₦airaland Forum

stexsy:
Did they carry out any investigation?

Bubu the joker

You just type with your hand?

Did u bother reading the article at all?

NJC gave the recommendation to the President after A company wrote a letter of complaint to some misdemeanors of the judge in question...

I almost thought I was reading an Hardley Chase novel..

Or like someone reading a Hollywood script to me..

God be with our leaders!!!

simplycarro:
70% Igbos leaving in the SE are IPOB members and sympathetic to IPOB ideology
IPOB members are miscreants and touts.
70% Igbos leaving in the SE are miscreants and touts.

Funny mathematics

Members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), aides of Governor Seriake Dickson and about 2,000 PDP supporters yesterday defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State.

The SWC members are the Assistant Secretary, Ben Oliver, the Assistant Organising Secretary, Miriam Kingsley and an ex-officio member, Diepreye Alagha.

Two governor’s aides, Oberighakuma Yousou and Ayobegha James, resigned their appointments and shouted the change mantra of the APC during the campaign inauguration and presentation of flag in Sagbama town, Sagbama Local Government.

Miriam attracted the crowd’s sympathy when she narrated her ordeal in the hands of her former party.

She said: “I was in bondage, but now I’m crossing over to Canaan. I am happy that I have seen the light. I will no longer go back to Pharaoh.”

The local government stood still and identified with APC and the aspiration of its governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva.

Crowds of party faithful and residents trooped to the Sagbama Secondary School playground, brandishing brooms and singing victory songs for Sylva and APC.

The presence of the party’s national leaders and members of the National Campaign Committee added colour to the event.

Members of the National Working Committee (NWC) were led by the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and the National Vice-Chairman and ex-Ekiti State Governor Segun Oni.

Others were a member of the National Campaign Committee and former Lagos State Military Administrator Buba Marwa and the APC National Organising Secretary, Osita Izunaso.

The state Chairman of the party, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe and members of the SWC as well as chieftains, including ex-Acting Governor Chief Nestor Binabo and former two-time member of the House of Representatives Warman Ogoriba were at the event.

Odigie-Oyegun, before handing over the flag to Sylva, joined other speakers to praise the people for leading a revolution to salvage their destiny on December 5.

He said the last time Bayelsa experienced development was during Sylva’s tenure.

Odigie-Oyegun said it was a pity that Dickson could not provide light, water and roads in his local government.

He enjoined the people to vote for APC on December 5 and enjoy the dividends of democracy.

While the APC national chairman was speaking, the crowd shouted that Sylva would provide water, light and other amenities.

Sylva, who received the party’s flag amid jubilation, called for a minute’s silence for the late former Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha and the late APC chieftain and former PDP Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd).

He likened APC’s train to the Biblical Noah’s ark, saying those who failed to enter the ark would be submerged by the opuabadi (sea).

Sylva said if elected, his administration would bring prosperity and end poverty.

Said he: “A new day is approaching in Bayelsa. We are going to bring prosperity and empower people, especially youths. It is our responsibility to look after youths.”

The APC standard-bearer said his government would offer good governance, promising that youths would play roles.

He said his administration would embark on ‘quick-win jobs’ to empower the people and reduce unemployment.

Sylva vowed to stop over-taxation of civil servants, saying it was inhuman.

He dispelled speculations that if he wins, he will relocate the College of Education to his town where it was sited before Dickson took it to his council.

“I will not do that. I will show him (the governor) that I’m not vindictive like him. I love my people and I know that they love me.

“There are unfinished projects that we are going to finish. I will ensure 24-hour power supply in Yenagoa before the end of my tenure.”

Source: http://thenationonlineng.net/pdp-chieftains-dicksons-aides-defect-to-apc/

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday extended to Friday the deadline given to MTN to pay a $5.2billion fine. The commission also said it sanctioned the telecommunications giant based on security reasons following its failure to deactivate 5.2million unregistered SIM cards.

