Lifestyle

Federal Government tells NLC to ensure implementation of Employees Compensation Act

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The federal government has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress to ensure employers implement the Employees Compensation Act (ECA).

Labour minister Chris Ngige stated this at the 13th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the NLC in Abuja on Tuesday.

“The major work I want the next NLC administration to do is the implementation of the Employee Compensation Act and the Pension Reform Act (PRA). The Pension Commission Act makes it mandatory that the employees in any organisation must get two insurance covers for their workers,” the labour minister explained.

“That is one group life insurance for a person in case of when the person dies. Second, the Employee Compensation Act that replaces the old workers’ compensation act.”

Mr Ngige added;

“This makes sure all workers are insured against accidents, infirmity, disease that occurs in the course of discharge of their duty.”

The minister said state governments were not paying attention to ECA and that no government implemented the ECA of 2010, though it was a national law.

The minister stressed that some corporations in the public service tried to implement the act by engaging private insurance companies to do what they call accident insurance for workers.

He said they did this because they did not want to pay for any fatalities, but they liked to gather the premium.

“Therefore, the next NLC leadership, if you love the workers and if you love your consistency, you must press for the employee compensation act to be universal,” Mr Ngige explained.

“You must have universal coverage for workers in the states. If you slip on this right, you have not done your workers well.”

Politics

Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara governments drag FG to Supreme Court

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The governments of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara states have dragged the Federal Government before the Supreme Court, seeking a restraining order to stop the full implementation of the policy.

The state governments were worried by the effects the Central Bank of Nigeria’s naira redesign policy is having on the residents of their states.

In the suits as plaintiffs are the three Attorneys-General and Commissioners of Justice of the three states, while the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, is the sole respondent.

The three northern states in a motion ex-parte filed on their behalf by their lawyer, AbdulHakeem Mustapha, SAN, are urging the court to grant them an interim injunction stopping the FG either by itself or acting through the CBN, the commercial banks, or its agents from carrying out its plan of terminating the February 10 timeframe within which the now older versions of the 200, 500 and 1000 denominations of the naira would cease to be legal tender.

Lifestyle, Politics

Federal Government to tackle sudden death among civil servants

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As part of efforts to promote a healthy workforce in the Civil Service, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, HoCSF, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, has established a new wellness centre in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

This was as she urged civil servants to eschew sedentary lifestyles, adding that such lifestyle contributes greatly to sudden deaths occasioned by ailments caused majorly by stress.

According to her, a healthy body translates into significant reduction in medical conditions, thereby enhancing the output of workers, in particular, and the attainment of national developmental goals, in general.

Yemi-Esan said this during the commissioning of the Centre, on Tuesday, in Abuja.

Yemi-Esan described the establishment of the Employee Wellness Centre within the Federal Secretariat Complex as one of the most proactive responses by the Federal Government to the critical need of mitigating preventable medical conditions, which have become prevalent in our society, in general and amongst Civil Servants, in particular.

Explaining that the world is witnessing an unprecedented rise in work-related diseases, she advised civil servants to make the best use of the services being offered by the newly established Employee Wellness Centre.

She revealed that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration has taken proactive measures toward enhancing the value proposition and welfare of Civil Servants, as articulated in the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021 – 2025 (FCSSIP 25).

She stressed that the incorporation of Staff Welfare as one of the six pillars of the Strategy underscores the value Government places on the lives and well-being of workers.

Earlier, the SSAP-SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said that the Centre was modified and equipped by the OSSAP-SDGs and handed over to the OHCSF for commissioning and management.

Adefulire who was represented by the Director, of Administration, Mrs Ijeoma Ukaejiofor, stressed that the establishment of the Centre is to promote good health and well-being of Civil Servants, in line with Goal 3 of the SDGs earlier in her welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare Office, SWO, OHCSF, Dr Ngozi Onwudiwe, stated that the Wellness Centre is a demonstration of the continuous drive of the Head of Service to showcase commitment to the welfare of workers as captured in the FCSSIP25.

Dr Onwudiwe disclosed that the Centre is not another clinic but a physical wellness Centre, where Civil Servants can regularly check their blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, amongst others, as well as properly manage their health statuses.

Business

FG begins review of minimum wage

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The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), will initiate the process of reviewing the national minimum wage on January 23.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the minimum wage act which approved N30,000 for both federal and state workers in 2019.

However NSIWC spokesperson, Emmanuel Njoku said they decided to review the national minimum wage after holding series of training and meetings in preparation for nationwide monitoring of the act.

