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At least 24 states of the federation will not be able to pay workers salaries this year without having to wait for federal allocations from the central government, findings by The PUNCH have revealed.
Only 11 out of the 36 state governments of the federation can independently pay their workers’ salaries without depending on federal allocations, according to an analysis of the state governments’ approved budgets for the 2024 fiscal year.
The states with robust internal revenue are Lagos, Kano, Anambra, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Kwara, Osun, Ogun and Zamfara.
The approved budgets are also contained in Open States, a BudgIT-backed website that serves as a repository of government budget data.
While the budgets of 35 states have been made public, Rivers State budget could not be accessed neither has it also been uploaded the platform.
According to the analysis the budgets data, 24 states cannot fund salaries payments from their Internally-Generated Revenue and, as such, may have to rely on the Federal Government allocations or borrowing from banks and related institutions.
The development also means that the respective wage bills of the affected states surpassed their various IGRs, raising concerns about workers productivity and state governments’ efficiency in internal revenue generation.
The 24 states are Bayelsa, Ondo, Yobe, Sokoto, Taraba, Plateau, Oyo, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kebbi, Katsina, Jigawa, Gombe, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Borno, Benue, Bauchi, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Abia, and Delta.
The development is coming amidst clamour for wage increase by labour unions at both the federal and state levels, following the rising cost of living on the aftermath of fuel subsidy removal and unification of the foreign exchange markets by the current administration.
The Nigerian Labour Congress has consistently maintained that if inflation continues to rise, the organised labour may have no choice but to insist on a new minimum wage of N1m for Nigerian workers. The government however has rejected the demand.
In the first half of 2023, state governments borrowed about N46.17bn from three banks to pay salaries between January and June 2023. The findings were based on an analysis of the half-year 2023 financial statements of Access Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank, and Zenith Bank Plc
The PUNCH observed that the states borrowed the most from Access Bank in six months, with a record of N42.97bn loan.
This was followed by Zenith Bank (N1.78bn borrowed) and Fidelity Bank (N1.42bn borrowed) within the six-month period.
In 2023, state governors got the most FAAC allocations in at least seven years. The rise in FAAC allocations to the three tiers of government especially states followed the petrol subsidy removal and currency reforms of the current administration. The reforms have reportedly led to a 40 per cent boost in income.
Experts believe the projected revenue increase should have reduced state governments’ appetite for more borrowings.
In an interview recently, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, claimed that state governments were borrowing to salaries in the past but the removal of fuel subsidies had put an end to such borrowing.
“Every governor in Nigeria is getting more money than we used to get. Before President Bola Tinubu removed the fuel subsidy, in Kaduna State, precisely in May 2023, we were borrowing to pay salaries but immediately after the subsidy removal, after paying salaries without borrowing, we had a surplus of money.”
However, despite the improved funding, no fewer than 32 states indicated plans to borrow N2.78tn from domestic and external institutions to fund their 2024 budget.
According to further analysis of the states budgets, the affected 24 states will spend N1.48tn on salaries in 2024, while they plan to make N914bn IGR. This means the states will need N566bn from either federal allocations or borrowing to complete the payment of salaries.
The breakdown of data shows that Bayelsa State with projected IGR of N23.9bn will need money to pay its workers N69.12bn this year. Ondo State with projected internal revenue of N33.6bn will also need extra money to fund its N56.76bn annual wage bill, while Yobe State will fund its N42.86bn wage bill from its projected IGR of N14.55bn and federal allocation or borrowing.
Sokoto is expected to pay N46.9bn salaries from its anticipated internal revenue of N37.1bn and partial funding from allocation/loan, while Taraba will obtain extra funding to pay its workers N54.47bn from its internal revenue of N27.8bn. Plateau with a projected revenue of N38.89bn must get federal government allocation o clear its wage bill of N52.25bn.
Also, the Oyo State will pay N132.67bn to workers after generating N92.79bn in its coffers. The state will need additional funding to complete this. Niger State with projected revenue of N61.87bn will need help to pay its civil servants N70.24bn while Nasarawa will pay its workers N54.45bn from its projected revenue of N43.3bn and another source.
Further analysis of the budget showed that states such as Kogi will pay its workers N65.07bn from its revenue of N30.23bn and federal allocation, while Kebbi will pay N37.3bn as salaries from its N17.8bn internal revenue and partial federal allocation. Katsina will spend N56.3bn on salaries from its N40bn internal revenue and federal allocation, while Jigawa will pay its workers N64.84bn from its revenue of N50.64bn and federal allocation.
