FG announces resumption of Abuja-Kaduna train sevices

The Federal Government said the train services on the Abuja-Kaduna rail line are set to return this month, November.

This was disclosed today, Nov. 7, by the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo while giving the scorecard of his ministry in Abuja. He said adequate security has been put in place to ensure the safety of passengers.

The Minister, however, did not give any specific date for the resumption. Sambo said the ministry has learnt enough lessons from the attack in March which claimed the lives of several passengers leading to the suspension of train service on the Abuja-Kaduna route.

FG, states and LGs share N760bn September allocation

The federal, state, and local governments have shared N760bn allocation for the month of September.

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disclosed this on Thursday, October 27, in a communiqué issued after its meeting for October 2022.

A breakdown of the N760.235 billion for the month of September shows that N502.135 billion was for statutory revenue, N189.928 billion for value-added tax (VAT), and N8.172 billion for electronic money transfer levy (EMTL).

According to the communiqué, the federal government received N294.244 billion, the states received N233.223 billion, and local governments received N172.776 billion.

For the month in review, oil-producing states also received N59.992 billion as derivation, (13 percent of mineral revenue). FAAC further said the gross revenue available from the value-added tax was N189.928 billion.

From the figures received, the federal government received N28.489 billion, the states received N94.964 billion and local governments got N66.475 billion.

On the gross statutory revenue of N502.135 billion distributed, the federal government was given N232.921 billion, while the states and local governments got N118.141 billion and N91.081 billion, respectively.

Meanwhile, FAAC disclosed that oil and gas royalties increased tremendously. It said while petroleum profit tax (PPT) and excise duty marginally increased, value-added tax (VAT), import duty, and companies income tax (CIT), decreased considerably.

The committee added that the balance in the excess crude account (ECA), as at October 26, 2022, stands at $472,513.64.

Appeal Court reserves judgment in FG’s stay-of-execution request in Nnamdi Kanu’s case

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in an application by the Federal Government seeking a stay of execution of the court’s judgment that ordered the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The federal government had in the application alleged that Kanu constituted a huge threat to national security and must be kept in detention for peace in the country.

It was also alleged that Kanu was a flight risk and would escape out of the country if the judgment which ordered his release was not stayed.

Justice Haruna Tsanami who presided over the application on Monday October 24, said a date for delivery of judgment would be communicated to the parties when ready.

There’s no plan to ban Okada – Federal Government

The Ministry of Transportation has said that the federal government has no plan to ban the use of commercial motorcyclists in the country.

Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, made the clarification while speaking in Abuja at the Annual Strategic Stakeholders Summit of the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle & Motorcycle Owners, Repairs & Riders Association of Nigeria, months after Attorney General the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said “placing a ban on the use of motorcycles and mining activities will cut the supply of logistics to the terrorists.

This will be done in the national interest.”

Adegoroye said;

“By the grace of God, I’ve been a member of the Federal Executive Council, the highest decision-making body in this country today, and I’ve been there now since July.

I was appointed June, I became member and I attended my first FEC on the 6th of July this year.

“Let me assure you and assure ACOMORAN that there is no decision to ban Okada.”

‘Nnamdi Kanu is a flight risk’- FG tells Supreme Court

The Federal Government has claimed that Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a flight risk.

The FG made this known in legal documents as it filed seven grounds of appeal against the Court of Appeal judgment which discharged Kanu on October 13.

It asked the Supreme Court to set aside the judgment and restore the charge against the respondent to be tried at the trial court.On Thursday, October 20, the federal government, in a motion on notice in support of the appeal, says it seeks a stay of execution of the judgment of the court presided over by Justice Jummai Sankey, pending the hearing and final determination of its appeal, noting that the IPOB leader posed a flight risk.

The notice of appeal dated October 18 was signed by the Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Abubakar, Assistant Chief State Counsel, D. Kaswe and A. Aluko and Senior State Counsel, G. Nweze, Department of Public Prosecution, Federal Ministry of Justice.

The appellant said that the appellate court wrongly interpreted the law when it held that the trial court had no jurisdiction to try Kanu because of “the extraordinary rendition of the respondent.”