It said it acted in the national interest and to protect innocent Nigerians from falling victim of terrorists using unregistered SIM cards .

According to a top shot in NCC, the deadline was extended to Friday for more consultations.

The source said: “Although the deadline expired on Monday, we have extended it to Friday to enable all parties to conclude ongoing talks.

“Definitely by the end of the week(Friday), we will issue another statement. We hope that we would have finalised ongoing discussions in the interest of all parties. Our official position will be known by the end of the week.

“We decided not to be rigid about the deadline to allow for the conclusion of talks.”

The NCC, in a statement by its Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo, broke its silence on why MTN was sanctioned.

It said the sanctions became inevitable because national security was at stake.

The NCC statement said: “Following the sanctions placed on MTN Nigeria by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), members of the public have expressed diverse interest as to what actually transpired.

“The fine was a result of violation of Section 20(1) of the Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulation of 2011.

“Section 20 (1) of Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations 2011 states that: ‘Any licensee who activates or fails to deactivate a subscription medium in violation of any provision of these Regulations is liable to a penalty of N200,000.00 for each unregistered but activated subscription medium.”

“The fine of N1.04trillion on MTN Nigeria by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was done in the interest of the public, which has been at the receiving end of security challenges.

“Consequent upon the overwhelming evidence of non-compliance, and obvious disregard to the rule of engagement by MTN, the NCC had no choice but to impose the sanctions.

“MTN, in a letter of November 2, 2015 admitted the infraction and pleaded for leniency. The Commission has acknowledged this and is looking into their plea without any prejudice to the fine. The fine remains but the appeal and other engagements with MTN may affect the payment deadline.”

NCC also gave the details of how MTN had committed infractions and its neglect of warnings.

It added: “The fine that was imposed on MTN was the second within two months after the operators were given a seven-day ultimatum to deactivate all unregistered and improperly registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Cards. While others complied, MTN did not.

“On August 4, 2015, at a meeting of all the representatives of the Mobile Network Operators (MNO) with NCC, major security challenges through preregistered, unregistered and improperly registered SIM Cards topped the agenda after which Operators were given the ultimatum to deactivate such within seven days.

“On August 14, 2015, three days after the ultimatum expired, NCC carried out a network audit, while other Operators complied with the directive, to deactivate the improperly registered SIM Cards, MTN showed no sign of compliance at all.

“Please recall that four (4) Operators; MTN, Airtel, Globacom and Etisalat, were sanctioned in August for non compliance of the directive to deactivate the improperly registered SIM Cards. MTN got a fine of N102.2million, Globacom N7.4million, Etisalat N7million and Airtel N3.8Million fine. Others complied while MTN flouted the fine.

“Based on the report of the compliance Audit Team, an Enforcement Team, which visited MTN from September 2 – 4, 2015 wherein MTN admitted that the Team confirmed that 5.2million improperly registered SIM Cards were still left active on their network; hence, a contravention of the Regulations was established.

“Consistent with the Commission’s enforcement process, MTN was by a letter dated October 5, 2015, given notice to state why it should not be sanctioned in line with the Regulations for failure to deactivate improperly registered SIM Cards that were found to be active at the time of enforcement team’s visit of September 15, 2015.

“On October 19, 2015, the Commission received and reviewed MTN’s response and found no convincing evidence why it should not be sanctioned for the established violations.

“Accordingly, by a letter dated October 20, 2015, the Commission conveyed appropriate sanctions to MTN in accordance with Regulations 20(1) of the Telephone Subscribers Registration Regulation 2011 to pay the Sum of N200,000.00 only for each of the 5.2million improperly registered SIM Cards.”

The statement said all stakeholders in the industry were part of the registration of telephone subscribers.

It said: “In order to ensure proper identification of telephone subscribers with their biometric data and in line with international best practice, the Commission came up with a framework for the registration of telephone subscribers in Nigeria. (Nigerian Communications Commission Registration of Telephone Subscribers Regulations 2011).