Njoku said;

“The exercise will enlighten the public and private employers and organisations on the economic benefits of adhering to the payment of the national minimum wage.

“It will also help in obtaining baseline data on remuneration policies and practices of private sector organisations to enrich the commission’s data bank on staff compensation.

“The monitoring exercise will cover the 36 states of the federation including the federal capital territory.”

Lifestyle, World News

Federal Government announces plans to start screening passengers arriving Nigeria

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The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) says plans have been concluded for all passengers arriving the country to be screened for COVID-19 using Rapid Diagnostic Test (RTD).

The Director, Port Health Services, Dr Geoffrey Okatubo, , disclosed this while speaking at the Ministerial bi-weekly meeting on the update of COVID-19 response and developments in the country’s health sector on Monday, January 9.

Okatubo said positive cases would be quarantined and all negative cases would be monitored.

He stated that the federal government was undertaking other measures as well to keep the coronavirus situation under control in the country.

“COVID-19 self-tests (RTD) will be handed out at all our international airports, land and sea borders, while travellers will also be informed on the importance of measures that they can take to prevent being infected,” he said.

He acknowledged that some people had experienced difficulties with the travel portal, noting that the health declaration certificate could also be filled out on arrival.

Okatubo stated that the health certificate form was also available at the country’s land borders, and that it was compulsory as it serves as a measure used to help protect everyone from the virus.

Lifestyle

FG advises undocumented Nigerians to leave Equatorial Guinea

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Undocumented Nigerians in Equatorial Guinea have been advised by the federal government to leave the country.

In a statement signed by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Head, Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, and released on Friday, January 6, the Commission said its attention was drawn to a report by the Government of Equatorial Guinea on October 17, 2022, advising undocumented foreigners in their country to leave voluntarily or face government sanction.

The Government of Equatorial Guinea had said that the move will help create stability in the country.

Making an appeal to undocumented Nigerians to leave the country, NIDCOM said in its statement;

“The attention of the Management of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, has been drawn to a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the above-mentioned subject matter.

“A report by the Government of Equatorial Guinea on October 17, 2022, was issued, advising undocumented foreigners in their country to leave voluntarily or face government sanction.

“According to the report, this is aimed at curbing elements of sabotage and creating stability in the country of Equatorial Guinea.

“The letter also stated that obtaining a one or two-year residence permit by foreigners goes between $410 and $620.

“As a Commission committed to the welfare of its citizens, we advise that Nigerians in Equatorial Guinea should renew their permit if possible, or apply to come back home to Nigeria, if undocumented, to avoid sanctions by the Government of Equatorial Guinea.”

World News

Nigeria is no longer a mono-economy – Federal Government

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The federal government has announced that Nigeria’s economy is no longer dependent on oil.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed made the announcement during the ongoing “Public Presentation and Breakdown of the Highlights of the 2023 Appropriation Act”.

According to Ahmed, there’s been a revenue increase from non-oil sectors.

She said;

“We can no longer be termed a mono-economy. Nigerian economy is now diversified.

“The non-oil sector is now generating more revenue for the nation while oil and gas, and mining sectors are pulling back the economy.

“The major non-oil contributors to the country’s revenue are Agriculture and financial services.”

Lifestyle

FG to announce salary increment for civil servants —Ngige

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The Federal Government says it will soon make a pronouncement on salary increase for civil servants to meet up with the economic realities in the country occasioned by inflation.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, made this known while fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja.

The minister said a Presidential Committee on Salaries is currently reviewing salaries with a plan to announce its decision in early 2023.

The minister had recently hinted that the government would adjust workers salaries to cushion the effect of rising costs of living in the country. Fielding questions on the issue;

Ngige said:

“Yes, I am saying that the Presidential Committee on Salaries is working hand-in-hand with the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission.

“The commission is mandated by the Act establishing them to fix salaries, wages, and emoluments in not only the public service.

“If you want their assistance and you are in the private sector, they will also assist you. They have what is called the template for remuneration, for compensation.

“So, if you work, you get compensated, if you don’t work, you will not be compensated.

“So they have the matrix to do the evaluation. They are working with the Presidential Committee on Salaries chaired by the finance ministry and I am the co-chair to look at the demands of the workers.

“Outside this, I said discussions on that evaluation are ongoing.” On whether a time line has been fixed for implementation of new salary increase.

Ngige said:

“As we enter the new year government will make some pronouncements in that direction.”

