The Federal Government has cleared 4,081 civil servants out of a total of 17,000 originally delisted from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.
The civil servants have now been re-enrolled into the payroll of the Federal Government.
The fate of the other civil servants is yet to be known.
This development, which was made known to our correspondent in Abuja, comes amidst cries of withheld salaries of certain civil servants across the Federal Government’s ministries, departments and agencies.
The PUNCH reports that following the intervention of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, the Federal Government, through the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, began the verification of 17,000 civil servants who were recently delisted from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System in October.
The 17,000 government employees were said to have been delisted from the IPPIS for failing to comply with verification exercises spanning over five years.
In the list obtained by our correspondent, it was observed that some of the civil servants cleared were from the State House, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence, Public Service Commission, Office of the Auditor General of the Federation and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.
Others were from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Youths, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Ministry of Police Affairs, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development…
, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Aviation, Ministry of Education, Federal Civil Service Commission and Budget Office of the Federation.
The National President, ASSCN, Tommy Etim, did not respond to inquiries by our correspondent as of the time of filing this report.
[Punch]
In an extraordinary announcement, the National Women’s Hall of Fame will induct Serena Williams and Ruby Bridges in March 2024, during Women’s History Month. This induction is not merely a nod to their individual legacies but a profound recognition of their significant impact on sports, civil rights, and beyond in the United States.
Williams, renowned for her remarkable achievements in tennis with a record 23 Grand Slam titles, has evolved into a formidable figure in the realms of finance and business. Her ventures, extending beyond the tennis courts, include fashion and entrepreneurship, demonstrating her substantial financial influence. This transition from a sports legend to a business icon marks a new era in the intersection of finance and feminism.
Bridges, who emerged as a civil rights icon at six years old, continues to inspire through her foundation, advocating for educational equity and social change. Her courageous act of integrating an all-white school in Louisiana in 1960 has been foundational in the fight for educational equality and racial justice.
The induction of Williams and Bridges symbolizes a powerful message about resilience and determination in reshaping societal norms and influencing fields like finance and social justice. They stand as icons of their time and architects of a future where finance and feminism are seamlessly integrated.
Serena Williams: A Global Icon Beyond Tennis
Williams’ impact extends far beyond the tennis court. After her retirement, she transitioned into a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs and fashion enthusiasts, evidenced by her recent recognition as a Fashion Icon by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Her business ventures, including Serena Ventures, reflect her acumen in venture capitalism and brand partnerships. This journey from tennis superstar to business mogul and fashion icon is a story of resilience and adaptability, serving as an inspiration for a new generation of women to pursue diverse career paths.
Ruby Bridges: Championing Equality and Education
Bridges’ historic act of bravery in 1960, immortalized in Norman Rockwell’s painting “The Problem We All Live With,” symbolizes the fight against segregation and injustice. Through the Ruby Bridges Foundation, she promotes tolerance and respect, focusing on creating a more inclusive society. Her continued advocacy in racial equality and educational reform is a testament to the enduring impact of dedication to a cause.
Legacy of Change: Celebrating Williams and Bridges
The induction of Williams and Bridges into the National Women’s Hall of Fame transcends individual achievements, symbolizing their roles as pioneers who reshaped societal norms. They serve as powerful reminders of the impact of challenging the status quo and breaking barriers. Their stories inspire future generations to continue fighting for equality and justice, showcasing their ongoing influence in creating a more inclusive world.
2024 Inductees: Diverse Pioneers and Innovators
The 2024 induction class reflects the diverse impact women have made in various fields. This group of trailblazers includes figures like Peggy McIntosh, known for her work on white privilege, and Kimberlé Crenshaw, who contributed significantly to critical race theory. Judith Plaskow’s critiques in Jewish feminism, Loretta Ross’s human rights activism, and Sandy Stone’s pioneering work in transgender studies highlight the Hall of Fame’s commitment to recognizing a wide spectrum of contributions.
Posthumous Tributes: Visionaries Who Shaped the World
The Hall of Fame will posthumously honor Dr. Patricia Bath, Dr. Anna Wessels Williams, and Elouise Pepion Cobell. These visionary women have left indelible marks in medical innovation, disease research, and financial empowerment, continuing to inspire and influence today. Their legacies serve as powerful reminders of the enduring impact of visionary work.
A Historic Ceremony: Broadcasting Women’s Achievements
For the first time, the induction ceremony will be nationally broadcast from New York City, highlighting the increasing recognition of women’s contributions. This historic event, symbolically connected to the women’s rights movement’s roots in Seneca Falls, will bring the stories of these remarkable women to a nationwide audience.
Embracing Women’s Power and Diversity
The 2024 induction celebrates the diverse and impactful contributions of women in various sectors. This event highlights the resilience, intelligence, and creativity women bring to every endeavor, encouraging a continued commitment to recognizing and supporting the roles women play in advancing the world. The induction serves as an affirmation of the invaluable contributions of women, past and present, to our society.
[hbillionaires.africa]
The Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu Audu, has requested N35bn funding from financial institutions to revive the moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company.
The ministry’s Chief Information Officer, Tine-Iulun Maureen, in a statement, said the minister revealed this when he received a delegation from Stanbic IBTC Bank, at its headquarters on Tuesday in Abuja.
