Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, is yet to declare
his desire to contest the presidency or a senate seat, his spokesman, Malam Danlami Takko, has said.
He said in Bauchi that it had become necessary to clear the air to prevent some people from using the people of the state to heat up the polity.
He said though Yuguda had the leadership qualities to contest for any of the posts, he had never declared his intent to do so.
“Judging by his background, the governor is capable and eligible to contest for the presidency or the senatorial seat come 2015 if he so decides,” he said.
FCT
The National Council on Science and Technology
(NCST), has called on Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO) to work with Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) on projects to accelerate national development.
This is contained in a report of its 12th council meeting made available to journalists on Wednesday at the ongoing 13th Council Meeting in Minna.
SHESTCO should work with the ministry and other stakeholders to regenerate its rice, wheat and cassava projects.
The report stated that the council had proposed the establishment of the Nigerian equivalent of the U.S. Silicon Valley to be called SHESTCO Silicon Valley adding that in pursuit of the goal, the ministry hosted a team of UNESCO officials to partner with it to prepare the feasibility studies for the project.
Kaduna
The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) says it
is committed to the training of Nigerian youths under the National Open Apprenticeship Training (NOAT) programme.
The Kaduna State NDE Coordinator, Alhaji Isa Tandama, said in Kaduna on Thursday that this was in line with its mandate to create avenues for job creation for unemployed youths.
He said that the programme was part its Vocational Skills Development (VSD) programme which became necessary as the nation’s educational system did not favour technical education.
Tandama said the training was another platform to enhance economic development and empowerment initiative and that the directorate identified this and introduced the scheme from inception to empower youths.
Katsina
Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State has urged
institutions, communities and individuals to support the government in protecting the environment.
Shema made the call at the inauguration of the Funtua Zonal Forestry Office and tree nursery in Mairuwa Village in Faskari local government area of the state, last Thursday.
Rrepresented by the District Head of Funtua, Alhaji Sambo Idris, he said government needed maximum support from the public, considering its huge investment in annual tree planting.
Kwara
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara last Wednes
day described the victory of the Governor-Elect of Ekiti, Mr Ayodele Fayose, as a positive development.
Ahmed, who said this last Wednesday in a congratulatory message to the governor-elect, noted that the June 21 election was an indication that democracy was on course.
He said the fact that the election went peacefully and an incumbent was defeated showed that Nigerians cherished democracy, especially when the atmosphere was conducive.
The governor urged the political class to imbibe an enduring lesson from the Ekiti experience that elections could be conducted devoid of hooliganism.
Ahmed also commended the All Progressives Congress candidate, Governor Kayode Fayemi, for his gallantry in defeat and political maturity in accepting the wish of Ekiti people.
Nasarawa
The Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board
(SUBEB) last Thursday blamed the deplorable state of infrastructure in public schools on years of neglect of the education sector in the state.
The Executive Chairman of the board, Mallam Abdulkarim Abdullahi, stated this during the board’s assessment visit to one of the public primary schools in Agyaragu Tofa, Lafia Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the neglect of the education sector in the state was responsible for the high level of infrastructure decay in the public schools across the state.
“Gov. Tanko Al-Makura is doing his best to improve on the standard of education in the state through the building of new schools and the renovation of the existing ones to meet with international standard. “The schools are now wearing a new look and equipped with facilities by the present administration under the leadership of Gov.Al-Makura,”he said.
Osun
The Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Mr
Najeem Salaam, last Thursday commended Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State for displaying the spirit of sportsmanship by accepting the outcome of the June 21 governorship election.
Salaam who gave the commendation at the assembly‘s plenary in Osogbo said Fayemi’s display of maturity had guaranteed a place for him in the future of Ekiti and Nigerian politics.
“It is only the progressives, particularly the APC, that can produce such a fine, disciplined and compassionate mind to admit defeat gallantly in an election Gov. Fayemi’s action has guaranteed a place for him in the future of Ekiti, Yoruba and even Nigerian politics,” he said.
The speaker said the Ekiti people would continue to appreciate Fayemi’s positive contributions to the state.
Oyo
Chairman, Bodija Corn Millers Association, Bodija Mar
ket, Ibadan, Mr Wasiu Atanda, has called on Oyo State Government to establish a fire service station inside the market.
Atanda, who made the call in an interview in Ibadan following the gutting by fire of some shops in the market last Tuesday, said shop owners lost property worth about N23 million in the incident.
The chairman said there was the need for a fire service station within the market to ensure rapid and early intervention of the men of the service during emergency.
“There is a land at a place called Kara within the market where a fire station can be built for the benefit of traders and, even, the people living around the community,’’ he said.
The fire, which started around 4.30 a.m, destroyed shops belonging to the millers, hairdressers, fashion designers and hot drink sellers.
Plateau
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has kicked
against taxing of churches as proposed by the National Conference Committee on Religion.
The religious body made its position known in Jos at a press conference by the National Vice Chairman of PFN, Rev. Yakubu Pam, shortly after its North-Central zonal meeting.
Pam said that the PFN noted with concern the reported recommendation of the committee on religion that taxes be imposed on religious institutions.
According to the national vice chairman, the meeting deliberated on several issues affecting the nation and advised the politicians to be circumspect in their utterances and conduct while politicking.
Pam, who decried the plight of Nigerians in northern Nigeria, particularly Christians, however called on Nigerians irrespective of their religion or tribe to unite and defeat the enemy.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government last Wednesday, ap
proved a contract for the supply of medical equipment and furniture worth more than N216 million for the Wamakko Orthopaedic Hospital.
The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Danladi Bako, who disclosed this in Sokoto, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the weekly state executive council meeting said that state of the art equipment would be installed at the hospital to ensure smooth operations.
Bako said that the government would continue to accord priority to the development of the health sector through the provision of basic working facilities, to manage its health institutions.
Yobe
The Yobe State Government says it would remain fo
cused on institutional reforms to strengthen good governance in the state.
Special Adviser to the state governor on Media, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, in Damaturu, that the government embraced the reforms in spite of security challenges faced by the state.
Bego said the state government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for State Partnership, Accountability, Responsiveness and Capability (SPARC) on June 21 with the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID).
He said the state government under the platform of Yobe State Socio Economic Reform Agenda (YOSERA) convened a summit to provide input to facilitate speedy socio-economic transformation of the state.
The special adviser said the reforms had translated in promoting service delivery, accountability, transparency and good governance.
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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