Gombe must pay salaries worth N35.27bn from its anticipated revenue of N22.32bn and federal allocation. Ekiti will spend N2.78bn on salaries from its N1.5bn revenue and federal allocation. Ebonyi’s N28.16bn wage bill surpasses its revenue of N25.1bn, while Borno will pay its workers N50.28bn from its revenue of N27.5bn and federal allocation.
Furthermore, Benue State with revenue of N23.9bn will pay N56.9bn as salaries, while Bauchi must pay salaries worth N46.9bn from its anticipated revenue of N37.1bn and federal allocation; Adamawa will spend N52bn on salaries from its N26.9bn revenue and allocation; Akwa-Ibom will spend N127.8bn on salaries from its N60bn revenue and allocation while Delta with projected revenue of N110.3bn must seek assistance to pay its workers N164.3bn.
Also, Abia with a revenue of N32.14bn will pay N47.83bn as salaries while Cross Rivers with projected revenue of N34.7bn must seek assistance to pay its workers N67.75bn.
According to the budget data, the 11 states which have higher IGR will conveniently fund their combined 980.68bn wage will their internal revenue of N2.34trn
Experts speak
In different forums, financial experts have raised concerns about states’ spending on recurrent expenditure highlighting the need to embrace financial innovations.
A development economist, Aliyu Ilias, said many states had yet to fully develop themselves as industrialised and marketable to attract investors.
Ilias urged governors to develop an area of strength they could leverage to attract foreign investments.
He said, “Going forward, what they could do is to identify one area of strength. For instance, Bayelsa has oil and should be able to attract investments. I think it is about policy. They should give the policy a chance that would allow people to come and invest. They should also create an attraction and develop an economic summit that will make sure they showcase and attract investors.”
An economist and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Prof Akpan Ekpo, also stressed that, “states have to think of new ways of increasing their IGRs. If they continue borrowing to pay salaries, it is not good for the economy.”
He urged the states to increase their revenue by increasing service delivery, which will attract more revenue.
Also reacting, the Managing Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Muda Yusuf, said that the report indicated that a majority of states were not financially sustainable and were at risk of insolvency if there was no boost in investment.
He said, “This issue is a fiscal sustainability problem, showing that many states are not fiscally sustainable and need to work towards it; and that the states need to do a lot more to attract more investments to their states so that their level of dependence on the Federal Allocation Accounts Committee would reduce.
“Even as we speak, many of them are also in debt and by the time they pay salaries and service their debts, there is not much left to improve on infrastructure. It’s in the interest of the sustainability of the states for them to be more creative in generating more revenue and attracting more investment to their states so that they can generate more revenue.
“Secondly, we also need to address the issue of fiscal federalism because some of the states don’t have power over some resources in their domain and can’t bring investors into it. For instance, mining is controlled mainly by the federal government, you get permission from them and revenue is remitted to them. So we need to revisit the issue of restructuring to help states have more control over resources within their domain.
Continuing, the economist stated that the state governors should take a cue from the Federal Government to reduce its bloated staff and political appointees.
“Most of these states have heavy overhead and they have very bloated bureaucracy, political appointees and they are putting a lot of pressure on their resources, so they have to do some rationalisation on their staff, many of them don’t need more than 50 per cent of their workforce but for political reasons, they put all manner of characters on their payroll including the local government. They have to look at that and take a cue from the Federal Government on the Oronsaye report.”
[Punch]
In keeping with his dedicated efforts to remove obstacles to investments in Nigeria, harness the nation’s resources and diversify the economy for the benefit of all Nigerians, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has executed Policy Directives to improve the investment climate and position Nigeria as the preferred investment destination for the oil & gas sector in Africa.
Following extensive engagements, analyses, and benchmarking with other jurisdictions, the President has initiated the amendment of primary legislation to introduce fiscal incentives for oil & gas projects, reduce contracting costs and timelines, and promote cost efficiency in local content requirements. Recognizing the urgency to accelerate investments, the President has directed as follows:
(1) Introduction of fiscal incentives for non-associated gas, midstream and deepwater developments.
(2) Streamlining of contracting process to compress the contracting cycle to six months.
(3) The application of the local content requirements without hindering investments or the cost competitiveness.
