News
Presidency has cancelled this year’s Eid-el-Fitr homage to President Muhammadu Buhari by various communities.
It also said the President would be conducting a private Eid prayers with his family to mark the end of the month-long Ramadan fasting.
The foregoing measures were contained in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, on Friday, just as Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr Mohammed Adamu, reminded the public that socio-religious gatherings remain prohibited.
According to the Presidency, the changes in the pattern of celebrating Sallah with the President this year are both in obedience to new rules to help in combating the spread of Covid-19 and to ensure social distancing.
Mr Buhari has over the years received homage from individuals and groups, including top government officials, political leaders, community heads, Muslim and Christian religious leaders and children.
The Nation
Ramadan fast continues Saturday as there was no sighting of a new crescent moon in Nigeria, office of the Sultan of Sokoto said on Twitter as well as in a statement sent Friday evening.
This means Eid-el-Fitri is Sunday, after the Ramadan fast would have reached 30 days.
Sultan of Sokoto, Mr Saad Abubakar, is the head of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.
Earlier in the week, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), led by Abubakar, advised Nigerian Muslims to observe their ‘Eid’ prayers at home with their families or alone if there is no one to pray with.
This is in line with the social distancing directive of health authorities to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
Muslims observe the Eid-ul-Fitri prayer to mark the end of the Ramadan fast. The prayer is usually held on open grounds and attended by thousands of Muslims in each community.
“Eid-el-Fitr congregations in the outskirts of towns and cities should be temporarily suspended.
“The said ‘Eid-el-Fitr Prayer be observed at home with family members or alone in case there isn’t anyone with him or her, at home,” JNI said in a statement by its Secretary-General, Mr Khalid Aliyu.
Some state governments have, however, approved religious gatherings in view of the ‘eid prayers.
For such states, JNI urged worshippers to take caution by observing preventive measures like wearing nose masks, hand washing and use of hand sanitizers.
“However, in states where Governments have reached concrete decisions to observe the ‘Eid-el-Fitr prayer, based on their medical experts advice, strictest measures of distancing, face masks and sanitizers be taken to protect worshipers,” Aliyu said.
PT
Gunmen again attacked Kajuru communities, in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing at least 20 persons.
National President of Adara Development Association, Mr Awema Maisamari has said, noting that several other people were injured.
In a statement he issued on Friday, Maisamari said the killings followed four days of consistent attacks on some communities in Kajuru.
He said, “There have been daily attacks and destruction from Monday to Thursday in the remote settlements of Magunguna, Idazo, Ungwan Galadima, Ungwan Guza, Etissi, Ungwan Ma’aji, Ungwan Dantata, Ungwan Araha 1 & 2, Ungwan Goshi, Ungwan Shaban, Ungwan Jibo, Ungwan Maijama’a, Ungwan Sako, Ungwan Maidoki and Ungwan Masaba.
“These are all satellite settlements of Kallah, Libere, and Gefe towns.
“As of Friday, 20 persons have been killed, several others are injured or missing.”
Maisamari also alleged that from January 2020 to date, Kajuru communities had witnessed 63 terrorist attacks, resulting in 107 people killed.
According to him, no fewer than 49 persons were injured in those attacks while 111 houses were burnt.
He said, “Our brutalized, dehumanized, terrified and traumatized community members are reeling in pains, ever wondering why this contrived anarchy is still being condoned by the powers that be.
“From January to 22/5/2020, the killings, maiming, burning, looting and kidnappings have continued unabated from village to village.
“Within the period, there have been 63 terrorist attack and kidnapping incidents, more than 107 people killed, about 49 persons injured, more than 66 men/women/girls abducted for ransom, more than 111 houses burnt, another whole 32 villages destroyed and 20,000 persons displaced, especially in the last two weeks.”
Kaduna State Police Command has yet to confirm the latest attacks as the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Mohammed Jalige, could not be reached.
There was no response to a call and a text message to his telephone as of the time of filing this report.
Punch
Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) and National Union of Electricity Employees of Nigeria (NUEE) chapters of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) have shut the national grid over the sack of the company’s Managing Director, Mr Gur Mohammed.
They also yesterday locked the Abuja headquarters of TCN, as the workers protest barely 24 hours after Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman, removed the chief executive from office.
Mamman had on Tuesday sacked Mohammed and replaced him with Sule Abdulaziz in an acting capacity.
The minister had described the decision as part of ongoing measures to reposition the power sector for improved service delivery.