“The above Regulations were developed with the full participation of all key industry Stakeholders including all Mobile Network Operators (MNO) in 2011.

“The Commission on its part has a statutory responsibility to monitor and enforce compliance to the rules. More so, when national security is at stake.

The statement explained that, National interest is paramount because when lives are lost they cannot be replaced.

“As a responsible Regulator, the NCC will not stand by and watch Rules and Regulations for Engagement being flouted by any Operator.

“The Commission has adopted a smart regulation in its oversight function in the industry, hence it has always weighed the implications of sanctions that is why it had to place the appropriate sanction accordingly.”

The NCC statement further said that sanctions are the last resort after all overtures fail but this does not in any way undermine Industry Standards and the interest of Investors.



Source: http://thenationonlineng.net/mtn-gets-friday-deadline-to-pay-5-2b-fine/

eightsin:
I have followed all the labelling and red lines. Nothing.

You are just funny, dude

You arent looking, or maybe, you arent seeing...

Here is it...

eightsin:
I tot I was d only one.not seeing anything after all these explanations

(following the red outline recreated by the OP)

Imagine a young girl..

Look at her from the side view...

look at her eye lash (assume she fixed a long eye lash), then the small nose,
Try capture the face,

If you have done a little of art or drawing, you should trace out the remaining.

Your concern and advice to your friend is highly appreciated!

Truly, It's not easy to start on a strong First Class grade and end up with a Second Class lower division.

Nonetheless, your friend must be thankful that he was not rusticated for an offence he knows nothing of,

That he didn't die in an accident enroute school,

Cultists didn't hack him for talking to their girlfriends,

That he finished the course alive,

That he has no cause to repeat a final year course due to the exploding problems he was passing through.

In fact there are many of his peers in school whose parents have spent so much money on accommodation, health, feeding, books, cloths, tutorials and handouts amidst other payments and yet couldn't graduate or going with a Pass grade.

So much to reflect on... So much.

Your friend needs to forgive himself and learn to accept the things that are not redeemable and are out of his control. He needs to move on....

Alphaoscar:
His title is what I have problem with.

Even the title is Copy & Paste, just as they appeared on the original news site..

RIP to Him,

Sorry to his friends.


May God grant his family the gratitude to bear the loss

Olorun ma je ki a ku aitojo t'ogo t'ogo

May God not let us die untimely with un-dispensed glory!! Amen

You can click LIKE to say Amen to the Prayer

QuotaSystem:
I also promise Ibos presidency in 2023.

Yes you did!!!

And it Made FrontPage

Na wa o

menix:
No wonder they re called NPF(Never Prepared Force)

Even the devil can't savage our police force.

Very useless institution u can neva depend on...

ADVICE:

Banks in Epe should anticipate robbery soon, sinking the Gun boat was their mission inorder to ensure they have an easy ride when they show up through the waterways.
I hope the NPF sees this nd prepares to forestall the inevitable..

lol @ the bolded

But we presently have no alternative!!

Alphaoscar:
its like the Op is having problem with comprehension because I am yet to see where anyone in APC promised Biafran Nigerian Presidency.





It is rather a warning that this agitation will continue to hurt the aspirations of any aspiring candidate from the region.

Remember the OP didnt compose the story. He only brought it to attention of other readers.. OK?

This is political calculations and manipulation.. alleged, tho

Besides the story is initialized BY OUR REPORTER ON DECEMBER 18, 2014


soo....


Its an old, old story

Bossforeva:
What small consolation can you find in the horrendous traffic on Awolowo Road this evening, in which you eventually spend some 50minutes? It is to find that the fellow on the wheels of the 2014 Range Rover Vogue on the opposite lane is Babatunde Raji Fasola, the former Lagos State Governor, who is now the new Minister of Power, Work and Housing, sweating it out as he too inched through the traffic.

