Buhari To Boss Mustapha: You’re A Remarkably Competent Public Servant

September 3, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari and SGF Boss Mustapha – NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has described the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, as a remarkably competent public servant who enjoys the confidence and support of his colleagues.

In a statement today, September 3, on the occasion of Mustapha’s 65th birthday, the President further described him as a dedicated public servant under whom the nation’s COVID19 management drew wide commendation.

According to the President: “since his appointment as SGF, my respect and admiration for Mustapha have grown ever stronger and deeper because of the passion and energy with which he does his job.

“Mr. Mustapha is a remarkably competent person who enjoys the confidence and support of his colleagues. I commend him for playing a big part in the nation’s unparalleled success in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.”

President Buhari called on other public servants to borrow a leaf from Boss Mustapha who does his job with passion and amazing talent for details.

COVID19: Nigerian Govt Plans Compulsory Vaccination For Public Servants

Editorial staff

September 2, 2021

Nigerian Federal Government has announced plans to make COVID-19 vaccination compulsory for public service employees.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, who spoke today, September 2 in Abuja during a conference organised by the Forum of Health Commissioners in Nigeria said that the move was aimed at avoiding government personnel being rejected from attending functions in other countries.

“I can tell you that by the time the western world vaccinates its people, you can’t get into any of the Western countries without vaccination.

“It has started happening in the European Union dispensation now. They have created some waivers for people that have been vaccinated. It is better we begin to prepare people at home.

“One of the reasons we want to do that with federal civil servants is because they will be traveling to perform roles on behalf of the Federal Government.”

He explained that although the process will be gradual, the government will make sure that vaccines are made available and accessible to all before implementing the protocol.

According to him, the United Nations General Assembly will be starting very soon which will require the attendance of some government officials.

“Assuming the American Government says that you can’t come into the US unless you are vaccinated, and we have not provided vaccinations for our people, how will they go and prepare grounds for the meetings that will be attended by the President and other top government officials?

“It is a sequential thing and we are taking one step at a time. We realized we do not have sufficient vaccine, so we will not be able to impose those kinds of mandates on an automatic basis; it has to take some time and we will make sure that the vaccines are available and are deployed to the appropriate places and people will have the opportunity of getting the vaccines before we now impose the mandatory nature of whether you have vaccines or not before you can access government facilities.”

Boss Mustapha, commenting on the ongoing doctors strike, appealed to them to embrace dialogue and be patient, even as the government works to fulfill their demands.

“I will continue to appeal to the doctors that in the midst of a pandemic, any form of strike is unnecessary because already people are dealing with something that is beyond your control.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is a thing that is beyond anybody’s control, and it is not even in the hands of the government. Therefore, we can resolve these issues and we can make every effort to ensure that these strikes are totally avoidable.”

In her remark, the Chairman of the Forum of Health Commissioners in Nigeria, Betta Edu, stressed on the need stakeholders to promote the call for revolution in the health sector.

The Conference, according to her seeks to provide a platform for all the commissioners of health in the country to develop policies to improve the universal health coverage.

Presidency Describes Amnesty International As American Lobbyist Working For IPOB, Local Politicians

Editorial staff

September 1, 2021

Nigeria’s Presidency has written off Amnesty International over its recent comments on the government, saying that it had turned itself into an American Lobbyist and working to legitimize proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and local politicians who are using it as cover to carry out nefarious activities.

In a statement today, September 1, Senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said that the amnesty had again, decided to side with terrorists, before the liberty of those they injure, displace and murder.

The Presidential spokesman further accused the Amnesty International of deploying its language of universal human rights only to defend and even outrightly promote those that violently oppose the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Parroting the line of Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB, a proscribed terror organisation, they work to legitimise its cause to Western audiences. This puts them in bad company.

“Controversial American lobbyists are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to do the same, laundering IPOB’s reputation in Washington DC.

“IPOB murder Nigerian citizens. They kill police officers and military personnel and set government property on fire. “Now, they have amassed a substantial stockpile of weapons and bombs across the country.

“Were this group in a western country, you would not expect to hear Amnesty’s full-throated defence of their actions. Instead, there would be silence or mealy-mouthed justification of western governments’ action to check the spread of “terrorism.”

