Category: News

Each of the 774 local governments is now required to furnish the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) with a comprehensive audit of its finances for two years as a prerequisite for direct remittance of their allocations, it was learnt yesterday.

The direct revenue disbursement was originally scheduled to commence last month but had to be deferred at the last minute because many of the councils failed to submit the necessary details required to facilitate the direct payments.

Their share of N361.754 billion from the distributable revenue of N1.424 trillion for the month was subsequently channeled to them through the states.

The apex bank is already in the process of opening accounts for the LGs to enable them receive their allocations directly from Abuja under the financial autonomy sought for them from the Supreme Court by the federal government.

The next allocation is due in a few weeks and there were doubts yesterday about the ability of the LGs to submit the two-year audit reports demanded by the CBN before the February meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in Abuja where the allocations are made.

Sources at the CBN told The Nation that the bank could not open accounts for the LGAs without a thorough understanding of their current financial status.

“We cannot just open fresh accounts for the LGAs when many of them have not operated as an independent government entity,” one of the sources said.

The official said the audit report was important.

An Inter-Ministerial Committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) is developing a framework to enforce the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy.

A member of the Committee revealed that a template is being developed to authorise the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) to directly deduct funds designated for specific areas like primary education, healthcare, and other constitutional responsibilities of LGAs from their FAAC allocations and transfer them to the relevant agencies. Nation

Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, stated on Friday that the military remains committed to counter-terrorism and insurgency operations across the country.

Additionally, troops apprehended 59 oil theft suspects and rescued 249 kidnapped hostages. In the South-South region, operations prevented oil theft worth over ₦2 billion.

Troops also recovered 370 weapons and 4,972 rounds of ammunition, including 105 AK-47 rifles, 25 locally made guns, 32 dane guns, 23 pump-action guns, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

The military reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring national security, with troops maintaining pressure on terrorist groups across the country.

A delegation from the Anambra and Enugu caucus of the 10th National Assembly paid the minister a courtesy call to request the Nigerian government’s intervention in the completion of the Enugu-Onitsha Motorway project, which was managed by RCC Ltd. and financed by MTN under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

The Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works, Uchenna Orji, revealed this in a statement on Thursday evening.

“Among other things, it was decided that the Federal Ministry of Works would write to MTN to demand that it make an irreversible commitment to pay project contractors at least ₦15 billion per month for the next ten months so that they can expedite the road’s completion. If this commitment is not made, the ministry will start the project’s termination process. It was also decided that MTN will require three contractors to complete the 79 km within the ₦202 billion initial contract amount.

“Additionally, other contractors will be chosen through the proper procedures to complete the remaining 72 kilometres of the road. RCC and MTN will also be encouraged to submit bids. According to the statement, the ministry expressed regret that MTN’s actions do not comply with the Tax Credit Executive Order.

“It was noted in the meeting that the project cost had increased by more than 100 per cent as a result of the delay in the job, which was caused by inadequate funding and poor contract execution. Allowing MTN to continue working on the job for more than 11 months could further push the contract to increase by more than 200 per cent, which is unacceptable to the Nigerian government,” the statement read.

The minister said that people in the South-East had every reason to have implicit faith in President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s ability and willingness to address the road infrastructure deficiencies in the region and other geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

He expressed deep sympathy for the lives lost in the unfinished sections of the highway, particularly the recent tanker explosion on the Ugwu Onyema axis of the road that killed numerous people.

He claimed that under Mr President, the South-East now holds a prominent position in Nigerian politics. Newscentral

Speaking Friday at the New Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri, he demonstrated resolve to ensure adequate and most effective justice dispensation in the State, charging the newly inaugurated Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to commence, immediately, the process of selecting a substantive Chief Judge for the State.

The Governor bereated the circumstances that led to the removal of the former Chief Judge by the Nigeria Judicial Council (NJC) and stressed that Judicial Service Commission has a significant role to play in managing the conduct of Judges in the State and to sanitise our judiciary.

Uzodimma further warned against falsification of age in the system, stressing that those involved in such acts should desist as it brings disrepute to the State and the justice system.

The governor therefore mandated the Commission to show integrity and courage by ensuring that only Judges with credible records are nominated for positions of trust.  “Fasten your seat belts and weather the storm, no matter whose ox is gored,” he charged the members.

Members of the JSC include: Barr. Louis M. Alozie, SAN; Eze Duruiheoma, SAN; Hon. Barr. Paul Obinatu and Hon. Lady M.M.Anyanwu.

