₦airaland Forum

ablwl2:
Please, between Officer 1 and Officer 2 which one is higher in hierarchy?
And what's their respective grade/salary level, please?
Thank you

Officer l

More experience more qualifications

PHOTOS: SCENES FROM THE PASSING OUT PARADE OF THE 31st ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT BASIC COURSE ( INTERNATIONAL) OF THE NIGERIA CORRECTIONAL SERVICE AT CORRECTIONAL SERVICE STAFF COLLEGE BARNAWA - KADUNA

AGF CIRCULAR

Mukzahra:
A bill seeking to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service has been presented to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu.

*Tinubu plans to bar Customs, NPA, others from revenue collection*

President Bola Tinubu may bar revenue-generating agencies from collecting revenues on behalf of the Federal Government as he plans to introduce a single agency – Nigeria Revenue Service – to handle the task.

This came as the Federal Government instituted a comprehensive set of fresh tax reforms aimed at significantly boosting revenue collection.

The reforms, designed to enhance the efficiency of collecting direct taxes, along with various levies that are imposed on behalf of the government, will bar the Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, and 60 other revenue collection agencies from participating in revenue collection activities, but will lead to the creation of the Nigeria Revenue Service.

By implementing these changes, the government seeks to streamline the tax collection process, ensuring that all taxable entities contribute their fair share and that the revenue generated is maximised to support public services and infrastructure development.

The policy directive was instituted on Thursday when the President forwarded four executive bills to the National Assembly for consideration, aiming to implement significant tax reforms.

Nigeria is contending with a revenue challenge that cuts across all government tiers but wants to attain a minimum tax-to-GDP ratio of 18 per cent. The country’s tax-to-GDP ratio is below Africa’s average and ranks as one of the lowest in the world.

This has led to fiscal deficit and over-reliance on borrowing to finance public spending resulting in a cycle of inadequate funding for socio-economic development.


One of the key proposals is the renaming of the Federal Inland Revenue Service to the Nigeria Revenue Service.


A source at the Presidency, however, hinted that the new bill would not lead to a merger but seek to remove the revenue collection arm from the agencies and allocate its function to the Nigerian Revenue Services.

“There is no merger of agencies. The bill will only take the revenue collection arm of each agency involved and take it to the Nigerian Revenue Service.

“The plan is that the new revenue agency will be like the US or UK revenue agency that collects all government revenues while other revenue agencies like NIMASA, NPA, Customs, etc, will now focus on their core mandate, which is trade facilitation. There is no merger at all,” the official said.

The bill seeking the name change for FIRS was outlined in a letter read by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during the plenary sessions.

The proposed law, titled the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, seeks to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No. 13, 2007, and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service.

According to Tinubu, the new agency will be responsible for assessing, collecting, and accounting for revenue accruing to the government.

In addition to the name change, Tinubu submitted three other tax reform bills under the title, ‘Transmission of Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Bills’ to the National Assembly.

The President also transmitted to the parliament the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which seeks to create a Tax Tribunal and a Tax Ombudsman.

He wrote, “The Nigeria Tax Bill: This bill seeks to provide a consolidated fiscal framework for taxation in the country.

“The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill: Aimed at offering a clear and concise legal framework, this bill will ensure the fair, consistent, and efficient administration of tax laws, facilitating ease of tax compliance, reducing disputes, and optimizing revenue collection.

“The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill: This proposal seeks to establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Office of the Tax Ombudsman, which will work to harmonise, coordinate, and resolve disputes arising from revenue administration in Nigeria.”

Tinubu emphasised that the proposed tax bills would have far-reaching benefits for the country, promoting taxpayer compliance, strengthening fiscal institutions, and fostering a more effective and transparent fiscal regime.

“I am confident that the bills, when passed, will encourage investment, boost consumer spending, and stimulate Nigeria’s economic growth,” Tinubu stated.

On the floor of the House of Representatives, Speaker, Abbas, confirmed receipt of the bills, stressing that they were designed in line with the objectives of the present administration.

He noted that when passed into law, the bills would encourage the growth and sustainability of the economy.

The House also consolidated six bills seeking the repeal of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 to enact the Fiscal Responsibility Bill, 2024.

The bill aims at ensuring prudent management of the nation’s resources, ensuring long-term macro-economic stability of the national economy; and securing greater accountability and transparency in fiscal operations within the medium-term fiscal policy framework.

Abbas, who presided over plenary, urged the Committee on Rules and Business to fix a date for debate on the general principles of the newly consolidated bills.

The PUNCH recalls that the tax reforms are policy recommendations from Taiwo Oyedele’s Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, which seeks to reduce taxes in the country from the current 62 to a maximum of nine.

It also aligns with the recommendations of the President Tinubu Policy Advisory Council, which proposed declaring a state of emergency on revenue generation in the country.

Speaking in an earlier interview, Oyedele noted that fiscal reforms were needed to protect small businesses, the vulnerable and the poor while effectively taxing the rich.

