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FG empowers Edo farmers with 18,000 bags of fertiliser

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FG empowers Edo farmers with 18,000 bags of fertiliser

As part of efforts to boost food production, the Federal Government has empowered farmers in Edo with 18,000 bags of fertilisers to enhance their production for the 2024 farming seasons.

The State chairman of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria, Mr Bako Dogwo, disclosed this on Tuesday in Benin during a meeting with members of the association.

Dogwo said that the 18,000 bags, equivalent to 30 trucks, were out of the 1,652 million bags meant for farmers across the country.

The Federal Government, the AFAN chairman said, had paid over 80 per cent of its counterpart fund, while the farmers would pay at least 10 per cent of the cost of the fertiliser.

“The Federal Government is bringing so many inputs to Edo State. They are bringing fertilisers and it has paid 80 per cent of the cost of the fertilizer.

“It is supposed to be counterpart funding, but our state government, I can’t say why it has not paid its share of the fund.

“But it is now left for us, farmers, to pay at least 10 per cent to get the fertiliser if it comes to the state. For example, if the cost of fertiliser is N20,000 we are going to buy it with N10,000.

“Also, the Central Bank of Nigeria has just approved another fertiliser that will also come to the state, along with chemicals, inputs such as cassava stems, maize and rice for planting,” he said.

Dogwo said the fertiliser was only meant for the actual farmers and not “portfolio farmers”.

“The Federal Government is very serious for every farmer to benefit from its programmes. We are talking about the real farmers and not portfolio farmers.

“Members of AFAN are all genuine farmers and that was why we refused anyone to say that they are profiling farmers in the state. You cannot profile farmers. It is we that know who is a farmer and where such person farms,” he added.

Dogwo, who said the association was made up of more than 40,000 registered farmers, however, encouraged those that were yet to join the association to do so, noting that a time would come when it would cost much to be registered as a member.

He also urged members to encourage women to join any of the association’s affiliates, adding that it would provide them the opportunity to be taught all farming techniques and benefit from inputs and other intervention programmes.

NAN.

Flood: Disaster management everybody’s business – NEMA to Nigerians

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Flood: Disaster management everybody’s business – NEMA to Nigerians

Hajiya Zainab Suleiman-Saidu, Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Minna Operations Office, says disaster management is everybody’s business and not just the business of Federal Government agencies.
Suleiman-Saidu said this on Tuesday at a one-day stakeholders’ workshop on Sustainable Waste Management and Flood Preparedness held at Kwara State Library, Ilorin.
According to her, flood preparedness and waste management require a collaborative effort from governments, the private sector and local communities to build resilience against natural disasters.
She said with the increasing frequency and severity of floods due to climate change, proactive measures are essential.
“Disaster management is not just the business of NEMA or government agencies. It is everybody’s business.
“We must put our heads together to manage the disaster in 2024. We must show concern and stop showing negligence.
“Flood preparedness is very vital for safeguarding lives and property. Sustainable solutions are achievable through cooperation and dedication,” the NEMA official said.
Flood: Disaster management everybody’s business – NEMA to Nigerians

Reps pass Police Act Amendment Bill

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Reps pass Police Act Amendment Bill

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, approved the Police Act Amendment Bill to allow the occupant of the Office of the Inspector General of Police to remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment.

The House’s decision followed the consideration and approval of President Bola Tinubu’s request, seeking an amendment to the Principal Act to reflect on the tenure of the IGP.

The proposed legislation to amend the Nigeria Police Act 2020 seeks to guarantee the tenure of the IGP and enhance police operations by promoting accountability, modernising policing methods, and fostering a more harmonious relationship between the police and the community.

When the executive bill was read on the floor of the House on Tuesday, lawmakers voted unanimously to pass it expeditiously.

The Senate similarly passed it during its sitting on Tuesday.

Recall that earlier in July, police authorities denied allegations that the incumbent IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, made moves to influence the National Assembly to pass a bill seeking to raise the retirement age of officers.

The President appointed Egbetokun as the IGP in June 2023, and he is expected to stay in office for four years. He was appointed alongside four new service chiefs.

In compliance with Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, who was born on September 4, 1964, is expected to retire in September 2024 at the age of 60.

A copy of the bill obtained by our correspondent showed that Section 18 of the Principal Act is amended by the addition of a new Sub-Section (8A).

It reads, “Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-section (8) of this section, any person appointed to the office of Inspector-General of Police shall remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment in line with the provisions of Section 7(6) of this Act.”

Nigerian govt to pay minimum wage with N6.2tr supplementary budget

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Nigerian govt to pay minimum wage with N6.2tr supplementary budget

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.
The post Nigerian govt to pay minimum wage with N6.2tr supplementary budget appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

MMA Customs generates N80.3bn in six months

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.
The post Israel drone strike kills five Palestinians in West Bank appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

N1 trn injected into manufacturing sector in last one year – Finance Minister

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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

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