The details of these Policy Directives will be gazetted and communicated by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
These incentives were developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Petroleum, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.
The Special Adviser to the President on Energy has been directed to continue coordinating the aforementioned stakeholders to ensure the implementation of these directives within a stipulated timeframe.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 6, 2024
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday, said the insecurity in the country is not in any way connected to President Bola Tinubu.
He insisted that insecurity has drastically decreased since Tinubu took over office.
Akpabio argued that the present attacks are an aberration and no longer on the scale they used to be.
He stated this while contributing to the debate on a motion on the killing of 50 persons by suspected terrorists masquerading as herdsmen and increasing insecurity in Kwande, Ukum, Logo, and Katsina-Ala local government areas of the Benue State.
The motion was sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Udende (APC-Benue North East).
Akpabio said: “The primary responsibility of the state government is to use the security vote to ensure that the security of lives and properties in Benue state is protected.
“The first line of thought is the government of Benue as Senator Udende brought, we have not heard any comments from the government of Benue.
“If 50 people have been killed and communities have been attacked, we will expect that the state government will marshal out plans with the immediate security operatives within the affected state and see what they can do before bringing it to the President.
“And I want to assure you that President Bola Tinubu, though he has not stayed long in office, is supportive of the activities of the Armed Forces, and by the time the Senate meets with him in conjunction with the House of Representatives, I believe that the resolutions that we come out will benefit the entire country.
“It is a fact that since his assumption of duties, insecurity has abated, and major attacks are no longer taking place, but this one is just an aberration, and it will be brought to an end.
“I assure the good people of the areas affected that this matter is now on the floor of the Senate, and we are taking serious actions with the presidency to ensure that normalcy is restored to the areas and the victims are also taken care of.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has executed Policy Directives to improve the investment climate and position Nigeria as the preferred investment destination for the oil and gas sector in Africa.
Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
He stated this was done by Tinubu in keeping with his dedicated efforts to remove obstacles to investments in Nigeria, harness the nation’s resources and diversify the economy for the benefit of all Nigerians.
The statement adds: “Following extensive engagements, analyses, and benchmarking with other jurisdictions, the President has initiated the amendment of primary legislation to introduce fiscal incentives for oil & gas projects, reduce contracting costs and timelines, and promote cost efficiency in local content requirements.
“Recognizing the urgency to accelerate investments, the President has directed as follows:
(1) Introduction of fiscal incentives for non-associated gas, midstream and deepwater developments.
(2) Streamlining of contracting process to compress the contracting cycle to six months.
(3) The application of the local content requirements without hindering investments or the cost competitiveness.
“The details of these Policy Directives will be gazetted and communicated by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
“These incentives were developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Petroleum, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.”
Ngelale disclosed that the Special Adviser to the President on Energy has been directed to continue coordinating the aforementioned stakeholders to ensure the implementation of these directives within a stipulated timeframe.
[NaijaNews]
Former U.S. president, Donald Trump, cemented his position as the Republican Party’s all-but-certain nominee for November’s general election after sweeping the Super Tuesday primary contests.
“It is called ‘Super Tuesday’ for a reason. This is a big one,” Trump said in his victory speech, delivered at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
As the crowd chanted “USA! USA,’’ Trump said voters had delivered him an amazing night.
The results set the stage for a White House rematch between Trump and the U.S. President, Joe Biden, who as the first-term incumbent, had no real rivals for the Democratic Party’s nomination.
Trump easily defeated his last remaining major challenger, Nikki Haley, in primaries held in a slew of States, including California, Texas, Maine, Massachusetts, Virginia and North Carolina.
Other states include; Oklahoma, North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado, Alabama and Tennessee, according to unanimous projections by broadcasters based on initial vote counts.
Haley was only projected to have won the small north-eastern state of Vermont.
There was no suspense as Biden notched wins across the Democratic primaries held Tuesday except in the South Pacific territory of American Somoa, where the little known entrepreneur Jason Palmer prevailed.
“Tonight’s results leave the American people with a clear choice: Are we going to keep moving forward or will we allow Donald Trump to drag us backwards into the chaos.
“With a division, and darkness that defined his term in office? Biden asked in a statement.
Millions of people voted in the polls held in 16 of the 50 states, plus American Samoa.
Super Tuesday marked the largest single-day of nominating contests in the presidential primary campaign.
In the primary process, which began in January in Iowa, candidates were awarded delegates with each state they won.
