Diri seeks lawmakers’ approval for N480.9b 2024 budget.

Diri seeks lawmakers’ approval for N480.9b 2024 budget.

....Makinde to present 2024 budget estimates to Oyo Assembly December 5.

......Oborevworii takes N714.4b proposal to Delta lawmakers.

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri yesterday presented an Appropriation Bill of N480.9 billion for the 2024 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly for consideration and passage.

Diri said the fiscal proposal, titled: Budget of Sustainable and Shared Prosperity, would be funded through Opening Balance of N13.6 billion; Statutory Allocation, N57 billion; VAT, N36 billion; 13 per cent Derivation, N208.9 billionn; IGR, N23.8 billion, and other capital receipts, such as stamp duties, loans, grants, among others, estimated at N141.578 billion.

The governor also broke down the planned expenditures as follows: Personnel Cost N52.3 billion; Pensions and Gratuity, N13 billion; Contributory Pension Scheme, N2.4 billion, among others.

He said Overhead Cost would gulp N94.3 billion; Grants, Contributions and Subsidies, N13.8 billion; 10 per cent Contribution to SUBEB, N2.5 billion; RDAs, N170 million and Public Debt Services N43.245 billion, bringing the total overhead cost to N154 billion.

On Capital Expenditure, Diri said total expenditure would be N257.7 billion, including planning reserve of N12.2 billion, representing 53.59 per cent of the budget; while the Recurrent represents 46.41 per cent of the budget.

Diri said Works and Infrastructure would gulp N141.8 billion; Education, N49.8 billion; Agriculture, N14.8 billion; Environment, N15.5 billion; Health, N26 billion; and Lands and Housing, N6.8 billion. Others include Youths and Sports, N7.6 billion, Transport, N6.4 billion, and Power N6.04 billion.

Allocations to other sectors and ministries did not feature in the governor’s speech.

Diri said his administration would continue to provide the enabling environment to attract investors for the growth of the state’s economy and the empowerment of the people to participate in that space.

Bayelsa State House of Assembly Speaker Abraham Ingobere hailed the governor and his team for their commitment, courage and character in implementing this year’s budget well.

He promised that the budget proposal would be given expeditious passage.

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori yesterday presented a N714.4 billion Appropriation Bill for the 2024 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.

Oborevwori said the budget, named: Budget of Hope and Optimism, comprised a Recurrent Expenditure of N316.6 billion, representing 44 per cent; and Capital Expenditure of N397.9 billion, representing 56 per cent of the total budget.

The governor said his administration would embark on the construction of more critical roads because “we are irrevocably committed to advancing urban-rural integration”.

He added: “In 2024, we propose to spend N150 billion on Road Infrastructure for the Ministry of Works; N46.55 billion on Education; Health will gulp N18.65 billion; Agriculture, N7 billion; and Urban Renewal, N7.5 billion.

“Environment will gulp N2.1 billion, and Youth Development N1.7 billion. These key sectors are very essential in our 2024 budget.”

House of Assembly Speaker Emomotimi Guwor said the budget presentation was historic as it was the first being presented by the governor, who was immediate past Speaker of the House.

In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde is scheduled to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the House of Assembly on December 5.

The governor is expected to be accompanied by top government officials during the ceremony.

The state government had held stakeholders’ consultative meetings on the proposed budget before the seven administrative zones of the state to give account of this year’s budget performance and collate the views and needs of people across all the zones.

NDDC laments unpaid N2tn allocation.

NDDC laments unpaid N2tn allocation.

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Sam Ogbuku, on Wednesday, said the interventionist agency is being owed remittances totalling over N2trn by the Federal Government.

Ogbuku stated this when he appeared before the House of Representatives’ Committee on NDDC, chaired by Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake.

According to him, the amount is the accumulation of 15 per cent of the allocation of the nine states that make up the region, due to the commission since 2000.

He noted that in spite of the passage of the agency’s annual budget in 2021, 2022 and 2023; the funds were yet to be remitted.

