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Government to sensitise Nigerians on various intervention policies 

Confidence Okwuchi
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 By Jennifer Inah, Abuja

 

 The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha has reiterated the commitment of President Buhari-led administration to lift Nigerians out of poverty.

 

 Mr Mustapha was speaking at a one day Strategic meeting with leaders of micro, small and medium enterprise MSMEs organisations jointly organised by the Bureau of Public Service Reforms BPSR, Civil Society Organisation and the Federal Capital Territory Administration in Abuja.

 

He said the government through various intervention such as trader- moni, market moni, national youth intervention fund amongst others  was achieving its objective of creating employment and strengthening the economy.

 

“Unfortunately most of these interventions are rarely accessed by beneficiaries due to several reasons ranging from administrative bottle necks to low level of awareness.”

 

“This meeting is aimed at bringing together leaders of micro small and medium enterprise organisation to engage with government intervention agencies in order to foster better strategies surmounting the challenges in service delivery”, Mr Mustapha said.

 

 Objective of workshop
The Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms BPSR, Dr Dasuki Arabi said the objective of the workshop was to highlight various government intervention policies and bridge the gap between government and citizens in accessing such interventions.

 

“The interactive seminar is aimed at identifying major challenges in service delivery channels and providing feedback to address them through evidence based advocacy.

 

“It is our hope that at the end of this meeting the issue of dissatisfaction and limited access to most of the interventions by government agencies will be resolved”, Mr Arabi said.

 

Increase in poverty and unemployment
The Director General Global Centre for Human and Empowerment Entrepreneur, Mrs Rose Gyar said although interventions have been rolled out for SMEs, poverty and unemployment keeps increasing.

 

“For us in the MSME space, its necessary to interface with the state actors, to sit down and figure out the challenges.

We are not getting enough information about all the interventions available.

 

“We have re-organised and reposition our institutions and are ready for partnership”, She added.

 

 

 

Nneka Ukachukwu

Rivers Governor presents 2021 budget

Confidence Okwuchi
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By Eme Offiong, Calabar

Governor Nyesom Wike has proposed a budget of 448,660,773,476 billion naira for 2021 fiscal year to the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The Appropriation bill tagged “Budget of Recovery and Consolidation is made up of N305, 894, 284.061 for Capital Expenditure, while N142,776,489,415 was earmarked as Recurrent Expenditure.

Governor Wike, while presenting the budget to the lawmakers in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, said the 2021 budget represents more than 20 percent increase over the 2020 revised budget of N300 billion.

Budget breakdown
According to him, capital expenditure, which represents 68.18 percent of the entire budget size provided N87, 790,330,011.37 for the administrative sector; the economic sector was allocated N105,077,364,248.81 ; while law and justice would gulp N1,742,996,000.00.

He indicated that the social sector would take N132, 656,033,322.35, while deductions and loan repayments were pegged at N38,000,000,000.00.

The governor explained that the sum of N82,957,295,248.81 has been provided for infrastructure such as roads and bridges including the completion of flyover projects at Okoro-Nu-Odo, Rumuola, Rumuogba, and Port Harcourt GRA junction.

Wike stated, “we will also deliver the Ogoni – Andoni – Opobo unity road, the Eastern bypass dualization, 6th and 7th flyover projects and the Wakama road as well as all other ongoing rural roads in our communities and local government areas across the State.”

Stimulating growth
The governor explained that to stimulate economic growth, the government has proposed more than N6 billion naira for investments in commerce,  culture and tourism, mineral resource development as well as tackle environmental challenges.

He stated that N13,861,407,451.97 has been provided to fund various social and economic investment schemes to support the development of small and medium scale businesses as part of efforts to create jobs and reduce poverty.

He further proposed that N16,107,080,000.00 would be spent on targeted investments in the agriculture value chain to enhance food security, while N30,000,000,00 has been earmarked for the education sector development.

On healthcare, Wike stated that “the State government has provided N25,111,728,000.00 for health care services for 2021 fiscal year. We will focus on completing the referral hospitals at Ahoada, Bori, Degema, Okehi and Omoku, which are all at advanced stages of completion”.

Governor Wike said that Recurrent Expenditure was pegged at N142,776,489,415 representing 31.82 percent of the 2021 budget.

A breakdown, he explained, provided N76,198,906,179 for personnel costs; N18,863,016,430 as overheads and N47,704,566,804 would be for grants and transfers to the consolidated revenue charges.

