₦airaland Forum

Theme: Nigerian States: Multiple Centres of Prosperity
The following are highlights of the just concluded NEC Retreat:
1. Agreement reached for concerted and consistent efforts to diversify revenue sources
2. Expand compliance on VAT, adopting a gradual plan for rate increase
3. Increase expenditure through borrowing, which should be invested in infrastructure
4. Federal and State Governments to focus on fiscal responsibility as a critical element in macro-economic balance
5. Increase investment in infrastructure through public private partnership (PPP)
6.Develop financial inclusion strategies to cater for the poor and vulnerable population
7. Maintain a minimum level of capital expenditure of 30% in the budget
Thematic Areas
Agriculture
1. The Federal Government to re-position Bank of Agriculture to enhance its capacity to finance agriculture.
2. Funding for Agricultural sector is considered critical and sources of intervention funding from the Central Bank of Nigeria should be considered
3. A single digit interest rate for agricultural loans should be considered while duties and taxes for Agricultural products and equipment should be waived
4. Develop strategic partnerships between Federal and State government. Each State should make specific commitments to crops in which it has comparative advantage and request Federal Government intervention
5. National targets for self-sufficiency should be set for identified crops, which should be monitored. Tomato paste – 2016, Rice – 2018, Wheat – 2019
6. The Federal and State Governments should roll out agricultural extension services nationwide
7. The Commodity Exchanges should be established for price regulation and avoidance of losses due to lack of markets. The Abuja Commodity Exchange should be revitalised
8. The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) should be re-established
9. Federal Government should develop an Agriculture Implementation plan whereby State Governments are encouraged to identify at least two crops in which they have comparative advantage
10. States should open up of rural/feeder roads to facilitate transportation of agricultural produce to be supported by the Federal Government
11.The Federal and State Governments should establish minimum price guarantee for farm produce
12.The Federal Government should provide immediate funding to upscale efforts of Agricultural Institutes of Research and Development across Nigeria
13. State Governments should also be encouraged to fund research and development in agriculture through technical colleges, universities and research institutions
Thematic Area – Solid Minerals
1. Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to complete and present the solid minerals development roadmap. This framework should address issues of illegal miner, licenses, taxes and royalties by 31st March 2016
2. Federal government to engage with state government on the roadmap and agree any amendment that may be required by 30th June 2016
3. Initiate relevant legislative changes that maybe necessitated by the agreed roadmap by 31stJuly 2016
4. Conclude the revalidation/
recertification of all mining leases by 30th September 2016
5. Agree with states and local government on respective responsibilitie
s for developing feeder roads and other critical infrastructure for solid minerals development
6. Federal Government and States to set deadlines to achieve self-sufficiency in Bitumen/Asphalt and tiles (to discourage/stop importation)
7. Make and communicate final decisions on operationalization of Ajaokuta steel plant by 30th June 2016
8. Establishment of joint committee to address issues of data on quantity and quality of minerals exploited and exported
9. Setting up of mining cadastral zonal offices for proximity to States for the purpose of issuing licenses and easy monitoring by States
10. Discourage use of wood for cooking by promoting use of coal briquettes
11. Guarantee access to finance solid minerals development via intervention funds and private sector capital
12. Block revenue leakages in the sector through effective monitoring of activities in the mining sector
13. Organise artisanal/small-scale miners as a mechanism for reducing illegal mining and Establish Mines Surveillance Taskforce by September 2016
Thematic Area – Investment, Industrialisation and Enabling Monetary policies
1.Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment (MITI) to develop a matrix of actions to be taken by Federal and State Governments towards achieving the targeted improvements in Ease of Doing Business ranking by 30th April 2016
2. Present an incentive scheme for States taking actions towards improvement of the investment climate in their States including grants by 30th September 2016
3. Forge strong links between the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the State Investment Promotion Agencies
4. States to collaborate more actively on regional basis on investments and industrialization
5. The Federal Government should work with the States and other stakeholders to create an enabling environment for trade and investment through the implementation of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) to encourage industrialization
6. Make environment conducive for the Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises to create jobs for the unemployed and undertake deliberate policies to create access to funds
7. State and Federal Governments must emphasize the patronage of “Made in Nigeria” products. “Import competition” rather than “import substitution” should be emphasized
8. Governors to set up task forces to monitor implementation of trade/ investment policies and strengthen planning institutions by linking federal and sub-national planning; in this regard, a monthly meeting between the Minister of Budget & National Planning and State Commissioners for planning will be institutionalised
9. States to set up one-stop shop for investors where they do not currently exist to attract investment and improve on IGR Safeguard competitive market economy
10. Promote regional cooperation on investment and industrialisation
11. Implement institutional and structural reforms as a way of improving the efficacy of monetary policy including greater consultation with the National Economic Council
12. Predictability and consistency of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s communication to key stakeholders is required to manage expectations
13. The Central Bank of Nigeria should carry the States along in some of their reforms in areas of SMEs and Agricultural funding initiatives
14. Long-term development goals should anchor policy decisions
15. Effective regulation & supervision to improve confidence in the soundness and stability of the banking system
Thematic Area – Infrastructure and Services
1.Develop infrastructure delivery plan considering current financial capabilities driven principally by the goal of improvement of the quality of life for the populace
2.Develop financing model for infrastructure projects
3. Integrate training and job creation components in infrastructure projects
4. Implement empowerment and entrepreneurship policies to foster inclusive growth
Thematic Area – Investing in our people
1. Federal and State Governments to work collaboratively to ensure sustainability of the school feeding and other social protection programmes
2. Cooperation from the States’ Ministries of Education and State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEBs) for the Teacher Corp program
3. Provide logistics support on the proposed upgrade of 75 existing National Directorate of Employment (NDE) facilities (across the various States) to Empowerment Centers
4. Cooperation and coordination with the States on their specific job creation efforts
5. State Government support on identified needs such as infrastructure and/or space for innovation hubs
6. State Government support for artisan training, scoping and support for existing artisan cultures, use of existing training facilities
7. Institutionalize a single register as a platform for targeting the authentic poorest and vulnerable for safety net programs; for government, donor agency, organizations or individuals
8. Creating a delivery mechanism that ensures efficient, consistent timely and direct payments in the remotest parts of the country
9. Boost productivity and financial inclusion for the poorest and most vulnerable
Thematic Area – Revenue Generation and Fiscal Stability
1. There is need for deliberate effort to generate relevant data on the respective economies of the states and the nation generally in order to drive revenue generation
2. FIRS and SIRS need to invest in relevant technology to support efforts to improve tax collection
3. There is a need to develop incentive schemes for federal and state revenue generating agencies
4. FIRS and SIRS need to actively collaborate on initiatives to improve tax collection, including joint audits of major corporate tax payers
5. All state governments are encouraged to establish efficiency units to review/enhance the quality of expenditure as well as plug revenue leakages
6. Focus on property and consumption taxes will help in improving revenues in a fair manner
7. Tax-payer education should be intensified to expand the tax base and avoid political back-lash from intensifying tax collection
8. State Government are encouraged to rationalise number of Ministers, Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries
9. Cost control measures should be identified and implemented on an ongoing basis; in this regard various examples from Nigeria and other countries are recommended
Thematic Area – Survival of States and Beyond
1. Strengthen States Peer Review Mechanism under auspices of the Governors Forum and the National Economic Council (NEC) to promote sharing of good practices between the Federal and States Governments
NEC RETREAT - IMPLEMENTATION STEERING COMMITTEE FORMED:
• To oversee the work of the implementation committee
• To provide appropriate steers to the Implementation Monitoring Committee to ensure that the resolutions agreed at the retreat are duly followed up
HE Prof. Yemi Osinbajo
Vice President and Chairman of NEC
Chairman
HE Abdulaziz Y. Abubakar
Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Zamfara State
Member
HE Adams Oshiomhole
Governor of Edo State
Member
HE Abdulfatah Ahmed
Governor of Kwara State
Member
HE Rauf Aregbesola
Governor of Osun State
Member
HE David Umahi
Governor of Ebonyi State
Member
HE Badaru Abubakar
Governor of Jigawa State
Member
HE Mohammed Abubakar
Governor of Bauchi State
Member
Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma
Hon. Minister of Budget and National Planning
Member
Mrs. Kemi Adeosun
Hon. Minister of Finance
Member
Dr. Okechukwu Enelama
Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment
Member
Chief Audu Ogbe
Hon. Minister of Agriculture
Member
Dr. Kayode Fayemi
Hon. Minister of Solid Minerals
Member
Mr. Babatunde Fashola
Hon. Minister of Works, Power and Housing
Member
Mrs. Nana F Mede
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and National Planning
Secretary
NEC RETREAT - IMPLEMENTATION MONITORING COMMITTEE FORMED
• To follow up the implementation of the resolutions of the retreat
• To receive steers from the Steering Committee regarding the follow up of the implementation
• To provide progress reports to the Steering Committee on the implementation
NAME
DESIGNATION
ROLE
Mrs Zainab S. Ahmed
Hon. Minister of State, Budget and National Planning
Chairman
Mrs Yosola Akinbi
Senior Technical Adviser to the Vice President on the National Economic Council
Member
Mr. L.O.T. Shittu
DG, Nigeria Governors Forum
Member
Mr. David Olofu
Commissioner for Finance and Planning, Benue State
Member
Mr. Mohammed Kauji
Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Borno State
Member
Dr. E.A. Onwiodokif
Comm. for Economic Planning, Akwa Ibom State
Member
Mrs. Aisha M. Bello
Comm. for Budget and Planning, Kano State
Member
Mrs. Aderenle Adesina
Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Ogun State
Member
Mr. Mark Okoye
Special Adviser, Economic Planning and Budget, Anambra State
Member
Mr. Tunde Lawal
Director, Macroeconomic Analysis Department, Fed. Min. BNP
Member
Mr. Kayode Obasa
Director, Economic Growth, FMBNP
Member
Mr. A.B. Saadu
Director, Special Duties
Member
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant-Media & Publicity
In the Office of the Vice President
March 22, 2016


