Nation
THE STATES
Adamawa
The Chairman of Ganye Local Government Council in
Adamawa State, Alhaji Farouk Mohammed, has been served with an impeachment notice for alleged embezzlement of public funds.
The impeachment notice, signed by 10 councillors, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Yola, gave the chairman one week from the date he was served the notice to answer the allegations against him.
“Sequel to the resolution of the legislative council sitting No. 7 of its second session, the House hereby resolved unanimously to serve you with this notice of impeachment,” it said.
Some of the 15 allegations against the chairman included unauthorised collection of bank overdrafts totaling N132 million, unaccounted N10 million excess crude oil revenue received in December 2013, short changing political appointees by paying them half of their entitlements after posting full payment in the local government’s cash book.
Ekiti
Ekiti State Government has distributed modern fire fight
ing trucks to four fire service stations in parts of the state.
The trucks were given to Ijero-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti, Omuo-Ekiti and Aramoko-Ekiti fire stations in Ijero, Ikole, Ekiti East and Ekiti West local government areas, respectively.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Chief Apalara Wole-Adewunmi, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti while handing-over the trucks to heads of the units Ado-Ekiti.
He said the trucks would aid emergency and firefighting efforts of the state government.
He said that the state government was committed to the security of lives and property of the people.
FCT
A Clinical Psychologist at the Ekiti State University
Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, Mr Adedotun Ajiboye, has urged civil servants to plan for happy retirement to enhance healthy living.Ajiboye told newsmen in Abuja that it was important and beneficial when one planned on what to do after retirement.The psychologist said that with all the concerns about dwindling pension funds, corruption in the system and unstable economy, many retirees and those preparing to retire were concerned about the financial aspects of retirement plan.
“In spite of financial issues, there is a lot you can do to make retirement living a great time of your life. Make a retirement plan about five years before your retirement.
Gombe
A three-day training on poultry production aimed
at empowering 324 women was has been in Gombe declared open in Gombe by the governor’s wife, Hajiya Adama Dankwambo.Our correspondent reports that the training is a collaboration between the state Ministry of Agriculture and her office.Dankwambo, was represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Sintiki Rubainu, said that the programme was aimed at reducing poverty and unemployment.She said the training was organised due to the successes recorded in the first batch conducted last year.
Kwara
The Kwara State Government has warned residents
of the state against indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
The state Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Mr Abubakar Mora, gave the warning in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin.
He said that the ministry would embark on measures to curb the annual flooding in the state.
Mora said government was not happy about the loss of lives and property caused by a recent flood incident at Atikeke area on the Ajase-Ipo road in llorin.
Kaduna
A Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court has sentenced
a 20-year- old woman, Maryam Babangida, to one year in prison for abducting a two-month-old baby.
Babangida, who resides at Sabon Angwar, Agaye, Niger State, was charged with one count charge of abduction. The Chief Magistrate, Ms Joyce Kaka, sentenced Babangida after she pleaded guilty to the charge.
Kaka did not give the convict an option of fine.
“The court sentences you to one year in prison without an option of fine.
Katsina
Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State has be
rated members of the opposition in the state for failing to acknowledge the development projects executed by his administration.Shema said in Katsina while swearing-in newly elected PDP state executives that the administration had executed numerous projects that had improved the lives of people in the state.The governor cited such projects to include the free education of the government, construction of healthcare facilities, roads, and provision of subsidised fertiliser, among others.
He, therefore, faulted comments of some members of the opposition parties, describing it as misleading.
Nassarawa
A Senior Magistrates Court in Mararaba has sen
tenced one Rabiu Abraham, 22 to 15 months imprisonment of trust and cheating.The Magistrate, Mr Iliya Aku, handed down the sentence after Ibrahim, of Tudunwada area of Mararaba, pleaded guilty to the two-count charge.