Budget funding
The governor disclosed that the 2021 budget would be funded from statutory allocation, 13 percent Oil Mineral Fund, internally generated revenue, value added tax, refunds for federal projects, excess crude oil deductions, domestic and foreign credits as well as grants from development partners.

He expressed optimism that the measures in the budget would reposition Rivers State on a stronger economic footing towards achieving the new vision for a peaceful, secure, inclusive and prosperous society.

The Speaker of the River State House of Assembly, Ikuinyi Ibani commended Governor Wike’s commitment to the economic transformation of the state and people.

He assured of the lawmakers’ determination to diligently consider and pass the budget on time.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

 

Budget: Ogun proposes N339b for 2021 fiscal year

Mercy Chukwudiebere
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The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has presented a total budget estimated at N339bn as the 2021 Appropriation Bill before the members of the State House of Assembly, comprising N162bn for recurrent expenditure and N177bn for various capital projects for the next fiscal year.

The budget which was christened: ” Budget of Recovery and Sustainability”, hinged on the ISEYA mantra of the present administration and other functional classifications, allocated a sum of  N119bn as internally generated revenues with N59bn expected from the federation account, while capital receipt was fixed at N142bn comprising internal and external loans including grants and aid.

According to Governor Abiodun, ”the total overhead costs of Ministries, Departments and Agencies was projected at N50bn for the next fiscal year, which represents an increase of N11bn from N39bn in 2020.”

The State had made provision for the sum of N28.4bn for debt servicing in 2021, representing an increase of N13bn from N15.7bn in 2020; with more measures proposed for the sustainability of the existing enabling environment for investment and creation of employment to trigger redistribution of resources.

Giving the breakdown of the 2021 proposal, the Governor stated that ”education sector was allocated ​​​​​​N58bn, ​​​​N75bn proposed for economic affairs, with ​​​N49bn to cater for general public services, while health ​​​​​​would gulp ​N35bn, with housing & community amenities having ​​N28bn allocation. ”

Others included social and environment protection which were given N5bn estimate, while ​​​​N9bn was expected to take care of public order and safety, with recreation, culture and religion given ​​N7bn and the remaining N73bn for Statewide services,​​​​ including public debt charges, stabilization fund, pensions and gratuities.

Governor Abiodun explained that ”the State Government’s fiscal policy would be geared towards improving the efficiency and effectiveness of spending and achieving a better balance between capital and recurrent expenditure.”

He noted that the policy would include greater control of the wage bill; directing capital expenditure on critical infrastructure and boosting revenue receipts by identifying and plugging revenue leakages, with consideration to gradual fiscal consolidation in order to achieve a level of public spending consistent with macro-economic stability and sustainable debt.

The Governor stressed that the investment focus of the State was to create an enabling environment for business, reduce the identified infrastructure gap as well as provide fiscal stimulus to lift demand. Consequently, the State in allocating envelopes to different sectors and MDAs, gave priority in the allocation process to the completion of existing projects, projects with revenue potential, projects consistent with priorities articulated in the State Economic Development Strategy as well as projects that could enhance employment generation.

Recalling the adverse effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the State budget performance,  he said; “Mr. Speaker, Honourable members, let me now highlight some key elements of the performance of Year 2020 Budget. You will recall that N450bn was initially approved as Year 2020 Budget. However, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, all the assumptions underlining the 2020 Budget became unrealistic and unattainable. This necessitated an obvious need to review downward the approved 2020 Budget. Thus, we forwarded a Bill to the House in July, this year to review the 2020 Budget down to N281bn (38% decrease). 

”I recall and commend the House once again for the sense of responsibility and dispatch with which this House treated the request and passed the revised 2020 Budget accordingly. In the 2020 Revised Budget, the total projected revenue is N281bn, comprising of N114bn as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and N38bn as expected inflows from the Statutory Allocation and Value Added Tax.  However, as at 31st of October 2020, actual total revenue was N92bn, representing 42% of the pro-rated revenue target”.

New legislative complex
Governor Abiodun further promised that the construction of the new legislative complex for the State lawmakers would commence next fiscal year to further aid legislative assignments

The Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly,  Olakunle Oluomo, stated that the presentation being a constitutional requirement for all elected Governors was in consonance with provisions of Section 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Reeling out the achievements of the 9th Legislature under his leadership, the Speaker intimated that a total of 33 bills and 23 resolutions covering all human endeavours, including finance, education, judiciary, local government, public works, infrastructure, community development, general administration amongst others with 36 public petitions received and resolved accordingly; acknowledging the successes of the present administration done in an unprecedented manner among the comity of States.