I called at him, he looked my way, waved casually, and moved another inch, as though saying: “Hey, Oga, this is not an event, get used to it.” Or at least, that’s what I am hoping that casual gesture means.
http://starttells.com/2015/11/15/hon-raji-fashola-spotted-behind-the-wheels-of-his-range-rover-stuck-in-traffic/

That's nice of BRF 'You called out to him , he looked your way and waved'

Not all celebrities nor politically Exposed Individuals would catch a greeting in a traffic melee. Humble of him, tho.

APC Promise Igbos presidency 2023 to stop Pro-Biafra Agitation
Posted on November 16, 2015 by nigerianhive in News


wow! APC has a way of doing things O! realizing that the ongoing Pro Biafran protest could compromise and circumvent the ongoing change agenda promised Nigerians by Buhari’s led government, the APC has promised the ibos the presidency come 2023 and The All Progressives Congress in the South-East on Sunday criticized the ongoing agitation for the actualisation of Biafra, warning that the development could scuttle the chances of the Igbo to produce the country’s President in 2023.

Spokesman for the South-East APC Leadership Caucus, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said this in a statement which was made available to Journalist in Enugu, on Sunday.

Renewed agitation for Biafra, which was partly triggered by the detention of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, and director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, had led to massive protests in major towns of the South-East and South-South.

The protesters, consisting of members of IPOB and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, are demanding the recognition of Biafra as a sovereign country and Kanu’s immediate release.

There are reports that state governors and other major stakeholders will meet in Enugu on Tuesday to deliberate on the matter.

The South-East APC, however, urged the agitators to “stop beating their war drum” in the interest of the Igbo.

Okechukwu, in the statement, expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari would, in the spirit of zoning, hand over power to the South at the end of his second term in 2023.

He noted that an Igbo was best positioned to emerge as President when the office rotated to the South in 2023, saying the pro-Biafra agitation should not be allowed to scuttle the opportunity.

He added, “Going by the zoning convention, equity and natural justice, surely the Presidency will rotate to the South in 2023.

“And when the Presidency rotates to the South in 2023, we (Igbos) have all the cards stacked in our favour to appeal to our brothers in the South-West, who have occupied the office for eight years, and our South-South brothers, who had five years plus in the Presidency.

“Every rational indicator favours the Ndigbo and so, we need to drop our hate propaganda and wait patiently to harvest the turn of the South-East.

“To be frank, this is the golden opportunity for us to join the mainstream, and it should not be scuttled by pro-Biafra agitators.

“Therefore, instead of agitating for Biafra, the Ndigbo should think out of the box and support Buhari to actualise this noble objective.”

Okechukwu equally noted that societal challenges, believed to be among the factors currently fuelling the pro-Biafra agitation, were not peculiar to the South-East.

The spokesman stated, “Whereas, we agree that there is gross unemployment, discontent and despondency among the youths in the land, however, it is not peculiar to the South-East alone.

“The gross unemployment is nationwide and would be addressed holistically; luckily, our son, the distinguished Senator Chris Ngige, is the minister in charge of employment.

“We appeal to the pro-Biafra agitators to stop their mass action and drums of war in the overall interest of the Ndigbo at home, across the country and abroad; as our record shows that it is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war — dialogue is the best solution.”

Meanwhile, pro-Biafra agitators on Sunday lashed out at fiery Enugu catholic priest and founder of the Adoration Ministries, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, for describing the ongoing protests as a waste of time.

Mbaka had, in a sermon in Enugu on Saturday, condemned the ongoing agitation and protests for the actualisation of Biafra.

The priest, who also described the agitation as ‘evil’, chided the protesters, mostly youths, for abandoning their business and disrupting economic activities.

“Locking up your shops and disrupting economic activities will not add any naira to your pocket. Whatever grievance you have could be resolved through dialogue,” the clergyman had said.

In a reaction to Mbaka’s comments, a faction of MASSOB, which had joined the IPOB in the protests, said the agitators were ready to sacrifice more than their shops and business.

