Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice Oyewole Adeyeye, escaped death on Wednesday, when a section of the state high court complex collapsed on him while in the office.
Justice Adeyeye is said to be currently receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital in the state.
The incident happened around close of work on Wednesday. The judge was still in his chamber at the time of the collapse.
The incident may not be unconnected with structural deficit worsened by the torrential rainfall.
No life was lost during the collapse but the Chief Judge reportedly sustained serious injury as a section of the office collapsed on him.
It took serious efforts from workers before the judge was rescued from the rubble.
A visit to the Registrar office to get further details did not yield result as the registrar through a staff member asked journalists to return later.
In a glaring display of contrasting priorities, the Bola Tinubu-led administration has allocated a mere N19 billion to address the devastating impact of flooding on farmlands across the nation, while approving a staggering N70 billion for lawmakers in the House of Representatives to purportedly improve their working conditions.
A breakdown of President Tinubu’s N500 billion planned palliative measure seen by THE WHISTLER on Thursday raises questions about the government’s commitment to the agricultural sector and its understanding of the urgent need to support farmers in times of crisis.
THE WHISTLER earlier reported that the House of Representatives hurriedly approved the request sent by President Tinubu on Wednesday, seeking an amendment to the N819 Supplementary Appropriation Act to enable his administration to “source for funds necessary to provide palliatives to mitigate the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy on Nigerians.”
With worsening flooding incidents wreaking havoc on agricultural lands and leaving farmers in extreme distress, the N19 billion allocation to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to address farmers’ plights may seem grossly insufficient, especially considering the amount new lawmakers in the National Assembly would be getting.
The breakdown was given as follows: “1. N500 billion for palliatives and other capital expenditure to cushion the effect of recent subsidy removal policy.
“2. N185,236,937,815 to Ministry of Works and Housing to alleviate the impact of the severe flooding experienced in the country in 2022 on road infrastructure across the 6 geo-political zones.
“3. N19,200,000,000 to Federal Ministry of Agriculture to ameliorate the massive destruction to farmlands across the country during the severe flooding experienced last year.
“4. N35 billion to National Judicial Council/
“5. N10 billion to Federal Capital Territory Administration for critical projects
“6. N70 billion to National Assembly to support the working conditions of new members.”
Meanwhile, in a similar letter to the Senate on Thursday, President Tinubu disclosed how the Federal Government plans to disburse the $800 million borrowed from the World Bank to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on the masses.
According to him, N8,000 would be disbursed monthly to 12 million “poor and low-income households” for six months.
“You may also wish to note that the purpose of the facility is to expand coverage of shock-responsive safety net support among the poor and vulnerable Nigerians. This will assist them in coping with basic needs.
“You may further wish to note that under the conditional cash transfer window of the programme, the Federal Government of Nigeria will transfer the sum of N8,000 per month to 12 million poor and low-income households for a period of six months, with the multiplier effect on about 60 million individuals,” says part of the president’s letter read during the plenary on Thursday by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The Renewed Hope Initiative of the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has assisted victims of the June 23, 2023 flood mishap which occurred at the TradeMore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja.
While speaking, the First Lady through her representative, wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, expressed her sympathy over the unfortunate incident.
Mrs Tinubu, in a statement issued on Thursday by her spokesperson, Busola Kukoyi, said though there was no assurance that this kind of incident would not reoccur since the rains were not yet over, she hoped the outreach and intervention of the Renewed Hpoe Initiative would go a long way in reducing their pains at this time.
The First Lady said, though the Initiative is still in the process of registration by the CAC, she cannot turn the other eye under the present circumstances of the TradeMore Estate which is in her domain.
In his response on behalf of the beneficiaries, Chairman of the Resident Association Dr Adewale Adenaike thanked Senator Tinubu and the renewed Hope Initiative for the hand of kindness and support extended to them especially at this trying times.
The beneficiaries were given Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira ( N250,000.00) per affected household.
A total of 57 households benefited from this outreach by the Renewed Hope Initiative.
'What can N8,000 do for a family of 4 in a month?' - NLC, TUC kick, Experts, stakeholders lampoon palliatives plans
AdminThe Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and its counterpart, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, faulted President Tinubu’s plans, saying it runs contrary to the works of the Presidential Technical Committee on the removal of Subsidy.
