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Oyo targets N20bn monthly IGR, currently generates N2 billion

Nneoma BENSON
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Oyo targets N20bn monthly IGR, currently generates N2 billion

THE Oyo State Government has revealed plan to achieve a monthly N20 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), representing 900 per cent increase from  N2 billion IGR currently generated by the state.

The commissioner for information, Culture and Tourism, Wasiu Olatunbosun  disclosed this at a one-day workshop for the State media officers.

Olatunbosun said all efforts were concentrated at plugging tax holes to increase the State’s revenue.

He said the state has its concentration on four key areas: education, primary healthcare, agro-business and security, urging the media officers to key into the agenda of the present administration to achieve the set target.

“It is the belief of Governor Seyi Makinde that Oyo State can be taken from a Civil Service-propelled economy to an agro-business-driven economy and before the first term of this administration runs out, we will be looking towards achieving about N20 billion IGR target,”

However, data on IGR by states from the Nation Bureau of Statistics (NBS) show on a monthly basis, the State generated an average IGR of N2 billion monthly in 2018, 10 per cent of its new target.

In 2017, the state generated an average of N1.8 billion. In 2016, about N1.5 billion was generated, while in 2015, an average of N1.3 was generated.

So far in 2019, the half-year report on IGR by states revealed that Oyo generated about N2.3 billion monthly.

 

After 3 days of negotiation, FG, NLC finally reach agreement on minimum wage

Lukman ABOLADE
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After 3 days of negotiation, FG, NLC finally reach agreement on minimum wage

AGREEMENT has been reached by the National Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government on the consequential adjustments to the new 30,000 minimum wage after several failed attempts.

NLC had earlier threatened industrial action if an agreement is not reached between both parties by Wednesday 16th October.

The Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), the ministry of labour and employment and ministry of state, labour and employment as Conciliators held meetings on 16th, 17th and 18th October which resulted into a resolution that the new minimum wage shall capture increment in Federal government ministries, Departments and agencies.

Federal government has agreed a 23.2 per cent increase for grade level 07 workers, 20per cent increase for grade level 08, 19 per cent for grade level 09, 16 per cent for grade level 10 – 14 and 14 per cent increase for grade level 15 – 17 workers.

In the other group of the agreement consisting of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure, (CONUASS II), Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Structure (CONTISS II), Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).

Also are Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS) and Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Salary structure (COMPCASS) all got a 23.2 per cent increase for grade level 07 and its equivalent, 16% increase for grade level 8 – 14 and its equivalent and 10.5 per cent increase for grade level 15 – 17 and its equivalent.

Speaking before the agreement was signed, he Minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige said, “this is a national law and it must be obeyed by all; state government, local government and all persons concerned that employ more than 25 persons in their organization”

Present at the meeting is the acting Head of Civil service of the federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan also the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo who revealed that at about 3 am, the parties signed terms of settlement.

Keyamo revealed that although the memorandum did not capture those of the law enforcement agencies but it has been done.

As contained in the communiqué made available by Keyamo, the agreement was signed by the Acting Head of Service of the Federation, Folashade Yemi-Esan, Director IPPS,OAGF of the Ministry of finance, budgeting, national planning Olusegun Olufeyinti and others from the government side.

While from the Labour side, the JNPSNC acting chairman, Simeon Anchaver and the JNPSNC Secretary General Lawal Bashir appended their signature to the agreement.

Chairman of the National Labour Congress (NLC) Ayuba Wabba and the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Quadri Olaleye signed as witnesses.

Ayuba Wabba, NLC president said the organised labour would continue to be open – minded and would keep up with the principles of collective bargaining.

He mentioned that in the practice of bargaining issues have to be looked at from both sides, and stressed on the importance of making the workers happy and very productive.

President Buhari “shakes the tables” of NDDC, orders forensic audit of its accounts

Amos ABBA
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President Buhari “shakes the tables” of NDDC, orders forensic audit of its accounts

IN a series of tweets, President Muhammadu Buhari revealed that a forensic audit on the operations of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, from 2001 to 2019 in a move to check the excesses of corrupt officials in the agency at the expense of the Niger Delta.

President Buhari made this known at the State House in Abuja when he hosted a delegation of state governors from the South-South region led by Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State.

He condemned the huge resources that have been made available to the Commission without a commensurate slice of results to show for it.

“I try to follow the Act setting up these institutions especially the NDDC. With the amount of money that the Federal Government has religiously allocated to the NDDC, we will like to see the results on the ground those that are responsible for that have to explain certain issues,” he said.

“I am acutely aware, with my experience, that projects in your area are very expensive; that is why if any job is given, we must make sure that the company is competent and has the capacity to do it well with experienced consultants,” the president explained.

He said he would wait for the report of the audit before deciding on the next line of action regarding the organisation.

