FAAC shares N1.088trn to FG, States, LGs.

FAAC shares N1.088trn to FG, States, LGs.

The Federation Account Allocation Committee has shared the sum of N1.088 trillion to the Federal Government, States and Local Government Councils.

A communique issued at the end of the FAAC, in Abuja, on Friday, indicated that the allocation came from November 2023 Federation Account revenue.

The N1.088 trillion distributable revenue comprised a distributable statutory revenue of N376.306 billion, distributable Value Added Tax revenue of N335.656 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy revenue of N11.952 billion and Exchange Difference revenue of N364.869 billion.

According to the communique, a total revenue of N1.620 trillion was earned in the month of November 2023.

Out of the gross revenue, deductions for cost of collection was N60.960 billion; while total transfers, interventions and refunds stood at N470.592 billion.

Gross Statutory revenue of N882.560 billion was received for the month of November 2023.

A statement signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, said this amount was higher than the N660.090 billion received in the month of October 2023 by N222.470 billion.

The gross revenue available from the Value Added Tax in November 2023 was N360.455 billion.

It was also higher than the N347.343 billion available in the month of October 2023 by N13.112 billion.

The communique indicated that from the N1.088 trillion total distributable revenue, the Federal Government received a total of N402.867 billion, the State Governments received N351.697 billion, while the Local Government Councils received N258.810 billion.

A total sum of N75.410 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared with the benefiting oil-producing states as derivation revenue.

From the N376.306 billion distributable statutory revenue, the Federal Government received N174.908 billion, the state governments received N88.716 billion and the Local Government Councils received N68.396 billion.

“The sum of N44.286 billion (13% of mineral revenue) was shared with the benefiting states as derivation revenue.

Governor in Acting Capacity: Aiyedatiwa Deserves Honour As New Leader. Omoluabi Group Appeal to Ondo Political Class.

Governor in Acting Capacity: Aiyedatiwa Deserves Honour As New Leader. Omoluabi Group Appeal to Ondo Political Class.

The Acting Governor has now assumed office in the capacity of a protem Governor as bestowed on him by virtue of the dictate of the constitution. Today the troubled waters of the state have been made to settle by the singular pronouncement of Mr. President who advised that His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa be given the power to hold forth for the ailing governor of Ondo state. 

This mandate issued by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has really calm tensions and resolved possible political wars and rancours among political leaders in the state and other concerned state leaders. Kudos to Baba Reuben Fasoranti and other eminent leaders of the state whose roles and advise to Mr.President on the matter was really helpful. Today Ondo State has moved on and our our people are now psychologically better than the previous weeks. As a group in the state with concern for the peace, harmony and continuity in governance in the state, we shall not sit on the fence and watch any state in the southwest region be thrown into pandemonium. Omoluabi group suggested a constitutional solution which was very helpful too in resolving the imbroglio that kept a very important state in the southwest stagnant for months.

As a respected socio- cultural and political group in the southwest emerging from the Yoruba nation with an agenda to protect the collective integrity of the Yoruba people, we shall continue to make our group available for constructive criticism. It is now important to address issues and ensure the state under the leadership of Lucky Aiyedatiwa move forward unperturbed. The Acting governor should immediately swing to action and take decisive steps at using the instruments and paraphernalia of office smartly.  Key areas that requires attention is to block all loopholes and checkmate all unnecessary spendings.

The renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu have been intended to better the lives of Nigerians which he has consistently addressed in all fora. Allocations to states have been regular, palliatives to states have been approved and distributed. To be sincere all state allocations have been increased to meet the need of states without any need for complains.

It is very important to let the Acting Governor assume office in full capacity and exercise the powers of office to the fullest. Key areas that deserve attention include:

1. Providing attention to the welfare of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo.

2. Block all loopholes for financial drain.

3. Adopt political solutions in key issues where change need to be activated.

4. Rejig the affairs and activities of key state Ministries in the state especially the Finance.

5. Transfer and re-shuffling of Permanent Secretaries including the Accountant General of the State.

6.Payment of salaries ad subventions to tertiary institutions in the state as at when due.

7.. Re- visit the issues of LCDAs' 

8. Ensure all ongoing projects  under the Aketi- led government be completed.

9. Other issues at your discretions.

Omoluabi Team Alliance Socio- cultural and Political Group wish the good people of Ondo State well and the Acting Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa well in his new assignment. Remember that governance requires giving back to the people because power resides with the people in a sane society.

 E- Signed.

 Engr. Aluko Taiyelolu Ife

 Ondo State Coordinator

 15/12/2023

President Tinubu Receives Ambassadors, Mandates Them To Focus On New Investment And Trade Expansion.

