FCT Minister Gives Anti-Cattle Rustling Committee Marching Order

February 14, 2017

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has challenged the National Implementation Committee for the Curtailment of Cattle Rustling in Nigeria to evolve a robust mechanism to track all the cattle coming in from the neighboring countries.

The minister who, gave this challenge today, Tuesday, while receiving members of the Committee led by its chairman, AIG Charles Ugomuoh,r said that all such cattle could be tracked from the border thereby reducing friction often generated by their activities in the hinterland and that it can also be used for statistical purposes.

“It would be a good idea for your Committee to set up a robust mechanism to track all those coming across the border even for statistical purposes.”

Muhammad Bello said that majority of cattle rustling activities are being perpetuated by those coming from the neighboring countries hence the need for their actions to be nipped in the bud.

He urged the Implementation Committee to take advantage of technology to track them and ensure that the herders pay for such services.

“The Implementation Committee needs to capture them by creating a data base with their names and identity because nobody can move in other countries without identity.

“The policy if well harnessed will go a long way to help reduce problems associated with cattle rustling in the country and make people to continue to live in peace and prosperity.”

He called on the Committee to work in concert with existing committees in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory for greater understanding and better results.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the National Implementation Committee on the Curtailment of Cattle Rustling in Nigeria, AIG Charles Ugomuoh, remarked that they were in FCT for advocacy visit as an enlightenment programme to curtail their menace.

AIG Ogomuoh stated that cattle rustling in Nigeria have come with adverse economic and security implications with negative consequences on the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The minister had recently set up similar committee, made up of 22 members on cattle grazing and rustling in the Federal Capital Territory. [myad]

Central Bank Of Nigeria Confirms Decline In Rate Of Currency Counterfeiting To 1 Percent

Greenbarge Reporters

February 14, 2017

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has confirmed that the prevalence of counterfeit notes in Nigeria from January to December 2016 was less than one percent, which is 0.0014 percent or 14 counterfeit pieces out of one million bank notes.

In a statement debunking the news making the rounds that about 20 per cent of the Naira currency notes in circulation are counterfeited, the CBN Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Isaac Okorafor acknowledged that no currency in the world is immune from counterfeiting, but that “we make bold to state that the rate of counterfeiting in Nigeria has been very minimal due to appropriate policies put in place by the Bank.

“In line with our core value of proactivity, we have always endeavored to use strong security features to make it difficult for dishonest persons to counterfeit the currency. In addition to that, we have carried out periodic massive nation-wide enlightenment of Nigerians on easy identification of fake banknotes and the reporting of such.

“We therefore find it rather curious that a former high ranking official of the CBN would make such bogus and unauthentic claims apparently calculated to destroy confidence in our national currency and sabotage the collaborative efforts of the CBN and the Federal Government at ensuring enduring stability of the financial system.

“The unfortunate implication of the fabricated claim of the said former official of the Bank, is that it gives the false impression that two bills out of every ten Naira pieces held by an individual is ‘fake’.

“We therefore challenge the said former CBN official to make public the empirical evidence suggesting that 20 per cent Naira currency in circulation is fake.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the CBN frowns strongly at attempts to counterfeit the Naira. We remain committed to safeguarding the value of the Naira by ensuring that our Naira banknotes are not susceptible to counterfeiting. We also work constantly with relevant security agencies to monitor and check the activities of counterfeiters.

“Members of the public are therefore advised to disregard the false alarm raised by the said former CBN official, be wary of the activities of counterfeiters and report any case of counterfeiting to the police and their banks.” [myad]

I’m Missing Home, On My Way Back Soon – President Buhari In London

Greenbarge Reporters

February 14, 2017

The President Muhammadu Buhari has confessed that he is missing home, away from London where he has been holidaying since January 19 this year.

According to the senior special assistant on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, President Buhari said that he would soon be returning to Nigeria from London any moment from now, as he is no longer “enjoying his stay’’ outside the country.

President Buhari, who proceeded on vacation to UK on January 19 for a routine medical check had indicated in a letter to the Senate, transmitted another letter to the Senate, on February 5, requesting extension of time to complete the medical check-up.

In an interview with the Channels Television in Abuja today, Tuesday, Garba Shehu said that the president would be returning to Nigeria soonest as he was no longer `comfortable’ with the extended vacation in London.

