The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, said on Tuesday the proposed N6.2 trillion supplementary budgetary would be used to pay the minimum wage.
The minister stated this while addressing the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation in Abuja.
He said the funds would be spent on stimulating the economy through the implementation of various infrastructural projects.
He said N3 trillion was earmarked for the minimum wage whose bill President Bola Tinubu would send to the National Assembly soon.
Bagugu revealed that the budget was also aimed at providing counterpart funding for rail and other projects in the country.
The minister said: “These include the Port Harcourt Main Bridge which would traverse the rivers Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Katsina, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, and other parts of the country.
“The second project is Badagry-Tin Can Port, Lekki Port, the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge, and Kano-Marada Standard Gauge.”
He assured the lawmakers that the projects captured in the amendment to the 2024 Appropriation Bill would not limit the revenue available for the implementation of the 2024 budget.
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Nigerian govt to pay minimum wage with N6.2tr supplementary budget
MMA Customs generates N80.3bn in six months
The Customs Area Command at Muritala Muhammed Area Command has generated N80.3 billion in the first half of the year.
The Customs Area Controller of MMAC, Michael Awe, told newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday that the amount doubled the N38.7 billion revenue generated in the first half of 2023.
He said that the additional N41.6 billion difference represented a 107.5 per cent increase when compared to the revenue generated in the same period of last year.
Awe attributed the increase in revenue generation to the support from the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Bashir Adeniyi and his management team.
He said that the difference recorded in the revenue collection was made possible by officers’ resilience in ensuring that agents made proper declarations and strict adherence to import/export guidelines in tandem with extant laws.
In the area of anti-smuggling, Awe said officers were not resting on their oars in enforcing government fiscal policies and other trade regulations.
“The Command made the following seizures of five packages of 250mg tramadol, 12 packages of 225mg tramadol, and one package of 50-round 9mm live ammunition.
“Other seizures include 46 packages of dried sea cucumbers, three packages of dried donkey male genitals, and 55 pieces of Jojef Tomahawk semi-automatic rifles.
“The cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the aforementioned items stood at N6.06 billion.
“These items are seized mainly because of various forms of infractions which range from false declarations, non-adherence to import/export guidelines, and failure to comply with other extant regulations as enshrined in the Nigeria Customs Service Act (NCS Act) 2023,” Awe said.
The MMIA customs boss said that the command recorded N266.6 million of exported goods within the period under review, with a FOB value of $204.59 thousand.
On the command’s stakeholder engagements, he explained that the command established an open-door policy which had helped in resolving many issues of common interest with concerned stakeholders.
“Let me reiterate my call to our esteemed partners in the clearance value chain to always brace up to the emerging challenges as we work together to move the country forward,” he said.
Awe commended officers of the Command for their dedication to the noble cause of fighting smugglers, adding that they should adhere strictly to the rules of engagement while discharging their statutory duties.
He appreciated the contributions of the genuine stakeholders, other security agencies, and the media for their continuous support.
NAN.
I won’t disappoint workers, Oyebanji pledges
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, on Tuesday, assured workers in the state that he would not disappoint them on the new minimum wage for workers.
Oyebanji, who spoke in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, during the presentation of N1b gratuities cheques to retirees, expressed hope that he would offset all outstanding pension arrears before the year ending.
The governor said, “On minimum wage, once it becomes a law when the President signs it into law, all will be well. The only thing I know, I am here to serve you. Let us wait, at the appropriate time, all will be well. One thing I know is that I am not going to disappoint you.”
The Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed the N70,000 National Wage Bill into law as forwarded to them by the President, Bola Tinubu, earlier the same day.
Oyebanji, speaking on local government autonomy, said, “We don’t have a problem with that judgment in Ekiti State. The local governments here (in Ekiti) enjoy financial autonomy and they are democratically elected local governments. We have to abide by the decision of the Supreme Court.
The governor assured the senior citizens that he would always be there for them, saying, “Pensioners are a critical part of our policies, they have worked for the state, they served the state and they deserve the best. We are not doing them a favour, they worked for these benefits and we must pay them”.
