Assembly Passes Sokoto’s N270bn 2024 Budget.

Assembly Passes Sokoto’s N270bn 2024 Budget.

The Sokoto State House of Assembly has successfully passed the N270.1 billion budget for the fiscal year 2024. The decisive moment came following the adoption of the report presented by the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation during Wednesday's plenary session.

In the presentation of the report, Alhaji Abdullahi Zakari (APC-Rabah), the Committee Chairman, emphasized that the N270 billion budget submitted by Governor Ahmed Aliyu remained unchanged. The budget structure comprises N97.8 billion for recurrent expenditure and N172.2 billion for capital expenditure.

Chairman Zakari reassured that these figures align with the governor's original submission. However, in response to legitimate requests from Sub-Committees, adjustments were made to allocate resources to meet essential demands and interests of the people.

Subsequently, the Speaker, Alhaji Tukur Bala, presented the report for consideration, and it received unanimous approval from the lawmakers through a voice vote.

Tinubu approves 50% reduction in transport fare nationwide.

Tinubu approves 50% reduction in transport fare nationwide.

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday approved a 50 per cent slash in price of interstate transport fare for Nigerians traveling during the yuletide from Thursday, December 21, 2023 to January 4, 2024.

This is as the President approved free rides for commuters on all train services within the period.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, announced this to State House Correspondents at the Aso Rock Villa on Wednesday.

Alake said, “It is in this wise that the President is announcing through us that beginning from tomorrow, December 21, Nigerians willing to travel can board public transport via mini buses, luxury buses at 50 per cent discount of current cost and all our train services on the route the trains currently serve at zero cost on their travels this holiday season.

“This special presidential intervention will commence tomorrow, Thursday, December 21 and it will end on January 4, 2024.

“The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Transportation, will be working with transporters, road transport unions, the Nigerian Railway Corporation to seamlessly deliver on this special presidential initiative.”

Alake added that, “I can tell you that all the relevant stakeholders in that industry have been discussed with or been engaged and all the parameters laid out and the Minister of Transportation has the full details and it’s on top of the game.

“In fact, the Presidents of the various transport unions have been met…and everything is in top shape in terms of execution.”

However, Alake said air iravel was excluded from the initiative because the initiative is targeted at the masses.

“The initiative is for the masses. Air is luxury. The masses don’t use air transport. So they are our main target,” he explained

Gov Adeleke approves N1.6bn bond certificates for 346 retirees.

Gov Adeleke approves N1.6bn bond certificates for 346 retirees.

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the release of bond certificates worth N1,625,332,835:75 for retirees who left service on the Contributory Pension Scheme.

This was contained in a release signed by the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Staff Pension Bureau, Mr Ibrahim Akibu, obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday.

Akibu said the beneficiaries were drawn from pensioners retired primary school teachers and local government staffers.

The statement read in parts, “The total beneficiaries are 346: Primary school teachers, 182 beneficiaries. Local government, 164 beneficiaries.

“The presentation of the bond certificates is a continuation of the commitment of the state government to workers’ welfare, in and out of service.

“This is another phase in fulfillment of Governor Adeleke’s open resolve to clear backlogs of salaries, pension, and emoluments issues within the public service.”

The statement recalled that Adeleke had commenced payment of inherited half salaries and other emoluments owed public servants by the past administration

Akpabio swears in Lalong as Plateau South senator.

Akpabio swears in Lalong as Plateau South senator.

Former Minister of Labour Employment and Productivity, Simon Lalong, has been sworn in as a member of the 10th Senate.

Lalong was sworn in on Wednesday at a session presided over by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

He took the oath of office at about 11.57 am on the floor of the Senate.

Akpabio immediately congratulated Lalong, a former governor of Plateau State, and the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress Campaigns during the 2023 presidential poll that produced President Bola Tinubu.

Lalong will represent Plateau-South on the platform of the APC.

It was reported that Lalong, a former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, had tendered his resignation to President Tinubu earlier on Tuesday.

Speaking soon after his inauguration, Lalong said he actually wanted to be a senator after he served his tenure as governor in May 2023.

Lalong said, “This was my first choice, to be candid.”

According to him, he opted to hold the position of minister in the interim and on the invitation of Tinubu because he had a case he was pursuing at the courts.