Expressing that the State deserved nothing less than an innovative leadership as the head of the executive arm, a fearless judiciary and vibrant legislature, Oluomo reassured the Governor of the readiness and commitment of his colleagues at ensuring the speedy passage of the 2021 Appropriation Bill and other legislations that would add value to quality of life for the people of Ogun State.

In attendance at the budget presentation were the State Deputy Governor, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele,  former military administrators in the State,  members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers,  body of Permanent Secretaries and party stalwarts amongst others.

 

Mercy Chukwudiebere

Covid-19: Sudan records spike in second wave

Olajumoke Adeleke
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Sudan has recorded a steep increase in the number of Covid-19 cases as the country warns of even higher numbers in the second wave.

“The country has registered 2,925 confirmed coronavirus cases with 4,461 suspected cases still awaiting results from the tests,” the Director of the Health Emergency and Epidemiology, Tahani Amin, said on Monday.

“Some 145 people died in November due to Covid-19,” she said, adding that the government treatment centres have increased to 51 to cater for increased cases of infections.

So far, including cases from the first wave, Sudan has registered more than 17,000 Covid-19 cases.

Dr Amin said Khartoum has the highest rate of infections at 78%, followed by the neighbouring state of Gezira.

READ ALSO:
Zimbabwe limits all public gatherings surge COVID-19 cases

Olajumoke Adeleke

 

Borno Attack: Nigerian Government donates food items to victims

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has donated 24 trucks of food items to victims of Zabarmari attacks in Borno State, North-east Nigeria.
The Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, made the donations while on a condolence visit to the people and Government of Borno State.
 
” I’m in the State to convey the sympathy of the Federal Government to the Government and people of Borno State over the sad incident that occurred on Saturday 28th November 2020 in Zabarmari community in Jere Local Government Area of the State, where innocent citizens were gruesomely murdered by Boko Haram insurgents”. 
“Beside the 43 persons that were confirmed dead and subsequently buried, it is learnt that some persons in the community were also abducted by the insurgents and are currently being sought after by combined team of the military and other security agencies,” she explained.
According to her, it is shocking to imagine the gruesome murder by the insurgents noting that the act cannot be justified under any guise.
 
“We are all aware that our religion is against what has happened to the innocent and hardworking farmers that were not only working to feed themselves but contributing to the food security of the nation,” she noted
Items donated:
13, 000 bags of 12.5kg rice (5 ½ trailer load)
13,000 bags of 12.5kg maize (5 ½ trailer load)
13,000 bags of 25kg beans  (11 trailer load)
1,300 kegs of vegetable oil
2,116 cartons of seasoning        3 trailer load
1,083 cartons of tin tomato
650 bags of salt
Also in the Minister’s entourage were the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen and other Dignitaries.

INEC reiterates stance against electoral violence

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that the commission will not bow to electoral violence nor declare results procured through violence and resistance to the deployment of smart cards come Saturday, December 5, 2020.

INEC would be conducting the Cross River north senatorial district and the Obudu State Assembly Constituency elections due to the deaths of the lawmakers, Senator Rose Oko and Godwin Akwaji.

Election Violence
Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner supervising the byelections in Cross River State, south-south Nigeria, told newsmen in Calabar, the capital city that the commission would not condone any form of violence during the exercise.

He stated, “political parties and their supporters must realize that violence in election diminishes the quality of the election and mandate given. Political parties must impress on their supporters that there are other means of earning a living than through electoral violence”.

“The Commission will not bow to electoral violence and will not declare results procured through violence and resistance to the deployment of smart card readers,” Okoye stressed.

He advised the political parties involved in the elections to properly train the polling agents that would be deployed to the 627 polling units to understand the creative and innovations introduced by the commission.

Election Logistics
The National Commissioner further disclosed that 9 political parties would be participating in the north senatorial district bye-election, while 6 have fielded candidates for the Obudu State Assembly Constituency.

According to Okoye, “the commission will conduct the senatorial byelection across 5 local government areas, which include Obanliku, Obudu, Bekwara, Yala and Ogoja.

We have 51 Registration areas with 627 polling units and a total voting population of 429, 488”.

“The commission is ready for the conduct of the two elections. The non-sensitive materials have been received and delivered to the 5 local governments and we have concluded the recruitment and training of ad hoc staff,” he said.