He said, “Revenue transformation for us means we can no longer continue to celebrate incremental progress because the base was just so small and for us, it wasn’t about raising the taxes from existing taxpayers.

“In fact, one of the things we found out is that poor persons are those paying taxes, so it is time for them to take a break which means we have to look at the system to take that burden away from the vulnerable people, small businesses and let the middle class and the rich who can afford to pay do so.

“We have a brand new national fiscal policy that sets the framework for where we want to be, where we want to go, what we want to do, and what we want to stop doing as a country. We have identified company income tax, personal income tax, value-added tax, stamp duty, capital gains, and excise tax and we have redrafted new ones.”

This new law will expunge the revenue collection function from 62 revenue-generating agencies and transfer the responsibility of revenue collection to a single agency to promote collection efficiency.

Some of the agencies include Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Ports Authority, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.

Others are the Bank of Agriculture, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Federal Reporting Council of Nigeria, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, National Broadcasting Commission and Joint Admission Matriculation Board.

Commenting on the implications of the new law, a former National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Dr Eugene Nweke, faulted the bill.

He added that customs all over the world were known for revenue collection.

“Customs all over the world are known for revenue collection. What it means is that they would outsource that function to a third party. Customs all over the world are known for revenue collection and anti-smuggling operations,” Nweke said.

According to him, revenue collection had lots of technicalities.

“What they should do with Customs is to train our importers and compel the NCS to go beyond the issues of scanning with a lot of compromises. The government should stop always thinking of how to protect a bill,” he advised.

also reacting, National Public Relations Officer, Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria, Taiwo Fatobilola, said, “It is not possible, don’t mind the government. They think revenue collection is what anybody can wake up and start with? Do they know how much it takes to train people on something the NCS have been trained to do? Please don’t mind them, it’s not possible.”

however, National Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, said he was not aware of the bill.

“I am not aware of that, I am just hearing it from you,” Maiwada told The PUNCH.

New minimum wage for different salary structure

Minimum wage

keralaking123:
i got employed in the ministry on technical cadre, but now i am in level 12 and i would like to do conversion to the professional cadre, would i be dropped in level?

This is conversion circular

FG exempts university research grants from TSA

The Federal Government has directed the exemption of third-party research grant funds of federal universities and research institutions from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
The directive also grants universities and research institutions the autonomy to operate their endowment fund accounts in commercial banks.
The National Universities Commission (NUC) conveyed the directive in a letter addressed to Vice Chancellors of universities, dated September 6, 2024, signed by the acting Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki.

According to the letter, the federal government directive mandating the exemption, had also been conveyed to the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman and the Coordinating Minister of Finance and National Economy, Wale Edun.

“The National Universities Commission received the directive from the Honourable Minister of Education, Ref. DE/HE/37/VII/324 and dated 4th September 2024, forwarding the correspondence from the Principal Secretary to the President, State House, also vide PRES/87/MF/71/198/MBEP/15 and dated 23rd July 2024, on the above subject.

“The letter communicates Mr President’s directive to the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to exclude third-party research grant funds of federal universities and research institutes from the Treasury Single Account (and to grant universities and research institutes autonomy in operating their endowment fund accounts in commercial banks. Please see attached,” the letter read.

PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NEW DIRECTORS-GENERAL OF NIA, DSS

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of new Directors-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed is the new Director-General of the NIA.

Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi is the new Director-General of the DSS.

Ambassador Mohammed has had an illustrious career in the foreign service since joining the NIA in 1995. He had served in various roles, culminating in his promotion to the rank of Director and his subsequent appointment as the head of the Nigerian mission to Libya.

The 1990 graduate of Bayero University, Kano, had served in North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, and at the State House, Abuja.

The new DSS Director-General, Mr. Adeola Ajayi, rose through the ranks to attain his current post of Assistant Director-General of the Service. He had, at various times, served as State Director in Bauchi, Enugu, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Kogi.

The new appointments follow the resignation of the previous NIA and DSS chiefs.

President Tinubu expects that the new security chiefs will work assiduously to reposition the two intelligence agencies for better results and charges them to bring their experience to bear in tackling the security challenges bedeviling the country through enhanced collaboration with sister agencies and in surgical alignment with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

The President thanks the outgoing Directors-General of the two pivotal intelligence agencies for their services to the nation while wishing them success in their future endeavours.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 26, 2024

Recruitment Scandal Rocks Nigeria’s Population Commission; Chairman, Reps Speaker Accused Of Secretly Hiring 46 Candidates From Kaduna

The NPC Chairman, Mallam Nasir Isa Kwarra, is accused of masterminding the recruitment, allegedly with the backing of influential figures, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mallam Tajudeen Abbas, and NPC Federal Commissioner in Kaduna State, Hajiya Saadatu Garba Dogonbauchi, SaharaReporters has learnt.