It stated,

“There was no evidence led by the respondent before the court of the first instance and indeed before the court below to show how he was allegedly abducted and rendered to Nigeria as required by Section 139 of the Evidence Act, 2011 since he alleged that he was abducted without following due process of law.”

The appellant said that the appellate court wrongly interpreted the law when it held that the trial court had no jurisdiction to try Kanu because of “the extraordinary rendition of the respondent.”It stated,

“There was no evidence led by the respondent before the court of the first instance and indeed before the court below to show how he was allegedly abducted and rendered to Nigeria as required by Section 139 of the Evidence Act, 2011 since he alleged that he was abducted without following due process of law.”

The appellant also contended that the court erred when it held that the executive arm must not be allowed to benefit from the abduction of the respondent “when in fact and by its judgment, the respondent was allowed to benefit from his illegality of disobeying the orders of the court when he jumped bail and was rewarded with a discharge from the charges pending against him at the trial court thereby occasioning a miscarriage of justice against the state and the victims of the crimes perpetrated by the respondent.”

The government claimed that the appeal court was wrong by saying that how Kanu was brought back to the country can indeed weaken the criminal charges of treason, treasonable felony and terrorism brought against him.

The FG added that the appeal court made that decision without taking into account the fact that the nature of the “entry’’ of the respondent is not relevant in the determination of the charges against him.

The appellant further stated that the appeal court justices failed to be bound by established judicial precedent on the mode of “entry” of a defendant charged with the commission of an offence established by the Supreme Court.

“The court below overlooked the submissions of the appellant with regards to the ACJA, 2015 which takes its taproot from the grundnorm Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to the effect that it is the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 that governs the trial of every Nigerian charged with the commission of a crime, this failure occasioned the miscarriage of justice,’’ the appeal notice read.

The FG further argued that the court below erred in law when it discharged the respondent of the offences mentioned in counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 15 bordering on terrorism offences contained in the amended charge dated January 14, 2022, and retained by the trial court for want of jurisdiction.

“If the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal had taken into consideration the act of illegality of the respondent in jumping bail and the corresponding duty of the appellant to ensure his presence in court, the decision of the court would have been different,’’ the appeal read.

The Federal Government says N3.36tn has been allocated for fuel subsidy in 2023 as Nigeria’s debt profile hits $102bn

The federal government says N3.36 trillion has been allocated for fuel subsidy in the first half of 2023.

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, made this known on Wednesday, October 19, in Abuja.

Ahmed said the 2023 budget proposal has a deficit of N10.78 trillion. She said the deficit will be funded through domestic and multilateral borrowings and proceeds from privatisation.

According to her, of Nigeria’s $102bn debt, 35% is foreign and 65% is domestic, adding that the current public debt is at 23% of the country’s gross domestic product.

The minister also said the 2023 budget also factored in 17.16% inflation. According to her, the draft 2023 budget has been prepared on the background of international challenges such as the Russia-Ukraine war and COVID-19 pandemic, adding that revenue generation has been a major challenge to national development in the country.

On allocations for critical sectors, Ahmed said the sum of N2.05 triliion was allocated to education and N1.58 trillion for health. She added that N2.74 trillion was earmarked for defense and security, infrastructure got N998.9 billion, while social development and poverty reduction has N756 billion.

Meanwhile, Ahmed had said the federal government will halt spending on petrol subsidy in June 2023.

FG gazettes PCN law which would regulate all stakeholders in pharmacy distribution chain

A new pharmacy law which empowers the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) to regulate all stakeholders in the pharmacy distribution chain has been gazetted by the Nigerian government.

This was disclosed by chairman of the governing council of the organization, Prof. Ahmed Tijjani Mora, during the presentation of the gazetted PCN (Establishment) Act 2022 in Abuja on Monday October 10.

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Bill which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari in August, empowers the registrar to revoke licenses and regulate all stakeholders involved in the pharmacy distribution chain such as pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, patent medicine vendors, manufacturers, importers, wholesalers among others.

Fines for offences in the old act ranged from N250- N1,000 but had been increased to between N250,000 and N2,000,000 in the new act.

The Federal High Court under the new law has the jurisdiction to hear and determine criminal and civil matters.

Mora said;

“The fines are meant to act as a deterrent for people not to fall short of the minimum standard expected from them. The council is a regulatory agency.