The minister said the collaboration with financial institutions, was to seek the best financing options to re-start the light Steel Mill in Ajaokuta and kick-start iron rod production.
The statement read, “It has become imperative to seek funding of about N35bn to enable the re-start of the Light Mill Section of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant for the production of iron rod to achieve the agenda of the current administration to revive Ajaokuta in phases in accordance with its set timelines and benchmark.
“This is in furtherance of achieving its mandate of reviving the Steel Sector, improving industrialisation in the country, diversifying the economy, providing jobs for the teeming youths and growing the Gross Domestic Product, is collaborating with Financial Institutions, for best financing options to re-start the light Steel Mill in Ajaokuta.”
He disclosed that the ministry has an existing agreement with the Works Ministry to be off-takers of the rod produced as well as with the Ministry of Defence to build a Military Complex in Ajaokuta, adding, “We have huge opportunities in Ajaokuta and potentially a lot can be achieved.”
[NaijaTimes]
Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, has stated that the construction of fibre optic cables nationwide in Nigeria is estimated to require a $2 billion investment.
Tijani shared this information on Tuesday while featuring in an interview on Channels TV.
He added that his ministry, working alongside the Nigeria Communication Commission, sees fibre optics as a priority to improve the quality of communication service in the country.
According to the Minister, the federal government has already constructed about 35, 000 kilometres of fibre optics cable nationwide. However, the country needs around 95,000 kilometres to ensure complete coverage.
He said,
- “I understand, as a minister, that if we prioritize fibre optic cables in this country, the quality of service, whether it’s through your normal mobile telephone or the internet service you use at home, is going to go off the roof, and that’s the commitment I’m also making.
- “In the next four years, we are going to do everything to increase the kilometres of fibre optic cables in Nigeria. We are about 35, 000 kilometres away, and we need to go to 95,000 kilometres, almost halfway there.
- “It’s going to cost roughly $1.5 to $2 billion to wire the whole of Nigeria to reach that 95, 000.
- “We hope we can accelerate in the next 6 to 12 months, secure that funding that private companies can tap into—it’s not government money—and hopefully work with serious companies that can lay fibre over the next two to three years.
- “We’re hoping that before the first four years of this administration, a significant portion of that 95, 000 kilometres will be covered,” he said.
FG to Improve 5G Infrastructure in the Country
The Minister also noted that the federal government is working to improve the infrastructural structures of the 5G network across the country, stating that there is still a need for developments to support such a high-quality network in the country.
He stated that while such infrastructures are in place in some locations in the country, many people still experience low-quality of 5G networks due to a lack of infrastructural support.
- “The infrastructure that drives 5G is not something that is across the nation. We do in some places.
- “So, if you subscribe to 5G and you move into locations where the infrastructure cannot support it, of course, the quality will drop. 5G exists in Nigeria and there are telcos with the licence,” the minister said.
Accordingly, Tijani shared some of the strides of his ministry within his first 100 days in office.
What you should know
A fibre optic cable consists of glass fibre strands encased in insulation, tailored for efficient long-distance data networking and high-performance telecommunications.
Fibre optic cables surpass wired cables in both bandwidth and long-distance data transmission. They play a crucial role in supporting global internet, cable TV, and telephone networks.
[Nairametrics]
•Sub-nationals share N15.8 trillion from FAAC in four years
• Corruption, poverty, insecurity, disputes retard growth
• IGRs less than 40 per cent of states’, LGs’ allocations
• Silence over CBN salary bailout loan status
Despite raking about N15.8 trillion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in less than four years, the majority of sub-national governments are reeling in huge debts just as some are showing signs of distress. But the huge indebtedness, poor infrastructure funding and financial stress have not stopped mind-boggling profligacy on the parts of the states’ administrators.
While a report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) showed that between 2020 and 2021, the states shared about N8.8 trillion, checks by The Guardian revealed that as of 2022, the 36 and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had received N3.16 trillion.
In the first half of 2023, N1.15 trillion was disbursed to the sub-national entities. In July, they received N966.1 billion; August, N1.1 trillion; September, N903.4 billion and October, N906.9 billion, bringing the total amount shared in the past four years to N15.58 trillion.
The federation distributes revenue generated every month from its different revenue sources units to the federal, state, and local governments, in line with both horizontal and vertical sharing formulae. The sources include electronic transfer levies, value-added tax (VAT) and remittances from other revenue-generating agencies.
It has been argued that the central funding arrangement has not encouraged creativity among the states as most of them rely mostly on FAAC allocations to fund their activities.
Indeed, while the state governors wait for Abuja every month to be spoon-fed, their internally generated revenue (IGR) potentials are ignored or sub-optimally utilised. For instance, while they received N8.8 trillion from the common purse in 2020 to 2021, their combined IGR stood at N3.46 trillion or less than 40 per cent of their FAAC allocations.
That about 41 per cent of the total IGRs generated by Lagos underpins the level of viability crisis facing many states. Some states, for instance, generate less than N10 billion as their total IGRs for a year. In 2021, IGRs of Kebi, Taraba and Yobe were below N10 billion each.
Rather than leveraging internal potential to support FAAC sources, states have continued to indulge in debts. As of 2020, the Debt Management Officer (DMO) put the domestic debts of the states at N4.18 trillion. The figure rose to N4.45 trillion in 2021 and N5.33 trillion in 2022. As at the end of the first half of the year, the figure was N5.815 trillion.