He had also confirmed the appointment of four directors who had been on acting capacity.
Guardian
Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila has announced an ad-hoc committee to review the legislative agenda of the 9th House of Representatives, stating that it is imperative, considering prevailing realities.
The committee is to be chaired by, Mr Julius Ihonvbere, a professor and lawmaker representing Owan Federal Constituency.
The speaker made this known during plenary on Tuesday.
He added that the previous agenda of the house failed to take into cognizance the health and socioeconomic effects of infectious diseases, hence the need for the review.
Ihonvbere, who is also chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education & Services, had on Tuesday called for the recruitment of qualified and Registered teachers into Nigerian Schools, following a report he laid before the House on behalf of his committee.
Federal government has approved termination of the appointment of Mr Charles Uwakwe as Registrar and Chief Executive of National Examinations Council (NECO).
Federal government also dismissed four members of NECO management for various offences bordering on financial impropriety.
Affected officers include Acting Director (Finance and Accounts), Bamidele Olure; Head of Procurement Division, Shina Adetona; Deputy Director Tayo Odukoya, and Head of Legal/Board matters, Babatunde Aina.
Their dismissal comes after a panel that investigated allegations of misconduct against them, while they were on suspension, recommended their removal.
Uwakwe had been suspended since May 2018 by the federal government over alleged financial mismanagement and abuse of office.
Since Uwakwe’s suspension, Mr Abubakar Gana has acted as Registrar.
The dismissal of the officials was announced by NECO spokesperson, Mr Azeez Sani.
According to Sani, President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive was conveyed in a letter dated May 11 and signed by Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Sonny Echono, on behalf of Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu.
He said Uwakwe was accused of violating the Public Procurement Act (2007) while in office. “After due consideration of the investigative panel on the allegation of unsatisfactory conduct levelled against you and some management staff of the council, Mr President in the exercise of his powers has approved your removal as the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of National Examinations Council with effect from the date of your suspension from duty,” Sani quoted the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education.
He also said the former registrar was also directed to hand over all the government property in his custody to the acting Registrar.
“In another letter, FME/S/1419/C.3/T/98, on May 11, by the Permanent Secretary, the President approved the dismissal from service of four Management workers,” Sani said.
Acting Director (Finance and Accounts), Mr Olure, was dismissed for alleged financial impropriety and for not being qualified to head the Finance and Accounts Department.
Mr Adetona was dismissed for acts tantamount to fraudulent practices, sabotage and suppression of official records while Odukoya was dismissed for acts of serious misconduct, the spokesperson said.
The letter directed the management of NECO to commence the process of recovering ill-gotten benefits/gains from Odukoya who allegedly acted as the director of a private company (M/S I-web Solutions) while in office.
Mr Aina was dismissed from service for falsification of records and dishonesty in the sale of NECO Guest House, which is being investigated by the anti-graft agency, EFCC.
NECO is an examination body in Nigeria that conducts the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination and the General Certificate in Education examination. The council is also in charge of the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (internal and external), Junior Secondary Certificate Examination (JSCE) and National Common Entrance Examination into federal unity schools.
PT
The Nigerian Medical Association in Lagos State has asked its members to embark on an indefinite “sit-at-home” industrial action over alleged harassment and intimidation by security agents in the state.
The NMA gave the “stay-at-home directive” in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Saliu Oseni, and Secretary, Dr Ramon Moronkola, on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the directive takes effect from 6.00 pm.
The doctors accused police officers in Lagos of acting contrary to the directives of the Federal Government on lockdown order, noting that their members are unsafe.
The statement read, “We have observed that despite the directives of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhamadu Buhari, through the Presidential Taskforce on COVID 19, which was clear on the exemption of essential workers including doctors and other health workers from the ongoing lockdown/movement restrictions, (but) the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu, has been issuing conflicting directives on social and mainstream media to the effect that essential workers, including doctors and other health workers, are NOT exempted.
“As a direct result of the conflicting directives of the government and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the Lagos State branch of Nigerian Medical Association was inundated yesterday (Tuesday) evening of several cases of harassments and intimidation of doctors and other health-workers by officers and men of the Lagos State Police command to the extent that even Ambulances carrying patients with emergency cases were impounded. This has become a recurrent issue.
“The Lagos State Branch of the NMA has resolved that it is presently unsafe for members to continue to provide healthcare services under the present confused arrangement.
