The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a webinar in collaboration with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The partnership is aimed at increasing people’s awareness of Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in Nigeria.
The webinar, which is scheduled for tomorrow, December 12, at 11:00am WAT, aims to promote DNSSEC validation and ensure that Nigeria achieves increased awareness by the end of the year.
Report has it that the goal is to have at least 50 percent DNSSEC validation in the country by the end of the year, as noted in a notice posted on the NCC’s verified social media account. The Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) is a suite of specifications developed by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to enhance the security of the Domain Name System (DNS). The DNS serves as the internet’s phonebook, translating human-friendly domain names into IP addresses that enable computers to locate and communicate with each other on the network. Source: Eagles Path.
The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), still a leading member of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has explained why he and his likes believe in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu’s government, of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Wike, who spoke as he flagged-off the construction of the 15-kilometer A2 to Pai road project linking the Abuja-Lokoja expressway to the Pai Community in Kwali Area Council, stressed that he is committed to the provision of good governance in accordance to the Renewed Hope Agenda. “We believe in the Renewed Hope Agenda. What the President is doing through us is to connect the satellite towns to the main city so that you don’t have to say let me go and stay in the city. “By the time we provide water to the satellite towns and good roads, then you will have the positive impact of governance. “I believe by the time we put solar light on this road, it will look like the city. Be assured that under Mr. President’s tenure, every promise we have made, every project we have started, we will complete all of them. We are not going to abandon any project.” Wike emphasized that all the projects undertaken by the FCT Administration have been duly provided for in the budget, assuring that every aspect of the projects would be fully implemented. He and thanked the National assembly for their continued support to the FCTA. The Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, had said that the road will be provided with all the facilities, including streetlights and drainages, adding that its completion will enhance smooth and free access from the A2 to Pai, down to Gomani communities. This was even as the Managing Director of Zeberced Group Ltd, the contractors handling the project, Aiden Adil Kurt, assured of his commitment to the timely delivery of the road project. He also promised to adhere to highest quality and standard.
Makems Jewellery, an Abuja-based jewellery-making company in Nigeria, painted the city green, as it recently held its annual jewellery exhibition with a wide range of fine and unique handmade, locally-produced and imported jewellery products on display. The jewellery exhibition was an expertly-curated showcase of exceptional ornaments, ranging from contemporary designs to vintage treasures, such as Makems handmade jewellery, earrings, long necklaces, jewellery set, bangles and bracelets, rings and male bracelets, among others, with special focus on promoting local contents, which aligns with Federal Government’s policy direction on promotion of local contents in all sectors of the economy. The annual Makems 2024 Jewellery Exhibition, which took place on December 7, 2024 at the Glowing Ages Academy, Games Village Road, Kaura District, Abuja attracted fashion lovers and potential clients, who used the opportunity to purchase trendy jewellery of their choice as the Yuletide season begins while networking with other visitors.
Addressing stakeholders and visitors at the event, the Director of Business Development at Makems, Miss Temitope Adejare, said that Makems Jewellery makes unique jewellery products locally and also sell imported jewellery products as well. “Considering what has been happening in the economy in the area of dollar exchange to Naira, you will realise that things that are imported have become so expensive because they are in dollar. So, what we have done at Makems Jewellery is to ensure that we source for local jewellery materials and we have a lot of them that are locally-made in Nigeria on display at this exhibition. “Makems Jewellery has a passion for making jewellery and we now make do with what we can really do in Nigeria and we have been able to come out with beautiful jewellery pieces that people really love at this exhibition,” Adejare said. She explained: “what we do is unique to an individual. We do not repeat the design. So, if you buy any Makems jewellery piece, it is the only one that exists in terms of design. Overtime, people have come to know this and they love it also and they like coming for the exhibition.” According to her, Makems works year round to gather the best of locally-manufactured jewellery products as well as some imported designs and bring people together at the exhibition to come and see the various designs that Makems has brought on display for the season for them to purchase their favourite designs. “As you can see, we sell imported jewellery pieces as well but as you may have observed, most people would be at the Stand for Nigerian-handmade jewellery products because they are more unique, more durable and are very nice. This means, our locally-produced collection of jewellery appeals more to our clients. “Why most people run from Nigerian-made products is literally because of the quality. Most of the time, people that do local contents tend to compromise quality standards but what we have done at Makems is to ensure that what we have is of high quality even better than many of the imported jewellery, as the designs are nice and unique and meet the expectation of Nigeria across social divides.” Speaking on affordability, the Business Development Director said that because the products are domiciled in Naira, “you find out that it is easier for people to buy.” She noted that Makems is targeting “exporting our locally-manufactured jewellery products in the long run, thereby helping Nigeria’s Naira-to-dollar exchange to appreciate through local production of the fashion products and exports. “With what we have done at Makems, we have a lot of staff that we have employed and this also means we are creating employment opportunity for Nigerians across the value chain. We are also available online across social media platforms for online purchase of our products.” Adejare added that Makems’ plan is to become a household name as an indigenous jewellery-sourcing and production firm, thereby enhancing the government’s policy direction to deepen local content, improve value addition through offerings of durable, comfortable and affordable jewellery products in Nigeria in the next few years.
