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Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), will on Monday swear in 11 justices for the supreme court.
Festus Akande, supreme court spokesperson, said the event will hold by 10 am at the main courtroom of the apex court.
In December 2023, President Bola Tinubu asked the senate to confirm 11 judges of the court of appeal as justices of the supreme court.
The president’s request came after the National Judicial Council (NJC) recommended the justices for elevation.
The supreme court is currently left with 10 justices after the death of Centus Nweze, and the retirements of Amina Augie and Dattijo Muhammad.
On December 21, 2023, the senate confirmed the judges recommended for elevation.
The confirmed justices are Jummai Hannatu Sankey, Chidiebere Nwaoma Uwa, Chioma Egondu Nwosu-Iheme, Haruna Simon Tsammani, Moore Aseimo A. Adumein, Obande Festus Ogbuinya, and Stephen Jonah Adah.
Others are Habeeb Adewale O. Abiru, Jamilu Yammama Tukur, Abubakar Sadiq Umar, and Mohammed Baba Idris.
The swearing-in of the new apex court justices would translate to the supreme court having the full complement of 21 justices as stipulated by the constitution.
[TheCable]
Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Dr. Olayemi Cardoso, yesterday, begged Nigerians to be patient, as the management of the apex bank is doing everything possible to ensure that the Naira is strengthened.
Cardoso said this at the 2024 public lecture entitled: ‘Recent Developments in a Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market: Issues, Options and Way Forward’, organised by the Nigerian Economic Society, NES, at the CBN Centre of Excellence Hall, University of Ibadan.
The CBN governor, who was represented at the event by Dr. Usman Opanachi of the Department of Monetary Policy, CBN said: “Anytime the Naira is on trial, the CBN is also on trial. We are working day and night to address the challenges and we hope things will work out.
“The exchange rate features nearly in every sector. The exchange rate and inflation are very high now. The exchange rate is a problem.
“Excess demand for forex in Nigeria is a legendary problem. It has just been there and over the years, the bank has implemented various strategies to address this problem. Those strategies have only been able to provide some temporary relief.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria does not supply or produce dollars. It is the naira that it produces. The CBN management thinks when you hold the price of a commodity that is determined by forex down artificially, a time comes when you will not be able to do that.
“The thinking of the new management of CBN is that the policies you have are intended to address the problem. The approach the management has adopted is the market forces approach. The bank now allows the market forces to play a greater role in the determination of the price of naira.”
Delivering the lecture, a renowned economist, Prof Sam Olofin, said it will be difficult for the CBN to control the foreign exchange saying the parallel market forces have taken dominance.
On the evolution of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, Olofin said: “We are only applying the same old drugs on a patient without any good results. The parallel markets are outside the purview of the CBN.”
In his welcome address, President of the Nigerian Economic Society, Prof Adeola Adenikinju urged the Federal Government to consult economists on the weak economy.
A suspected bandit was killed in Borgu local government area of Niger state while trying to collect a N3 million ransom, according to the Niger State Police command.
Naija News reports that the Niger state police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement released on Thursday, detailed that the event happened after some bandits threatened to kidnap a businessman in the Bako-Mission area.
According to Abiodun, the businessman was ordered by the bandits to deposit N3 million at a certain spot in Tunga-Umoru village.
He claimed that in response, police officers and vigilantes under the direction of the DPO of the New-Bussa Division mobilized to the scene. They successfully rescued a 22-year-old female victim who had been kidnapped earlier after engaging the robbers in a gunfight.
One of the robbers was neutralized during the firefight, and an empty magazine from his AK-47 weapon was recovered.
The statement read, “On 21/02/2024 at about 1030hrs, information was received that four suspected kidnappers threatened a businessman of Bako-Mission village, Pissa District of Borgu LGA to drop a sum of three million naira within three days at a particular location around Tunga-Umoru village, via Pissa District or be kidnapped.
“Immediately after this information was received, the police tactical team, including vigilante members led by the DPO New-Bussa Div swung into action, mobilised to the purported location, adopted an appropriate operational strategy and engaged the kidnappers in a gun battle, while one female victim of about 22 years earlier kidnapped was rescued unhurt.
“Fortunately, the team combed the bush and one of the bandits was neutralised during the gun battle and his AK-47 rifle with an empty magazine were recovered”
He further detailed that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other bandits who escaped with gunshot wounds.
Demands Monthly Key Performance Indicators
It was time for frank talks between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leadership of the Federal Civil Service yesterday.
The President said the service was slowing down implementation of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He decried non-implementation of the administration’s well-intended programmes.
The President described as shocking that timelines for approved policies have deliberately been kept in abeyance by civil servants.
A visibly angry Tinubu berated top civil servants during a meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
At the parley were Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Accountant-General of the Federation, Auditor-General of the Federation and federal permanent secretaries.
He ordered leadership of the service to double up their efforts.
The President said the proper thing for civil servants to do whenever they have reservations about any policy, programme or initiative is to offer suggestions.
Armed with facts and figures, Tinubu queried why the civil service was “abysmally slow in carrying out his people-oriented programmes.”
He listed some of the programmes being dragged down by the civil service as: the N25,000 wage award to workers and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative (Pi-CNG).
He faulted the civil service attitude to the reform package designed to create jobs and boost the economy.
Some of the reform programmes include provision of a single-digit loan of N1billion to 75 enterprises; N50,000 grant each for 1,300 Nano businesses; N75 billion for 100,000 businesses and startups; and the investment of N100 billion in gas-powered buses for mass transit.
The President said the reforms have not been implemented by the civil service.
A source told The Nation last night: “President Tinubu was angry with those at the top in the civil service and he did not hide his feelings.