He affirmed that the card readers were purged, charged and configured, while Form EC8A (1) used for polling units results would be transmitted in real time using the Z-pad via the INEC viewing results portal.

Security

Meanwhile, Abdulkadir Jimoh, the Commissioner for Police, Cross River State command has deployed 1, 341 policemen to man the 627 polling units ahead of Saturdays byelections.

Jimoh, who broke away from a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to address newsmen in Calabar, said that the Nigeria Police Force with the support of other security agencies were set for the two election holding on Saturday.

The Police Commissioner said, “we also have seven mobile units coming from other parts of the country to join the two others on ground. We also have very senior officers coming from Abuja to augment our strength”

On fate awaiting would be perpetrators of violence during the elections, the Police boss said, “it is not tolerated in elections. So, they will face the repercussions if they try it at all. The police are everywhere across the state and we are very familiar with the terrain. We know how to work in this terrain”.

He advised voters to abide by the directives of the electoral commission and support the efforts of security agencies to maintain peace and order on the election day.

Nnenna.O

Insecurity: President Buhari to appear before legislators

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to appear before the Nigerian parliament to answer questions bordering on the nation’s security.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, made the disclosure to State House Correspondents after he met with the Nigerian leader at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, said he was in the State House to seek the President’s opinion on the date he will appear before the legislators, as a mark of respect, for the number one citizen of the country.

He said his visit was a follow up on Tuesday’s summoning of President Buhari by the members of the House of Representatives, sequel to the increasing rate of insecurity in some parts of the country, especially the killing of farmers by terrorists at the weekend in Borno State.

PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES SPEAKER AND TWO OTHERS 7. Speaker House of Representatives, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamilss, Deputy Speaker Rt Hon Ahmed Idris Wase and House Leader, Hon Alhassan Doguwa during a briefing at the State House, Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. DEC 2 2020

“We came to see the President on developments in the country. He was so willing to listen as typical of the President, the usual democrat that he is.

“What we basically sought was to convey the resolution of the House and to fix a date which we did not fix out of respect for Mr. President and his very tight schedule, what date will be convenient.

“We have agreed on a date and he will meet with the House to address the situation. We have fixed a date but we will communicate with you. He is a perfect democrat, he will come to the House to address members in the nearest future,” he said.

Gbajabiamila said the Nigerian leader would use the opportunity of his appearance before the legislators to address Nigerians.

He said: “I think he is more concerned than me and you. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. We will leave everything until when he comes to the House. Let me not pre-empt him. All I can tell you for now is that he is fully committed to the security of the lives and property of Nigerians.

“He is coming to talk to Nigerians through the House. You know that the House, as is constituted, every Nigerian is present in the House. Every constituency in this country is represented in the House.

“So, when Mr. President is talking to the House, he is talking to Nigerians through their representatives.”

The Speaker was at the State House in the company of the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase, and the House leader, Alhassan Doguwa.

 

Nnenna.O

Finance Bill 2020 passes second reading in Senate

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Nigeria’s finance bill 2020, on Wednesday, passed for second reading in the senate, as it seeks to amend the Capital Gains Tax Act, Companies Income Tax, Personal Income Tax, Tertiary Education Trust Fund establishment Act among others.

Senate Leader, Abddullahi Yahaya, while leading debate on the general principles of the bill said the bill among other objectives seeks to reform extant fiscal policies to respond to the economic and revenue challenges caused by the decline in international oil prices and COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the bill also seeks to reform extant fiscal policies to prioritise job creation, economic growth, socio-economic development, domestic revenue mobilisation to foster closer coordination with monetary and trade policies.

According to senator Yahaya, the bill also seeks to provide fiscal relief for taxpayers by reducing the applicable minimum tax rate for two consecutive years of assessment and also reform commencement and cessation rules for small businesses.

It seeks to provide a boost to small and medium scale enterprises by reducing their tax burden. The bill when passed & assented to also seeks to replace existing tax incentives with more targeted incentives to stimulate economic activities in the capital market and infrastructure sectors.

According to him, if the Nigerian government was determined to generate sufficient revenue to finance its numerous projects steps taken should include devising ingenious means of expanding the tax base and collection of tax effectively.

In his contribution during the debate, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf advocated the use of tax reform as a means of diversification of the economy and promotion of the local industry.

Five other bills were also read for the first time on Wednesday including the finance bill 2020 which later passed for the second reading.

