Nation
THE STATES
Bauchi
Education sector topped Bauchi State’s 2016 Budget with
an allocation of N26.73 billion out of N135.30 billion budgeted for the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Planning Commission, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim, stated this in Bauchi while giving a breakdown of the budget.
Ibrahim said that health, roads and infrastructure development were accorded second and third priority with N19.68 billion and N14.49 billion respectively.
He said that agriculture and water were also accorded priority with the sum of N9.54 billion and N7.31 billion respectively.
Ibrahim said that rural development; and commerce and industry got the least allocations with N3.40 billion and N1.83 billion respectively.
Benue
The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Cen
tre (FMC), Makurdi, Dr Peteru Inunduh, said that there was no case of Lassa fever in the hospital.
In the same vein, his counterpart at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Prof. Abraham Malu, said the hospital had yet to record any case of Lassa fever.
The directors, who spoke in separate interviews with in Makurdi, said that they were on the watch out, following the recent outbreak of the disease in the country.
Malu said that although the hospital had received a case suspected to be Lassa fever, the hospital authority had yet to confirm it.
FCT
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment
to promote decent employment and enhanced welfare for Nigerian workers, a statement has said.
The statement was issued by Mr Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director of Press in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, in Abuja recently.
It said Mr James Ocholi, the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, made the pledge when the Association of Resident Doctors, FCT chapter, paid him a courtesy visit.
Ocholi said such step was the only way that the country would record economic growth and stability and called on the doctors to support the government’s efforts to ensure industrial peace and harmony in the health sector.
Gombe
Gombe Local Government Council in Gombe State says
it has distributed JAMB forms to 50 less privilege youths in the area to rekindle their interest in education.
The Acting Caretaker Chairman of the council, Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim, told newsmen in Gombe that the gesture was aimed at assisting the beneficiaries to further their education.
“The beneficiaries were carefully selected based on merit with 18 females and 32 males benefiting.
“This gesture is in line with the priority given to education by the state government and the concern for the youths to develop academically, among other assistance.
“I want youths in this council area to change their attitude positively to further their education for a better tomorrow for themselves, their families and the state at large,’’ said Ibrahim.
He said if they imbibe positive attitudinal change, they would contribute to the development of the state and the country at large.
Kaduna
The Kaduna State Government has solicited the support
of parents and administrators to sustain its school feeding programme.
Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, Dr Shehu Adamu, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, said the programme would ease the suffering of pupils and students in the state.
He said the support of parents in particular, would enhance the implementation of the programme for primary and secondary schools.
“The school feeding programme will be formally launched when pupils in government-owned schools resume on January 17.
“Preparation for the take-off of the programme is in top gear as contractors and vendors have been engaged.
“Individual schools will meet with their respective vendors to review the procedures and modalities for effective service delivery.’’
Kwara
The Tsaragi community in Kwara State has rejected the
commission of inquiry set up by the state government to look into the bloody clash between it and the Share community.
The spokesman of the community, Dr Abdullahi Idris, made this known in Ilorin at a news conference.
He said the community has no confidence in the judicial commission of inquiry set up by the state government to find lasting solution to incessant clashes between the two communities.
“We wish to reiterate that the Nupes of Tsaragi community have no confidence and trust in the institution of Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed
“We have therefore instituted an action in court to challenge the governor’s action.
“The Nupes in Tsaragi community and in general are law abiding and committed to peaceful co-existence with their Share Igbomina speaking neighbours,” Idris added.
Lagos
The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of
Nigeria (FAAN), Mr Saleh Dunoma, has given assurance that the Katsina Airport terminal would be ready for commissioning soon.
Dunoma gave the assurance in a statement issued by FAAN’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mr Yakubu Dati, in Lagos recently.
The statement quoted Dunoma as saying that the authority was putting finishing touches for final takeover of the terminal.
He said in the statement that the airport was strategic to key airports in the northern part of the country.
He noted that the terminal would add substantial value to the revenue generation drive of the organisation through the annual Hajj operations.
Nasarawa
Rev. Fr. Lawrence Soja-Anyembugu of St. Sylvester
Catholic Church, New Nyanya, Karu, Nasarawa State, has inaugurated a computer training centre to enable youths to acquire computer knowledge.
Soja-Anyembugu , who inaugurated the centre in Akun Development Area of the state, urged the youths to take advantage of the free computer training to acquire computer knowledge.
He said the computer centre would enable the children of poor to acquire computer knowledge so as to be able to take computer-based examinations.
“ICT knowledge is needed by all, especially the students because one cannot sit for JAMB, post UTME without having computer knowledge.
“That is why it has become imperative for the youths and other Nigerians to acquire computer knowledge in order to be self-reliant and to contribute their quota to national development.
Niger
Sheikh Muhammadu Isah-Kutigi, has urged political
leaders to abide by oath of office and remember the day of judgment in the discharge of their duties.
Isah-Kutigi, proprietor, Madarasatul Faitul Islam in Dutsen Kura Gwari, made the call during Qura’nic Graduation (Wolimat) of 114 students in Minna recently.
He said the society would experience the much desired dividends of democracy when elected and appointed leaders lived above board.
“They should always remember that they have either sworn with Holy Qur’an or Holy Bible, and as such, should not renege on such oaths”, he said.
The cleric also advised leaders to shun materialism, adding that they should fear God in the discharge of their duties to the people.
Plateau
The Plateau State Ministry of Health has confirmed the
death of one person in Mangu Local Government Area of the state from Lassa fever infection.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Kudun Deyin, said at a press briefing in Jos that the victim, a woman, was on transit from Abuja.
He said a specimen from the deceased was sent to Irrua in Edo for confirmation.
He said that the ministry’s Disease and Surveillance Notification Officer had been sent to the private hospital where the lady was admitted to carry out further investigation and to forestall the spread of the disease.
Deyin, however, said that there were other cases in Shendam, Langtang South, Jos North and Pankshin local government areas, which had yet to be confirmed.
He described Lassa fever as an acute haemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arena- virus.
Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government says it has concluded
plans to recruit 500 additional teachers for secondary schools across the state.
The Head of the Civil Service (HOS) of the state, Alhaji Bature Shinkafi, made this known in Sokoto when he addressed newsmen on efforts to transform the sector.
Our correspondent reports that the move is coming barely one month after the state government declared a “state of emergency’’ in the education sector.
Shinkafi said that the teachers to be recruited would be graduates and holders of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE).
He said: “The committee set up to conduct the recruitment had submitted its report to my office on January 6.”
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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