₦airaland Forum

The prospect of June salary being paid at the end of this month dimmed yesterday, with the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) adjournment of plenary session abruptly for fourth time in a row this year. Hours after state Commissioners of Finance, their Accountants-General counterparts and other top officials of Federal Ministry of Finance entered for a closed plenary door session , they emerged from the meeting wearing long faces. Director of Information in Ministry of Finance, Hassan Doddo, who confirmed the postponement to journalists said, ” the meeting has been postponed to a later date to be announced”.

Effort to get reason for abrupt postponement from him and other FAAC officials present were resisted.

The Chairman, Forum of Finance Commissioners, Alhaji Yunusa Mahmoud, declined comment when confronted for explanation. However, an insider who spoke to New Telegraph in confidence traced the problem to persisting lingering irreconcilable account with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

“The whole thing revolves around NNPC’s irreconcilable account. However, President Muhammadu Buhari has intervened. But I can’t tell when the meeting will reconvene. That will depend on the outcome of intervention by Mr. President” the source said. Indications that, all may not be smooth with FAAC manifested last week .

The monthly meeting for sharing funds accruing to federation account usually holds between 18 and 20 of every month. However, officials of Federal Ministry of Finance were not forthcoming with convincing explanation when this reporter sought information about FAAC earlier this week. In March this year, FAAC experienced a logjam on alleged NNPC withholding of portion of Federation fund.

The monthly meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee ended in a deadlock on Wednesday in Abuja.

The FAAC monthly meeting is the forum where money is shared among the federal, states and local governments. However, the meeting ended with participants wearing long faces, the News Agency of Nigeria claims.

Chairman, Forum of Finance Commissioners of FAAC, Mr. Mahmoud Yunusa, who declined to be interviewed, said in passing that members would go back to confer with the state governors.

However, Director Press, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Hassan Dodo, said the meeting would reconvene before the end of the week.

NAN reports that for some months now, FAAC participants have been experiencing difficulties in agreeing with figures because of revenue remittance discrepancies.

This is largely attributed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation not remitting all revenue accruing within the month.

The corporation has been accused of dishonoring its statutory obligations to the Federation Account over time.

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The federal government yesterday said any teacher who fails a Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) prepared by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) before December 2019, would be dismissed from work.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sunny Echono, made the announcement during a computer-based PQE in Abuja. He said the access and quality of teaching and learning must be improved at all levels.

“In the past there was the shortage of teachers and many unqualified persons were taken to fill the gaps.

Now, there are many qualified teachers who have been trained and certified and we have put December 2019 for anybody who is not certified as a teacher to be migrated from our classroom. They will find jobs elsewhere,” he said.

He said there are many qualified teachers who are waiting to be employed and that states and the federal government have started giving them jobs.

He said, “we recently employed over 1,000 qualified teachers in unity schools, so we are gradually weeding out the unqualified ones.”

He said government would provide the necessary teaching and learning facilities in public schools.

The Registrar of TRCN, Professor Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, said about 22,000 would-be-teachers wrote the exam this month nationwide, including 900 in the FCT. Another exam is scheduled to hold in October.

He said candidates with vision impairment have been registered but that the council was discussing with the Federal Collage of Education (Special), Oyo, to prepare their questions in Braille.

He further stated that the council was working with some institutions to prepare questions in Arabic.

22,000 teachers to write professional qualifying examination nationwide
today.ng Jun 6, 2018 10:37 AM

Education Rights Campaign
The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria says no fewer than 22,000 prospective teachers are expected to sit for the Computer Based Teachers Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) nationwide from June 7 to June 9.
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Mr Olumuyiwa Ojewuyi, Head Press and Protocol, TRCN, made this known in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday.
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Ojewuyi said the Council had concluded arrangements toward a successful conduct of the 2018 batch ‘A’ computer-based teachers (CBT) PQE for would-be teachers.
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“These teachers, who have met the council’s conditions for registration, certification, and licensing and have been cleared, are to sit for the examination from Thursday, June 7 to Saturday, June 9, 2018.

He quoted the Registrar/Chief Executive of the Council, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, as saying that 22, 202 candidates have been cleared to write the examination.
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“In actual fact, we have cleared 22, 202 teachers for the batch ‘A’ examination at designated computer-based examination centres in the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT”‎

The Registrar noted that the Council received over 30, 000 applications for the batch ‘A’ examination but about 8,000 applicants were turned down for insufficient credentials and some other technical reasons.

Ajiboye added that only those who succeeded at the screening processes were shortlisted for the examination.

He explained further that the examination will hold on Saturday, June 9 in all the states of the Federation and the FCT except in Bauchi, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, and Taraba States where the examination will hold from Thursday, June 7 to Friday, June 8, 2018.
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Ajiboye said the number of applicants for the batch ‘A’ examination was impressive but could be better.

According to him, the private schools are responding in bits “but we are sure of a better response in due course.”

“We are already working out the modalities that would help us capture teachers at all levels of the country’s education system for registration, certification and licensing.

“Candidates in Edo State are expected to take the examination in Delta State while candidates from Kogi State will have to wait for batch ‘B’ examination which will hold later in the year – 2018”.

The Registrar said that the council has successfully trained some technical officers for the examination and the officers were ready for posting to examination centres across the states of the Federation.

He added that TRCN would also dispatch supervisors to each of the examination centres nationwide, saying that arrangements had been concluded to ensure that the examination was monitored by relevant stakeholders.

NAN reports that in a bid to ensure professionalism in the teaching profession the TRCN organised the first PQE on Oct. 14, 2017 with no fewer than 15,000 teachers sitting for the examination.

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Tuesday assured civil servants of his government’s readiness to pay their promotion areas.

Speaking at an interactive forum with newsmen in Port Harcourt, Wike said the government had not paid arrears due funds constraints.