“At a point during the meeting, the President expressed shock that the civil service failed to implement the N25, 000 Wage Award for workers since October until he placed a call from the AU Meeting in Ethiopia.
“The President told the top civil servants: ‘I am unhappy with the pace of work. The civil service is slowing down my Renewed Hope Agenda.’
“He said the civil service has not been responding ‘positively’ to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
“He complained that some of the approvals and programmes have not been implemented.
“He expressed concerns that the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative (Pi-CNG) is being slowed down by the dilly-dally excuses by civil servants on the Procurement Act.”
Another source said it was the first time the President would open up on the poor attitude of the civil service to his administration.
The source quoted President Tinubu as saying: “We swore to an oath and we made a pledge to the country and that God should help us. Governance should make impact on the lives of our people.
“If everybody does what is expected of him or her, our nation will be better.” He was really emotional.”
The source added: “The President told the civil servants to double up. He also called for more of such meetings in the future to iron out issues.”
The President added: “If there are government policies that civil servants do not agree with, they should come up with suggestions.”
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the President tasked the top civil servants to rededicate themselves to their duties and work towards improving the lives of Nigerians by acting with dispatch on matters that border on citizens’ welfare.
The statement said President Tinubu warned that the ineffectiveness and unnecessary bureaucracy that delay interventions in the economy and with programmes targeting vulnerable citizens would not be tolerated.
He directed that a monthly briefing by the Head of Service and submission of key performance indicator (KPI) reports should be made to his office for review, and that quarterly interactive meetings between the President and the Body of Permanent Secretaries will now be scheduled.
The statement reads: “The Head of Service and the Body of Permanent Secretaries have been mandated by the President to consistently measure progress in actualising the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.”
The President was quoted as saying: “Before the next meeting, I want to see progress in the civil service.
“I have been sending people to check the level of work that gets done. Service to the nation is extremely important. We are to change the narrative on Nigeria.
“You and I can change the perception about Africa, not just Nigeria. We might not get it 100 percent right, but if we are focused, I think we can totally change and reshape the trajectory of our country in the right direction.”
President Tinubu asked public servants to always think and work with a generational understanding of their role in shaping national history, knowing that they serve as the engine room of the government and that their actions will affect more than 200 million people home and abroad.
The President added: “Let us make our children’s dreams come true. Why are we slowing that down? It is not just shameful. It is unacceptable.
“We pledged to bring our people out of poverty. You should not increase their vulnerability. Help Nigerians to get out of these problems; do not compound the tough situation with unacceptable delays.”
Briefing State House reporters after the meeting, HoCSF, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan, said the permanent secretaries assured the President of their commitment to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda and realisation of his administration’s goal.
The Permanent Secretaries have also reassured him that they are his foot soldiers.
She said: “The meeting went very well; it gave us an opportunity to have a chat with Mr. President. The permanent secretaries had been wanting to have an opportunity to have some time with the President and this gave a very good opportunity.
“Mr. President also used the opportunity to charge the permanent secretaries to redouble their efforts to ensure that the Renewed Hope Agenda becomes a reality. So, it was a successful meeting.
“Mr. President has given us a double-match order to ensure that all the projects and programmes that are domiciled in the ministries become a reality to Nigerian citizens.
“The permanent secretaries have also given him the reassurance that that’s why they are there, that they are his foot soldiers in the ministries and that they will work tirelessly.”
[PRESS RELEASE] Hardship: Sanwo-Olu Rolls Out Relief Measures, Reduces Work Days for Lagos Civil Servants
Admin…Governor sets up open markets for cheap food items, slashes T-fares by 25% on public transport means
…Launches palliative in health, education
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced sweeping interventions which the State will be implementing in order to reduce the effects of the current economic hardship on its citizens.
The Governor, during a live media chat on Thursday, conveyed his empathy to the State’s residents groaning under the rising cost of living, resulting in inflation of food and commodities prices.
Sanwo-Olu rolled out layers of measures targeted at vulnerable populations within the State to mitigate the impact of the hardship and bring about immediate ease, just as the Federal Government led the recovery efforts.
The Governor bared it all at the live programme anchored by veteran media practitioners led by Dr. Reuben Abati of Arise TV and Babajide Kolade-Otitoju of Television Continental (TVC). Others are General Manager of Lagos Television, Mrs Adesola Kosoko, and Channels TV’s Jeffery Uzomma.
As part of the measures to cushion the harsh economic situation, Sanwo-Olu announced new work schedule for the workforce in the State’s civil service. From next week, State workers on Grade Level 1 to 14 will be permitted to work three times weekly until further notice.
Also, civil servants on Grade Level 15 to 17 will work four days in a week.
Sanwo-Olu said the measure was not intended to disrupt governance. The move, he said, was to reduce the pressure daily borne by workers in carrying out their duties in the period of economic hardship. The Governor said the measure would save the staff of additional stress.
Besides, Sanwo-Olu announced a 25 per cent fare slash across the State-owned public transport channels, including BRT, train and ferry services.
The Governor said he had instructed all government departments and agencies to design modalities for immediate implementation of the measures.
He said: “I convey our deepest empathy to our citizens over the current hardship occasioned by inflation commodities prices. We are not unaware and unmindful of the current situation, but as leaders, we have the responsibility to bring immediate ease to our people. Given the nature of challenges that we are facing presently, we have designed creative means to ease the hardship on our people, starting with public servants.
“Effective from next week, the working hours of workers from Level 1 to Level 14 in the State’s civil service will be rescheduled. They will now come to office for maximum period of three times in a week. This measure will not shut down governance, neither will it disrupt operations of Government. It will all be calendarised and scheduled. Workers in Level 15 to Level 17 will be required to work four times in a week. All we seek to achieve is reducing the pressure on our workers and save them of additional stress.