One-third of the total delegates available for the Republican nomination were up for grabs on Tuesday.
A candidate needed at least 1,215 delegates out of 2,429 to secure their spot on the November ballot.
The nomination would then be made official at the Republican Party convention in July.
In spite of his overwhelming win, it was not possible for Trump to secure all the delegates he needed on Tuesday.
Before she became his 2024 opponent, Haley served in Trump’s administration as his ambassador to the United Nations.
She has waged a long-shot bid appealing to Republican moderates and independents but her campaign had not been able to gain enough momentum to pose a serious threat to Trump.
She lost the primary in her home state of South Carolina last month.
Tuesday’s contests were seen as her last stand.
Her losses fuelled the belief that her candidacy was no longer viable, with political watchers widely expecting her to drop out of the race, though the primary process would continue in the weeks to come.
Haley’s campaign said the results of the Super Tuesday contests showed that the Republican Party still remained deeply divided.
“Unity is not achieved by simply claiming ‘we’re united.’ Today, in state after state, there remains a large bloc of Republican primary voters who are expressing deep concerns about Donald Trump.
The Haley campaign said this in a statement.
Neither Haley nor her campaign addressed whether she planned on staying in the race.
So far, the 2024 election had been dominated by domestic issues including immigration, crime, reproductive rights and the economy, with many saying they still feel the pinch of inflation.
Worries about Biden’s age, he is 81 and the oldest sitting president in U.S. history have increasingly weighed on his campaign amid physical and verbal blunders.
Trump, who at 77 is only four years younger than Biden, is facing deep legal problems.
He had been indicted in four separate criminal cases and charged with a total of 91 felony counts.
They included his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which Biden won.
In his Mar-a-Lago speech on Tuesday night, Trump repeated many of the same themes he hit on at his campaign rallies, including his demand that the U.S. border with Mexico be totally shut to migrants.
“In some ways,’’ he said, the U.S. had become a third-world country.
[TNG]
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has extended warm wishes to his former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo, on the occasion of his 87th birthday.
Atiku, who served as Vice President during Obasanjo’s tenure as President of Nigeria, highlighted the remarkable achievements of the seasoned leader, emphasizing that only a few Nigerians can match his contributions to the nation.
In a heartfelt message shared on his official X platform account, Atiku expressed admiration for Obasanjo’s dedication and leadership qualities, stating, “President Obasanjo’s life continues to be a lesson in dedication and qualitative leadership.”
He further prayed for Obasanjo’s continued good health and dedication to Nigeria and the world, saying, “May God bless you with many more years of health and dedication to Nigeria and the world.”
Atiku concluded his message by extending warm felicitations to his former boss on behalf of his family, acknowledging Obasanjo’s significant role in fostering unity and growth in Nigeria.
[NationalDaily]
Minimum Wage: No worker can survive in Nigeria with less than N100,000 monthly – House of Reps
AdminThe House of Representatives has raised alarms over the insufficient minimum wage for workers in the nation, stating that a monthly salary below N100,000 is not livable for any worker in the country.
Rep. Aliyu Madaki of NNPP-Kano State pointed out on Wednesday that the soaring inflation rates in the nation have rendered basic necessities like food, water, shelter, education, healthcare, transportation, and clothing unaffordable for the average Nigerian.
According to him, Nigeria is a participant in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
He referenced Article 23 of the declaration, which stipulates that every employed person is entitled to a fair and beneficial salary, guaranteeing that they and their families can live with dignity.
- “Recall when the fuel subsidy was removed in May 2023, the Federal Government offered palliatives to cushion its effects.
- “However, the ameliorative effect of this measure has been overtaken by the continued rise in the cost of goods and services.
- “We are aware that wage award was granted by the president recently, but the purchasing power is low, owing to the continued rise in the cost of living in the country and the fall of the naira.
- “We are also aware that Trade Economics in 2018 reported the living wage for an individual Nigerian and a Nigerian family to be N43,200 per month and N137,600 per month, respectively. This was a pre-subsidy removal report.
- “Further note that presently, no labourer can live in Nigeria with a wage of less than N100,000.00,” he said.
What you should know
Workers have had to contend with rising prices of goods and services since the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, with the attendant inflation and escalating cost of living eaten deep into their pockets and rendering their monthly wages inadequate to meet their basic needs.