http://tapread.net/2016/03/22/national-economic-council-retreat-highlights/

Check out this figures and think about it.
Nigeria produces about 2.1m p/d
Nigeria produces 766.5m b/yr
During the peak period of oil 2010-2015 it was sold @$100 on the average
During this peak period Nigeria earned a total of $76.6bn p/yr.
Nigeria earned a total of $383bn btw 2010-2015 (5yr Period)
Nigeria has a stake of 55% in the NNPC joint ventures with the foreign oil companies.
Nigeria own share in the oil sale is $211bn during the the peak period.
Let us assume the running cost of producing, Labour, logistics and sundry is put at 2m % that is put at $53bn
After all deduction Nigeria must have earned about $158bn as profit in 5years.
Pls note I didn't consider the oil revenue lost to theft and pipeline vandalism.
From what was left in our foreign reserve when Jonathan was leaving Aso rock.
He whacked all the money we made in 5yrs, plundered us into massive debts.
He stole the reserve left by his predecessors. He looted the returned looted funds. He stole all on sight
He was a disaster personified.
Meanwhile we also earned funds from other Arms of govt. Customs, FIRS etc.
I agree in totality we lost over $200bn to the ineffectual buffoon.
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The Minister of Youth and Sports, Soloman Dalung has reiterated his ministry’s resolve to partner with National and Voluntary Organisations oThen viable programmes for youth development.
The minister made this assertion when the delegation from the Duke of Edinburgh International Award for Youths paid him a courtesy visits in his office.
He said: “We are interested in rescuing the deteriorating youth situation and we must definitely have a bench mark position so that we can disconnect what we have today and re-orientate and redirect what we have coming up tomorrow”.
Dalung said one of the challenges facing the country is the problem of leadership and expressed delight that the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award for Youth Foundation has resolved to partner the ministry of youth and sports in addressing the problem.
He said: “The organization is involved in the things that are lacking; the missing link between leaders and the youths is that of value orientation. The young people having been unattended to for a very long time and have been abandoned to discover for themselves what they imagine to be right.
“We are happy with your coming because we want to setting standard for the development of leadership and ethics in Nigeria. Your organisation is involved in what is lacking in the country today. The missing link between the leaders and youths is that of value orientation and ethics training. The young people having been unattended to for a long time were left to cater for themselves. And in human society, socialisation is the cardinal principle of ethics and values.
“The problem with Nigeria is that of leadership and if an organisation is involved in training young people to become good leaders tomorrow, it is an organisation we can partner with because we will be sure of the calibre of leaders we are going to have tomorrow,” he said.
In his speech, the leader of the delegation and trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, Olawale Edun, said the award is an enriching programme for young people that embrace a very wide range of adventurous, cultural and practical activities which young people may choose to participate voluntarily in their own time, under the guidance of trained adult leaders and volunteers.
He said award offers a prestigious national and an international recognition for young people in three levels; bronze, silver and gold
http://telltimes..nl/2016/03/minister-restates-governments.html

Hundreds of admission seekers to the nation’s tertiary institutions and their parents on Tuesday stormed the Lagos State Governor’s Office in Alausa, Ikeja, and the state Assembly complex to protest against alleged manipulation of the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The protesters demanded the cancellation of the exams and the removal of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde.

The protesters, who faulted the conduct of the examination, described the exercise as a “big sham.”

The examination, conducted by JAMB, they alleged, was fraught with irregularities.

The examination, which started on February 27, will end on March 19.

While some of the candidates alleged that the board deliberately lowered their scores, some claimed that it arbitrarily awarded marks to many candidates.

The protesters, led by a group under the aegis of Concerned Parents and Education Stakeholders, displayed placards with inscriptions such as, ‘All we are saying give us our mark’, ‘Dibu must go; the only stumbling block in education progress’, ‘The Joint Admission and Manipulation Board, give us our real results’, and ‘The professor of test and management has outlived his usefulness’, among others.

The protesters, who occupied the gate of the Lagos State House of Assembly complex for many hours, said JAMB and its registrar had “lost focus on how to conduct a successful Computer-Based Test in the 21st century.

A candidate, Maryam Animashaun, who expressed disappointment with the conduct of the examination, claimed that she received three different results from JAMB.

Animashaun, who sat for the examination at the College of Education, Oro, Kwara State, said, “I am confused. I do not know what to do now. The first alert I received on the telephone from the board with regard to the examination showed that I scored 218. The second alert read 186, while the third one read 286.

“The surprising thing now is that I cannot print any of the results. On the website, the board claimed that I did not sit for the examination. Meanwhile, I sat for English, Government, Economics and Literature-in-English.”

Another candidate, Kalasuwe Adeola, who claimed she scored 220, said she obtained the same score in 2015.

She said, “I am sure JAMB did not mark this year’s UTME. If it did, why did they issue me the same result I obtained last year? In my printed result for this year, it was written 2015/2016 instead of 2016/2017. I sat for this year’s examination at the Bachel Model College, Lagos, on March 9. Unlike other candidates, I did not have any issue with my system during the examination.”

The National President of the Association of Tutorial Schools in Nigeria, Mr. Shodunke Olutodotun, lamented that over 10,000 candidates missed the UTME, while others had their marks deducted due to irregularities by JAMB.

“This year’s UTME will soon be concluded. We have a man called Prof. Dibu Ojerinde. This man has outlived his usefulness in JAMB. He seems to be more powerful than the country’s president.

“The protesters are the victims; their destinies are being finished by Dibu. Most of the protesters that had their exam in Delta State had the exam in a shrine. A lot of them got results before they sat for the exam.

“We are appealing to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, to send signal to Abuja to stop UTME. If they don’t do that, we will go to Abuja.

“How will someone sit for Physics, Chemistry, Biology and the next thing he sees are Economics, Commerce and Government?”

Describing the exam as a fraud, a parent, Mr. Bunmi Elujula, urged the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to look into the complaints of the candidates urgently.

Apart from awarding arbitrary scores to candidates, Elujula said many candidates had problems with their systems.

He said, “Many candidates were allocated between 40 and 60 additional marks. What are the criteria for this arbitrariness? The strange thing is that JAMB started the CBT two years ago, why is this year’s exam a big flop? I have not seen candidates and parents complain this way about the exam in the past. I plead with the authorities to look into their grievances.”

But JAMB described the organisers of the protest as “blackmailers”.

In a statement by its Head of Public Relations, Dr Fabian Benajmin, the board said some proprietors, whose examination centres did not receive accreditation for the test, were behind the protest.

The statement read in part, “The board had approved centres provided by these individuals to be used for the 2016 exercise. Unfortunately, it could not approve those centres lacking in all the indices needed for a successful CBT.

“These same proprietors turned around to organise candidates to protest against our activities. We are not perfect as an organisation, but we are working hard to ensure that Nigerian education is better than it is. We have taken the risk to do the unthinkable so as to change the paradigm.

“We will continue to call on Nigerians to give us the benefits of doubt and with their collective support; we will give them one of the best CBT globally. It is no news that the worst CBT is far better than the best Paper and Pencil Test. At least, the era of candidates pouring acid on JAMB officials, bolting with question papers into the bush and all unthinkable embarrassing acts are gone.”
http://tapread.net/2016/03/16/candidates-paren…ion-of-2016-utme/

The comptroller general of the customs, Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd), has said that N20 billion would be required to upgrade security equipment in all international airports around the country.
He disclosed this while on a tour of inspection of the state of security equipment at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, alongside the minister of finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.
The move, he noted, has become imperative owing to the mundane state of most of the airport security equipment, a situation he said is not in tune with world best practices.
“Most of the equipment are out of date and do not meet the present situation, hence the need for the review of the whole system and we are not looking at one airport, but our international airports.The moment we can make a seamless operation for traders and passengers they would want to use our own airports in the transaction of their businesses. This would enhance trade facilitation and in turn increase revenue generation,” he said.
Earlier, Adeosun had said that she is satisfied with the level of activities going on the airport as of present and hoped that purchasing the needed equipment would increase efficiency which would in turn spur revenue collection for the nation.
“The equipment we have are quite inefficient and we have to improve upon them. For instance, containers in the port will be cleared quickly. The customs as we know is a revenue generating and security agency and we really need to look at their operation and assess their need for new equipment, particularly for new technology in the form of scanners that would enhance their ability to do their job efficiently,” she said.
http://telltimes..com/2016/03/airport-security-equipment-upgrade-to.html

Ibe-kachikwu
A coalition of civil society groups, Children and Women’s Rights Network (CWRN), has raised the alarm over the activities of faceless but determined forces which are mounting strategic challenges towards ensuring that the fuel scarcity situation presently being faced across the country is prolonged.

In a statement yesterday, the Executive Director, of CWRN, Moses Adedeji, the cartel which is unnerved by ceaseless monitoring and the involvement of security agents in tackling pipeline vandalization and fuel distribution are fighting back to ensure the queues remain at the filling stations.

According to Adedeji, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kahikwu, must note that since erstwhile managing director of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue’s widely-reported declaration of December 27, 2015, towards involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies, in the fight against vandalism, some high-level oil sector cabals have mounted a campaign against her presence at PPMC.