“As a matter of fact, we should be getting ready to see the president in fresh and that will be as soon as possible. The President (himself) is looking to being home to be with his people.

“I don’t think he is enjoying any longer with an extended vacation outside the country.’’

On the president’s telephone conversation with President Trump, Garba Shehu described as “undiplomatic’’ the request being made in some quarters for the release of the audio containing the conversation.

According to him, releasing an audio containing telephone conversation between two presidents is highly unethical and against modern day civilization.

“No, I don’t think so; I don’t think it is permitted in international diplomacy. I think if we had recorded Mr. Trump in this conversation, it would have offended our diplomatic relations. I think the Americans themselves would not have recorded this conversation of president to president.”

On the president’s test results being expected from his doctors, the presidential aide said he had no information on whether the president had collected the results or not.

“No, we have no information on that (test results). If he had received them, he would have been on the plane back home.”

Garba Shehu said that there was no enough time for the two presidents to discuss other continental and international matters, even as he expressed optimism that the conversation would boost the bilateral relations between Nigeria and the U.S.

“Well, there wasn’t enough time to talk about everything. I think the point at what will follow is in the invitation that President Trump has extended to our president (Buhari) to come over.

“That is the kind of opportunity that was presented to Nigeria to put all the issues on the desk.

“As for their immigration policy, I think our president has been clear about one thing- the choices made by the Americans as to who to lead them in this case, Mr. Trump, is entirely their own choice. We have no business interfering with their domestic affairs.

“As to the countries that have barred, it has been clearly specified and Nigeria did not feature in the list.”

Buhari had on Monday, in London spoke with Trump by telephone at the request of the American President.

According to the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the conversation was cordial and Buhari congratulated Trump on his election as President of the United States and on his cabinet.

Adesina said the two leaders discussed ways to improve cooperation in the fight against terrorism through provision of necessary equipment.

According to him, Trump encourages Buhari to keep up the good work he is doing, and also commends him for the efforts he has made in rescuing 24 of the Chibok Girls and the strides being taken by the Nigerian military.

“Trump assured the Nigerian president of the U.S readiness to cut a new deal in helping Nigeria in terms of military weapons to combat terrorism.

“Trump also invited Buhari to Washington at a mutually convenient date,’’ the statement concluded.

The American President has since been putting calls to other world leaders to inform them of his action plans towards the eradication of terrorism in America.

Nigerians have, however, been reacting to the statement with diverse views.

(NAN). [myad]

Court Orders Ex NNPC GMD, Andrew Yakubu To Forfeit $9.8 Million To Govt

Greenbarge Reporters

February 14, 2017

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, presided over by Justice Zainab B. Abubakar today, Tuesday, ordered the forfeiture of the sum of $9.772 million and £74,000 recovered from a former Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu to the Federal Government.

The order was sequel to an ex parte application by the EFCC seeking an interim forfeiture of the recovered money to the Federal Government. The ex parte application was made by Salihu Sani, counsel for the applicant.

In her ruling, Justice Zainab held: “that the sum of $9,772,000 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars) and £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) which are now in the custody of the applicant (EFCC) are in the interim forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

It would be recalled that, on the 3rd day of February, 2017, operatives of the Commission had stormed a building belonging to the former NNPC boss and recovered a staggering sum of $9,772,000 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars) and £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) stashed in a huge fire proof safe.

On February 8, 2017, Yakubu reported to the Commission’s Kano Zonal Office where he admitted being the owner of both the house and the money recovered.

He is still in custody assisting the investigation, according to Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren. [myad]

Buhari Phones Adamu Fika From London Over Wife’s Death

Greenbarge Reporters

February 14, 2017

President Muhammadu Buhari, today, Tuesday, spoke to the former Nigeria’s Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Adamu Fika from London, to condole with him on the death of his wife, Hajiya Tasallah Fika.

The President expressed sadness over the death of Mrs. Fika, saying that her death is painful.

He told Adamu Fika, who holds the traditional title of Wazirin Fika that as a family man himself, he (Buhari) understood the depth of pain Dr. Fika is going through at this time.

He commiserated with the husband for “having lost a great and invaluable companion of many years and that the deceased was one of the most devoted wives who was the pride of the nuclear family.”