Lalong promised to do his best to serve his electorate to the best of his abilities.

Also reacting to the inauguration, the National Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, described it as a moment of happiness.

“This is a moment of happiness. We are so happy that he won at the Court of Appeal.

“What Nigerians will expect is good legislation. As we know, the APC has the majority and will work for the prosperity of all Nigerians,” Ganduje added.

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, had on November 7 upheld the judgment of the lower tribunal, which declared Lalong the winner of the Plateau-South Senatorial District election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission initially declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr Napoleon Bali, as the winner.

Bali had scored 148,844 votes, while Lalong recorded 91,674, according to INEC.

But Lalong challenged the result on the grounds that the PDP had no proper structures in the state on which a candidate could contest an election.

Customs generate N301bn in Rivers.

Customs generate N301bn in Rivers.

The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne in Rivers State, said it raked in about N301bn as revenue in 2023.

The command’s Area Comptroller, Baba Imam, disclosed this during its end-of-year service in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

Imam explained that the functions of the NCS, firstly are about revenue collection and generation, as well as the suppression of smuggling and the implementation of government fiscal policies.

While highlighting some achievements, he expressed happiness that the command met its target for the year, surpassing its target in 2022.

Imam said, “In the area of revenue, the command has recorded about N301 billion as of this moment.

“The command did not only meet up with its revenue target or beat last year’s revenue but has remarkably increased over N40 billion to N50 billion in addition to what was realised last month.”

Continuing, he said, “I would like to state here that, in July, the command had a total revenue of N38 billion, which is an unprecedented record in the history of this command, just for a month.”

He added that before now, the command had to record only about N27 billion as the highest revenue that was generated within a month.

Imam stated, “Our revenue target for the year (2023) is about N336 billion and as I speak, we have been able to get about 90 per cent of our revenue target and I want to assure you people all that we are resolute and committed to ensuring that we meet up with our revenue target before the end of the year.”

In the area of smuggling, the Area Comptroller disclosed that in a bit to ensure conformity with import and export guidelines and to serve as a deterrent to others, the command has seized about 38-39 containers within the period under review.

Among the items that contravened import and export guidelines include second-hand clothing, used tyres, concealed hard drugs, other substances, arms and ammunition, including pistols, which were handed over to the relevant agencies.

He also referenced the command’s peaceful and cordial collaboration with sister agencies, and stakeholders, which according to him has resulted in smooth operations and boosted the command’s revenues.

He commended officers of the command for being resilient in carrying out their tasks and obligations as proscribed by the law and urged them not to rest on their oars.

He further admonished, “As young officers in this service, the service is for you. You are the crucial management of this service and therefore, you need to be apt, proactive, diligent and committed.

“You need to, with sincerity of purpose, be ready to discharge any assignment assigned to you at any given time, and to be committed to ensuring that you will bring the needed result for you to be recognised.”

Highlight of the event was the presentation of awards, and certificates of excellence and recognition to officers and stakeholders of the command.

Aiyekire/Gbonyin Council Chairmen Jointly Present 2024 Budget Estimate to Aiyekire LGA/Gbonyin LCDA Legislative Council.

Aiyekire/Gbonyin Council Chairmen Jointly Present 2024 Budget Estimate to Aiyekire LGA/Gbonyin LCDA Legislative Council.

In fulfillment of their statutory responsibility, Prince Ayodele Fadumiye, the Chairman of Aiyekire Local Government, presented the 2024 budget estimate of five billion, seven hundred and eighteen million Naira (N5,718,000,000.00) on Tuesday. This was on behalf of Aiyekire/Gbonyin LCDA council area to the local government legislative council for consideration and passage. The proposed estimate, named 'Budget of Renewed Hope,' marks a significant increase of 150% from the 2023 capital expenditure.

The sources of funding for the 2024 Budget include recurrent revenue, allocation from the Federation Account, internally generated revenue, 10% of the state's contribution to IGR, Value Added Tax (VAT), Excess Crude Oil, Ecology, SURE P, and Women's program.

The chairman emphasized that the budget aligns with the present economic challenges and the new direction agenda of the state government. Recurrent expenditure is projected at 2,618,515,052.80, while capital expenditure will amount to 3,099,484,947.20.