“Rising cost of transportation has also made it pertinent for us to initiate an intervention in the sector. For the public using the Government-owned transport services, we are implementing 25 per cent fare reduction on all our public transportation channels. We are also working with various commercial transporters to assist in little way we can to ease the situation. Instructions have been given to government functionaries for the implementation of these measures; modalities will be provided.”
To address the rising food prices, Sanwo-Olu announced three layers of agricultural interventions. He said the State Government would be distributing combo packages of food items to vulnerable Lagosians, targeting 300,000 households.
The Governor said the State had concluded the procurement of over 100 trailers of rice and other food items, but currently fine-tunning the logistics for seamless distribution to the beneficiaries.
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos would be opening “Sunday Market” in 42 communities across the State, where staple food would be available for residents to buy at reduced prices. Shoppers would only be able to buy items not more than N25,000, with each shopper getting 25 per cent rebate immediately after purchase.
The Sunday Market, the Governor said, will open for the next five weeks.
“The third level of our intervention in agriculture sector is what we call “Soup Bowl”, which we similarly rolled out during COVID-19 lockdown. We have identified local cafeteria operators and caterers within communities. Funds will be sent to them to prepare the soup bowls. Vouchers will be given to anybody to walk in and eat free of charge. We want to be able to feed between 1,000 and 1,500 people in every Local Government Area daily for the next 30 to 60 days at the first instance,” he said.
In education, Sanwo-Olu introduced additional transport support for classroom teachers to enable them keep their work schedule, while pupils across public schools would continue their five-day school attendance.
For the time being, the Governor suspended the directive compelling parents to show evidence of tax payment in order to enroll their wards in school. This is to discourage pupil absenteeism and dropping out of school.
In health, Sanwo-Olu also reintroduced free child delivery programme for expectant mothers in all the State-owned General Hospitals and special maternity centres. The State Government, he said, would take up the cost of the child delivery, including Caesarean section.
He said: “We believe this measure would help reduce pressure on families. We are also working with the State-owned hospitals to reduce the cost of some certain drugs, such as hypertension medication.
“All the six health districts in Lagos will roll out bi-weekly community health mission over the next three months, where residents would enjoy free check-up for diabetes, blood pressure and eye testing. There will be free medications to be given to patients to manage observed conditions.”
Sanwo-Olu also touched other areas of his Government’s activities during the media chat, including the collaborative plan with the Local Government authorities to reconstruct 180 inner roads across the State.
He reiterated Lagos’ readiness of 10,000 men for state police in the case of the Federal Government giving full constitutional approval for creation of State Police outfit.
The Governor said hard times called for hard decisions by the Government, urging those calling for civil unrest and industrial action to desist from the plan. He noted that paralysing the economy would not bring about solutions.
He pleaded for patience and understanding, noting that the nation would be out of the woods in the fullness of the reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Addressing Lagosians, Sanwo-Olu said: “As incident commander, I am giving you the commitment that the bipartisan advisory committee that we have put together, will welcome ideas and advice from everyone that can lead to more solution out of the challenges that we have found ourselves.
“In terms of policies, we will continue to do everything within our means that the greatest good gets to the greatest number. Lagosians are resourceful and hardworking, they are commercially driven self-starters. Those are the values I want all of us to build our hope around.”
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
22 FEBRUARY 2024
Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has blamed the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and World Bank for the power sector crisis in Nigeria.
This came as workers in the nation’s power sector called for a total review of the power sector privatization, saying the exercise was a huge failure that did not meet the expectations of Nigerians.
President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, in a goodwill message, yesterday in Enugu during the 7th Quadrennial/12 Delegates Conference of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, lamented that Nigeria was still very low in capacity in terms of megawatts, contending that no nation could develop without electricity.
Ajaero also fumed that despite billions of Naira pumped into the power sector over the years, Nigeria was still grappling with 4,000 megawatts of electricity, blaming the IMF and World Bank for the power sector crisis in Nigeria, saying they “want Nigeria to remove subsidy on electricity as they ill-advised Nigeria to remove fuel subsidy as well as devalue the naira. Up till tomorrow, the IMF and the World Bank will continue to dictate to us. They are telling Nigeria to completely remove subsidies on electricity. What’s their interest? Why can’t they tell America to remove subsidy on wheat.”
In his welcome address President of NUEE, Martin Uzoegwu, urged the Federal Government to encourage and harness the abundant renewable energy resources in the country and do away with fossil fuels to improve power generation in Nigeria.
Uzoegwu, in valedictory speech, posited that if renewable energy source replaces fossil fuels, it would reduce climate change in Nigeria.
He noted that the world is already moving towards an energy transition.
“Government should encourage and harness the abundant renewable energy source as against the use of fossil fuel to improve power generation and reduce the effect of climate change in Nigeria as the world is moving towards just energy transition,” he said.
The outgoing NUEE President, while urging the government to shift from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources, also called on the government to consider a total review of the privatisation of the power sector, saying that the exercise was a huge failure that did not meet the expectation of Nigerians in terms of energy demands and tariff.
He lamented that the government that should have regulated the energy sector looked the other way while investors throttled Nigerians.
“I strongly call for a total review of the privatization of the power sector as the entire exercise was a gross failure and did not meet the expectation of the Nigerian people regarding energy demands, affordable tariff, power availability, ease of procurement of prepayment meters.
“Unfortunately, the government which is the regulator looks the other way while the so-called investors smile to the banks to the detriment of Nigerian people who are compelled to pay for darkness,” he laments.
Uzoegwu used the opportunity to condemn the dastardly manner the President of NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero was manhandled in Imo State during the 2023 general elections, pointing out that the perpetrators of the dastardly act should be brought to book to assuage the organised labour.