President Buhari prayed to Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest in peace, and wished Dr. Fika the fortitude to bear this enormous loss. [myad]

Nigeria’s Federal Govt. Rakes In N5.24 Trillion From Treasury Single Account

Greenbarge Reporters

February 14, 2017

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Ahmed Idris has announced that the sum of N5.244 trillion has so far been realized as inflows in the Treasury Single Account (TSA), following the moping -up and direct debits of Accounts by the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The AGF who spoke at the opening of a two day retreat on the one year of the TSA implementation ( the benefits, challenges and way forward), organized by his office at the International Conference Centre Abuja, said that TSA has eliminated multiple banking arrangements in the MDAS and resulted in the consolidation of over 200,000 bank accounts which were spread in Deposit Money Banks across the country.

He said that TSA has also brought transparency, effective tracking of Government revenue as well as blocked leakages and abuse in management of Government finances.

“TSA implementation has taken us out of the Era of indiscriminate borrowings by MDAS and saved Government charges associated borrowing which amounted to about N4.7 Billion prior to full Implementation of TSA.”

Ahmed Idris said that given the considerable gains so far recorded in the TSA implementation, there is need to evaluate the programme and come up with best ways of improving the Policy, which is the reason for the retreat.

He gave assurance that government is considering going beyond the Cash Management of TSA but will explore other viable economic options of resource utilization and deployment especially in this era of economic recession.

In a speech to declare open the Retreat, the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, represented by the Special Adviser on Economic Affairs , Dr. Adeyemi, Dipelu, congratulated the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and its partners, particularly the IMF and the World Bank for their successful implementation of the TSA.

He underscored the importance of the TSA scheme as being instrumental to the efficient management of Public finances and pledged Government’s commitment towards ensuring improvement in the implementation of the Programme.

The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun in her speech highlighted the benefits of the TSA saying that it has enhanced greater opportunity in exercising better control over the financial base of MDAs and allows for critical decisions to be made.

Mrs. Adeosun, explained that attempts are being made to expand the scheme by engaging statutory cooperation to come on board in order to adopt the scheme but identified the major challenge as the uncooperative attitude of some Deposit Money Banks who are still keeping some government funds in their custody.

She said that Government has been engaging them on the need to transfer funds without identity to the TSA and for the recalcitrant ones, government was making efforts to engage auditors to keep a tab on such funds.

There were presentations from MD Access Bank Mr Herbert Wigwe and Rep. Of the Gov of Anambra state and syndicate sessions which provided the platform for brainstorming on the way forward. Kenechukwu Offie (Mrs ) Director Information OAGF 14th February 2017. PRNigeria encourages institutions to be transparent in their information management as it provides news items from authoritative sources for free use by the media. [myad]

Freedom Online Lecture To Focus On Challenge Of Unemployment In Developing Economy

Greenbarge Reporters

February 14, 2017

The challenge of unemployment and its negative effect in a developing economy will be the focus of discussion at the first annual lecture of Freedom Online, scheduled for Thursday this week.

Freedom Online, according to a statement by its Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Gabriel Akinadewo, will also look at how to tackle unemployment during the lecture “because it has become a monster, threatening to consume the nation-state called Nigeria.

“We strongly believe that unemployment leads to poverty, insecurity and other social vices. Nigeria’s political, economic and social fabric is disintegrating because of this time bomb. Something urgent must be done and given the type of mono-economy we run in this country, we believe the government must lead the way so that unemployment can be reduced and eventually eradicated”.

The lecture which is scheduled to hold at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, will have as guest speaker, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State while his Lagos State counterpart, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode will be the Chairman.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State will be Special Guest of Honour while the Director-General (D-G) of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, is the Guest of Honour. Others are former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel as the Keynote Speaker while the South-West Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George as a Special Guest.

Freedom Online is a member of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP). [myad]

Debt Management Boss Wants Floating Savings Bond For All Nigerians

Greenbarge Reporters

February 14, 2017

Nigeria Debt Management Boss, Abraham Nwankwo

Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr. Abraham Nwankwo has insisted on Nigeria being actively involved in the growth and development of the country’s infrastructure and secure prosperity for all through the latest revolutionary initiative – Federal Government Savings Bond.

Speaking at a breakfast briefing with journalist in Abuja today, Tuesday said

that the Savings Bond which is within the 2016 budget borrowing instrument will be for as little as N5, 000 and a maximum limit of N50million.