The state government has not promoted workers or paid annual increments for the past three years.

The state government has also not paid the promotion arrears of workers promoted by the former administration.

The government has been criticized for announcing openings for employment into the Neighborhood Watch Scheme while it claims it lacks funds for workers’ welfare.

Although, the governor did not categorically promise conducting promotion or pay incremental, he promised to pay those already promoted.

‘’We couldn’t pay because we had no money, but let me promise that something will be done.

‘’My stand is that promotions must be properly done, and the financial implications considered,’’ he said.

Wike said that it was wrong for government autonomous institutions such as universities to promote workers without consultations while someone else paid the salaries.

“Consultations must be made to ensure clarity and standard,’’ he said.

The three tiers of government on Thursday shared N626.82 billion as monthly allocations for April.

This represents statutory allocation, Value Added Tax (VAT) and foreign exchange equalization for the month.

Addressing journalists at the end of the rescheduled Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, said the figure was N20 billion lower than the N647.39 billion shared by the three tiers of government in March.

Speaking on Wednesday’s postponement of the meeting, the AGF said FAAC members rejected the revenue figures declared by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He said there was ongoing reconciliation of the Corporation’s revenue figures for February.

Idris also disclosed that the Excess Crude Account (ECA) dipped from $2.3 billion to $1.830 billion after $496 million had been withdrawn for the purchase of Tucano military jets from United States.

At the end of the meeting, the Federal Government received N263.102 billion, while state governments went home with N167.511 billion and local government councils got N126.293 billion.

N54.518 billion was shared as 13 per cent mineral revenue to oil producing states, while N15.402 billion was given to Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has distributed N609.95 billion to Federal, States and Local Government as revenue generated in November.

This is N77.25 billion more than what they shared in October, Mr. Ahmed Idris, the Accountant-General of the Federation said.

The distribution is also timely as it will enable states and local councils to pay workers ahead of Christmas, in the opinion of the Chairman, Commissioners of Finance Forum, Mr Mahmoud Yunusa.

Idris said that after the cost of collection deductions by FIRS, Customs and DPR, the Federal Government received N248.2 billion, representing 52.68 per cent; the states got N125.9 billion, representing 26.72 per cent and the 774 local councils received N97.06 billion, amounting to 20.60 per cent.

According to Idris, oil producing states got N54.48 billion, which represents the derivation share of 13 per cent.

He said that the country generated N356.07 billion as mineral revenue and N193.46 billion as non-mineral revenue in November, both showing improvements over the earnings in October.

Mineral revenue increased by N38.78 billion, while non-oil mineral revenue also jumped by N68.65 billion.

Idris said that oil revenue continues to be negatively impacted by low production due to poor maintenance, sabotage and the Force Majeure declared at Bonny Terminal.

He said that the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) as at Dec. 15 remained $2.317 billion. He also put the balance in the Excess Petroleum Profit Tax account, at $133 million.

Idris said the Federation Account has received instruction from the National Economic Council that $1billion be removed from ECA to fight Boko Haram.

“The instruction has been given. But there is a process before money is taken out of an account. So unless that withdrawal is made, the balance remains the same.

“On what the money will be used for, the appropriate institution will have to give you that, namely the military, who are the ones that will utilise the money, and they know their needs.

On why the money is being taken from the ECA, Idris said everyone should know that it is a savings account and ordinarily should have been distributed to the three tiers of government.

“So if the same owners decide that part of it should be utilised to secure the country, to secure the system, to make the system work and provide security for life and property, I don’t think it should be an issue.

“If the Governor of Ekiti state has a problem with that, he should have made his position known to his forum, which is the Governor’s Forum.

“His dissension should not come to me on the pages of newspapers. He is entitled to whatever, but it should be directed to the appropriate place,” he said.

PENGASSAN has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address injustice and lawlessness in the oil and gas sector companies or face a nationwide strike from December 18.

The General Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Mr Lumumba Okugbawa, gave the ultimatum in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Okugbawa said this was imperative in order to address anti-labour issues and lawlessness by some indigenous oil and gas companies and marginal field operators by relevant agencies of government.

He said if this was not addressed properly, it would culminate in the shutting down of all oil and gas installations, including disruptions to fuel supply and distribution across the country.

The unionist said the anti-labour practice includes the termination of employment of any worker who indicated the willingness to belong to the union.

“Those that are threatened and compelled to disown the union are then treated as slave workers within their own country.

“The case of Neconde Energy Ltd (of Nestoil Group of companies) is particularly worrisome as the issue of dignity in labour and infringement on workers’ rights to Freedom of Association is foreign to them.

“This has led to the mass sack of workers that joined the union and dehumanisation of some in total disregard to rule of engagement and the laws of the land.

“The actions of companies such as Neconde in the mass sack of Nigerian workers contribute in no small measure to the unending militancy in the Niger Delta.’’

He said Neconde had not only conducted itself as being above the provisions of extant laws and regulations guiding the operations of oil and gas companies in Nigeria, but also boasted that no government agency would call it to order.

“Having explored all options without getting the necessary understanding, and an apparent failure of relevant authorities of government to call to order these recalcitrant organisations especially Neconde, we are giving the Federal Government and its relevant agencies seven-days’ notice to embark on nationwide strike effective Dec. 18.

“If the government fails to direct the management of Neconde and other companies to recall our sacked members, as the only option to address this injustice and lawlessness.

“PENGASSAN appeals to all Nigerians to show understanding and to use this window to stockpile adequate quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and other petroleum products that will last them during the period as this strike will be indefinite.”

The federal, states, local governments in October shared N532.7 billion which shows a decline of N25.3 billion when compared to what they shared in September.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Mahmoud Isa-Dutse said this on Thursday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the monthly Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Isa-Dutse attributed the decline to the decrease in revenue from export sales of 42.94 million dollars due to a decrease in crude oil production by 1.25 million barrels.