Meanwhile, most of the states are said to have been exposed to different debts granted by commercial banks but not documented with the DMO. It would be recalled that the former minister of finance, Zainab Ahmed, told a gathering of financial experts at a forum of the African Development Bank (AfDB)
The state governments, ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, prevailed on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide budget support to the state governments that were facing financial stress and grappling with difficulties in payment of salaries. The last word anybody heard about the facilities was when the former CBN boss, Godwin Emefiele, threatened on the heels of his conflict with the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki over an allegation of excessive quantitative easing, that the apex bank would commence deducting the loans. Whether the deductions were done as threatened or whether the full amounts have been recovered are matters of speculation to date.
In their half-year financial statements, some banks made veined reference to the opaque salary bailout funds.
In Access Bank financial statement, it was stated: “The amount of N58,842,651,795 represents the outstanding balance on the state salary bailout facilities granted to the bank by the CBN for onward disbursements to state governments for payments of salary of workers of the states. The facility has a tenor of 20 years with a two per cent interest payable to the CBN. The bank is under obligation to on-lend to the states at an all-in interest rate of nine per cent per annum. From this creditor, the bank has a nil undrawn balance as at 30 June 2023.”
On its part, Fidelity Bank reported: “FGN Intervention fund is CBN Bailout Fund of N80.65 billion (31 Dec 2022: N82.07 billion). This represents funds for states in the Federation that are having challenges in meeting up with their domestic obligation including payment of salaries. The loan was routed through the bank for on-lending to the states. The bailout fund is for a tenor of 20 years at nine per cent per annum.”
It added, “The bailout fund is for a tenor of 20 years at seven per cent per annum and availed for the same tenor at 9 per cent per annum until March 2020, the rate was reduced to five per cent for one-year period due to COVID-19 pandemic to March 2021 after which it was extended to February 2023. CBN on August 17 2022 further reviewed the rates in response to the economic outlook and approved the following order; All intervention facilities granted effective July 20, 2022 shall be at nine per cent per annum while all existing intervention facilities granted prior to July 20, 2022 shall be at nine per cent per annum effective September 1, 2022.”
In its H1 2023 financial statement, Zenith Bank, also noted, ‘the Salary Bailout Scheme’ was approved by the Federal Government to assist state governments in the settlement of outstanding salaries owed their workers. Funds are disbursed to banks nominated by beneficiary states at two per cent for on-lending to the beneficiary states at nine per cent. The loans have a tenor of 20 years. Repayments are deducted at source, by the Accountant General of the Federation, as a first-line charge against each beneficiary state’s monthly statutory allocation. This facility is not secured.”
A breakdown of the NEITI report (2020 and 2021) showed that in terms of geo-political zone allocations, the South-South received the highest allocation with N2.59 trillion, which represents 29.53 per cent of the total revenue disbursed to states and local governments.
According to NEITI, the North-West got N1.56 trillion, representing 7.85 per cent; South West, N1.28 trillion, representing 14.57 per cent; North-Central, N1.26 trillion, representing 14.39 per cent and North-East, N1 trillion, representing 12.71 per cent for the period under review.
The South-East had the lowest allocation of N963 billion or 10.96 per cent of the total allocation. Catchphrases such as Budget of Deep Vision, Budget of Infinite Transposition, Budget of Transformation among others are common slogans that have not translated to any expressions of performance. Rather, the budgets have further impoverished many, leaving them at the mercy of a few individuals, who control government coffers.
Checks by The Guardian showed that despite the huge monthly allocations, most states are getting worse across performance indices. Standard hospitals, schools, good networks of roads, independent power generation, affordable housing, especially for low-income earners missing, food affordability, modern facilities among others remain a mirage.
According to Statista, in 2023, nearly 12 per cent of the world population in extreme poverty lived in Nigeria, considering the poverty threshold at $1.9 per day.
The NBS multidimensional poverty report index of 0.257, Sokoto, Bayelsa and Jigawa States led the list of states in Nigeria with the highest multidimensional poverty index, having an aggregate of 14.18 million impoverished people. According to the Bureau, factors such as healthcare, food insecurity, education, nutrition and access to cooking fuel contributed the most to the national poverty index.
[Guardian]
Nine-time African champions, the Super Falcons have qualified for the 2024 Africa Women Cup of Nations 7-1 on aggregate after a hard fought 2-1 victory over Cape Verde in the return leg of the final round qualifying fixture played yesterday in Praia, Cape Verde.
After a 5-0 whitewash of Cape Verde in the first leg of the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations final round qualifying fixture last Thursday in Abuja, the Super had to fight back from a goal down to snatch victory from their opponents who needed to score six goals without conceding any to stand a chance of qualifying for the next AWCON.
Uchenna Kanu, with a first-half brace, and substitute Esther Okoronkwo, with a second-half brace, in the first leg had swept the nine-time African champions into a comfortable lead going into the return leg.
However, in yesterday contest, the more endowed Super Falcons suffered an early set back as the host went in front as early as the 8th minute of the match when Ivania Moreia put her team ahead with the opening goal of the match.
The Super Falcons sought for an instant response but the host stood firm to ensure that they went into the break with the slim advantage.
On resumption, the Super falcons continued to pile pressure and would have been on level terms with their host had the referee not ruled out Esther Okoronkwo’ 55th goal for offside.