Aku, however, granted him an option ofN8,000 fine for each offence and ordered that he should pay 80,000 as compensation to the complainant in the case, Abubakar Muhammad. The prosecutor, Mr Jacob John, had told the court that the convict collected the money from the Mohammad in the guise of giving him accommodation
Niger
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, said the
state government would establish a Christian and an Islamic centre in Minna to ensure peaceful co-existence among the people.The governor made the disclosure in Minna when he inaugurated the Christian and Muslim centres’ boards of trustees.He said that the centres would gulp N3.2 billion, noting that “the Christian centre will cost N1.5 billion, while the Islamic centre will cost N1.7 billion.
“The centres will be of international standard with modern facilities, libraries, staff quarters and commercial centres, among others.
Ondo
Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has
expressed the need for security agencies in the country to be more proactive in view of the nation’s security challenges
Mimiko spoke in Akure while receiving the new state commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr Andrew Ugwumba, who was on a courtesy visit to his office.
Mimiko, who also said that every Nigerian should make the issue of security his or her concern, commended the contribution of the corps in ensuring adequate security in the state.
He equally lauded the synergy among all other security agencies in the state.
Osun
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has as
sured residents of the state that all projects embarked upon by his administration would be completed to specification before the end of his tenure.
Aregbesola gave the assurance while inspecting the ring road project being constructed by his administration at Ofatedo area of Osogbo, the state capital.
The governor said that all the projects were embarked upon by his administration to facilitate socio-economic development of the state.
“All these projects being carried out in Osogbo and other parts of the state were to bring smiles on the faces of our people,’’ Aregbesola said.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State House of Assembly has approved
the construction of a 20- kilometre road to link Kwargaba District with Wurno in Wurno Local Government Area of the state.
The motion for the project was moved by Alhaji Muhammad Achida (APC-Wurno) during the plenary session in Sokoto.
Achida said the measure became necessary to cater for the need of the people who were in need of good roads to enhance transportation of goods and services.
The motion was seconded by Alhaji Bello Goronyo (APC- Goronyo).
Nation
SIM-NIN: Subscribers Kick Against Today’s Deadline, Demand Extension
The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers has requested that the Nigerian Communications Commission extend the deadline scheduled for the disconnection of telephone lines not linked to National Identification Numbers beyond Friday, March 29, 2024.
The subscribers’ body argued that telco agents were failing to capture all necessary information needed for verification, just as it also cited difficulties in uploading the captured data on the National Identity Management Commission’s server.
The President of NATCOMS, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, told The Tide’s source last Wednesday that NCC needed to order telcos not to disconnect telephone lines, considering the ongoing difficulties faced by subscribers.
The telecom regulator had insisted that there would be no changes to the deadline for the next phase of disconnection
The disconnection process was rolled out in stages, with the second phase scheduled for March 29, 2024, following the initial phase that occurred on February 28, 2024.
The third phase is slated to commence on April 15, 2024, as previously announced.
Earlier, the Director of Public Publicity at the NCC, Reuben Mouka, told The PUNCH, “We issued a publication that you can refer to. We specified certain deadlines and stipulated that subscribers who do not comply with the directive would be barred. And that has not changed.”
The National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers has requested that the Nigerian Communications Commission extend the deadline scheduled for the disconnection of telephone lines not linked to National Identification Numbers beyond Friday, March 29, 2024.
The subscribers’ body argued that telco agents were failing to capture all necessary information needed for verification, just as it also cited difficulties in uploading the captured data on the National Identity Management Commission’s server.
The President of NATCOMS, Adeolu Ogunbanjo, told the source on Wednesday that the NCC needed to order telcos not to disconnect telephone lines, considering the ongoing difficulties faced by subscribers.
The telecom regulator had insisted that there would be no changes to the deadline for the next phase of disconnection
The disconnection process was rolled out in stages, with the second phase scheduled for March 29, 2024, following the initial phase that occurred on February 28, 2024.
The third phase is slated to commence on April 15, 2024, as previously announced.
Earlier, the Director of Public Publicity at the NCC, Reuben Mouka, told the source, “We issued a publication that you can refer to. We specified certain deadlines and stipulated that subscribers who do not comply with the directive would be barred. And that has not changed.”
At the last deadline on February 28, 2024, about 40 million lines that were not linked to NIN were barred.
The NATCOM president said before the first deadline, subscribers had appealed to the NCC for a one-month extension.