Expressing gratitude to the legislative council for their cooperation, the chairman highlighted the balanced nature of the budget and urged everyone to contribute to the development of the Local Government Area/Local Council Development Area. He emphasized the need for prompt payment of taxes to expand the revenue base.

The event was attended by Hon. Damilare Ajayi, the Gbonyin LCDA counterpart, Council Executive Members, Management Team, Traditional rulers, Security Personnels, and Stakeholders. The Chairman assured that the budget provisions would lead to improved developmental programs across all sectors.

Hon. Akinyemi Bola, the Leader of the House, assured an expedited hearing and passage of the budget proposal through due process. He thanked leaders and stakeholders for their presence and pledged continued cooperation with the council leadership.

In his vote of thanks, Hon. Martins from Agbado-Ekiti Ward commended both Aiyekire/Gbonyin LCDA Chairmen for their developmental projects. Chief Anthony Ajila, Director of Administration, Gbonyin LCDA, stressed the importance of a robust and realistic 2024 Budget to ensure increased dividends of democracy. He commended the Executive Chairmen for quality service delivery and thanked all participants for their positive contributions to the preparation and presentation of the Year 2024 budget estimate, titled "Budget of Renewed Hope."

EKSG set to introduce land use charges.

EKSG set to introduce land use charges.

...... As Oyebanji prepares to announce wage award to workers.

In the drive to boost the economy of the state through improved internally generated revenue, Ekiti state Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has announced government’s intention to commence collection of  land use charges in the state.

Governor Oyebanji, who made this known on Monday during the 2023 Carols and Lessons service held at the Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre, Ado Ekiti said the property tax would not in any way be a serious burden to the residents of the state as it is going to be progressive.

The Governor called for cooperation and collaboration of all stakeholders on the scheme in order for government to continue meeting its obligation to the citizens. He added  that the property tax is going to be progressive based on the type and cost of property of an individual.

“I just want to plead with Ekiti people that by next year, we are going to start with land use charges in Ekiti state, because, if government must meet our obligations, we must raise money which I am sure will not bring any burden to anyone. We are going to do it in a way and manner that it is going to be progressive and we are starting in January. There is going to be a stakeholders’ meeting next week, where we are going to sit down with everybody in Ekiti state to explain this. If we do this, it is going to increase our IGR, then we will be able to do more.

“Every time, I receive requests for transformer, for water, for road construction, for community days, all this money will come from somewhere. So, if there are areas, we have not explored, time has come to explore them, but one thing you can be sure of is that I will be accountable to you and to God.

Speaking on wage award and welfare of workers, Governor Oyebanji commended the understanding and cooperation he had been enjoying from organized labour and assured that he would soon announce a sustainable wage award that his government would be able to afford.

“To the labour leaders, I don’t have enough words to thank you, thank you for dealing with all the pressure, but I think we are coming to a closure on wage award. And like I told you, I said I am not going to agree to something we will not be able to sustain, because I want your applause. I don’t want to announce what we cannot pay. 

“We have come to a conclusion on what we can offer and we will communicate it to you, and I plead with labour accept it because if you push us further, we won’t be able to sustain it. If you push us further, pension will suffer, gratuity will suffer and deduction will suffer. So it is better we do this thing in a way and manner that everybody will be happy so that no section will feel neglected. But whatever we say we are going to do, with or without FAAC, we will pay you.

The Governor also called on wealthy people that in the spirit of Christmas to assist families around them who may not have something to celebrate this Christmas with to reach out to them to complement government efforts on the various platforms it had created to reach out to vulnerable residents during this yuletide.

The Governor, in his characteristic manner used the platform to reiterate that he was not expecting or going to appreciate any birthday gift or advertisement from any of his friends or allies as he clocks another year on 21st of December but called on them to divert such gifts to children in the special schools saying that was the only thing that could give him joy during his birthday.

While Governor Oyebanji with members of his cabinet and body of Permanent Secretaries gave a special rendition at the event, lessons were read by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, Wife of the Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye and Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Oyewole Adeyeye among others.

In his sermon, the Pastor in charge of region 25 of Redeemed Christian Church of God Pastor Tunde Abdulahi spoke on wonderful attributes of Jesus Christ and stressed the need for people of God to come and enjoy Christ and enjoy his good tidings.

Other dignitaries who attended the event were traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil servants and the public.