A recruitment scandal has engulfed the National Population Commission (NPC) amid claims that 46 new employees were secretly hired from Kaduna State, bypassing established protocols.



The NPC Chairman, Mallam Nasir Isa Kwarra, is accused of masterminding the recruitment, allegedly with the backing of influential figures, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mallam Tajudeen Abbas, and NPC Federal Commissioner in Kaduna State, Hajiya Saadatu Garba Dogonbauchi, SaharaReporters has learnt.



The controversy centers on the hiring of candidates solely from Kaduna State, which may have violated federal character principles and guidelines governing recruitment in government agencies.



The 46 new employees, all from Kaduna State, were reportedly recruited in June and have already received their appointment letters, sources told SaharaReporters on Wednesday.

“The NPC Chairman, Mallam Nasir Isa Kwarra, allegedly orchestrated the recruitment with the tacit support of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mallam Tajudeen Abbas, and NPC Federal Commissioner in Kaduna State, Hajiya Saadatu Garba Dogonbauchi, both of whom hail from Kaduna State.

“The 46 new employees, all from Kaduna State, were reportedly recruited in June and have already received their appointment letters, thereby bypassing established federal character principles and guidelines for recruitment into Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs),” a source said.

A recent social media post by Isah Nuhu, a politically connected figure in Kaduna, described an event where Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, presented appointment letters to ten newly hired employees of the National Population Commission (NPC) in Kaduna.

In a social media post titled ‘Speaker Abbas, secured, and share 10 letters of appointment for his constituents at the National Population Commission (NPC)', Isah Nuhu implied that the appointment letters were distributed on the day preceding his post.



Nuhu wrote: "Earlier yesterday, Speaker House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD (lyan Zazzau), and also a member representing the good people in the Zaria federal constituency, presented the letter's (sic) appointment to ten people who secured jobs at the National Population Commission (NPC).



"The appointment letters were presented on behalf of the Speaker by the Senior Legislative Aide/Chief Constituency Offer, Alhaji Ismael Muhammad Yesko, to the following people:



"Sabo Jafar, Aliyu Ibrahim Maloli, Ahmad Yusuf, Yahaya Sani, Usman Lawal Sabo, Ibrahim Nuraddeen, Salisu Bashir Kakeyi, Aliyu Yusuf, Rashida Saad Sani, and Zahida Alhassan Musa.



"Alhaji Ismail Muhammad Yesko drowned (sic) the attention of appointees to be good ambassadors of Zaria federal constituency everywhere they find themselves and be law-abiding citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

Some recruitment processes in Nigeria's Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have increasingly deviated from established federal character principles and guidelines, raising concerns about accountability. According to the FCC, one of its key objectives is to ensure that vacant positions reserved for indigenes of each federating unit are filled by the most qualified and competent candidates from those units.

The FCC states "that the best and most competent candidates from each federating units nationwide are employed to fill vacant positions meant for indigenes of such units."



The law also provides "that all fresh recruitments into the Public Service nationwide comply with the Commission Guidelines and Formulae on Equitable Distribution of Posts".



The recruitment exercise in question seems to be at odds with the FCC's established guidelines and objectives, which would cast a pall of mistrust over the process.

The FCC mandates balanced representation from all regions and states in Nigeria, yet the alleged preferential treatment of 46 Kaduna State natives directly contradicts this principle, calling into question the integrity of the NPC’s recruitment practices.

When reached by SaharaReporters, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Special Adviser on Media to Tajudeen Abbas, claimed he was unaware of the employment issue and requested a text message be sent to him for further details.

However, despite receiving the text message, he failed to respond to the inquiry over 48 hours later.

Meanwhile, when SaharaReporters contacted the NPC's Director of Public Affairs Department, Mrs Nkoyo Nwakusor, she declined to comment after initially acknowledging the call, and subsequently switched off her phone.

Gopitoto:
I swear....Loot at all the names mentioned so far is like the South West own this country under this administration.....All these should serve as eye opener to all other minority tribes.

How can he appoint DG NSTIF and Director operations from same south west.


Even the new NPA the man was from Taraba but was born in ekiti.
Board chairman south west.
ED marine operations South West.

Any position that comes to north Central is either, his people from kwara or kogi

Although ganduje is fixing his Kano people, every appointment they will be shortlisted

Newcastle2023:
It's really unfortunate to see the brazing lopsidedness in the FG appointments in favour of the South West. Buhari did same and Tinubu is doing even worse.

APC seems to be on a mission to destroy Nigeria completely. Zero sense of managing national diversity and cohesion.

Nigerian elites have failed this country and I hope the Nigerian youths won't choose to be docile, irresponsible and foolish.

If the needful is not done now, there won't be Nigeria left for our children and grandchildren.

Buhari distribute his appointment among North West, North Central, North East .

Not like tinubu focusing on only south west and kano, in every appointment.

Tinubu Appoints Agara As New NDE Director-General

President Bola Tinubu has appointed former Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Mr Silas Ali Agara as the new Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE).

