News

FAAC: FG States, LGAs Share N721bn

Published

13 years ago

May 17, 2013

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) last Wednesday in Abuja shared the sum of N721.505 billion for the month of April.

The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Yerima Ngama, made this known when he briefed newsmen on the outcome of the FAAC meeting.

“The distributable statutory revenue for the month is N531.332 billion,;there is augmentation of N92.436billion which brings the total statutory allocation to N623.768 billion.

“Also distributed is the sum of N7.617 billion refunded by the NNPC. In addition, the sum of N35.549 billion is proposed for distribution under the SURE-P programme.

“The total revenue distributable for the current month, including the value added tax is N721.505 billion,’’ he said

A breakdown of the distribution showed that the Federal Government received N246.690 billion (52.68 per cent); states N125.124 billion (26.72 per cent) while local governments received N96.466 billion (20.60 per cent).

Ngama said that a total of N59.152billion representing 13 per cent derivation, was shared among the oil producing states.

He said that the gross revenue of N621.070 billion received for the month, was higher than N595.708 billion received in April by N25.362 billion.

“This was due to the increased earnings from the domestic crude and petroleum profit tax.’’

He, however, said that the challenges of production and lifting operations experienced in the previous month persisted.

On VAT, he said that for the month of April, the gross revenue available was N54.571 billion as against N64.199 billion distributed in the preceding month.

This, he said, resulted in a decrease of N9.628 billion.

Ngama said that the mineral revenue collected for the month was N544.755 billion, adding that the amount exceeded the budget of N465.057 billion for the month and N518.389 billion realised for the month of March

According to him, the non-mineral revenue collected for the month of April is N76.315 billion, showing a decrease from the N77.319 billion collected in March.

He said that a total of N89.738 billion was paid into the Excess Crude Account (ECA) out of the revenue generated for the month, bringing the total balance to about $5.876 billion as at May 15.

Our correspondent reports that the total balance in the excess crude at the end of the committee meeting in April was about $7 million.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Finance Commissioners Forum, Mr Timothy Odah, who spoke with newsmen shortly after the meeting, said that the forum had extensive discussions on how best to enhance the payment system.

Odah said that all issues were resolved after a long discussion, and expressed concern about the decline in the non-oil revenue collections.

He said that the meeting also agreed to pay N1 billion out of the N2 billion requested by the state governors from the ECA.

The chairman urged every state to make effective use of the money to enhance development in the states and also work toward the diversification of the economy.

The Nigerian Extractive Industry and Transparent Initiative (NEITI) made a presentation at the meeting on its new programme on effective management of revenue.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

4 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.