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Reps demand details of N66.6bn budget for refineries rehabilitation

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

Lawan Hamidu, Abuja

The Nigerian House of Representatives has demanded details of the N66.6 billion budgeted for rehabilitation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC’s refineries in the 2021 budget

The Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources Alh Musa Sarki-Adar and other committee members made the request during a review of the 2020 budget and defence of the 2021 budget of the corporation.

A member of the Committee Mr Nicholas Ossai observed that there is no proper account of what the agency had spent over the year on fixing the refineries.

He further asked why the agency had not allowed its facilities to be over sighted by the House over the year as provided for in Sec 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution.

Other lawmakers also queried why the agency’s helmsman glossed over the commissioning of a modular refinery in Imo State whereas the nation is jolted by this development in the oil sector.

The Group Managing Director GMD of NNPC Mr. Mele Kyari informed the lawmakers that the agency deliberately shut down the facilities of the refineries because it was practically impossible to run them at full installed capacities.

He however assured the committee members that they are working assiduously to fix the refineries starting with the Port Harcourt refinery, then Warri and subsequently Kaduna refineries.

“The N50 billion that was budgeted in the 2020 budget had been significantly reduced due to the coronavirus disease.

For the refineries, the pipelines must have up to 230 to 240 barrels of oil per day for the refineries to operate otherwise its operations run at a loss.” The GMD, added.

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National Judicial Council unveils e-registration portal for pensioners

Nigeria

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November 27, 2020

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Peter Bahago, Abuja

The National Judicial Council, NJC in Nigeria has unveiled an online verification platform for retired Federal Judicial and non-judicial officers on its payroll, as well as an automated platform for enrolment of retiring Federal judiciary staff.

Executive Secretary of the Council, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, represented by the Director, Information, Mr. Soji Oye said that the unveiling of the innovation in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital was a testimony to the fact that his dream for an information technology driven judiciary in Nigeria is becoming a reality.

The Executive Secretary also disclosed that the pension department of the NJC is not left out in his initiative as most of the processes and operations have been automated.

According to him, ” the apex judicial body had in the past few years championed a complete technological transformation of the court systems and processes, placing more premium on audio-visual, court sittings and e-filing of processes”

Meanwhile the Director, Pensions, of the NJC, Mrs Georginia Obingene said the initiative was aimed at improving the operational efficiency of the pensions department of the council.

Mrs Obingene added that “the National Judicial Council is the first amongst all other key players in the administration of pension in Nigeria to implement a robust e-platform of this nature which is aimed at reducing to the barest minimum, the challenges and difficulties faced by retirees during the traditional pension verification exercise.”

She also hinted that the NJC conducts annual verification exercise for different categories of staff who are spread across all the states of the federation including FCT, so as to revalidate their biometric data and ensure integrity and reliability of the pension records.

The pension boss added the Pension Department of the National Judicial Council was unable to conduct the annual Verification Exercise for Retired Federal Judicial and some non-Judicial Officers already in its Pension Payroll and others due to the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic.

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North East Governors seek prioritisation of Mambilla Hydro Project

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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Rebecca Mu’azu, Gombe

The Northeast Governors Forum has ended its 3rd meeting in Yola, Adamawa State with a call on the Federal Government to make the Mambilla Hydro Project a matter of serious priority.

The call is contained in their resolutions after the meeting in Yola, Adamawa State, where Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, on behalf of his colleagues, noted that 2021 Budgetary Proposals lacked budgetary provision, thereby calling on the Federal Government to resolve all encumbrances around the Mambilla Hydro project and order action on site.

Similarly, the North East Governors called for the immediate reactivation and review of the existing comatose state of the road contracts in the sub-region.

“Forum notes that the Sub-region has been unfairly treated in the provision of roads infrastructure by the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing. It further noted with dismay the slow or outright non-existent progress on the pace of the roads already allocated in the sub-region and calls for the immediate reactivation and review of the comatose existing road contracts in the sub-region,” said the North East Governors’ Forum.

Security

The Governors, comprising of those of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, and the Deputy Governors of Taraba and Yobe States, deliberated on the major security challenges facing the sub-region and resolved to strengthen community policing and action to complement efforts of security agencies.