The Special Adviser on media and publicity to the president, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, made this known in a statement issued on Saturday July 13.

The statement added that “the president anticipates an overhaul of the NDE for optimal performance in designing and implementing programmes to combat mass unemployment.”

ACKayleb:
Thank you...

Is there any of Igala/Okun person that is currently MD/DG/CEO in any of the MDAs?

Okun(BPP,NPHCDA)

ACKayleb:
Please house, can anyone kindly list MDs/DGs/CEOs of the various MDAs that is from Kogi State if any you know.

Thank you

BPP
NPHCDA

3,000 Fake Graduates To Face Prosecution – FG

He explained that the alleged fake graduates were part-time students who forged their admission to join regular programs, enabling them to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Tanko Sununu
There is an ongoing investigation into the 3,000 alleged fake graduates recently uncovered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Minister of State for Education, Tanko Sununu, told The Nation that those found guilty of forgery would be prosecuted. He also noted that a panel investigating degree racketeering in foreign and private universities had completed its report.

Sununu stated, “Investigation is ongoing and those identified will be prosecuted accordingly.”

He explained that the alleged fake graduates were part-time students who forged their admission to join regular programs, enabling them to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

“The 3,000 are part-time candidates that forged their admission to be regular students just for them to participate in the national service.

“Forgery is a punishable offense, and the ministry will ensure due process is followed to prosecute all those involved,” he said.

The minister also mentioned that the recommendations from a seven-member panel on degree racketeering would be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) soon.


“The report of the committee has been submitted and there are many recommendations requiring FEC approval. Once the FEC decides, the report will be implemented immediately,” Sununu added.

He highlighted the issue of degrees obtained from unrecognized institutions in Benin and Togo, stressing the importance of ensuring that certificates are genuinely obtained from recognized institutions.

“Those who obtain certificates through the back door lack skills and appropriate knowledge and cannot add value to economic development. We cannot allow it. It poses a serious danger to Nigeria,” he said.

JAMB Registrar Is-haq Oloyede confirmed that the board was still investigating some of the fake graduates.

“Any elaborate discussion by me on this will compromise what we are doing,” he noted.

Previously, Oloyede had told the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State Universities in Nigeria (COPSUN) that those involved in the act never attended classes, condemning illegal admissions by some tertiary institutions as a source of embarrassment.

Nigeria Immigration Service Newly Recruited Personnel Lament 10-Month Unpaid Salaries

Some new personnel of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) have said they have not been paid their salary arrears since they joined the agency ten months ago.

The personnel's appointment letters are dated August 15, 2023.

The personnel lamented they were not paid between September 2023 and February 2024, despite being captured on the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, PUNCH reports.

The personnel alleged that they started receiving salary from March 2024, noting that the arrears had not been paid, while calling for the intervention of the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo on the matter.

One of the NIS personnel at the Lagos Command told The PUNCH that, “We resumed induction training in Abuja from September to December 2023.

“Our appointment letters were dated August 15, 2023, but the service started paying salary from March 2024, leaving September, October, November and December 2023, January and February 2024 salaries behind. They have refused to pay us salary arrears for seven months.


Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the NIS, Mr. Kenneth Udo, said the non-payment of the salary arrears was an omission from the IPPIS.

Udo said, “All Federal Government employees are on the IPPIS; that is where the issue is. There were some omissions, but the service is following up. The service met with the director of IPPIS last week; we are aware of the problem, but we are not responsible for the omission.

“We will surely rectify it; hopefully by the end of this month, the affected officers will receive their money. It is going to be rectified; we are on top of it.”

FG begins implementation of Oronsanye report

The Federal Government has quietly begun implementing the recommendations of the Steve Oronsaye Report on the restructuring of government agencies and departments, over a decade after its submission.

According to Western Post, President Tinubu ordered the immediate execution of the report to reduce governance costs.

Recall that the president formed a committee, led by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, three months ago to implement the report within 12 weeks.

The deadline expired over a month ago.

It has now been confirmed that the committee has started the implementation process.

A memo signed by the SGF, directed to one of the ministers, mandated the immediate dissolution of certain firms, including the Nigerian Films and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), which will now be integrated as a department within the ministry instead of operating as a separate federal agency.

This directive was conveyed in a letter signed by George Akume on June 21.

The ministry has been instructed to complete the administrative and financial processes to wind down the NFVCB within three weeks and to report on the transition within the first month after it becomes a department of the ministry.

The memo read:

“Accordingly, the Ministry of Art, Culture & Creative Economy is hereby mandated to initiate all necessary administrative/ financial processes and procedures that will lead to the winding down of the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board and subsequent scrapping for It to function as a Department in the Ministry within three weeks of the receipt of this communication.


“The scrapping feedback should be made to the undersigned within the first 30 days of being a Department under the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture & Creative Economy.”

The government also clarified that this restructuring will not lead to job losses among civil servants but is aimed at reducing governance costs under President Tinubu’s administration.