Garba Shehu said that despite Amnesty’s self-proclaimed mandate to impartially transcend borders, “unfortunately in Nigeria, they play only domestic politics. “The international NGO is being used as cover for the organisation’s local leaders to pursue their self-interests. “Regrettably, this is not uncommon in Africa. There is nothing wrong with an activist stance; there are claims of neutrality, when all facts point to the opposite.”

The Presidency argued that Amnesty International has no legal right to exist in Nigeria, saying that it must open a formal investigation into the personnel that occupy their Nigerian offices.

“They should reject the outrageously tendentious misinformation they receive and bring some semblance of due diligence to the sources they base their claims on. Currently, we see none.

“The Nigerian government will fight terrorism with all the means at its disposal. We will ignore Amnesty’s rantings. Especially when it comes from an organisation that does not hold itself to the same standards it demands of others.”

Kogi, Other, Join Oil Producing States Soon

Editorial staff

September 1, 2021

Yahaya Bello | Photo Credit: Premium Times

Kogi and Anambra States may soon join the league of Oil Producing States in Nigeria as their oil wells have been recognised by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

The development is sequel to a letter from RMAFC to a request of Governor Willie Obiano for due share of revenue accruing to the nation from oil and gas production activities in Anambra state.
According to the letter, the two states would benefit from the 13 percent derivation fund once the proceeds from the oil wells are contributed to the Federation Account.
In the approval letter signed by RMAFC’s secretary, M.B. Shehu, and addressed to Governor Obiano, the Commission approved the attribution of eleven oil wells wholly to Anambra state.
The Commission also approved attribution of Anambra River One, Two, and Three oil wells, to be shared on fifty- fifty percent basis between Anambra and Kogi states, pending the final delineation of boundaries of the two states.
The eleven oil wells wholly attributed to Anambra state, are Nzam-One oil well, Alo- One oil well, and Ogbu- One oil well.
Others are Ameshi One, Two, Three and Four oil wells, as well as Enyie One, Two, Three, and Four oil wells.
Meanwhile, the Commission insisted that for the states to benefit from the 13% derivation Fund, the proceeds from the operations of the oil wells should be contributed to the Federation Account.
It was gathered that the oil wells in Anambra and Kogi States are not producing at the moment.
Source: PRNigeria

FCT Minister Announces Partnership With Surveyors On Land Administration In Abuja

Editorial staff

September 1, 2021

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has announced a partnership between Surveyors, under the auspices of Nigerian Institute of Surveyors (NIS) and Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Receiving in audience today, September 1, members of the Institute in his office, the Minister acknowledged the professional services Surveyors have been rendering for the development of Nigeria, particularly in the areas of security and agriculture.

“I want to commend you in the appreciation that survey data is now critical in managing national security, as well as keying in and providing the bedrock and foundation for the agricultural policy of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“I am very much aware that your professional colleagues were able to survey farmlands, thereby making them eligible to get a lot of the empowerment and palliative measures that the Federal Government has towards improving agriculture, especially under agencies like the Central Bank of Nigeria and other subsidiary agencies. All these are being done using your professional input and that is very commendable.”

The Minister expressed satisfaction with members of NIS in the FCTA and advised them to continue their programmes towards enhancing their professional competence, especially the young surveyors.

“For the younger ones coming in into the system, I hope the council has a robust training mechanism and system for them to be able to do it, particularly looking to advances in technology.”

Earlier, President of the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors, Surveyor David Kayode Oluwamotemi, said that the visit was to seek partnership with the FCTA to enhance land administration and revenue drive in the FCT.

BREAKING: Buhari Sacks Ministers Of Agric, Power

Greenbarge Reporters

September 1, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has relieved two ministers of their appointments. They are the Ministers of Agriculture, Mohammed Sabo Nanono and his Power counterpart, Engineer Saleh Mamman.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, announced this today, September 1.

He said that the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abubakar has been redeployed to the Ministry of Agriculture while the Minister of State for Works, Engineer Abubakar Aliyu is to take over as Minister of Power.

He said the exercise will continue to fill vacancies as prescribed in the constitution.

Corruption Fighting Agency Monitors Lawmakers’ Executed Constituency Projects

Editorial staff

August 31, 2021

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has announced the monitoring of constituency projects executed by members of the National Assembly, called Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Exercise.