NLC and TUC argue that it is not only undemocratic but shows that the President is merely setting up the committee as a window dressing for whatever purposes he has set out for himself, stating, “Any palliative payment must be in line with the agreement reached with labour in line with the technical committee meeting.”
Though the President and General Secretary of NLC, Joe Ajaero, and Emma Ugboaja, could not be reached, a senior officer of NLC who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “The issue is whether the President has trust and confidence in the Steering Committee set up or not. If he has a budget already, it means that he already has activities he has planned on his own. If he has that, what is the need of the Committees? The action of the President has actually undermined the credibility of his own Committee
“We believe that it is not only undemocratic but shows that the President is merely setting up the committee as a window dressing for whatever purposes he has set out for himself.
When you also look at what he has planned, to give N8,000 to households for six months which approximates to N48, 000, you ask yourself, can N48,000 address the millions of suffering the government has already inflicted on the poor? Will it make any significant impact in addressing the consequences already being faced by Nigerians? Will the suffering suddenly end after six months?”
On his part, the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Festus Osifo, who also doubles as President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, simply said “Any palliative payment must be in line with the agreement reached with labour in line with the technical committee meeting.”
Corroborating, the President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, and TUC’s Deputy President, Dr Tommy Okon, said, “As far as I am concerned it is economic waste. What is N8,000 monthly to 12 million Nigerian households with this hyperinflation and socio-economic challenges?
“How did the government or the president determine those who are to benefit from the data deficit in Nigeria? I think the government should stop this ad-hoc and unsustainable programme.
“What form of poverty alleviation policy implementation strategy is this? Is it not proper to allow the Presidential Committee on Removal of oil Subsidy to conclude its assignment and arrive at a collective agreement with organized labour before embarking on any palliative care distributions? What the government is doing could amount to doing exactly what the previous administration did that yielded no positive impact on the economy and the citizens.
NASU’s raises concerns
Similarly, General Secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, Prince Peters Adeyemi, said “Any effort geared towards the alleviation of the present hardship Nigerians are going through as a result of the President removal of subsidy and the harmonization of the exchange rate markets should be supported.
“However we need to know the criteria to be used in determining those that will benefit from the programme. We hope that this will not be another avenue for a few individuals to divert such money to their private pockets.”
Framework must be inclusive and transparent – CPPE
Also commenting, Director/CEO, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr. Muda Yusuf, said although vulnerable segments of the society deserve palliates, the framework must be inclusive and transparent.
He stated: “The vulnerable segments of the society deserve palliatives to mitigate the pains of recent reforms, especially the surging inflation. But the palliatives framework must be inclusive and transparent.
“We would additionally want to see concessions in taxation and import duties focusing on moderating food prices, energy costs, and transportation costs. Palliatives must go beyond cash transfers. There are serious limitations with regard to data integrity.”
N8,000 per month is an insult on Nigerians — Maritime group
THE Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria, MAAN, stated that the move by the Federal Government to pay 12million poor households N8,000 per household monthly is a far cry from the economic realities adding, “It is an insult on Nigerians.”
Speaking to Vanguard on the decision, Vice President of the association, Ms Jean Anishere Chiazor, said that the President has been ill-advised as that amount of money cannot feed a child in one month, talk less a family.
He stated: “N8,000 for 12million households; who identified the poor households; what yardsticks; who is a poor family; what are the requirements to qualify as a poor family entitled to N8,000.
“How much is N8,000 in Pounds or Dollars; What will N8,000 buy in a day for feeding. Start with Garri for the poor, one Olodo is N3,500, that cannot feed a family for a week if they eat Eba every other day. One Olodo of rice, equivalent to a paint bucket is N4,800 if not more because the price is always going up. So that comes to almost N8,000.’’
What can N8,000 do for a family of 4 in a month? —Prof Uwaleke
Reacting to the FG’s palliative, President, Association of Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, ACMAN, Prof Uche Uwaleke, said: “This is rather a sub-optimal option. The government should look in the direction of non-cash palliatives.
“With the current galloping inflation rate (official figures are understated), what can N8,000 do for a family of four in a month? And this is meant for only 12 million families (about 48 million persons, that is, assuming they are adequately targeted and the National Social Register is clean and updated) in a country of over 200 million people.