Court Jails Immigration Officer for employment scam in Gombe, One other in Bauchi

Justices H.H Kereng and Muazu Abubakar of the Gombe State High Court, Gombe and Bauchi State High Court, Bauchi have convicted and sentenced Dabiet Onyemi Gilbert and Saleh Haruna to different jail terms for fraud.

Gilbert, an employee of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was
prosecuted on a one-count charge of obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N800,000.00 (Eighth Hundred Thousand Naira) by the Gombe Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, while Haruna faced a two-count charge bordering on forgery.

Gilbert’s charge reads: “That you Dabiet Onyemi Gilbert on or about 28th May, 2021 in Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N800,000 (Eighth Hundred Thousand Naira) from Akoh Daniel Accoustic by falsely representing that the said sum was for job placement with the Nigerian Correctional Services which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 and punishable under Section 322 of the Penal Code Law”.

Count two of Saleh charge reads: “That you Mohammed Mustapha Sallah and Saleh Haruna sometimes between 2013 and 2014 at Bauchi, Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court criminally "forged" a public government document and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 364 of the Penal Code and punishable under 364 of the Penal Code Law.”

While Gilbert pleaded "guilty" to his one-count charge, prompting prosecution counsel, A.M Labaran to pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly, though the defence counsel, Yusuf Ali pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, Haruna pleaded “guilty” only to count-two of his charges,
prompting prosecution counsel M.Ugbe to pray the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.

Justice Kereng afterwards convicted and sentenced Gilbert to one year imprisonment with an option of fine of N60,000, while Justice Abubakar convicted and sentenced Haruna to five years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) and adjourned till July 8, 2024 for hearing on count one of the charges.

Gilbert's journey to prison began when his victim petitioned the EFCC after realizing that he had been defrauded over a non-existing Nigerian Correctional Services’ (NCS) job while all efforts to get his money back proved abortive. Haruna, on the other hand, bagged his imprisonment when a petitioner alleged that he conspired with one Mohammed Mustapha Sallah to defraud him of the sum of N950,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) being payment for a landed property, which he neither took possession of nor his money returned to him.

Meanwhile, the Gombe Zonal Command of the EFCC on June 25, 2024 arraigned
Haruna’s alleged accomplice, Mohammed Mustapha Sallah before Justice Abubakar. He is facing prosecution on three-count charges, bordering on conspiracy, forgery and intent to defraud.

One of the counts reads: “That you Mohammed Mustapha Sallah sometimes between 2013 and 2014 at Bauchi, Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did with intent to defraud induce one Ismaila Abdullahi to deliver to you the sum N950,000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only as payment for a landed property belonging to you Mohammed Mustapha Sallah which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.”

He pleaded "not guilty" to all the three count charges, following which prosecution counsel, M.Ugbe asked the court for a trial date, adjournment and for the defendant to be remanded in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCS), while the defence counsel, Mohammed Hassan
pleaded for a short adjournment to fast-track the defendant’s release on bail.

Justice Abubakar remanded Sallah in Bauchi State Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till July 8, 2024 for hearing of his bail application.

Visit www.efcc.gov.ng for more stories

IPPIS verification

Press Release

Federal Civil Service Commission opens online promotion accreditation portal for Officers on Grade level (GL) 14-16.

In line with recruitment, promotion and discipline mandate of the Federal Civil Service Commission and as contained in the Circular no FC.6243/GOV/2024/VOL.II/74 dated 16th May, 2024; the Commission announces the commencement of online promotion accreditation for Officers on grade level 14-16.
All eligible and qualified Candidates are expected to commence accreditation online via Federal Civil Service Commission website: promotion@fedcivilservice.gov.ng from Thursday, 27th June to Sunday, 14th July, 2024.
Log-in details will be sent to all accredited candidates through their email address to access the portal in order to complete their accreditation before the closing date of 14th July, 2024.
For the avoidance of doubt, all Officers concern including those on duty posts within and outside their Headquarters and abroad should endeavor to accredit within the stipulated period to beat the deadline.

Signed
Taiwo Hassan
Head (Press& Public Relations)
26th June, 2024.

Nigeria's Defence Intelligence Agency In Corruption Mess As Military ‘Inflates Number Of Civilian Staff, Delays Payment Of N35,000 Wage Award’
Shahara report

However, the source alleged that in a quest by the Chief of Defence Intelligence to continue to squander the pension funds of DIA civilian intelligence staff, the Board was relegated to a mere Directorate and a Director appointed with a passive portfolio.

Civilian staff members of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in Nigeria are unhappy with how they are being treated by the military leadership of the agency, an official of the agency has alleged in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu.




The anonymous official alleged that they have not received the N35,000 salary increment approved by the President in August 2023 for all workers in the employ of the Federal Government.



This increment was meant to alleviate the hardship caused by the removal of petroleum subsidy, but the civilian staff member said they have not received it since the commencement of the payment in September 2023 to date, while their military counterparts have been receiving theirs.