But the substitute drew Nigeria level with a solo finish in the 62nd minute which literally took the tie out of the reach of Cape Verde.
To ensure they qualified for the 2024 AWCON in style, the Super Falcons refused to take their feet off the pedal and were rewarded with the winning goal in the third minute of second half added time.
Athletico Madrid forward Rasheedat Ajibade scored the winning goal for the Super Falcons to qualify for the 2024 AWCON in style.
The most successful team in the Africa Women Cup of Nation, the Super Falcons have been to every edition of the tournament beginning from 1991 when Nigeria hosted the inaugural edition.
The Super Falcons last won the AWCON in 2018 in Ghana.
[DailyTrust]
Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola has hit out at Sky Sports pundits, insisting that his players are not complacent.
City travel to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Wednesday on the back of conceding eight goals in three straight draws.
It is their worst run in the league since 2017.
Ahead of the Villa game, Guardiola hit out at former City defender, Micah Richards, Jamie Carragher and particularly Gary Neville, who suggested that the champions are suffering from complacency winning the Treble last season.
“Gary Neville knows how difficult it is, otherwise he would’ve won four Premier Leagues in the best period of Manchester United.
“But he didn’t do it. Maybe they accuse us of complacency because they felt complacency (at United). Maybe they felt it. This team so far, no chance.
“Jamie Carragher didn’t win one (title). Micah Richards didn’t win four Premier Leagues in a row. Never, ever. It’s never happened,” Guardiola said.
[DailyPost]
The wrongful application of workers’ contributory pension funds by governors and the federal government is unacceptable, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) said yesterday.
He knocked the federal and state governments for ignoring commercial bank loans and opting for the funds contributed by workers on their payrolls, owing to the very low interest rate.
The senator described the practice as a breach of the concept of the contributory pension scheme, which was established to represent a social capital which the workers would fall back on upon retirement.
Oshiomhole, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated that the funds, currently estimated at over N11 trillion, ought to go into mortgage investments for workers, who upon retirement, are supposed to have a roof over their heads.
He lamented that the essence of establishing the pension fund have been eroded by the administrators.
Oshiomhole spoke in Abuja yesterday at the 8th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), with the theme: “Trade unionism in the era of economic crisis: Addressing the increasing poverty level of Nigerian workers.”
The erstwhile Labour leader said: “I know I resisted the idea of contributory pension to be managed by Pension Fund Administrators PFAs. These PFAs are profit seekers, you cannot give me six per cent return on my pension savings and yet path with 25 per cent.
“In misery I am getting poorer but we are the greatest economists you can ever think of. Nowadays, that pension scheme is over N11 trillion deducted from your wages, if they put up a part of that trillion or more into mass housing, will workers remain homeless? No, because we were told that the reason we don’t have a flourishing mortgage system in Nigeria is that banks don’t give long-term funds.
“Governors go to borrow these pension funds at a very reduced interest rate for about six per cent, instead of going to the banks which have higher interest rates. Because the banks say they cannot give out customers’ funds to borrowers, especially because some save at maybe two to three months and come and collect, such funds cannot be used as long-term loans.”
The senator also condemned the brutalisation of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero by thugs, just as faulted the resultant two-day strike which grounded social and economic activities in the country.
According to him, oftentimes, Labour leaders go seeking implementation of their demands from governments, (the capitalists) with biased positions that are not well articulated, giving the government officials upper hand in their negotiations.
He said the Labour movement must always approach issues in a united front, even though the capitalists will always find ways to break or fragment them.
On the removal of petrol subsidy, Oshiomhole urged workers not to lament their sorry situation but to put on their thinking caps and wriggle out of the dire situation.
Rather than spend time agonising over unfavourable government policies, workers should engage as a united front to press home their demands to those in authority.
According to him, he successfully engaged former President Olusegun Obasanjo during his days as president of the NLC to make the prices of petroleum products remain at a reasonable level for Nigerians because he was always armed with specific demands from the affiliate unions.
President of NASU, Makolo Hassan, said state governments were the “biggest beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy removal which has plunged millions of Nigerians into abject poverty, as they continue to grapple with high cost of living.”
To this end, he asked state governments to replicate the federal government’s wage award to federal employees as an interim measure to cushion the hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal.
Hassan said: “In view of the fact that all state government workers are equally affected by the same hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, we call on the remaining state governments to, as a matter of urgency, announce and implement their awards.
“State governments have no option than to do so because they are the biggest beneficiaries of fuel subsidy removal in view of the quantum of increase in the allocations they are now receiving from the Federation account.”
Hassan also called on President Bola Tinubu to kick start the processes of reviewing the current national minimum wage Act, as workers were “struggling to survive the harsh economy and an extremely high cost of living which was no longer commensurate with their take home pay.”
Admitting the economic crisis facing the country, the NASU President lamented that the monetary policies of the immediate past and current government has given rise to an inflation rate of 27.3 per cent, an exchange rate of as high as N1,100 to a dollar as at the time of report, and the high price of pump price of petrol currently at N640 per litre, and as such, was making mockery of the current minimum wage.