“The President is equally seeking approval of 800 million US dollars soft loan from the World Bank as part of funds to cushion the impact of the fuel subsidy removal. If we add this N500 billion to the N600 billion (assuming I & E average rate of N750 applied to the World Bank’s facility), that should give N1.1 trillion.
“Consistent with the principle of maximum social benefit in public expenditure, one way, in my view, to ensure this money reaches the grassroots is to divide it by 774 local government areas (LGA) in Nigeria, which translates to about N1.4 billion per local government, and transfer this sum to each Local government.’’
It’s a ploy to settle party members – Adonri
Commenting, David Adonri, Executive Vice Chairman, HIGHCAP Securities Limited, said: “N8,000 monthly as palliative to 12 million out of 130 million very poor Nigerians is immaterial. The policy is economically unwise and I suspect it’s a ploy to settle party members at the grassroot.
“FGN is in financial deficit and needs money desperately to exit its debt trap. This cash transfer is a sign of financial irresponsibility and lack of seriousness.”
No database to identify beneficiaries – Anchor Insurance boss
Reacting to the development, Deputy Managing Director, Technical of Anchor Insurance Plc, Mr. Adebisi Ikuomola inquired how government intends to go about distributing the money.
He said: “How will this money get to the poor Nigerians? Which data is used in fishing out these poor Nigerians?
“To be honest, the real poor Nigerians do not have bank accounts. That takes us back to the first question. Is this a way of adding funds to the elites? I strongly believe in investing that money in human and infrastructural development. I think that will make sure that the poor benefit from it.
“What database do we have of the poor? Who are the poor families identified? What can N8,000 do in battle against hardship presently experienced?”
Channel money to job creation, Nigerians are not lazy – Rights activist
Human rights activist, under the aegis of Ambassador for Peace and Enlightenment Foundation, Prince Saviour Iche, yesterday, said that Nigerians are not lazy people who rely on money palliative to survive but that jobs should be provided with enabling environment for them to earn a living.
Speaking to Vanguard on FG’s decision on subsidy removal palliative, he requested that government should disclose the criteria for selecting 12 million as poor households in a country of over 200 million people.
His words: “The federal government proposal of N8,000 monthly pay to 12 million Nigerian poor households is not feasible. Nigeria is more than 200 million, the question is how would they get these 12 million poor households and what can N8,000 do for these people whom the government claim are poor?
“In Alimosho where I stay, we have more than 10 million people who are poor. The government thinks that Nigerians are fools, it is under the same APC administration under Muhammadu Buhari that Minister of Humanitarian Affairs claimed that they spent billions to feed Nigerian children during the lockdown. The same Buhari administration was giving N500 billion every month to poor Nigerians by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor, that money never got to anybody.
“This is just one of their many strategies, this government should go to the market with that N8,000 and see how expensive food items have become in today’s Nigeria. A pet bottle of soft drink is about N200; a paint bucket of garri is about N2,000 and rice is between N2,500 and N3,000. So what do they want to do for poor Nigerian with N8,000?’’
The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request for $800 million borrowing from the World Bank.
The president’s request was in a letter read by Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, at the plenary on Thursday.
Tinubu, in the letter, explained that the loan would be used to scale up the national social safety net programme.
Attached with the request was a decision by the Federal Government to transfer the sum of N8,000 monthly to 12 million poor and low-income households for six months.
He said the money would be transferred directly to identified beneficiaries’ accounts.
The President’s letter stated in part: “Please note that the federal executive council led by President Muhammadu Buhari approved an additional loan facility to the tune of $800 million to be secured from the World Bank for the National Social Safety Net programme, Copy of FEC’s extract attached.
“You may also wish to note that the purpose of the facility is to expand coverage of shock responsive safety net support among the poor and vulnerable Nigerians. This will assist them in coping with basic needs.
“You may further wish to note that under the conditional cash transfer window of the programme, the Federal Government of Nigeria will transfer the sum of N8,000 per month to 12 million poor and low income households for a period of six months, with a multiplier effect on about 60 million individuals.
“In order to guarantee the credibility of the process, digital transfers will be made directly to beneficiaries’ accounts and mobile wallets.
“It is expected that the programme, will stimulate economic activities in the informal sector, and improve nutrition, health, education, and human capital development of beneficiaries’ households.