The National Director of Information of the MASSOB faction, Uchenna Madu, in a statement, in Enugu, said the youths were ready to lay down their lives for the sake of ‘freedom’.

“Biafra agitators are more determined to sacrifice our shops, business, jobs, comfort and even pay the supreme price for the sake of our freedom,” Madu said.

The MASSOB spokesman described Mbaka’s comments as insensitive.

He wondered why the cleric spoke out against the protests a few days after he was allegedly visited by the wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, who was in Enugu State recently to inaugurate a health screening scheme.

Source: http://www.nigerianhive.com/2015/11/16/apc-promise-igbos-presidency-2023-to-stop-pro-biafra-agitation/

* Escapes further sanctions

* As NCC succumbs to staggered payment plea

By Prince Osuagwu, Emeka Aginam & Bashir Adefaka

LAGOS—There are indications that telecommunications company, MTN Nigeria may not meet up with today’s deadline on payment of the N1.04trn fine imposed on it by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.

This is as a source at the NCC confirmed that the telecommunications company was yet to pay as at yesterday night.

However, there is the likelihood the operator may escape further sanctions as the regulator may have succumbed to its consistent plea for a staggered payment option.

The source told Vanguard that the telecommunications giant had not paid as at Sunday night but may not be sanctioned because NCC was considering granting its plea of staggered payment over a year or two.

He said: “What I can tell you now is that MTN has not paid as at today and may not likely pay because its officials have been begging for extension of the date and the payment to be granted in a staggered form. To be honest, we are considering that and may grant them one or two years to finish the payment. But what they may not get is a reduction on the fine.”

He also revealed that the regulator was going to issue a statement to this effect this morning before 11.00 am.

Recall that even the newly appointed Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu at the weekend had said that Nigeria did not want MTN Nigeria to quit the country because of the fine but insisted that the fine must be paid.

He however quipped that “a judgment has been given, as it were, and the period for enforcement has not yet passed”

The regulator, penultimate week, imposed a fine of $5.2bn on the operator for allegedly failing to disconnect subscribers with improper registration on its network.

Since then, MTN has been appealing for the regulator to grant leniency and have the payment staggered so it would be easy for it to pay.

The Commission said last week, it received a letter from the telecommunications company, apologizing for wrong doing and pleading for leniency.

An impeccable source at the commission told Vanguard that: “ I can confirm that the commission has received an official letter from MTN admitting its guilt and pleading for leniency. However, the power to grant the leniency is no longer entirely on NCC’s hands but that of the presidency. But there are also indications that the Federal Government may ask us to reduce the fine to an appreciable level.

“If MTN had complied with several directives by the NCC it wouldn’t have been in this mess but I hope they learn their lessons from this. Nigeria is its biggest market. It was surprising that they didn’t anticipate that if things get wrong here, it could affect their other markets. Now, it is alleged that it has lost more than $2.7b from people migrating from its shares to others since this incident. It’s a lesson they should not allow to recur” he added.

Following that revelation, even the telecom company may have hoped that the NCC would be asked to reduce the fine, with the new development, it seems the operator may only get reprieve to its plea for staggered payment plan.

NCC had in August this year directed mobile telecoms companies to deactivate all unregistered SIM cards or face severe sanctions.

MTN missed the deadline to deactivate over five million of its unregistered/improper registered subscribers, prompting a N200,000 fine for each unregistered SIM.

The incident had led to the resignation of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Sifiso Dabengwa, last week.

In his stead, Non-Executive Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko, is now acting as executive chairman for a maximum period of six months.

In Dabengwa’s resignation letter, he stated that “due to the most unfortunate prevailing circumstances occurring at MTN Nigeria, I, in the interest of the company and its shareholders, have tendered my resignation with immediate effect.”

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/11/n1-04trn-fine-mtn-may-not-pay-today/

CursedAmadi:
Frank kokori is a Yoruba man. Lolz

Yoruba-Ijaw tinz ..... lol

#HalfCaste

Pavore9:
Every man and his opinion.

