Fayemi Takes the Stage at UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai.

Fayemi Takes the Stage at UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai.

In a significant development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past Governor of Ekiti State and current President of the Forum of Regions of Africa (FORAF), is set to share insights at the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 28, scheduled to be held in Dubai from November 30th to December 12th, 2023.

As the President of FORAF, a regional platform dedicated to enhancing governance and fostering sustainable development in Africa's towns and cities, Fayemi's inclusion as a speaker emphasizes the critical role of sub-national governments in climate change initiatives. His speaking engagement, titled "The Role of Sub-National Governments in Operationalization of Loss and Damage Fund," is slated for December 2nd and is part of a side event organized by the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa).

The Loss and Damage Fund, a mechanism established at COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, aims to offer financial assistance to developing countries facing heightened vulnerability to climate change impacts. Expected to commence operations in 2024, the fund is poised to play a pivotal role in alleviating the challenges posed by climate change.

Fayemi plans to underscore the significance of sub-national governments in facilitating the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund. He will advocate for their crucial role in identifying and assessing the needs of vulnerable communities, ensuring the efficient and effective utilization of the allocated funds.

Participation in COP 28 not only positions Fayemi as a notable representative but also provides FORAF with a unique opportunity to elevate the prominence of sub-national governments in the global climate change discourse. This engagement also serves as a platform to showcase FORAF's commitment to driving sustainable development in African towns and cities.

The forthcoming conference stands as a critical juncture for leaders to collaboratively address climate change challenges and pave the way for a resilient and sustainable future.

Ekiti State Government Initiates Free Distribution of CAC Documents to Support Nano, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

Ekiti State Government Initiates Free Distribution of CAC Documents to Support Nano, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

The Ekiti State Governor, H.E Biodun Oyebanji has graciously approved the distribution of free CAC certificates to NMSMEs and Business owners who enrolled in the free CAC registration 2022 during the JKF administration. 

This is following the announcement of the partnership between SMEDAN and Sterling bank to provide access to finance through single digit soft loan for NMSMEs between 250,000 to 2 million naira. 

The distribution of the free CAC certificates is to enable Ekiti NMSMEs and Business owners benefit from the SMEDAN & Sterling bank soft loan to which CAC registration is a compulsory requirement.

The distribution of the CAC documents would commence after the flag-off ceremony which is slated to take place at ⬇️

Venue: Conference hall, Governor’s office, Ado Ekiti

Date: Monday, 4th of December, 2023

Time: 12noon

N.B

Collection of CAC certificates would commence right after the flag-off program at the Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment, Adeyeye Ibidunmoye Building, State Secretariat, Ado Ekiti from 8am to 4pm daily.

Signed

Hon. Omotayo Adeola (Mrs.)

Honorable Commissioner

Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment

Federal Government and U.S. Initiate Talks on Funding Mining Projects in Nigeria.

Federal Government and U.S. Initiate Talks on Funding Mining Projects in Nigeria.

The Federal Government and the United States have started talks on the funding of mining projects in the country.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake and United States Assistant Secretary for Energy and Natural Resources Geoffrey Pratt have agreed to set up a team of officials of both countries to explore financing for mining firms and infrastructures.

This agreement was held on the sidelines of the mines and money conference holding in London.

Special Adviser to the Minister, Kehinde Bamigbetan made this known in a press statement.

Pratt said his visit to Alake followed an earlier meeting with President Bola Tinubu who sought the support of the US for the country’s economic revival.

He said the US would like to be Nigeria’s partner of choice in developing the solid minerals sector and was interested in the reforms announced by the Minister in his address at the plenary of the conference.

Noting that the United States has various institutions and laws which encourage direct foreign investment, Pratt said he would notify the agencies to collaborate with their Nigerian counterparts to work out the framework.

“Responding, Dr. Alake said the gesture was music to his ears as the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has launched a seven point agenda as its roadmap to reposition the sector.

“He highlighted the establishment of the new Solid Minerals Development Company, a new security architecture to ensure safety of mine operations and data generation on a massive scale to derisk the sector.

“He said the credit facility and foreign direct investment promised by the United States would be in the mutual interest of both countries because energy minerals such as lithium are critical to the global crusade for clean energy and necessary for the manufacture of electric cars.

“Also speaking at the meeting, the executive secretary of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Fund, Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi commended the US for investment in mining infrastructures in the central Africa urging a similar partnership with the Fund.”

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