A statement today, September 1 by the Agency’s spokesperson, Auke Ogugua said that the tracking of constituency and executive projects was initiated by the anti corruption agency in 2019, and that it focuses on how well money allocated to critical sectors of education, health, agriculture, water resources and power amongst others, by the government are utilized.

She said that the first phase of the exercise was held in 2019 in 12 states and the FCT and saw the tracking of 524 projects while the second phase was in 2020 had about 822 projects tracked in 16 states.

“The first 2 phases led to the recovery of assets worth billions of Naira to the government, return of equipment to communities for whom they were meant. “Also, about 300 contractors returned to sites and completed hitherto shoddily done or abandoned projects. The exercise led to revelation that some projects were excellently and completely executed.

Azuka said that the Commission is following up the first two phases of the projects with the community sensitization and enlightenment programmes, receipt, and handling of enquiries on the toll-free number (0800-CALL-ICPC/0800-2255-4272) and info@icpc.gov.ng.

According to her, some cases of diversion of project funds from the first two phases are being investigated.

“Phase 3 of the constituency and executive projects tracking exercise is slated to take place in 17 states – Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Yobe, Adamawa, Plateau and Kogi. Others are Benue, Ondo, Osun, Lagos, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Edo, Anambra and Imo States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“The focus, as in the previous years, will be on priority sectors of agriculture, education, power, health and water resources.

“A total of 1,251 projects executed within the 2019 and 2020 appropriations have been listed for tracking in this third phase. These include 1,024 constituency and 227 executive projects respectively.

“The objective of the tracking exercise is to ensure that the Appropriation Act is fully implemented as contemplated by law, monitor the implementation of the projects from inception to completion, make recoveries on projects/contracts confirmed to have been inflated, and investigate fraudulent procurement practices in the award of contracts for constituency and executive projects.

“The reason is to improve service delivery to the people, ensure the full execution of all projects, guarantee value for money in the implementation of the projects and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements in the implementation of the projects, and increase recovery of public funds into government coffers, among others.

“The Commission hopes to close the gap between expenditure and development and the swallowing of scarce government resources characterized by shoddy handling of constituency projects through its enforcement and preventive mandate.

“ICPC wishes to acknowledge its partners which include the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Budget Office of the Federation, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Bureau of Public Procurement, civil society organizations, the media, grassroots community development associations and other critical stakeholders.

“The legislature is also giving the Commission its support, as they have indicated that the execution of projects is equally of concern to them.

“The exercise will be done with project geo-location and mapping to enhance tracking, meaning that remotely sited projects will also be brought under the tracking space for evaluation.

“Media and civil society organizations in the selected states are encouraged to monitor the exercise and give their feedback to the Commission in order to assist us improve the process.”

JAMB Allows Each University,Tertiary Institution To Fix 200/180 Cut-Off Mark For 2021 Admissions

Editorial staff

August 31, 2021

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has allowed individual universities and tertiary institutions in the country to fix between 180 and 200 as cut-off marks for the 2021 admission.

This position was arrived at during the 2021 Policy Meeting and Admission being virtually held today, September 1.

JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede said that the institutions were allowed to go by their recommendation this year to avoid the usual complaint that JAMB dictates the admission cut-off for the institutions.

According to him, the exam body usually approved the recommendation of the institutions and that this is still the practice even as he warned that institutions cannot go below the cut-off mark they have fixed and that has been approved at the policy meeting.

Unlike in the past when JAMB recommended a cut-off mark for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, this time around, each institution has been allowed to admit based on its recommendation.

Based on this development, the cut-off for university admission for 2021 is between 210 and 120; polytechnics – 180-100 and NCE – 150 – 100.

Pan African University proposed a cut-off mark of 210, the highest, University of Lagos, 200, Lagos State University, 190, Covenant University, 190, Mountaintop University-140, Joseph Ayo Babalola- 120, Afe Babalola University-180 and Redeemers University 170.

For polytechnics, Federal Polytechnic Nekede has the highest cut-off of 180, Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro has a cut-off of 150 while the cut-off marks for colleges of education are between 150 and 100.

Meanwhile, from next year, two new subjects have been approved to be included in the subjects for UTME. They are Computer Studies and Physical Health.

Money, Not Religion, Is Cause Of Boko Haram, IPOB, Banditry, Other Troubles In Nigeria – Presidency

Greenbarge Reporters

August 30, 2021

The presidency has identified morbid desire for money amongst the criminal minded people as the main cause of the rise of Boko Haram, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and banditry in Nigeria.