He said that the aim of the Savings Bond which has a tenor of 2-3 years is to not only leverage on the saving culture of Nigerians, promote financial inclusion but to help in wealth creation, and help to increase access to funds available for investment in the economy.

The DMO boss said that subscribers stand to gain dividend twice in a year and that once the bond is floated, it would run for five working days to allow more Nigerians take advantage of the opportunity.

“The FGN Savings Bond will have a competitive fixed rate which will be announced by the DMO on the first working day of every month or as may be determined from time to time.

“Subscription shall be open same day the price is announced and investors will have 5 working days to put in their subscriptions through the distribution agents.” He said that the offer would come on stream before the end of the first quarter of 2017.

On the recent successful floating of $1billion Eurobond, Nwankwo said it was a bold step the administration had to take despite negative forecasts by analysts and expressed the satisfaction that the government went ahead and had beat all expectations by the oversubscription recorded.

He said the success of the Eurobond shows that the country’s economy is resilient despite teething economic challenges, and was confident that it would motivate other investors to take advantage of the huge potential and prevailing openness and transparency of the present administration to invest.

With the bond floatation, he said: “in the next five years or so, Nigeria’s economy will have substantially moved to a position of diversified exports and public revenue, the maximum domestic satisfaction of aggregate demand and, self-sustainability. Under that condition, the appropriate public debt management strategy, with particular reference to the relative weights of the domestic and external components of the public debt portfolio, will be quite different from what it is today.” [myad]

French Agency Comes To Train Manpower For Kaduna Electric

Greenbarge Reporters

February 14, 2017

The French Development Agency under the UIMM Project in collaboration with the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distribution Companies (ANED) has indicated its readiness to assist Kaduna Electric in training of its staff in skills acquisition.

The Project Manager of the UIMM Project, Agathe Gondinet at a meeting with the management of Kaduna Electric at the Company’s Headquarters in Kaduna, said that this is in line with the Agency’s mandate to help Electricity distribution companies across Nigeria to develop skilled manpower.

“To achieve this, we have embarked on tour of all the eleven DISCOs, starting with Kaduna Electric, in order to know their training needs and partner with them to design and implement training plans that will be useful in addressing their human development needs.”

She said that the aim of the project is to support the Human Resources Managers in all the Distribution Companies (DISCOs) in Nigeria so that they will be strengthened and empowered through Train-the-trainer sessions, to design training programs and curricula for their respective companies.

Ms Gondinet said that the two-year project, which has already started,would be developing strategic partnership with both government and private owned training institutes like the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) by providing them with both the infrastructure and information on the training needs of the entire sector so that they can adapt their curriculum to meet the current needs of the DISCOs.

She said that some of the areas in which the downstream sector will benefit will include: change management, bridging the gap between the legacy staff and the newly recruited, appraisal method and access to a digital platform that will serve as a resource center to share ideas on best practices among several others.

In his contribution, the ANED Project Coordinator, Mr. Rotimi Adebari was hopeful that the outcome of the Needs Analysis currently being carried out in all the DISCOs with Kaduna Electric being first in the series would motivate employees and facilitate attitudinal change that will improve industry efficiency. He added that ANED as the umbrella body is committed to creating best practices that would bring about an industry standard.

According to him, ANED is in the process to identify institutes with the capacity in terms of infrastructure and suitable facilitators who will help the industry grow in collaboration with the UIMM Project partners.

The Chief Operating Officer of Kaduna Electric, Mr. Major Bhaskar, thanked the team for the visit and commended them for choosing Kaduna Electric first. He assured them of the company’s readiness to be part of the project. [myad]

This Nigerian Labour Congress Sef! By Charly Boy

Greenbarge Reporters

February 13, 2017

On February 8, 2017 I tweeted about joining the NLC on their walk for good governance. I was really not too surprised at the kinds of responses I got from fellow frustrated Nigerians: My people just dey query me as per how somebody like me go come gum body with NLC “Fake” people like that.

For starters, let me make this clear; If the devil like make him hold rally, I go appear to use that platform to send my message to my fellow frustrated Naijas. Until I posted a tweet about marching with NLC in Lagos, I didn’t realize how most nigerians had lost respect/trust for the union. In fact one of the feedbacks I received blaming the compromised NLC for the death of a family member really evoked some strange feelings in me.