Nnamdi-Ogbue had disclosed that the Police, EFCC and the DSS would soon be involved in the prosecution of pipeline vandals during her official visit to Mosinmi Depot and Ajebo pipeline in Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun state.

She also stated that trackers would soon be mounted on trucks carrying fuel from depots to filling stations across the country, as part of measures to check diversion of the product.

The coalition which called on Kachikwu to carry on in his service to Nigeria and ignore the faceless group demanding that he removes forthright officials like Nnamdi-Ogbue, noted that with Nigeria at a critical juncture in history and in spite of prevailing challenges, upright officials who work tirelessly towards achieving a paradigm shift in the face of entrenched impuity and needless intrigues, must be supported.

Commending the restructuring of NNPC towards increasing productivity and efficiency, the coalition called for the need to deny corrupt persons and unscrupulous cabals a foothold in the on-going process of change and progress.

Noting the new effort to attack Nnamdi-Ogbue’s integrity, the coalition stressed that her approximately three decades of work experience within Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) organisational structure and her academic accomplishments do not reflect any form of soiled record

http://tapread.net/2016/03/14/a-coalition-of-c…trategic-challen/

BUDGET
Budget

• Budget officials dissociate selves from padding saga
Three directors have been moved out of the Budget Office of the Federation as a result of the embarrassment caused by the tardiness of the N6.08 trillion 2016 federal budget.

They include Mr. Francis Ojiah (Administration and Supplies); Mrs. Stella B Toluwase (Expenditure); and Mrs. Olunbimi O .O (Revenue).

Under the Organogram of the Office, the Expenditure Department prepares the annual budget of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also releases monthly and quarterly warrants and AIE.
The Revenue Department estimates all government oil and non-oil revenues, among others, while the Administration and Supplies Department is in charge of general administration of the Budget Office as well as procurement.

Meanwhile, the sack of Director-General of the Budget Office, Alhaji Yahaya Aliyu Gusau notwithstanding, some top officials of the agency have blamed the presidency for They maintained that the department was totally sidelined in the entire planning and drafting process.

Instead, the budget bureaucrats alleged that the job was contracted out hence key steps were overlooked, resulting in the monumental embarrassment.

According to the staff who craved anonymity, they alleged that the consultants from a DFID-funded Federal Public Administration Reform Programme Nigeria (FEPAR) “with no experience in budget preparation” were recruited to handle the 2016 budget.

The bureaucrats further alleged: “ FEPAR’s appointment was not even tendered and there was no inputs from the Budget Office of the federation (BOF) on its appointment as well as scrutiny of its technical know-how on national budget. The consultants prepared the 2016 budget which has been mired in controversies since its submission to the national assembly last December.”

Again, they averred: “ The process for the budget was entirely run by FEPAR and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning MBNP, bodies that are alien to budget preparation and procedures.

“The system of FGN budgeting in previous years was different from the ZBB which the current government has adopted and the tool used in the past is GIFMIS but all efforts to get FEPAR align its template to GIFMIS was resisted, “ the bureaucrats further contended.

It would be recalled that FEPAR, a DFID-funded intervention was designed to provide technical assistance to key public service institutions in Nigeria.

It is geared at strengthening core Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) systems and its capacity to deliver public services, with the overall goal of a more capable and accountable government of Nigeria.

The programme focuses on five reform areas, including support to central policy and planning coordination, civil service reform, public financial management, service improvement and external accountability.

http://tapread.net/2016/03/11/three-directors-…of-budget-office/ ‎

Parliamentarians across Africa have been tasked to intensify efforts in the fight against corruption to ensure success of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa in their individual countries in particular.

This is even as it was urged to formulate policies that will set implementation of the goals on the right footing.

The call was made yesterday by the representative of East African Legislative Assembly, Hon. Abubakar Zien Abubakar at the All African Parliamentary Conference On Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) holding in Abuja.

Abubakar Zein while delivering a goodwill message, stressed the need to fight corruption in the continent for the goals to be successfully implemented and achieved.

“Corruption must be fought tooth and nail in Africa for this to work. This dream and the promise of the Sustainable Development Goals will be unattainable if we as African as people do not fight corruption.”

He noted that until parliamentarians are able to play their rightful roles, the goals will not be achieved on time.

Also, the delegates were urged to come up with policies to ensure that the process of implementing and achieving the goals are inclusive and participatory given that they are goals meant to improve the lives of citizens.

Director, UN SDG Action Campaign, Mitchell Toomey who said this at the conference, further stated that the role of parliaments in planning, intervention and oversight of the process of bringing the goals to life, cannot be over emphasized.

He noted that for development to thrive and be sustained, there was need to make every process participatory.

Earlier, chairman of the House committee on SDGs and chairman of the conference organising committee, Hon. Abdulkabir Tijjani Joda, disclosed that representatives of parliaments from across Africa were gathered to brainstorm and interact on the way forward towards lifting Africa and it’s people to the next level through instruments of the parliament working with the SDGs as the chief driver.

Similarly, Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament, Edward Doo Ajao noted that conferences such as this, emboldens the major initiatives for sustainable development and enhances the drive for reducing poverty on the African continent.

“We must hold fast to the objectives of this goals so as to uplift our nation states from the doldrums of backwardness”.

On his part, the deputy speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuf Sulaiman Lasun stated that African parliamentarians must work to enhance development strategies that will tackle challenges in rural areas.

Speakers at the conference also commended the National Assembly for organising the conference that aims at a successful implementation of SDGs in Africa.
http://telltimes..nl/2016/03/african-lawmakers-meet-in-abuja-parley.html

\\\

Governor Rauf Aregbesola has renamed the state-owned university Osun State University UNIOSUN after the slain minister of justice and attorney general of the federation, Chief Bola Ige.
He also renamed all the tertiary institutions in the state at the convocation ceremony of the university where Mrs, Folorunsho Alakija was also installed as the new chancellor of the institution.
The institutions renamed include: Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke now Bisi Akande College of Technology; Osun State Polytechnic Iree now, Sunday Afolabi Polytechnic; College of Education, Ila Orangun now Adeyemi Oyeduntan College of Education and the College of Education Ilesa which is now to be known as Lawrence Omole College of Education.
Others are UNIOSUN College of Law, Ifetedo now Kayode Esho College of Law; College of Social Sciences and Management Okuku, now Olagunsoye Oyinlola College of Social Sciences and Management; College of Agriculture Ejigbo, now Isiaka Adeleke College of Agriculture; College of Education Ipetu Ijesa, now Ezekiah Oluwasanmi College of Education and College of Humanities and Culture, Ikire, now Eniola Atanda College of Humanities and Culture.
Meanwhile , the new chancellor, Alakija has described her conferment and the award of honorary doctorate degree in business administration as unique.
Earlier, Aregbesola had commended Alakija for her sterling accomplishments.
With her investiture she becomes the first female chancellor in public universities in Nigeria. for counting the University worthy and accepting to serve as the Chancellor of the university when she could have easily turned down top universities in Europe and America with the same request.
http://telltimes..nl/2016/03/aregbesola-renames-uniosun-now-bola-ige.html

yunusa1
The Nigerian Police Force yesterday dragged Yunusa Dahiru, the alleged abductor of 14-year old Ese Oruru before the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa on a five count charge of criminal abduction, Illicit sex, sexual exploitation and unlawful carnal knowledge.

The special police prosecutor, Kenneth Dika, in the charge sheet with suit numbered FHC/YNG/17c/2016, stated that Yunusa Dahiru, a male resident in Opolo-Eipie area of Yenagoa in Bayelsa State conspired with the duo of Dankano Mohammed and Mallam AlHassan,who are at large, between August 2015 and February, 2016 conspired to commit the offence of abduction punishable under section 27(a) of the trafficking in persons (prohibition) enforcement and administration Act, 2015.

The police are claimingn that Yunusa Dahiru abducted Ese Oruru by means of coercion, ‘transported and harbored her in Kano State and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 13(2)(b) of the Trafficking in Persons prohibition Enforcement and Administration Act,2015.”

Yunusa, popularly known as Yellow, who was paraded in court amidst tight security pleaded not guilty to the charges read to him in pidgin English.

Attempts by a police interpreter to translate into the Hausa language was rebuffed by the presiding judge, Justice H.A.Nganjiwa.

Justice Nganjiwa, after hearing from police lawyer, Kenneth Dika and lawyer to the accused, Kayode Olaosebikan on the agreed adjournment date of March, 14 said the priority of the court is the hearing of the case and other motions that may be filed by the lawyers.

He subsequently ruled that the accused be remanded in police custody until the adjourned date.

Lawyer to Yunusa, while speaking with newsmen after the court session described the case as that of two love birds who decided to elope.