“You are hereby advised to proceed on a sit-at-home, in your best interest, starting from 6pm today, Wednesday, 20th May, 2020 indefinitely, until otherwise advised.”
Nigerian Government, under President Muhammadu Buhari, has been charged to work seriously on improving the Nation's economy by providing an enabling environment and harnessing the potentials of its citizens in the Diaspora to survive the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This must be supported with qualitative education and genuine youth empowerment to combat the menace of insecurity in the Country.
A member of the New Generation Leadership, NGL, Mr Uche Oraka gave this advice while speaking on the "effects of Covid-19 pandemic on Diasporas remittance to Nigeria" on a forum of the group aimed at creating solutions to the Country's many challenges.
Mr Oraka, a transport Consultant who said, "Nigeria is blessed with both human and natural resources enough to make it one of the most viable and economically vibrant in the world if well harnessed, cautioned the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to stop playing unnecessary politics of blaming its predecessor but concentrate on improving the lives of Nigerians.
According to him, " Nigerians in Diaspora before the pandemic have contributed immensely to developing their home country through various remittances and contribution in cash, merchandise and social means.
However, with the coronavirus ravaging the world, it is now so difficult to survive as business activities have reduced ,while some Nigerians have lost their lives".
Mr Oraka said, this in no small measure would greatly affect what comes into the country thus the need for government at all tiers in Nigeria to be committed and be focussed to genuinely developing the Nation for the benefit of all.
"Our government must stop the blame game and be more determined to work the Nation by engaging Nigerian professionals/technocrats who have the capacity, knowledge and are doing well in overseas countries in various sectors of life endeavours to contribute and support towards developing Nigeria" he said.
The NewGen Leadership member said making Nigeria a self reliant Nation starts with supporting the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), ensuring easy access to loan and government grants, encouraging youth development and empowerment, enacting functional laws to check corruption without bias, fear or favour, creating an enabling environment with good roads, electricity supply and providing quality education among other needs.
There was a mild drama at the Federal Housing Authority, Lugbe as some pastors tried to evade prosecution by the FCT Ministerial Enforcement Taskforce on COVID-19 Restriction.
The Pastors, who have partitioned the rocks behind FHA Lugbe as their worship centres, on Sunday, denied ownership of the large crowd worshipping on the hilltop.
The Pastors are Ibitoye Kayode of the Liberty Faith Gospel Church, Pastor Joshua Olaniru of Liberty Gate Ministry and Pastor Vitalis Udeazi of Dominion Chapel.
Trouble started when the task team stormed the area and could not differentiate worshippers and their religious leaders.
After brief interrogation, the three Pastors were identified from the crowd although Udeazi tried to conceal his identity.
He said that none of his members was present at the time the members of the task force arrived the mountain top.
However, that did not go down well with other Pastors who protested vehemently that he was one of them.
Luck ran out on him when some members identified him as their Pastor, although he still insisted that they were his prayer members.
Similarly, Olaniru, who also denied any wrong doing, was identified in a video while conducting service before the arrival of the task force team.
Addressing the Pastors, Chairman of the task force, Ikharo Attah, expressed disappointment with the clerics for denying the large group of worshippers.
“No one among you agreed that anyone came to worship in his Church even when they turned out in large numbers. One of you even went ahead to deny being a Pastor.”
Attah also cautioned them against holding worship service in defiant of the presidential directive.
The clerics were arraigned before the Mobile court presided by Magistrate Idayat Akonni and fined N5,000 each in addition to three hours community service.
Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service, Mr Muhammad Nami, has been accused of unlawful retirement of nine directors of the agency to pave way for his allies.
Our correspondent was told that Nami relied on an old civil service rule, which had been suspended to remove the directors.
Reporters gathered that the government of late President Umaru Yar’Adua had instituted a civil service rule which made it compulsory for directors to retire after serving for eight years.
However, President Muhammadu Buhari rescinded that directive.
According to new regulations, civil servants are to leave service after attaining the retirement age of 60 or spending 35 years in service.
A circular was said to have been issued to indicate the suspension of the earlier order.
A copy of the document, obtained by our correspondent and dated June 20, 2016, was also addressed to FIRS.
“With reference to letter No. SH/COS/100/A/1462 dated June 17, 2016, I write to convey Mr. President’s directive that the tenure policy in the Federal Civil Service is suspended with immediate effect. This notice is for the attention of all concerned for compliance,” the letter, signed by a former Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, said.
