Churches Must Obey New Company And Allied Matters Act – Corporate Affairs Commission

August 23, 2020

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has made it clear that churches must get ready to start obeying the new Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) which has come to stay in the country despite the public outcry that has greeted it.

The Commission said that it is only waiting for the legislature to gazette it for immediate implementation of the law.

The CAC Registrar General, Alhaji Garba Abubakar, who spoke to newsmen today, August 22 in Abuja, wondered why the act is being opposed by religious bodies, especially the churches.

“They must henceforth subject their finances and expenditures for proper auditing, and copies sent to us at the CAC.

“The new legal framework applies to all organizations registered with us; be it a religious organisation, NGO or CSO.

“Remember that they also have constitutions guiding them. The criteria to be a trustee of registered organisations are clearly spelt out in the laws establishing them.

“How is it that a registered member who qualifies to be a trustee in an organisation would not want government to know how the organisation is run? What are the responsibilities of the trustees?

“What are the responsibilities of the governing council or the board?

“How do you manage the affairs of the organisation?

“How do you use or expend the income and properties of the organisation? How do you appoint members of the governing board? “These are the issues the new CAMA has come to address.”

The CAMA bill was recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, and was included in his list of achievements for the last one year.

Recall that the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN), had recently described CAMA as satanic, demanding that the President halts the implementation of “the obnoxious and ungodly law until religious institutions are exempted from it.”

Gov Wike Accuses Multinational Companies Of Funding Militants In Niger Delta, By Gladys Nweke

Greenbarge Reporters

August 22, 2020

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has accused some multinational companies operating in the Niger Delta of funding militants to create insecurity in the region.
Wike therefore expressed anger and surprise at the same multinational companies who use insecurity to justify their refusal to relocate their operational headquarters to the region.
Governor Wike, who spoke during a courtesy visit by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipri Sylva and the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at Government House, Port Harcourt, wondered why insecurity does not prevent the drilling of oil but could be used to deprive the State what is due to it.
“They use insecurity issues to place us in a disadvantaged position and deny us our right.
“There is insecurity in Lagos, Kaduna and Katsina States. Yet, companies do not run away from those States. The railway projects are not stalled too.
“The multinationals are sometimes to blame because they instigate insecurity by paying militants and turn around to blame it on the people.
“There is no excuse to operate outside our State. The Federal Government should compel them to relocate their headquarters to the State as the hub of the hydrocarbon industry.”
The Governor noted that the NNPC has not done anything substantial for the State after many years of operation.
“The Port Harcourt Refinery has continued to operate below installed capacity. Even the access road has been in a poor state for years.
“I urge you as minister and members of the board of directors to dualise the three kilometres Road and change the narrative.”
Governor Wike said that the patriotism Chief Sylva has demonstrated by attracting federal projects to his State and called on other Ministers to emulate him.
He said that even if the Minister is of the opposition Party in Bayelsa State, his sense of patriotism has made him to place the interest of the State above partisan interests.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipri Sylva, had told the Governor that plans have reached an advanced stage to rehabilitate the existing refineries in the country.
He said that the Federal Government decided to start the rehabilitation programme from the two refineries in Port Harcourt because Rivers State is the headquarters of the hydrocarbon industry.
The Minister announced that a third refinery would be built to bring the number of refineries in the State to three.
Chief Sylva commended Governor Wike for being persistent in his quest to get the Refinery Road dualized and promised that the Ministry would support the move.

Petroleum Dev Commission Gears Efforts To Increase Gas Supply to Domestic Market

Editorial staff

August 21, 2020

The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), an Exploration and Production subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is looking at boosting its gas supply to the domestic market by 600 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) in the next three to five years.

The Managing Director of NPDC, Engr. Mansur Sambo, spoke today, August 21, during a facility tour of the company’s Oredo Gas Handling plant by the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, in Benin City, Edo State.

On the medium term projection of the company which is currently the highest supplier of natural gas to the domestic market, the NPDC boss said besides the 1billion standard cubic feet per day (bscf/d) it currently produces, the company would add another 600mmscf to its production portfolio in the next three to five years.

Giving a breakdown of the projection, Sambo said the company’s OML 34 is expected to deliver 360mmscf/d, while OMLs 42 and 111 would deliver 120mmscf/d apiece.

He said that NPDC has revved up production in OML 111 by 2,100barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and 27mmscfd of gas, thereby increasing cumulative production from the acreage to 10,699bpd.

Sambo, who also announced the successful drilling of Well 16 in OML 111, said the well was essentially for gas with associated crude oil, adding that the plan was for the Gas Plant to be fed from the well.