He, on behalf of the state government, apologised to the pensioners for the delay that they had endured over the gratuities.
On the occasion, 450 pensioners were handed cheques for their gratuities totalling N1b.
Oyebanji said, “Today and in this batch, we are paying out a total sum of N1b only to this batch while continuing with the monthly gratuity payment of N20m to both state and local government pensioners.
“I am proud to say we have paid in total, the sum of N12.56b as pensions since we assumed office. Similarly, this administration has paid a cumulative sum of N2.3b as a gratuity to our retired senior citizens. That is apart from the gratuity already paid to local government retirees.
“I am assuring those on the waiting list to keep hope alive as the government is doing everything possible to see that more people are paid very soon. Our ultimate objective is to completely liquidate all gratuity arrears in a short distant time.
“In addition, we have ensured that retirees are not left behind in the payment of wage awards to Ekiti government workers. Similarly, I am glad to mention that we have cleared all arrears of pension owed state pensioners totalling N1.14b earlier in the year, while about N150m outstanding deductions have been paid”.
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners State Chairman, Mr Joel Akinola, who lauded Oyebanji for his gesture to pensioners, said disbursement of a whopping N1b to gratuities to pensioners never happened in Ekiti until under the present governor.
Akinola assured the governor that money paid to pensioners would be spent in Ekiti State and enhance the state economy.
The NUP State Chairman expressed gratitude to the governor, saying, “Our welfare has improved. The free health scheme for the elderly has also benefitted us immensely, Health is wealth”.
He, however, advised beneficiaries to use the money judiciously to take care of themselves and avoid falling prey to dubious investors who would begin to knock on their doors.
ICPC’ll wield big stick when necessary — Chairman
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Musa Aliyu (SAN), on Tuesday, said the commission would not hesitate to wield the big stick against erring state Houses of Assembly legislators when necessary.
This is as he said the commission was ready to partner with the state legislative arm of government to fight corruption.
He spoke at the opening of a three-day capacity building workshop for Jigawa State legislators in Abuja.
Aliyu said, “At the ICPC, we will continue to carry out our three-pronged mandate of enforcement, prevention, public education, and mass mobilization within the confines of the law. We are ready to partner with the state legislature to advance the fight against corruption, as we have done and are still doing with other arms and tiers of government. However, we will succeed in wielding the big stick when the occasion demands that we do so.
“This is why I am appealing to us to take advantage of the learning sessions, share experiences where necessary, and leave the commission’s premises better informed than when you arrived.”
He urged the state legislative arm of government to be transparent and accountable to effectively combat corruption.
Aliyu said, “The relevance of the legislature in democratic governance need not be overemphasised. The oversight function is critical in ensuring that the legislature’s intent in making laws that will improve the living standard of the poor is reflected in the performance of the executive functions.
“The legislature is expected to detect waste, inefficiency, ineffectiveness, corruption, and mismanagement of public resources. However, these functions can only be effectively discharged by the legislative arm of government if it embraces transparency and accountability in its operations. This is why this workshop is so important.”
The acting Director, Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria, Richard Bello, said legislators are crucial in the fight against corruption in the country.
Bello said, “The importance of working with the legislative arm of government at both federal and state levels in combating the phenomenon of corruption can never be overstated. Legislators as direct representatives of the people in the corridors of power occupy a very sensitive position in a democratic setting such as ours in this country.
“The legislative arm of government is a veritable partner in the quest to tackle corruption in the country, as some of its institutional practices are ready tools that could be deployed to fight corruption.”
Plateau Unrest: Role of women must be amplified in conflict resolution – Groups
A group under the aegis of West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, WANEP, Nigeria in partnership with the Plateau Peace Building Agency (PPBA) has called for more inclusion of women in conflict resolution in Plateau State and beyond.
It also said it was necessary for women to be involved because they mostly bear the brunt of conflict in their various communities.
The call was made during a one-day strategic engagement on Conflict Mitigation and Peace Dialogue with key Stakeholders from Wase, Bokkos, Mangu and Barkin Ladi LGAs of the State.
