Business
FG To Tackle Issues Of e-Payment System
The Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Dankwambo, said in Abuja on Monday that government would tackle issues that affected effective and efficient implementation of e-payment system.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government introduced the e-payment system in January 1, 2009.
Dankwambo gave the assurance at a two-day training workshop on e-payment with the theme “e-Payment System and Public Financing Management Reporting System as Tool for Achieving Transparency in Government’’.
“Generally some of the problems which include delay in payment and customers getting value for services rendered are mainly human challenges.
“We are still battling with the human aspect of e-payment; there are still people who are not yet at home with the e-payment system.
“We will continue to dialogue with this people, we will continue to perfect the e-payment system to make it acceptable.
“We will also continue to train and retrain people and personnel who are working in the cause of implementing e-payment system so that the implementation will be smooth, challenges and the human factor minimised,” he said.
He added that issues of national network where everybody would hook up for the purpose of clearing and processing transaction was still on the platform.
This, he said, when finished by the end of 2010 would help eliminate some of the major challenges and enhance the e-payment system.
He said the main objective of organising the Forum was to broaden knowledge on the tools that could effectively be deployed to achieve transparency in government.
According to him, implementation of e-payment brought elimination of use of cash to facilitate speedy payments for all transaction, fast tracking the implementation of government policies through the elimination of delays in government payment system.
“Enhance transparency and accountability in payment system, achievement of economy and efficiency in government financial transactions among others,’’ he said.
Dankwambo noted that all Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the Federal Government had fully adopted the e-payment system.
In his keynote address, Mr Achi Achinuvu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, said that considerable progress had been made over one year in realising the objectives that formed the basis for adopting e-payment.
“Such objectives include the elimination of unacceptable delays in the payment of contractors, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and staff claims, interaction between contractors and government officials thus eliminating corrupt tendencies.
“It has fast tracked the process of implementation of government activities and removal of unnecessary bottleneck and ensured that audit trails of all payment can easily be traced to relevant accounts of individuals or companies that operate them,’’ he said.
He noted that there was need for accounting personnel in the public sector to brace to the international standard of financial reporting as it would enhance transparency in government.
He added that the Federal Government had planned Integrated Financial management Information System (GIFMIS) as steps to ensure accountability in government
“GIFMIS planned to take off in 2011, involves the computerisation of public financial management process, from budget preparation and execution to accounting and reporting with the help of an integrated system for financial management of line ministries, spending agencies and other public sector operation,’’ he said.
He tasked stakeholders to make meaningful contribution to enable the forum come out with issues that would help government achieve its goal of transparency, probity and accountability.
The Forum was organised Accountant –Generals of Nigeria in collaboration with the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the World Bank.
Participant were Accounting Officers drawn from federal, state and local government areas across the country.
Business
Agency Boss Seeks Improvement In Revenue Collection, Accountability

The Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, has called on the management and staff of the brown water regulatory agency to show renewed commitment to boosting revenue generation, enforcing accountability, and improving operational efficiency of the organisation.
Oyebamiji, who made the call recently while declaring open a retreat for NIWA’s top executives and stakeholders in the industry in Lokoja, Kogi State, stressed the need for improved performance across all NIWA offices, particularly in revenue generation.
He expressed concern over the under performance of some area offices, citing cases where annual revenue figures were as low as one or two million Naira.
“This situation is simply unacceptable. Despite management’s provision of resources, incentives, and training opportunities, the expected results were not achieved.
“Moving forward, stricter measures will be enforced to ensure accountability and drive performance”, Oyebamiji stated.
He further addressed the challenges in debt recovery, revealing that many Area Managers failed to cooperate with the debt recovery consultant appointed in 2024.
He said in some instances, debtors were either untraceable or provided inconsistent financial records, making recovery efforts difficult.
“This negative attitude towards financial accountability will no longer be tolerated”, he warned.
The retreat, which brought together key stakeholders including the honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the Chairman of the House Committee on Inland Waterways, the NIWA Board, Management staff, and security personnels, aims at providing a comprehensive review of the authority’s 2024 performance and establish strategic targets for 2025.
Oyebamiji emphasized that beyond reviewing past performance, the retreat would also focus on capacity building and teamwork to ensure that every officer is well-equipped to meet the set goals.
“This retreat is not just about evaluating past performance, it is about strategizing for the future. I encourage all participants to engage actively, exchange ideas, and work collectively towards making NIWA a leading agency in the marine and blue economy sector”, he concluded.
The two-day retreat featured panel discussions, training sessions, and interactive engagements aimed at strengthening NIWA’s operational framework and fostering a culture of efficiency, accountability, and innovation.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Business
NCDMB Scribe Sues For African Collaboration Strategy On Local Content …… Decries Fragmented Implementation
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, has charged sub-Saharan African nations to keep pace with unfolding trends in the global oil and gas industry.