However, the NCC explained that there was no issue as the process was designed to occur in phases.
According to the president, the Operator’s Consumer Centre stands as the primary location for consumers to complete their registration fully, with data provided there being verifiable.
However, the president noted that telecom agents were bypassing crucial information during the registration process, resulting in incomplete registrations of subscribers.
“For example, during interactions with telecom representatives, some agents fail to collect all required the information from subscribers.
“If a subscriber cannot provide certain details, agents often leave the registration incomplete. Consequently, these incomplete registrations are deemed unverifiable,” he said.
Further, Ogunbanjo noted that NIMC also shares responsibility in this process.
He said the challenges often arise when telecom companies attempt to upload collected data on NIMC’s server, owing to network issues.
“These network difficulties, beyond the control of subscribers, hinder the timely completion of the registration process,” he said.
“NIMC’s inadequate network infrastructure exacerbates the problem. While they intend to accept data uploads, technical issues prevent them from doing so effectively.
“We urge the NCC to address NIMC’s shortcomings, improve their services, and acknowledge that meeting the deadline will be challenging given the current issues,” the president added.
NIMC is a statutory Nigerian organisation that operates the country’s national identity management systems.
NIMC’s enrollment figures as of December 31, 2023, stand at over 104.16 million unique records.
About 530,345 Nigerians in Diaspora have gotten NINs. 59.12 million male and 45.04 million female Nigerians have NINs.
When The PUNCH reached out to NIMC for comments on technical glitches, the Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, clarifies that the commission’s server has consistently remained operational, debunking reports suggesting otherwise.
He emphasizes that the NIMC’s services are fully functional and accessible to all users
“Our server has never been down. You can go to the various NIN centres and confirm.
Adegoke further explained the process for subscribers to link their NIN to their SIM cards,
“These individuals only need to submit their NIN and complete the verification process through their respective telcos providers.
He encouraged those who have not yet obtained their NIN to visit any NIMC centre for enrollment.
Adegoke assured Nigerians that upon enrollment, individuals can expect their NIN to be available within three hours.
However, for those requiring corrections, such as rectifying date of birth errors, the process may take up to 72 hours.
Last week, the National Identity Management Commission and the NCC issued a joint statement unveiling a strategic partnership aimed at simplifying the NIN-SIM linkage procedures for telecommunications subscribers nationwide.
Both agencies reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing the processes involved and improving efficiency regarding the NIN and SIM card linkage initiative.
They acknowledge the importance of this initiative in bolstering security measures and enhancing service delivery across the country.
The SIM-NIN linkage initiative is a crucial step towards improving the integrity of subscriber data and enhancing security measures within the telecommunications industry.
The NIN-SIM linkage policy was initially introduced by the Nigerian government in December 2020. This directive requires all telephone line users in Nigeria to associate their SIM cards with their NIN.
In December of the previous year, the NCC issued a directive stipulating that all telecommunications operators in Nigeria, including major providers like MTN, Airtel, and Globacom, among others, must enforce complete network barring on all phone lines for which subscribers have not provided their NINs by February 28, 2024.
Barely two weeks ago, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project issued a warning to take legal action against the NCC if it does not revoke the directive instructing network providers to block the phone lines of individuals who have not linked their SIM cards to their NINs.
Nation
Reps Query N15bn Payment To Remita
The House of Representatives’ Public Accounts Committee has queried the N15billion payment made to Remita from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation for two years.
This is just as the committee accused the Central Bank of Nigeria and commercial banks of complicity in the sharing of the N15billion remittance.
The committee’s Chairman, Bamidele Salam, made the allegation at the resumed investigative hearing on revenue leakages in Abuja yesterday.
Remita is a payment solution that helps individuals and businesses make and receive payments, pay bills, and manage their finances.
The round table: Delta Bloodbath: Senate Meets Service Chiefs As Troops Comb Creeks.
Salam said that the Remita payment from the OAGF from 2016 to 2018 was questionable, adding that the OAGF paid the money without agreement or contract.
“The money is an illegal payment. There was no budget provision. So, where did they source the money from?” the chairman queried.
