Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has urged African countries to enhance international trade by expanding their participation to benefit the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

He stated this during the ninth African Shippers’ Day themed: “African Continental Free Trade Agreement: A Veritable Platform for African Shippers to Mainstream into Global Trade,” which was held in Lagos state.

Represented by the Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, the President explained that the participation of African countries in international trade would create wealth, generate employment and reduce poverty.

He noted that the volume of African export in the global trade was still very low at three per cent in spite of the growth in the continent.

On the AfCFTA, President Buhari said the experience during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global lockdown showed the need for a vibrant and successful AfCFTA.

He expressed optimism that the African Continental Free Trade Agreement would boost intra-African trade, strengthen the production and export of goods and services as well as create employment opportunities.

The President said that African producers would benefit from access to cheaper inputs, intermediate goods as well as larger markets for their products, while consumers would have access to cheaper goods and varieties of products.

He however noted that for the AfCFTA to have a positive influence on long-term investments, African Governments must develop appropriate policies, build the requisite infrastructure and ensure an educated workforce.

 “We will need to actively promote productive employment and decent work, women empowerment and food security and reduction in inequalities,” he added.

PIAK

Military Veterans in Nigeria have appealed to the government to review the payment of security debarment allowance recently paid to retired servicemen in the country

The Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Niger State Chapter, Mahmud Ahmed made the appeal in Minna the state capital during the Armed Forces remembrance Day.

Ahmed, a retired Staff Sergeant who appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the payment of the security debarment allowance, said that those who joined the Military almost 60 years ago, generally referred to as 63 NA (Nigerian Army) were poorly paid against their counterparts who joined in the late 1970s (The 79 NA).

“Those of us that participated in the Nigerian Civil War was paid lesser amount than the 79 NA enlistment who were our juniors in the Service.”

The Chairman of the Military veterans in Niger State further urged the government to look at the possibilities of paying the balances of the security debarment allowance to members of the 63 NA like their counterparts.

“We are pleading with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to reconsider payment of the balance, as a retired  Military General.”

President Muhammadu Buhari approved N134.7 billion for the payment of security debarment allowance (SDA) to all military veterans, during the launch of the emblem for the Armed Forces remembrance day in September 2022.

The Military veterans staged a protest over unpaid outstanding deferment allowance (SDA) which was approved  by the Government in May 2022

PIAK

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has restated that his administration would continue to work in harmony with other arms of government to produce a system of governance the people of the state would be proud of.

Governor Makinde, reiterated this on Monday, during the swearing-in ceremony of the acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iyabo Yerima, held in the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, expressing confidence in the competence and ability of the acting Chief Judge.

He explained that Yerima was sworn-in as the Chief Judge in an acting capacity because there is a process that requires the state to wait for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to send their recommendation and expressed confidence in Yerima’s ability to steer the ship of the Judiciary in the state, noting that his administration would give Justice Yerima the support needed to carry out her duties diligently.

“So, while we await that, as they say in the judicial circle, ‘nature abhors vaccum,’ we have to fill in this vacuum in accordance with Section 271 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended. I must say that the fact Justice Yerima is the acting Chief Judge does not remove anything from her abilities, and on numerous occasions, she has acted on behalf of Hon. Justice Muntar Abimbola (rtd).”

The Governor explained that when re-elected, his administration would do more to reduce the infrastructure deficit in the judiciary and complete the work of modernising that arm of government, saying his administration would continue to deliver good governance to the people of Oyo State till May 28th when his tenure would end and should be held accountable by the people.

Makinde also charged the new Acting CJ not to waiver and to always stand for the truth, saying: “If you stand for the truth, you will be vindicated at the end of the day.”

The acting CJ promised that every resource given and allotted to the judiciary would be judiciously utilised for the benefit of justice delivery and service to the people of Oyo State.

She stated that she would be counting on the support of the state government in administering an effective justice system, stating that her vision was to make the Oyo State Judiciary a pacesetter in the area of good infrastructure.

“It really behoves on me at this time to do my very best for the good of Oyo State. As I stated some months back when I led the team of the judiciary to defend our 2023 budget, every resource given and allotted to the judiciary will be judiciously utilised for the benefit of justice delivery and service to the good people of Oyo State.”  

PIAK