We are not a profit-making organisation and we are corrective, not punitive. We are dealing with drugs, which makes the difference between life and death. That is why we must be regulated.”

ASUU to sue FG over registration of factional academic unions

The Academic Staff Union of Universities will be approaching the National Industrial Court (NIC) over the Federal Government’s registration of the two factional academic unions.

ASUU’s lawyer, Femi Falana, informed Channels Television about the lawsuit on Thursday October 6.

He said;

“ASUU is going to court. It is going to be the NIC.” President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke also confirmed this.

“He (Falana) is our lawyer. So, that is correct,” Osodeke said when asked to confirm the development.

Falana had earlier said the registration of CONUA and NAMDA is illegal as only one union is allowed to operate in every sector under Trade Unions Act.

FG presents certificate of registration to ASUU faction

The federal government has presented a certificate of registration to the Congress of Nigerian University Academics (CONUA).

Chris Ngige, minister of labour and employment who presented the certificate to CONUA on Tuesday October 4, also announced the registration of the Nigerian Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) as a trade union.

Ngige said the two unions would operate along with ASUU.

FG presents certificate of registration to ASUU faction

Governors reject FG’s plan to privatize power plants

The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has kicked against Federal Government’s proposal to privatize National Integrated Power Plants (NIPPs).

The federal government is proposing to privatize the following power plants;

Benin Generation Company Ltd, Calabar Generation Company Ltd, Geregu Generation Company Ltd, Olorunsogo Generation Company Ltd and Omotosho Generation Company Ltd. Commenting on the proposal on Thursday September 29, outgoing NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, said Governors opposed the plan because all stakeholders were not carried along in the scheme of things.

Fayemi said;

“We examined the issues relating to the proposed privatisation of the power project and we took a decision that at this point in time, the NGF is opposed to the sale of any of the plants until appropriate steps have been taken that would take into consideration the interest of states that are also equity holders in those plants.

“We’ll continue to do whatever we can to ensure the resources of Nigeria stay with the Nigerian people and are not filtered away in a manner we can’t explain.”

The NGF who also advised the Federal Government against sanctioning the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities, urged the federal government to rather resolve the contentious issues in the interest of the students and Nigeria.

Strike hindered disbursement of bursary to education undergraduates – FG

Strike hindered disbursement of bursary to education undergraduates ? FG The Federal Ministry of Education has said that the disbursement of bursary to students of education in universities in the country, was hindered by the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

This was disclosed by the Permanent secretary of the ministry, Andrew Adejo, during the 2022 World Teachers Day press briefing held in Abuja. Adejo said;

“The implementation of the payment of stipends has commenced.”However, due to the strike, we have not been able to get the data of all the students in universities. We only have 7 per cent of the required data to be processed for payment.

“I must state here that the national implementation of the New National Teaching Policy has commenced.

It is a holistic package that will ultimately address the career path, remuneration, professional teaching standards, qualification, deployment and management of teachers.

“The theme for the year 2022 WTD which is ‘the transformation of education begins with teachers’ strongly stresses the importance of empowering teachers for the effective transformation of education to ensure quality teaching and learning as well as galvanize technological advancements to meet the ever-changing needs for national growth and development.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had through the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu announced that undergraduates of B.Ed/B.A. Ed/BSc.

Ed in Public institutions are to receive stipends of N75,000.00 per semester while NCE students will get N50,000.00 as stipends per semester.

FG to inaugurate climate change council, targets zero-emission

The Federal Government has concluded plans to formally inaugurate the National Climate Change Council and its Secretariat, pursuant to the Climate Change Act 2021.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), had in November 2021, signed the Climate Change Bill into law. This was the basis for the establishment of the climate change council.

A statement released by the presidency revealed the government’s approach to mobilising Nigerians to transition the country to a low-carbon economy and society in line with global best practices.

It read, “The Climate Change Act 2021, signed into law by President Buhari on November 2021, provides an overarching legal framework to achieve Nigeria’s long-term climate goals.

These goals include meeting Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions; among which is President Buhari’s pledge, at the COP 26, for Nigeria to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.

“In addition to making provision for National Climate resilience, the Act institutionalises climate reporting, auditing, finance and funding through fiscal and other mechanisms and incentives, while also mainstreaming climate change actions into national development priorities, and imposing climate obligations, including reporting, on both public and private sector institutions.