Governor Dickson also expressed dissatisfaction alongside the other governors with the operations of the NDDC, which is defined with poor handling of contracts, uncompleted jobs and lack of the required technical expertise.

BudgIT, a civic advocacy group in its 2018 report hinted that between 2000 to 2018 the NDDC had spent $40 billion on capital projects it had embarked on in the Niger Delta which is equivalent to an estimated N15 trillion.

Though, the expenditure of this huge sum has not translated into significant development of the oil-rich communities in the Niger Delta.

The NDDC was established during the Obasanjo administration to respond to complaints of neglect by the oil-rich communities in the region. Former President Umaru Yar’adua in 2008 created the Ministry of Niger Delta and made the NDDC an agency under the ministry.

FUOYE students disagree with management claim of 16-hour daily power supply

Editorial
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FUOYE students disagree with management claim of 16-hour daily power supply

By Ayobami Olutaiwo (Student reporter)

Students of Federal University of Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) have disagreed with management of the institution over a claim that the campus community enjoys electricity supply from generators between 6 am and 10 pm on daily basis.

FUOYE’s Spokesperson, Godfrey Bakji, had made the claim in a report published on Monday to support the University reasons for tuition increment.

“Besides, on a daily basis, we have to expend more money in managing the university and getting so many projects done as demanded by our students. We put on the generator as early as 6 am and put them off at 10 pm on a daily basis and we all know the cost of diesel,” Bakji noted on Monday.

But the FUOYE students disagreed to having a 16-hour power supply from morning to dusk every day.

A student, Oke Emmanuel, one of the school hostel executives told this reporter that the management statement was misleading, stating the timing the school powers the generator was not for 16 hours daily. He said the school hostel do not have light from 11 am to 7 pm as claimed by the authorities. 

“In the hostel, they put on the generator around 7 am and at times 8 am and put it off by 10 or 11 am. Later in the day, between 7 pm and 8 pm the generator would be powered and off it by 10pm and sometimes 11 pm, said Emmanuel describing the situation “not favourable and unhelpful.

“During that period that there will be no light, there will not be water too, and water is important, it is one of the things we lament on because if there is light, automatically, there will be water too,” he added.

A 300- level student of English, Olaniyan Folakemi said the non-hostels area of the school only get electricity from generators between 10 am and 4 pm every working day. “And, perhaps, if there is an issue somewhere, there won’t be light all through.”

“The claim that the management supply power through the generator from 6 am-10 pm is absolutely false because I have never experienced it and this is my third year on campus now,” she added.

Another student from the Faculty of Education, Ibrahim Akorede also said the students had never witnessed the supply of power from 6 am to 10 pm on campus.

“The management’s claim is not true. It is a total falsehood. The supply of power using the generator is between 10 am and 4 pm,” he said.

Effort to get reaction from the school’s spokesperson was proved abortive, as he did not reply to the text messages sent to him since Wednesday.

The university just increased the acceptance fees from N40,000 to N50,000 and medical fee from N5000 to N10,000.

 

Corruption is a taxation of the people—that’s why we support independent media in Nigeria—MacArthur Foundation

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Corruption is a taxation of the people—that’s why we support independent media in Nigeria—MacArthur Foundation

KOLE Shettima, Nigeria Country Director of Mac Arthur Foundation, says the Foundation is supporting independent media organisations in the country with funds in order to promote good governance, transparency and accountability.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the opening of a two-day experience sharing workshop on Open Contract Reporting (OCR) funded by the Mac Arthur Foundation and coordinated by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Shettima explained that corruption is taxation of the people who are voiceless but found their voice through the in-depth reports by investigative journalists on the project.

“We at the Foundation care about the life of the ordinary citizen. We know that the money that we cannot provide water, cannot provide road, cannot provide electricity, but we think, supporting people like you will contribute towards providing those services that we don’t have money to provide,” Shettima said.

“Corruption is a taxation of the people and that’s why we support people like you to do in-depth reports to improve the quality of the people who are voiceless.”

He said that the Foundation was mindful of the correlation between financial independence and editorial independence, noting that the Foundation was committed to support the media to hold the duty bearers accountable through investigative reporting.

“We believe that supporting independent media, supporting investigative journalism is one of the core works to be done in order to sustain and consolidate our democracy. We believe that there is a strong relationship between independent media and democratic values and ethos.

“We mindful of the fact that there is some correlation between financial independence and editorial independence.

“We feel that it is critical and important to support this kind of work that you do. Also it is important that those of you that are doing the work know it affects the life of the ordinary people.”

In his opening remarks, Dayo Aiyetan, Executive Director of ICIR, said the event was organised to afford journalists on the project to meet and share their experiences after three years that the project has been running.

“From day one, we had tailored something like this so that for the past three years all of us can come together to share experience. I think everybody who has been part of this project, we have a lot of challenges, success and failures.”

