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Claims’ Payment: FG To Dialogue With Oil Marketers

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The Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, says the
Federal Government is willing to dialogue with fuel marketers over payment of
outstanding subsidy claims.

Okonjo-Iweala, who is also the Coordinating Minister for the
Economy, gave the assurance at a news conference last week in Abuja.

Her assurance is coming on the heels of the return of long
fuel queues in Abuja occasioned by oil marketers’ threat to suspend operations
nationwide within seven days over the continued delay in the payment of their
subsidy claims.

The minister said government was opened to dialogue with
marketers who had “little infractions’’ in the fuel subsidy regime.

She, however, warned that government would not succumb to
cheap blackmail by some marketers, who had threatened to embark on strike
because of delayed subsidy claims payment.

“Those whose infractions may be considered not so egregious,
we will be talking to them and if they are willing to talk to us, we will also
be willing to settle their claims and they can go on importing.

“But for some of those who are bent on blackmailing the
Federal Government even though they have committed very serious infractions in
the subsidy claim we are not willing to pay them when they have not cleared
their case.’’

The minister noted that between April and August, the
Sovereign Debt Notes amounting to N42.66 billion were issued to 31 oil
marketers, in respect of the 2012 fuel subsidy claims.

“There is no holding back or lack of willingness to pay for
those who have no case to answer.

“We are open, we will dialogue with them and we hope that
the dialogue will lead to a situation in which they will not be called upon to
undertake these actions that are being undertaken now.’’

The  Minister and
other top officials of the ministry later went into a closed door meeting with
representatives of some marketers from NEPCO Plc, Sahara Energy and Oando Plc.

Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the Managing Director and CEO of
Access Bank, whose committee investigated and indicted some of the oil
marketers, took part in the closed door meeting.

Earlier, the Minister had told reporters that President
Goodluck Jonathan had ordered expedited payment of the August salary of Federal
Government workers ahead of the Eid-el-Fitri holidays on Monday and Tuesday.

“We are happy to announce that between today and tomorrow,
all those in the Federal payroll should be able to collect their salaries and
have a good holiday.

“This is based on the directive of Mr President,’’ she said.

Also, the minister told reporters that the third quarter
allocation of N300 billion had been released to Ministries, Department and
Agencies (MDAs) as part of the capital expenditure of the 2012 budget.

“We are pleased to announce the release of N300 billion for
the third quarter capital. I think that this demonstrates government’s
commitment to realising a significant level of budget implementation this year.

“In percentage terms, with this release we would now have
released N704 billion of capital expenditure.

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
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