“The act thus requires a whole-of-government approach to mobilise all Nigerians to transition our country to a low-carbon economy and society.

The NCCC is the implementing body charged with superintending the CCA and coordinating government and society in transitioning to a low carbon economy.

“Given the existential import if its mandate, it necessarily transcends any single government ministry, department or agency.

The council is thus a reflection of this. It comprises broad membership from government, organised labour, the private sector and civil society.

The NCCC is supported by a secretariat that is headed by a Director General.

“As part of the process of putting this implementing mechanism in to effect the government is aware of the need to promptly appoint a director general to lead the secretariat upon inauguration.

Hence the president’s directive to screen the recommended candidates, from whom the pioneer director general will be unveiled and announced.” The statement concluded

FG hints at increasing salaries of civil servants

The federal government has hinted at increasing the salaries of civil servants in the country to meet the current economic realities.

Minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige in his speech at the public presentation of NLC’s 40 publications titled, ‘contemporary history of working-class struggles’ held in Abuja on Monday September 19, said the federal government knows that the N30,000 national minimum wage has lost its value.

Ngige said;

“Yes the inflation has increased worldwide and it is not confined to Nigeria, that is why in many jurisdictions, it is an adjustment of wages right now.

“As the Nigerian government, we shall adjust in conformity with what is happening in wages.

“More importantly, the 2019 national minimum wage act, right now has a clause for the review, which we started then, I do not know whether it is due next year or 2024.

“But before then, the adjustment of wages will reflect what is happening in the economy, just as the government has started the adjustment with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).”

FG directs flags to fly at half-mast in honour of Queen Elizabeth II

The federal government has ordered that all flags in the country and missions abroad be flown at half-mast in honour of Queen Elizabeth II.

The directive was given on Friday September 9 by Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

The flags will fly at half-mast on September 11 and September 12 to honour the late queen.

The statement reads;

“We commiserate with the government and the people of UK and all the affected people of the Commonwealth and the global community.“The Queen is dead, long live the King.”

FG to partner Qatar for cultural promotion

Nigerian Ambassador on Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the State of Qatar, Yakubu Ahmed, has called for a partnership between the two countries, in promoting the culture of Nigeria in Qatar.

Ambassador Ahmed made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the General Manager & Chairman of the Kiahf Committee of Katara Cultural Foundation, Prof. Khalid Al Sulaiti, on Sunday.

While on a guided tour of the Katara Cultural Village, the Nigerian Principal Representative informed his Qatari host of the rich cultural diversity of Nigeria, expressed through traditional festivities featuring carnivals, boat rides, fishing, dances, songs, horse riding, and masquerades across the different ethnic linings.

In a statement released by the Ambassador’s office on Monday, he buttressed that the mission would explore possibilities of inviting interested public and private artists and art galleries in Nigeria to share their wares and talents at the Cultural Village in Doha.

In his briefing, the General Manager of Katara, Al Sulaiti, welcomed the idea of the partnership and encouraged the embassy to use the facilities in the cultural village to showcase Nigerian culture, via a series of exhibitions.

He pledged his support for any such events the Embassy would be willing to organise.

ASUU: FG announces 23.5% salary increment for lecturers

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, on Tuesday said the government could only afford 23.5 percent salary increase for lecturers, while a 35% increment will be enjoyed by professors.

The minister also noted that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) warned against signing agreements which the government will not be able to meet.

Adamu disclosed this while speaking during the meeting with vice-chancellors and other stakeholders in the university system.He said,

”The Federal Government can only afford a 23.5% salary increase for all category of the workforce in Federal Universities, except for the professorial cadre which will enjoy a 35% upward review.

“Henceforth, allowances that pertain to ad-hoc duties of the academic and non-academic staff shall be paid as at when due by the Governing Councils of Universities to which such services are rendered and to the staff who performthem.

“That a sum of 150 billion Naira shall be provided for in the 2023 Budget as funds for the revitalization of Federal Universities, to be disbursed to the Institutions in the First Quarter of the year, and that a sum of 50 billion Naira shall be provided for in the 2023 Budget for the payment of outstanding areas of earned academic allowances, to be paidin the First Quarter of the year”.