TVN recalls that some communities in the listed local government councils have in recent times been bedevilled by conflicts, which have claimed scores of lives, thousands displaced and many have lost their means of livelihood.
In her welcome address, National Coordinator, WANEP-Nigeria, Bridget Osakwe, represented by the Program Manager of the organisation, said, “One of the objectives of this meeting is to foster efforts among key stakeholders from Bokkos, Mangu, Wase and Barkin Ladi LGAs in Plateau State.
“To provide a platform for open dialogue to identify the root causes of violence, share personal experiences, and develop practical strategies for peaceful coexistence within communities.
“To amplify the role of women in the peacebuilding process, towards contributing to sustainable peace and stability and the affected communities,” she stressed.
In his remarks, the Director of Programmes in the PPBA, Nantip Joseph said, “Whatever partners are doing in complementing the efforts of the government in the provision of security is a welcome development, and particularly if it fits within the areas of peacebuilding and conflict prevention falls under our mandate.
“That is why you can see that this programme is organised in partnership with PPBA”, he explained.
“You all know that the challenges are so complex that no single entity of government has all it takes to be able to deliver its mandate without partnership with a wide range of stakeholders, which WANEP-Nigeria is one of them “, he maintained.
WANEP-Nigeria Head of Programmes, Patience Obualo, said, “Most times conflict resolution lies in the hands of the men, they are the ones that sit at the table and make decisions on behalf of the community, but we want to begin to hear what the concerns and needs of women are; where it comes issues of peace and security.
“If you recall the 2023 Christmas Eve attacks, which claimed almost 200 lives, and we realised that most of the victims were women and children, so in this regard, they also bear the brunt of conflicts”, he maintained.
A traditional ruler and participant at the engagement, Saf Dauda Maren, from Daffo District of Bokkos LGA, appreciated both organisations for bringing people from affected communities cutting across the four aforementioned local governments, to come together and chat a way forward for peaceful coexistence.
“A forum like this gives people room to forgive one another, so that they can coexist peacefully”, he maintained.
Plateau Unrest: Role of women must be amplified in conflict resolution – Groups
Israel drone strike kills five Palestinians in West Bank
At least five Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli drone attack in the Tulkarm area of the West Bank.
Among the dead were three militant fighters, two of whom were commanders.
Reports said the victims were senior members of the armed wings of Hamas and the al-Aqsa Brigades of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas’s Fatah organisation.
The Israeli army confirmed that a drone had targeted armed terrorists in Tulkarm.
It added that gun battles also occurred in the city between soldiers and armed residents.
The Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service reported that a woman was killed and three others injured in the incident.
Media reports however said two women were killed in the attack.
The situation in the West Bank has significantly worsened since the onset of the Gaza War following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 last year.
Since then, more than 550 Palestinians have been reportedly killed in Israeli military operations, confrontations, or their own attacks in the West Bank.
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N1 trn injected into manufacturing sector in last one year – Finance Minister
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun has disclosed that a total sum of N1 trillion was injected into the manufacturing sector as palliatives in the last year by the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The Minister said this while reacting to inquiries made by members of the committee that the manufacturing sector be considered as a beneficiary of the proposed tax on banks’ foreign profits (windfall tax), noting that the sector has already been taken care of.
Also, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, said the accelerated stabilization funds which focus on reinvigorating the manufacturing sector are being injected, aside from a series of legacy projects, geared towards putting in place infrastructure to make the sector more viable.
The stakeholders stated these on Tuesday during a public hearing on Finance Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, organized by the National Assembly joint committee on Finance.
“Palliatives worth N1 trillion have been injected into the manufacturing sector within the last one year with attendant positive results in terms of reinvigoration”, he said
Earlier in his presentation to the joint committee Chaired by Senator Sani Musa, the Chairman of FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, said the proposed one-time windfall tax, is geared towards redistribution of wealth which according to him, would be beneficial to the various sectors.
He however explained to members of the joint committee that the strategic programmes of President Bola Tinubu led federal government, are targeted at reinvigorating the manufacturing sector.