World News

FG bans cash withdrawals from public accounts

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The Federal Government is to stop cash withdrawal from all public accounts with immediate effect.

In place of cash withdrawals, public officers are to open domiciliary accounts in foreign and local currencies ahead of the commencement of the new policy, which comes on the heels of the new Naira withdrawal policy announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Director/Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, Modibbo Tukur, in a statement, yesterday, gave the new directive at a parley with the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, in Abuja.

The statement by the NFIU’s Chief Media Analyst, Ahmed Dikko, said that the introduction of the new policy became necessary following the consistent devaluation of the Naira and the introduction of a new Naira Policy, which automatically activates Section 1 of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act.

The action is also said to have been activated following observation that most cash withdrawals from government accounts, including payments for estacode for public officials, were often in excess of the cash withdrawal limit provided by the Money Laundering Act.

Lifestyle, Politics

Women Protest FG’s Refusal To Release Nnamdi Kanu

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Some women in Aba, Abia State, took to the streets on Friday to protest the Federal Government’s refusal to comply with a court order to release the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The Court of Appeal, Abuja, had discharged Kanu in October and a federal high court in Umuahia, Abia state, ordered FG to return Kanu to Kenya.

FG has yet to obey any of the court orders.

One of the banners the protesting women held reads, ‘Buhari’s regime must obey court’s order.’

Politics

Federal Government approves new whistleblower bill

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A new whistleblower draft bill has been approved by the federal government as confirmed by the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed.

Addressing reporters after the Federal Executive Council meeting yesterday, December 14, Ahmed noted that the existing whistle-blowing policy launched on December 21, 2016, which provides legal cover for individuals who voluntarily expose acts of fraud, bribery, looted government funds and assets, financial misconduct and other forms of corruption and also rewards them with 2.5 – 5 per cent of the funds recovered by the Nigerian government, was losing momentum.

Ahmed told reporters that the Council approved the draft bill to strengthen the fight against corruption and protect whistleblowers that provide helpful information to the FG.

She said;

“The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning presented several memos today. The first is the draft whistleblower bill for 2022. This memo has been reviewed by the Council and approved with a provision to ensure alignment with the Evidence Act.

“The purpose of operationalising and putting in place a whistleblower bill is to strengthen the fight against corruption and to enable protection for whistleblowers that provide information for use by the government.

“As you know, since 2016, the Council has approved the setting up the Presidential Initiative of Continuous Audit. PICA has been working in partnership with EFCC, ICPC, DSS, and NFIU and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

“We noticed that the whistleblower policy response has lost momentum. We embarked on engagement in the six geo-political zones, and one of the main outcomes we found is that people are concerned about their safety due to providing information. So, this bill is critical to ensure the effectiveness of the retention of the whistle policy.”

World News

FG suspends COVID-19 tests for travellers

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The immediate relaxation of the COVID-19 safety measures and travel advisory, including the suspension of all pre-departure, pre-boarding, and post-arrival PCR test requirements has been approved by the federal government.

The announcement was made in a statement released by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC), Boss Mustapha.

Mustapha said the approval granted by President Muhammadu Buhari follows the recommendations of the PSC based on clinical and laboratory evidence of a sustained reduction in COVID-19 infection/transmission across the country.

The statement read;

“All pre-departure and post-arrival PCR test requirements for all persons who are not fully vaccinated have been suspended.

“With the suspension of both the preboarding and post-arrival PCR tests, passengers will no longer be required to upload evidence of vaccination on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP). All unvaccinated and partially vaccinated passengers are strongly encouraged to get fully vaccinated.

“Health Declaration Form. A simplified Health Declaration (non-covid-19 specific) shall be completed by all passengers arriving in Nigeria on the Nigeria International Travel Portal (NITP); while provision will be made on arrival for those who were unable to complete this form before departure.

“Finally, the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 (PSC) passionately appeals to Nigerians to ensure that they take their COVID-19 vaccinations as well as booster doses.”

Lifestyle, Politics

FG recovers over N120bn from proceeds of crimes

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The Federal Government says it has raked in N120 billion from its anti-corruption campaign months after President Buhari signed the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act (POCA) into law.

While speaking at the eighth edition of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration scorecard series (2015-2023), the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said that the recovered funds would be deployed to complete ongoing capital projects across the country.

”Please permit me to say categorically and without any fear of contradiction that the administration’s fight against corruption is very much on track.

As you may already know, Mr President signed into law the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Bill, 2022, on May 12, 2022.