The Federal Government in October 2006, under the Treasury Single Account (TSA) conceived the idea of Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). It was aimed to provide a reliable and comprehensive database for the public service. The concept was also meant to address the long battle against ghost workers and to facilitate human resource planning. It was also conceived to eliminate manual record and payroll fraud. Similarly, the Treasury Single Account was primarily designed to bring all Government funds in bank accounts within the effective control and operational purview of the Treasury in order to enthrone centralized, transparent and accountable revenue management. It’s to facilitate effective cash management and ensure cash availability, etc. The IPPIS Secretariat is a department under the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and is responsible for payment of salaries and wages directly to government employee’s bank account with appropriate deductions and remittances of third party payments, such as Federal Inland Revenue Service and State Boards of Internal Revenue. The IPPIS was established in 2006 by the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo. The body at the starting point, was able to detect nearly 2,000 ghost workers in the Nigeria’s civil service system, with the resultant saving of millions of naira. And that exactly was one of the primary purposes of its establishment. Strangely, universities and other tertiary Institutions fought tooth and nail to be excluded, and they eventually succeeded in being excluded from the operations of the IPPIS for reasons they gave. Yes, the IPPIS is a very good concept and has done quite a lot of good things against the background of the purpose of its establishment, but the usual Nigerian factor has since began to show clearly in its implementation or operations, especially in the nation’s Federal Capital Territory Administration. The managers of the body, from bottom to the top ranks, have been caught abusing the concept and the privilege attached to the IPPIS. The operatives, mainly those at the echelon, have turned IPPIS into the business-as-usual thing, which, in a simple word means corruption. Lately, the operatives have come under some legal entanglements over some questionable matters, including but not limited to the issue of divulging workers’ pay particulars, such as payslips, staff numbers, files, employment security numbers and others to criminals on mission to defraud such workers. Aggrieved workers have cried themselves to chocking point over situations where the managers of the IPPIS would, and have been, deducting their salaries or even transferring their pay packets to some scammers or fraudulent individuals and questionable corporate entities in the name of questionable loans taken by such workers, without their permission for such deduction. In other words, the IPPIS managers have unilateral, without the permission of, or consultation with the affected workers, deducted big chunk of their pay packets for the purpose of settling purported loans which the workers took outside the IPPIS purview. There are other cases where the IPPIS deduct workers salaries for purpose that are not explainable, leaving such workers to think that the system (IPPIS) has been infested by those who hide under it to enrich themselves while impoverishing the workers, under flimsy, questionable excuses. In other words, one wonders as to what is the business of the IPPIS managers in deducting or transferring about 98 percent of the salaries of innocent workers to notorious scammers who claimed that the workers took loans through them without the IPPIS finding out how such loans were given or taken. The haste in, and confidence with which the IPPIS managers carry out the biddings of the notorious scammers to the discomfort of the workers, apart from violating the civil service rules, clearly indicates complicity and full participation of the IPPIS managers in the scams. One is aware that at certain time since Chief Nyeson Wike came in as minister of the Federal Capital Territory, he romanced with the idea of scrapping the IPPIS. One is also aware that the minister recently received a petition from no fewer than 50 different categories of workers in the capital territory’s administration about the fraudulent operations of the IPPIS and that the minister was forced to give strict instruction that the managers should stop such deductions. As is usual with the Nigeria’s system, the stubborn operatives stopped the fraudulent deductions as directed by the minister just for two months, and then resumed their action when they felt the minister was no longer looking at them. This is the reason why it has become imperative to call on the minister, who means well for the workers, to scrap this body and device a more transparent method of not just maintaining the integrity of the payment system in the service but also protecting the workers from the vultures in the system, who are just looking for their external collaborators, with unbelievable excuses, to deny the hardworking personnel their hard-earned monthly payments. Dr. Dantani Musa wrote in from Asokoro, Abuja.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has refused to grant bail to the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello. The presiding judge, Justice Maryam Anenih, complained that the application for bail was struck out on the grounds that it was filed when the former governor was yet to be taken into custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The application was filed on November 22, while the former governor was taken into custody of the anti-graft agency on November 26 and arraigned on November 27. Justice Anenih ruled that the “instant application for bail showed that it was filed on the 22nd of November. This shows that it was filed several days after the 1st defendant was taken into custody.” She said that the relevant provision says that a bail application could be made when a defendant had been arrested, detained, arraigned, or brought before the court. Meanwhile, the second defendant, Umar Oricha was granted bail in the sum of N300 million with two sureties. The court ordered that the sureties must be a holder of a property in Maitama, valued at not less than the bond sum, and must deposit their original title documents before the court Yahaya Bello is standing trial, along with two others, in an alleged N110 billion money laundering.