They commended the effort of the security agencies in the sub-region, which they said had brought relative improvement in the security situation in the sub-region, but noted that the activities of Boko Haram, bandits, cattle rustlers and kidnappers still remained a serious threat to sustainable development.

Education/Agric

The North East Governors’ Forum have also agreed to form the Northeast Council on Education and adopt a regional approach by being deliberate on transforming education, especially at the basic level.

Similarly, they reaffirmed their commitment to enforce the Universal Basic Education Commission Law to protect and ensure that all children have an opportunity to acquire basic education.

The forum resolved to engage the Arewa Research and Development Project for the provision of technical support in key areas of development, such as Agriculture and Education.

It also resolved to pursue vigorously the issue of securing admission for its candidates in Nigerian tertiary institutions to fill its quota.

They particularly called on the North East Development Commission to expedite action on the development of the Northeast Strategic Master Plan and ensure that projects are demand-driven to guarantee its impact and accountability.

The North East Governors, however, frowned at a situation where projects are imposed on the States without due consultation.

Gender-Based Violence

The North East Governors’ Forum called for the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act 2015 and ensure the rapid dispensation of justice on gender-based violence, noting that gender-based violence was a major nuisance in the sub-region.

The North East governors agreed to appoint Special Advisers on Regional Integration, because of the need for sub-regional integration on significantly cross-cutting issues that could mutually be beneficial to States within the region.

Post-Covid economy

After critically examining the status of the post-COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package of 2.3 Trillion Naira, the North East Governors praised the Federal Government for the noble Initiative, but solicited for equitable and fair treatment, especially in view of the economic and social challenges facing the sub-region.

The next meeting of the Forum is scheduled to hold from 3rd – 4th of March, 2021 in at Bauchi.

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World AIDS Day: Oyo state targets 10,000 for screening

Health

Ime Njoku

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November 27, 2020

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By Olubunmi Osoteku, Ibadan

The Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA) has said it is targeting no fewer than 10, 000 people for HIV screening throughout the State, as part of activities to mark this year’s World’s AIDS Day.

The Agency said the targeted testing is focused on the key drivers of the epidemic which comprises female sex workers, men who sleep with men, people who inject drugs and the transgender, in order to stem the spread of the virus amongst the groups, as well as the general population.

The Chairperson of the Agency who is also the wife of the State Governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, made the disclosure on Thursday during a Press Conference to herald the commemoration of the 2020 World AIDS Day themed: “United to End AIDS Amidst Covid-19, Get Tested”.

Mrs Makinde noted that the world’s attention has been shifted to the COVID-19 pandemic which ravaged many things, including lives and livelihood, with high mortality rate and loss of job globally.

She noted that the coming of COVID-19 has attracted the attention of the whole world by becoming a wake-up call and an opportunity to do things differently, better and together.

Speaking through the Executive Secretary, OYSACA, Dr Lanre Abass, the wife of the Governor noted that, “It is very crucial at this time to work harmoniously and show love, eliminate stigmatisation and discrimination, individualised centre attention and grounding our responses in human rights and gender-responsive approaches that are key to ending the simultaneously occuring pandemics of HIV and COVID-19.”

Mrs Makinde disclosed that as at June 2020, over 765, 000 people had been counselled and tested for HIV and 0.9 percent were positive, over 230,000 pregnant women were screened for HIV and 0.3 percent of them tested positive, saying females are twice more affected than males, with 15,199 females on treatment as against 6,253 make on treatment, according to the available State service data.

She said,”Availability of commodities is critical to the success of HIV/AIDS response like any other communicable diseases. In this regards, the Oyo State government has so far procured test kits, condoms and consumables worth about N34million, while process is on-going to procure about N45million worth of test kits and other commodities.”

The wife of the Governor also highlighted a week-long list of activities planned to commemorate the year’s occasion, noting that the event would terminate on December 1, with a rally and mega jam at Sango Market, Saki.