Aiyetan said the project has made significant impacts in the country in the last three years, noting that the funder, Mac Arthur Foundation was always boastful of the achievements of the Open Contract Reporting.

“And that’s why we have received another bigger funding because they believed we have achieved a lot. As we talk, we have received new grant from Mac Arthur Foundation and we will be looking forward to working with you.

During the project review, Rosemary Oluwfemi, Senior Programme Officer at ICIR said the goal of the project was to use evidence based and data driven reporting to reduce corruption in Nigeria and enhance transparency and accountability.

She disclosed that 30 journalists from different media establishments were trained on budgetary and procurement process noting that about 50 stories have so far been published while others are still being processed.

“About 130 investigative reports were proposed for the period of three years. Four trainings were conducted which focused on investigative reporting, data journalism and procurement monitoring,” she explained.

Internet fraud suspect wanted by FBI, sentenced to one year imprisonment in Ilorin

Amos ABBA
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Internet fraud suspect wanted by FBI, sentenced to one year imprisonment in Ilorin

ON Thursday, the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin convicted and sentenced Joseph Oyediran, to one year in imprisonment on a five-count charge bordering on internet fraud, relying on evidence presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. 

Oyediran was declared wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, FBI, of the United States of America, USA, also on charges for internet fraud

The EFCC had arraigned Oyediran who initially pleaded not guilty but rescinded his decision after approaching the prosecution team for a plea bargain.

Following the plea bargain agreement, the prosecuting team amended the charge. The presiding judge  Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar had the charge read before him.

The one-count amended charge reads, “That you, Joseph Oyediran (alias  Joe M.G. Graves) between April 2015 to June 2015, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did cheat by personation when you pretended to be one Joe M.G. Graves, a white male with Gmail account gravesmjoe@gmail.com, and fraudulently deceived one, Andrea Smith, an American citizen to send N2,392, 105.00 (Two million,  three hundred and ninety-two thousand,  one hundred and five Naira) after you made her believe you were in love with her and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 324of the same Penal Code.”

He pleaded guilty to the amended one-count charge.

The prosecution requested the Head of Advance Fee Fraud Section of the EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Office,  Olamide Sadiq as a witness, who gave an account of investigations carried out by his team in the matter.

“My lord on the 24th of July 2019, the Commission received a petition from the Federal Bureau of Investigations against the defendant. The FBI alleged that Oyediran was involved in business email compromise, romance scam and other fraud-related offences. Based on investigations,  the suspect was arrested and he confessed to the crime,” Sadiq told the court.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Abdulgafar admitted the testimonies of the prosecution witness, the plea of the defendant and documents presented and confirmed the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“The convict is hereby sentenced to one-year imprisonment while his one plot of land, located at Wara, behind Ilorin West Local Government Secretariat and the sum of N800,000 (Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) recovered from him should be forfeited to the federal government,” he ruled.

FG tasks NCC to address illegal deduction of data

Nneoma BENSON
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FG tasks NCC to address illegal deduction of data

THE Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami has on Thursday asked the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) to collectively address the issue of illegal deduction of data faced by network users in the country. 

Pantami disclosed this during a visit by the management of the NCC led by its Executive Vice Chairman, Umar Danbatta to the office of the minister.

The visit was aimed at briefing the communication minister on the progress made in the implementation of the short term targets set for the commission.

In a series of tweets on his Twitter handle, Pantami said that Nigerians are losing money on a daily basis, stating that the NCC has the onus of protecting consumers of network providers.

“Nigerians are worried about poor Quality of Service (QoS), there is constant agitation on a daily basis on the Social Media Platforms, there is a need for improvement,” Pantani said

According to him, the NCC should also concentrate on reviewing the cost of purchased data; the issue of improperly registered SIM Cards and the Compliance with the maximum 2 per cent Call Drop Rate directive to telecom operators.

The federal government on September 13, ordered the NCC to block over nine million unregistered sim cards.

He noted that the security implication of this irregularity was too grave to ignore, adding that the government would not tolerate any actions or inactions that will compromise the nation’s security.

Onitsha Fire: Angry mob stopped us from getting to scene early ─ Firefighters

Nneoma BENSON
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Onitsha Fire: Angry mob stopped us from getting to scene early ─ Firefighters

THE late arrival of fire service operatives at the scene of the Ochanja market disaster has been attributed to attacks from angry mobs who pelted stones at firefighters.

The Controller General (CG) of the Federal Fire Service, Liman Ibrahim Alhaji, disclosed this in a statement via their Twitter handle on Thursday.

The statement, signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Fire Service, Ugo Huan, said heavy traffic at the head bridge also prevented men of the fire service from getting to the scene of the incident in due time.

Alhaji said the Federal Fire Service in Abuja had received a call about the fire outbreak about 2 pm on October 16.

