Outrage as termites ‘eat’ NSITF vouchers
By Haruna Salami The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has failed to provide documentary evidence for spending N17.158 billion in 2013. Appearing before the […]
Outrage as termites ‘eat’ NSITF vouchers
By Haruna Salami The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has failed to provide documentary evidence for spending N17.158 billion in 2013. Appearing before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts on Friday, the agency’s management claimed that some of the payment vouchers have been eaten up by termites. The N17.158 billion, as stated in the 2018 audit report of the Office of the Auditor-Auditor-General for the Federation, was the total amount transferred by NSITF from its Skye (now Polaris Bank) and First Bank accounts into various untraceable accounts belonging to individuals and companies from January to December 2013. “The management of the NSITF as shown in statements of Account No. 1750011691 with Skye Bank Plc, for the period January 2013 to December 20, 2013, and Statements of Account No. 2001754610 with First Bank Plc for the period January 7, 2013 to February 28, 2013, transferred amounts totaling N17,158,883,034.69 billion to ...
Read More
Read More
Lalu receives NCSU, advocates for inclusiveness
By Rosemary Ogbonnaya As part of his advocacy for all-inclusiveness, the Executive Secretary National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Mr. James David Lalu has received members of the Nigerian Civil Service Union Executives on familiarisation visit to the Commission. The ES who welcomed the union executives, stated that the NCSU has stood a test of time having been established since 1912 and as such would be of a tremendous value to the development of the promising Commission. He stated that every human being has a freedom of association and that he would always advocate for any development which is in line with the Civil Service rule, and which will see to the welfare of members of the staff of the Commission. The ES further admonished that punctuality and consistency in official matters should not be taken for granted, urging that all hands must be on deck to achieve the primary ...
Read More
Read More
Minister Calls ITS, NTA-STAR MoU Game Changer for DSO
By Chimezie Godfrey The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Integrated Television Services Limited (ITS) and NTA-Star as a game changer in the rollout of the Digital Switch Over (DSO) across the country. The Minister, who witnessed the signing of the MoU in Abuja on Monday, said the DSO is now on a fast-track as ITS will henceforth utilize the facilities and structures of NTA-Star for distribution of the DSO signals. “The MoU that has just been signed will fast-rack our rollout and take the DSO to a higher pedestal. That's why I described it as a game changer. With this MoU, ITS will utilize the structures and facilities of NTA-Star, a terrestrial PayTV platform, spread across the country, for signal distribution. In other words, ITS will henceforth become the Signal Distributor in the structure of NTA-Star,” he ...
Read More
Read More
IGP orders deployment of water-tight security around schools, hospital
… Directs Constant Visibility Policing across board By Rosemary Ogbonnaya Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the deployment of water-tight security arrangements to cover all schools, hospitals, health workers, and critical national infrastructures around the country. Baba has equally ordered regular patrols, stop and search, raids, and show of force by tactical commanders to clamp down on pockets of crime and criminality recorded in some states of the federation. The IGP gave the directive while reviewing the general security situation of the nation via reports from commands and formations across the country. He has however tasked strategic police managers at various levels to prioritise the use of intelligence gathering networks, particularly traditional/local intelligence to locate criminal hideouts and flush them out before they strike. The IGP has equally charged all officers and men to be on the offensive, and take the fight against crime to the doorposts ...
Read More
Read More
Atiku, others receive 160,000 decampees from APC
Former Vice President of Nigeria and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar on Monday led chieftains of the PDP including former Vice President Namadi Sambo, the Vice Presidential candidate and Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and National Chairman of PDP, Dr Iyorchia Ayu to receive decampees of the All Progressives Congress in Adamawa into the PDP. Receiving the new members into the PDP at the Ribadu Square in Yola, Ayu said that the rate of decampment from the APC to the PDP is increasing by the day and an indication that the opposition party is waxing stronger. “It is clear everywhere that the PDP is back. Today, we are here to take in new members into the PDP. Very soon, this venue shall be hosting the President of Nigeria who is your very own son. “I welcome the new entrants to ...