On the Gas Handling Facility, the NPDC boss disclosed that the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) unit would be ready for commissioning in October, 2020.

Speaking at the occasion, Mallam Kyari described the development as a significant step towards growing the nation’s crude oil reserves and increasing production, stressing that more of such was needed to meet the target of 3million barrels per day production and sustain the nation’s economic growth.

“This gas facility in particular will deliver at least 240 metric tons of LPG to domestic market within a year and that is a very significant fraction of current level of supply into the market. It will ease the spending on foreign exchange by the country. This is monumental and underscores government efforts of making sure that this is the year of gas. The gas is the cheapest and easiest way of getting development in this country,” the GMD enthused.

He congratulated the Management and staff of NPDC for fast-tracking the completion of its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Gas Plant, reiterating that gas development was key to the nation’s quest for industrialization.

Music Maestro, D’banj Becomes Civil Defence Agro-Rangers’ Brand Ambassador

Editorial staff

August 21, 2020

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has made a Nigerian music maestro, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo, better known by his stage as name D’banj, Agro-Rangers’ Ambassador.

The Agro Rangers is a special unit set up within the NSCDC, called the Agro-Rangers, to primarily protect investments in the agricultural sector and farmers-herders clashes across the country.

In a statement today, August 21, Ekunola Gbenga, Media Assistant to the Commandant General, said that Agro Rangers is the brain-child of the federal government for the purpose of curtailing herdsmen and farmers conflicts in the country.

The Commandant General, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu was quoted to have advised the Agro-Rangers’ Ambassador, D’banj to see the honour as a call to service which comes with a lot of responsibilities.

He further advised him to use his talent and popularity to mobilize Nigerians towards unity, peace, tolerance, and productivity.

The CG urged the Ambassador to speak against vices that destroy societies like vandalism, thuggery, insecurity, drug abuse, human trafficking and child abuse etc.

Gana praised Oladapo Daniel for using his creativity to inform, educate and entertain the populace and mobilize them towards good behavior, as well as best practices and good choices.

“It is, therefore, my firm conviction that with your collaboration, our fighting against insecurity and making lives meaningful for farmers-headers will yield result.”

Gana said that the idea is to spread security awareness and sensitisation to citizens in crime prevention.

In his acceptance speech, Oladapo Daniel Oyebanjo expressed happiness for the unique honor bestowed on him and promised to work with the Corps, especially as Agro-Rangers squad to ensure that farmers return to their farms and operate in peace atmosphere.

Federal Govt Lays Conditions For Resumption Of International Air Flights, August 29

Editorial staff

August 21, 2020

Federal Government of Nigeria has itemised conditions for the reopening of airport for international flight operations, beginning from next week Saturday, August 29

Aviation minister, Senator Hadi Sirika, at a briefing of the Presidential Task Force on coronavirus said that airlines would be informed on arrangements that have been put in place to ensure that the resumption of flights are hitch-free.

He said that for now, only a few flights per day would be permitted and that they would operate as test runs of the protocols put in place to ensure the safe return to international operations.

The protocols, according to him, would be made public in due course.

Sirika said that inbound international passengers would be limited to 1,280, stressing that this number would be allowed to fly into the Lagos and Abuja airports once international flights resume on August 29.

The minister said that in resuming the international flight operations, Nigeria will observe the principle of reciprocity in granting permission to airlines to fly into the country.

The minister explained that what this means is that only airlines from countries that allow flights from Nigeria will be allowed to fly into and out of Nigeria.

He specifically said that airlines from the European Union (EU) would not be allowed into Nigeria as it had recently banned flights and visitors from Nigeria.

The Aviation minister, who was represented by the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Captain Musa Nuhu, said: “on the list of countries (that are banned), we are working on the comprehensive list, but the main one that came up is when the EU opened their borders effective 1st July, Nigeria was among the list of 54 countries that were not allowed to enter the EU.

“To my understanding, as the situation changes, they are going to look at the list and change it. But so far, we don’t have any contrary information to that first one that Nigeria is banned from going to the EU.

“So, as we open our airspace, we are going to apply the issue of reciprocity to those (EU) countries.”

On July 2, 2020, the Council of the European Union had opened its borders to 15 countries, excluding Nigeria.

According to information obtained from the EU website at the time, Nigeria was still not a part of the countries from where visitors are allowed into Europe.

We’re Determined To Block All Tax Revenue Leakages – Inland Revenue Boss

Editorial staff

August 21, 2020

The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami has vowed to block all tax revenue leakages brough about by among others, what he called “systemic abuse of the pioneer incentive scheme.”