President Tinubu Receives Ambassadors, Mandates Them To Focus On New Investment And Trade Expansion.

President Bola Tinubu has assured foreign investors of diligent and predictable fund repatriation, and the streamlining of the tax system, while imploring ambassadors to prioritize the exploration of new frontiers of trade relations that will be mutually beneficial as they carry out their duties in the country.

The President received Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Hungary, Lorand Endreffy; High Commissioner of Rwanda, Christophe Bazivamo, and Ambassador of Ukraine, Ivan Kholostenko, at the State House, on Friday.

Speaking when he received the High Commissioner of Rwanda, the President said the long-standing concerns over trapped funds are receiving attention and that the funds will be processed expeditiously for release.

“We are one family on the continent. We will continue to promote democracy and good governance. I will maintain an open-door policy, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Chief of Staff are also available.

"For the avoidance of doubt, we are already working on the issues of double taxation, and it will be properly streamlined to favour business growth. Nigeria is home and a haven for investors," the President affirmed.

The Rwandan High Commissioner said the government of Rwanda was prepared to enhance bi-lateral relations with Nigeria, with new visa policies and trade agreements. 

At the ceremony, President Tinubu asked the Ambassador of Hungary to explore all opportunities of building partnership, especially in the areas of agriculture and food security, and how to leverage the experience of the country in technology. 

“Thank you so much for taking care of our students who are in your country. We are a very big country, with huge potential to sustainably spur economic growth. We are ready to improve relations, especially in the areas of agriculture and food security," the President said.

The Hungarian Ambassador commended the President for his bold, courageous, and strategic decisions to reposition the Nigerian economy, listing some areas of collaboration to include education, agriculture, food security, security, and medical technology.

 

“My Prime Minister always says that our relations are based on mutual respect,’’ he said. 

President Tinubu told the Ukrainian Ambassador that Nigeria will always work for global peace and harmony. 

“We are with you in prayers. We will continue to support good governance and democracy,’’ the President stated. 

ECOWAS court orders release of deposed Niger president.

ECOWAS court orders release of deposed Niger president.

Ousted Nigerien President, Mohamed Bazoum

The Republic of Niger’s ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held in detention since a July 26 coup, must be freed immediately, the court of the West African bloc, ECOWAS, ordered on Friday.

The court called for his “immediate and unconditional release” and ordered that Bazoum be reinstated, according to the judge in the case heard in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.

Niger is currently suspended from the Economic Community of West African States after the presidential guard overthrew Bazoum and put him and his family in detention.

“It is Mohamed Bazoum who represents the state of Niger; he remains president of the republic,” the court ruling said.

“There are constitutional rights that have been violated.”

Bazoum has been held in his presidential residence with his wife and their son since he was overthrown.

Niger’s military rulers did not immediately respond to the ruling. Other member states have, in the past, ignored rulings from the ECOWAS court.

In mid-September, the deposed president appealed to the ECOWAS Court of Justice to obtain his release and the restoration of constitutional order in the country.

“The decisions of the court are not subject to any appeal,” Bazoum’s collective of lawyers said in a statement sent to AFP.

According to Seydou Diagne, one of Bazoum’s lawyers, the court “for the first time convicted military authorities who, with their coup d’état, violated the principles of the constitution of ECOWAS.”

“It is the responsibility of ECOWAS and its member states to ensure that this court decision is effectively applied,” the lawyers’ statement said.

ECOWAS announced on Thursday that Niger was now suspended from all of its “decision-making bodies” until constitutional order is restored.

‘Timing’ for transition

ECOWAS, which has imposed heavy economic and financial sanctions against Niger and cut off trade after the coup, has resumed dialogue with the military regime.

On Thursday, Togolese Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, who was on a mediation mission in Niamey, said details on the transition back to civilian rule in Niger had been agreed upon with its prime minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, a civilian appointed by the military regime.

Dussey told Niger national television Tele Sahel that he had “worked and agreed on the content and timing of the transition” with the premier and the regime’s Foreign Minister, Bakary Yaou Sangare.

“We will present this content… agreed together to the mediating heads of state and the ECOWAS Commission,” he said, without giving any details on how long the transition would be or how it would happen.

According to Tele Sahel, Dussey will return to Niamey in January with his counterpart from Sierra Leone, Timothy Kabba.

On Sunday, an ECOWAS summit in Abuja opened the way to a reduction of its sanctions against Niger, but on the condition that there is a “short transition” back to civilian rule.

ECOWAS leaders decided that a heads-of-state committee made up of Benin, Togo, and Sierra Leone would negotiate with the Nigerien military regime on steps needed before a possible relaxation of sanctions.