On hand yesterday, December 9, to participate in the celebration of the 62nd Birthday of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio are from left to right: Senator Eteng Williams, Senate Minority Whip, Osita Ngwu, Senate Deputy Whip, Onyekachi Nweboyin Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, Former Senate Whip, Orji Kalu, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and wife, Unoma; Senators Cyril Fasuyi and Olalere Oyewumi, during the 62nd birthday celebration of the Senate President.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), regulates the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, ensuring that operators comply with relevant laws, regulations, and standards. NCC mandate as enshrined in the National Communications Act 2003, is a wide-ranging one that includes the establishment and oversight of a Regulatory Framework for the Nigerian Communications Industry, as well as the promotion of efficient, reliable, affordable and easily accessible Communications Services across the Country. This Mandate connotes that NCC plays an important role in Nigeria’s transition to a truly Digital Economy. An important aspect of this role involves facilitating the deployment and safeguarding of Telecommunication Infrastructure – which is essentially the backbone upon which Digital Services are delivered across various Sectors of the Economy. The Role the Commission is playing in the Digital transformation of Nigeria by providing the backbone of our Connectivity, while emphasizing our commitment to building enduring Partnerships across Government and key relevant stakeholders in Nigeria; with regards to the following mandates: Licensing and Authorization NCC issues licenses and authorizations to telecommunications operators, ensuring they meet the required standards and criteria. Spectrum Management NCC manages the radio frequency spectrum, allocating frequencies to operators and ensuring efficient use of this scarce resource. Consumer Protection NCC protects the rights and interests of telecommunications consumers, ensuring they receive quality services and are treated fairly. Promoting Competition NCC promotes competition in the telecommunications industry, ensuring that operators compete fairly and that consumers have access to a range of services and providers. Cybersecurity NCC works to ensure the security and integrity of Nigeria’s telecommunications networks and services, protecting against cyber threats and attacks. Numbering and Addressing NCC manages the allocation and assignment of telephone numbers, as well as the management of internet protocol (IP) addresses. This pivotal advancement of NCC in facilitating a Digital Economy is achieved through its proactive Advocacy and Strategic Collaboration with relevant Key Stakeholders.
The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tax reform bills, which the National Assembly is currently considering infringed on the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In a nine-page memorandum, the RMAFC outlined a range of legal, constitutional, and technical objections to the proposed legislation. The document, signed by RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Bello Shehu, said that Section 162 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) grants authority to the Commission to determine the formula for equitable revenue sharing among the three tiers of government. It added that the mandate also includes ensuring that the formula reflects principles of fairness and justice. “The Constitution designates RMAFC as the final authority on matters of revenue allocation. “As such, no Act of Parliament, including the VAT Act, can infringe upon this constitutional responsibility. Any such attempt would constitute a violation of the Constitution.” RMAFC said that its role as the exclusive arbiter in developing fair revenue allocation formulas must be respected, adding that any deviation from its constitutional duties could undermine the integrity of the Commission and compromise the principles of justice in revenue sharing. The Commission called for an approach to Value Added Tax (VAT) allocation that accounts for the unique nature of VAT as a consumption tax. It proposed a formula developed by RMAFC that would ensure equitable distribution among federal, state, and local governments. The memorandum outlined the following points: 1. Equitable Allocation Formula: VAT allocation and derivation should be based on a formula developed by RMAFC. This formula would consider VAT’s consumption-based nature, ensuring fairness in distribution. 2. Recognition of Consumption Patterns: The formula would factor in consumption rather than merely production or the location of company headquarters, ensuring balanced benefits. 