Speaking when he played host to State Commissioners of Finance, at the Revenue House, headquarters of the FIRS in Abuja on Wednesday, Nami said that the blocking of tax revenue leakages will lead to generating more revenue for the three tiers of government.

Coordinating Director, Tax Operations Group, FIRS, Femi Oluwaniyi, who expressed appreciation to the state commissioners of finance on behalf of the Executive Chairman, said that their support so far in revenue generation for the Federation is commendable.

He however, decried the indiscriminate tax waivers and incentives granted to undeserving companies, which he stressed, has impacted negatively on revenue generation.

Oluwaniyi said that the FIRS has discovered that pioneer status certificates had been issued to companies that were not pioneers of their fields in the real sense, hence undeserving of such status. He stated that this development has led to loss of considerable tax revenue to the three tiers of government.

However, the FIRS hinted that it was auditing its findings with a view to pressing for the cancellation of pioneer certificates issued to undeserving companies in violation of the law.

The FIRS stated that pioneer status otherwise granted outside the law would not enjoy tax relief regardless of the certificate issued to them and owners of such certificates were requested to regularize their tax positions otherwise sanctions shall apply in accordance with the law.

Earlier, Nami stated that tax revenue accounts for nearly 70% of what was shared at the last FAAC meeting and lauded the collaboration between the Service and the State Commissioners of Finance, saying this is key to bringing about increase in tax revenue.

He said without this collaboration it would be difficult for government to meet its obligations to the citizenry in such areas as infrastructure development and salary payment, which could lead to social dislocation.

The Executive Chairman emphasised the need to diversify the economy in order to create more sources of taxable income and increase tax revenue for the nation.

He charged the states to focus on other forms of taxes like the Stamp Duty which he described as “the black gold” which has been ignored before now.

He also charged all Ministries, Departments and Agencies to scrupulously deduct Withholding Tax from contracts at point of payment.

Nami also solicited the states’ support in terms of taxpayer sensitization campaigns and education, stating that rental obligation was incomplete without the payment of Stamp Duties. He emphasised that if these initiatives were pursued at both local and state levels more revenue would be generated.

Team lead of the delegation cum Benue State Commissioner of Finance, David Olofu, congratulated Nami on his well-deserved appointment and on his accomplishments in office so far.

Olofu assured that the states were looking forward to working closely with FIRS in order to generate more tax revenue for the country.

Screening Of Recruits Into Police Force Commences August 24, Ends September 6

Editorial staff

August 20, 2020

The Nigeria Police Force has announced that all candidates who successfully completed the online registration in the recruitment of constables into the Force are to proceed for physical and credential screening scheduled to hold between 24^th August and 6^th September, 2020, across the country.

A statement today, August 20 by the Force spokesman, Frank Mba, said that applicants are to appear at the various screening venues in their clean white T-shirts and shorts with the following mandatory basic requirements:

i. National Identity Number (NIN);

ii. Original and duplicate copies of credentials – O’ Level Result(s), Certificate of Origin and Birth Certificate/Declaration of Age – neatly arranged in two white flat files with recent passport photographs attached;

iii. Printout of application submission confirmation page

iv. Duly completed Guarantor’s form

The statement said that any candidate who fails to present (i –iv) above, will not be considered for the screening.

It said that the screening exercise will take place at designated locations within each State/FCT, adding that detailed and specific guidelines for each State will be announced by the Police Public Relations Officers in the thirty-six states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The screening and other activities touching on the recruitment exercise will be carried out in strict compliance with the COVID-19 prevention protocols.”

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed A. Adamu, was quoted in the statement to have reiterated that the recruitment exercise is absolutely free of charge and without any pecuniary obligation.

“The IGP assures that the process will be conducted in the best tradition of transparency and accountability. He advises the applicants to be wary of online impostors, scammers and other criminal elements who might want to take advantage of the recruitment process to dupe innocent applicants. The IGP however warns that anyone found wanting will be arrested and prosecuted.”