I think the SS people are stylishly removing themselves from this IPOB thing.

You want try?

Otherwise, Boyloaf, Asari Dokubo and the rest of the Egbesu Boys would have joined this campaign.

Seem Igbos are alone in this!!

cc: Lalasticlala

heheheh

Pavore9:
Bashing loading......

Bashing who na?

OP or Frank Kokori

A former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Chief Frank Kokori, on Sunday described those agitating for a Biafra Republic as miscreants and dropouts, lacking any iota of what they were demanding.

Kokori, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, also urged genuine Igbo leaders to speak out against the protest, which he noted, was a stage the country had passed.



He said, “It is very unfortunate what the Biafran agitators are doing. They are not really serious about it. They do not know the enormity of what they are demanding. Those goading and pushing them into the protests are doing so for selfish reasons. They are playing on the intelligence of the agitators, who are mostly miscreants and dropouts. There are no serious persons among them. At this stage, the real Igbo leaders should tell them that we have passed that stage in Nigeria.”

The ex-NUPENG scribe added that it was important for the Igbo leaders to speak out in order to end the manipulation of the agitators by those he described as selfish individuals.

Kokori noted that the Boko Haram menace aggravated by the refusal of the northern leaders to speak out when it initially started.

He added, “It is not that the pro-Biafra protests are anyhow similar to that of the bestial attacks of Boko Haram. But the Igbo leaders must speak out in time to check the situation. I do not think any serious Igbo will support their demands. The agitators do not even believe what they are clamouring for. The protests are even only within the South-East. Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and other states are not fully involved.”

A faction of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra and the Indigenous People of Biafra have continued to agitate for Biafra Republic through a storm of protest.

The Nigeria Police have also intensified actions to curtail the protests by arresting some of the agitators.

Last week, the protesters stormed Imo State to demand the unconditional release of the detained Radio Biafra Director, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

Source: http://punchng.com/pro-biafra-agitators-are-dropouts-says-kokori/

Its the Politics Section that this should come up, abi?

The kind of preparedness of our gate-keepers called the Nigeria Police baffles me!

They are only good in dealing with unarmed citizens.

God Help the Nigeria Police..
God help Nigeria

Armed robbers on Sunday stormed the Marine Police Post of the Lagos State Police Command in the Epe area, exchanging gunfire with the policemen.

During the attack, the robbers attempted to steal the station’s gunboat and other ammunition.

Our correspondent learnt that the robbers, said to number about 20, came in a speedboat to the Marine beach at about 12.30am.

It was gathered that policemen from the Epe division, the Rapid Response Squad and the Counter-Terrorism Unit, were mobilised to the scene to repel the attack.

A police source told our correspondent that the robbers, who escaped in their boat, riddled the station with bullets. The gunboat, which they attempted to steal, sank in the water.

He said, “It was at about 12am that the militants invaded the Marine Police Post, Epe. Their mission was to kill the policemen and dismantle the security structures around the place so that they could embark on a bank robbery maybe on Monday.

“The gunfire lasted for several minutes, and the whole area was riddled with bullets. Eventually, they succeeded in sinking the gunboat. No policeman was killed but some might have been injured by the bullets.”

Our correspondent learnt that the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, went to the station on Sunday and assessed the damage.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joe Offor, who confirmed the attack, said the CP had directed that the area be electrified and the gunboat replaced.

Offor added that the police had increased surveillance in the area and normalcy had been restored.

He said, “The Epe Divisional Police Officer, the Rapid Response Squad and the CTU repelled the gunmen. The CP visited the place and ordered that the beach be electrified.

“The area commander, the DPO and other officers have made efforts to recover the gunboat. We are still working on it and we have fortified the area. Banks have been asked to go on with their usual activities, and there is no cause for alarm.

“No arrests have been made so far. Efforts are on to replace the gunboat.”


Source: http://punchng.com/robbers-attack-lagos-police-station-sink-gunboat/

Government might take over the land on which the house is built..