Demanding equal treatment and payment of the salary increment to end their suffering, the source disclosed this in the letter, stating that "till today, Mr President, not a single DIA civilian intelligence staff has been paid a dime from the approved palliative, not even for a single month".


According to allegations, the Federal Government has discovered that the DIA inflated the number of civilian intelligence personnel on the list for the payment of the palliative, forcing the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to withhold the payment.



"This alleged discrepancy is reportedly the reason behind the Federal Government's reluctance to disburse the payment to the DIA civilian staff," said the staff member in the letter which SaharaReporters obtained on Wednesday.


"Till today, the military component oversees the promotion examinations of the civilian intelligence staff with unsensible discretions transcripted as the DIA Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (HTACOS), a document which is only applicable to the civilian intelligence staff of the Agency.

The letter further reads, “And because of the ill motive of the military leadership in the DIA, the HTACOS has been reviewed 5 times in only 3 years with almost nothing good in the interest of the civilian intelligence staff.



"Additionally, Mr President, Sir, the salaries and wages of the civilian intelligence staff of the Agency was last reviewed in 2012. This is despite the continuous devaluation of the Naira over the years and the current economic hardship. Even though the total DIA civilian intelligence staff strength is less than 1000.


"On the contrary, the military officers posted to the Agency on tour of duty are placed on monthly and quarterly allowances by the DIA.



“Sometimes, the sum of these allowances is even higher than the basic salary of a good number of the senior civilian intelligence staff of the Agency. This is despite the military personnel getting full complement of their salaries and other allowances from their organic services on monthly basis.



"Mr President, apart from the wages and allowances, the retirement benefit of the civilian intelligence staff of the Agency falls short of human considerations. An Operative on Grade Level 7 who has served the Agency for a period of 35 years, retires with little above N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira) only as gratuity while the retirement package of his contemporary in the military is around N27,000,000 (Twenty-Seven Million Naira).



"More so, the civilian intelligence officers on Grade Level 17 are paid N28,000,000,00 (Twenty-Eight Million Naira) after putting in 35 years of active service while their contemporary in the the Department of State Services (DSS) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) go home with significantly huge sums."



Asking what sought of country treats its defence intelligence officers with such disdain, the source noted that in an effort to improve the retirement benefit of the DIA civilian intelligence staff members, former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the establishment of an autonomous DIA Pension Board, which was meant to be chaired by a senior civilian intelligence officer of the agency.



However, the source alleged that in a quest by the Chief of Defence Intelligence to continue to squander the pension funds of DIA civilian intelligence staff, the Board was relegated to a mere Directorate and a Director appointed with a passive portfolio.



The anonymous writer said, "Relatedly, in August 2023, Mr President, you approved the payment of N35,000 (Thirty-Five Thousand Naira) to all Federal workers for a period of six months in the first instance, starting from 1st September 2023 to alleviate the hardship caused by the removal of petroleum subsidy."



Further, the source revealed that the military leadership of the DIA has reserved all the strategic placements for themselves including the positions of the Deputy CDI and Director of Administration.



This, the source explained, shows lack of administrative foresight, which has in turn continued to have devastating ramifications on the general administration of the DIA.



The writer added that from January 2023 to date, "six different very senior military officers have been posted to the DIA as Director(s) of Administration”.



The letter further reads, "That is just within a year, Sir. Each of these Directors usually comes to the Agency with different policy objectives which sometimes lead to policy summersault and lack of clarity in the administrative process of the Agency.”



According to the writer, likewise, the position of the Director of Finance is reserved for military officers.



“No civilian intelligence staff is even allowed to work in the Directorate presumably to cloak the regime of malfeasance and financial theft," the source said.



The writer warned that this had been going on and would continue to go on unless the president acts decisively to bring an end to what was described as "administrative anomaly".





The writer, however, revealed that the CDI in his explanation of why the civilian intelligence staff had not been paid the N35,000 wage ward, was because the DIA civilian intelligence staff are not under IPPIS.



"This is clearly not true and off the mark," the writer noted, citing that personnel of the Department of State Services and National Investigation Agency who are equally not under IPPIS have all been paid the allowance.



The letter continues, "This act is not entirely new in the DIA as several times, monies meant for election duty and other important national assignments have been embezzled by the leadership of the Agency and the staff of the Agency are left shortchanged.



“Again Mr President, Sir, I ask: what sought of country treats its Intelligence Officers in such a degrading and disdainful manner?



"In recent times, the general staff welfare related to health care, promotion and allowances of the DIA civilian intelligence staff have drastically deteriorated courtesy of the CDI's inconsiderate, self-serving policies and general maladministration of the Agency.



“The DIA Hospital which was hitherto known as an excellent medical facility with referrals from all over the country, has become a shadow of itself and can now be likened to a glorified local dispensary.