The new regulation was reportedly upheld by former Chairman of FIRS, Mr Babatunde Fowler, as no director was retired as long as they had not crossed the retirement benchmark.
However, after Nami assumed office in November 2019, he was said to have instructed that directors who had served for eight years be retired.
Nine directors received retirement letters in March 2020.
A copy of the letter, signed by Nami read in part, “The board of Federal Inland Revenue Service at its emergency meeting No.2 held on March, 20, 2020, approved the retirement of all directors who have served eight years and above as directors in the service in line with Para 10: 1(a)(iii) of HRPP. Accordingly, you are hereby notified of your compulsory retirement from the service with immediate effect.”
Affected directors are Mr Victor Ekundayo (Career and Skills Development); Mrs Kemi Odusanya (Facility); Emmanuel Obeta (Chairman’s Office); Chiaka Okoye (Programme Office Non-Tax); Mr Kola Okunola (ICT); Mr Asheik Maidugu (Planning and Statistics); Mr Innocent Ohagwa (Human Capital Development); Mr Ezra Zubair (Programmes and Policy Monitoring) and Mr Olufemi Faniyi (Team Lead Tax Operations Group).
A few days later, FIRS chairman issued another memo to announce the appointment of new directors and a special assistant.
The new appointees included Director, Finance and Accounts, Ahmed Musa; Special Assistant Technical to the Executive Chairman, Mustapha Ndajumo; Director, Internal Affairs and Efficiency, Ahmed Ndannusa; Director, Communication and Liaison Department, Abdulahi Ismaila; and Acting Director, Executive Chairman’s Office, Aisha Mohammed.
Aside from the new appointees not being members of staff of FIRS, they were reported to be Nupes, the same ethnic group with the Niger-State born Nami.
It was also observed that Paragraph 10:1(a)(iii) of the FIRS Human Resources Policies and Processes (HRPP) on which the retirement decision was based stated that directors who had attained eight years in the position should be retired.
However, Paragraph 1.8.1 of the HRPP said whatever was written in the book was subject to the amendment of extant circulars.
“All extant circulars, directives, notices, orders and other documents amending, giving further details and/or explanation to the provisions of this policy document hereto shall form an integral part of the HRPP and shall be binding,” it added.
One of the retired directors alleged that the chairman had a plan hence his decision not to comply with the government circular which had already suspended the paragraph 10.
“Without taking recognition of the circular, the chairman just asked all the nine directors to retire. He quoted Paragraph 10, but ignored the Paragraph 1,” he added.
Our correspondent learnt that there was disquiet among some of the senior staff members who were sidelined for the contract staff.
HRPP forbade appointment of contract workers where the available slots could be filled by experienced workers in the system.
Paragraph 2.22 of the rule stated that contract appointment should only be made “where the required skills and competence are not available within the service.”
Another retired director claimed that there were 750 chartered accountants in the FIRS.
“You are bringing in a contract worker as an internal auditor, when there are a lot of qualified people in the system? You are bringing somebody from outside as the director of finance and account, when there are many chartered accountants? You are bringing in people as directors of communication and chairman’s office, when there are people with the skills.
“The danger is that you are the executive chairman and you brought in your friends to man critical positions. You want to control the entire financial transactions of the organisation. They will take direct instruction from you without questions. They could collude with you to defraud the organisation. Where is transparency, accountability, integrity in these appointments?” he queried.
A retired director said the appointments also negated the federal character policy.
“He appointed four directors as contract staff; no advertisement of the positions, nothing. No other ethnic group was represented in violation of the federal character policy. They are all his allies,” he added.
The directors lamented that they were retired “unceremoniously and illegally” despite having several years before attaining 35 years in service.
They demanded that the FIRS chairman acknowledge his wrongs and remedy the situation.
FIRS, however, said its actions were not in defiance of the presidential directives suspending tenure policy in the Federal Civil Service.
Director of Communications and Liaison Department, Mr Abdullahi Ismaila, in a statement, said the government parastatal acted within its powers.
He said, “FIRS is not part of the civil service, but part of public service. FIRS, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, are part of public service, not civil service. This informs, for instance, NNPC, CAC, whenever there is a leadership change, most of the senior officers are usually retired to pave way for their subordinates because they have separate boards to authorise such actions.
“FIRS is governed under the FIRS Establishment Act 2007, which has given it autonomy to hire and fire without recourse to Civil Service Rules, but to its own rule and therefore not part of civil service.”