Who knows!

May the occupants find supply that overtakes their losses.

Noted

Contrary to the alarm raised by the Senate over the alleged illegality and exorbitant commission charged for the deployment of Remita, an e-payment software, used for the transfer of Federal Government’s funds from financial institutions into a single treasury account (TSA), PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively report that the use of the software is not only legal but also represents a drastic cut of the commission previously charged by banks for collection of government revenues.

Also, findings reveal that the commission collected by SystemSpecs, the owners/developers of Remita, is nowhere near the N25 billion Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) alleged to have been collected by the firm. It was Mr. Melaye, who originally moved the motion on the Senate floor for the payment to be investigated.

Last Wednesday, following Mr. Melaye’s motion, the senate ordered its committee on finance and public accounts to immediately commence an investigation into use of Remita (which it erroneously described as an e-collection agent) for remitting government funds into the TSA; and its alleged collection of N25 billion commission being one per cent of the alleged N2.5 trillion it remitted into the TSA.

Mr. Melaye had argued that the use of Remita was a violation of Section 162(1) of the constitution, which stated that “the federation shall maintain a special account to be called the federation account into which all revenues collected by the government of the federation except the proceeds from the personal income tax of the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force, the ministry or department of government charged with foreign affairs and the residents of the FCT, Abuja.”

Mr. Melaye further stated that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, could only appoint a registered bank as an agent for collecting and disbursing the funds.

He said that since Remita is not a bank, its appointment as a collection agent is in violation of the CBN Act and the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2007.

According to him, Remita collected N25 billion “for doing nothing.”

However, documents, including the service agreement between SystemSpecs and CBN; correspondence between the company and the office of the Accountant General/ CBN as well as a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, seen by PREMIUM TIMES show that not only was the commission charged backed by law, it is shared by the company, commercial banks and the CBN.

Though the commission is nowhere near the exaggerated N25 billion touted by Mr. Melaye, the one per cent charge also represent a drastic reduction from between 2 per cent and 46 per cent commission charged by commercial banks in some instances for collecting government revenues.

In a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the CBN Director for public communications, Ibrahim Muazu, dismissed the amount quoted on the floor of the senate as “completely misleading.”

“That is false. That is false,” he repeated for emphasis.

“It is grossly exaggerated. We are talking of one per cent. What is one per cent of the money? Have we collected up to a trillion? That is a completely misleading information. Even at the beginning of the TSA the estimation of all the movement of federal government funds into the account is N1.2 trillion,” he added.

When asked to tell the total amount moved into the TSA, Mr Muazu said: “I cannot give you the exact amount now but I know it is far, far, far lower than N2.5 trillion.”

THE AGREEMENT

According to the service agreement between the parties, signed by Eunice Ikekhuah and Aderemi Atanda of SystemSpecs on December 4, 2013, and H.M Yusuf and R.A Olaniyan of the CBN on December 11, 2013, Systemspecs, the CBN will deploy Remita, a T24 banking application, for executing payment instructions and collection of government revenue.

Apart from the collection of revenue, Remita is also used for payment of salaries, payment of taxes, payment of pension, payroll processing biometric verification, among other uses.

In a letter dated November 6, 2015, to Mr. Buhari, SystemSpecs explained that “all commercial banks and over 400 Micro Finance Banks in Nigeria” are connected to the software. The company also explained that 705 Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDA) are currently using the software as payment and collection platform.

So, contrary to Mr Melaye’s argument in the senate, Remita is indeed a software that facilitates the payment of government revenue from financial institutions to a TSA in the CBN and not a revenue collection agent.

Also, contrary to Mr. Melaye’s submission, the entire 1 per cent commission does not go to SystemSpecs, the commission is shared between the CBN, commercial banks, and the CBN.

“A tariff of 1% of the funds collected shall be charged for the government revenue collections: i. Platform Owner/SystemSpecs: 50%, ii. Collecting Agents/DMBs (banks): 40%, iii. Introducer? CBN: 10%,” the agreement reads.