"The current services rendered in the DIA Hospital have deteriorated with general poor medical care of staff, which is characterised by the non-availability of drugs, substandard medical insurance, non-payment of commiserate medical allowances to medical staff and lack of sufficient medical professionals inter alia.



“The lack of reliable medical care at the DIA Hospital has forced staff to resort to other medical facilities for health care at additional expenses to the staff.



"This is so despite the Agency receiving millions of naira monthly from National Health Insurance Agency as medical grant deducted from the salaries of the civilian intelligence staff of the Agency.”



“The CDIs and their Directors of Finance have been misappropriating these funds, which has rendered the Hospital incapacitated. It might not be out of place to relate the untimely death of some civilian intelligence staff to lack of quality medical care in the DIA clinic," the letter reads.

Gensanusi:
EFCC Arrests Fake State House Staff for N22m Employment Scam

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes commission, EFCC, have arrested a syndicate of fake State House Staff in Abuja for alleged criminal conspiracy, false representation and employment scam.

The suspects were arrested separately following investigation on petitions by various victims who were promised jobs as “Directors General” at the Ministry of Communication, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC and other ministries.

The suspects are; Augustine Enamegbai Umogboi, who claimed to be a former staff of the State House, Eleojo Josephine Idakwo, a fake staff of the Ministry of Information in the Registry Unit, and Kingsley Onuh who also claimed that he just concluded his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.

Others are Omata Sunday and Eljayon Nigeria Limited, one of the companies which bank account they were using to get money from their victims. Besides, they had different account numbers of
different banks through which they were receiving the money amounting to N22,350,00 (Twenty Two million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) from different victims.

Umogboi was arrested on June 16, 2024, Idakwo was arrested on April 30, 2024, while Onuh was arrested on April 3, 2024.

Many victims narrated their bitter experience in a series of petitions written to the EFCC.

A sample of such a petition reads : “we were reliably informed that sometime around April 2023, Mr. Gabriel Kingsley Onuh notified our clients about job opportunities in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation LTD (NNPCL) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). With support of Eleojo Josephine Idakwo who claimed to work in NNPCL, they undertook to assist Mr. Toheeb Adesina and Miss Asabe Gambo to secure employment in NNPCL, as well as Mr. Tertindi Reginald Igbayue in FRSC, subject to the payment of a fee. It was agreed that the payment would be in two tranches - initials part payment and the balance payment when the employment letter is ready and when documentation of credentials commences".

Another victim in a petition written to the EFCC stated that “Sometime in May 2023, one of my friends, Sunday Omata approached me that one Eleojo Josephine Idakwu told him that their office in the Presidential Villa is responsible for screening applicants for the appointment of ‘Directors-General’ for all Ministries and Parastatals in the current government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As such they want me to apply for the position of Director General in the Ministry of Communication… She however gave me a condition that I must pay them Five Million Naira (N5,000,000) before they can start the process. Since it involves a big office, they cannot do all the contacts for free and their boss in the office requires some money too. Since then, they have been requesting all sorts of money from me with various accounts”.

The suspects have given useful information to the EFCC and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.

Visit http://efcc.gov.ng for more stories

No peace for scammers wallahi

Otunba77:
*Fake State House Staff arrested over alleged N22m employment scam in Abuja*


https://www.crimechannels.com/fake-state-house-staff-arrested-over-alleged-n22m-employment-scam-in-abuja/

EFCC Arrests Fake State House Staff for N22m Employment Scam

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes commission, EFCC, have arrested a syndicate of fake State House Staff in Abuja for alleged criminal conspiracy, false representation and employment scam.

The suspects were arrested separately following investigation on petitions by various victims who were promised jobs as “Directors General” at the Ministry of Communication, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC and other ministries.

The suspects are; Augustine Enamegbai Umogboi, who claimed to be a former staff of the State House, Eleojo Josephine Idakwo, a fake staff of the Ministry of Information in the Registry Unit, and Kingsley Onuh who also claimed that he just concluded his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.

Others are Omata Sunday and Eljayon Nigeria Limited, one of the companies which bank account they were using to get money from their victims. Besides, they had different account numbers of
different banks through which they were receiving the money amounting to N22,350,00 (Twenty Two million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) from different victims.

Umogboi was arrested on June 16, 2024, Idakwo was arrested on April 30, 2024, while Onuh was arrested on April 3, 2024.

Many victims narrated their bitter experience in a series of petitions written to the EFCC.

A sample of such a petition reads : “we were reliably informed that sometime around April 2023, Mr. Gabriel Kingsley Onuh notified our clients about job opportunities in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation LTD (NNPCL) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). With support of Eleojo Josephine Idakwo who claimed to work in NNPCL, they undertook to assist Mr. Toheeb Adesina and Miss Asabe Gambo to secure employment in NNPCL, as well as Mr. Tertindi Reginald Igbayue in FRSC, subject to the payment of a fee. It was agreed that the payment would be in two tranches - initials part payment and the balance payment when the employment letter is ready and when documentation of credentials commences".