Nnenna.O

 

Kogi House of Assembly Endorses Governor Yahaya Bello For Presidency

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Representatives of the people of Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, have called on Governor Yahaya Bello to contest the 2023 Presidential election.

In the past few weeks, youth and women groups across Nigeria have been calling on the youthful Governor to enter the Presidential ring ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The Assembly Members, in a motion, moved on behalf of all the Members by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Hassan Abdullahi, predicated their call upon the sterling performance of the Governor since he assumed office in 2016. He is currently into his second term in office.

According to the Assembly Members in a unanimous resolution on the floor of the House in Lokoja, Wednesday, the Governor has proven capability and capacity to lead the nation.

The resolution reads: ”        We, the Right Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members of the Kogi State House of Assembly upon due deliberation of proper motion, therefore, do hereby unanimously make and pass a Vote of Confidence on His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. 

“That this Vote of Confidence is founded upon irrefutable and irreducible incidents of Governor Yahaya Bello’s leadership as the 4th Executive Governor of Kogi State, for a reference period spanning 27th January 2016 till date, during which he has demonstrated uncommon Courage, Capacity and Competence at his duty post, even in the face of the most daunting odds”.

In view of the security situation of the country, the Assembly Members hailed the uncommon heroics of the Governor in ensuring security in the state.

“Yahaya Bello, has been exceptional in Security,  protection of lives and properties across our joint and several constituencies  – a key performance indicator, if not the most crucial, for leadership at all levels in Nigeria today.

“Under his watch, Kogi State has been transformed from the kidnap capital of Nigeria outside the embattled North East, into a polity where the abduction of humans for ransom, along with other violent crimes like armed robbery and the formerly ubiquitous herdsmen scourge, have become mere opportunistic aberrations. 

“That this, at various times, culminated in Kogi State ranking as the second most peaceful state in the federation and the most peaceful in the North. 

“In the same vein, Kogi has been rated the State with the second-lowest crime rate in the country under Yahaya Bello’s watchful leadership”.

Also, the Assembly members hailed the Governor’s sound economic policies and programs, which have culminated in improving the standards of living of the people. They also commended him for the life-touching projects he has executed across the state.

It further reads: “Yahaya Bello, by his creative governance style, has somehow engineered a reversal of several negative national development indicators in Kogi State. Examples abound everywhere. 

“Kogi State was recognised by the United Nations as far back as 2017 as one of only 4 Nigerian states at the time making remarkable progress in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whereupon the state was invited to participate in the 72nd UN General Assembly – as personally witnessed by the Rt Honourable Speaker who was the leader of the Delegation. 

“Kogi State was recognised by the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Population Commission and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as leading in the reduction of under 5 mortality rate in Nigeria even as the country has sadly overtaken India now as the world capital of this malaise. 

“Kogi State is recognised by the National Bureau of Statistics (2018), in one of her 2018 Labour Force Statistics as one of only 9 states in Nigeria to reduce unemployment as the rest of the nation sank deeper into it. 

“Kogi State has remained a consistent leader over the years in national rankings for Probity in handling public finances, including the 100% scored last month in the 2019 States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS), which entitled Kogi State to over $20m in World Bank grants, among others”.

The Kogi State House of Assembly also hailed the Governor for unifying the state and also putting the state on the map of national reckoning.

“Yahaya Bello, is the most unifying leader Kogi State has ever. He views the vast diversity of Kogi State as a strength, using it to unify the people instead of a weapon to weaken and divide. Every part of the state has a strong and proportionate representation and say in governance. 

“Appointments into Government at both state and federal levels as well as appointments into offices in the civil service of the state reflect conscious efforts to include all parts, tribes, religions and even classes in the state in a manner that does justice to merit and equity.       

The allocation of projects and patronage by the government, in general, are shared among the three Senatorial Districts in an equitable manner that was inconceivable before his administration.  In particular, the top three executive positions in government, to wit, the Governor, Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government reflect the 3 Senatorial Districts and major language groupings of the state. 

“It was also made a deliberate policy of his government to ensure that every local government area produced a Permanent Secretary at the top of the civil service as it is today”.

They applauded the fact that the Governor made it a deliberate policy to enhance youth and women inclusiveness, a situation that has situated Kogi in the hearts of Nigerians. The position of the Governor on Covid-19, which has received confirmation from global medical authorities, was also hailed by the Assemblymen.