‘‘We have applied for bail and the court will rule on it on the adjourned date.
http://tapread.net/2016/03/09/ese-oruru-police…tion-illicit-sex/ ‎

The governor of the state of Osun Ogeni Rauf Aregbesola thes morning desolved Local government and functionaries in Osun state, The state governments, removes the executive Secretaries and other Local Government functionaries. The governor afterwards announce the creation of new additional 3 Area offices and 28 Local governments development council this morning, the governor said the dissolved the former Local government structure to give way for a New Local government structure that will represent every community in the state, he said he would like the government to get more closer to the people of the state.
http://telltimes..nl/2016/03/breaking-ogbeni-rauf-aregbesola.html

The minister of Communications, Barrister Adebayo Shittu yesterday said he will meet with the Senate Committee on Communications today as well as face the House of Reps counterparts on Thursday to explain his role in the N50 billion payment paid by MTN and the withdrawal of court case against the government.
Shittu who fielded question to technology journalists in Lagos yesterday during a working visit to three telecommunications operating companies, MainOne, MTN and Globacom said the request of the lawmakers was in order. The legislature is empowered by law to check, from time to time, the activities of the executive arm of government with a view to ensuring transparency in the system, he said.
“The latest about the MTN fine matter now is that, MTN, which took the government to court for imposing N1.04 trillion on it for violation of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) registration rule has come out to say it wanted an out of court settlement.
In a democratic system, out-of-court arrangement should be encouraged for peaceful resolution of any matter and we have accepted their offer to settle out of court. “We have also given them conditions to withdraw the case and make some commitment payment in good faith for us to begin further negotiations and they have down the two.
“But the lawmakers are saying they wanted clarifications on the two matters for which I am ready to address first before House of Representation tomorrow (today) and later in the Senate. I am, indeed, more than prepared to discuss how the whole exercise is going with the lawmakers,” he said.
The Senate had summoned the Shittu, alongside the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to explain their role in the claim that MTN Nigeria Limited had paid N50 billion to the Federal Government.
The summon, which was contained in a statement dated March 3, was signed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Communications, Gilbert Nnaji. Also to appear before the Committee on the same issue are the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria.
The committee in the statement titled: “Urgent legislative intervention on the alleged controversial payment of N50 billion by Telecom service provider, MTN, with regard to the fine of N780 billion imposed on it by NCC,” has mandated all those included in the summon to appear before it on March 10, 2016.
The committee noted that in the course of its oversight function in relation to the sanction of N780 billion imposed on MTN, NCC could not offer any proof of receiving money from MTN.

http://telltimes..com/2016/03/n780bn-ill-meet-lawmakers-today-over.html

yemi-osinbajo1
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN and other top anti-corruption crusaders in Nigeria meet to brainstorm on finding way to fund and sustain anti-graft efforts in the country.

The event which holds in Abuja, is as a mark of approval and support for the on-going fight against corruption by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, is organised by the collaboration of Convention on Business Integrity (CBI) and the Integrity Organisation (Limited by Guarantee).

The one-day symposium is slated for March 10, 2016 where compatriots are to discuss ways to effectively fund and sustain the anti-corruption campaign of the government.

In a press release issued and made available to us on Thursday, the groups expressed the hope that the programme, in addition to sensitising and proffering viable solutions to corruption related issues, will also stimulate reflection and discourse by all stakeholders on the need to support and sustain the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

According to the statement, the special guest of honour at the event is Vice President Osinbajo, while Prof. Sagay will chair the symposium.

The statement reads in part, “For the fight against corruption to be effective and far reaching, there needs to be concrete ways of funding, driving and sustaining anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria together with the President. Well-meaning Nigerians, leaders of the business community, all arms of government, civil society and the general public must rise in full support of this noble cause to secure the future of our fatherland.”

: http://tapread.net/2016/03/07/osinbajo-sagay-o…ti-graft-efforts/ ‎

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed doubts about the loyalty of some key members of his administration.

However, the President did not name these officials.

The President spoke to Al-Jazeera during his recent visit to Doha, Qatar, an interview that was aired on Saturday.

When asked to be specific on his submission, which suggested that there were saboteurs in his government, Buhari replied, “Certainly!”

He said it would be wrong to assume that government officials, especially those who his government inherited from the Peoples Democratic Party will be 100 per cent loyal to his government.

The President said, “People who want to be fair to us to sit and reflect; from the President to the ministers to the permanent secretaries, they were all taken over after eight successive governments of those who are now in the opposition. So, we cannot assume that all of them are 100 per cent loyal to this government.”

He said his government had put machinery in place to reduce the cost of governance.

He cited the drastic reduction in the number of ministries as one of the ways his administration had reduced the cost of governance.

“I will like people to assess Nigeria, especially this government, on where we found ourselves. When we came in, we found out that there were 42 ministries and we found out that the economy could not take 42, so we reduced it to 24. We also removed 21 permanent secretaries,” he said.

Buhari also ruled out the creation of the Republic of Biafra from Nigeria, saying the country under his watch would not tolerate it.

He said those who were currently agitating for Biafra were not being guided by history.

He spoke on the challenges the country is currently facing such as the dwindling value of the naira, the Boko Haram war, his anti-corruption crusade and the new agitation by Biafra secessionists.

There has been renewed agitation for Biafra in recent times. The move is spearheaded by the Independent People of Biafra led by detained Nnamdi Kanu.

But Buhari said in the interview that those behind the agitation were joking with security.

He said it was unfortunate that people could be agitating for Biafra after about two million Nigerians were killed during the Biafra war.

He said it might be that the pro-Biafra protesters had not been born during the period.

“At least two millions Nigerians were killed in the Biafra war. And for somebody to wake up, may be they weren’t born. Looking for Biafra after two millions people were killed, they are joking with security and Nigeria won’t tolerate Biafra.”

Buhari said he would not reconsider his position that his administration would not devalue the naira despite the advice by the International Monetary Fund.

He said since Nigeria imported virtually everything from rice to toothpicks, it could not afford to devalue its currency.

“If it is against our national interest, why can’t we go against the IMF advice?” Buhari asked.

Buhari also said despite the drop in the international crude oil prices, which he said was affecting Nigeria negatively, the country would not quit the international oil-producing cartel, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries. He said it was in Nigeria’s best interest to remain within OPEC.

“We were unable to diversify our economy, hence we are much more disadvantaged by the lower oil prices. I value the institution of OPEC and Nigeria will make the necessary sacrifice to remain in OPEC,” he said.

When asked if he was prepared to consider devaluing the naira, Buhari said, “No. I have explained that countries that play around with their currencies are countries that have enormous production capacities. They have factories in place. Their infrastructure, in terms of power, communications, and security, are virtually perfect. Nigeria imports virtually everything from rice to toothpicks. Now, if we don’t have the money to import those things, what is the value of further devaluing our naira?”

The President said he had not failed in his promise to put an end to the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

He said Nigeria under his watch had successfully dislodged the sect from the 14 local government areas it was holding at the inception of his administration.

“I have not failed. When we came in, Boko Haram was effectively in 14 local governments. Nigeria has 774 local governments. They hoisted their flags and they said they had a certain caliphate but today they no longer have the capacity to hold any local government,” Buhari said.

When confronted with the fact that members of the sect were still killing people in parts of the country, the President said they had resorted to attacking “soft targets.”

Although he admitted that such kinds of terrorism would be difficult to eliminate because of technology, he boasted that Boko Haram could no longer hold any local government or attack military installations as they used to do.

He said, “They have reverted to improvised explosive devices blowing soft targets, and that will be a kind of terrorism which will be difficult to eliminate because it is technological, but they cannot hold any local government again.

“They are using technology but they cannot carry out organised attacks, overrun police post, attack military installations, they cannot do that now.”

The President also spoke on the ongoing probe into the diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition for the Nigerian military to fight the insurgency.

Buhari said, “The fact that people that are identified as taking public funds without going through the normal system of getting public funds are being detained and they are being interrogated so that there will be successful convictions. If people are in a hurry, what have they been doing in the last 16 years? Didn’t they know what was happening in the last 16 years?

“We are part of it because we have got terrorists in Nigeria that everybody knows which claims that they are Islamic. So if there is an Islamic correlation, to fight terrorism, Nigeria will be part of it because we are casualties of Islamist terrorism.”

http://telltimes..com/2016/03/nnamdi-kanu-drags-buhari-to-ecowas.html

Between December 2015 and January 2016, the operating revenue of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation fell by N53.54bn, the firm’s financial and operations report released on Friday showed.

According to the report, which was for the month of January 2016, the corporation’s group operating revenue for December 2015 was N184.4bn, while it made N130.86bn in the month of January this year.

The national oil firm stated that its “group operating revenue for the months of December 2015 and January 2016 were N184.4bn and N130.86bn respectively. This represents 58.63 per cent and 41.6 per cent respectively of monthly budget.”


Similarly, it noted that the operating expenditure for the same periods were N196.26bn and N134.41bn respectively, which also represents 72.61 per cent and 49.73 per cent of the budget for the months respectively.

The report stated that the corporation recorded N11.86bn and N3.55bn shortfalls for the months of December 2015 and January 2016 respectively as against monthly budgeted surplus of N44.23bn.

On the performance of the country’s three refineries which are located in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri, the report noted that the facilities had a combined yield efficiency of over 83 per cent in January 2016.

The NNPC said, “Total crude processed by the three refineries for the month of January 2016 was 256,676 metric tonnes (1,881,948 bbls) which translate to a combined yield efficiency of 83.79 per cent compared to crude processed in December 2015 of 124,646 MT (913,904bbls) with combined yield efficiency of 89.69 per cent.

“For the month of January 2016, the three refineries produced 216,141 MT (1,584,746 bbls) of finished petroleum products out of 256,676MT (1,881,948 bbls) of crude processed at an average capacity utilisation of 13.64 per cent which improved by 7.02 per cent compared to December 2015 average capacity utilisation.”
http://tapread.net/2016/03/05/nnpcs-revenue-fa…4bn-in-one-month/ ‎

united Nations Organization
The UN, AU, Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and EU on Friday welcomed the final result of the second round of the presidential election in the Central African Republic (CAR).

The result was announced by CAR Transitional Constitutional Court on Tuesday.

The organisations in a joint statement in New York congratulated the President-elect, Mr Faustin-Archange Touadéra, and expressed their support for his determination to further the efforts to promote dialogue and national reconciliation.