“Accelerated stabilization funds focusing on helping the manufacturing sector are already being doled out aside legacy projects strategically targeted at making the sector more vibrant and viable.
“Some of these strategic projects that would, in terms of infrastructure, reinvigorate the sector, are the Badagry – Sokoto Highway which would make the journey from Badagry to Sokoto 11 hours.
“Also, the Lagos – Calabar Coaster Highway is another strategic road infrastructural project that will bring about the required connectivity for reinvigoration of the manufacturing sector.
“The plan of President Bola Tinubu on the economy, manufacturing sector and development generally is very robust “, he said.
Sharing percentage from the one-time windfall tax between the federal government and the banks, was, however, not agreed upon before the Minister, the FIRS boss and a representative of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, were excused from the meeting.
President Tinubu had in an executive bill forwarded for approval by both chambers of the National Assembly, proposed a 50% sharing formula for both parties, which some members of the committees suggested an upward review.
N1 trn injected into manufacturing sector in last one year – Finance Minister
N1 trn injected into manufacturing sector in last one year – Finance Minister
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun has disclosed that a total sum of N1 trillion was injected into the manufacturing sector as palliatives in the last year by the President Bola Tinubu administration.
The Minister said this while reacting to inquiries made by members of the committee that the manufacturing sector be considered as a beneficiary of the proposed tax on banks’ foreign profits (windfall tax), noting that the sector has already been taken care of.
Also, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue, FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, said the accelerated stabilization funds which focus on reinvigorating the manufacturing sector are being injected, aside from a series of legacy projects, geared towards putting in place infrastructure to make the sector more viable.
The stakeholders stated these on Tuesday during a public hearing on Finance Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, organized by the National Assembly joint committee on Finance.
“Palliatives worth N1 trillion have been injected into the manufacturing sector within the last one year with attendant positive results in terms of reinvigoration”, he said
Earlier in his presentation to the joint committee Chaired by Senator Sani Musa, the Chairman of FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, said the proposed one-time windfall tax, is geared towards redistribution of wealth which according to him, would be beneficial to the various sectors.
He however explained to members of the joint committee that the strategic programmes of President Bola Tinubu led federal government, are targeted at reinvigorating the manufacturing sector.
“Accelerated stabilization funds focusing on helping the manufacturing sector are already being doled out aside legacy projects strategically targeted at making the sector more vibrant and viable.
“Some of these strategic projects that would, in terms of infrastructure, reinvigorate the sector, are the Badagry – Sokoto Highway which would make the journey from Badagry to Sokoto 11 hours.
“Also, the Lagos – Calabar Coaster Highway is another strategic road infrastructural project that will bring about the required connectivity for reinvigoration of the manufacturing sector.
“The plan of President Bola Tinubu on the economy, manufacturing sector and development generally is very robust “, he said.
Sharing percentage from the one-time windfall tax between the federal government and the banks, was, however, not agreed upon before the Minister, the FIRS boss and a representative of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, were excused from the meeting.
President Tinubu had in an executive bill forwarded for approval by both chambers of the National Assembly, proposed a 50% sharing formula for both parties, which some members of the committees suggested an upward review.
N1 trn injected into manufacturing sector in last one year – Finance Minister
Tinubu inherited rotten country, planned protest political
The Minister of the Federal Capital Terrority, Nyesom Wike, has said that the planned nationwide protest scheduled to begin on August 1, 2024, is political, and “political gimmicks” by some who sought to use the protest to gain popularity.
The minister stated this on Tuesday while addressing journalists following an inspection of the Apo-Karshi Road project, first awarded in 2011.
The According reports that a section of Nigerians on social media have been mobilising to hold nationwide protests from t August 1, 2024, with the hashtags #TinubuMustGo and #Revolution2024, over the economic hardships.
Wike called for patience among citizens, stating that the administration had only been in office for one year and was working to fix a lot of rot in the country.
“The country was rotten, you know that the country was rotten, and then a government has just come to see what it can do, at least to move from where we are to a certain level. And you say that a miracle must be performed within one year?
“You are here now; we were talking about a contract that was awarded 13 good years ago. What has happened? Nothing. And now a government has come, to say we will fix all these things and we are too much in a haste that it must be done now. That is not possible; the protest is political,” he said.