In August, the head of the military regime, General Abdourahamane Tiani, declared that the duration of the transition would not exceed three years and would be determined by “an inclusive national dialogue.”

AFP

Education tops as Taraba gov presents N311.3 billion 2024 budget.

Education tops as Taraba gov presents N311.3 billion 2024 budget.

Taraba state governor, Agbu Kefas, on Friday, December 15, presented N311,388,525,661.96 as the 2024 budget to the state House of Assembly. 

A breakdown of the appropriation bill, titled: “Budget of Moving Forward,” shows that N111,669,595,358.59 is for recurrent expenditure representing 39.5% while N199,708,930,303.37 is for capital expenditure representing 64.1% of the budget.

Based on the sectoral allocation, education has the highest share of N43,208,278,849.28 representing 13.9% of the budget.

Health follows with an allocation of N33,54,686,848.00k representing 10.6% and works which was allocated N24,804,232,263.17 representing 8.0% of the budget.

The governor said the budget was anchored on the five-finger agenda of his administration which include: education, security, women/youth development, infrastructure and health.

He explained that the budget will place specific focus on education including teacher training, improvement of schools and so on. 

According to Kefas, 5% of the budget will be allocated to the Greening Taraba Project in order to preserve the natural beauty of the State and mitigate the effect of climate change.

Speaker of the House, John Kizito Bonzena, acknowledged the good working relationship between the executive and the legislature in the State. He assured of a speedy passage of the budget in order to keep up with the January-December timeframe.

Messi, Mbappe, Haaland finalists for FIFA Best award..

Messi, Mbappe, Haaland finalists for FIFA Best award.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are the three finalists for the FIFA 2023 Best Men’s Player award, world soccer’s governing body has confirmed.

Norwegian Haaland helped Manchester City win three major trophies, the Champions League, English Premier League and FA Cup last season.

Messi secured the award in 2022 after guiding Argentina to World Cup victory. Following that success, he clinched the Ligue 1 title with Paris St Germain alongside Mbappe before making a move to the Major League Soccer team Inter Miami.

The shortlist for the women’s best player includes two 2023 World Cup champions, Aitana Bonmati and Jennifer Hermoso from Spain, alongside Linda Caicedo, who represents Colombia

EKSG commences payment of N5,000 monthly stipends to 10,000 Indigent Citizens.

EKSG commences payment of N5,000 monthly stipends to 10,000 Indigent Citizens.

Ekiti State Government has commenced payment of N5,000 monthly as palliatives to 10,000 economically vulnerable citizens of the state.

Flagging off the presentation of cheques to beneficiaries on Tuesday at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s office, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, said the gestures were part of the palliatives plans of his administration to cushion the effect of the current economic situation on indigent citizens. 

Governor Oyebanji, who was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning and Oerformance Management, Mr. Niyi Adebayo, noted that the initiative, which had started for over two months now, will last for five months for 10,000 indigenes of the state.

He said each of the beneficiaries would receive the N5,000 on monthly basis for six months. 

He added that the gesture was part of the state government’s alleviation programme, aimed at ensuring that the less privileged in society feel the presence of government in times of hardship.

He explained that the palliative scheme was occasioned by the Federal Government's removal of subsidy on petroleum products in May this year, leading to increase in the prices of food stuffs and other commodities.

“Having realized the attendant suffering of the low-income earners, Ekiti State Government decided to intervene by giving these categories of people the succour to ameliorate their suffering.

The Commissioner highlighted some of the on-going palliative programmes of the state government to include: distribution of food items, provision of free transport system to support civil/public servants and students, payment of consequential salary adjustment to senior civil/public servants and payment of 2017leave bonus arrears to workers, food bank for elders, among others. 

Mr Adebayo stressed that the 10,000 beneficiaries were selected from the 18,000 Indigent members of the state captured in the Social Register in collaboration with the Federal Government. 

He explained further that the compilation of the Social Register was devoid of political, religious or ethnic colouration adding that their selection was transparent and it cut across all the 16 Local Government and 22 Local Council Development Areas which was subject to periodic reviews to accommodate more indigent members of the society.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Barrister Sola Akinluyi said that the State government commenced the palliative payment in October this year, calling on the people of the state to support the Biodun Oyebanji - led government in its bid to transform the lives of the citizenry.

He commended the Governor for according top priority to the welfare and wellbeing of the people as well as the prompt release of funds for the programme.

One of the beneficiaries, Akinola Tolulope commended Governor Oyebanji for his Shared prosperity agenda for the people of the state and promised that the beneficiaries would make judicious use of the fund.