He said that even though, the average price of crude oil increase from 46.29 dollars per barrel to 48.66 dollars per barrel, it was not enough to make up for the loss in production.

“Some of the issues that impacted negatively on crude oil production were attributed to ageing facilities which resulted in shut-ins and shut-downs of pipelines at various terminals for repairs and maintenance.

“Petroleum Profit Tax increased significantly while Import Duty and Value Added Tax improved only significantly.

“Companies Income Tax and Oil Royalty recorded slight decreases in the month under review,” he said.

In summary, Isa-Dutse said after deductions as cost of collection by FIRS, Customs and DPR, the Federal Government received N205.7 billion, representing 52.68 per cent; states and N104.3 billion, representing 26.72 per cent.

The local governments, he said, received N80.4 billion, amounting to 20.60 per cent of the amount distributed.

Isa-Dutse announced that N40.8 billion representing 13 per cent derivation revenue was also shared among the oil producing states.

He said that the country generated N317.2 billion as mineral revenue and N124.4 billion as non-mineral revenue.

He said this showed an increase of N41.6 billion from what the country generated as mineral revenue and a decrease of N23.5 billion in non-mineral revenue from what was generated in the month of September.

Governors’ anger may ruin today’s FAAC meeting over NNPC remittances
Posted by: admin in Banking/Investments
December 7, 2017
Fresh details emerged on Wednesday evening indicating that many of the states’ governors and their Commissioners’ of Finance attending today’s (Thursday) Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting, may be worried if the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) fails to have done the needful which is remitting every kobo to the federation Account for sharing today.
Business Hilights had two weeks ago reported that the last meeting was postponed as a result of discrepancies in revenue presented by the Corporation.
Chairman, Forum of Finance Commissioners of FAAC, Mr. Mahmoud Yunusa, confirmed this to our correspondent on Wednesday, saying all we need to hear on Thursday is that the reconciliation of the revenue had been done and the money is ready for sharing as usual.
The key agenda of today’s meeting is very simple; to consider and approve revenue for the month of October and immediate disbursement.
However, there are earlier signals that the technical committee of FAAC had been meeting with officials of the NNPC to ensure that the figures were reconciled to enable the three tiers of government approve the account before allocation of revenue could be made.
It would be recalled that FAAC is chaired by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, with the Accountant General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris; commissioners for finance of the 36 states; and representatives of revenue-generating agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Customs Service and the NNPC, among others as members.

THE Chairman, Finance Commissioners’ Forum, Mr. Timothy Odah, said that late remittances by revenue collecting agencies were often responsible for the delay in conducting the monthly meeting of Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).
Odah said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja.
He said that the FAAC meeting often took place later than scheduled due to lateness in rendering accounts.
The commissioner said that if funds were readily available on scheduled, revenues would be promptly shared to enable all tiers of government carry out their responsibilities.
“What I will like to see is improvement in funds. When funds improve, you will see that problems will go. Because all these problems that arise during FAAC meeting is because of money. That NNPC will not bring returns on time; it delays.”
“So, if before we get here and NNPC has gotten everything we need; we will be singing haleluyah! If each period we come for FAAC and funds are available, there is the tendency that we will conduct our meetings and go on time,’’ he said.
Odah said there was the need to employ good accounting system to ensure proper accounting of revenue generated in the country.
He said that the country must computerise all aspects of its transactions for best international accounting practices.
Odah said that revenue remittance to the federation account would be boosted if the entire businesses conducted by all of the country’s revenue generating agencies were done digitally.
He said that there would be reduction in fraudulent handling of resources if there were better record keeping of all transactions by these agencies.
He noted that it wasn’t possible to use automated sharing formula accepted by all in order to reduce the need for frequent FAAC meetings in Abuja,.
“I doubt that. This is because computer cannot talk for us. This is because the issue of FAAC meeting concerns disbursements.
“You know computer makes mistakes because human beings operate it. So there must be a sitting committee as well as a technical committee that will look at what was remitted into the federation account by all the revenue agencies involved”, he added

Bayelsa State Government has explained that the November salary for civil servants has been delayed because the Federal Ministry of Finance has not released the monthly federal allocation and the expected Paris Club debt refund to the state.

A statement by the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, on Tuesday, said the funds due to state governments had not been released because of the failure of the Federal Government to hold the crucial meeting of the Federal Accounts and Allocation Committee (FAAC) for the month of November.

He explained that the non-release of the funds was responsible for the delay in the payment of the salaries of workers for the month of November.

Iworiso-Markson, however assured workers in the state that the state government would ensure a prompt payment of the salaries as soon as the funds were released.

The statement reads: “It has become important to explain to our workers why the salary for the month of November has not been paid. The Federal Ministry of Finance did not hold the usual FAAC meeting that should precede the release of funds to states and local governments.

“The failure of the government to convene the meeting has culminated in the failure of the Federal Government to release the November allocations to Bayelsa and her entitlements in the Paris Club debt refund.

“However, Bayelsa workers are assured of the government’s commitment to ensure that their salaries are paid as soon as the awaited funds are received.”

The Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, has expressed confidence that the outcome of results in the ongoing assessment of basic education across the nation will be credible.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Hamid Bobboyi, gave the assurance during the monitoring of the assessment tests in selected schools in Abuja.

Mr. Bobboyi who said the event commenced Thursday with assessment in English, Science and Technology, said the commission had been receiving progress reports from the 36 states of the federation since the assessment commenced on November 22.

He said that within the next two weeks, the commission will start analysis on the state of learning in Nigerian schools.