Speaker restates commitment to January-December Budget Cycle

Nigeria

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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Lawan Hamidu, Abuja

The Nigerian House of Representatives has reiterated its commitment to the January-December Budget Cycle for the interest and overall development of the Nation.

Speaker of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila made the pledge while addressing the lawmakers on resumption of plenary after one month break to allow the government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies to defend their 2021 budget proposal before various House Committees.

Mr. Gbajabiamila who mandated all standing committees of the House to unfailingly submit their budget defence reports to the Committee on Appropriation on or before Thursday for the House to meet up with the deadline sets for itself.

“Efforts are in full swing to ensure that we will pass the budget on time in keeping with the standard we set last year, and which the Nigerian people now rightly expect of us.

I have observed during the recent budget defence process that there are still some ministries, departments and agencies that consider the exercise of the legislative authority to review their budget proposals as an undue incursion on the management of their offices. This posture stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of the legislative role in the appropriations process.

Let me at this time reiterate that when the Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate convene to review the heads of expenditure contained in the Appropriation Bill, we do so in the exercise of clear and concise constitutional authority. Let me also state very clearly that this is a responsibility we take seriously, and will not evade, regardless of whatever objections may arise from any quarters.

It is in the best interests of our country that all parties concerned subject themselves to this process in good faith, knowing that this too is an obligation of service to our country. We will pass the budget, and we will do it early, and we will do it right. The Nigerian people expect as much from us. I thank all of you for the work you have put in thus far, and I encourage you to continue in this regard.” Mr. Gbajabiamila explained.

The Speaker who revealed that the Special Committee on the Review of the Constitution has been inaugurated, and have resumed their essential work while amendment to electoral act 2010 has also commenced to ensure credible polls in the country.

He said “The Committee has put out a request for memoranda and other submissions that will guide their work. It is through the aggregation of the many and varied opinions of all Nigerians that we will arrive at a constitution that meets all the best expectations we have for our country.

In the same vein, the House has commenced long-anticipated efforts to review and amend the Electoral Act well in advance of the next general elections. Perfecting the process through which we choose the people that will serve in government is an essential requirement for the continued development of our democracy.

Therefore, I encourage all of you to reach out to your various constituencies and encourage your constituents to participate in both the Constitutional Review and Electoral Amendment processes by articulating and submitting the changes they wish to see. This too is part of the joint task of nation-building.”

On the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB and the institutionalization of the National Social Investment Program being considered by the House, Mr, Gbajabiamila urged all the relevant committees to increase public participation in the legislative process to build support for the policy initiatives and promote relations between the House of Representatives and the public.

“As much as is possible, I encourage all the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the House Committees to seek out innovative avenues for public engagement, stakeholder collaboration and cross-pollination of policy ideas in the legislative process which is also part of our Legislative Agenda.” The Speaker argued.

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Reps advocate action plan to eliminate violence against women

Nigeria

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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By Lawan Hamidu, Abuja

Federal, States and Local Governments in Nigeria have been urged to galvanise action plans to support the elimination of violence against women in the country.

The call was contained in a motion under matters of urgent public importance unanimously adopted by the House of Representatives on International Day for the elimination of violence against women.

Presenting the motion, Mrs. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, a Member from State explained that the action plan shall reduce the impunity as well as encourage victims to speak out.

She said “It is also a day to honour women organisations as first responders and to acknowledge their leadership roles in ending violence and activate the United Nation’s wide mobilization under the umbrella of the 16 Days Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign for the promotion of zero tolerance across all spheres of society including Nigeria.”

Mrs. Onyejeocha expressed concern that the wide spread violence against women and girls is largely unreported due to stigma and shame surrounding it.

The theme of this year’s celebration is; Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent and Collect as part of measures to acknowledge the crucial roles women played in the development of every society.

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Cabinet approves ₦21bn for rehabilitation of roads

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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By Timothy Choji, Abuja

The Federal Executive Council has approved twenty-one billion naira for the rehabilitation of some roads in the country.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola revealed this while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s cabinet meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Fashola said Yobe, Edo and Taraba States would benefit from the projects managed by the Federal roads Maintenance Agency FERMA.