Earlier, the Managing Director, MD/CEO, Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, urged NUEE to use the forum to harness insights and craft solutions, adding that the power sector holds a pivotal position in driving economic development.
Abdulaziz represented by GM, Enugu region of TNC, Engr. Emmanuel Akpa reiterated the company’s commitment to provide unwavering support and an enabling environment for workers.
According to him, “Undoubtedly, the power sector holds a pivotal position in driving economic development, making forums like this essential for harnessing insights and crafting solutions.
“Therefore, as you convene to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities within the industry and the way forward, it is imperative to recognize the indispensable role of electricity employees in translating ideas into tangible outcomes.
“As leaders, it is incumbent upon us to provide unwavering support and create an enabling environment for our workforce. The fruitful relationship between TCN management and NUEE is a testament to our shared commitment to staff welfare and organizational success. Together, we will continue to prioritize employee well-being and foster a conducive working environment.”
President Bola Tinubu says his administration remains steadfast in implementing necessary economic reforms to facilitate business growth and create investment opportunities that support Nigeria’s growing population.
Receiving a delegation from the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) led by Florizelle Liser, CCA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, in Abuja, on Thursday, President Tinubu reiterated his unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s economic growth and stability, emphasizing that he is not relenting until his vision for Nigeria is achieved.
The President commended the recent landing of a 45,000-kilometre submarine fibre optic cable in Akwa Ibom State, which establishes connectivity for the entire South-South region of Nigeria with Europe, and other parts of Africa via the Atlantic Ocean.
Highlighting the significance of this accomplishment, the President noted that with the right policies, partnerships, and determination, Nigeria can overcome long-standing developmental challenges that have encumbered rapid progress across sectors.
Drawing on his extensive experience in corporate governance and interactions with CCA during his tenure as the two-term governor of Lagos State, President Tinubu expressed satisfaction with the Corporate Council’s dedication to fostering business connections between the United States of America and Africa.
”I am happy that the Council is interested in various segments of Nigeria’s economy. We are right in the middle of a challenging stage of our reforms. We have headwinds, no doubt, but we are not going back.
”We are challenged, and we believe we will overcome the challenges. I have a can-do attitude that must be translated into a must-do attitude. We have a good team, and we must remain focused to get the goal accomplished,” he said.
President Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to creating an enabling environment for business to thrive, emphasizing that his administration’s focus on investing in key sectors, such as agriculture, solid minerals, energy, health, physical infrastructure, trade promotion, financial services, digital enterprise, and the creative economy is underpinned by the need to ensure the welfare and prosperity of citizens.
”We are going to do more on security and investing in education, as we believe that education is the greatest weapon against poverty. We welcome partners like CCA, and we will strengthen our partnership to achieve our goals,” he said.
In her remarks, Ms. Liser expressed CCA’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic growth through the eight priority areas outlined by President Tinubu’s administration.
She invited President Tinubu to consider participating in CCA’s US-Africa Business Summit in May in Dallas, Texas, and urged him to consider CCA as a partner in enhancing USA-Nigeria trade, business, and investment.
[NationalDaily]
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of new heads for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Galaxy Backbone and the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) limited.
Naija News reports that this was made known in a statement on Thursday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
“With the reconstitution of the management teams in these agencies, President Tinubu anticipates that these seasoned professionals will deliver excellent service to elevate the impact of the digital economy sector on the socio-economic development of the nation,” the statement added.
The agencies are the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (NCC)
(1) Abraham Oshadami — Executive Commissioner, Technical Services
(2) Rimini Makama — Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management
(3) Opeyemi Dele-Ajayi — President/CEO, Digital Bridge Institute
NIGERIAN COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE (NIGCOMSAT) LIMITED
(1) Abiodun Attah — Executive Director, Technical Services
(2) Aisha Abdullahi — Executive Director, Finance & Administration
(3) Jaiyeola Awokoya — Executive Director, Marketing & Business Development
GALAXY BACKBONE (BB) LIMITED
(1) Ibrahim Adepoju Adeyanju — Managing Director/CEO
(2) Mohammed Sani Ibrahim — Executive Director, Finance & Corporate Services
(3) Olusegun Olulade — Executive Director, Customer Centricity & Marketing
(4) Olumbe Akinkugbe — Executive Director, Digital Exploration & Technical Services.
Also, President Tinubu approved the appointment of a new management team for the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), pending their confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.
Ngelale noted that: “The President expects unflagging dedication, professionalism, and dutifulness from the new appointees so as to ensure that the operations of AMCON are more efficient, transparent, and in consonance with his determination to sanitize the nation’s financial system to maximize value and enhance investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.”
Those appointed include:
(1) Gbenga Alade — Managing Director/CEO
(2) Aminu Ismail — Executive Director
(3) Adeshola Lamidi — Executive Director
(4) Lucky Adaghe — Executive Director
[NaijaNews]
The Federation revenue rose to N2. 068 trillion in January out of which the Federation Allocation Committee (FAAC) has shared a total sum of N1.149 trillion to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils.
This was contained in the communique issued at the end of the FAAC meeting in Abuja, yesterday.
Mr. Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) said the meeting was chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Wale Edun.
The N1.149 trillion total distributable revenue comprised statutory revenue of N463.079 billion, Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N391.787 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) revenue of N15.922 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N279.028 billion.
Total deductions for cost of collection was N78.412 billion, total transfers, interventions and refunds was N639.926 billion and savings was N200.000 billion.
Gross statutory revenue of N1,151.808 billion was received for the month of January 2024. This was higher than the sum of N875.382 billion received in the month of December 2023 by N 276.426 billion.
The gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) in January was N420.733 billion.
This was lower than the N492.506 billion available in the month of December 2023 by N71.773 billion.
The communique indicated that from the N1.149 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total of N407.267 billion, State Governments received N379.407 billion, while the Local Government Councils received N278.041 billion.
A total sum of N85.101 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
From the N463.079 billion distributable statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N216.757 billion, the State Governments received N109.942 billion and the Local Government Councils received N84.761 billion.
The sum of N51.619 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
The Federal Government received N58.768 billion, State Governments received N195.894 billion and the Local Government Councils received N137.125 billion from the N391.787 billion distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue.
The N15.922 billion Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) was shared as follows: the Federal Government received N2.388 billion, the State Governments received N7.961 billion and the Local Government Councils received N5.573 billion.
The Federal Government received N129.354 billion from the N 279.028 billion Exchange Difference revenue.
The State Governments received N65.610 billion, and the Local Government Councils received N50.582 billion.
The sum of N33.482 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared to the benefiting States as derivation revenue.
The balance in the ECA was $473,754.57.
Google, owned by billionaires Larry Page and Sergey Brin, is not shutting down Gmail, as the email platform asserted, “Gmail is here to stay,” in response to a viral hoax tweet claiming the platform would halt its email feature.
Additionally, the tech giant, under its parent company Alphabet, did not officially issue any statements announcing the purported “Gmail shutdown” on its website or through any press release statements for its 1.8 billion users.
How it all started
A screenshot circulating on social media platforms alleged that Google plans to phase out Gmail entirely by the end of this year, suggesting the service would no longer support email functions starting August 1. The screenshot, gaining over 1 million views across various accounts, claimed that Gmail would cease facilitating the sending, receiving, or storing of emails.
- The email, titled “Why Gmail Is Sunsetting,” outlined Google’s purported shift in focus towards developing communication technologies and platforms.
- The fake news release, supposedly addressed to Gmail’s 1.8 billion users worldwide and posted on social media, stated, “After years of connecting millions worldwide, enabling seamless communication, and fostering countless connections, the journey of Gmail is coming to a close.”
- The misleading notice specified August 1, 2024, as the date until which Gmail users will “be able to access and download all your emails.”
This statement, which carried with the company’s logo, surfaced shortly after Google announced the suspension of its text-to-image AI tool Gemini.
- Earlier, screenshots circulated online showed Gemini-generated images with misleading racial depictions in historical contexts. Elon Musk criticized the feature as “woke” and “super racist” in a series of posts, prompting Google to release a statement acknowledging the need to “improve these kinds of depictions immediately.”
- Chris Bakke, X Product Lead known for posting humorous content, shared the screenshot, playfully claiming to be the senior vice president of product at Google.
Bakke jokingly stated that he was instructed by Google CEO Sundar Pichai to terminate the company’s Gemini team but mistakenly fired the entire Gmail team.
What we know
In the aftermath of the rumored Gmail shutdown, Alphabet, Google’s parent company, witnessed a more than 1% increase in shares, concluding at $145.32.
Furthermore, Larry Page and Sergey Brin saw a boost in their net worth, with an addition of $1.18 billion and $2.49 billion, respectively, by the close of Thursday’s market trade. Both billionaire founders, controlling approximately 51.4% of the company through class B shares, now boast a combined net worth of $256 billion.
Since its launch in April 2004, Gmail has held a significant position in the email industry, contending with competitors like Yahoo and AOL.
Last year, Google disclosed plans for the gradual phase-out of Gmail’s HTML version, commencing in January.
The HTML view aims to provide users with quicker load times and enhanced connectivity, particularly beneficial on slower internet connections.
[Nairametrics]
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The rising cost of living in the country assumed another dimension on Thursday with an attack on a truck carrying food items in Suleja area of Niger State.
This is just as hundreds of residents of Dikwa town in Borno State protested and raised serious concern over hunger, threatening to join terrorists in the state.
The developments come amid the nationwide hardship that has triggered protests in different parts of the country.
Early this month, there was a protest in Minna, the capital of Niger State, in which a group of women blocked the Minna-Bida Road at the popular Kpakungu roundabout to express their grievances over the rising cost of food items, which has made access to three square meals per day to become increasingly unattainable for millions of people.
In what look like another turn of events, soldiers had to open fire yesterday when some youths attack trucks loaded with foodstuff in the Suleja area of Niger State.
Alhassan Abdullahi, a witness, told our correspondent that many trucks from Abuja and heading for Kaduna were blocked by the hoodlums, who burnt tyres on the road.
He said many bags of assorted foodstuffs, especially rice, were stolen before soldiers arrived at the scene.
“It took the intervention of soldiers who arrived at the scene and started firing gunshots in the air to scare the hoodlums away. But even at that, many of them went away with bags of rice and cartons of spaghetti and other food items.
“We learnt commercial motorcycle riders are also planning a protest. They would have done it since yesterday but we didn’t know what stopped them,” he said.
Police stop protest against hunger in Jigawa
Meanwhile, police operatives yesterday blocked protesters from staging a peaceful demonstration against hunger, social and economic difficulties in Jigawa State.
The protest was organised by civil society organisations and political associations.
Dozens of riot police operatives were stationed at various locations around Dutse, the state capital, to block the protesters from marching on the streets.
According to the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Shisu Lawal Adam, the protesters did not obtain permit.
He said the police saw the announcement of the protest on social media, adding that there could be total breakdown of law, order and public peace if allowed to hold.
He said the police had obtained intelligence that some miscreants had planned to hijack the demonstration to unleash mayhem.
When contacted, Chairman of SAWABA Initiative for Humanitarian Development and one of the organisers, Comrade Bashir Alkasim said less than 10 hours to the commencement of the protest, the police invited them for “a discussion”.