The minister also argued that the planned protests were ‘political gimmicks’, masterminded by ‘political jobbers’ who sought to gain popularity, ahead of the 2027 elections, adding that the efforts of the administration would take some to show.
“Everyone is not happy that there is hunger, everyone is not happy with the unemployment, but this unemployment was not started or was not created by this administration. The administration is just trying to put things together, which of course will take some time.
“And you know, I agree with Nigerians, when you’re hungry, you don’t want to listen to anything again because you’re hungry but understand that somebody is trying to solve that problem of hunger. So let us not listen to political protests, political jobbers, who just want to be popular. We are going to elections very soon, and these are gimmicks, political gimmicks,” the minister added.
Wike also lamented the politics and lack of capacity that had caused a delay in the completion of the Apo-Karshi Road project awarded in 2011.
He added that he would review the capacity of the contractors of each of the road sections and expect the project to be completed within six to seven months after they had shown the capacity to handle the project.
“It’s unfortunate, very unfortunate. For 13 good years, these roads have been abandoned, and I want to say clearly that part of the problem we have here is politics. Everything we politicise, and that is why the development can not get quickly to our people.
“I want to urge the contractor, that it will no longer be business as usual. I don’t care who you are, I don’t care where you come from, you must show that you will be serious. In the next few weeks, I want to see your equipment on the ground before funds will be released,” he said.
PRP blasts Gov Mohammed over Bauchi LGA polls
The Bauchi State chapter of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), has rejected what it calls attempts by the Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration to whitewash his ‘shameless records’ in the state.
The PRP in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Secretary in the state, Abdulazeez Haruna, accused
Mohammed of presiding over a government marked by rigging, manipulation, and disregard for democratic principles.
The party also flayed the governor for trying to put wool on the peoples’ eye about the current realities in the state.
The statement read:
“The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Bauchi State Chapter, has been made aware of a misguided and deceitful statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mukhtar Gidado, titled: ‘LG Elections: Bala Mohammed Will Stand by His Word’, in which he attempted to whitewash the shameful records of the Bala Mohammed-led government in Bauchi State.
“In his statement, Gidado shamelessly defended the indefensible, attempting to paint Bala Mohammed as a champion of democracy and good governance. Nothing could be further from the truth.
“The facts are clear: Bala Mohammed has presided over a government marked by rigging, manipulation, and disregard for democratic principles.
“We recall the 2020 Local Government elections in Bauchi State, which were marred by widespread rigging, violence, and manipulation by the PDP-led government. The elections were a sham, with winners announced even before the polls had closed. The people of Bauchi State were left disillusioned and frustrated, feeling that their votes did not count.
“Gidado’s attempt to rewrite history will not fool anyone. The Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC), under the administration of Bala Mohammed, blatantly disregarded due process by hastily concocting and announcing the results and closed its offices without waiting for the actual data from the polling units to be collated.
“This egregious action left electoral officials without a means to submit the actual results, thereby undermining the integrity of the electoral process. In the end, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner of all chairmanship and councillorship seats, with no effort made to ensure transparency, accountability, or adherence to ethical standards.
“In light of these facts, we are astonished that Gidado would have the audacity to claim that Bala Mohammed’s government has delivered “unprecedented developmental strides” in the state. What strides?
“Has he forgotten that our economic conditions are still abject, our healthcare system is in disarray, and our people are still struggling to access basic amenities? Has he forgotten that hunger and poverty kill people in Bauchi State currently while the state government is doing nothing about it? Has he forgotten that Bauchi State farmers are in limbo without receiving any assistance from the state government?
“The PRP demands an apology from Gidado for his half-truths and fabrications. We call on Bala Mohammed to acknowledge the mistakes of his government and work towards rectifying them. We will not be swayed by empty rhetoric and disinformation.
“Finally, we urge Governor Bala Mohammed to take concrete steps to address the concerns of citizens about the forthcoming local government elections. The people of Bauchi State deserve better than a government that is insensitive to their plight.”
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