Christians Describe Companies And Allied Matters Act As Time Bomb Waiting To Explode

Editorial staff

August 20, 2020

Christians in Nigeria, under the umbrella of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have described the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari recently, as a time bomb waiting to explode.
CAN, which asked President Buhari to urgently return the law to the National Assembly for immediate amendment, said that the law which by implication has repealed the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 (1) was assented to despite its rejection at the Public Hearing stage.
In a statement today, August 20 by the Special Assistant, (Media & Communications) to the CAN President, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the Christian body said that if the federal government insists on retaining the legislation, it would be seen as a declaration of war on Christianity and the agenda to destroy the Church.
“The law, to say the least is unacceptable, ungodly, reprehensible and an ill-wind that blows no one any good. It is a time bomb waiting to explode.”
CAN said that during the first term of the President, there was a Public Hearing conducted by the National Assembly on the “Non- Governmental Organisations Bill tagged ‘Bill for an Act To Provide For The Establishment Of The Non-Governmental Organizations Regulatory Commission For The Supervision, Co-ordination And Monitoring Of Non Governmental Organizations’ which was attended by CAN and many NGOs.
It said that at the Public Hearing, the Bill that sought to bring the religious organizations and NGOs under the control and influence of the government was totally rejected because it would snuff life out of the church.
“We thought it was all over until we heard of the CAMA that was assented to by the President, making the rejected bill a law.
“The satanic section of the controversial and ungodly law is Section 839 (1) &(2) which empowers the Commission to suspend trustees of an association (in this case, the church) and appoint the interim managers to manage the affairs of the association for some given reasons.
“While we are not against the government fighting corruption wherever it may be found, yet we completely reject the idea of bringing the Church, which is technically grouped among the NGOs, under control of the government. The Church cannot be controlled by the government because of its spiritual responsibilities and obligations.

“This is why we are calling on the Federal government to stop the implementation of the obnoxious and ungodly law until the religious institutions are exempted from it.”

CAN said that Nigeria should not be compared with any other nation when it comes to the relationship between the religious institutions and the government, saying that in Nigeria, people’s religions are tied to their humanity and their life.
“How can the government sack the trustee of a church which it contributed no dime to establish?

“How can a secular and political minister be the final authority on the affairs and management of another institution which is not political?”

Accountant General Announces Rise In Federation Revenue To N676.4 Billion

Editorial staff

August 20, 2020

Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris has announced the rise in Federation Account Allocation gross revenues to N676.41 billion in July from N653.35 billion in June this year, saying that it is due to higher crude oil sales and tax receipts.

The Accountant General, in a virtual meeting of Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), said that the price of oil, Nigeria’s main export, fell sharply early this year as the coronavirus outbreak hit demand, cutting government revenues, weakening the Naira and creating a large financing gap for the country.

Ahmed Idris said that oil revenues with sales tax increased in July, while corporate taxes and import duty decreased, adding that the balance on oil surplus savings account stood at $72.41 million as at August 19 while income from crude sales and value added tax (VAT) made up the bulk of the government’s gross revenues.

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) at its virtual meeting chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Mahmoud Isa- Dutse, shared to the three tiers of government, a total sum of N676.407 billion as federation allocation for the month of July, 2020.

From this amount, inclusive of VAT, the Federal Government received N273.189 billion, the States received N190.849 billion, the Local Government councils got N142.761billion, while the oil producing states received N42.851 billion as derivation (13% of Mineral Revenue) and Cost of Collection/Transfer and Refund got N26.757 billion.

The communique issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) at the end of the meeting, indicated that the Gross Revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for July, 2020 was N132.619 billion against N128.619 billion distributed in the preceding month of June, 2020, resulting in an increase of N3.793 billion.

The distribution is as follows; Federal Government got N18.500 billion, the States received N61.668 billion, Local Government Councils got N43.168 billon, while Cost of Collection/Transfer and Refund got N9.283 billion. The distributed Statutory Revenue of N543.788 billion received for the month was higher than the N524.526 billion received for the previous month by N19.262 billion, which the Federal government received N254.688 billon, States got N129.181 billion, LGCs got N99.593 billion, Derivation (13% Mineral Revenue) got N42.851 billion and Cost of Collection/ Transfer and Refund got N17.474 billion.

The communique also revealed that Oil and Gas Royalty, Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), and Value Added Tax (VAT) increased considerably, while Companies Income Tax (CIT), Import and Excise Duty recorded decreases. The total revenue distributable for the current month including Value Added Tax (VAT), according to the committee is N676.407 billion.

The government said oil revenues with sales tax increased in July, while corporate taxes and import duty decreased. The government also said the balance on its oil surplus savings account stood at $72.41 million as at Aug. 19. Income from crude sales and value added tax (VAT) made up the bulk of the government’s gross revenues.

Companies in Nigeria have seen profits slump especially in the second quarter when the government imposed a lockdown to slow the spread of the virus. Also, restrictions on international travel and dollar shortages have hurt imports.

In February, Nigeria increased VAT to 7.5% from 5% to boost revenues, seen among the lowest in the world. Lower government revenues could worsen Nigeria’s debt to revenue ratio this year.