“Given the above, I wish to invite the Senate to kindly grant approval for the additional loan facility of $800 million to be secured from World Bank for the National Social Safety Net Programme.
“While hoping that this submission will receive expeditious consideration by the Senate, please accept the assurances of my highest regards.”
President Bola Tinubu has assured women his administration will do all that is required to retrieve the country from the stranglehold of those who have stifled her growth and development.
Tinubu gave the assurance when he received in audience the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leaders from the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja led by the APC National Woman Leader, Dr. Betta Edu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Dele Alake, the President also assured them security, healthcare system and industrialisation would be top priorities of his administration.
The President declared that his administration was already implementing many policies and programmes that would positively impact the citizens.
“We have established a scholarship scheme that would guarantee their four years of tertiary education”, he further said.
“Security is paramount in my administration’s agenda because women bear the cost of insecurity anywhere in the world. Issues of insecurity are being discussed at the highest level and this administration will ensure that insecurity is halted immediately.
“Medicare is another. We will ensure that health facilities are revamped and we will pursue this with vigour. Industrialization is yet another priority as your children and relations will gain employment,” Tinubu stated.
While appreciating the women leaders for the visit, the President praised them for their support during the campaigns and elections, adding that they all deserve awards for their efforts.
“You all deserve gold medals because you worked so hard politically, overcoming so many obstacles like the fuel scarcity and Naira ‘confiscation,’ promising that their children would receive better rewards as their future is now guaranteed with the initiatives being put in place.”
He tasked the APC women leaders to educate the citizens on the policies and programmes of his administration with the awareness that the present difficulties are temporary.
“You understand better, you are better coordinators, you know how to multitask. The gains of the subsidy removal will be channeled to better the lives of Nigerians from the few that have been fleecing the nation,” the President said.
The naira yesterday appreciated to N746.28 per dollar in the Investors and Exporters, I&E window.
Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window fell to N746.28 per dollar from N782.49 per dollar on Wednesday, indicating N36.21 appreciation for the naira.
Similarly, the naira appreciated to N790 per dollar in the parallel market yesterday from N793 per dollar on Tuesday, indicating N3 appreciation.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF), has arrested Yusuf Ismael Isah, a 32-year-old man from Okene, Kogi State, for attacking the convoy of fiery cleric, Apostle Johnson Suleman.
The cleric, who is the founder of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Auchi, was attacked on October 21, 2022 on Benin-Auchi Road, wherein six people, including three police personnel were murdered.
The suspect was arrested following an investigation by the operatives of FIB-IRT who were on the trail of the assailants.
Two members of the seven-man gang were gunned down in separate encounters with the police and the other four are at large.
Isah, a native of Okene, Kogi State and a plumber, at Agbaraoluwa Phase 2 Ijoka, Akure, Ondo State was arrested with five Ak47 rifles, two K2 assault rifles, 180 live ammunition and four suspected IEDs all found in his apartment.
Force public relations officer (FPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said investigations revealed that the suspect was part of the 7-man gang responsible for the attack on the convoy of the Apostle and some of the rifles found in his possession were in fact rifles snatched from the three police officers slain during the October 21, 2022 attack.
The suspect revealed to journalists that he joined the vicious gang in 2021 after he was freed from Olokuta Correctional Centre where he was on remand since 2019 for alleged involvement in armed robbery.
Isah told journalists that he and his gang members trailed the pastor to the point where he was attacked with five AK 47 riffles.
He said, “The attack on him (Suleman) was to assassinate him. I was not part of the discussion; Ilayasu and Labisca were the ones involved in the discussion.
He, however, insisted that he didn’t know the person that ordered the assassination of Suleman.
The suspect also said the group specialises in kidnapping for ransom and have carried out about four kidnapping operations between 2021 and 2023, including the attack on the convoy of the Apostle, before the gang was eventually busted by the Police.
The suspect also confessed that the gang was responsible for the kidnap of a popular oil dealer at Jetu, Auchi in 2022, where they obtained a ransom of about N70 million before his release.
The gang equally carried out the kidnap of a business man on Benin-Agbor Expressway in 2022 and collected N20 million as ransom from the victim’s family.