3. Support for Weaker Economies: Special consideration would be given to states with weaker economies, promoting national cohesion and fairness across all tiers of government. RMAFC went on to make several recommendations, advising the federal government to empower the Commission to finalize a VAT allocation formula in line with its constitutional mandate, reinforcing Constitutional Mandates by ensuring that VAT allocation strictly follows RMAFC’s framework, not arbitrary provisions in the VAT Act or the proposed reform bill. It called for a dialogue among federal, state, and local governments to secure consensus on the RMAFC’s formula, to reduce tensions and ensure acceptance. The Commission cautioned legislative or executive measures that would undermine its authority and even as it advocated implementing systems like electronic invoicing to tag VAT collections to end-user locations, enhancing transparency and accuracy. The Commission warned that the proposed tax reform bills threaten national unity and constitutional harmony. By adhering to its constitutional mandate, RMAFC believes it can provide an equitable solution to revenue allocation disputes while safeguarding the principles of fairness and justice. The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has been established and constitutionally empowered to ensure the equitable distribution of the country’s financial resources among the three tiers of government: the federal, state and local governments. It is mandated that the revenue allocation formula be reviewed to ensure equitable distribution among the three tiers of government to reflect fairness, justice, and equity, taking into account. It is also empowered to monitor the accruals and disbursements from the Federation Account to ensure compliance with the revenue-sharing formula and advise the federal, state, and local governments on fiscal efficiency and revenue diversification. Source: By PRNigeria
The Pro-Chancellor of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma in Edo State, Dr. Omo-Ehijele Odafen, has said that medical doctors that lack passion are dangers to sick people in hospitals and other areas where medical attention is needed. Speaking as Guest Lecturer at the induction of 28 graduating medical students of the University of Abuja, Dr. Omo-Ehijele said: “a doctor without the passion for the vocation is a very unhappy and dangerous doctor and may you not be dangerous doctors.” He advised them to develop unwavering passion for the practice of medicine, which he said “is the surest way out for a satisfying, fulfilling and enjoyable practice. Omo-Ehijele acknowledged that it is easy for Doctors and other medical personnel to become disillusioned when practicing in a challenging health environment like Nigeria. This, according to him, is due mainly to inadequate resources, poor infrastructure and limited appreciation for work done. The Pro-Chancellor did not fail to point out what he called “poor appropriation for the health sector” in the nation’s budget, explaining that less than five per cent of the total budget of trillions of naira is allocated to health as against 15 per cent WHO/UNESCO recommendation. He however , advised the graduands to be kind in practice and respectful of whoever they come across, in practice and in their social engagements. This was even as the Acting Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi, advised the graduands to put what they learned into proper practice out there. According to her, medicine is not just a profession, “it is a calling; one that demands excellence, empathy and unwavering commitment.” Professor Aisha Maikudi reminded them that the induction marks an end as well as a beginning. “Today marks both an end and a beginning as you recite the Hippocratic Oath and swear to uphold the principles of your profession. “You are not just joining the fraternity of healers; you are assuming a sacred cross. You will hold in your hands the power to heal, to comfort and to save lives. “This responsibility is as heavy as it is rewarding and it requires of you without hesitation to learning, innovation and service.” Also, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Titus Ibekwe, called on the graduands to put to practice the excellent grooming they received from among the best in the profession. He said that the College will increase its carrying capacity from January 2025 to 300, saying that the University of Abuja is truly a Nigerian university as its catchment area covers all states of the federation. Before administering the Hippocratic Oath, Professor Fatima Kyari of the College of Health Sciences, UNIABUJA, counselled the new doctors, amongst other things, not to “japa” but stay in the country to contribute their quota to fatherland. The induction ceremony, the 6th for the university saw 28 students taking the Hippocratic Oath, a mandatory ritual administered to young medical doctors before they embark on the practice of Medicine, committing them to uphold the ethics of the medical profession.
The National Assembly Service Commission has approved the appointment of Mr. Andrew Ogbonnaya Nwoba as the new Clerk of the Senate, effective December 11, 2024.
This decision was announced in a statement Today, 9 December, 2023 by the Commission’s Executive Chairman, Emmanuel Anyigor, following its December 4, 2024, meeting.
Before his appointment, Nwoba served as the Secretary of the Directorate of Legislative Budget and Planning, a role now taken over by Dr. Obasi D. Ukoha.
The Commission also elevated other officials in the National Assembly bureaucracy. Emmanuel Oda was named Deputy Clerk (Administration) Senate, and Vivien N. Njemanze was appointed Deputy Clerk (Administration) House of Representatives.
Further deployments include Rawlings Agada transitioning to Deputy Clerk (Legislative) Senate, and Florence Kehinde A. moving to Deputy Clerk (Legislative) House of Representatives.