“The exercise commenced yesterday in all parts of the country. We had English, science and technology and we have had mathematics and social studies. I think from the reports we have been recieving from all over the country, that it is going on very well. I hope within the next two weeks, we will start analysis on the state of learning in Nigerian schools”, he said.

On monitoring of the assessment tests, the UBEC boss said over 850 staff and 450 supporting staff were deployed across the states to efficiently conduct the exercise.

On the credibility of the exercise, Mr. Bobboyi said the commission engaged staff that ”have no vested interest in the outcomes of the assessment.”

“We have about 856 staff monitoring from the states and we have about 450 staff from other agencies monitoring the examination. We are very confident from the report that we have and with the level of monitoring that has been exhibited”, he added.

On the challenges faced, the official these were manageable and ”will not affect the credibility of the exercise.”

The UBEC boss was at the Junior Secretary School, Jabi in Abuja where over 40 pupils from junior secondary schools, classes 2&3 sat for the assessment.

He also monitored the assessment at Pilot Science Nursery and Primary School, Wuse, FCT.

The exercise tracks the standard of education at the basic schools.

The Nigerian Government has declared Friday, 1st December as Public Holiday to mark the Eid-El-Maulud Celebration.
The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, who made the declaration urged Nigerians to use this period of Celebration to pray for peace, progress and unity of the nation.
In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Abubakar Magaji, the minister called on all Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration towards building the nation.

No fewer than 1,000 applicants have applied for employment in the State Universal Basic Education Board Federal Teachers Scheme in Lagos.

The Head, Public Relations of SUBEB, Mr Seyi Akitoye, on Tuesday said that the board were still receiving more applications even after the November 24 deadline.

Akitoye said only 500 applicants would be shortlisted in Lagos out of which 135 teachers would be recruited by the Universal Basic Education Council in Abuja.

He said that the names of those shortlisted in Lagos would be forwarded to Abuja for final screening.

Akitoye said that UBEC would conduct the screening and test to select 135 successful applicants out of the 500 names that were shortlisted from Lagos State.

He said that the recruitment exercise was also being carried out in other states of the federation, adding that UBEC would contact successful candidates.

“Criteria for selection include possession of the National Certificate in Education, an applicant must not be above 40 years of age.

“Candidates should specialise in any of the following basic education subjects: English Language, Mathematics, Science, Vocational Education, Nigerian and foreign languages, Special education and Early Childhood and Development Education.”

According to the public notice on the recruitment, candidates, who are currently working or receiving a salary from any organisation, public or private, are not eligible to participate in the exercise.

“Interested candidates are to note that successful candidates will be posted to schools located in the rural areas that may be difficult to reach such as;

“Nomadic schools, Almajiri schools and schools identified through UBEC quality assurance that are without teachers”.

Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), has accused private school operators of being cog in the wheel of progress, as regards the eradication of unqualified teachers in the profession.

The Council said that private school operators are the highest employer of unregistered and unqualified teachers, contrary to federal government directive that only teachers who are identified with TRCN are qualified for engagement in teaching.

TRCN Registrar, Prof Josiah Ajiboye, who addressed the body of private school proprietors and their teachers in Abuja, encouraged them to quit engaging unqualified teachers or risk the sanctions of the Council.

Ajiboye who spoke through the deputy director, private schools, Olabode Olaniran, said the significant decline in quality of basic education in Nigeria is a function of unqualified teachers engaged to impact foundational knowledge on students.

He said: “As much as we appreciate private school operators for their intervention in providing education, we must state that large number of unqualified, unregistered, unlicensed teachers are found in private school.

“It has devastating short and long term effects on our education system. It is indisputable that quality education is the bedrock of our individual and collective development, and should not be toyed with.”

He suggested periodic training and retraining of teachers, so they could remain relevant in the 21st century technology driven world.

He further exposed them to the benefits of being TRCN licensed and registered teacher, with an encouragement to benefit from the ongoing Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) to obtain academic and professional certification.

5 Worst Things You Should Stop Doing Online
Below are five (5) things i have outlined in which you should stop doing on the internet:
Avoid Synchronizing All Your Social Media Accounts Online
Synchronizing Facebook, Instagram, twitter, in such a way that when you make an update on Facebook it automatically sends it to other social network isn’t right at all. It sounds great in theory, but it is awful in real life. What you need to understand is that every social network is different. What works on Facebook, doesn’t work on Twitter, Linkedin or Instagram.
Using One Or Weak Passwords
I agree that not many people can remember all of their passwords. So they find one good, strong password that they use for absolutely everything. It is absolutely wrong to use the same password for your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, email etc. You need to have more than one password. In fact, you need at least three to five different passwords that you use for different internet accounts.
Also for weak passwords, o you know that a lot of us use easy to guess password? How can you use 123456 as your password or 7654321… This can make any dummy easily guess your password and hack into your account. Even using your date of birth as password is not correct.
A good password should comprises of Letters, numbers symbols etc. e.g M4_09!... Let your password be strong enough that no demon on earth will be able to guess it.
Being Careless With Your Login Details
Being careless with your login details is totally bad, it is called login details because it is exclusive to you, it belongs to you and nobody else, not even your wife or your boyfriend should have access to your login details. That way, your information's are secured when it is exclusively known to you alone.
Another way of being careless with your login details is storing your login details on public computers or personal computers; Some of us still make use of the Café and even store our login details on the used browser which is absolutely not right. Even storing your login details on your own personal computer is not right because somehow, someday someone might have access to it.
Revealing Your Email Address Or Phone Number In A Comment Box Or Anywhere Online
I have stopped this long ago and ensure that every email that has ever been published on this blog was deleted. Never leave your email address on any blog post, Facebook or any platform that exposes it to the public, it is not safe, also in revealing your phone number online, a lot of people are guilty of this, post their phone numbers on Facebook, so that anyone can just check on you, PM you or WhatsApp you. Be smart about it and be wise about it.
Avoid Links In Email
Criminals love clickable links in emails. They absolutely love them. Yes, they are a good idea in theory. But sometimes, theory and real life do not work in the same way. Clicking on a link in your email might take you to a website with malicious software, if possible do not download any attachment you don’t know anything in your email, they can use it to hack into your account.
In conclusion, its important you keep your privacy private online, before the public will make your privacy public, LOL!

The monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), which was scheduled to hold yesterday,was cancelled because state governments alleged discrepancies in the revenue profile of the Account for the month.

The Chairman, Forum of Finance Commissioners in Nigeria, Mr Mahmoud Yunusa who is also the Adamawa state Commissioner for Finance said the forum took the decision after holding discussions with their respective state governors many of whom were in Abuja to answer summons from the presidency.

According to Mahmoud Yunusa, “the Governors have given the commissioners directive to postpone the meeting pending the reconciliation of all accounts as a result, the meeting has been postponed until we reconcile the figures in the accounts.”

Mahmoud Yunusa apologized “for keeping everyone, but this is the position of our principals through the Chairman, Governor’s Forum, even though the matter was discussed at length during NEC when all the Governors were present. So we should all take our leave and wait for the next date which will be announced later,” he said.

Yunusa said that the finance commissioners as well as the state Accountant-Generals would meet next week to decide when to reconvene the meeting.

However, The Nation reliably gathered from another Commisioner, “that the discrepancies came from the figures presented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)”, as you are aware the NNPCis fond of cooking the books and have been discovered in the past to shortchange the government from what they collected as revenues from the sale of crude oil.”

Dr Nwala Romanus, the Medical Director, Demonstration Clinic, Rivers College of Health Science and Technology, on Tuesday confirmed admitting two unconscious students following the panic over the alleged killer vaccine. Romanus told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the two students of Model Girls Secondary School (MGSS), Rumueme, were brought to the medical centre in an unconscious state. He said that the medical authority was told that there was a pandemonium at the MGSS located opposite the health centre.

Over 20,000 potential teachers across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory participated in the First Teachers’ Professional Qualifying Exams on Saturday.
Monitoring the examinations organised by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria TRCN, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said at one of the Abuja centres that the examination was part of efforts of the Federal government towards professionalising the teaching profession.

The minister who was represented by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sunny Echono, said the exams were intended to assess Nigerian teachers and to certify individuals who succeed as qualified teachers.

He said the computer-based examination was an initiative of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, to ensure that teachers saddled with the responsibility of training Nigerian children have the right qualification, right attitude and right abilities to do the work.

The permanent secretary said most of the accreditation process can be done online since the examination is computer-based.

“We want to have a multi layer structure of this exam regardless whether you are a PHD holder, a masters holder or you have NCE,” he said.

“Whatever level you operate you should be able to operate at that pace and you have the opportunity of progression within the area. I am pleased with the arrangement of this exam which took place in many other states and with the report we got I think we are satisfied.”

The registrar of the council, Josiah Ajiboye, said the present government wants only those that are certified and licensed to be allowed to practice the profession henceforth.

“Teaching is the mother of all professions, if we get teaching right we will get it right in all sectors of the economy. No country can rise beyond the quality of its education and no education can rise above the quality of it teachers,” Mr. Ajiboye said.

The registrar said the exam would hold twice yearly, precisely in May and October.

Speaking on the result, Mr. Ajiboye said the results of the Saturday exams would be out within the next one week.

“in total we have 20,000 potential teachers who wrote this exam today. In Kano we have about 1,500; In Plateau state we have 1,600; In FCT we have over 430 individuals who sat for the exams,” the registrar said.

NUT warns debtor states
thenationonlineng.net Oct 12, 2017 12:00 AM
National President, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Michael Olukoya-Alogba, has issued a warning to states owing its members backlog of salaries.

Comrade Olukoya-Alogba, said the union would embark on strike if state governments refuse to pay its members.

He said: “The non-payment of salaries or portion (part) payment or deciding how much to pay on monthly basis, not paying our members when they retire, working conditions of teachers, all these are challenges and we take joy in highlighting these challenges to people that matters.

“Tell the government, our employers, that we will not allow this to continue, it is not going to be sympathy as before. Number one, all the states that are owing – 17 of them, we have given them the last warning, that if the trend should continue, we should not be held responsible because the moment we now go on strike, or we try to tell our people to do to the contrary, they will be saying that we are being sponsored.

“Now that people are owing us in Benue – almost one year (primary school), other categories of workers eight months. In Kogi, the same thing, in Nasarawa percentages, in Plateau, just mention them like that.

“We have seen the opportunity on the 5th (World Teachers’ Day) to tell them that look, enough will soon be enough. Again, apart from the welfare something, we have the working condition of teachers. Our schools-many of them, no furniture. Infrastructural decay, we are not going to allow this to continue.

“UNESCO has given a directive that total budget of nay tier of government 26 per cent to education. How many of them are doing it? Even from federal to local, how many of them are doing it?

“As long as we don’t have our education sector correct, as long as you don’t have adequate investment in education that is the end of that government. That means all these social menace will continue. Until we have our bearings right, we may continue to chase shadows.

“You cannot imagine for somebody to work for 35 years only to retire into poverty and penury. All these must be checked and must be corrected.

“We have told them this year it is not going to be an annual rhetoric. We are going to match it up with action and we are going to start from all these orchestrated local government autonomy. We are not opposed to it as teachers but don’t tie primary education to local government autonomy because he that wears the shoe knows where it pinches and experience they say is the best teachers.