That bill was one of the three which Mr. President signed into law that day. Others are the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2022 and the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Bill, 2022.

I have an update on POCA. In line with the new law, I can confirm that so far, the Federal Government has realised over N120 billion, among other currencies, from POCA.

This money will be used to fund the completion of ongoing critical infrastructure projects in the country like the Second Niger Bridge as well as Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kano Expressways.

We will continue to update you on this,” the minister said.

Lifestyle

FG orders redeployment of prison officers who ‘cannot shoot to kill’ to female prisons

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The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has ordered the Nigerian Correctional Service to redeploy prison officers who ‘cannot shoot to kill’ to female prisons.

Aregbesola gave the directive on Monday, December 5, while unveiling of the new service logo and uniforms and the commissioning of a new staff quarters, ICT infrastructure and operational vehicles at the Service headquarters.

The Minister who rewarded twenty-five personnel who displayed gallantry to repel a bandits’ attack on a custodial facility in Niger State at the event, commended them for their act of gallantry.

He also expressed dismay that some personnel in other custodial centres chickened out when faced with attacks by criminals.

Aregbesola stated that the custodial centres are now red zones and personnel should shoot to kill whenever an intruder attempts an attack.

He said;

“Riffles are not for play, they’re meant to kill criminals. Any officer that cannot shoot to kill, any lilly-liver officer that cannot shoot on the head should be trained or replaced.

“Criminals should not sustain injuries. Those people who cannot shoot to kill, if you don’t want to dismiss them, redeploy them to female prisons.

“People who will be in maximum and medium custodial centres must be tough.

“We’ve had too many embarrassing attacks and we must put a stop to it.” He also said that most of those wrecking havoc in the South-East region of the country are escapees from the custodial centres in Imo State.

The Minister further added that anyone who tries to attack any custodial centre should pay the supreme price going forward.

Politics

Expose governors stealing local government funds- Governor Wike and Governor Ortom challenge President Buhari

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The Governors of Rivers and Benue States, Nyesom Wike, and Samuel Ortom, have challenged President Buhari to expose state governors who are stealing local government funds.

President Buhari in a speech delivered at the presidential parley for members of the Senior Executive Course 44 (2022) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) at the State House, on Thursday, December 1, said that state governors steal allocations meant for local governments.

Reacting to the comment, Governor Wike while speaking at the inauguration of the Mgbuosimini Internal Roads in Rivers state, denied ever taking funds meant for the local government since he assumed office as governor in 2015.

He challenged the president to name governors that are doing that as his statement could be termed class defamation.

“I want to challenge Mr. President, Mr. President you are a leader and we believe as leaders you must come out and tell Nigerians, who are those committing this offence? You said the governors are taking local government funds, I want to say in the name of Almighty God I have never touched local government funds one day, I have never and I have no reason to do that.

So Mr. President who are those people? You know them, tell us. It is not good to say what you call class defamation, you say, governors, please I am not one of those governors, so Mr. President please spare me, tell Nigerians that the Integrity governors are not part of them, we have integrity, we are not part of them” Gov Wike said In the same vein, his Benue state counterpart, Samuel Ortom, who was also at the road commissioning, denied touching funds meant for local government, saying that their funds go to them directly from the federation account.

”It is a logical fallacy to say that all governors are criminals; all governors are stealing from local government. I join governor Wike to say from 2015, let EFCC come, let ICPC come, let every other agency that can unearth this, as far as Benue State is concerned let them bring it out so that we know the people, there is no point generalising that all of us are evil people.

I don’t do it, I didn’t like it when the Federal Government enacted something and said local government should have financial autonomy, but from that day all monies are paid to the local government, and no single naira has been paid through anyone, all monies that come from the federation account go straight to the individual councils” he said

Lifestyle

FG approves mother tongue as compulsory language of instruction in primary schools

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The federal government has approved a new National Language Policy which makes mother tongue a compulsory medium of instruction for public primary school pupils.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, disclosed this today, Nov. 30, while briefing reporters on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

The minister revealed that the mother tongue will be used exclusively for the first six years of education, while it will be combined with English Language from Junior Secondary School.

He said even though the policy has officially taken effect, it can only be fully implemented when government develops instructional materials and qualified teachers are available.

Adamu explained that the mother tongue to be used in each school will be the dominant language spoken by the community where it is located.

The minister said the government is prepared to preserve cultures and their peculiar idiosyncrasies, stressing that so much has been lost due to the extinction of some local languages.

He assured Nigerians that all Nigerian languages are equal and will be treated as such.