He explained that the state police commissioner requested them to postpone the demonstration due to some security issues, saying they were prevailed upon to withdraw the plan.
Comrade Alkasim said they wanted to hold the peaceful demonstration to draw the attention of federal, state and local governments to the current hunger, social and economic difficulties in the country, adding that it was also to stress the need for the authorities to do the needful to rescue the situation, which kept degenerating day by day.
“Since the removal of fuel subsidy, the government claimed to have got more money and shared it with other tiers of government, but what only reflected in the lives of civil servants and the common man on the street were increased hardship, poverty, hunger and other social and economic difficulties.
“We are calling on President Bola Tinubu to review his economic policy to align it with the needs and the welfare of Nigerians than foreign interests. We want local government financial autonomy to be revisited and granted fully,” he said.
“In Jigawa, we are calling on the state governor, Malam Umar Namadi to increase the workers’ wage award from the proposed N10,000 to N30,000, which should be paid before Ramadan.”
Dikwa residents march on streets
Also, yesterday, hundreds of residents of Dikwa town in Borno State have protested and raised serious concern over hunger and their inability to feed their families, given the recent nationwide hike in prices of commodities.
Daily Trust correspondent had obtained some videos showing hundreds of women and children lamenting on the streets, saying “Hunger and thirst are killing us.”
According to an eyewitness, they described their problems as double tragedies due to lack of access to farmlands and severe shortages of foodstuff.
A top government source said Dikwa town is suffering from severe food shortages as a result of the collapse of livelihoods since the Boko Haram crisis paralysed economic activities in the ancient town.
“It is sad that things have gotten to this level; the women are threatening to join the insurgents due to lack of food to feed their families. You can agree with me that our governor, Professor Babagana Zulum has been trying his best, distributing food and non-food items to cushion the effects of the hardship; but the situation is overwhelming.
“President Tinubu should urgently intervene; this is beyond what the state government can handle. We need special intervention as soon as possible to cushion the effects of hardships that our people are going through presently,” he said.
Another resident expressed fear that the current situation might jeopardise the peace restored over the past years.
“As you’ve seen in the video in the morning, the residents threatened to collaborate with, as well as move to Boko Haram camps, as they said they cannot withstand the severe hunger anymore.
“The government must understand what is going on, and take immediate action to avert this looming catastrophe from happening,” he said.
The insurgents in the adjoining bushes were said to be luring the residents with incentives to cross over to their side as a way to address their food problems.
NEC outlines initiative to ensure food security, affordability
The National Economic Council (NEC) has taken steps to put an end to the economic challenges confronting the nation, including making fertilisers available to farmers and the establishment of agro-rangers to tackle insecurity in the farms.
The decision was reached yesterday during the 139th meeting of the Council held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The vice president said that with collective efforts in developing a clear and actionable roadmap through short, medium, and long-term strategies, Nigeria will overcome its economic challenges.
Following a presentation by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, on food security, Vice President Shettima directed a meeting of the federal government with major fertiliser producers in the country, including Indorama, Dangote and Notore.
NEC noted that fertiliser is a major ingredient of agricultural productivity which the government is striving to attain, and urged the state governors to embrace modern agricultural practices to increase food productivity.
The vice president also lamented that Nigeria had been a victim of strong averseness to evolving and keeping up with the changing global economic order, leading to a situation where making difficult decisions to maximize its potential has become inevitable.
Delivering his opening speech titled, “It’s Time to Speed Up Our Prosperity Quest,” Shettima told council members that it is President Tinubu’s desire that they all stand together to collectively proffer solutions to safeguard the nation’s economy from imminent implosion.
Noting that the citizens are only keen about tangible results, the VP stated that while economic experts foresaw this transitional phase on our journey to a flourishing future, it is crucial to recognise that the ordinary citizen on the street is not concerned with any economic theory. Their daily concerns are anchored in the tangible.
“They are more invested in the price of maize than the predictions of GDP. So, as we deliberate on intricate economic strategies today, let us remain attuned to the heartbeat of the nation. We must ensure that our decisions resonate with the aspirations of the common man and woman who entrust us with their hopes and dreams”, he stressed.
Acknowledging that the country is in the midst of a pervasive emergency, VP Shettima implored state governors, ministers and other NEC members to align their minds and actions with the reality on ground.
In his presentation, the minister of agriculture also called for action against dollarization of locally produced commodities like urea, which is impacting negatively on fertiliser prices and agricultural productivity.
[DailyTrust]
A law firm, Chris Ogunbanjo & Co., has announced funeral arrangements for their esteemed Managing Partner, Otunba Abimbola Ogunbanjo (OFR), who died on February 9 in California, USA.
According to a statement released by the firm yesterday in Lagos, series of events have been planned to honour Ogunbanjo.
A service of songs and night of tributes will hold on February 29, followed by a funeral service on March 1 at the Church of the Nativity, Parkview. Private interment follows at The Anchorage, Erunwon. The family has requested privacy “during this difficult time.”
Otunba Ogunbanjo was not just a leader, but also a revered figure known for his wisdom, integrity and dedication to legal excellence. He served as a guiding light for individuals within the firm and beyond, leaving an indelible mark on the Nigerian legal landscape.
“He was more than just a leader; he was a guiding light, a mentor and a symbol of legal excellence,” said the firm.
“His absence leaves a significant void not only within our firm, but also across the legal and business communities in Nigeria.”
Ogunbanjo’s legacy extended far beyond the courtroom. He was a passionate advocate for professionalism, innovation and entrepreneurship, values he instilled within the firm and inspired others to adopt.
He was also a role model, embodying the timeless values of the firm’s founder, the late Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, OFR, CON.