World Teachers' Day: Nigerian govt vows to improve teachers' productivity

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Oct 3, 2017 7:24 PM

In commemoration of the upcoming World Teachers Day, the Nigerian government has said it will empower teachers with the requisite tools to be able to deliver their best in the present fast-paced world.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said this in Abuja during the ministerial briefing towards the 2017 World Teachers’ Day which is scheduled for October 5.

The minister noted that the theme for this year’s celebration, “Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers,” reaffirms that peace and security are needed for the development of any nation.

He said teachers deserved to be appreciated for their role in nation building and assured the teachers of full payment of their salaries.

He said the ministry of education is in partnership with state ministries to fashion out ways to improve payment of teachers’ salaries.

”Irrespective of any sector, whether formal or informal, everything depends on teachers,” the minister said inter alia.

A UNESCO representative, Uchenna Udoji said there is an urgent need to collectively reflect on the status of Nigerian teachers and the conditions under which they operate.

He urged the Nigerian government and all stakeholders to place priorities on màjor challenges facing the teaching profession in Nigeria and how the nation can produce quality, highly skilled and motivated teachers and ensure consistent remuneration of teachers salaries.

Also speaking at the briefing, the president of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Michael Alogba, commended teachers for their resourcefulness, dedication and resilience in carrying out their professional tasks.

“The annual observance of this important day has helped to reawaken the consciousness of the nation and its citizenry to the important role of teachers and the need for teachers to be accorded a status commensurate with the role they play in society,” he said.

The NUT president urged teachers in Nigeria to remain patriotic and contribute their best to the growth of the nation.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Education District 1 said it will mark the 2017 Teachers Day with a five-kilometre fitness walk on Saturday tagged
“Building the workforce.”

Speaking at the event on Saturday, the Permanent Secretary, Education District 1, Folayimika Ayandele said the day, which is an international event to celebrate teachers for their roles towards national development will be marked appropriately in the state.

“A healthy workforce is paramount towards national development. So it is important to ensure the wellness of teachers which explains the concept of this 5-kilometre walk,” she said.

The endurance took off at Government College, Iyana-Ipaja and ended at Agege stadium where other activities took place.

Also, the Education Secretary of Agege Local Government Education Authority, Olamilekan Majiyagbe said the programme is relevant as the development of the body’s system is achieved through exercises.

The day, backed globally by UNESCO was first marked in Nigeria on October 5, 1994.

As Nigeria prepares to celebrate the World Teachers’ Day on Oct. 5, the Federal Government has pledged to evolve better welfare and support scheme for  teachers, especially in settling the backlog of salaries.

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, made the pledge at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja on the 2017 World Teachers’ Day Celebration and President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award to hold on Oct. 5.

The theme for this year’s celebration is: “Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers’’.

Adamu said that the 2017 edition of the celebration of teachers was aimed at mobilising support for them to guarantee the needs of the future generations.

He said that the Federal Government had given funds to state governments to settle teachers’ salaries who were owed for months.

He said that efforts had been made by the present administration to ensure that backlog of teachers’ salaries were paid.

He said that the Federal Government had given funds to state governments to settle teachers’ salaries who were owed for months.

“We are concerned about the welfare of teachers and hence will ensure that Nigerian teachers receive their salaries as at when due,’’ the minister said.

On the celebration, he said that this year’s theme re-affirmed the fact that peace and security were necessary for the development of any nation.

He said that the theme was apt as no economic growth could  be guaranteed without the positive atmosphere of peace and freedom.

“Education, which guarantees economic growth and development can only thrive and be positively imparted under the atmosphere of peace, freedom and security.

“Freedom here implies freedom from fear, chaos, harassment, retardation and degradation.

“Teachers deserve to be appreciated for their great role in nation building.

“Nation building certainly does not happen by accident rather it is a deliberate and conscious effort by men and women with vision and determination to leave enduring legacies.

“Teachers to a great extent determine the effectiveness of educational policies as they are the implementers of the curriculum.”

Adamu reiterated the importance of teachers because without teachers’ total dedication and commitment to their calling, a nation could be wandering in the dark.

“ Empowering teachers means to equip them with the ability to deliver quality education.

“The Federal Government in its efforts towards empowering teachers has over the years taken strategic steps to develop framework for teacher education,’’ he said.

Adamu said that the Federal Government had also instituted the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Award to show appreciation for the immense contributions of teachers to nation building.

Mr Michael Olukoya, the National President, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), stressed the need to re-awaken the consciousness of nations and citizenry to the important role of teachers.

Olukoya said that there was need for teachers to be accorded status commensurate with the role they played in the society.

He commended the role of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in promoting the application of the historic recommendation concerning the status of teachers.

He praised Nigerian teachers for their resourcefulness, dedication and resilience in carrying out their professional tasks.

The UNESCO Country Representative, Mrs Magdalene Anene-Maidoh called for collaborative action to reflect the status of Nigerian teachers as well as empower them.

She also called for the capacity of teachers to be built to compete favourably with international best standards.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that World Teachers’ Day has been celebrated worldwide annually on Oct. 5 since 1994.

It was initiated by UNESCO as a proclamation to celebrate the great step made for teachers on Oct. 5, 1966 at a special intergovernmental conference in Paris, France. (NAN)

The Federal Government on Tuesday urged state governments who are owing teachers’ salaries to pay them.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu made the appeal at a briefing to mark this year’s World Teachers Day, in Abuja

The Minister, said teachers, despite their contributions to the society and nation building, had continued to be neglected.

He said the federal government directed state governors to use the bailout it released twice to them to settle salaries including that of teachers.

Adamu said: “I think it is very necessary that we pay our teachers right here on earth and celebrating this day just underscores the issues and their basic needs.

“Teachers deserve to be appreciated for their great role in nation building.

“The federal government has given out largest bailout twice to the states to settle salaries. We are doing the best we can.”