“The control room at the headquarters in Abuja immediately turned out the nearest Federal Fire Service Station at Asaba, Delta State to attend to the fire.

“Our men immediately headed to the scene, but it was not possible to contend with the heavy traffic at the head bridge and behaviour of an angry mob who pelted stones at them,” he said.

Alhaji said such action made it difficult for the firefighters to get to the scene and fight the fire in such a hostile environment.

The Federal Fire Service Controller noted that the service was committed to ensuring the safety of lives and property in the country.

“With the procurement of new state of the art firefighting trucks distributed to the 12 zones of the Service across the nation, the Service is always ready to respond to fire outbreaks and other emergencies across the nation.

“It is worthy to note that similar situations in recent past in Sokoto, Uyo, Minna, Ibadan, Osun and Lagos were prevented from escalating to a major disaster by Fire Service.

“The case of Ochanja market was an unfortunate one, as one will wonder why individuals will want to attack firefighters that came to help put out the fire that was threatening lives and ravaging property,” he noted

In the statement, the CG expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families who had lost their loved ones, including properties in the incident.

“The Service will like to use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerians that in as much as the Fire Service is prepared and committed to saving of lives and property in emergencies, their support and cooperation is highly needed to do that,” the controller said.

Alhaji said, “We remain committed to our mandate of saving lives and property of Nigerians and others residing in Nigeria”.

Residents of the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State had witnessed a ‘Black day’ as some part of the Ochanja market were burnt to ashes.

The disaster was said to have been caused after a petroleum tanker had an accident at the Upper Iweka axis, leading to an explosion which razed down buildings, took lives and properties.

Buhari approves N10bn intervention funds to upgrade Enugu airport

Nneoma BENSON
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Buhari approves N10bn intervention funds to upgrade Enugu airport

ON Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the sum of N10 billion for an intervention fund for the upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The president made this known via his Twitter handle page on Thursday.

“I have the assurance of the Minister of Aviation that the work will be done speedily and to the highest standards,” he said.

However, in a meeting with the president at the State House Council Chambers on Thursday, the South-East leaders including governors called for special Federal Government intervention for the speedy completion of the Enugu International airport and rehabilitation of federal roads in the region.

In a report by ChannelsTV, the Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum and Ebonyi Governor, Dave Umahi, asked that the president declared a state of emergency on roads in the South East.

Governors present at the meeting were Emeka Ihedioha of Imo State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

Also present were senate minority leader representing South-East Caucus in National Assembly, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe;  Senator Sam Egwu; former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim; former Governors -Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State; Okwesilieze of Enugu State; Sullivan Chime of Enugu State; Achike Udenwa of Imo State, and Ikedi Ohakim also of Imo.

On August 24, the federal government had indefinitely shut down the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu due to abnormalities in the airport which needed urgent repairs.

The airport was reportedly faced with issues such as bad runway and landing aids, the presence of a market nearby which attracted birds causing constant bird strikes on aircraft and the state radio mast wrongly placed, which was directly facing the runway.

3 million dollars bribe scam: Farouk Lawan loses no-case submission

Lukman ABOLADE
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3 million dollars bribe scam: Farouk Lawan loses no-case submission

 FCT High court sitting in Apo on Thursday dismissed the no-case-submission filed by four term member, House of Representatives and Chairman Ad hoc Committee on fuel subsidy, Farouk Lawan on the alleged $3 miillion dollars bribery.

Lawan, through his counsel, Mike Ozekhome last Thursday filed a no-case submission in the alleged three million dollars bribe scam.

The sitting judge, Angela Otaluka, ordered Farouk to enter defense after ruling that submission filled by his counsel had no basis.

Farouk who was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) was alleged to have collected $500,000 bribe from Nigerian business mogul, Femi Otedola.

He was alleged to have demanded $3 million dollars from Otedola in order to have his company’s name removed from the names of companies indicted in the fuel subsidy scam in 2012.

Defense Counsel, Ozekhome, earlier in his submission told the court that the ICPC had failed to properly establish the defendant’s intent to commit the offense he was charged with.

He argued that the prosecution’s witnesses gave conflicting statements about the amount Lawan was alleged to have collected .

Ozekhome also said the video evidence was blurry and does not necessarily prove that the content of the envelope Otedola gave to Lawan was money but could have been anything else.

He said that if the Department of State Services had any evidence they would have arrested Lawan immediately at the scene of the bribery which they claimed they set up.

Adegboyega Awomolo, the prosecution counsel, however objecting to the application told the court that despite the defense’s failure to accept the video evidence it doesn’t negate the fact that the evidence exists and is true.

Adegboyega said that he has been able to prove that Lawan took money to perform a public duty that he was supposed to do.

The judge however adjourned the case to November 11 for Lawan to start his defense .

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