“There is the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorism, as well as the spate of kidnappings for ransom, transformed by some misinformed global media into a Muslim-on-Christian threat. Yet, in reality, there are no religious connotations at all when the primate purpose of these acts is to extract money.”

These postulations were contained in a statement today, August 30, by the Senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, against the background of the rising cases of what he called “horrific attacks.”

Garba Shehu, who stressed that the Buhari government is on top of events and is moving ahead with force to crush the perpetrators of the recent incidents of unrest in Plateau State, said that attempts “to simplify the reasons into a basic narrative may help raise donor-dollars for international NGOs, fill pages of overseas newspapers, and burnish foreign politicians’ faith credentials: but this does not increase understanding, nor offer solutions. If anything, simplistic theorizing and finger-pointing makes the situation worse.

“It is important both for Nigerians and the international community to appreciate that there are a multitude of factors attendant to these troubles.”

On the herder-farmer clashes, the presidential spokesman said that while international voices and some Nigerian politicians who seek personal gain from division declare this a matter of religion, “for those involved, it is almost entirely a matter of access to water and land.

“Herders have moved their cattle and into contact with farmers for millennia. But, increasingly, due to population pressure, the increased aridity of northern states, and climate change they are forced to travel further south to find grazing lands.

“Then, further afield in the south-East, IPOB are not struggling for freedom when they attack police stations and property, but rather committing acts of terrorism in order to steal money. IPOB is not defending Christians – as their highly-paid foreign lobbyists claim – when almost every citizen of those states they terrorize is uniformly Christian. Yet mistakenly, and because the lobbyists for IPOB have duped them, some misguided foreign media and politicians believe it so.”

Garba Shehu cautioned that while the troubled communities in the country are being reinforced with security personnel, religious, traditional and other community leaders must not allow the use of their spaces for the propagation of violence and incitement to violence.

He asked Nigerians to come together and use their hands to cast asunder, “those who seek to divide us for their own nefarious financial and political gain.”

Zamfara Rolls Out 7 Security Measures, Including Weekly Market Ban To Stop Attacks

Editorial staff

August 29, 2021

Zamfara State government has rolled out seven new security measures, including ban on weekly markets, to curtail attacks by bandits and other criminals in the state in recent times.

Speaking to newsmen today, August 29 in Gusau, the State capital, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Ayuba N. Elkanah, recalled that on August 27, the state Governor, Mohammed Bello Matawalle, in his determination to stem the tide of activities of criminal elements, announced the seven measures and directed all security agencies, especially the Police to ensure full enforcement and compliance.

He listed the seven new security measures announced by the governor as, that:

All weekly Markets across the state are closed indefinitely.
No selling of petrol in Jerricans
No movement of Motorcycles /Keke napep in Gusau from 8pm to 6am, while in Local Governments outside Gusau from 6pm to 6am.
All filling stations should not sell petrol of more than N10, 000 to Commercial Vehicles.
Government also banned carrying firewoods across the state.
Transportation of Livestock outside the state is hereby suspended, those coming to the state must undergo thorough investigation to authenticate the genuineness of the Livestock.
No Motorcycle will carry more than two person at a time.

The Commissioner of Police said that the measures were taken after due consultation with the security agencies and other critical stakeholders.

“I want to use this opportunity to inform the good people of Zamfara State that the Police, in Collaboration with other security agencies, are fully ready and have since commenced action to ensure full compliance of the directives. By tomorrow Monday, we are going to constitute a Joint Task Force which will be responsible for the full enforcement of the directives.”

The police boss warned everybody that Government and the Security Agencies are very serious in their quest to end the lingering security challenges in the state, “and therefore, the need to comply with the current decisions is very necessary. We will not tolerate an attempt by any person or group to contravene any of these measures, as we are fully committed to ensuring that full wrath of the law is applied to the offenders.”

He encouraged everyone, irrespective of Political affiliation to key into the ongoing crime prevention measures initiated to collectively rid the state of activities of unscrupulous elements.

“It is also paramount to state categorically that the new security measures are not Politically motivated, but the best interests of the state.”

Ayuba Elkanah called on the people of the State to remain law abiding and collaborate with Security agencies in ensuring that peace and security are restored to the state.

1...616617618...2,495 Page 617 of 2,495