Read More
Read More
Pam commends FCN for propagating gospel through profession
By Rosemary Ogbonnaya Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC ,Rev.Dr Yakubu Pam has commended the Christian Nurses, Nigeria,FCN,for propagating the gospel of Christ through their profession. Pam made this statement while playing host to Fellowship of Christian Nurses, Nigeria,FCN, in his office, recently. He explained that the Nursing profession is one which is honored in the country. According to him, people pay careless attention to their work, but not so with the Fellowship of Christian Nurse who use the medium to also give hope to their patients by preaching about Christ to them. He disclosed that the nursing fellowship is paramount to the body of Christ, hence it should be encouraged. "Nurses share the word of God to the sick, aside giving them care on their ailments, but also share the word of God with them," said pam. He encouraged them to give the right health education ...
Read More
Read More
Renaming Kaduna to Zazzau, big lie from pit of hell – Sen Uba Sani
The Senator, representing Kaduna Central, Uba Sani has taken a swipe at information being circulated on social media of a purported sponsorship of bill to rename Kaduna State to Zazzau State describing it as a lie from the pit of hell. Sani made the refusal in a statement on Monday.‘The senator expressed dismay at what he described as concocted, subversive, malicious, and false information circulating in social media claiming that President Muhammadu Buhari had signed a bill for the creation of Zazzau State, allegedly co-sponsored by him in the Senate with Senator Sulaiman Abdu Kwari.“My immediate reaction to this outrageous and patently false piece of information is to wonder how mischievous elements can allow their imaginations to run riot, all in a bid to undermine their political opponent. “How can people go to the extent of planning to destabilise their own state and worsen the insecurity situation because.“Senator Uba Sani ...
Read More
Read More
Ahmad Lawan and matters arising, By Ezrel Tabiowo
I have in the past stumbled across several publications in the media that questioned the leadership approach of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, over his collaboration with the Executive arm of government, but none has attracted my attention as the distasteful publication in the Sunday, August 14, 2022, edition of the Guardian Newspaper, in particular. The piece, written by the Deputy Politics Editor, Leo Sobechi, maintained that Lawan’s style is hinged on “legislative patronage and misplaced loyalty” to the Buhari administration and “synonymous with failure”. How ridiculous can one get! Also, the writer’s claim about Lawan’s leadership “falling short in terms of legislation” is one I consider laughable, absolutely misleading and delusional. What it suggests is that he is either grossly uninformed or willfully ignorant about the sterling accomplishments of the Ninth Assembly. I recommend he reads through an article I published earlier this year titled, “The validity of Lawan’s ...
Read More
Read More
Wike slams Rivers Elders, reveals details of secret meeting
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has accused some elders of ganging up against him because they did not scale though the primary to be the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the State. This was disclosed in a statement signed by Kelvin Ebiri,Special Assistant Media to the Rivers State Governor, Monday. The governor explained that some of them, on his 2021 birthday, who indicated interest to fly the ticket, but failed at their bid to clinching it are now in Abuja plotting against him. Governor Wike spoke on Monday during the 74th birthday reception organised to honour the former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili at the private residence built and donated to him by the State government in Old Government Residential Area, Port Harcourt. Governor Wike said those elders came to him on their own accord and showed a commitment that they would stay ...
Read More
Read More
Nigeria’s Consumer Price Index for July 2022 – NBS Statement
By Semiu A. AdeniranThe Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a macroeconomic indicator that provides a general measure of change in the average prices of goods and services commonly purchased by consumers relative to a base period. It is a core macroeconomic indicator used in the derivation of the inflation rate for policy, planning, and monitoring of an economy. The Headline inflation for July 2022 was 19.64 percent on a year-on-year basis. This was higher by 2.27 percent points compared to the rate recorded in July 2021, which was 17.38%. This implies that the headline inflation rate increased in July 2022 when compared to the same month in the previous year (i.e., July 2021). Increases were recorded in all COICOP divisions that yielded the Headline index. The increase in inflation was caused by an increase in food index attributed to the disruption in the supply of food products; an increase ...