He also charged them to adopt a unified approach in strengthening local content development, advancing industrialisation and fostering sustainable continent-wide economic growth.
Ogbe stated this in a keynote address he gave at the 9th Sub-Saharan African International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC), in Lagos, last Tuesday.
According to him, nations such as Nigeria, Angola, and Ghana have made notable strides in local content development by boosting indigenous participation in the oil and gas sector.
He, however, expressed regret that fragmented implementation continues to hinder collective progress.
The NCDMB scribe called for a collaborative strategy among petroleum-producing nations in sub-Saharan Africa that would foster the sharing of best practices and enhance cross-border partnerships that could drive the competitiveness of indigenous players.
In his paper entitled “Sub-Saharan Africa Local Content Collaboration Strategy”, Engr. Ogbe identified harmonisation of local content policies, human capital development, investment in infrastructure, funding for local companies and technology transfer, as key pillars to Africa’s collaboration strategy.
He noted that “there is a need to develop a robust local content framework that positions the region for long-term economic prosperity”, and that this could be fostered “through the collaborative efforts of the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union”.
The NCDMB boss also highlighted the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) as a critical legal framework that could be leveraged to achieve collaborative local content strategy in Africa, given the free trade area it has created by integrating 1.3 billion people across 54 African countries with a combined gross domestic product of over $3 trillion.
On human capital development, which he described as “pivotal to the successful implementation of local content”, he observed that approximately 60% of Africa’s population is currently under the age of 25, and that this teeming population provides a unique opportunity to fast-track development.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Business
ICTN Not Threat To Trade Efficiency – SEREC … Blames Unregulated Charges, Others
The Sea Empowerment and Research Centre (SEREC) has in strong terms countered claims that the proposed International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) is detrimental to Nigeria’s economy.
Contrarily, SEREC said rather, it’s unregulated charges, informal levies, and multiple taxation that pose a far greater threat to trade efficiency and port competitiveness.
In a recent publication, SEREC expressed concern over the misrepresentation of ICTN’s role, particularly in media reports suggesting it would “kill the economy”.
The research center emphasised that ICTN, if properly implemented, would add real value to the port system by enhancing trade transparency, streamlining import statistics, and improving regulatory oversight.
“If we are sincerely concerned about charges that are ‘killing the economy,’ then our focus should be on the various hidden and unregulated costs currently imposed on shippers”, SEREC’s Head of Research, Eugene Nweke, siad.
SEREC provided a detailed breakdown of excessive charges affecting shippers.
These charges, according to the Centre, significantly contribute to inefficiencies in Nigeria’s port system, increasing the cost of trade and making logistics unpredictable.
One of the major concerns raised in the publication is the “Seven per cent Port Development Levy”, which continues to be collected despite the port concession regime.
In addition, “various unregulated terminal handling charges, positioning fees, scanning fees, and labour costs” have further added to the financial strain on shippers.
The “ETO Trucking Fee”, set at N100,000 per truck for entry and exit at terminals, is another significant burden, the Centre noted. Meanwhile, “arbitrary trucking costs” which are unilaterally determined by service providers create further unpredictability in the logistics chain.
SEREC also highlighted the issue of “informal payments and settlements”, which it said involved “unreceipted fees” at different cargo clearance points.
These hidden costs, coupled with “security agency tolls” allegedly imposed by government security operatives along cargo routes make cargo movement more expensive. Additionally, the Centre criticised the “state-favourably on the global stage.”
Given these arguments, SEREC is calling for the “immediate implementation of ICTN” to restore order and efficiency in Nigeria’s port system.
The research Centre argues that ICTN should not be grouped with arbitrary charges but should be seen as a “structured, value-adding fee with a clear function”.
Nweke assured that “by the time the implementation fully runs through a period, the effects and contributions to the port system and its impact is felt by all, then, those who are initially in doubt of the effectiveness of the ICTN would have no option but to embrace and appreciate the enabling device (ICTN)”.
-
Nation4 days ago
Kebbi Govt Battles Mysterious Disease Affecting Rice Farms
-
Business4 days ago
ICTN Not Threat To Trade Efficiency – SEREC … Blames Unregulated Charges, Others
-
Niger Delta4 days ago
Bayelsa Launches Free Medical Outreach For Diri’s 5th Anniversary
-
Opinion4 days ago
As Amaechi Dedicates Award To Wike…
-
Editorial4 days ago
Checking Terrorism Spread In The South
-
Women4 days ago
Women Can Go Without Artificial Beauty
-
News4 days ago
FG Orders State MDAs To Close Accounts In Commercial Banks
-
Nation4 days ago
NDDC Scores HYPREP High On Remediation