Benue Govt Uncovers 2,500 Ghost Workers On Teachers, LGs Payroll

July 21, 2023

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has said that 2,500 ghost workers have been uncovered in the first phase of staff verification and payroll audit for teachers and Local Government staff members in the state.

A statement yesterday, July 20, by Governor Alia’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Tersoo Kula in Makurdi, said: “in the first phase of staff verification and payroll audit for Primary and Secondary School Teachers as well as Local Governments workers, 2,500 ghost workers were uncovered.

”The payroll has since been cleaned and names of the ghost workers have been remove.

”The government also uncovered phantom schools, double dipping, unlawful employment, salary padding, payment to dead or retired individuals and unlawful replacements.”

The governor expressed regrets over the delay in payment of salaries of teachers in primary and secondary schools, as well as the Local Government staff.

The governor said that the decision for the delay in the payment of salaries was taken after the government discovered mindless padding of the wage bill and other fraudulent manipulations on their payroll.

He assured workers who have been screened that they will receive their salaries before the end of the week.

”We are not only getting rid of ghosts workers and removing the padding associated with payroll fraud. We are putting in measures to ensure the system is protected going forward.”

Source: NAN.

Subsidy Removal: NEC Supports Cost-Of-Living Allowance For Civil Servants

Editorial staff

July 20, 2023

The National Economic Council (NEC) has thrown its weight behind the planned distribution of grains and fertilizer to Nigerians by the Federal Government through the Central Bank of Nigeria to mitigate the impact of the removal of petrol subsidy on citizens.

The decision was part of resolutions reached today, July 20, at the 4th meeting of the Council, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential villa, Abuja.

The decision was taken after a presentation by the NEC Adhoc Committee on cushioning the effect of petrol subsidy removal was made by Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo.

Speaking after deliberations on the presentation, Senator Shettima read the resolutions of the Council,

He said: “we will also pursue vigorously, the mass deployment of CNG-powered vehicles and establishment of autogas conversion plants/kits in all States in the short-term and deployment of electric buses and cars with charging infrastructure across the country.”

The meeting also resolved to support enhanced engagements between State Governors and the leadership of the labour unions across the States, and proposed the provision of the cost-of-living allowances to be paid to civil servants in both the State and Federal Civil Services.

The Council agreed to support federal Government’s efforts to scale up infrastructure especially to give attention to fixing dilapidated highway roads across the country.

Other highlights of the 134th NEC meeting are as follows:

UPDATES:

I. OUTSTANDING BALANCES AS AT END OF JUNE

Excess Crude Account

– $473,754.57

Stabilisation Account

– ₦27,524,857,142.27

Development of Natural Resources Fund – ₦98,421,834,602.86

Monthly Statutory, Exchange Gain, Non-Oil Revenues Etc.

Balance as at Jan to June, 2023 – ₦104,978,145,865.8

Solid Mineral Development Fund (SMDF)

Balance As At Jan To Jun, 2023 – ₦835,511,263.00

II. UPDATE ON STATES’ BUDGET SUPPORT FACILITY AS AT 30TH JUNE, 2023 FAAC MEETING

OUTSTANDING LIABILITY: – ₦1,718,705,566,436.25

PRESENTATION BY FEDERAL INLAND REVENUE BY CHAIRMAN, MUHAMMAD NAMI*

The presentation on revenue outlook by the FIRS was made by the Chairman, Mr Muhammad Nami. It focused on major revenue reforms implemented between 2020 and 2023. Four key areas highlighted include:

· restructuring tax operations and administration

· automation of tax administration and operational processes

· creating a customer-focused service

· creating a data-centric institution.

Short-Term plans by FIRS

· further automation tax administration in FIRS

· bring the informal sector into the tax net through partnership

· intensify data streaming from industry regulators, MDAs, industry operators and treaty partners to improve compliance

FIRS 2023 revenue projection for the second half of the year was put at N7.5 trillion and 2024 revenue projection at N25 trillion.Council resolutions:

Council commended the FIRS for its initiatives and reforms to boost revenue generation in the country, especially the projection of N25 trillion for year 2024.

Council encouraged States to utilize the peer review mechanism in the Nigerian Governors Forum and improve partnership with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to increase their internally generated revenue.

*PRESENTATION ON FLOOD READINESS AND RESPONSE, INCLUDING COORDINATION MECHANISMS ACROSS STATES BY DG NEMA, MUSTAPHA AHMED*

The presentation on flood readiness and response, including coordination mechanisms across states preliminary assessment report was made by the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Ahmed.

In the presentation the DG highlighted the plight of victims of the unfortunate flood disaster across affected States of the Federation could be alleviated if the much-needed intervention from the Federal Government materialized without further delay.