Federal Government Approves N13.3 Billion For Community Policing In Nigeria

Editorial staff

August 20, 2020

The Federal Government has approved the sum of N13.3 billion for the take-off of Community Policing initiative across the country. This is part of measures adopted to consolidate efforts aimed at containing the security situation in the country.

The National Economic Council (NEC), at its virtual meeting today, August 20, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, with state governors, FCT Minister, CBN Governor and some federal cabinet officials in attendance, resolved that the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, with two other governors, meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Finance Minister and the Inspector General of Police to coordinate the proper utilization of the funding of the initiative.
The National Economic Council (NEC) Ad-hoc Committee on Security and Policing, had made a presentation on its assignment to the Council, noting that engagement with key stakeholders on the operationalization of community policing in the country was in ongoing. The presentation was made by Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum.
Other reports received by Council at today’s meeting included reports on the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country; flood disaster risk management in Nigeria for 2020, and the issue of compensation payments regarding Federal Highway projects across the country.
Responding to two presentations on the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: one by NEC’s Adhoc committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, and the other by Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, the State governors commended the efforts and commitment of the Federal Government in containing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting States’ response capacity through various interventions.
The NCDC report indicates that the positivity rate has fallen from 19.7% in June to 13.7% in August 2020, while number of states with testing laboratories increased from 2 to 32, including the FCT.
According to the status report presented to the council, “the average tests per day has risen from 500 at the onset of the outbreak to 3,500 today, while the daily laboratory testing capacity increased to 10,000.”
Council also received recommendations from the Adhoc committee some of which include:
• The states and FCT to look for ways of upscaling the communication at the grass-root level/ non-compliance to non-pharmaceutical interventions.
• The need for states and FCT to explore the suggested use of local networks and traditional institutions such as Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) to re-orient the people at the grassroots who had continuously lived in denial of the pandemic but rather chose to display nonchalant attitude towards all the laid down protocols.
• States and FCT should engage the services of the respected community influencers such as the heads of “Area Boys”, market women, and villagers, in disseminating the same message to the grass root using different modes/media that are common to such people and could easily attract their attention.
Other highlights of the meeting are as follows:
The Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning reported to Council that the under listed accounts as at 18th August 2020 were as follows:
i. EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT (ECA)
Balance as at 18th August 2020 = $72,408,119.44
ii. STABILIZATION FUND ACCOUNT
Balance as at 18th August 2020 = N44, 207, 377,110.34
iii. NATURAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT FUND ACCOUNT
Balance as at18th August 2020 = N144, 047, 195, 020.54
UPDATE BY THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON SECURITY AND POLICING PRESENTED TO NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL (NEC)
Council received a presentation from Chairman National Economic Council Ad- Hoc Committee on Security and Policing.
Earlier, at the 95th National Economic council meeting, held on Thursday 20th June 2019, the National Security Adviser made a presentation on the security situation in the country.
Council had then deliberated extensively on the persistent security situation in the country especially the activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the North East, which had remained a delicate challenge.
Based on these, Council set up an Ad-Hoc Committee on security and policing headed by the Governor of Ekiti state.
The presentation to the Council today informed that the work of the Committee is ongoing with key stakeholders. Accordingly, the Committee would be meeting further as the need arises to update the Council on the progress being made to address insecurity and criminality in the country.
Council was informed that the President has approved a sum of N13.3B for the takeoff of Community Policing in the country. The VP then asked that a small team comprising of the NGF Chair, 2 additional Governors, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Finance Minister and the Inspector General of Police should meet to ensure that the FG funding is well utilized. A report would then be made back to the Council.
FLOOD DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA FOR 2020
Council received a presentation from the Hon Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development on flood disaster risk management in Nigeria for 2020.
Global Disaster Statistics
According to the presentation, Global data indicates that in the last decades, natural hazards occurred more frequently than in the past and were more destructive. Weather related hazards continue to increase from an annual average of 200 per year between 1993-1997, to 331 per year between 1996-2002.
The presentation stated that study already revealed that 25% of the world’s landmass and nearly 75% of its population is at risk
According to the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) conducted in Nigeria in 2012, flooding is considered the most common and recurring disaster in Nigeria by the National Emergency Management Agency. And this is a trend likely to continue.
Floods have been identified to affect more people and cause more economic losses than any other hazard, (Wisner et al, 2004).
The Minister then urged States
*To encourage relevant Federal Ministries, Department and Agencies to take necessary actions in support of the process
*Respectfully requested States to kindly take proactive and necessary mitigative measures in addressing the envisaged 2020 flood disaster even in the midst of COVID 19 pandemic.

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