Additionally, the Commission previously approved key appointments, including Ogundayo Mofoluwake Olufunmilayo as Secretary of Special Duties, Alkali Umar Abubakar as Secretary of Human Resources & Staff Development, and Essien Eyo Essien as Secretary of Zonal Liaison Offices.
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Addressing stakeholders and visitors at the event, the Director of Business Development at Makems, Miss Temitope Adejare, said that Makems Jewellery makes unique jewellery products locally and also sell imported jewellery products as well.
The National Assembly Service Commission has approved the appointment of Mr. Andrew Ogbonnaya Nwoba as the new Clerk of the Senate, effective December 11, 2024.
Why Wike Should Scrap IPPIS From FCT Payment System, By Dr. Dantani Musa
The Federal Government in October 2006, under the Treasury Single Account (TSA) conceived the idea of Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS). It was aimed to provide a reliable and comprehensive database for the public service.
The concept was also meant to address the long battle against ghost workers and to facilitate human resource planning. It was also conceived to eliminate manual record and payroll fraud.
Similarly, the Treasury Single Account was primarily designed to bring all Government funds in bank accounts within the effective control and operational purview of the Treasury in order to enthrone centralized, transparent and accountable revenue management. It’s to facilitate effective cash management and ensure cash availability, etc.
The IPPIS Secretariat is a department under the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and is responsible for payment of salaries and wages directly to government employee’s bank account with appropriate deductions and remittances of third party payments, such as Federal Inland Revenue Service and State Boards of Internal Revenue.
The IPPIS was established in 2006 by the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The body at the starting point, was able to detect nearly 2,000 ghost workers in the Nigeria’s civil service system, with the resultant saving of millions of naira. And that exactly was one of the primary purposes of its establishment.
Strangely, universities and other tertiary Institutions fought tooth and nail to be excluded, and they eventually succeeded in being excluded from the operations of the IPPIS for reasons they gave.
Yes, the IPPIS is a very good concept and has done quite a lot of good things against the background of the purpose of its establishment, but the usual Nigerian factor has since began to show clearly in its implementation or operations, especially in the nation’s Federal Capital Territory Administration.
The managers of the body, from bottom to the top ranks, have been caught abusing the concept and the privilege attached to the IPPIS. The operatives, mainly those at the echelon, have turned IPPIS into the business-as-usual thing, which, in a simple word means corruption.
Lately, the operatives have come under some legal entanglements over some questionable matters, including but not limited to the issue of divulging workers’ pay particulars, such as payslips, staff numbers, files, employment security numbers and others to criminals on mission to defraud such workers.
Aggrieved workers have cried themselves to chocking point over situations where the managers of the IPPIS would, and have been, deducting their salaries or even transferring their pay packets to some scammers or fraudulent individuals and questionable corporate entities in the name of questionable loans taken by such workers, without their permission for such deduction.
In other words, the IPPIS managers have unilateral, without the permission of, or consultation with the affected workers, deducted big chunk of their pay packets for the purpose of settling purported loans which the workers took outside the IPPIS purview.
There are other cases where the IPPIS deduct workers salaries for purpose that are not explainable, leaving such workers to think that the system (IPPIS) has been infested by those who hide under it to enrich themselves while impoverishing the workers, under flimsy, questionable excuses.
In other words, one wonders as to what is the business of the IPPIS managers in deducting or transferring about 98 percent of the salaries of innocent workers to notorious scammers who claimed that the workers took loans through them without the IPPIS finding out how such loans were given or taken. The haste in, and confidence with which the IPPIS managers carry out the biddings of the notorious scammers to the discomfort of the workers, apart from violating the civil service rules, clearly indicates complicity and full participation of the IPPIS managers in the scams.
One is aware that at certain time since Chief Nyeson Wike came in as minister of the Federal Capital Territory, he romanced with the idea of scrapping the IPPIS. One is also aware that the minister recently received a petition from no fewer than 50 different categories of workers in the capital territory’s administration about the fraudulent operations of the IPPIS and that the minister was forced to give strict instruction that the managers should stop such deductions.
As is usual with the Nigeria’s system, the stubborn operatives stopped the fraudulent deductions as directed by the minister just for two months, and then resumed their action when they felt the minister was no longer looking at them.
This is the reason why it has become imperative to call on the minister, who means well for the workers, to scrap this body and device a more transparent method of not just maintaining the integrity of the payment system in the service but also protecting the workers from the vultures in the system, who are just looking for their external collaborators, with unbelievable excuses, to deny the hardworking personnel their hard-earned monthly payments.
Dr. Dantani Musa wrote in from Asokoro, Abuja.