- In June 2023, for instance, workers and some labour leaders demanded that the minimum wage be increased from N30,000 to N250,000, adding that the current situation would increase the demand for a salary review. The amount was later adjusted to N200,000 monthly.
- Meanwhile, the federal government inaugurated a 37-member tripartite committee on national minimum wage.
- The committee is tasked with the responsibility of recommending a new national minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
- The committee, comprising representatives of the federal and state governments, private sector and the organised labour, is to be chaired by Bukar Goni Aji, former head of service of the federation.
[Nairametrics]
Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole has denied reports that he has a deal with Governor Godwin Obaseki to impeach Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu.
This is coming after the state Assembly served Shaibu an impeachment notice on Wednesday, amid his face-off with Obaseki.
Oshiomhole said Shaibu’s impeachment is the sole responsibility of the Edo State House of Assembly and the state judiciary.
In a statement signed by his media office, the senator said political parties have no constitutional role to play in any impeachment process.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to an article circulating on social media regarding a purported plan by the Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki to call on lawmakers of Edo State House of Assembly to begin impeachment proceedings against his deputy Hon. Philip Shaibu.
“Ordinarily, we would neither be concerned nor bothered by what methods the characters in the unending feud within the Edo State PDP employ to settle scores among themselves.
“However, we are compelled to clarify and set the record straight because in the said article, it was falsely claimed, and I quote “
“ _Our reporter also gathered that the governor have(sic) already gotten across to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to help him lobby and talk to the APC lawmakers in the House to support the impeachment move against Comrade Philip Shaibu”
“We wish to categorically state that Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole has not, at any time, engaged in discussions with Governor Godwin Obaseki regarding plans to impeach his deputy, as the apex leader of the APC in Edo State, is solely focused on fostering goodwill between the people of Edo State and the APC, with the goal of winning the upcoming governorship election and returning the state to a path of progress under an APC government.
“Also, it is important to state that matters of impeachment are the sole responsibilities of the Edo State House of Assembly and the Edo State Judiciary. Political parties have no constitutional role to play in any impeachment process.
“Therefore, the notion that Senator Adams Oshiomhole can influence the actions of APC lawmakers, should there be any impeachment exercise in the Edo State House of Assembly is simply preposterous.
“Senator Oshiomhole has not and will not engage in any deals with Governor Obaseki on this or any other political issue.”
[DailyPost]
The President of African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, on Wednesday, said the future of the Nigerian youths does not lie in any country but in Nigeria.
He said this in Lagos while speaking at the 2023 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership in Lagos.
Adesina was awarded the 2023 Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership Award.
Former heads of state, state governors, royal fathers and other distinguished Nigerians graced the event.
Past winners of the prestigious award are Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka; former South African President, Thabo Mbeki; and lawyer, Aare Afe Babalola.
Adesina added that Nigerians must make the country a viable place for people to stay and not a place to run away from.
“I refuse to believe that the future of Nigeria’s and Africa’s youths lie in Europe, North America, Asia, or anywhere else. I believe that their future must lie in Africa, growing well, robustly, able to create quality jobs and decent earnings for our young people.
“There is absolutely no reason in the world how we have a demographic asset that then becomes a global negative externality. Let’s take pride in ourselves and let’s make our demographic asset our economic asset globally. I firmly believe that their future lies right here in Nigeria,” he said.
The former Minister of Agriculture from 2011 to 2015 decried the migration to other countries by Nigerians, especially youths, as it does not develop sustainability.
“While one might argue that our growing diaspora is good as they send back billions of dollars, higher than the oil revenue that we have, this is not the way to develop sustainably.
“Nations that develop do all they can to keep their best human capital at home and additional resource skills elsewhere, with flexible immigration and labour policies,” he said.
He said AfDB unveiled a $614m programme to support Nigeria’s digital and creative enterprise to create 6.3 million jobs and add N6.4bn to the economy.
“I always say to myself, how can we have 477 million people under the age of 35 and there are no financial institution? That means we have missing institution and market failure problems and that is why the African Development Bank decided that we will create what we call Youths Entrepreneurship Investment Bank,” Adesina added.
Speaking about the event, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.), described Adesina as a brilliant man, who “represents the best of Nigeria.”
“The choice of Dr Akinwumi Adesina can only be described as having been very well done. He represents the best of Nigeria, hardworking, diligent, brilliant, forward-looking, and deeply patriotic,” Gowon stated.