Their last attempt at kidnapping after the failed attack on Apostle Suleman was on Owo-Ikare Road where they were heavily engaged and repelled by the police escort accompanying their target.
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the arrest of five suspected kidnappers of a Swiss national in Abuja.
This is contained in a press statement released on Thursday by the Force Spokesman, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who detailed the activities of the force within the last two months.
The suspects who were identified as Emu Larry Chidiebere, 34, Samuel Balogun, 22, Williams Banjo, 28, Babatunde Femi, 30, and Nneka Opara ‘f’ 32 were accused of detaining the victim in an apartment between May 30, 2023 and June 2, 2023.
They reportedly collected a ransom of $2,000 before releasing the victim.
“The suspects took pictures of the victim and forwarded the pictures and threat messages to the girlfriend of the victim in Zurich, who eventually sent them the sum of 2000 dollars via Western Union on June 1, 2023,” the police statement added.
According to the statement, the police also rescued about 113 kidnap victims unhurt and recovered 350 illicit firearms and 4,055 ammunition, among others during the period.
The statement continued: “The Nigeria Police Force in its ongoing efforts to combat crime and criminality and curb the proliferation of illegal weapons in the country has recorded several notable breakthroughs in the past 2 months, resulting in the arrest of 1,412 suspects for various violent crimes including 548 suspects for Armed Robbery, 242 suspects for Kidnapping, 365 suspects for Murder/Homicide, and 237 suspects for Rape/Defilement. Notably, 350 illicit firearms and 4,055 ammunition of various calibers were equally recovered from across the country within the period under review, while 113 kidnap suspects were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families.
“Prominent amongst these breakthroughs was the arrest of one Yusuf Ismael Isah aged 32, a plumber from Okene, Kogi State, by gallant operatives of the Force. According to investigations, he was part of the 7-man gang that launched a fatal attack on the convoy of Apostle Johnson Suleiman, the Founder of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Auchi, on October 21, 2022, along Benin – Auchi road, wherein six (6) people, including 3 police officers, were gruesomely murdered.
“Intelligence revealed that the 7-man syndicate has been actively involved in kidnapping operations within Edo State and its environs and have carried out about 4 kidnapping operations between 2021 and 2023, before the gang was eventually busted by the Police.
“Exhibits recovered from the suspect upon his arrest in Ondo State include 5 AK47 Rifles, 2 K2 Assault Rifles, 180 Rounds of Live Ammunition, 4 suspected locally made IEDs, 1 pistol, and 4 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
“Additionally, the Police have sustained a continuous assault on the camps of some non-state actors in the South-East enforcing an illegal sit-at-home order particularly in Enugu, Imo, and Ebonyi States. In Enugu, 4 suspects were neutralized following a gun duel with operatives of the Force on Friday 7th July, 2023 while 1 AK47 with 19 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, and 2 Molotov cocktails were recovered.
“In Ebonyi, 17 suspects were arrested following a raid on the hideout of secessionist agitators on 5th and 6th of July, 2023, while 1 locally made revolver, 2 vehicle number plates and 3 live ammunition were recovered. Similarly, in Imo, police operatives arrested 26 hoodlums following the murder of a young man in their rampage, and successfully recovered 5 firearms, 66 live ammunition and several other exhibits.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, PhD, NPM, has reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to continually ensure the safety and security of all and sundry, while emphasizing that his administration will leave no stone unturned in the effort to suppress and decimate criminality and the heinous activities of non-state actors who cause pain, hardship, and sorrows to innocent law-abiding members of the Nigerian society.”
DSS said last night it had charged the top banker to court.
The Spokesman for the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, who gave the information in a statement on Thursday night, did not however give the details of the charges levied against Emefiele or the court in which the case is pending.
Afunanya said: “Sequel to an Abuja High Court Order of today, 13th July, 2023, the Department of State Services (DSS) hereby confirms that Mr Godwin Emefiele has been charged to court in compliance with the Order.
“The public may recall that the Service had, in 2022, applied for a Court Order to detain him in respect of a criminal investigation.
“Though he obtained a restraining order from an FCT High Court, the Service, however, arrested him in June, 2023, on the strength of suspected fresh criminal infractions/information, one of which forms the basis for his current prosecution.
“The Service assures the public of professionalism, justice and fairness in handling this matter and indeed the discharge of its duties within the confines of the law,” the DSS said.