Uzodimma told them to find courage to sanitise the judicial process in Imo, saying, “Ensure we have credible records, sincere and honest people who will oversee the affairs of the judiciary.”

Same day, Uzodimma inaugurated nominees for the Board of the Imo State University, Owerri (IMSU), Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ISOPADEC), and the Imo State Road Maintenance Agency (IROMA).

He said the idea is to strengthen the capacity of his administration towards the endowment of more democracy dividends to Imo people, and enjoined the appointees to demonstrate the highest ethical standard in the discharge of their duties.

Addressing the five Commissioners- designate – Prof Boniface G. Nworgu, Chief Kenneth Okafor, Barr. Enyinnaya Onuegbu, Dr. Anthony Mgbeahuruike and Dr. Elias Emedom, the governor said they were brought on board to help strengthen the capacity of his administration to deliver on the mandate of call to serve the people. Nation

Ahmed, who disclosed this on Thursday while addressing the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream 11 corps members in Katsina, said the allowance has been captured in the 2025 Federal Government’s budget.

“This month (January) has already ended, but once the budget is passed. By next month (February), you will start receiving N77,000 instead of the usual N33,000,” the NYSC DG said.

He explained that the N77,000 monthly allowance was approved by the federal government and urged the corps members to reciprocate the government’s gesture during their service year.

He emphasised his commitment to the welfare and security of corps members across the country, assuring them that they would not be deployed to security threat communities for their service.

“We will not send our corps members to wherever we have challenges of security threats. Wherever we send them, they should be less assured that the place is safe and secured for them to serve,” he said.

Speaking after Obi presented a cheque of N20 million to support the institution’s ongoing infrastructural development, the school’s manager, Rev. Fr. Kelvin Caesar, informed the audience that the hall where the event was held was being solely funded by Obi and that it would be named in his honour.

In a swift response, Obi declined the honour, explaining that he was building similar structures in over 50 institutions across Nigeria and that it would be inappropriate if all of them were named after him.

He emphasized that his contributions to education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation were motivated by a deep commitment to securing a better future for Nigerian children.

He further cautioned that philanthropy should not be driven by the desire for recognition but by the genuine urge to serve humanity.

He said: “I do it to serve humanity. The reason God blesses us with resources is to use them to improve the lives of others and not for self-glorification”.

Obi also reiterated his passion for supporting medical and allied disciplines, stressing their critical role in society. He noted that the cheque presented was part of his commitment for the previous year and assured the school of his continued support this year. “I will return”, was how he summed it up.

Earlier, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka, Most Rev. Godfrey Onah, who is currently leading a retreat for the clergy of the Diocese of Bamenda, Cameroon, spoke through his representative, Rev. Fr. Dr. Miletus Ossai.

Ossai, who is the Coordinator of the Diocesan Health Services, described Obi as a symbol of integrity and honour, commending his commitment to human capital development, which he described as the most critical need for a thriving society. Vanguard

The release of the fund has therefore resolved the long-standing industrial dispute between the union and the Kaduna State Government.

The acting Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board, Mubarak Mohammed who announced the development at a news conference in Kaduna,  explained that the dispute was resolved following a series of negotiations between NUT and the Kaduna State Government.

He announced that going forward,  the NUT Endwell Scheme will undergo a structural reform to ensure improved efficiency and accountability.

He said; “I am pleased to announce that Governor Uba Sani has successfully resolved the long-standing dispute between the Kaduna State Government and the NUT regarding the NUT Endwell Fund.

“The NUT Endwell Fund represents statutory deductions from teachers’ salaries,  meant to support them during service and retirement.

“Under the agreement, all litigations related to the NUT Endwell Fund will be discontinued, and the sum of N548 million will be released to the NUT to manage the Endwell Fund independently, the Executive secretary disclosed.

The KASUBEB boss further disclosed that the administration of Governor Uba Sani has been committed to education and teachers since he assumed office in May,  2023.

“The Governor has demonstrated exceptional commitment to enhancing access to quality medical,  increasing enrollment and retention of pupils,  and improving overall learning conditions in both primary and secondary schools.

“Governor Uba Sani’s role in resolving this protracted issue is a testament to the exemplary leadership and commitment to fairness,  justice and the overall development of Kaduna State”.

On his part,  Kaduna State NUT chairman,  Ibrahim Dalhatu,  said that the released N548m would help to improve the welfare of teachers in the state,  and therefore thanked Governor Uba Sani for resolving the dispute. Channels TV