[Punch]
A 37-year-old Nigerian woman working as a caregiver in the United Kingdom slumped on February 22, and died two days later.
The victim, Chidimma Susan Ezenyili, known as Suzy, collapsed while on duty in the street of Bishop’s Stortford.
Ezenyili who was a lawyer in Nigeria was tendering an elderly woman, Ian Hale in Scott Road, but a report said she was not feeling well herself but managed to work before her collapse on the fateful day.
Ezenyili and her husband, Friday left Nigeria in August 2023, to go and work as caregivers on sponsorship visas to give their toddler daughter Mandy a better life.
The 37-year-old migrated to the UK and had been caring for the 86-year-old Hale for the past five months.
Hale’s daughter, Catherine Segal, said, “She (Ezenyili) was driven there by her husband with their three-year-old daughter as she wasn’t feeling well but didn’t want to let my dad down.”
When Segal recounted the incident, she said the caregiver collapsed on Thursday, February 22, and stopped breathing and did not have a pulse.
“Naturally, her husband started shouting for help. The neighbourhood raced to help. Myself and my husband ran outside along with our next-door neighbour and our neighbour from across the road,” Segal said.
Segal further said, “We had two GoodSAM first responders arrive shortly after to assist. The community first responder along with several ambulances, police and the critical care team arrived to take over attempts to save her life and were successful in getting her on life support in the ambulance.”
The caregiver was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, where doctors at the neurosciences critical care unit discovered she had suffered a severe brain haemorrhage.
Segal and Ezenyili’s manager from Harlow-based Care at Hand Ltd, Elisha Newberry, went to the hospital with Friday to support him.
In his narration, Segal’s husband, Saul said, “Sadly, life support was turned off two days later, on February 24, and she passed with her husband by her side.”
But Segal said, “Suzy came here as a carer to fill a need in our community. She was qualified in law in Nigeria and was planning to attain her qualifications to practise law here after her sponsorship as a carer finished.
“She was a really good carer. Kind, considerate and always willing to help no matter what the circumstances.
“Her dream was for her daughter, Mandy, to attend school in the UK and to make a new life here where she would have the opportunities that Suzy and Friday never had growing up in Nigeria.”
[Vanguard]
More...
Bayo Adelabu, minister of power, says the ministry will hold all electricity distribution companies accountable for their performance.
In a post on his X page on Wednesday, the minister said he invited chief executives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), as well as the managing director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
He said the meeting is over the worsening power supply in their regions and to collectively find lasting solutions.
“As the Minister of Power, I am deeply concerned about the deteriorating electricity supply across the country,” he said.
Despite the coordinated attempts to improve the situation, Adelabu said it is depressing to see the drop in power supplies.
“The Ministry has been exerting pressure on the Generating Companies (GENCOs) to enhance their performance, resulting in a recent increase in generation to over 4000MW,” he said.
“Despite this progress, certain distribution companies are failing to adequately distribute the power supplied by TCN, while vandalism of power infrastructure exacerbates the problem in regions such as Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.
“Moving forward, I am committed to holding all distribution companies accountable for their performance. Willful non-performance will not be tolerated, and severe consequences, including license revocation, may be imposed.”
Also, the minister said TCN has been instructed to prioritise repair works on damaged transmission towers and power lines to improve supply in affected areas.
“During recent supervisory visits to power generating plants, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by the sector,” Adelabu said.
“Plans are underway to settle outstanding debts owed to power generation and gas supply companies, which will alleviate the financial strain and contribute to improved generation levels nationwide.”
Adelabu urged electricity consumers to remain patient as the power ministry works tirelessly to address the issues and provide better service to all Nigerians.
[TheCable]
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Congratulates AFDB President Akinwumi Adesina on Award of Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership
AdminPresident Bola Tinubu congratulates Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), on the award of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo Prize for Leadership.
Dr. Adesina joins the pantheon of other previous winners of the award such as Nigeria's Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka; former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, and lawyer-educationist, Chief Afe Babalola.
President Tinubu commends the AfDB President for his visionary and noble endeavour to transform agriculture in Africa and ensure food security on the continent, recalling the growth enhancement schemes revolutionizing Nigeria’s agriculture value chains he introduced as the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The President acknowledges Dr. Adesina's unblemished records, tried and tested integrity, as well as his immense leadership and development strides, particularly in agriculture, efforts of which have earned him numerous honours and recognition globally, including the World Food Prize in 2017.