Read More
Read More
The Miracle Of Birmingham, By Kazeem Akintunde
When the 2022 Commonwealth Games started in Birmingham, England, on July 28, many Nigerians did not pay much attention to it. This is due to the day-to-day survival race that most Nigerians face, coupled with the rising level of insecurity across the land which is enough to drive one round the bend. That our Nigerian athletes, like Tobi Amusan, who recently won gold at the World Athletics Championship, and also set a new World Record in the 100 meters hurdle, as well as Ese Brume, for long jump, and Asisat Oshoala’s nomination for the Baloon d'Or would bring so much glory to the country at a time of so much strife, rekindles hope that Nigerians anywhere can prove their worth, and nothing stops the country from making a positive turnaround for the better, given the will and mindset. Prior, many have written off Nigeria to be among the top contenders ...
Read More
Read More
Zulum asks Adviser to oversee Borno’s Ministry of Justice, pending substantive commissioner
By Chimezie Godfrey Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has directed his special adviser on legal affairs, Barrister Hauwa Abubakar to oversee the state’s ministry of justice, pending the appointment of a substantive attorney general and commissioner of justice. The Governor’s directive was conveyed by secretary to Borno State Government in a letter dated August 11, 2022, which was addressed to the special adviser. The directive for overseeing the ministry followed the resignation of the former attorney-general and commissioner of justice, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan, who emerged candidate of the APC for Borno Central Senatorial zone, on July 22, 2022, ahead of the 2023 general elections. Lawan became senatorial candidate in place of APC’s Vice Presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima who was candidate, seeking reelection into the Borno senatorial seat. “I have the honour to convey to you the approval by His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, FNSE, mi, ...
Read More
Read More
BATNF donates solar-powered borehole water facility to Ogun community
By Chimezie Godfrey The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has been commended for its humanitarian services. This commendation was given by the Chairman, Odeda Local Government, Ogun State, Mrs Afolasade Adeyemo, during the donation of a 20,000-litre solar-powered borehole in Adugan Community, Olodo, in Odeda town, Ogun State. The water facility, which has a water management kiosk, five water dispensing taps, six 260 watts solar panels that power a submersible pump and a wire mesh fence that protects the facility, is expected to provide access to potable water and support domestic use for more than 2,000 Adugan community members and neighbouring communities. The facility also has a manually operated pump provided to ensure a constant and sustainable supply of water in the community. In a welcome address, the General Manager, BATN Foundation, Oludare Odusanya, said that the BATN Foundation’s attention was drawn to the lack of potable water and ...
Read More
Read More
From Nairobi to Nigeria: Kenyan election as a mirror poll, By Dakuku Peterside
It is not always that an election in one part of the world can function as a mirror in another part of the globe. Societies differ in demographics, political and historical evolution, and the general economic issues that shape elections. The general election in Kenya that took place on Tuesday 9th August is in many ways a mirror of the forthcoming 2023 elections in Nigeria. This mirroring is primarily evident in their shared democratic characteristics, current economic climate, and socio-political milieu. Kenya, resemblant of Nigeria, is a former British colony practising multiparty democracy and is multi-ethnic with three dominant ethnic groups vis Kikuyu, Luhya, and Kalenjin. Kenya, like Nigeria, has a young population, with 75% being under 35years. Nigeria and Kenya in their different constitutional provisions require a candidate to obtain 50% plus one vote to win the presidential race, with 25% spread in 24 of 47 Counties. Like our ...
Read More
Read More
Power supply to Life Camp, Gwarinpa, others to improve, AEDC assures residents
By Chimezie Godfrey Residents of the Federal Capital City, especially Life Camp, Gwaripa, Dawaki and environs will soon heave a sigh of relief as the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) is making frantic efforts to boost power supply to those areas. The assurance came from the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Adeoye Fadeyibi following concerns raised by FCDA’s Executive Secretary, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad when the Managing Director led his management team on a courtesy visit to FCDA. The Executive Secretary expressed the FCT Administration’s concerns about the poor power supply to Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Dawaki and its environs which house some key personalities including Diplomats as well as the street-lights particularly along the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Expressway which is a major gateway into the city. He lamented the current poor visibility and illumination in the city adding that “our street lights mean a lot to us.” He stated that ...