The UN, AU, ECCAS and EU then paid tribute to Mr Anicet-Georges Dologuélé, Touadéra’s rival and to the people of CAR who demonstrated their commitment to find durable solutions in support of peace, reconciliation and economic and social development in the African republic.

They welcomed the essential role played by the Transitional Authority in support of a return to peace.

They reiterated their commitment to continued efforts to support the completion of the transition, including through the holding of the second round of legislative elections.

The organisations recalled that the people of the CAR had high expectations that the completion of the transition would bring real change.

They underlined that the new authorities of CAR had an important opportunity and responsibility to ensure further progress toward peace and security, justice and reconciliation, and social cohesion, as well as reconstruction and development.

The international community, they added, would continue to lend its support to the efforts of the new CAR authorities through responsible partnership. (NAN)

http://tapread.net/2016/03/05/un-au-eccas-eu-w…dential-election/ ‎

The National Assembly yesterday raised concern about the implementation of the N500 billion special intervention fund, a cardinal programme of the Buhari administration.
The lawmakers were categorical that though the plan by the Federal Government to spend N500 billion on vulnerable Nigerians is laudable, its implementation will pose problems.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, who raised the issue suggested the suspension the plan in this year’s budget.
Goje spoke at a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation meeting with Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun and top officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Goje noted that the meeting became necessary because members of the National Assembly had given March 17th deadline to pass the budget.
He said Udo-Udoma, Adeosun and others were invited to get their final input before the budget is passed.
He also the lawmakers want to pass an implementable budget.
He said the N500 billion special intervention fund’s implementation is not clearly stated in the budget.
Goje, an APC senator from Gombe and a former governor of the state on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform, said how would the beneficiaries of the programme be selected.
He added that there was no doubt that it would turn into a political jamboree for political office holders.
Goje who noted that market women were listed as part of those who would benefit from the fund wondered how market women would be selected.
He said that in his home state of Gombe, there are no market women but market men.
The lawmaker also declared the school feeding initiative planned by the government as un-implementable.
Insisting that school feeding programme is largely unsustainable, he wondered how billions of naira would be spent on feeding pupils when most of them study under trees due to lack of class rooms.
The government, he said, should take a second look at the programmes, fine tune them and leave the implementation for the 2017 fiscal year.
ButUdo- Udoma said the programmes were political promises that should be implemented in the interest of the people.
The minister added that he would take back the concerns raised by the lawmakers to the government.
He said the programmes were commitments that must be done.
On recovered funds, Udoma said only established recovered funds could be put in the budget.
He denied knowledge of a circular directing MDAs to implement only the budget as presented by President Muhammadu Buhari saying “I don’t think that the National Assembly will give us back the budget the way it came.”
Udo-Udoma also insisted that the template of the 2016 budget is zero budgeting.
He added however that “zero budgeting does not mean that we don’t have a limit.”
The minister admitted that the implementation of the budget would be difficult especially with falling oil price in the international market.
He noted that though the price of oil is dwindling, the cost of production remained the same, describing the development as a major challenge.
Udoma told the lawmakers not to increase the size of the budget in order not to make its implementation more difficult.
On the sources of funding the budget, he said the government planned to borrow N1.8 trillion half of which would be foreign loan.
He said the government was now being forced to look inward to raise funds to implement the budget.
The minister said the government is expecting more revenue from non oil sector of the economy including broadening the tax base.
On oil benchmark of $38 pb, he said that benchmark will still be retained despite falling oil price.
The benchmark, he said, was arrived at after wide consultation.
He said that the personnel cost component of the budget is another major challenge for the government.
He noted that though government does not plan to retrench workers, “Government is trying to use technology to ensure that salaries actually go to people who are working.
Mrs Adeosun spoke on how to fund the budget.
The minister told the lawmakers that independently-generated revenue would largely be used to fund the budget.
She noted that cost-saving would be another means to fund the budget.
The lawmakers also drew Udo-Udoma’s attention to the concern of some Civil Society Organisations of about N668 billion frivolous provisions in the budget.

http://telltimes..com/2016/03/national-assembly-tells-buhar-to-drop.html

The Federal Government will next week announce a major overhaul of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as well as the firm’s unbundling into 30 different companies, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said.
According to him, the government has started resolving the governance issues in the oil and gas sector, adding that an overhaul had not happened at the corporation in the past 20 years.
Kachikwu, who disclosed this at the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ Oloibiri Lecture Series in Abuja on Thursday, also stated that the latest financial report of the NNPC for the month of January showed that the corporation’s losses had reduced from the over N160bn of some six months ago to about N3bn.
“For the national oil company, a lot of work is going on; I am sure some of you have seen the effects; but within the next one week, we are going to be announcing some real major overhaul of the system, one that hasn’t been done in over 20 years.”Explaining the restructuring by the Federal Government in the oil sector, the minister said, “We are starting first with simple governance issues; those that are not contentious, that are very rapid and that deal a lot with the transformation of the national oil company.
Kachikwu added, “The effect of that will be to quite frankly unbundle the huge company into four to five main operational zones – the upstream, downstream, midstream, refining, and of course, every other company that is trending to the venture group.”
“But what is more important is that at the same time, we are also unbundling the subsets of these companies to close to about 30 independent companies with their own managing directors; and so, titles like the group executive directors, which you have been used to in the last 30 years, will disappear; and in place of those, you are going to have chief executive officers.”
This, he said, would make people take responsibility for their titles, as the positions must mean something and not administrative roles.
The minister said, “So, at the end of the day, a CEO of an upstream company must deliver upstream results, and we are very focused on that and along those chains. We are doing very dramatic things within the sector to bring the change and I am happy that we are gaining the cooperation of people within the industry; that is the only way we can guarantee sustainable career path for those in the industry.
“We are potentially moving in a direction where quite frankly for the first time in about 15 years, this company will be profitable; but that is a tip of the iceberg, because by the time these 30 companies are unbundled with their managing directors setting programmes, you are going to meet us in the active work space, we are going to be competing and we are going to make these things work.”
On the slump in global crude oil prices, Kachikwu said the government had been meeting with other oil exporting countries, and expressed the hope that the price of the commodity would soon rise to around $50 per barrel.
He said, “I don’t need to tell you about the price of oil, despite the shuttle diplomacy here and there. It is still very challenging but at least we are inching up, and for the first time, we are beginning to have both the Saudis and the Russians come back on the table.
“Hopefully, if the meeting that we are scheduling to happen in Russia between the OPEC and non-OPEC members happen around the 20th of March, we should see some dramatic movements. We are not likely going to see the prices of many years ago, but I think we are very humble today to accept that if we hit the price of $50, we will be celebrating and that is the target that we have.”
The minister further stated that focusing on gas policies was a key element for him, adding, “The target that I am setting for myself is a 12-month type agenda to try and arrive at some of these conclusions: some working with the (National) Assembly, and some working with policymakers and the industry.”
Kachikwu said he had been involved in so many conversations with oil companies and that the essence was to define stipulated contractual terms in the industry.
He noted that production sharing contract terms had not been revised for quite a while, adding that the government was focusing more on how it could bring PSC-type contracts into joint venture structures.
The minister stated, “The target I have set within our system is to see whether we can get to a point where at the end of this year, we will be able to transmit completely away from cash-call type environment. And that way, the oil companies are going to be freed up and be able to go out there to begin to look for the kind of funding they require.
“For the first time I think we are getting quite faster than the oil companies and we are going to continue to push them. It is so critical for me that by June this year, some agreements are concluded and some levels of financing are coming in to the sector in such a way that I can get them, at least for 2016, to 100 per cent activity-type of environment.”
Kachikwu, however, denied reports that expatriates would take over key functions of the NNPC, but noted that experienced hands would be needed at the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, a subsidiary of the national oil firm.
He said, “I did not say that we will engage foreigners to come and work at the NNPC. We were dealing with a specified branch of NNPC, which is the NPDC. This is because if the NPDC is going to compete, it will do that on a universal level. It can’t play as a local Nigerian company and want to take part in mainstream oil exploration and production.
“And so far, we haven’t done it right. So, what I felt was that we are going to bring in experienced hands. Experienced hands could be Nigerians and not that expatriates necessarily bring more value to the table than Nigerians do. But we are looking at being able to get outside the NNPC box and bring in people, they may be Nigerians or foreigners. This is because collaboration with technical foreign organisations is essential to drive the process.”
Reacting to the announcement by the minister, the Head of Energy Research, Ecobank Capital, Mr. Dolapo Oni, said the overhaul of the corporation was very critical at this time of low global oil prices.
He said, “We have always said the NNPC is too large and that it will be better if it was split down along its functions. I like the idea of upstream, downstream and midstream. It will make the NNPC more efficient; each of those units will have to generate its own revenue and run its own expenses. So, accounting will be a lot easier, and the corporation will be more efficient operationally.
“But, maybe, we should try not to do too much too fast. I hope there is a plan to achieve this over a period of time, not just immediately, because then, it will create some bottlenecks. Some functions that were subsumed within the entire NNPC body before, now have to be delegated to specific subsidiaries. And that has to be done very well to ensure there is no overlapping of functions.”
An energy expert and Technical Director, Drilling Services, Template Design Limited, Mr. Bala Zakka, stressed the need to address the opaque nature of the NNPC and improve its transparency.
Zakka said, “The reason why that is necessary is that up till this moment, the NNPC is still looking choked with very few people carrying out complex and tasking responsibilities.
“There is this thinking that probably the inefficiencies and lack of performances are due to that complexity of the NNPC with just very few people.”
According to him, the corporation is not too complicated because it is so big or bigger than companies like Saudi Aramco or Petrobras of Brazil or Petronas of Malaysia, but it is looking complex in its workability.
“So, if breaking it down and having heads of different divisions will help open it up and bring about transparency, then it is a welcome idea,” he added.
The Director, Emerald Energy Institute, University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Wumi Iledare, who commended the minister’s efforts in overhauling the corporation, said, “He has big ideas to move the corporation forward, and it is a welcome idea to break the NNPC into independent companies. But the governance structure of the oil and gas industry is a very important aspect to critically look into.”