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The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, has described provision of stomach infrastructure as the surest way to tackle insecurity in Nigeria.
Obi stated this in a statement via his verified Twitter handle on Thursday.
The Labour Party candidate stated, “The various governments at all levels to take deliberate steps to address the issue of poverty and youth unemployment because the provision of stomach infrastructure is the surer way to tackle insecurity.
“Also, urgent steps should be taken consciously and intentionally to ameliorate the hardship of the people,” he said.
Obi expressed worry over the issue of insecurity in the country, saying it is unacceptable for lives of Nigerians to be wasted over insecurity.
The former governor of Anambra urged security agencies to do more in securing the nation, saying Nigerians can not continue to be killed in their hundreds within their own country.
According to Obi, the implications of an insecure environment for development are far-reaching, as investors will not consider venturing into to a nation where their resources will not be safe and secured.
He urged critical stakeholders including, traditional, Christian, and Muslim leaders to continue pushing for peace among their people in the way and manner they conduct themselves.
The former governor noted that the more insecurity bewilders Nigeria, the less likely the nation will be able to woo investors over to help develop the country.
He stated, “The rising insecurity in the country leading to mindless bloodletting, particularly in the North Central zone of the country, and the continued disruption of business and social activities in the South East are all becoming very worrisome.
“The violent attacks in the North Central states of Benue and Plateau lately took a new twist with high records of kidnapping, arson, and loss of human lives. According to the 1st Quarter Mass Atrocities Casualty Tracking Report, over 1230 Nigerians were killed, 79 of them security operatives, with over 600 abductions in the first quarter of this year alone.
“With what has been happening in the North Central and Zamfara state lately the figure as of today will be mind-boggling even far more than the deaths recorded in Russia/Ukraine ongoing carnage.
“It’s unacceptable that hundreds of innocent lives will continue to be wasted in Nigeria needlessly through communal clashes, bandits, and kidnapping activities. The situation in the Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau states has raised a lot of anxiety because of the number of lives and properties lost with very little resistance from security operatives.
“Also disturbing is the continued disruption of business and social activities in the South East region over the Sit-at-Home directive purported to be coming from the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, when the body has publicly denied issuing such directive.
“What is going on in the South East therefore is essentially a criminal activity that must be nipped in the bud, with all hands being on deck, security agencies, and the people alike.
“The South East Governors are to be commended for their renewed efforts at curbing this menace but there is a need to be more strategic and intelligence-driven in our approach to reducing the suffering of innocent people.
“Security agencies should take necessary and quick steps to arrest the ugly incidents because the country cannot just be spilling the blood of innocent citizens. We as a people through our various governments should up our value for human lives in the way and manner we respond to issues that touch lives.
“The implications of an insecure environment for development are far-reaching because no investor will consider going to an area where their resources will not be safe and secured,” he said.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) to commence remittances pay-out in both Naira and foreign exchange to beneficiaries.
It has also directed that the Investors and Exporters’ (I&E) window foreign exchange rate should be used in determining the exchange rate for Naira pay-outs.
In a circular referenced: FED/FEM/PUB/FPC/001/004 issued by the Director of Trade and Exchange. Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, dated July 10, 2023, the apex bank said the decision was in furtherance to an earlier circular dated November 30, 2022 with reference number: FED/FEM/FPC/01/011 which provided guidelines on the payout policy of diaspora remittances to beneficiaries.
The November 30, 2022 circular introduced the payment of dollars to beneficiaries of diaspora remittances through the designated bank of their choice and with unrestricted access to their funds.
According to the new circular, the Naira payment was only an option, in addition to United States Dollars and E-Naira in receiving Diaspora remittances.
The Circular reads in full, “Further to the circular referenced FED/FEM/FPC/01/011 dated November 30, 2022 in respect of the above subject, the Central Bank of Nigeria hereby announces Naira as a payout option for receipts of proceeds of International Money Transfers.
“Accordingly, all recipients of Diaspora remittances through the CBN-approved International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) on the attached list shall henceforth have the option of receiving Naira payment in addition to USD and e-Naira as payout options.
“For the avoidance of doubt, IMTOs are required to pay out the proceeds using the Investors’ & Exporters’ window rate as the anchor rate on the date of the transaction. The regulation takes effect immediately.”