The firm expressed their commitment to upholding his legacy and carrying forward his vision with unwavering determination.
“As we reflect on Otunba’s remarkable contributions, we are determined to honour his memory by rededicating ourselves to the pursuit of excellence that he championed,” the statement said.
Abimbola Ogunbanjo was the Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) from 2021 to 2022.
Read Also: Train girls to lead, says Tinubu’s aide, governor’swife
He played a crucial role in shaping NGX Group, and his strategic acumen and dedication were instrumental in shaping NGX Group’s transformative journey.
Prior to this, he served as the President of the National Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) from 2017 to 2021.
Ogunbanjo was a distinguished legal practitioner, serving as Managing Partner of Chris Ogunbanjo LP (Solicitors). He had extensive experience in commercial law, with a particular focus on capital markets, shipping and mergers and acquisitions.
He was also on the boards of several multinational corporations and non-profit organisations, including Beta Glass PLC and the Advisory Board of the University of Buckingham Centre for Extractive Studies.
[TheNation]
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, on Thursday, described those clamouring for a coup d’état as enemies of Nigeria, saying the military remained resolute to protect the nation’s democracy.
This was as the Kaduna State Overseeing Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed that the mastermind of the August 2021 attack on the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna was eliminated by troops on Wednesday.
The CDS, who spoke to journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday, warned coup mongers in the country.
The economic hardship in the country, which has seen Nigerians trooping to the streets in protests against the rising cost of living has precipitated the fear of military intervention, more so as three member states of the Economic Community of West African States have fallen into the hands of military juntas.
However, the Nigerian military has consistently maintained that it had no interest or plan to take over power, saying it remained loyal and committed to the democratic government.
Restating the military stance in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Musa said, “Whoever is making that call (coup) does not love Nigeria. We want to make it very clear that the Armed Forces of Nigeria are here to protect democracy.
“We all want democracy and we do better under democracy. And so we will continue to support democracy. And any of those ones that are calling for anything other than democracy are evil people and I think they don’t mean well for Nigeria. And they should be very careful because the law will come after them.”
The CDS urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the Federal Government, saying efforts being made would soon result in improved conditions of living.
He said, “We can see that with democracy a lot of things are happening in Nigeria. Yes, we are going through trying periods, but in life, nothing is one hundred per cent; everybody goes through a trying period in life, but it is what you do with them.
“You can see the government putting in efforts to ensure that we come out better. And it is when you go through difficulties and come out better you will really appreciate what it is to build a nation. And so we are going through our trying period, but I can assure Nigerians that it will get better.
“What is needed is for all of us to put our hands together to ensure that we defeat those enemies of the government, those enemies of this country that don’t want us to succeed.
“We will surely succeed and the Armed Forces are here to support the government in ensuring that we develop, we succeed and to see that there is peace in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, in a statement on Thursday in Kaduna, Overseeing Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Aruwan, said troops on Wednesday intercepted a notorious bandit, Boderi Isyaku, who is believed to have masterminded the August 24, 2021 attack on the Afaka campus of the Nigerian Defence Academy, which claimed the lives of two soldiers.
[Punch]
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finally released a comprehensive post-mortem on the 2023 general election.
The report, released on the first anniversary of the election, documents the failure of the result viewing portal (IReV) during the presidential poll.
The commission, in the report seen by TheCable, said the server returned “HTTP error” because of a configuration bug which was discovered after the presiding officers at the polling units could only upload the results of the national assembly elections.
“In configuring and mapping the election results for the presidential and NASS elections,” the report reads, “the Commission created Four Hundred and Seventy (470) election types consisting of one presidential constituency covering the entire country, 109 Senatorial Districts and 360 Federal Constituencies.
“Each Senatorial District and Federal Constituency election on the database was mapped to their respective States. However, the presidential election result is a single, countrywide constituency and therefore, does not belong to any one State.
“Consequently, while the uploads for the NASS elections succeeded as the application was able to identify the respective State and build the folder hierarchy for the results organization process for the election, attempts to upload the presidential election results sheets, which does not belong to or mapped to any State on the database, failed.
“Instead, it returned a HTTP server error response. This failure is attributable to the inability of the application to create and build a folder structure to organize the uploaded images of the result sheets of the presidential election.”
THE IREV CONUNDRUM
It took weeks for the presidential results to be uploaded to IReV
IReV, which was first used by INEC during the Nasarawa central constituency bye-election in August 2020, was designed for the uploading of result sheets from polling units on election day so that the public could view them in real-time.
This, according to the commission, is to promote transparency — a development that also allows members of the public to tally the scores themselves while awaiting the official results.
However, while most of the results of the legislative elections held on February 25, 2023 were uploaded to IReV, those of the presidential poll held the same day were not on the portal until late at night and only a few were available.
It took nearly a week for a substantial number of the presidential election result sheets from the 176,849 polling units to be uploaded, by which time opposition figures had started alleging manipulation of the votes.
Also, the results eventually posted on IReV were analysed by several media and civil society organisations with a conclusion that the votes for Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), were inflated in Rivers state while those of Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), were reduced.
Tinubu was credited with 231,591 votes while Obi had 175,071 votes in the official results.
However, the results posted on IReV appeared to show that Obi won Rivers with about 100,000 votes — although not significant enough to upturn the national gap of over two million votes between him and Tinubu, the overall winner.
There was no other state where major discrepancies were spotted on IReV.
‘PROBLEM WAS SOLVED SAME DAY’
Rivers results on IReV appear to show Obi’s votes were understated in the official tally announced. There were no major discrepancies recorded elsewhere
In its report, INEC narrated how the problem was first reported at 4pm on election day and how it was partially resolved in four hours.