http://telltimes..com/2016/03/fg-to-split-nnpc-into-30-firms-next-week.html

The immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on Wednesday failed to appear before the ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives investigating the crude oil swap contracts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
The former minister neither appeared in person nor sent a representative to the hearing of the committee, which is chaired by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Kwara State, Mr. Zakari Mohammed.
Two crude oil trading firms, Duke Oil and Tranfigura reportedly lifted the crude oil between 2011 and 2014 without valid contracts.The committee had summoned Alison-Madueke and a former Managing Director of the Pipelines Product Marketing Company, Mr. Haruna Momoh, in connection with the lifting of crude oil worth $24bn in exchange for refined petroleum products.
The summons were issued after three former GMDs of the NNPC – Mr. Austin Oniwon, Mr. Andrew Yakubu and Mr. Joseph Dawha – had informed the committee that Alison-Madueke “approved” the contracts without signing any valid agreements with the firms.
On Wednesday, however, the former minister failed to show up at the committee’s sitting.
Momoh too did not come.
Instead, he sent his younger brother, Mr. Suleiman Momoh, to inform the committee that he was ill and would not be able to appear before the panel on Wednesday.
Mohammed was left bewildered when he called for appearances and realised that Alison-Madueke was absent.
He said the committee would take the “appropriate steps” to address the absence of the former minister, but he did not elaborate on the nature of the steps.
Mohammed stated, “Anybody who knows the former minister and Momoh should tell them that they are daring the parliament and we will take the appropriate measures against them.”
However, Momoh’s younger brother, Suleiman, rose to register an excuse that his elder brother was ill.
“He is ill and he will not be able to attend this session of the committee,” Suleiman added.
The committee rejected Suleiman’s excuse and directed him to tell Momoh that he must appear before the panel.
Meanwhile, the Federal Inland Revenue Service told the session that Transfigura defaulted in tax payments to the Federal Government to the tune of $642.5m.
The agency disclosed that in 2010, the tax value of the firm’s trading was $613.7m; in 2011, it was $2.7m; and $2.5m in 2012.
It added that the tax value in 2013 was $2.4m; and $2.2m in 2014.
The agency explained that after applying the relevant tax laws to the operations of the firm for the period covered, the total tax liability stood at $642.5m.
In the case of Duke Oil, the FIRS informed the panel that it calculated $4.7m as its total tax liability.
“The computation was based on the commissions Duke Oil charged on its services,” the agency said.
The committee also asked the Nigeria Customs Service to ignore a 2008 directive by the Ministry of Finance that the NCS should not inspect petroleum product cargo declared by importers.
The NCS had told the committee that the directive was given to forestall any possible delay in the offloading of products for distribution downstream.
Mohammed noted, “The Customs and Excise Act is more important than any letter from any ministry in 2008.
“We will invite the Permanent Secretary, who issued that directive, to appear before us and explain why it was necessary.”
“The NCS should ignore that letter forthwith.”
http://telltimes..nl/2016/03/24bn-contracts-diezani-shuns-reps-panel.html

Of the over 2,000 manufacturing firms in the country, more than 200 will be closing shop in the next two months due to lack of raw materials to continue production, according to findings by our correspondent.
The President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Dr. Frank Jacobs, told our correspondent that 100 operators in the general goods sector had indicated that they would shut down in April when their remaining stock of raw materials would have been used up.
Similarly in the pharmaceutical sector, 120 operators are down to two months’ supply of raw materials after which they will close shop, according to the Chairman, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of MAN, Dr. Okey Akpa.


In the food and beverage sector, only few of the 80 operators may be in business by April if the situation does not improve.
The President, Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers, Mr. Paul Gbededo, told our correspondent that apart from two or three firms, which were able to attain 40 per cent to 50 per cent local sourcing of raw materials, the rest depended on importation and would find it difficult to keep operating beyond April.
“Some people are already going out of business,” he said in an exclusive interview with our correspondent.
It was gathered that a combination of factors, chief among which was the scarcity of dollars and the restriction of forex sales to importers of 41 items (some of them considered as essential raw materials) by the Central Bank of Nigeria, had curtailed the supply of raw materials to the industrial sector, leading to low capacity utilisation and poor output.
Operators said they had been unable to meet both local and foreign financial obligations on account of poor bank credit and lack of access to dollars.
The Chief Executive Officer, Erisco Foods Limited, Chief Eric Umeofia, said the situation had challenged his ability to access bank loans in Nigeria, and had also put a strain on his relationship with his foreign financiers and suppliers.
He said, “Due to the policy on the importation of tomato concentrates, we do not have enough raw materials to produce, and that has incapacitated us because it means we have not been able to service our bank loan.
“In Nigeria, there is a policy that once you cannot service your loan for three months, you are classified as a bad debtor and not entitled to further loans. The same CBN that banned the sale of dollars to the importers of these items did not advise the commercial banks to give loans to the manufacturers to enable them to produce the items locally.
“Currently, we can’t service our bank loans since we cannot import raw materials to produce. I can neither get naira nor dollar from the banks. I don’t have the naira to pursue the dollar, and my foreign suppliers that gave me credit are now taking me to court because I have not met up with my financial commitments.
“When I produce, I am not selling because foreign products are everywhere. If I sell the way they are selling, I cannot be able to pay interest on my bank loans.”
For manufacturers whose products are not on the list of 41, they complain of waiting in the queue for forex from CBN for a period ranging from six months to one year.
The Chief Executive of Sonia Industries, Nnamdi Nnodebe, said he had bought machines on credit from Europe and had been waiting for the past 12 months to obtain forex to pay for the machines.
“It is not as if we don’t have the money to pay. The naira equivalent is there but they have refused to give us the dollars for one year,” he said.
Each manufacturing firm in the country is said to employ a minimum of 100 Nigerians and it is estimated that more than 20,000 direct jobs will be lost in April if more than 200 firms are shut down. The manufacturing sector contributed over N12.935tn ($65bn) to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product in 2015.
The Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Muda Yusuf, said the government should engage the manufacturers to identify what the problems were and how they could be solved.
He said, “The problems will still be there because there are fundamental issues with forex and oil price, but proper engagement will help reshape the economic policies of government. A lot of them import inputs, and if there is no liquidity in the forex market, it will have a lot of effect on them.
“There is a need to review the forex policy; they can’t run away from that. Also, if the manufacturers are complaining about the list of 41 prohibited items, that list needs to be reviewed.”
http://telltimes..nl/2016/03/forex-200-firms-risk-closure-says-man.html

BBOG-21
British Parliamentarians are set to join the #BringBackOurGirls group for its sit-out today as an act of solidarity to the campaign for the rescue of the Chibok girls.

According to a statement available from the group and signed by strategic team member, Jeff Okoroafor, the group noted that today “ Wednesday, our movement shall be hosting some members of the British Parliament at Unity Fountain Abuja, 5pm; at a special sit-out session.”

The statement added that all the parliamentarians, who are members of the International Development Committee – the committee with oversight responsibility for the Department for International Development (DFID) are expected at the sit-out.

The group also listed the names of the MPs and accompanying officials to include: Stephen Twigg (MP and chair), Virendra Kumar Sharma (MP), Helen Grant (MP), Wendy Morton (MP), Albert Owen (MP), Fiona Claire Bruce (MP), Lisa Cameron (MP).

Others include Jeremy John Elton Lefroy (MP), Pauline Elizabeth Latham (MP), Nigel Martin Evans (MP), Rachael Catriona Sarah Cox (staff) and Steven Jonathan Ayres (staff); while these Parliamentarians will also be accompanied by Ben Mellor, DFID Head of Office and Country Representative (Nigeria) , as probably will the High Commissioner.

This visit will become the second within the space of one week that a foreign government representatives will be joining the BBOG group for its sit-out.

Recall that Denmark had pledged to take the campaign of the rescue of the girls who were abducted in their dormitory at the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by the Boko Haram sect to the world.

Speaking during his visit to the #BringBackOurGirls group at the Unity Fountain, Abuja recently, the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kristian Jensen expressed sadness that the girls who were abducted for nearly two years were still in the hands of their captors and promised to become their voice to let the world know that they are still in captivity.

“I will assure you to work towards making the world never forget, to always fight, to find the truth and bring the girls back alive. I will like to include myself and Denmark in the fight. I hope to be an ambassador of the girls and be a part of saying, we want to bring the girls back,” he said.