Earlier in his remarks, National President, Nigeria Union Teachers, Michael Alogba-Olukoya, there was need for teachers to be treated well in the society.

Alogba-Olukoya, who was represented by Acting Secretary General of the union Dr. Mike Ikeme, commended the teachers for their dedication and resilience in carrying out their professional tasks.

“The annual observance of this important day has helped reawaken the consciousness of nations and citizenry to the important role of teachers and the need for teachers to be accorded a status commensurate with the role they play in society.

“I salute them for their passion in their chosen profession and their sacrifice and courage in keeping the flag flying despite obvious odds against their calling.

“I urge them to continue to be patriotic and contribute their best to the growth and development of our dear nation,” he said.

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) is considering introducing one year compulsory Internship Programme Scheme for fresh education graduates to enable them to improve critical skills required discharging their professional responsibilities.

The Registrar of the council, Professor Josiah Ajiboye, who dropped the hint in Enugu yesterday during the council’s Zonal meeting with critical stakeholders in the southeast zone, stated that the idea was part of efforts to make teaching profession worthwhile, attractive and productive.

Explaining that the council was concerned about continuous professional development of teachers, he stated that time had gone when teachers could not effectively impact knowledge; stressing that such development has had negative effect on the society.

Ajiboye said that the country would only get better when teachers deliver according to their responsibilities, explaining that there was no going back in the move to make teaching one of the best professions to move the country forward.

He said, “we are determined to change the system and to start up the one year internship programmes for teachers as soon as plans are concluded. By the end of the day, the whole country will know that we are getting the system back as it should. When this idea is approved at the national level we will start implementation without looking back.

“Our idea is that if lawyers can finish from their various institutions and universities and they will go to do one year in law school, there is nothing stopping those who finished education in various colleges of education and faculties of education from doing a one year internship programme before they are registered as teachers.

“The idea is to train the teachers very well, to produce those 21st century teachers that will be able to deliver excellently and we fill that look, they will still need some intensive training in the area of pedagogy to enable them cope with the challenges of teaching and that is why we are trying to propose a one year internship programme for teachers.

“Like medical doctors will do Housemanship after their six years programme, the same thing, we are thinking that for teaching to be a profession that we all desire there should also be a one year internship programme to train on the principles and tactics of education in the will- be teachers.”

Speaking about the forthcoming computer base Professional Qualifying Examination, the TRCN Boss said the essence was to enable those who passed to become registered teacher. He added that the exam will be held twice yearly and the first has been selected to hold on October 14, 2017.

He however emphasized that teachers training programmes cannot take the place of the one year internship scheme, adding that they are all different progammes.

On his part, the Commissioner for Education Enugu State, Professor Uche Eze in his address said he was happy that education has ceased to be all comers’ affairs, commending the Council for their efforts.

Eze who described himself as registered teacher said the only way to take education to where it ought to be was by being professional.

He urged teachers to be proud of their profession and the association and also encouraged them to get registered with the organisation. He advised that it should not just be about registering alone but getting involved in the training aspect to make them proud teachers at the end.

The Executive Chairman Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Awka, Nzemeka Olisah, regretted that teachers are not treated well in Nigeria when compared to other countries.

Olisah who said no child wants to be a teacher in this country any longer because of the way they are treated, however said that, ‘we need people who are determined to get there’.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi on Friday suspended Augustine Eze, Headmaster, Community Primary School, Amazu, Ishielu Local Government Area of the state and seven other teachers for absenteeism.

Mr. Umahi who paid an unscheduled visit to the school directed the suspended teachers to report to the Chairman of the local government, Mr Henry Eze.

He further directed that the council chairman should refer them to the Chairman of the state Universal Basic Education, UBEB, for more disciplinary actions.

He gave N300,000 cash to the 15 teachers present during the visit to change their wardrobe, expressing dissatisfaction with the way they dressed.

The governor engaged them in an academic exercise, drilling them in English Language and Mathematics.

He condemned the nonchalant attitude of some civil servants in Ebonyi and warned that the State Government would no longer tolerate the conduct of workers who were not committed to the duties.

“It is very unfortunate the way and manner some of our civil servants do their jobs without passion.

“We have called for change in our attitude to and perception of what we refer to as government property.

“It is absurd that pupils will be in the school and the school headmaster and teachers will brazenly be absent.

“We shall not take this anymore and the headmaster and the absentee teachers are hereby suspended.

“They are directed to report to the chairman of the local government area who will take them to the UBEB chairman; they must be transferred after serving their suspension,” Umahi said.

He urged the teachers present during his visit to double their efforts and use the money he gave them to buy new clothes and look neat and smart before their pupils.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the elated teachers and pupils chanted solidarity songs as the convoy of the governor left the school.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed all telecommunications operators in the country to grant its customers additional 14 days after the 30-day period of data expiration.

The directive, as disclosed by NCC`s Executive Vice-Chairman, Umar Danbatta, mandates the telcos to allow for a 14-day grace period for customers to exhaust their data subscriptions.

Danbatta, who made the disclosure on Thursday in Minna, Niger state, said the development was to ensure internet data subscribers have great value for their money.

“NCC has mandated all network providers to give their subscribers 14 days of grace after the 30 days expiration of their data if they still have data left and cannot recharge to get their data rolled over,” said Hellen Obi, who represented Danbatta during a consumers’ conversation forum in the state.

“The commission which is the independent regulatory authority for the telecommunications industry in Nigeria declared year 2017 as NCC year of the telecom consumer in recognition of the importance of the consumer to the phenomenal growth and development in the telecoms sector.

“The year of telecom consumer, which was formally launched by NCC executive vice chairman/CEO, Danbatta, is in tandem with the 8-point agenda of the commission aimed to protect, educate, and empower consumers towards ensuring sustainable growth and further development in the telecom sector,” Obi said.