President Tinubu wishes the AfDB President more success at AfDB and strength in his service to Africa and to humanity at large.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 6, 2024
The Court of Appeal, Abuja division, has affirmed Julius Abure as the National Chairman of Labour Party, LP.
The appellate court on Wednesday set aside the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory which restrained Abure and two others from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
However, in the judgment on Wednesday, Justice Hamman Barka held that the high court was wrong to have assumed jurisdiction on the matter.
Delivering judgment in the appeal filed by Abure challenging the decision of the high court, Justice Barka, leading a three-member panel of Justices of the Court of Appeal, held that Abure’s appeal had merit and was accordingly allowed.
He said, “The judgement of the lower court is hereby set aside” Justice Barka held and awarded a cost of N1 million against the respondents to be to Abure.
As part of efforts to actualize his plans of empowering the Nigerian Women under the Renewed Hope Agenda, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is to introduce a $100m World Bank Fund.
The $100m Fund Project tagged P-BAT Cares For Nigerian Women is to economically empower the Nigerian Women.
Speaking on the project at a press briefing, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, called on all Nigerians to support the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the Care of Nigerian Women.
The Minister who said that when a woman is taken care of, the Nation is also taken care of, pleaded with the Media and Nigerians to support the President whose plan is to put smiles on the faces of Nigerian Women.
According to her, “I am pleading with you to support Mr President who will be unveiling P-BAT Cares for Nigeria Women , and integrity Brigade”,
“So I am urging you all to support and partner with Mr President to achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda which is one of the things that will curb insecurity and save Nigerians”,
Barrister Uju revealed that the P-BAT Cares For Nigerian Women programmes are targeted at empowering women across the Country and improving their productivity in whatever capacity they may find themselves.
The Minister disclosed that, “The President will officially be launching the P-BAT Cares for Nigerian Women alongside other programmes like the Nigeria for Women project and the Integrity Brigade which I want all of you to be part of.
“As a people, let us start realising who we are because this is the greatest Nation in the whole of Africa.
“As members of the Integrity Brigade. you play a crucial role in helping us fight some of these challenges.
“Not just the Media, the Royal Father’s and the Religious Leaders are also part of this Vanguard that the President will be launching.
” But the Media is very important to me because it is only you that I can use to achieve our goals for this country through your enlightenment and publicity.
According to her, the Integrity Brigade will aid in preventing misappropriation and discourage counterproductive protests among women, with NGOs expected to play a pivotal role in disseminating information.
The Minister who called on the Media to closely monitor projects and programmes to ensure they reach their intended beneficiaries, reiterated Government’s commitment to sustainability and Women Empowerment.
“I am pleading with you to support Mr President who will be unveiling P-BAT Cares for Nigeria Women and integrity Brigade”,
“So I am urging you all to support and partner with Mr President to achieve the Renewed Hioe Agenda which is one of the things that will curb insecurity and save Nigerians”, She said
According to her the Federal Government (FG) intends to go after Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s) and institutions using Donor monies for technical support, trainings, research and others.
Minister of Women Affairs said most of the Organisations are having millions of dollars allocated to them with the excuse of assisting especially Nigerian Women but the funds do not impact on Nigerians directly.
She said most organisations who apply for Donor Funding on behalf of Nigerians, spend a large sum of the money on consultancy fees, Technical support, Workshops, Research while Nigerian women who should be the original beneficiaries get nothing.
She disclosed that the Brigade, which would be formed under the P-BAT Cares For Nigerian Women Initiative, would be launched by President Bola Tinubu on Thursday.
The initiative would include P-BAT Cares For Women E-Market portal, National Women Helpline, Naija Save Nigeria Intergrity/Transparency Brigade and Nigeria be informed National Broadcast channel
Kennedy-Ohanenye said: “With the Intergrity Brigade, we want to make sure that every decision that will be made concerning Nigeria must be the one that will benefit Nigeria, we will not allow any decision that will not be beneficial to Nigerians.
“Even if you’re an NGO, if you want to write for support for Nigeria, it must be a support that will bring sustainability. We do not want support that you will use advocacies meetings, consultancies and syphon monies you brought on behalf of Nigerians.”
She warned those distracting government through protests and other upheavals to desist or face the wrath of Government .
The Minister who is passionate about the wellbeing and progress of the Nigerian Women appealed to the Media to join as partners in progress in enabling Nigerians to reap from the benefits of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.