Jensen who was accompanied by the Denmark’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Torben Gettermann stated that the fight to rescue the abducted girls was also the fight for the right of education for girl-child adding that Denmark will continue to champion girls’ right to education to the world.
http://telltimes..com/2016/03/british-parliamentarians-to-join-bbog.html

Nigeria is populous and it houses a lot of religion and allows a equal playing and growing grown for each religion and believe but despiteits size, there is hardly any expertise in promoting efficiency in the religious sector
The understanding of the concept of leisure is fundamental to the designing of interventions for the modern economy. There are various estimates of the business available in the ‘leisure sector’. Leisure business is spread from harnessing visual to audio to gastronomical delights and more. Put simply, catering to the six senses is the business of leisure.
The number six should not be taken too literally. Spiritual and religious practices have progressively emerged as a major factor in filling up leisure space. Spirituality/religiosity can also be a big business, Yes a legitimate one and not all this deceiving and deceitful religious houses around towns type of business.
Together, spirituality combined with religious fervor provides livelihood to millions over the world. Consider how all the places of worship are flush with money, yet some of then fails to pay tax to the government. That alone is significant but the seminality is further enhanced by a simple fact of civil society: Earnings from spiritual or religious practices are not taxed. Hence every Naira earned in this manner goes farther than earned through other modes .The economists are yet to wake up to this reality and factor it into the prevailing economic model
The consulting firms are full of the manufacturing sector, ‘the transportation sector,’ the telecoms sector’ and much more,the list is endless. Hardly any one of them has claimed any expertise in promoting efficiency in the spiritual or religious sector.
The proposition being made is simple. Spiritual or religious organisations also have to perform and they have sector-specific efficiency characteristics and traits .They require sector-specific evaluation parameters. Else the comfort of the user will be hit.
We sometimes cause confusion of categories because we mix intellect with emotion and emotion with religious fervour .This confusion is in other areas also. Corporate Social Responsibility is often confused with philanthropy, and both with the “higher purpose of the organisations”.
Even in the corporate world, inputs in the manufacturing sector will be confused with inputs to create a basic infrastructure. In turn, these processes are confused with the social justice and emancipation of the “communities exploited through centuries”. One would think the matter would be closed there but not quite. All this will have an overlay of issues such as gender parity and representation of women.
Each one of these causes is by themselves unexceptionable. No sane person will quarrel with equity or social justice or female representation. But that is not the point.
The point is, growth of manufacturing requires a certain approach, and investment in infrastructure another approach. Investment in manufacturing must lead to profits. Investment in infrastructure very often draws upon tax payer’s money.
How can the organisations in the two categories be evaluated in a similar manner? The consulting firms, individual, national or global need to have an answer.
The tragedy is that most advisories try to sell in overcrowded areas. Clarity of approach and sensitive delineation of the line between category of enterprises is needed. In this manner , everyone would gain, the revenues and the happiness quotient all around would be upbeat.
That, however, requires clarity. Some day when we are through with the fetish of slogan mongering “innovation”, we will have settled down to deal with more tangible demands of excellence in the routine and the ordinary. That would require clarity and simple action. These are rare abilities but they are worth developing.
http://telltimes..nl/2016/02/managing-business-of-faith-and-religion.html

Immunisation
• To increase domestic funding on routine immunisation
on’s abducted kid sister regains freedom

A new era in vaccine production is set to emerge in Africa, as the continent’s leaders yesterday forged an alliance to invest in local and regional capacity for the production of essential vaccines.

The declaration commits countries to increasing domestic financial investments in order to deliver routine immunisation vaccines.

They also called upon governments and partners to negotiate with vaccine manufacturers to facilitate access to vaccines with tier-pricing based on Gross National Income to ensure that vaccines will be available at affordable and equitable prices to all African countries.

The leaders also pledged to strengthen national regulatory authorities.

These and more were contained in a new declaration termed ‘Universal Access to Immunization as a cornerstone for health and development’, made at the African Union (AU) headquarters, Ethiopia, yesterday.


The declaration was made at the closing commitment of African Ministers of Health, Finance, Education, Social Affairs and Local Governments from across Africa at the Ministerial Conference on Immunization convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Union Commission).

It is to be presented to the African Heads of States at the 26th Summit of the African Union to be held next June.

Support from the Heads of State is expected to further empower countries to increase efforts to mobilize resources for national immunization programmes, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn said at the signing of the declaration.

WHO and the African Union Commission are to support African countries to share experiences, strengthen capacity, and establish mechanisms for monitoring progress towards the fulfilment of these commitments.

They called on governments and partners, including African development banks and African regional economic communities to support the implementation of this declaration, and to increase efforts to mobilize resources and secure new investments to strengthen national immunization programmes to achieve the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) goals and overall health care delivery systems in the member states.
read more here: http://tapread.net/2016/03/01/41-african-count…tion-of-vaccines/

A CRACK may have developed among the ranks of the governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as Governor Tanko Umaru Al-makura of Nasarawa State and his Imo State counterpart, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, yesterday took different positions in their reaction to President Muhamnadu Buhari’s decision to ditch the N5000 unemployment benefits to Nigerians.

The governors gave their opinions separately yesterday while speaking with reporters after their meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja.

To Al-makura, the President has the prerogative to so review any policy at any given time and his decision stands in as much as it is to the best interest of the nation.

According to the Nasarawa governor, “the President is the person that can tell you precisely how he is working on campaign promises and interventions that he has created, using his ingenuity. And if at any point in time, the President is reviewing that issue, I think he is the only person that can do so in the best interest of the country. And so, it is not challengeable by anybody whatever his position.”


He, therefore, called on Nigerians to give the benefit of doubt to enable him implant the laudable agenda that he has for Nigerians.

While Okorocha, who is Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF) agreed with the President on the need to improve on infrastructure to boost productivity, he, however, believed that, one way or the other, the APC campaign promises must be fulfilled to the people.

“To be honest with you, it is a great idea, but there are many ways to give that support. Sometimes, it could be in cash which has its own challenges. Handling of that is also in itself a wonderful and great idea,” he said.

The President had declared in Saudi Arabia, during a meeting with a select group of Nigerian community in Makkah that, rather than paying the N5000 as canvassed by his party on the heels of the presidential election, he would instead focus on repairing infrastructures such as roads, bridges, schools, among others.
http://telltimes..nl/2016/02/apc-govs-disagree-over-buharis-stance.html

Senator representing Kaduna Central senatorial district, Comrade Shehu Sani, yesterday donated books worth over $30,000 to the National Library and medical students from the Kaduna State University (KASU).

The Senator said the donation was just the first phase of the $100,000 worth of books he planned to donate to the library and schools in his immediate constituency.

He said, the donation became necessary owing to the fact that the education sector of Nigerian economy had suffered neglect in recent times.

While making the presentation at National Library, the activist turned politician said, “We have a duty as elected representative of our people. We need to take education seriously. Those who have passion to learn and those who want to research must be encouraged. You are what you read and if you don’t read what is new, your thought and vision becomes obsolete.

“Library in Nigeria has for a long time been neglected. A library is a temple of learning where you come and get updated knowledge.

“I have spent about 30,000 dollars on these books. Few are available within the country.’’

read more: http://tapread.net/2016/03/01/sen-shehu-sani-d…medical-students/

Nigeria can improve its performance in its new found love in Made in Nigeria products through transformational change in its educational system, channelising small savings, and a incentive getting labour forces to transfer to emerging production sectors
Nigeria and China are populous countries, Nigeria is the most populous here in Africa. Nigeria and China had very high initial poverty levels. But today, if we look at the development indicators of these two nations, we find a lot of difference between them. The development initiatives of China could be more relevant for Nigeria rather than policies undertaken by developed European and North American countries, as China is a latest success example of a large, over-populated, largely illiterate and economically backward country, which achieved success in a very well-planned manner within a very short period of time. We must not forget that the European and North American countries achieved the same feat of development over a longer period, spanning centuries, involving colonisation and exploitation of other parts of the world. Their growth model cannot be emulated by us.

The Comparative performance
China has shown better performance in almost all development indicators during the last 40 years. Chinese economy is growing at a rate that completely Dwarfs Nigeria's GDP.
The World Bank $2 per day criterion of head count ratio indicates the poverty level to have been 97.8 per cent in 1981 in China and it has gone down to the level of 36.3 per cent in 2005. The same poverty head count ratio in Nigeria have been growing since then, much lower than China, and it has gone down to a level of mere 65.6 per cent of the population in 2005. The minimum $1 dollar PPP criterion shows that the population under severe poverty in 2013 was approximately 6 per cent in China, while the same figure for Nigeria was approximately 48 per cent. During this period, Nigerian planners were busy in manipulating definition of poverty in order to reduce poverty statistics, while the Chinese were really focusing on employment and poverty reduction.

Political will
China’s economic progress can be attributed mainly to its political system as well as planned and foresighted economic policies. The political system in China is characterised by quick decision making. China’s ability to implement dictatorial decisions on certain issues, which can never have a democratic consensus, has been instrumental in forcing its people to work in the direction according to the need of the State rather than respecting the vox populi. Militarily China doesn’t have any threat from its neighbours and has political will to handle terrorism.
Nigeria, precisely because it is a democracy, and giant of Africa, fails in all these aspects. Due to its policy making system, which has its own virtues, Nigeria cannot take decisions as quick as the Chinese government can; Nigeria cannot provide and sensitize its labour to work in a particular sector the way China can; in a similar way terrorism cannot be handled in a swift manner due to appeasement and votebank policies and even the strict population control policies cannot be initiated. Democracy comes with a price tag, and we must be ready to pay that price without complaining. We do not need to learn from China’s brutally dictatorial ways. But, that does not mean that we can learn nothing from China. One core area is vocational training, where China can be our teacher, and this can be our first lesson from China.