Nigeria’s first indigenous cable television network, TSTV Africa has debunked rumors making rounds on social media alleging cabals who have stake in DSTV are frustrating the October 1st launch date.
In a post made by TSTV Africa on their official Facebook page, the cable network wrote “2 days to go, October 1st”, reassuring Nigerians that indeed TSTV is coming as advertised.
Also when asked by a Facebook user that “There are rumors making the rounds that TSTV have not obtain the NCC license and that
politicians and other stake holders in DSTV are frustrating the efforts of TSTV to launch in Oct 1s ……”, the digital cable network said in response that “TSTV Africa has all the legal rights/documents and infrastructures to commence operation in Nigeria. Please disregard rumors”.
Nigerians has been in anticipation since TSTV made an announcement that they will be launching on Independence Day with interesting packages such as pay-per-view with 100 channels including 12 sports channels for all the football leagues.
The decoder also has a hotspot of 20Gb and video call conferencing with a camera.
The TSTV decoder will have 50 gb hard disk to record TV programs and a pause/play function.
It is the first Nigerian TV to launch a Pay as you use so you can pause your subscription whenever you are traveling.
It is just N5000 for the decoder and dish and subscription prices are N200, N500, N1000, N1500 and N3000 respectively.

There was a significant increase in revenue for the month of August 2017, as a total of N637.704 billion has been distributed as Federal Allocation among the Federal Government, State Governments and Local Government Councils.

The communiqué issued by the sub -Committee of Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, at the end of the meeting held today in Abuja, indicated that the gross statutory revenue received for the month is N550.992 billion and is higher than the N387.319 billion received in the previous month by N163.673 billion.

The shared amount comprise the Month’s Statutory distributable revenue of N550.992 billion and the Value Added Tax of N86.712 billion, making up N637.704 billion.

Accordingly, from Net Statutory Allocation, the Federal Government received N260.609 billion representing (52.68%); States received N132.184 billion (26.72%); Local Government Councils received N101.908 billion representing (20.60%); while the Oil Producing States received N41.977 billion as 13% derivation revenue.

Furthermore, from the Revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT), Federal Government received N12.487 billion (15%); States received N41.622 billion (50%) while the Local Government Councils received N29.135 billion (35%).

The Communique further explained that there was a decrease in the average price of crude oil from $51.05 to $50.44 per barrel and a significant increase in export volume by 0.85 million barrels, which resulted in increase revenue from export sales revenue by about $41. million.

There was also shut-in and shut-down of pipelines due to the activities of vandals as well as for maintenance which impacted negatively on production. Furthermore, the Force Majeure declared at the Forcadose terminal since February, 2016 was still in place. Significant increases were also recorded in Companies Income and Petroleum Profit tax while Import and Excise Duties and Value Added Tax recorded marginal increases.

Meanwhile the balance of the excesses crude account is $2.309 billion.

Data made available by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that 11 states lost a huge part of their August 2017 allocation to deductions.

According to the latest federal account allocation committee (FAAC) report released by the bureau, a total of N467.85 billion was distributed among the three tiers of government in August.

“The amount disbursed comprised of N387.32bn from the statutory account and N80.53bn from valued added tax (VAT),” the report read.

“Federal government received a total of N193.05bn from the N467.85bn shared. States received a total of N130.69bn and local governments received N98.01bn.

“The sum of N31.59bn was shared among the oil producing states as 13% derivation fund.”

Eleven states lost more than N1 billion from their allocations, with Lagos being the worst hit.

Lagos got a gross allocation of N9.52 billion and lost N2.80 billion to deductions. Osun got a gross allocation of N3,06 billion and lost N2.41 billion to deductions, to have a net allocation of N650 million.

Delta also got a gross allocation of N10.50 billion and lost N2.45 billion to deductions, to have a net allocation of N8.05 billion.

States which lost more than N1 billion to deductions were Zamfara, Rivers, Plateau, Ondo, Ogun, Cross Rivers, Ekiti and Jigawa.

FG removes HND, First Degree dichotomy in paramilitary agencies
BY PAUL OMOROGBE
JULY 13, 2017
Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu
THE Federal Government has removed the age-long dichotomy between holders of university degrees and Higher National Diploma (HND) in all the paramilitary agencies under the Ministry of Interior.
This was contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Abubakar Magaji, on Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, the approval was made by the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Board (CDFIPB), at the end of its meeting held on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Interior, Lieutenant Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau.
To this end, the Board directed that all officers with HND to be upgraded to COMPASS 08, which is the salary grade level for holders of degree certificates at entry point.
He added that while the nomenclature for the HND holders would start with the rank of Senior Inspector, the degree holders are with the rank of Assistant Superintendent II.
Magaji said the Board also approved the commencement of the Year 2017 promotion exercise for all the services with effect from July 17, 2017.
In order to boost internal security mechanism, the Board accordingly approved the establishment of the Institute of Domestic Security aimed at strengthening inter-agency cooperation, among other functions.
In another development, the Federal Government has approved the re-organisation of the Nigeria Immigration Service in line with the provision of Immigration Act, which stipulates the establishment of Directorate of Immigration.
The statement indicated that the directorates, each to be headed by Deputy Comptroller-General, are as follows: Human Resources Management; Finance and Accounts; Planning, Research and Statistics; Passport and Other Travel Documents; Investigation and Compliance.
The Permanent Secretary others as Border Management; Migration and Visa and Residency.
He quoted the Minister of Interior as saying that the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari places high premium on the welfare of its workforce and hopes that officers and men in the Services would reciprocate this gesture through improved performance and dedication to duty, in line with the Executive Order on the Ease of Doing Business, so as to revamp the economy.