He said: “During the meetings of the Economic Sustainability Committee set up to manage the impact of COVID-19, one of the responsibilities of FERMA is to execute extensive labour works on road repairs and the budget of 2020 was then amended to deal with COVID-19 impact.

“As a result of that, FERMA then had a total of 191 road repairs, road rehabilitation, road intervention projects nationwide. 92 of those projects have been awarded by FERMA at its threshold level. 89 of them have been approved by the ministry at the ministerial tenders’ board threshold level. So, all of those projects are now being issued letters of award, mobilization, and others.

“Now, there are 10 that are required to come to the Federal Executive Council because of their financial threshold level. Out of those 10 projects, three were presented today. So, those three presented and approved by council today was for Gasamu-amshi-Gogoram road in Yobe State for N14.528billion, the link road connecting Uneme-Tusamu-Odoga to Okpekpe in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State for N991.851million, and Mamabu Donga Local Government Area road in Taraba South Local Government Area of Taraba State for N6.397 billion.”

Fashola said the three projects approved by the cabinet are late third quarter, early fourth quarter interventions to respond to the COVID-19 impact on the economy.

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Nigeria prioritizes clean campaign to drive social, economic initiatives—VP Osinbajo

News Feature

Ime Njoku

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November 27, 2020

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Cyril Okonkwo, Abuja

Nigeria is prioritizing the Clean Nigeria Campaign to drive key social economic initiatives of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stated this on Thursday in his remarks delivered virtually at a ceremony organized to mark the first anniversary of Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign.

Prof. Osinbajo said that the success of the Clean Nigeria Campaign would enhance social inclusion; poverty reduction; business growth, and entrepreneurship; greater access to quality education and affordable healthcare, among others.

The Vice President said: “the success of the Clean Nigeria Campaign will contribute to some of the key priority areas of this Government which include enhancing social inclusion and poverty reduction, expanding business growth and entrepreneurship; and expanding access to quality education, affordable healthcare and productivity of Nigerians.

“We are aware that access to adequate Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services is a critical factor in the socio-economic development of any nation and contributes to human capital outcomes such as early childhood survival, health and educational attainment.

“Access to WASH services is also one of the key preventive measures in the raging global COVID-19 pandemic.”

Osinbajo said that the initiative of the Organized Private Sector in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (OPS-WASH) tagged ‘FLUSHIT,’ which aims at promoting private sector-led innovative financial strategies in WASH, is a welcome development.

“The role of the private sector is critical in building a virile sanitation economy which will drive the sustenance of the results being achieved under the Clean Nigeria Campaign,” he said.

The vice president restated the commitment of the Nigerian government to the success of the campaign especially by appointing campaign ambassadors to support the process.

He said that government desired to aggressively mobilize the entire country towards ending the practice of open defecation and has identified Campaign Ambassadors to support the national drive towards open defecation free status.

“These are citizens who have contributed to the existing successes achieved so far under the campaign or have been identified as persons of influence who can significantly advance the campaign.

“Clean Nigeria Campaign Ambassador will be required to provide leadership in advancing the objectives of the Campaign and engage in Campaign activities as may be initiated by you or other stakeholders.”

Prof. Osinbajo explained that the Clean Nigeria Campaign is backed by Presidential Executive Order 009, which gives effect to its implementation.

“The Executive Order provides that the National Open Defecation Free (ODF) Roadmap be put into effect towards meeting the national target of ending open defecation by 2025.

“It mandates the ‘Clean Nigeria Campaign Secretariat’ in collaboration with relevant government institutions to ensure that all public places including schools, hotels, fuel stations, places of worship, market places, hospitals and offices have accessible toilets within their premises.

“It also provides for the enactment of legislation appropriate sanctions and penalties to back up the fight against open defecation while ensuring that all developmental projects include the construction of sanitation facilities as an integral part of the approval and implementation process.”

Prof. Osinbajo, however, pointed out that ending open defecation is not just about access to toilets, but also involves generating demand for toilets and changing people’s behaviour regarding toilet usage.

“The Clean Nigeria Campaign as a transformational and behaviour change campaign will require the contribution and commitment of everyone: government at all levels, civil society, private sector, development partners and the entire populace in building a new culture of safe sanitation.”