Speaking at the end of the meeting, the pro-chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, Professor Peter Okebukola, noted that the government was ready to go all out to ensure that the university lecturers return back to school.

FG suspends 5% telecoms tax on calls, data

The Federal Government has suspended the proposed excise duty on telecommunication services.

The suspension was announced by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof Isa Pantami, on Monday during the inaugural meeting of the Presidential Committee on Excise Duty for the Digital Economy Sector in Abuja.

According to the minister, the Information, Technology and Communication sector, especially the telecom industry, is already overburdened by excessive and multiple taxations, which will likely adversely affect the sector, if the government fails to take any precaution.

Pantami noted that the ICT sector has been the backbone of the Nigerian economy both in the area of its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product and taxes collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

The minister said,

“However, in spite of the contributions and achievements of the sector, we have been recording some challenges coming up from time to time that if care is not taken these challenges could be a barrier to the development of this sector in the next few years to come.

One of them is the issue of excessive taxation and sometimes, multiple taxations in the sector.”He further disclosed that the number of taxes from both federal and state levels paid by firms in the ICT sector rose from 39 in August to 41 in September 2022, within a period of about a month.

“The ICT sector is being overburdened with so many categories of tax,” Pantami stressed, adding, “If care is not taken, this is going to jeopardize the achievements and gains we have recorded so far in the sector.”

The Federal Government, through the Budget Office of the Federation, had earlier revealed that it would begin the implementation of its proposed excise duties on telecommunication services and beverages in 2023.

However, Pantami has maintained that he is against implementing this tax, which would increase the cost of telecommunication services for Nigerians.

The minister noted that with the increase in operating costs due to inflation and rising diesel, among others, there were more than 15 attempts to increase the price of telecommunication services within three years, which he kicked against.

The minister also said that he rejected the excise duty on telecoms because such a tax is usually introduced on luxury products or services.

He added that in most countries, it is usually introduced to reduce the consumption of certain things in the country, such as cigarettes.

Pantami noted that by implication, it means the government is discouraging Nigerians from using telecommunication services, which have become a necessity for many Nigerians.

He said that introducing the tax would likely destroy the sector and further contribute to more hardship for Nigerians.

The Federal Government, however, inaugurated a committee to review the possibility of introducing the excise duty in the digital economy sector and advise the presidency on the necessary steps to take.

Why FG hasn’t implemented recommendations of EndSARS Judicial Panel reports – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed why the federal government is yet to implement recommendations by the Lagos state judicial panel report on the Lekki tollgate incident and other states’ EndSARS panel reports.

Speaking at a meeting with United States secretary of state, Antony Blinken, in Abuja, on Thursday, Buhari said he will await the steps taken by governors before the federal government takes action on the reports of the judicial panels of inquiry set up by states to investigate incidents of police brutality.

Rivers, Delta, Ogun states, among others, had earlier submitted their reports, but the Lagos panel presented its report to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday. In its findings, the Lagos panel said security operatives “killed unarmed protesters” who had gathered at the Lekki tollgate.

A statement released by Special Assistant to the President on Media and Pubicity, Femi Adesina, quoted Buhari as saying that state governments will have to take steps on the reports of their panels, before the federal government acts on the recommendations.

“So many state governments are involved, and have given different terms of reference to the probe panels.

“We at the federal have to wait for the steps taken by the states, and we have to allow the system to work. We can’t impose ideas on them. Federal government has to wait for the reaction of the states,” he said.

On his part, the US secretary of state described the report of the #EndSARS probe panel as “democracy in action”, and said he looks forward to necessary reforms within security agencies.

We have made progress with out of school children –FG

The Federal Government has said that the number of out-of-school children in the country reduced from 10.1 million in 2019 to 6.9 million in 2020.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu on Thursday made this known during the annual ministerial briefing on the activities of the ministries in 2020.

“I can, however, tell you that through the BESDA initiative, we have reduced the figure of out-of-school children from 10.1 million to 6.9 million.” he said.

He added that the National Association of Proprietors and School Owners of Nigeria recorded the enrollment of one million children.

He noted that the sum of $611 million secured through the World Bank credit facility to support Universal Basic Education was put to judicious use.