Lifestyle

FG borrows N24tn from CBN amid fiscal risks

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The Federal Government has borrowed N6.31tn from the Central Bank of Nigeria through Ways and Means Advances in 10 months.

This has pushed the Federal Government’s borrowing from the CBN from N17.46tn in December 2021 to N23.77tn in October 2022.

The N23.77tn owed the apex bank by the Federal Government is not part of the country’s total public debt stock, which stood at N42.84tn as of June 2022, according to the Debt Management Office.

The public debt stock only includes the debts of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the 36 state governments, and the Federal Capital Territory.

Ways and Means Advances is a loan facility through which the CBN finances the shortfalls in the government’s budget.

According to Section 38 of the CBN Act, 2007, the apex bank may grant temporary advances to the Federal Government with regard to temporary deficiency of budget revenue at such rate of interest as the bank may determine.

The Act read in part;

“The total amount of such advances outstanding shall not at any time exceed five per cent of the previous year’s actual revenue of the Federal Government.

All advances shall be repaid as soon as possible and shall, in any event, be repayable by the end of the Federal Government financial year in which they are granted and if such advances remain unpaid at the end of the year, the power of the bank to grant such further advances in any subsequent year shall not be exercisable, unless the outstanding advances have been repaid.”

However, the CBN has said on its website that the Federal Government’s borrowing from it through the Ways and Means Advances could have adverse effects on the bank’s monetary policy to the detriment of domestic prices and exchange rates.

“The direct consequence of central banks’ financing of deficits are distortions or surges in the monetary base leading to adverse effects on domestic prices and exchange rates i.e macroeconomic instability because of excess liquidity that has been injected into the economy,” it said.

The World Bank had, in November last year, warned the Nigerian government against financing deficits by borrowing from the CBN through the Ways and Means Advances, saying this put fiscal pressures on the country’s expenditures.

Despite warnings from experts and organisations, the Federal Government has kept borrowing from the CBN to fund budget deficits.

The PUNCH had reported that the Federal Government paid an interest of N2.03tn from January 2020 to November 2021 on the loans it got from the CBN through the Ways and Means Advances.

It was also reported that the Federal Government paid an interest of N405.93bn from January 2022 to April 2022 on the loans it got from the CBN.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr Johnson Chukwu, recently said the central bank’s lending to the government was putting pressure on the exchange rate and the inflation rate, with “liquidity that has no productivity attached to it coming into the system.”

A development economist, Dr Aliyu Ilias, criticised the government for its constant reliance on borrowing, which was unhealthy for the economy.

He further urged the government to seek better ways of generating revenue rather than persistently borrowing from the apex bank.

World News

We have recovered one billion dollars since 2015 – FG

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The Federal Government says it has so far made a recovery of one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) from stolen funds since the inception of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration till date.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, disclosed this after the Federal executive council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Buhari at the State House today November 23.

The AGF said the recovered loots have been deployed to various sectors of the economy and have made a huge impact on poverty levels and the nation’s economy.

Politics

INEC reacts to the federal high court’s order to resume voter registration

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to the federal high court judgement which ordered it to resume voter registration.

Speaking on a Channels Television’s program on Tuesday, November 22, INEC National Commissioner and Director of Voter Education, Festus Okoye said it would be constitutionally and legally impossible to resume voter registration before the 2023 elections.

Okoye who further revealed that INEC is working on improving the voter registration process for future elections, also suggested that voter registration ahead of the 2023 elections was more or less over.

He said;

“It would be constitutionally and legally impossible for the Commission to resume the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.”

Business, Lifestyle

FG reviews school feeding, adds N30 per meal

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The federal government has reviewed the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme from N70 per meal for schoolchildren to N100 in Delta State.

The state Commissioner for Humanitarian and Community Support Services, Dr Darlington Ijeh made the announcement on Thursday, November 17.

Ijeh said;

“Upon my assumption in office three months ago, I inherited a backlog of issues on the NHGSFP that ranged from inconsistent payment to underpayment, low capturing leading to low figures for cooks, which adversely impacted our pupils and the state.

“Today, the N70 per meal for school pupils has been reviewed to N100 per meal, and other bureaucratic bottlenecks that had bedevilled the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme in the state, such as short payment of caterers and indiscriminate payment modules, became a thing of the past.”

The commissioner who noted that the school feeding programme was designed to feed pupils from primary 1 to 3 in public schools, added that the aim is to encourage more school enrolment as well as improve the nutritional meals of the pupils.

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