Ismaila said FIRS was only accountable to its board, adding that the retirement of the directors was approved by the board.
He noted that the board was also kind enough not to recover the salaries and allowances earned by directors who had spent above the legal eight years.
According to him, FIRS will only be bound by the Public Services Rule for any matter not covered by FIRS Human Resource Policies and Processes.
“The retirement of the directors by FIRS board is in accordance with the HRPP and in public interest and to create vacancies for the existing staff of the service who have remained stagnated,” he added.
On the appointment of the new directors and special assistants, Ismaila said due process was followed, adding that they were contract officers engaged for two years to carry out specific assignments.
“The four directors are employed on contract basis in line with Section 2.22 of the FIRS HRPP and approved by the FIRS board.
Ismaila, however, declined comment on the ethnic group of the new appointees and did not respond to enquiry on it.
A former director said FIRS was a Federal Government parastatal and circulars by the government remained binding on it, hence Eyo-Ita’s decision to copy FIRS in the 2016 memo.
Director of Communications, Head of Service, Mrs Olawunmi Ogunmosule, said she had not joined the unit when the memo was issued.
According to her, whenever ministries, departments and agencies are copied in memos, it means the document is for their “information or action.”
She referred our correspondent to the overseeing ministry.
Director of Information, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mr Hassan Dodo, asked our correspondent to write a letter and bring it to his office in Abuja.
“I hope to see the permanent secretary with the questions. At his discretion, he either answers them or he refers the questions to a director to do that,” he wrote in a text message.
Punch
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Governors across the 36 states of the federation have adopted various measures in efforts to prevent and contain the spread of the coronavirus in their states.
However some of these governors have exhibited excesses in terms of their actions and measures aimed at containing the spread of the virus.
Rivers: Wike demolishes hotels, arrests pilots
Trending and an issue still discussed on various media platforms is the demolition of two hotels by Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike.
He supervised the demolition of the hotels due to violation of his lockdown order aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus in the state.
The affected hotels are Prodest Hotel in Alode and Etemeteh Hotel in Onne both in Eleme Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
These buildings were demolished three days after Wike directed officials of the local government Task Force to identify hotels operating during the lockdown for demolition.
But Wike has come under heavy attacks and criticisms over the action which many have described as dictatorial with no regard for the rule of law.
Wike had earlier arrested some pilots of Caverton for flying into the state in violation of his lockdown order but later freed them following mounting pressures.
He equally arrested some oil workers who were later released.
In Kano, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje shutdown a 320-tonne Tiamin Rice mill as part of measures to prevent and contain spread of coronavirus.
According to the notice of closure, the government said it took the decision, following “complaints of air pollution” which could aggravate the condition of coronavirus patients at its isolation centre which is situated about 20 kilometers away.
But the management of the rice factory which viewed the claim of government as unfounded and frivolous approached a Federal High Court, Abuja for redress.
Although, the court in its verdict delivered on the matter by Mr Okon Abang ordered the state government to unseal the rice mill but that has not been complied with, sparking concerns of executive excesses by the governor.
The governor was also seen on the road at a Kano border personally enforcing interstate movement restriction and supervised the arrest of passengers.
Akwa Ibom: Emmanuel shuts down livestock markets
Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State on his part ordered the immediate closure of all livestock markets in the state as part of measures to contain spread of Covid-19
Secretary to State the Government/Chairman Cocid-19 Management Committee, Mr Emmanuel Ekuwem, who disclosed in a statement, however did not mention any alternative arrangement for both traders and buyers of meat products.
Ekuwem explained that the governor directed that no new consignment of livestock should be allowed into the state until further notice, adding that security operatives have been ordered to ensure full compliance as defaulters would be prosecuted.
Kaduna: El-Rufai demolishes inn, climbs truck for enforcement
Kaduna State Governor, Mr Nasir El-Rufai demolished a popular Kaduna inn, GM Car Park and Relaxation Centre amidst the Covid-19 lockdown.
The governor in what many described as ‘overzealousness’ was seen climbing a truck on the Kaduna borders recently to enforce restriction of interstate movement while some of his aides stood by.
Kogi: Bello’s 14-day quarantine order of NCDC officials
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State ordered that a visiting team from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) who were in the state to support its Covid-19 Task Force be quarantined for 14 days before they could do anything in the state.