HIGHLIGHTED STRATEGIES

PREPAREDNESS AND EARLY WARNING MEASURES

NEMA in collaboration with Bournemouth University Disaster Management Centre, organized an Executive Disaster Management Course between 23rd-27th January, 2023 to enhance capacity of disaster responders. This enabled the production of disaster early warning alerts that are disseminated to communities at risk nationwide.

FLOOD DISASTER EARLY WARNING COMMUNICATION

Request to equip State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) to efficiently and effectively respond to emergencies within the State;

Carry out public sensitization of the public on 2023 Climate – Related Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Strategies.

FLOOD DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Organize State humanitarian coordination meetings to prepare for activation of Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) to coordinate search and recue and relief distribution.

Ensure evacuation of refuse, weeds, water hyacinths and floats from water channels and on all avenues for river run-offs to allow free flow of excess waters.

MITIGATION EFFORTS

• Carrying out Media Public Enlightenment Campaign (i.e. Radio & TV jingles), targeting vulnerable communities (on-going);

• Advocacy visits to Federal MDAs, DRUs & other relevant disaster management partners. (on-going);

• Collaborating with National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to acquire satellite imageries of inaccessible areas in the event of floods.

THE WAY FORWARD

Disaster management is multi-task, multi-discipline and multi-jurisdictional. Disaster management, is everyone’s business.

To meet our aspiration for effective disaster risk management, NEMA requires the full support and collaboration of all tiers of government, the private sector and general public.

All disasters are local; disaster hits a particular community, in a particular LGA, in a particular state. The first lifesaving responders are always from the local community before external support arrives.

Disasters cut across political and administrative boundaries as proven by annually recurring floods and the recent pandemics, COVID-19, Ebola etc.

Council resolution:

Council resolved that relief materials be distributed to flood and disaster victims across the country by NEMA.

PRESENTATION ON STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARED ON FOOD AND AGRICULTURE BY PERMANENT SECRETARY, FMARD, DR ENERST UMAKHIHE*

The proposed strategies for achieving food and nutrition security include:

Support smallholder farmers with agricultural equipment, other farm inputs such as seeds & seedlings, agro-chemicals and growth enhancers among others, and build their capacity on good agronomic practices.

Training and capacity building agents, strengthen agricultural extension services.

Improve pasture development by building farm settlements for pastoralists and generally ensuring breed improvement in livestock sub-sector.

Promote out-grower scheme for cropping maize and soyabean for livestock production.

Construction of rural roads, boreholes, mini-water treatment plants, among other facilities geared towards improving the entire livestock value chain.

The way forward in addressing food insecurity is as follows:

Fast-track the operationalization of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing zones in each of the six geo-political zones and revitalize moribund agricultural industries to promote production and productivity for food and nutrition security.

Establishment of more mini earth dams and run-off water harvesting structures to promote all year-round farming.

Strengthen agriculture research institutes and colleges for increased research output and agricultural productivity in the country.

Bridge fertilizer raw material gap by fast tracking the local exploration of Di-Ammonium Phosphate and muriate of potash in line with National Food Security Council to the Solid Mineral Development Fund.

Council noted the various agricultural interventions made to boost food production across the country.

Federal, State Govts Move To Reduce Cost Of Governance

Editorial staff

July 20, 2023

Federal and State Government have made move to reduce the cost of governance.

Responding to questions at a news briefing shortly after the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential villa, Abuja, today, July 20, the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo said however that discussions on it would continue.

“I think it’s an omnibus concept, and it’s not something you sit down in a meeting to legislate for each and every state.

“But the fact that the council recognizes that this is an issue that each tier of government should now focus on as an area of concern. That we must look at the cost of running the state.

“The way we even live, some gave an example of a state governor going with 20 something vehicles in a convoy and all these have to be fueled, and so on and so forth.

“And the fact that we’re even amongst ourselves almost like in a peer review, kind of setting to talk to ourselves is a good development.

“We would need to be sensitive to the times; we need to live within the average of the people that we’re governing, so on and so forth. We need to knockoff the waste and the irrelevances so to speak.

“I will like to give you a simple example and I’m going to legislate it for everybody (Governor) to go and look into his mind.

“When I assumed office, for example, it was costing about N137 million every month to clean up public offices, and so on. Today, in Anambra, we’re doing N11 million a month, from N137 million on a monthly basis. This is just an illustration.

“And it’s a thing that we are persuading each and every one of us to look into. “Check into our books and look ourselves in the mirror and move with the times.

“It’s not that the council sat and begin to prescribe. We didn’t get to that but each person will do that.”

Federal Inland Revenue Generates N5.5 Trillion In 6 Months

Editorial staff

July 20, 2023

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has announced a total tax revenue collection of N5.5 trillion for the half-year period of January to June 2023. This is the highest tax revenue collection ever recorded by the Service in any first six months of a fiscal year.

The Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Muhammad Nami, made this known today, July 20, while presenting the 2023-2024 tax revenue outlook to the National Economic Council at its meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to a statement by Johannes Oluwatobi Wojuola, Special Assistant to the Executive Chairman on Media and Communications, the presentation showed that the FIRS achieved over one hundred percent of its target for the first-half of the year when compared with a mid-year target of N5.3 trillion.

The report said that tax revenue collected from the oil sector from January to June 2023, stood at N2.03 trillion, as against a target of N2.3 trillion; while non-oil tax collection stood at N3.76 trillion, as against a target of N2.98 trillion.

Nami said that the Service collected a total of N1.65 trillion tax revenues in June 2023. This sum is the highest tax revenue collected by the Service in any single month.

Speaking on what he described as “a good head start, despite stubborn headwinds,” Muhammad Nami attributed the excellent performance to improved voluntary tax compliance enabled by the automation of FIRS’ tax administrative processes.

“This is a good head start as we work towards meeting our target for the year. And it was achieved despite stubborn headwinds such as the impact of the currency redesign and 2023 General Elections on the economy in the first and second quarters of 2023.

“This half-year performance was achieved as a result of improved voluntary tax compliance by taxpayers, the continued improvement of automation of our tax administration processes, including the updated VAT filing processes; as well as our dogged engagement with stakeholders in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy.”

On the outlook for the remainder half of the year, the FIRS Executive Chairman gave assurances that the country should expect “better days ahead” in terms of tax revenue collection.

“We believe that the performance in the second half of the year would be better considering the continuing improvement to our tax administration processes and positive impact of current government’s policies on the economy.”

Recall that the Service achieved a total collection of N10.1 trillion in the year 2022, being the highest tax collection ever made by the FIRS in a single year.

Tinubu Approves Establishment Of Infrastructure Support Fund In States

Editorial staff

July 20, 2023

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of Infrastructure Support Fund (ISF) for the 36 States of the Federation as part of measures to cushion the effects of the petrol subsidy removal on the people.

The approval was disclosed at the monthly meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), today July 20, in Abuja.

The new Infrastructure Fund will enable the States to intervene and invest in the critical areas of Transportation, including farm to market road improvements; Agriculture, encompassing livestock and ranching solutions; Health, with a focus on basic healthcare; Education, especially basic education; Power and Water Resources, that will improve economic competitiveness, create jobs and deliver economic prosperity for Nigerians.

The Committee also resolved to save a portion of the monthly distributable proceeds to minimize the impact of the increased revenues-occasioned by the subsidy removal and exchange rate unification-on money supply, as well as inflation and the exchange rate.

Out of the June 2023 distributable revenue of 1.9 trillion Naira, only N907 billion will be distributed among the three tiers of government, while N790 billion will be saved, and the rest will be used for statutory deductions.

These savings will complement the efforts of the Infrastructure Support Fund (ISF) and other existing and planned fiscal measures, all aimed at ensuring that the subsidy removal translates into tangible improvements in the lives and living standards of Nigerians.

The Committee commends President Tinubu for the bold decision to remove the petrol subsidy, and even more importantly, for providing necessary support to the States to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal on Nigerians.

Bayelsa Gov Releases 106 Vehicles To Cushion Effect Of Fuel Subsidy Removal

Greenbarge Reporters

July 20, 2023

Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri has released 106 vehicles in a bid to alleviate the suffering of commuters in the state following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
Diri inaugurated 100 cabs and six luxury buses at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall premises yesterday, July 19, saying that it is the initiative of his government.
In a statement by his chief press secretary Daniel Alabrah, the governor acknowledged the hardship on Bayelsans due to the removal of the subsidy on petrol.
He said that the restriction on commercial tricycles at night is still in force and that taxis and buses are an effective replacement.
Diri, who said that his government has completed and inaugurated the Bayelsa State Transport Terminal started by his predecessor, said that the launch of the transport scheme will make the terminal functional.
“This is another historic day as we launch this fleet of transport vehicles to alleviate the suffering of our people.
“For those who have been crying over the ban on commercial tricycles at night, this is an effective replacement. The ban is however still in force.
“Now, we have taxis that will run within the city of Yenagoa and environs to the Niger Delta University at Amassoma, to the airport and the Federal University, Otuoke and other towns.
“I appreciate all Bayelsans for their patience. You know that your government has your welfare at heart.”
The governor called on youths in the state to take full advantage of the initiative to empower themselves just as he projected that over 100 youths would be engaged as drivers in the intra-state and intra-city transport scheme.
While handing over the keys of the vehicles to the general manager of the Bayelsa State Transport Company (BSTC) Timi Fanama, the governor said that the new arrangement will be different from previous government’s transport initiatives in the state and urged the management to make good use of the vehicles to enhance the transport system.
Fanama called on the youths to avail themselves of the scheme and see driving as a career.