He said: “The call for the review of the National Minimum Wage has become urgent in view of the information given by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in its report for October 2023, which stated that the major contributors to the increase in inflation were food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel, clothing and footwear, transport, furnishings, household equipment and maintenance. The continued rise in inflation was attributed to removal of petrol subsidy and the devaluation of the official exchange rate
“I therefore call on the president to, as a matter of urgency, constitute a National Minimum Wage Negotiating Committee to review the current National Minimum Wage Act.”
[TheNation]
No fewer than 9, 000 civil servants who sat the 2022 Federal Civil Service Promotion examinations failed.
This is according to a list obtained by The PUNCH from the Federal Civil Service Commission.
The PUNCH reports that no fewer than 13,000 civil servants sat the 2022 examination, which held in about 69 Computer Based Test centres.
The candidates were drawn from the core civil service, the Nigeria Police, and other para-military and specialised agencies.
The letter containing the list of successful civil servants was dated November 30, 2023 and sent from the Federal Civil Service Commission.
The letter, tagged FC.6241/S.35/Vol.xi/ T12/268, was signed by the Director of Promotions, Sani Bello, and addressed to the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
In a list attached to the letter, it was noted that only 3,851 civil servants out of the over 13,000 civil servants who sat the promotion examination passed.
In the list, it was stated that 139 officers were, for instance, promoted from the post of Assistant Chief Administrative Officer to Chief Administrative Officer.
A total of 191 were promoted to the post of Assistant Chief Administrative Officer from the role of Principal Administrative Officer. A total of 313 civil servants were promoted from the role of Senior Administrative Officer to Principal Administrative Officer. A total of 191 were promoted to Senior Administrative Officer from the role of Administrative Officer 1 among others.
In a letter of acknowledgment by the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office of the OHCSF, Marcus Ogunbiyi, civil servants were informed that the 2023 promotion exercise for civil servants in the pool of the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation will hold from December 11, 2023 to December 16, 2023.
[Punch]
The number of delegates representing Nigeria in the ongoing twenty-eighth Conference of Parties (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) increased by more than four folds when compared to the country’s COP27 delegates in Egypt last year, a PREMIUM TIMES analysis has shown.
Nigeria’s official delegation (i.e. ‘party’ badge holders) to COP27 last year was 120 persons, increasing from 87 in COP26 two years ago in Glasgow.
This year’s delegation of 590 persons under President Bola Tinubu, who removed subsidies on petroleum products and asked Nigerians to endure the attendant hardship resulting from the hike in the cost of living, is eliciting public outrage in the country.
Mr Tinubu, who has repeatedly told Nigerians that the government’s purse is lean, has been criticised by Nigerians for controversial expenditure embarked upon by his government including the funding for the large delegation to COP28.
In response to public criticisms, the government said it only funded 422 persons of the 590-person list that includes the president’s son, Seyi Tinubu, and other individuals believed to have no significant roles in the climate conference.
The 422 people funded by the federal government under Mr Tinubu are, however, more than triple the total number of official government delegations to COP27 last year (120) and COP26 in 2021 (87).
A review of the figures also shows that the number of government-funded delegates increased by over 250 per cent between COP27 in 2022 and COP28 even if all 120 official delegates at COP27 were government funded.
The 422 persons funded by the Nigerian government also suggests that the Nigerian government funded more delegates to COP28 than the UK and the US combined (even if both countries used government funds for all their party delegates – 234).
The US has 159 delegates with ‘party’ badges, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has 75.
‘COP attendance becoming too big’
It is not only Nigerians that are concerned about the bloated attendance at COP28 with a UN official saying the attendance is “getting too big.” Almost 100,000 participants from 195 countries. are attending COP28 compared to about 49,704 participants who attended COP27 last year.
“These conferences have become too big,’’ Achim Steiner, head of the UN Development Programme, said in an interview on the sidelines of the conference on Monday.
Mr Steiner said while he does not want to tell anyone not to take part, the over-bloated attendance should not become a model for the future in terms of attendance.
Understandably, the host country, the UAE, has the highest number of delegates (participants). Brazil, which has had one of the largest delegates in the past two years, has over 3,000 delegates in total.
China and Nigeria have a total number of 1,482 and 1,411 delegates, respectively, currently in the UAE.
Total Participants Vs ‘Party’ Delegates
Meanwhile, less than 30 per cent of this year’s participants are official negotiators at the conference. There are 195 countries party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which make up the decision-making body for COP. Together, the parties were represented by 24,488 ‘party’ delegates.
The remaining 70,000+ persons attending the conference are observers from United Nations organisations, Intergovernmental Organisations, Regional Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Civil Society Organisations, the business community and the Media.
China, for instance, is in third place when ranked by the total number of participants. But will only take the 34th place when ranked by the number of persons representing it at COP28. Only 219 persons carry its ‘party’ badge.
These persons representing each country are accredited or given badges under the ‘Party’ category. Other attendees – including members of the business community, civil society and media – carry the ‘Overflow’ or ‘Party Overflow’ badges.
Others such as United Nations organisations, Inter-governmental Organisations, and Regional Organisations, are admitted as ‘Observers’.
There are, however, insinuations that some countries allocate some of their ‘party badges’ to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), which can artificially inflate the size of their official delegation, according to Carbon Brief, a UK-based publication specialising in the science and policy of climate change.
Also, while the UAE has the highest number of participants, Brazil has the highest number of persons representing a country (or carrying the party badge). Brazil has 1,337 ‘party participants’ at the conference.