Vocational training
China is reaping the benefits of vocational training in school that was introduced in the late 1980s. China provides vocational training after years of schooling and approximately 50 per cent of the eligible students are enrolled in such courses. Nigeria without doubt have special school for this, we have alot of technical schools and graduate but they are not able to perform because they laccapital to start the carrier
Out of remaining 99.9 per cent of students, less than 20 per cent study science, without any practical skill development and rest study Socail Science and commerce courses without any vocational training. The separation of vocational training from the general schools has resulted in making Technical schools/ institutions inferior, less sought after, and completely out of mainstream education, and ultimately out of sync with the aspirations of emerging job markets. Lack of respect for such institutions in the society further aggravated the overall condition of these institutions.
Labour force
Labour power in the warranted and crucial sector and areas of strategic importance is another advantage that the Chinese system possesses. Again, this very possible to achieve in Nigeria. Nigeria can actuallyshift its labour forces to agriculture , industry or compel the workforce to attend certain training programmes,a means to provide Job and enhance Productivity, production must be an integral part of Nigeria . Government provide incentives in order to facilitate such labour production. This is the second lesson that we should learn from China.

Control over economic variables
China has strong control over its price mechanism. It has allowed the prices to increase faster/slower in the strategic sectors according to the need of the country. At the same time there are indicators of price indices which are good not to increase much, and China had been successful in controlling them. For instance, the price of consumption, price of Government expenditure, price of investment and price of imports should not increase at a very high rate as they adversely affect the consumption capacity of the poor, increase the cost of Government expenditure meant for developmental activities, slow down economic activities and growth contribution by private players and discourage import of technology, increase burden of foreign debt respectively.
In China, the price of consumption, price of Government expenditure, price of investment and price of imports increase is very low. The price indices have grown faster in Nigeria for all those sectors where they were not beneficial for the country and the price indices have grown slower in the sectors which precisely were supposed to have grown faster for the benefit of the country. This is the third lesson that we should imbibe from China.

High saving rate
China had been successful in raising its saving rate and utilising it for capital formation. Even the corporate and government saving rates have been very high in China. Nigeria can also increase its saving as well as capital formation rate through channelising small savings of the rural poor people. This will not only give security to the poor but also generate fund for the capital formation. This should be, we suggest, our fourth lesson from China.

The least that Nigeria can do: Focusing on the four lessons
Though Nigeria cannot have the strong political will or dictatorial decision making of China due to its democratic political system, it can improve its performance through some transformational change in its educational system, channelising small savings, incentivising labour forces to transfer from the existing sector to importantly emerging sectors, and by having larger control over the prices for the benefit of the country.
The structure of Nigeria's economy is such that the biggest setback for the Nigeria’s economic growth comes from the fact that for most kinds of manufacturing work, workers do occur here, we import a lot at high rate. Government too have not really helped Matter as Loan have not been release to small scale Business people, for instance, our masons, barbers, electricians, cleaners, sweepers, health workers, auto mechanics, etc.
Nigeria could at least introduce an advance Vocational subject/ training This will help a lot of students and the economy would achieve a maximum productive fit.
An increase in the savings rate is essential to finance the domestic projects. Further, domestic savings provide stability to the economy. This can be done through channelising small savings of the rural poor and of the urban poor, which otherwise are not kept in the banking system. Government have tried to make some efforts to channelise small savings via ADBanks. But the scheme should reach the remotest villages and all sections of society.
Foreign investment of savings could also play an important role in generating employment in the economy by boosting growth. Buhari Government is digging pitch for “Made in Nigeria”, but this can be possible only when we remove bureaucratic/Oligarchy hurdles from the economy. Most economic decisions are taken by the Political class, oil magnets and Finance Minister in Nigeria, instead of experts or officers of Ministry of Trade and Production. Foreign and domestic investors are more afraid of Nigeria's bureaucracy and police rather than being afraid of Nigeria’s outlaws. This would be a big challenge for the Government to tackle the deep-rooted inertia of bureaucracy.
One even bigger challenge would be to transfer the labour force from existing sectors to the desired sectors for efficient utilisation of our labour power. This can be done by incentivising the labour force to shift. The incentives could be in the form of free training, better living conditions and job security.
Nigeria'’s economy will get a tremendous boost if we can learn these four lessons from China.
Micheal Adebola Adeniyi
@9jaclicktivist

Justice
• Says Annie Okonkwo, Chris Uba, Emeka remain PDP candidates
• Faction demands certificate of return

The Independent National Electoral Commission has again been urged to obey the January 29, 2016 Supreme Court judgment that set aside the order of the Court of Appeal which led to the removal of the list of candidates submitted by the Anambra State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the 2015 general election.
Wondering why INEC could not obey the court’s judgment, Chief Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the ruling of the Supreme Court cleared the way for them to benefit from the judgment delivered on January 29th 2016.

Uche said that when the Federal High Court gave ruling on the issue, INEC complied immediately without seeking clarification and that when the court of appeal over turned the decision of the federal high court, the same electoral body complied with the appellate court decision without seeking for any clarification.

“I am surprised that the same INEC has found it difficult to act on the Supreme Court decision of January 29 the way it acted on the decisions of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.”
Meanwhile, still not satisfied with the recent Supreme Court’s position on the matter, Chris Uba’s faction has again approached INEC, demanding Certificates of Return to the National Assembly. The Court, through Justice John I. Okoro had ruled that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction to review its own judgment going by its rules and the provisions of the Constitution and consequently struck out the application seeking for clarification of its earlier judgment.

In a strong worded letter to INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, the Chris Uba’s faction maintained that there was no court order upon which the membership of Andy Uba, Stella Oduah and others in the National Assembly can be sustained.

INEC had claimed that the January 29 judgment was confusing and decided to approach the court for clarifications but the court frowned at the decision, saying that the judgment does not need any interpretation because it was clear and unambiguous.

INEC had never denied the fact that it removed the names of candidates sent to it by the recognised PDP leadership in Anambra state because of the judgment of the Court of Appeal which judgment has now been set aside by the Supreme Court.


He argued that if the judgment upon which INEC based its decision has been set aside then the candidates elected on that list automatically fall with the judgment.

In refusing to review the judgment, the apex court said its rules and the provisions of the constitution forbid it from reviewing its judgment.

It also said it lacked the jurisdiction to review its own judgment.

The court held that the judgment by its ordinary meaning did not need to be subjected to any clarification. The court also held that Order 8, Rule 16 of the Supreme Court expressly stated that the court could not review its judgment once given except there was a clerical mistake or slip which in this case never happened The action sought would amount to rewriting the judgment and giving order where nothing had been shown that there was a clerical mistake In the judgment, court added.

But INEC was blamed for seeking for clarification in a judgment that needed no clarification.

Justice H.A. Ngajiwa of the Federal High Court had ealier in a judgment in the suit, FHC/PH/CS/247/2013 (now FHC/AWK/CS/247/2013), delivered on September 12, 2013, affirmed Oguebego and members of his team as constituting the authentic executive committee of the PDP in Anambra directing INEC and PDP to only deal with the Oguebego led executive.

Despite the order of the Federal High Court, PDP went ahead to set up a caretaker committee that organised the primary election that submitted the list containing the names of Senator Uche Ekwunife who was sacked by the Court of Appeal, for not been a product of a valid primary election, Senator Stella Oduah, Senator Andy Uba and others.
http://tapread.net/2016/02/29/obey-supreme-cou…awyer-tells-inec/

A legal luminary, Femi Falana (SAN) has called for the immediate release of Brig. Gen. Enitan Ransome-Kuti, from prison custody having completed the six months sentence imposed on him by a Special Court Martial set up to try him by the Nigerian Army on October 15, 2015.

Falana, who made the call in a statement he issued in Lagos yesterday and addressed to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen Tukur Buratai, said that if his request is not acceded to by the army authority he would approach the court to enforce his client’s right to liberty.

According to Falana, by virtue of Regulations 54 and 55 of the Prisons Regulations made pursuant to the Prisons Act (CAP. P29) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 which provides that every convict is entitled to a remission of one third of the sentence imposed by a court, Ransome-Kuti ought to have been released on February 15, 2016.

He said, “It would be recalled that our client was unjustly convicted and sentenced to dismissal from the Nigerian Army and 6-month imprisonment by a Special Court Martial on October 15, 2015.

“As the findings of the Special Court Martial are subject to the confirmation of the appropriate authority we made a strong representation to the Army Council on behalf of our client.

“By letter dated October 19 2015 we also requested the Authorities of the Nigerian Army to release our our client from military custody pending the determination of the appeal.

which he intended to file against the unjust findings of the Special Court Martial which convicted him of war related crimes and sentenced him to 6-month imprisonment and dismissal from the Nigerian Army.

“For reasons best known to you the request for our client’s release pending appeal was turned down by your good self in flagrant violation of section 160 of the Armed Forces Act (Cap A20) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“Thus, you caused our client to serve the 6-month prison term without the confirmation of the findings of the Special Court Martial by the Army Council.

As if that was not enough, you have ignored our demand for the release of our client since he completed the 6-month prison term on February 15, 2016. In our letter dated February 12, 2016 on the subject matter, we had pointed out that our client ought to have spent 4 calendar months in custody by virtue of Regulations 54 and 55 of the Prisons Regulations made pursuant to the Prisons Act (CAP. P29) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 which provides that every convict is entitled to a remission of one third of the sentence imposed by a court.

“In view of the foregoing, you will agree with us that the continued detention of our client cannot be justified under the Armed Forces Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended. We are therefore compelled to request you to use your good offices to ensure that our client is released from unjust and illegal incarceration forthwith.

“Take Notice that if you fail or refuse to accede to our request by ensuring the immediate release our client we shall not hesitate to seek redress in the Federal High Court with a view to securing the enforcement of his fundamental right to person liberty guaranteed by section 35 of the Constitution and article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (Cap A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,” Falana stated.


http://tapread.net/2016/02/29/falana-asks-army-to-release-gen-ransome-kuti-from-prison/