The commission admitted that it was a key challenge that “impacted on the public perception” of the election and elicited “widespread commentary across the country”.
“To begin with, it is important to note that the IReV portal is one of the most significant innovations introduced by the Commission prior to the 2023 General Election to promote the integrity and transparency of the electoral process. As a public-facing website, the IReV portal shows the images of the original Polling Unit result sheets as recorded in Form EC8A,” INEC said.
“The operational methodology and the concept behind the upload of results to the IReV for public viewing is quite simple. At the end of polls, Polling Unit results (Form EC8As) are scanned and uploaded to the IReV by the Presiding Officer(s). These results are then available for viewing to the public and all stakeholders.
“The system, which was first deployed during Nasarawa Central State Constituency bye-election in August 2020 and tested in 105 subsequent elections, including three (3) off-cycle governorship elections, has tremendously improved public confidence in the integrity and transparency of the Commission’s result management process.
“The challenge of uploading the PU presidential election results on the IReV after the presidential and NASS elections on 25th February 2023 was unique. As voting ended across the country and POs began the process of uploading the images of the PU result sheets of the elections for the various constituencies around 4:00pm, the Commission began to receive reports that attempts to upload presidential election result sheets was failing.
“Following these reports, the Commission immediately engaged with its field officials for details in order to understand, and trace the origin, source, scale and magnitude of the problem across the result management ecosystem to devise appropriate solutions.
“In the troubleshooting process, it was established that there was no issue in uploading the PU result sheets of the Senate and House of Representatives elections through the Election Result Modules. However, there was a problem with uploading the presidential election results to the system.
“Attempts to upload the results were generating internal server errors, which refer to a significant impairment that usually originate from within an application due to problems relating to configuration, permissions, or failure to create or access application resources correctly.
“Further interrogation of the Election Result Modules indicated that the system is encountering an unexpected configuration problem in mapping the presidential election results uploaded into the system to the participating Polling Units.
“Due to the complex, sensitive and critical nature of the systems and the real potential for malicious cyberattacks, the Commission immediately put in place several strict security and audit control measures to prevent any unfettered or elevated access to the Result Upload System.”
The commission said after identifying the source of the problem, it quickly created and deployed “hotfixes” — software updates for fixing a bug or any vulnerabilities in a system.
The deployed hotfixes eventually resolved the HTTP error on the system “and the first presidential election result sheet was successfully uploaded at 8.55pm on the 25th of February 2023,” it said.
MORE PROBLEMS AFTER HOTFIXES DEPLOYMENT
INEC says additional quality assurance checks are now done “to complement the end-to-end testing of the entire result upload ecosystem before the conduct of any election”
After the deployment of hotfixes to rectify the upload challenges, the commission said it “noticed a high volume of uploads on the queue”.
“All results that scanned but could not be uploaded due to the error were queued waiting to be automatically processed,” the report states.
“Due to the large volume and high traffic from the queue, the system was running slower, even though it tried to scale up automatically to handle the unanticipated heavy traffic. The density of the traffic that slowed the uploads was one issue.
“Another was that the offline queue requires the BVAS devices to be switched-on and connected to the internet for the upload. However, some of the POs had at the time left their PUs, and the devices had either been switched-off, or were out of internet coverage. Switched-off devices could not connect and upload the results sheets.
“The Commission had to reach out to the POs of affected areas to switch-on their systems and ensure internet connectivity for the uploads to continue. This accounted for the delay, with some of the results coming in the next day.
“By and large, the glitch experienced in uploading the scanned images of PU presidential election result sheets on 25th February 2023 was due to the inherent complexity within the System, which was difficult to anticipate and mitigate.”
The electoral commission said it has made improvements to the IReV and “taken additional steps to build more resilience and undertook additional checks to ensure the stability and optimal operation and performance of the IReV portal”.
According to the report, “quality assurance checks are now done to complement the end-to-end testing of the entire result upload ecosystem before the conduct of any election”.
‘RESULTS SHOWED DIVERSE OUTCOME’
Tinubu was inaugurated on May 29, 2023 while cases challenging his election went on in the courts. INEC maintains that the results represented voters’ sentiments.
The challenges notwithstanding, INEC scored itself high on its performance, maintaining that “there is no perfect election anywhere in the world”.
“Public commentaries have dwelled largely on the challenges of the election,” the report further reads. “Yet, the 2023 General Election produced the most diverse outcome in recent Nigerian electoral history in terms of party representation in executive and legislative elections nationwide. Thus, four (4) political parties produced State Governors, seven (7) secured Senatorial seats, eight (8) won federal constituencies and nine (9) in State seats,” the report said.
“A granular analysis of the results and performance of the leading parties across the country affirms this diversity. The performance of the four (4) leading political parties – APC, LP, PDP and NNPP – in the presidential election across the 6 geopolitical zones in respect of the required 25% threshold to win a state in a presidential election.
“Clearly, across the zones, the performance of the four (4) leading parties shows the diversity and subtlety in the results, attesting to the integrity of both the process and outcome.
“Thus, in the North Central Zone, the APC won 38.58% of the presidential vote, followed by LP with 31.01% and PDP with 25.46%. In the North-East, the PDP won 50.67% of the presidential vote, followed by the APC with 29.16%, and LP with 6.09%.
“In the North-West, the APC won 39.54, followed by the PDP with 34.87%, and LP with 4.08%. In the South-East, LP led with 87.79%, with the APC having 5.71% and the PDP 4.08%.
“Similarly, LP led in the South-South with 42.37%, followed by the APC with 27.99% and the PDP with 26.12%. In the South-West, the APC led with 53.59% followed by the PDP with 22.14% and the LP with 19.97%.”
[TheCable]