“If someone pays N150,000 as a Remita, you will pay 7.5 per cent Value-Added Tax in addition to it.
Salam said that the Remita payment from the OAGF from 2016 to 2018 was questionable, adding that the OAGF paid the money without agreement or contract.
“Ordinarily, that whole sum of VAT ought to go to the Federal Inland Revenue Service, but what they are doing in this transaction is that they will now add that VAT to the N150.000.
“They will add it up, gather the money together, and take it to the CBN,” he claimed.
He said, “System Spec and Remitta, both collecting revenue for the Federal Government, will share 50 per cent, while the banks and the CBN will also have their share.”
He said that by the time the committee finished its reconciliation, “I am very sure that hundreds of billions of naira will be the VAT component that was not remitted to FIRS.”
Salam stated that each bank ought to take the money and directly remit it to FIRS.
“Now, Remita is saying that each of those collecting the money will come and calculate the money that has been shared into shreds. Now, how do we track this kind of money? “he asked.
The Director, Banking Services, CBN, Mr.Ahmed Abdullahi, said it was necessary to source for an alternative way of remitting revenue, adding that Remita and System Spec were selected because they had been rendering similar services to banks.
The Chief Accountant, Treasury Single Account Department, Oyewole Adewale, representing the Accountant-General of the Federation, accused the CBN of not honouring its letters to reconcile the revenue accrued to the country through the Treasury Single Account.
He noted that the OAGF had developed a system where all revenue generated by the Ministries of Departments and Agencies of Government could now be monitored with little or no interference.
The Director, Remita Payment Services Ltd, Aderemi Atanda, while reading the summary of the TSA collection record, maintained that 10, 20, and 50 per cent were shared among CBN, commercial banks, and Remitta respectively.
Collections, he noted, often vary, saying, “In 2015.
Nation
Nigeria Needs Community-Driven Police, Not State Police -Shekarau
Former Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, has said that the country needs to adopt community-driven police rather than establish state police.
Shekarau noted that it would be more effective in addressing the current security challenges in the country.
The former minister of education spoke in Akure at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) during the launch of a book titled ‘The Psychology of Growing Old: A Personal Experience for both Young and Old,’ written by Sehinde Arogbafa.
Shekarau argued that community police would be better controlled than state police as well as devoid of political and religious leaders’ influence.
He the involvement of communities in state policing would enhance trust, cooperation, and collaboration between the police and the citizens.
Shekarau argued that community police would be better controlled than state police as well as devoid of political and religious leaders’ influence.
He the involvement of communities in state policing would enhance trust, cooperation, and collaboration between the police and the citizens.
“I’ve been an advocate of community policing. It is different from what is being paraded as state police. Community policing means community watch.
“There is hardly any community in Nigeria that does not have what we call the vigilante group. All we need to do is the government should organise them, the government should own is up, and the government should promulgate a law.
“If I may give you an example of Kano, I’m sure you must have had experience with the Hisbah Guards; that is community watch. We set up a committee of 12 elders in every ward to do the selection of 20 responsible and respected young men for the Hisbah Guards. And we recruited them and mandated that the local government take charge of them. We’re paying them allowances. And they know everybody in the community.
“Within one to two years in Kano State, ask anybody; we don’t have any vices, no drugs, nothing in all the communities because that is community watch.
“We have over 10,000 Hisbah Guards in Kano; I did not nominate a single one; not a single party leader nominated one. It was all the elders in the community. The government created a law; we didn’t leave it in a vacuum. The number one assignment of the Hisbah Guards was to support and complement the work of all the Nigerian armed forces and the police. And they were working with them peacefully.
“Ask anybody in Kano today, and they will tell you that people prefer to report their cases to the Hisbah Guards office rather than even the police stations or even going to court. What we need in Nigeria is community watch, not just when you ask a state to create 2000 to 3000 state police bombarded by party thugs, and you will find out that you are going back to the same intimidation. There will be abuses by political leaders.
“But if you allow the communities to select with the backing of the government, the government will pay them all their allowances, provide vehicles for them, and support them, and there is a chain of command from the state to the local governments, to the wards, and even to the villages.
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