The Late Dr. Oghenetega Umukoro battled diabetes for 20 years. His condition, however, became particularly difficult in 2014 because he was an employee of a state in this country owing workers 6 months Salary. He had been solely dependent on various degrees of loans to not just manage the sickness but also manage his family -A Beautiful family of three boys and a girl. He lost his wife Elizabeth in 2011 due to childbirth complications. His miserable life of Sickness; Struggling to pay Tuition fees for his children’s education, poor feeding and debilitating cost of general upkeep for the family, led to further complications medically and he died a few months ago. His Corpse has been in the Mortuary for well over 4 months now, his children are all alone and have no idea what the future holds. The brief story of late Dr. Oghenetega Umukoro of Blessed Memory is the story of the Nigerian Public and Private Sector Worker and Workforce.

It’s on record that President Buhari first gave a N350billion Salary Stimulus pack for 27 State Government. The first in the History of this Country and was continually giving further bailouts and Support to every state of the Federation totalling over four bailouts and budget support. Recently every State of the Federation got on the Average of between N10bbillion-14.5Billion from the Paris Club Debt Refunds and it is on record that President Muhammadu Buhari Impressed it on State Governors to do the Right thing because he is constitutionally handicap to enforce Financial Fiscal Discipline at the State Level. If the President can understand the Suffering of the people in the Ghetto and as a result of his desire to cushion the suffering of the workers provide Bailouts totally about N3 Trillion Since 2015 under two years what has Organized Labour down to support the President? I No See Anything oh! And sadly, most Governors squandered the Bailout and did not pay the workers that the funds were meant for while Labour Siddon dey Look like mumu.

NLC/TUC and organised Labour Leaders have been silent, complacent and I believe mago magoly benefitted from those bailout that was dedicated to the suffering ordinary civil servants. They did not and could not mobilize to fight the roguish governors and for the workers because the suffering of the labour force had become abstract to the leadership of Labour. Organized Labour has become an enemy of the Nigerian people.

From the National Health Insurance Scheme; To various Housing Scheme of Government; To Programmes for the reduction in Pregnancy and Childbirth related Deaths, The Leadership of Organized Labour in Nigeria has been ineffective and compromised in the Battles for Workers’ Rights. They are Insensitive and have play no noticeable and viable role in the monitoring and investigation of the Frauds of Government and Governance on behalf of the Nigerian People in the National Assembly; The Judiciary; Failing MDAs; State and Local Governments. NLC and TUC were in this country and practically endorsed the last decade of Audacious mismanagement and Mindless Insane Looting of our Treasury; I Just Dey Vex!. They were silent, incoherent, indiscipline, selfish, greedy and destructive, to say the least. NLC and TUC have been at the forefront of the Corruption of the Nigerian Workforce and the destruction of the moral values of the Nigerian Workforce. The leadership of organized labour have come to symbolize what has been wrong with our collective being in this country. Oh! how I wish the Labour Leadership of old can be resurrected.

I was the one who use to mobilised lagos state in those days for NLC under the leadership of the character called Adams Oshiomole. That one had a habit of calling off strikes, doing different James Bond on Naijas. I backed out when I discovered him way no be my way.

What I got from people’s negative responses to this rally is that the NLC and TUC are alone in their battle against the President. And this is purportedly so because the NLC were silent when Nigerians were buying PMS at over N200/litre when it was officially N86.50/Litre; they are silent as the cost of living sky rockets every blessed day, they are silent when workers are not paid salaries for months in different states, and are not as engaging when the suffering people needs them the most. State governors owe workers up to 12months salary. I swear, Na God go punish all the bad people amongst us after the masses deal with them very soon.

The NLC and TUC Leadership have continually Ignored the Criminality and Looting by the National Assembly over the Past Decade. The Hypocrisy of Organized Labour Leadership is blatantly open for all Nigerians to see. They have been fighting the wrong battles under the guise of fighting for the people, forgetting that a battle for the people must be owned by the people. I may have marched with them, but their ways are not my ways. I dey hope say dem go change and begin answer their true calling or else, fellow frustrated Nigerians will occupy their headquarters until sanity is restored again.

#OurMumuDonDo !!! [myad]

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