“I want to raise an important issue. When we talk about funding, the NDDC Act says the monthly allocation from the Federal Government is 15 per cent of the allocation of nine states of the Niger Delta. But I can assure you that since the inception of the NDDC, it has not got that.

“The Federal Government only budgets what it wants to give to the NDDC for that year and they give it that year. If you look at the 15 per cent, we are not getting it.  Even with the removal of fuel subsidy and with the increment of state allocation,  the NDDC is still where it is. So, these are issues we want you to help us resolve and we have done our calculation that from 2000 to date we can say we are being owed over N2trn from what is supposed to be due NDDC.

“We also came in at a point when the NDDC never had a budget for 2021, 2022 and 2023. These budgets were before the National Assembly and we had to fast-track the passage of those budgets and those budgets were eventually passed in April this year. However, since the budget was passed, it has not been handed over to us up till now. We pray and plead with you to ensure that as fast as possible, you also facilitate the process for us to have the budget because the budget year is already coming to an end,” he said.

The Chairman of the NDDC Board, Chiedu Ebie, said the board would work together to reposition the commission in the interest of the oil-producing states and Nigeria at large.

On his part,  Erhiatake said issues raised by the agency would be addressed in no distant time.

“It is very important we create a platform for synergy in the implementation of these policies and programmes for the general benefit of Nigerians and especially the people of the Niger Delta. I assure you that this committee is willing and ready to partner with you to make sure that the dividends of democracy are brought to the region and the narratives that had been set by the previous board are changed for the better.”

Meanwhile, the  Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has advised officials of the NDDC to be abreast of anti-graft laws so as to step out of line.

The ICPC Zonal Commissioner for Rivers and Bayelsa states, Mrs. Ekere Usiere, gave the advice during a sensitisation programme organised by the NDDC at its headquarters in Port Harcourt.

A statement on Wednesday by the Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, Pius Ughakpoteni, said Usiere spoke on the topic: “Understanding the Offences and Penalties Under the ICPC Act 2000.”

It also quoted the Head, Legal Department of ICPC in Rivers State, Dr Agada Akogwu, as saying,  “Every public servant should take the ICPC Act as a Bible and internalise all its tenets. That is why the NDDC deserves commendation for organising a sensitization programme for its staff.”

Pollution: Reps vow to stop oil firms’ divestiments.

Pollution: Reps vow to stop oil firms’ divestiments.

The National Assembly has said it will stop International Oil Companies operating in the Niger Delta from divesting their facilities if they fail to address the negative environmental impacts of their operations in their host communities.

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Dumnamene Dekor, stated this at a two-day Technical Session on the Implementation of Host Communities Development Trusts organided by Space for Change with support from Ford Foundation.

Dekor expressed dismay that since the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act, rather than experiencing a better deal, communities had remained poor and in some cases, worse off.

He said the committee would use the instrumentality of the law to ensure that oil giants operate responsibly.

Dekor said, “By the enactment of that law, and you are aware it was done in 2021 and this is 2023, we have not seen the host communities stop complaining, meaning that the Host Communities Development Trusts are not operational.

“The host communities have not started getting the benefit of the law and it leaves the people of host communities in the same way they have always been.

“I understand that some of them (oil companies) are beginning to divest very quickly, we will also make sure that we stop some of those divestments so that the people can benefit.

“Take for example, you cannot mess up an environment, degrade it, then suddenly you divest, leave all that you have done and walk away. This committee will also liaise and make sure that we form partnerships with those communities that are affected to make sure that if it is Shell or any other company, we will make sure they are brought to account. We want people to begin to reap benefits.”

The Executive Director of the Spaces for Change, Victoria Ohaeri, said the meeting provided an opportunity for an appraisal of the PIA after its passage.

Aiyedatiwa returns to Ondo, heads exco meeting today.

Aiyedatiwa returns to Ondo, heads exco meeting today.

The Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, returned to the state on Wednesday following last Friday’s meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

The President met with stakeholders in the Ondo All Progressives Congress over the political crisis rocking the state.

In the raging crisis, the Ondo State House of Assembly pushed for Aiyedatiwa’s impeachment in the face of the apparent breakdown of the relationship between ailing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, who was acting governor while his principal was on a long medical vacation in Germany.

It was reported that the Ondo Assembly met on Tuesday and disclosed that Aiyedatiwa had been asked to tender an undated resignation letter as part of the moves to resolve the political crisis.

According to the Assembly Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, the decision was taken at the meeting with Tinubu in Abuja.

But an ally of the deputy governor, who spoke to The PUNCH on Tuesday, Aiyedatiwa was not pleased with the arrangement.

On Wednesday, it was gathered that the deputy returned to the state and went to his office to conduct some official activities.

A source in the deputy governor’s office informed our correspondent that Aiyedatiwa would preside over the state Executive Council meeting that would be holding on today ( Thursday).

The source said, “The deputy governor is around and he has resumed office today (Wednesday). He would preside over the exco meeting tomorrow (Thursday).”

Aiyedatiwa has been battling for political survival in the state as the state House of Assembly attempted to remove him following an allegation of gross misconduct against him.

The impeachment process was however stalled as the state Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, refused the request of the Assembly to set up a seven-man panel to investigate the deputy governor.

The crisis started when Akeredolu returned to the country after a medical vacation in Germany, in September this year. The crisis led to the intervention of President Tinubu, who held a meeting with the concerned parties last Friday.

On Wednesday, an Ondo APC chieftain, Otunba Olumide Araoyinbo, hailed the intervention of the President, saying would finally resolve the crisis and help to resuscitate commerce in the state.

Araoyinbo, a former Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly and President of the state Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in a statement on Wednesday, said the political crisis created a climate of fear and discouraged commercial activities.

He hoped that peace had finally returned after Tinubu’s intervention.

Meanwhile, a group, Concerned Elites of Ondo State, in a statement on Wednesday, accused the Speaker of twisting the resolutions reached in the meeting with Tinubu.

The group said, “We have noticed that Mr Speaker, for reasons known to him, deliberately twisted facts to suit a certain interest by asserting that there was no agreement to transfer power to the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, following the prolonged absence of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

“While reading the major conditions of status quo put forward at the meeting, which include retaining the cabinet, Assembly leadership and party leadership as currently constituted in the State, Mr. Speaker refused to mention that those conditions were hinged on Aiyedatiwa gaining acting governorship status.”

Credit: The Punch Newspaper 

IGP approves posting of Police PRO officers.

 IGP approves posting of Police PRO officers.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has approved the posting of Police Public Relations Officers (PPROs) to various State Commands and Formation to strengthen community engagement and communication.

The newly posted officers are tasked with fostering positive relationships between the Police Force and the communities they serve.

A statement on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said: “The newly posted officers and their respective portfolios include SP Ayuba Tunni Umma to PPRO Zone 2, Lagos; SP Hauwa Idris Adamu to PPRO Nigeria Police Cooperative; DSP Ejire Adetoun Adeyemi to PPRO Kwara State; ASP Unah Paul Echefunachi to PPRO Ebonyi; ASP Rufa’i Ahmed to PPRO Sokoto; and ASP Musa Mohammed to PPRO Bayelsa.

“Similarly, ASP Abuka Pius has been posted as a Staff Officer to the Public Complaint Bureau of the Force Public Relations Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

“The Inspector General of Police emphasises the importance of community collaboration in policing, urging the newly posted officers to work closely with the communities they serve.

“The IGP charges them to entrench the policing ideals and community-oriented initiatives being implemented by the respective heads of their Commands and Formations. The Nigeria Police Force extends its congratulations to the newly appointed PPROs and wishes them success in their new roles”.

Gunmen Kill Ogun Governor’s Office Finance Director, Cart Away Money.

Gunmen Kill Ogun Governor’s Office Finance Director, Cart Away Money.