Recall that CBN had, mid last month, announced the unification of all segments of the Nigerian forex market by collapsing all windows into the Investors & Exporters (I&E) window.
The move was considered part of the new administration’s efforts to improve liquidity and stability in the market by attracting foreign investors into the Nigerian economy.
Further the apex bank stopped the RT200 and the Naira4dollar remittance schemes, last month.
Under scheme introduced in 2021, the CBN, through commercial banks, paid diaspora remittance recipients the incentive of N5 for every USD1 remitted and collected by designated beneficiary.
The Naira4Dollar scheme was to incentivise remittances from Nigerians in the Diaspora and was indeed considered successful, as encouraged more remittances and a steady foreign exchange inflow into the country. The RT200 which comprised a set of plans, policies, and programmes was designed to increase the nation’s earnings exclusively from non-oil exports to $200 billion in foreign exchange repatriation, within the next five years.
The news of the N500 billion palliative proposed by President Bola Tinubu to cushion the effects of the petrol subsidy removal has continued to generate mixed reactions.
On Wednesday, the President wrote to the House of Representatives seeking approval for N500bn to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal.
In a swift response, the House on Thursday approved the request, calling for proper utilisation of the funds for the purpose it was meant for.
The President announced petrol subsidy removal during his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, in response to claims that the subsidy regime favoured the rich more than the average Nigerians, among other reasons.
These are titbits on how to benefit from the palliatives:
1. You must be on the ‘national social register’ – The former Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed in the last administration had explained that there is a social register which will be used for the electronic transfers of the funds.
The palliative will be provided to the ‘most vulnerable members’ who have been identified, registered and contained in a national social register which had been developed by the Ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management, and social development.
The National Social register as of the end of January 2022 has captured over 46 million Nigerians.
2. Although the modality to be adopted by the Federal Government in the implementation of the new programme is yet to be fully outlined, these cash transfers are for poor and vulnerable people in both rural and urban areas in Nigeria.
3. Vulnerability is the degree to which a population, individual, or organisation is unable to anticipate, cope with, resist, and recover from the impacts of disasters. It is determined through evidence-based assessments and will be consistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This determination is in line with the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) adopted by Nigeria, which identifies multiple deprivations at the household and individual level in health, education, and standard of living, used by the country to assess vulnerable populations.
4. Children, adolescent girls, women, the elderly, unemployed, malnourished people, and those who are ill or with pre-existing health conditions or disabilities are particularly vulnerable.
Members of the House of Representatives are demanding raises in their salaries and allowances, citing the removal of fuel subsidies and the state of the economy.
During a meeting on Tuesday, July 11, which included an executive session during plenary, some lawmakers expressed their concerns regarding their salaries and allowances, prompting the need to address the issue and alleviate tension.
During the meeting, some lawmakers raised their grievances about the delay in receiving their salaries and allowances, which led a few of them to resort to taking out loans.
However, speaking anonymously, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting said the discussion solely revolved around the need for a salary increase rather than the issue of delayed payment.
The lawmaker explained that they conveyed to the Speaker, Tajudeen Abass, that their current salaries and allowances were no longer sufficient to meet the demands of their positions, necessitating a review.
“So nobody talked about any money or whether we have been paid or not,” the lawmaker explained.
The source said the focus was on the economic challenges resulting from the fuel subsidy removal, which has led to skyrocketing prices of goods and services in the country, according to NAN
The news agency also stated that the source disclosed that Abass did not make any promises regarding the salary and allowance review, as such matters can only be accommodated through the proper budgetary process.
The speaker, according to the anonymous legislator, told his colleagues that their request for a review of their salaries and allowances was not in the 2023 budget.
The source emphasised that given the country’s situation, they understood why the speaker could not make immediate commitments, stating, “We all know the situation in the country; we are all facing the same problem.”
The Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is responsible for determining the salaries and allowances of public officials and had proposed a 100 per cent increase.
However, the approval of such an increase is pending the president’s decision and inclusion in the budget.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu submitted a communication to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 12, seeking an amendment to the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act.
The proposed amendment aims to allocate ₦500 billion for the provision of palliatives to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.
President Tinubu stated that the requested amendment was necessary to ensure the government’s ability to provide support and relief measures to alleviate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.