It is followed by India with 725 representatives and the UAE with 620 representatives.
Nigeria and the Russian Federation are tied in fourth position with 590 persons carrying the ‘party’ badge from both countries. The total number of participants from Nigeria is 1,411 including the 821 ‘Party Overflows’.
The Nigerian government said it only funded 422 persons. It did not provide details about the remaining 168 persons carrying its ‘party’ badge but the government’s position suggests that such persons were funded by others such as development partners.
The 422 people funded by the Nigerian government are also more than triple the total number of official delegates from Pakistan (80), a country with a similar population as Nigeria.
The Republic of Moldova, Eritrea, Liechtenstein, Nicaragua and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea each have less than 10 delegates with ‘party’ badges.
Delegates for COP 27, 26
The total number of ‘party’ participants increased from 9,749 in COP26 held in Glasgow in 2021, to 11,969 during last year’s COP27 in Egypt, and more than doubled to 24,488 in the ongoing COP28 in the UAE.
For the past two years, Brazil has held one of the highest number of ‘party’ badge holders in the conference. The country had 406 party badge holders in COP26 and 470 in COP27.
During COP 26, India had 135 ‘party’ badge holders and 61 last year during COP27 in Egypt.
China, meanwhile, had 56 and 63 ‘party’ badge-carrying participants in COP26 and 27 respectively.
At the ongoing COP, Nigeria’s delegates have hinted that the country’s priority is to secure more finances from investors to achieve its Energy Transition Plan (ETP) and other relevant climate actions in the country.
Nigeria expects to spend $1.9 trillion between 2022 and 2060 to meet the targets of the ETP across five sectors. At several meetings at the summit, PREMIUM TIMES observed that core Nigerian Party delegates are pushing to attract investment into the country.
[Premium Times]
More...
AS Ndigbo and other residents of South East region prepare to return home for Christmas and New Year celebrations, they are sure to face nightmare of passing through uncountable checkpoints, which actually are extortion points by security operatives. No route to the region is free of excessive extortion checkpoints.
Put together, from Lagos to Onitsha, Abuja to Enugu and the numerous ones dotting the roads in the region, no less than 4000 checkpoints constitute embarrassing barriers the people are subjected to. At each checkpoint, motorists are openly extorted amounts ranging between N200 to N1000. This cuts across checkpoints manned by military and police.
Most embarrassing is that in some of these checkpoints, passengers are forced to disembark from their vehicles to walk across before boarding their vehicles again. Painfully, this is done irrespective of the weather or the health condition of the occupants in such vehicles.
While brazenly engaging in the extortion spree, motorists and their passengers are also inhumanly treated like a conquered people. Annoyingly, in some cases the security operatives are not interested in carrying out routine security checks but to just extort and humiliate the commuters. They behave and act as if they are for different mission in the region other than to provide security to the people. Surprisingly, despite all the hues and cries from the people about this ugly trend in the South East, the military and police high command are yet to take any visible serious actions to stop it.
Military, police high command must end the extortion — Nwagbara
Condemning the high rate of extortion of motorists on the South East roads, particularly by police and soldiers, Chief Executive Officer of Youth and Students Advocates for Development Initiatives, YSAD, Obinna Nwagbara, urged the police and military high commands to take drastic measures against their men involved in the evil act. He insisted that the leadership of the security agencies must do more than giving out orders and threats which are hardly taken serious.
“We wish to call the attention of the leadership of these security agencies to take more than a passing interest in the evil activities of their men and officers against Nigerians. It is unfortunate that the issue of extortion on our roads continues to multiply with reckless abandon, with perpetrators unashamedly going about their ugly activities in the full glare of the public, including innocent children.
“From Aba to Umuahia, Enugu to Nsukka, Okigwe to Owerri, Owerri to Port Harcourt, from Port Harcourt to Aba, Umuikaa Junction to Owerri, Aba to Ikot-Ekpene and across several major roads in the South East, huge man hours are lost daily on account of multiple checkpoints where motorists are intimidated and extorted. As we approach the yuletide, more checkpoints with gun-wielding officials are daily taking over the highways in the South East. It is now an open bazaar on South East roads.
They are openly extorting from motorists, even giving change for those who so demand.“Seeing all of these, we are forced to ask; at what point did Nigerian roads become commercial banks and security and law enforcement agents’ cashiers? The IGP and the CPs, the military high command must do more than just barking out threats and orders against their men on the highways”, Nwagbara lamented.
Nothing will change until S/East Govs rise to say it is enough — INC
The National President of Igbo National Congress, INC, Comrade Chilos Godsent, said the governors of South East should rise to say enough is enough. He said the humiliation has lasted because the South East governors have allowed it.“
He stated: “The INC strongly condemns such humiliation and torture of the residents of South East. It is happening because the governors gave their consent to it. I have always insisted that the security chiefs in the South East must have mentioned it to the governors during security meetings and the governors approved of that.
“The governors should rise and stop it. The people of South East should not be treated with such disdain.”Yes, there had been cases of criminals attacking security agents at checkpoints, but this shouldn’t warrant such measure. It is capable of generating hatred in the minds of residents, thereby making them not to volunteer necessary intelligence needed to ensure effective security of the zone”.“
Checkpoints in the South East are officially organized extortion, intimation points– Prof Igwe
A renowned Professor of Political Science, Obasi Igwe said, “the checkpoints across South East region are officially set for extortion, intimidation, humiliation against Ndigbo”.