In a tragic incident, Mr. Taiwo Oyekanmi, the Director of Finance and Accounts attached to the Ogun State Governor’s office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, was killed by suspected gunmen. The assailants targeted Oyekanmi on the NNPC bridge along Oke-Mosan road, Abeokuta, while he was returning from a bank in the Abeokuta Central Business District.

According to sources, Oyekanmi had gone to make withdrawals ahead of the November 30 budget presentation by Governor Dapo Abiodun. He was ambushed, shot, and rushed to the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, where doctors pronounced him dead.

The incident has cast a pall of mourning over the Secretariat, as two top civil servants anonymously conveyed their grief.

Confirming the incident, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Alamutu, stated that the police were actively pursuing the perpetrators. He provided details of the attack and the subsequent escape of the assailants in a vehicle.

Governor Dapo Abiodun expressed his condolences to Oyekanmi’s family, describing the incident as a rude shock. He called for prayers for the family and directed security agencies to swiftly apprehend the criminals responsible for the heinous act.

“I have directed all security agencies in the State to smoke the criminals out instantly and make them face the full wrath of the law,” Governor Abiodun declared.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, led a government delegation to Oyekanmi’s house to commiserate with his family.

The police are actively investigating the incident, and efforts are underway to obtain CCTV footage from the bank to aid in identifying the assailants.

"I pray for the repose of his soul and for God’s protection over the family he left behind. Obviously, he is going to be sorely missed by his colleagues and the government he meritoriously served till death," Governor Abiodun expressed in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Lekan Adeniran.

Ekiti Obas Pledge Support To Gov Oyebanji’s Tourism Agenda.

Ekiti Obas Pledge Support To Gov Oyebanji’s Tourism Agenda.

The Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has pledged their full support and commitment to collaborate with Governor Biodun Oyebanji on the development of tourism within the state.

The Obas made this commitment in Ado Ekiti yesterday when they welcomed Amb Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director-General of the Bureau of Tourism Development, Ekiti State, into their hallowed chamber.

Amb Ojo-Lanre said that he was in the Oba’s Chamber to spread the tourism gospel of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who believes that industry is not only an economic activity but a powerful weapon to develop, empower, employ, and generate revenue.

He pointed out the importance of tourism in enhancing socio-economic development and attracting investments into the state.

Amb Ojo-Lanre pointed out the significant role that the industry plays in generating employment opportunities and fostering cultural preservation within local communities.

He said that for Ekiti State to successfully implement her tourism vision “We need the full support and collaboration with you, the representatives of Olodumare and the divine custodians of our heritage, protectors of value and promoters of our culture which are the tourism menu which the Bureau is set up to promote and showcase to the world for economic buoyancy ‘

Amb Ojo-Lanre, highlighted the importance of preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Ekiti State, viewing it as a valuable asset that can contribute to the growth of the tourism industry.

He emphasized the need for collective efforts and collaboration between the government, traditional institutions, tourism stakeholders, and the local communities to achieve sustainable development in the tourism sector.

The Chairman of Ekiti State Traditional Council, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti commended Governor Oyebanji for developing an all-inclusive tourism policy that recognises the immense position of traditional rulers in tourism development.

He commended Amb Ojo-Lanre for his proactive approach and strides in promoting and showcasing the state’s cultural heritage, historical sites, and natural attractions.

The Obas expressed their enthusiasm in collaborating with Governor Oyebanji to further enhance the tourism potential of Ekiti State, and pledged their continued support, promising to actively participate in tourism-related activities, events, and initiatives initiated by the state government.

Mr Tunde Dada, a tourism consultant in Ekiti State, said that this collaborative effort between the government, traditional rulers, and the tourism development agency marks a significant milestone in the journey towards positioning Ekiti State as a top-notch tourist destination.

“It showcases the shared vision and determination to unlock the tremendous potential of Ekiti State’s tourism sector, creating a positive impact on the economy and the lives of the people.”