Read More
Read More
NLNG launches Phase 2 of GMoU in Rivers State
Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) on Thursday in Port Harcourt launched the second phase of Global Memoranda of Understanding (GMoU) for its pipeline host communities to actively supportcommunity-driven sustainable development. The new agreements are with Okrika, Kalabari, Egi, Ogba, Abua and Ekpeye clusters. The implementation of the first phase of the GMoU comprising Ogbum-nu-Abali, Ubeta and Rumuji clusters is underway with the commencement of several projects in areas of road construction, scholarships (64 scholarships awarded), renovation and equipping of markets, construction of police stations or corpers’ lodge among others. The first phase agreements were signed in 2021. Under the GMoU framework, clusters will ultimately be created to drive community-initiated projects through a Foundation that will have a Board of Trustees, Steering Committees, and Community Trusts. NLNG will provide funds for these clusters and will encourage them to seek additional funds from other donors to finance development initiatives in the respective communities ...
Read More
Read More
Yanluowang Ransomware: NCC-CSIRT Urges Stronger Security Measures
The Nigerian Communications Commission's Computer Security Incident Response Team (NCC-CSIRT) has urged organisations to adopt stronger cybersecurity measures. These measures include ensuring that organisations’ employees use strong, unique passwords for every account and enabling multi-factor authentication (2FA) wherever it is supported to prevent ransomware attacks as well as advising organisations to ensure regular systems backup. The NCC-CSIRT’s warning contained in its advisory of August 12, 2022, came after the Yanluowang threat actors gained access to Cisco's network using an employee's stolen credentials after hijacking the employee's personal Google account containing credentials synced from their browser. Ransomware is a malware designed to deny a user or organization access to files on their computer until they pay the attackers. Cisco reported the security incident on its corporate network but said it did not identify any impact on its business although the threat actors had published a list of files from this security ...
Read More
Read More
N109bn Accountant General Fraud: HEDA urges EFCC to prosecute all accomplices
By Chimezie Godfrey Following the alleged financial fraud of N109bn hanging on the neck of the suspended Accountant-General of the Federation, Idris Ahmed, and other suspected partners in crime, the Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has written the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to as a matter of urgency commence criminal prosecution against all accomplices of the fraud. In a letter signed by HEDA's Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, and addressed to Executive Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, the anti-corruption group anchored its request on the revelation made by the first prosecution witness, Hayatudeen Ahmed (an operative of the EFCC) who investigated the allegations against the Defendants and informed the Court amongst others that some figures amounting to N94.39 billion was paid into the second defendant’s bank account. The EFCC Operative (Hayatudeen Ahmed) who bore the witness maintained that the second defendant allegedly distributed the money between ...
Read More
Read More
Project: Julius Berger work remains strongest, most reputable engineering integrity benchmark – Wike
..As Rivers State Govt. refutes false report of JBN bridge collapse in Port-Harcourt By Chimezie Godfrey The Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has once again described the technical engineering capabilities and competence of the country’s construction sector leader, Julius Berger Plc, as “…the strongest and most reputable engineering integrity benchmark” in Nigeria. Gov. Wike made the remarks during the commissioning of several high grade infrastructural development projects ably and successfully delivered as contracted and scheduled by the company in Port Harcourt last week. It was serial celebrations in the Rivers State capital last week as the newly constructed and commissioned projects included a flyover, a dualized road, a new House of Assembly Quarters, and another road dualization flag off. The weeklong ceremonies commenced when the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu arrived Port Harcourt as Special Guest of Honour to commission the newly completed ...
Read More
Read More
NGF’s one-off retirement package offer for federal civil servants unrealistic – CISLAC
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has condemned the plan of the Nigerian Governors' Forum to the federal government to offer Federal Civil Servants above 50 years of age, a one-off retirement package to exit the Service. In a statement by the Executive Director of the Centre, Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Rafsajani, he described the plan as an "unrealistic and lopsided proposal." Part of the statement read, "…Such proposal was tendered in view of reducing overbearing cost of governance that has hitherto rendered Nigeria financially incapacitated to adequately finance the ailing critical sector of the economy, we cannot conceal the fact that it mirrors lop-sidedness, insincerity and lack of readiness by all levels of government to holistically address the contending issues backpedalling country’s socio-economic development." While calling on the government to be vigilant on matters irking governance and socio-economic inequalities in Nigeria, it noted that 85 percent of reform efforts ...
Read More
Read More