This forced the visiting NCDC officials to return to Abuja without achieving their mission.
The action of the governor has generated mixed reactions with some describing it as exhibition of executive excesses while others said his action was in order.
Daily Trust
Federal government has rolled out new set of palliatives to help Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) survive the economic fallouts of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.
Under the scheme, government will give 80 percent discount to all MSMEs that registered their product on the electronic platform of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) unveiled on Friday.
NAFDAC Automated Product Administration and Monitoring System (NAPAMS), is a software solution for the regulation and control of the importation, exportation, manufacture, distribution, advertisement, sale and use of foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, detergents and bottled water in Nigeria.
Apart from the 80 percent discount it approved for the businesses, the federal government has also granted zero tariffs for the first 200 MSMEs to register on the agency’s platform.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo reeled our the incentives on Friday at the virtual unveiling of palliatives for MSMEs by NAFDAC, tasking other agencies of the federal government to come up with palliatives for the MSMEs.
He unveiled the electronic registration platform alongside Director General of NAFDAC, Mrs Mojisola Adeyeye and representatives of other federal agencies regulating micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.
After unveiling the electronic registration platform, Osinbajo said: “These palliatives reflect the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s determination to support MSMEs and the priority the federal government places on small businesses.”
He listed NAFDAC’s palliatives to include e-registration of MSMEs/products at 80% discounted rate over a period of six months; zero tariffs for the first 200 micro and small businesses to register on the e-platform and waiver on administrative charges for overdue late renewal of expired licenses of micro/small businesses products for a period of 90 days.
As businesses across the world confront the disruptions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, the vice president noted that the federal government would continue to adopt and implement practical measures to ensure that the projected growth in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector is not seriously affected by the development.
Mr Osinbajo explained that the response of the federal government was not just “to give succour and assistance to existing MSMEs, but also ensure that there is practical and active fillip to new MSMEs so that the growth of this sector is not discouraged by the current economic trauma.
“This is our moment and the government of Nigeria and its regulatory agencies are prepared to back MSMEs and other businesses that are prepared for the innovative and interesting times that lie ahead of us”, he added.
Osinbajo explained some steps the federal government had been taking to protect private investments especially small businesses in the country, saying the Buhari administration had from the begining of the health cum economic crisis taken strategic decisions aimed at insulating businesses from imminent collapse.
Just after the first index case of the disease was discovered in Nigeria and before the lockdowns began, he said Buhari put together strategic teams to immediately determine the likely impact of the disruptions to the economy and what the country’s immediate and medium to long term approach should be.
The vice president explained that the vulnerability of MSMEs to the severe shocks that were to follow was priority at every consideration of the issues.
“But perhaps even our best projections could hardly have predicted the massive economic disruptions, the unprecedented number of business failures, job losses of what began as a health challenge and the ensuing lockdowns would cause especially to MSMEs, who, of course as you know, are the backbone of our entire economy.
“As the president has repeatedly urged, we have no excuse not to be one of the most productive and prolific economies in the world. Our hope is to achieve this aim in the incredible numbers of MSMEs that we have,” the VP noted.
He described the launch of NAFDAC palliatives for MSMEs as “a thoughtful and strategic response to the devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“These are all indicators of the new spirit of NAFDAC and foretaste of the support MSMEs stand to enjoy in wading through these trying times. But this is not a new undertaking for us. It is merely an extension or intensification of the federal government’s long-standing commitment to MSMEs.”
The vice president urged regulatory agencies involved in the MSMEs sector “to improve on their service delivery. We expect to see from them in terms of innovation, adaptability in the next few months and through the challenges that we will be seeing in business environment.”
He, therefore, said: “I am sure that NAFDAC, SMEDAN, BOI and all of our MDAs concerned with the MSMEs see this period as one when we must work with the MSMEs, identify with them, and must be quick on the job to ensure we are able to resolve all of the problems that they have.”
Thisday
Major opposition parties in Ondo State have kicked against the explanation made by Ondo State government under Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu over the controversial N4.3b found in a secret bank account, opened over 10 years ago.
In a statement made available to journalists, yesterday, in Akure by the state chairman of African Action Congress (AAC), Mr. Israel Ayeni, the present administration was accused of misappropriation of public funds.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had earlier made a 10- year bank interest analysis, affirming that the money had yielded N10.7b interest.
Ayeni called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and all related commissions to synergise with the state Assembly to properly investigate the matter.