President Tinubu To Nigerians: Be Patient, I See Light At End Of The Tunnel

Greenbarge Reporters

July 20, 2023

“As we persevere and struggle to confront our present challenges and the temporary pain we experience, I enjoin you to remain hopeful that there is light and prosperity at the end of the tunnel.
“My team and I are leaving no stone unturned in our bid to deliver on the promises we made, in spite of the present difficulties.”
This is the message President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sent to Nigerians as Muslims across the world celebrate the Islamic New Year in Hijri calendar 1445.
The President appealed to the citizens to imbibe the important values of patience, perseverance and faithfulness, “which were at the roots of the decision by Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) to migrate from Mecca to Madina, 1445 years ago.”
He called for earnest prayers and supplications to God Almighty to direct and protect our path to greatness and prosperity in Nigeria.
I prayed that the new Hijri Year would usher in a more peaceful and prosperous period in our lives.

CBN Throws 2,698 Bureaux de Change Out Of Business, Revokes Their Licences

Editorial staff

July 19, 2023

File photo of Some Bureau De Change Operators in Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has thrown 2,698 Bureau de Change (BDCS) out of business, while retaining 2,991 others.

The CBN published a list of approved BDCS today, July 19, in a document titled: ‘Approved BDCs.’ The document revealed that the licenses of the 2,698 BDCs have been revoked.

A similar list was published by the apex bank last year, which approved 5,689 black market dealers.

BDCs play a significant role in determining the exchange rate in Nigeria.

The number of operators has experienced substantial growth, increasing from 74 in 2005 to 5,689 in 2021.

Suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, later prohibited the sale of foreign exchange to BDCs due to concerns of round tripping and involvement in illicit financial activities.

Under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, recommendations were made to implement key reforms such as increasing the capitalisation requirements for BDC operators and allowing Nigerian banks to act as primary dealers in the forex market.

Since the floating of the naira by the CBN in June, the currency has depreciated, with the exchange rate reaching N795.28 at the Investors’ and Exporters’ FX Window.

At the parallel market, the naira closed at N820 per dollar, N1,095 per British pound, and N905 per Euro.

We’re All Migrants In This World, Ex President Buhari Reminds Muslims On New Year

Greenbarge Reporters

July 19, 2023

The immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has reminded Muslims across the nation and all over the world that we are all migrants in this world.
The former President, on the occasion of the Islamic New Year 1445, stressed the need for Muslims to follow the noble teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions.
A statement today, July 19, by Garba Shehu, his spokesperson when in office, quoted him as stressing the importance of self-retrospection.
“This is in the full awareness that we are all migrants in this world.”
He called for prayers for the nation and adherence of all citizens to our collective good and avoidance of actions and utterances unbecoming a united nation.

Oil Marketers Blame Tanker Drivers’ Illegal Levies For Fuel Price Increase

Greenbarge Reporters

July 19, 2023

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has blamed the continued increase in fuel price, including the one that occurred yesterday, July 18, on the high illegal Levies being imposed on its members by Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD).
“The levy imposed on IPMAN members by tanker drivers had further depleted the little profit left for them to keep their fuel distribution business going, as a truck load of PMS which initially costs them about seven million naira to load but with the subsidy removal, had been pushed to above 23 million naira to load and transport the same product to their various fuel stations and we have been fighting extortion by petroleum tanker drivers for about 10 years now and we have been telling them that this market is based on profit but our pleas had fallen on deaf ears.”
Reacting to the grievances that have trailed the increase of the fuel price following the removal of subsidy in May, and the one of today, the national President of IPMAN, Chinedu Okoronkwo, said that they had warned that if Federal Government failed to prevail on the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), to stop the imposition of illegal levies on her members, it might lead to hike in pump price of petrol.
He recalled a meeting of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of IPMAN held recently in Abuja, during when they raised concerns on the implication of the action as well as informing the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of the act of sabotage being perpetrated by tanker drivers in the distribution of products.
“We want the Federal government and NNPCL to be aware that Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) is allegedly the number one enemy of fuel subsidy removal and deregulation.”
He said that the PTD had allegedly exhibited an act of sabotage on PMS distribution by levying IPMAN members for each truck loaded at the depot.
According to him, the charges are different depending at what depot the marketer is loading.
He accused tanker drivers of extorting different amounts from IPMAN members and in some cases, charging N200,000 which would have stopped with the removal of subsidy.
He said that the only profit an average IPMAN member make is N500,000 on each truck of PMS after making over N23 million and which take days or weeks to sell.
Okoronkwo said that marketers also pay other logistics charges from the meagre profit, like providing fuel for the truck that will carry the product, providing fuel for the engine that will carry light at the stations and so on and at the end of the day, they are left with about N200,000, or slightly above it.

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