Another victim in a petition written to the EFCC stated that “Sometime in May 2023, one of my friends, Sunday Omata approached me that one Eleojo Josephine Idakwu told him that their office in the Presidential Villa is responsible for screening applicants for the appointment of ‘Directors-General’ for all Ministries and Parastatals in the current government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. As such they want me to apply for the position of Director General in the Ministry of Communication… She however gave me a condition that I must pay them Five Million Naira (N5,000,000) before they can start the process. Since it involves a big office, they cannot do all the contacts for free and their boss in the office requires some money too. Since then, they have been requesting all sorts of money from me with various accounts”.

The suspects have given useful information to the EFCC and will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.

Visit http://efcc.gov.ng for more stories

HND holders to be employed as lecturers in polytechnics

Holders of Higher National Diplomas (HND) will now be employed as lecturers in the polytechnics under the new schemes of service, as announced by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Prof. Idris Mohammed Bugaje.

He spoke on Wednesday during the formal presentation of the new Schemes of Service to the Polytechnics stakeholders, as approved by the Head of Service, Dr. Mrs Folasade Yemi-Esan.

He said under the new schemes, the Instructor cadre which represents segregation against HND holders in the past has been abolished.

He explained that the new Schemes of Service, which became operational from June 7, 2024, presents a unified approach to the recruitment and promotion of staff across Nigerian Polytechnics, Federal, State, and even private.

“From 7th June, 20024, all previous versions of the Schemes of Service, cease to become legal tender. We are all united from now onwards to operate the new Schemes of Service in the Nigerian Polytechnic System (NPS).”

“This milestone has taken over a decade of struggle and efforts by our Staff Unions, Rectors of Polytechnics through their COHEADS/COFER bodies, the Federal Ministry of Education, and the NBTE. I must commend all of you for all your contributions and pray that we shall operationalize the new Schemes of Service with all sense of responsibility.”

“When I took office in April 2021, I announced my 3-S Agenda as my key areas of focus as Executive Secretary, namely the Skills development agenda, the Spirit of work in the NBTE which must be revived and a new Scheme of service that gives recognition to the products of the Nigerian Polytechnic System. With gratitude to Allah, the Most High, I am glad to announce that, working with you as a team, we have been able to achieve all the three within 3 years.”

“Schemes of Service cannot be said to be perfect, since it is man-made, and could still be subject to future reviews. But we are happy with the new Schemes for the following innovations: HND Holders with good grades are now to be appointed as Academic Staff (Graduate Assistants), like their degree counterparts, in a system that is theirs.”

“The Instructor cadre which represents segregation against HND holders in the past has been abolished. The Technician cadre has been subsumed by the Technologist cadre, allowing ND holders to be appointed as Assistant Technologists.”

“The Pharmacy Technology cadre has been maintained. For those with a HND in Pharmacy Technology, but who may not be allowed to work in hospitals by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, their space in the public service has been retained.”

Orthopaedic Hospital Jos to recruit 204 workers – MD

The Medical Director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, North Central, Jos, Prof. Iche Onche, announced on Wednesday that the hospital had obtained approval to recruit 204 staff members. Onche disclosed this during the oversight visit of the House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare to the facility. He mentioned that the facility recently received approval…


The Medical Director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, North Central, Jos, Prof. Iche Onche, announced on Wednesday that the hospital had obtained approval to recruit 204 staff members.

Onche disclosed this during the oversight visit of the House of Representatives Committee on Specialty Healthcare to the facility.

He mentioned that the facility recently received approval from the National Establishment to hire more workers.

However, he stressed that the recruitment process would adhere to strenuous due process to ensure that the existing vacancies are filled.


“We are undergoing the process through the ministry, and I believe that in the next few weeks, we will obtain a waiver for employment,” he stated.

The hospital director also reported that the renovation of the hospital had reached approximately 65 per cent completion.

“Our initial plan was to commence services by April this year, but due to a shortage of funds, we were unable to do so.

“We cannot continue with the renovation, but we believe that with the visit of the committee, significant progress will be made when the members return to Abuja.


“The ministry is working on establishing an intervention fund for equipment.

“And on July 1, I am scheduled to present our report card to the Minister of State for Health, including our request for funds,” he added.

Onche expressed gratitude to the Plateau Government for rehabilitating the access road leading to the hospital.

The Chairman of the committee, Dr. Alex Egbona, stated that their visit to Jos was “to see things for ourselves”.

Egbona mentioned that they had interacted with the medical director over the phone and in Abuja but had not physically visited the hospital yet.

He noted that the hospital was approved in 2021 and that their visit to Jos aimed to assess the progress of work at the site.

“To our surprise, despite the limited resources, the medical director has made commendable progress in terms of basic infrastructure.

“When we return to Abuja, we will appeal to the ministry to allocate funds for the hospital to effectively commence operations,” the lawmaker concluded.