He also alleged that the checkpoints are very often used for evils, in some cases kidnappings take place near and around some checkpoints, and wondered how such things happen near security operatives.
“Nigeria’s checkpoints in the South and Middle Belt are official organized extortion, humiliation, intimidation of Ndigbo. Huge sums of money is extorted from the Igbo at gunpoint at checkpoints, including those by another terrible group called Road Safety Corps, the topmost nemesis of travelers, whose own assignment is how to make bad things worse.
“Igbo youths with laptops, attractive handsets, reverse caps, sagging trousers, backpacks, especially those in flashy cars are instantly arrested for being “Yahoo boys” and, once taken or dragged behind a nearby building, they are never seen again by their families. The intimidation must stop”, Igwe said.
Roadblocks, now tollgates, they should be dismantled — COSEYL
Igbo youths under the aegis of Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, condemned this embarrassing practice by security operatives deployed to the South East region and called for the immediate removal of roadblocks unless they are ready to genuinely serve as security checkpoints, not extortion points as they presently constitute. The President General of COSEYL, Comrade Goodluck Ibem said soldiers and policemen deployed to the South East should stop treating the residents of the region as slaves and conquered people.
“The federal government should clear the roadblocks. They are already causing logjam and inflicting pains on the people how much more during Christmas period when more vehicles will be on the roads. In their bid to extort money from motorists, they create long hold-ups, increasing pains and hardship.
“Security is about intelligence gathering. Before now, we used to have security patrols. Roadblocks are not the only way to tackle criminality. Let the security operatives do more of patrol instead of staying at a particular point which the bad guys know how to avoid.
“In fact, multiple roadblocks cause insecurity. When busy extorting money from motorists, they lose concentration and the bad boys could seize the moment to attack them. Extortion exposes them to needless attacks by these bad boys”.
The Chairman Board of Trustees, BoT, Igbo Leaders of Thought, Prof. Madubuike Ezeibe, believes that checkpoints can serve good purposes if the security operatives decide to focus and do their duty professionally. He noted that although some of them had converted the checkpoints to extortion points, the relevance of their presence on the roads could not be underestimated.
“They do good work and also bad work. If you tell them to stay, what about the bad work they are doing? So, it is a very difficult situation. Their presence is important because of the activities of these bad boys. If you send them to chase the evil boys out of the roads, they go and do their own evil. But the police and military hierarchies have a way of controlling them. I don’t think it will be proper to ask them to leave the roads because if they do, these bad boys will deal with the people.
“The presence of security agencies on the roads is important but their leaders have to find a way to control them so that they don’t do that which they are not sent to do”, Ezeife said.
Why are there checkpoints — Security agent
Defending the presence of the numerous checkpoints in the region, a security personnel, who spoke on grounds of anonymity said: “The killings that have been going on and are the unprecedented savagery that attend these killings, keeps one wondering whether Igbo land is now populated by extreme brutes and savages.
“We have, on a number of times, seen ugly videos of decapitated human beings. It is not within the prospect of belief that a human being can severe the head of another and proudly displays it with an equal sense of accomplishment.
“Similarly, we have also recorded a spate of kidnapping for ransom. The act has sadly become a very well organized and highly flourishing business. From the turn of events, it now looks like a sin of sort, to build a decent house or buy a car after many years of diligent toil and labour, because that is now an open invitation to those who like to fish from the boat, instead of the river.
“The Nigerian nation appears injured and helpless at this unfortunate new normal, as these killings, kidnappings, arson and decapitations no longer make news to most people.
“With time, the growing level of insecurity in the land gradually moved to the nation’s highways. This necessitated the posting of policemen on the highways. Apparently in a bid to stem the tide of these serious crimes, the police high command decided to mount security checkpoints on the highways. We have since noticed that instead of achieving the aims for establishing them, they have turned out to be point of sales, PoS, and toll gates”, he regretted.
Lamenting on what he passes through on the roads, a commercial bus driver, Sunny Duru Onyegecha said: “The presence of armed security personnel on the roads, ought to enhance the safety of travelers. This has turned out to be a ruse. All manner of contrabands, illicit drugs, arms, ammunition and even kidnap victims pass through these checkpoints, so long as the drivers are prepared to part with money.
“Before, we shared our daily takings with the police men on the road, at every checkpoint. Today, soldiers on checkpoints have also joined their police counterparts in fleecing us of our money. Soldiers collect these illegal tolls either themselves or engage young boys to collect the money from motorists.
“The fact remains that any commercial driver that fails, refuses or unwilling to part his, will be forced to park his vehicle until he pays. These people no longer collect N50. The toll now is from N100 and above. These security personnel brazenly collect these tolls, stuff the pockets of their uniforms to bulging points and openly return the balance to the drivers”.
Another motorist, George Okoro said he will find it extremely difficult to believe that the superiors of these men at the checkpoints do not know about their unprofessional acts.
His words: “Will their superiors claim that they do not know what their men are doing on the road? Where does the money they collect, go to?
“We have severally heard about how hoodlums attack and kill policemen on roadblocks. Why won’t the criminals take them unawares, when their major interest is the money they collect from drivers”.