The campaign to end open defecation in Nigeria was launched about a year ago to galvanize efforts from both public and private sectors to promote water, sanitation and hygiene in the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the country.

So far, 33 LGAs in the country are known to be open defecation free.

Spokesman to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, said in a release that the Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu, Minister of State for FCT, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu; representatives of Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, and development partners and the organized private sector attended the event.

Federal Executive Council approves ₦17bn for erosion control

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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By Timothy Choji, Abuja

The Federal Executive Council has approved over seventeen billion naira for erosion control across the country.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents.

He said: “Approval for award of contracts for emergency procurement of first and second quarters 2020 soil erosion/flood and pollution control accelerated intervention projects in favour of various contractors in the sum of N17.754,717,234.41 inclusive of 7.5 percent VAT with various completion/delivery periods.”

Adesina listed the benefiting States to include Anambra, Ekiti, Lagos, Delta, Bauchi, Kano, Benue, Plateau, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Giving further details on Wednesday’s approval, the Presidential Spokesperson said:

“Gully erosion and control along Ndam/Agbor road, Nnobi and Alor towns in Idemili/South LGA, Phase two, Anambra State, N.495,878,764 – 18 months. Erosion and flood menace beside Yem Kem House along Oye-Ifaki road, Oye LGA, N792,311,211.11 – nine months

“Somolu/Bariga LGA/Akoka/Ilaje community, Akoka-Lagos flood and erosion control project, Lagos State, N1.786,146,630.98 – 10 months. Gully erosion control at Egbo-Ideh community, Ugheli South LGA, Delta State, N1,328,306,924.00 – 24 months

“Gully erosion control and road improvement work in Darazo LGA, Bauchi State, N3,897,577,627.79 – 24 months. Gully erosion control works at Ladanal community, Nasarawa LGA, Kano, N1,337,681,584.69 – eight months

“Devastating effect of gully erosion in Gboko township, Benue State, N1.503,970.714.83 – 12 months. Erosion and flood control work in Wase and Bashar towns, Wase LGA, Plateau State, N1,687,162,328.95 – 14 months.

“And gully erosion control and road improvement work along Plot 1398, off Kainji Crescent and Katampe Extension, FCT, Abuja, N555,569,610.76 – six months. Soil erosion, River channelisation and slope protection within Maitama District (Phase II, FCT, Abuja, N1,887,495,486.63 – 12 months,” he said.

Adesina said the approved projects were for the first and second quarters of the current year, in line with government’s desire of making life better for its citizens.

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We don’t have issues with workers’ salary – Finance Minister

Nnenna Okoronkwo

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November 27, 2020

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By Timothy Choji, Abuja

The Nigerian government has assured its workers that despite the effects of COVID-19 and the sliding of the country into recession, their salaries would be paid promptly.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed gave the assurance on Wednesday, at the end of this week’s cabinet meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

She said already salaries for November have been paid and that of December would also be paid.

“On the issue of Federal workers’ salary, there is no issue with their salary. We have paid salaries for November and we will pay salaries for December. So, there is no issue at all with Federal workers salary,” she affirmed.

The Finance Minister explained that only agencies whose budget funding on the Government Integrated Financial and Management Information System (GIFMIS) have been exhausted had issues with their salaries but that had since been corrected.

“If you hear about any issue it is for agencies whose budget funding under the GIFMIS was exhausted and we have had to make an adjustment.

“When we were doing the 2020 budget, we made estimates of the consequential adjustment that is required as a result of the minimum wage and we had sent the budget before a decision was taken and approval given on that consequential adjustment.

“So, we anticipated that some agencies might run short and we made a block provision in the service-wide vote of the budget. So, when we have such a situation, what we simply do is to remove funds from the service-wide vote to the agencies so that they pay their budget. Therefore, there is no problem with payment of salaries at all,” the Minister explained.

Commenting on the reopening of Nigerian borders, she said the committee saddled with the responsibility of advising the President on the matter has finished its job and would soon submit its report to the Nigerian leader.

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