He insisted that they must unveil the secret intentions behind the discovered fund, saying: “The account, said to be traced to former Governor Olusegun Kokumo Agagu-led administration of over a decade from now is questionable.
AAC also challenges the competence of the state’s Accountant General, as well as the Office of the Commissioner for Finance for not providing all necessary documents bearing all transactions made with the account.”
Aside demanding the interest accrued to date, he said: “When and what was the purpose of opening the ‘secret account?’ Who are the signatories, and why was hidden, even from the legislative arm?…”
The state PDP Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Zadok Akintoye, flayed the state government for not being transparent with the account, saying it hid it from the general public’s knowledge, when first discovered.
He said: “Investigation by our party has shown that the Akeredolu-led government is being economical with the truth and has violated the law with its intentions not to disclose the receipt of such funds, until it was recently probed by the Ondo State House of Assembly…”
Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Donald Ojogo, had earlier cleared the air immediately the Accountant-General and the Commissioner for Finance were summoned by the Assembly.
Ojogo said it was the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, who discovered the hidden account.
“At inception of this administration, concerted efforts were made to take a comprehensive inventory of all assets and liabilities of government, which include liquidity status. This exercise, modestly conducted without the usual noise, was aimed at avoiding sensationalisation and needless acrimony. In this regard, all development partners of the government, including banks, rendered highly commendable forms of assistance,” he said.
Ojogo disclosed that the account and the deposited fund, which was promptly reported, were discovered through the vigilance and financial intelligence of the Finance Commissioner.
He said the record of the new recovery has also reflected in the records of the state for proper accountability and transparency.
Meanwhile, the former Commissioner for Finance, whose regime opened the account, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, has absolved the current administration of the crime, blaming it on improper handing over after the court judgment that sacked the administration of the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu in 2009.
Alasoadura flayed the bank for not calling the new administration’s attention to the account, since the government operated accounts in all banks operating in the state, as a policy.
Guardian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed Nigerian evacuees from Bangkok to pay a total of N297,600 for their hotel, isolation and quarantine upon arrival in Nigeria as a precondition for their airlift.
A statement by the Embassy of Nigeria in Bangkok, Thailand, signed by Head of Chancery, Mr Nicholas Uhomoibhi said the prices were negotiated in Nigeria.
“I am directed to bring to your attention due to measures that are beyond the control of Covid-19 local organizing team in Nigeria, all evacuees going to Nigeria henceforth are to now pay for their quarantine, isolation, accommodation centre or hotels before departure and arrival in Nigeria
“In this regard, all prospective evacuees are to note the negotiated rate below: Accommodation (N15,000 x16 days = N240,000) and Feeding (N3,600 x16 days = N57,600). Total: N297,600 at N18,600 x16 days.”
“Kindly be informed that these rates were negotiated in Nigeria and that the Embassy has been instructed not to airlift any evacuee who fails to pay the above fee,” he said.
It would be recalled that Nigerians from United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States and United Kingdom have been evacuated and are currently in isolation in Lagos and Abuja hotels at the expense of the government.
It appears the Federal government can no longer foot the bill as this new letter seems to suggest.
When Nigeria recorded its first case in February, Nigerians abroad asked to be evacuated home. Federal Ministry of Health in April issued a statement saying it had started the process of evacuation and that those who wished to be evacuated would pay for their flight ticket and would also be placed on a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
A similar letter was sent to Nigerians residing in the State of Kuwait by the Embassy of Nigeria on May 13, 2020, to the effect that the evacuees will pay N297,600 for their quarantine in Nigeria apart from the airfares.
The letter, titled “Re: Request for the evacuation of Nigerian nationals in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, reads in part-
Further to our notice of 5th April 2020 on the above-mentioned subject matter, the Embassy wishes to inform that all intending evacuees are to pay for their quarantine/isolation/accommodation/centre/hotels before departure and arrival in Nigeria.
The negotiated rate is as follows: Accommodation-N240,000 (N15,000 x16 days); Feeding-N57,6009 (N3,600 x 16 days). Total- N297,600 (N18,600 x 16 days).
All evacuees are to pay the aforementioned amount for their quarantine/isolation/centre/hotels directly to the airline along with their tickets. Evacuees have the option to pay in dollars or its equivalent in Naira.
It is important to note that evacuees that do not pay for their quarantine/isolation/accommodation/ centre/ hotels will not be allowed to board the flight.”
Vanguard