[Vanguard]
Super Eagles Star, Victor Osimhen has been named Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) 2023 player of the year following his superb year in the Serie A.
The Napoli forward played a pivotal role in leading the club to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
Osimhen and his teammates were honoured for the historic triumph.
Napoli’s title-winning coach, Luciano Spalletti was named the coach of the year, while winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia won the goal of the year award.
He has now joined the league of players to win the prestigious award, which includes Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andrea Pirlo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gianluigi Buffon and Rafael Leao.
The 24-year-old scored 26 goals in 32 Serie A appearances for Napoli in the title-winning campaign last season.
He also had five goals in the Champions League as Napoli crashed out in the quarter final against AC Milan.
Osimhen has struggled with injury this season missing majority of Napoli’s matches.
He has scored six goals in 10 Serie A matches this season.
Osimhen and his Napoli teammates will resume Serie A action against Juventus on Friday.
EFCC Presents FBI’s Witness, Closes Case Against Defendants In Purchase of Forged American Express Travellers Cheque
AdminThe Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has presented two more witnesses, against Mark Obisesan, Olumide Mcintouch, Bolaji Bakare, and Goodluck Bazunu, who are being prosecuted for an alleged purchase of forged United States Dollar Travellers Cheque.
The witnesses presented by the EFCC comprises of a Foreign Service National Investigator with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI and one other witness while closing its case
The defendants were re-arraigned on February 16, 2023 before Justice I.O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on amended 11-count charges bordering on an alleged purchase of forged bank notes and pleaded “not guilty” to the charges read to them.
One of the counts reads: “Mark Obisesan, Olumide Mcintouch, Bolaji Bakare, Goodluck Bazunu, and Josiah Ntekume (at large), sometime in 2018 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, received and have in your possession forged United States dollar Travellers Cheque number GA908-981-564.”
Another count reads: “Mark Obisesan, Olumide Mcintouch, Bolaji Bakare, Goodluck Bazunu, and Josiah Ntekume (at large), sometime in 2018 at Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division, conspired to purchase, receive and have in your possession forged United States travellers cheques.”
However, during Thursday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, N.K. Ukoha, led in evidence two more witnesses, Ayotunde Solademi, a Foreign Service National Investigator with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, and Bamaiyi Mairiga, a forensic expert with the EFCC’s Forensic Department.
They both testified against the defendants. Solademi testified as the second prosecution witness, PW2. He narrated the role the FBI played in the investigation of the alleged fraud.
He said: “On the 6th of January, 2020, the EFCC wrote a letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, through the office of the Legal Attache in the US Consulate, Lagos to assist it to confirm the genuineness or otherwise of eleven traveller’s cheques.
“The copies of the traveller’s cheques were attached to the letter and the numbers on the cheques were also included in the letter.”
Solademi narrated that the team assigned to the task immediately swung into action and wrote a letter to the American Express Traveller’s Cheque Authentication Centre, including the attached copies of the cheques in question sent by the EFCC.
He said: “They also sent us features to look out for in a genuine American Express Traveller’s Cheque. All these were packaged in a letter and the response was sent back to the EFCC in January, 2020.”
The witness also identified exhibits P2 and P3, which were already before the court, as the letter of investigation activities from the EFCC and the response of the FBI to same.
Under cross-examination by the counsel for the first defendant, Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, he noted that he was not a forensic analyst and what they did with the request of the EFCC was to forward same to American Express Traveller’s Cheque Authentication Centre and the reply was subsequently forwarded to the EFCC.
Solademi, under cross-examination by counsel for the second, third and fourth defendants, Bilikisu Afe, N.T. Adebago and Ndubuisi Oraenyen, maintained that it was the American Express Traveller’s Cheque Authentication Centre that analysed the said cheques and the response forwarded to the EFCC, as requested.
Mairiga who testified as the third prosecution counsel, PW3, informed the court about the forensic analysis carried out on the said documents.
He explained that the Lagos Zonal Command of the Commission in 2020, sent a request for forensic analysis of ten American Express Traveller’s cheques and one Mastercard $100Cheque.
He said: “They were analysed for security features and the ten were found to be counterfeits and only the MasterCard $100 Traveller’s Cheque was genuine.”
He then identified the letter of request from the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC, which was already before the court, as Exhibit P1.
He also identified the response from the Forensic Laboratory to the request dated 7th February 2020 and maintained that there was a universal process of forensically analysing documents.
Ukoha informed the court that the prosecution was closing its case. “This is the case of the prosecution,” he said and Justice Ijelu adjourned the case till January 18, 2024.
Controversial Nigerian singer, Portable has finally reacted to his sudden exclusion from a Celestial Church praise night.
DAILY POST reports that a Lagos-based church recently stirred up controversies after unveiling popular Fuji musician, Pasuma and Portable as guest artistes for its upcoming programme.
Condemning the development, Celestial Church leader, Olatosho Oshoffa, in a Facebook post, announced that he had stopped Portable and Pasuma from performing at the praise night.
However, reacting to this in a trending video, Portable expressed his determination to grace the church with his performance.
He said: “Celestial church we must do the show o, you have already paid me N5 million. Pasuma will perform, I will also perform and we must do it.
“The children of God are coming. Land of Goshen Cathedral please in God’s name, consider us as children of God, don’t judge me by my appearance.”