The Assembly Members were impressed with the developmental strides of the Governor, which covers basically all the sectors of the economy.  Particular mention was made of the Ankpa Township Road, Confluence Rice Mill, Confluence University of Science and Technology, the 32km  Ibana Junction/Ikeje/Ogugu/Ette road in Olamaboro LG and the humongous Project Light Up Kogi East (PLUKE) spread across the 9 LGAs in the Eastern Senatorial District of the State as well as a radical revolution in the health sector.

The Kogi State House of Assembly then passed a vote of confidence on the Governor and endorsed him to become the President of Nigeria come 2023.

“That this Kogi State House of Assembly further makes a Call To National Service to His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and we hereby impress it upon him to run for the Office of the President or Vice President of Nigeria in 2023 – after his current assignment in Kogi State. 

“That this solemn Call is first and foremost premised upon and born of our belief that subject, Yahaya Bello, is a fit and proper person, with the right mix of youth, experience and track record to answer same firmly and decisively in 2023 and beyond. 

“That we make this Call aware that only the North Central and the South-East Geopolitical Zones have not occupied the Offices of President and Vice President of Nigeria since the advent of the 4th Republic in 1999.  

“That we must, on behalf of our people, register our pain and frustration with the attitude of some of our compatriots who persist in treating the North Central Geopolitical Zone, and in particular descendants of the ancient Kwararafa Kingdom which stretches all the way from today’s States of Kwara through Kogi, Niger, Benue, Plateau to even Taraba as third-tier citizens and mere adjuncts of the ‘North’, utterly and totally disentitled in their own rights from the two top leadership positions in this country, under any democratic sharing or zoning formula. 

“That this unfortunate attitude was again exemplified within the last 2 weeks by major leaders of our Party the APC who, in separate interviews with the press, propounded a two-way split of the Presidency between a hegemonic ‘North and South’ based on an alleged ‘Zoning Formula’ which has suffered so much sea change as to be unrecognisable in any current iteration. 

“That we demand, in the interest of Equity and Justice, that in the 2023 General Elections both the Office of President and Vice President of Nigeria must be ceded to the North Central and South-East Geopolitical Zones by the rest to peacefully arbitrate or contest for”.

Speaking to newsmen after the plenary, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole said the Assembly will continue to enlighten Nigerians about the advantages of having brave, young and intelligent President come 2023.

He said: “We have made our case. Nigerians are very reasonable. Kogi is selfless to offer our God-given Governor to Nigeria”.

Nnenna.O

ASUU Strike: Minister inaugurates government renegotiation team

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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0

The Minister of Education has inaugurated the Federal government team for the re-negotiation of the 2009 Agreements between the Federal government, Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU and other University-Based Unions.

Inaugurating the team in Abuja, The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu said the Federal government team is to take another look at the 2009 Agreements reached with the university-based Unions and work with each Union towards making far-reaching recommendations that would reposition the Nigerian university system.

The Federal Government Team, which is categorised into substantive members, advisers, and observers, is led by Professor Emeritus Munzali M. Jibril.

Others in the member category are Amb. Dr. (Mrs.) Nimota Nihinola Akanbi, Pro-Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Professor Emeritus Nimi Briggs, Pro-Chancellor, Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ikwo, Arch. Lawrence P. Ngbale , Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Wukari, Professor Femi Odekunle, Pro-Chancellor, FUT, Minna.

Others are Senator (Dr.) Nkechi Nworgu, Pro-Chancellor, University of Calabar Professor Shehu Usman Abdullahi, Pro-Chancellor, Kaduna State University San. Maj. Gen. Mamman Magoro, OPR Pro-Chancellor, Kebbi State University.

The terms of reference of the newly inaugurated team includes, the re-negotiation of the residual issues in the 2009 Agreements between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the university-based unions, towards a workable and implementable agreement between both parties, such that will facilitate a repositioning of Nigerian universities for greater responsibilities in national development.

The team is also to propose and prescribe short, medium and long-term measures for the sustainable funding and management of Federal universities, in order to restore lasting peace, stability, harmony and progress in the Nigerian university System.

The team is also to make any other recommendations, as may be necessary, to ensure the realistic implementation of future agreements, by all stakeholders.

The Minister however re-affirmed the commitment of the present administration to finding lasting solutions to the challenges confronting the Nigerian university sub-sector.

Meanwhile , the representatives of the National Universities Commission, TETFUND , Association of Bursars of Nigerian Universities , Federal Ministry of Labour, Federal Ministry of Education Federal Ministry of Finance and Budget Planning, Federal Ministry of Justice, Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, and Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation are to serve in advisory capacity.

Nnenna.O

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