Business

Delta Gets N10bn Paris Club Fund

Published

8 years ago

August 2, 2017

Delta State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Patrick Ukah, has confirmed that the state government received the N10 billion from Federal Government, as part of its share from the second tranche of Paris Club refund of over-deductions on Paris Club, London Club loans and Multilateral debts on the accounts of States and local governments (1995-2002).
Ukah’s clarification on behalf of Delta State Government, has however put paid to earlier claims by some government officials who erroneously claimed that the state has only received half of the funds from the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, a total of N652.229 billion has also been distributed as federal allocation for the month of June 2017 to the Federal Government, state governments and local government councils.
A communiqué issued by the sub-committee of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, at the end of the meeting held last Tuesday, July 25, 2017 in Abuja, indicated that the Gross Statutory Revenue received for the month is N570.584 billion and is higher than the N317.562 billion received in the previous month by N253.022 billion.
Responding to questions during a post Executive Council (Exco) press briefing on Wednesday, July 26, 2017, Mr. Patrick Ukah said he has not heard anything contrary to what was announced by the federal government.
“I don’t know who would have given you that information about what was received and what was not received. I know you would not act on speculations.
“On the Paris Club fund, if you go to the state website, you will get a full explanation on how the money received in the past was channeled. Please let us endeavour to go there and if you have any issue, revert back to me and I can clear with the Commissioner for Economic Planning and the Accountant, General.
“When we spend, we post. Its also submitted to ICPC. So there is a procedure and those facts are not hidden.
“On the current one, I have not heard anything contrary to what was announced, which is to say that I don’t know who told you about being half or not being full. But I’m aware that in the Paris Fund released, the local government has a share of that amount and we have backlog of salaries and when I mean salaries, I don’t mean the net pay. I mean backlog in terms of check-off systems, union dues and the likes and you also have substantially, Pension backlog and when you look at that and you see what the local government would be taking, then you will have an idea but I will not be able to give you the rato of sharing until the Economic Planning, Finance and Accountant General comes out with their records.

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive with the development of the welfare of its personnel.

Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the clearing of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying, “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.

The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.

“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”

Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.

“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.

Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).

The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.

Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.

The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.

The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.

The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

5 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.

He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.

The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.

“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.

Chinedu Wosu