SystemSpecs further explained that at a seminar organised by the CBN and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) between May27-28, 2013, it actually proposed a commission of 1.5 per cent, It explained that commercial banks actually proposed 5 per cent, while a committee set up by the CBN and the OAGF, actually proposed 2.5 per cent. It explained that it was the then Accountant-General of the Federation that actually overruled all the suggested commission and reduced it to 1 per cent.

However, the company said it was surprised to receive a letter from CBN signed by Dipo Fatokun, Director, Banking and Payments System Department, on October 27, 2015 directing it to refund all charges it collected from MDAs for implementation of the TSA.

“I have been directed to inform you that you should refund all charges (1% cost of collection) made into the MDAs accounts as a result of the implementation of the TSA,” the letter reads.

“The total amount should be credited into the account mentioned below:

“FGN Revenue e-Collection Pool Account at the Central Bank of Nigeria Account Number: 0020054161043

“Since the cost of the collection must have been shared by all the stakeholders, you Are hereby required to also provide a schedule of the total amount collected and the portion that was shared to each of the three participants. The schedule should be prepared on month by month basis, from the commencement of the TSA implementation in March 2015, to date. We will recover the share to the CBN and the DMBs,” the letter explains.

SystemSpecs explained that after the kick off of the TSA following a deadline announced by Mr Buhari, it was invited for a meeting by OAGF where they were told that following the enlarged scope of the TSA, the government wanted to review the charges.

“We wrote to the CBN to give a brief on the meeting with OAGF and said inter-alia that, while on our part, SystemSpecs is not averse to a review of the existing transaction fee to a figure that is agreeable to all parties, we would however, advise of the need to carry along the DMBs as you will recall that the current fees were agreed with the banks and communicated by CBN via a circular in December 2013,” the firm stated in a letter to the CBN governor.

REDUCTION OF COST

In the same letter to the CBN Governor, SystemSpecs further explained that the 1 per cent charge actually represents a drastic reduction of the amount the Federal Government had to pay for the collection of its revenue before the implementation of the TSA.

“Your Excellency will recall that one of the primary focus of the TSA project is to retrieve funds from the banks who were indirectly lending the government money back to government at about 15%. Hidden cost to government? Arguably 15%.

“Remita provided a technology to empower government retrieve her funds immediately customers pay at Deposit Money Banks. No overnight stay at any bank. Is 1% to be shared by all parties really too high to pay for such a service?”

For instance, the firm explained, banks charge as high as 46 per cent for National Open University (NOUN) charges, nine per cent for Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) fees, and six per cent on Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) National Drivers’ License charges.

Thus in its letter to the President, SystemSpecs appealed for the return of its fees and those earned by the partner banks seized by the CBN.

Mr. Muazu corroborated SystemSpecs position during the telephone chat with Premium Times

“The information you are given is in line with the agreement dating back to 2011. That is a fact. They started it actually when the TSA came up. The one per cent was, yes, agreed at that time. But now with the issue at hand everything needs to be reviewed and agreed.

“But truly the banks, the CBN and themselves are stakeholders. What is it that we are talking about? It is the software or the platform. You can’t do everything free for doing any business. The banks that are doing the e-collection they pursue agencies and other sources of revenue. Not just taking the value. So it is actually an arrangement for the service to be provided. That software that is being used by the platform has to be maintained apart from the initial design,” he said.

He said CBN asked SysytemSpecs to return the commission already collected to enable it renegotiate the terms of the contract.

“Now we are having a new arrangement. It’s not just e-collection. Central bank is now in charge of government revenue. So the old arrangement cannot continue. So when the issue started the central bank gave the order and the money were all paid back to the government.

“Look at it this way, you have a product that you are allowing someone to use, it can’t be free,” he said.


Source: http://saharareporters.com/2015/11/15/full-details-tsa-dino-melaye-misleads-nigerian-senate-n25-billion-claim