 billion shared, the Federal Government received N293.801 billion, the States received N186.816 billion, and the Local Government Council received N140.864 billion.

    The Oil Producing States shared N51.532 billion as 13 per cent derivation, while the Revenue Generating Agencies received N20.517 billion as cost of revenue collection.

    The communique also stated that in September 2019, revenue from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Company Income Tax (CIT) decreased while Royalties, Import and Excise Duties and Value Added Tax increased considerably.

    However, the AGF said that as at Oct. 17, the balance in the Excess Crude Account was $323.692million

  • 36 States, FCT generate N691.11bn revenue in first half 2019 — NBS

    36 States, FCT generate N691.11bn revenue in first half 2019 — NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), says in the first half of 2019, the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) generated N691.11 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    The NBS said this in its “IGR at State Level for Quarter One and Quarter Two, 2019” report obtained from its website on Friday in Abuja.

    It said that compared to N596.91 billion recorded in the second half of 2018, there was an increase of N94.2 billion, indicating a positive growth of 15.78 per cent.

    The report added that 31 states and the FCT recorded growth in Internaly Generated Revenue (IGR), while five states recorded decline in IGR in the period under review.

    According to it, the net Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation in the first half of the year is put at N1.20 trillion, while the total revenue available to the states including the FCT is put at N1.89 trillion.

    It, however, said that the value of foreign debt stood at 4.23 billion dollars, while domestic debt hit N3.85 trillion at the end of 2018.

    The bureau said that the IGR was derived from Ministries, Departments and Agencies’ (MDAs) revenues, Direct Assessment, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Road Taxes and other Taxes.

    The data showed that Lagos state led the collection table with N263.25 billion, while Rivers collected N151.8 billion, Delta N145 billion, Akwa Ibom N106.7 billion and FCT N72.8 billion.

    Bayelsa state generated N71.6 billion, Kano N58.5 billion, Kaduna N54.7 billion, Ogun N48 billion, Edo N47.3 billion, Ondo N47.2 billion, Oyo N42.1 billion, Sokoto N38.8 billion, Benue N38.1 billion, Imo N37.4 billion and Kwara N36.6 billion.

    Others are Niger state with N36.1 billion, Enugu N35.7 billion, Katsina N35.4 billion, Cross River N33.9 billion, Jigawa N33.9 billion, Bauchi N33.7 billion, Borno N33.6 billion, Abia N33.5 billion, Anambra N32.2 billion and Kogi N31.6 billion.

    It added that Plateau state generated N30.7 billion, Kebbi N30.3 billion, Adamawa N28.2 billion, Yobe N27.2 billion, Zamfara N27.1 billion, Nasarawa N26.6 billion, Ebonyi N26.5 billion, Taraba N25.7 billion, Ekiti N25 billion, Gombe N21.7 billion and Osun N20.2 billion.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the recorded IGR made by the states excludes the monthly allocation received from FAAC.

    It also reports that the states IGR data was computed by the NBS and the Joint Tax Board from official records and submissions by the 36 State Boards of Internal Revenue.

    These submissions were then validated and authenticated by the Joint Tax Board chaired by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

    The board has the NBS and the 36 State Boards of Internal Revenue as members.