The Trade Union Congress has frowned at the level of attitude exhibited by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who walked out of the discussion held with the leadership of the National Union of Nigerian Students, while expressing their feelings over the continuous face-off between the federal government and members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, over the incessant strike actions in the Nigerian universities.
In a statement signed by the TUC President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye, and made available to journalists, the action of the Minister is not only an impunity, ridiculous, but discriminatory in some sorts, as the Minister who serves as the representative of government should have listened to the Students Union, instead of walking out on them. TUC who reminded Adamu of the fact that peaceful protest is a fundamental human right, gave the federal government two weeks to resolve all issues surrounding the strike action by ASUU. The labor body threatened that, failure of the government to resolve these issues within this stipulated time, the trade union congress will have no option than to embark on a solidarity strike with ASUU and the Students union. The statement added that government must engage ASUU in constructive negotiations to find lasting solution to their complaints without further delay.
“We find it ridiculous that the Minister, a public officer rather than listen to their plight and strive to intervene, walked out. This act in our opinion seems discriminatory of some sorts, amidst finding solution to resolve the Federal Government – ASUU impasse, which requires to be redressed immediately. Mallam Adamu should be reminded that peaceful protest is a fundamental human right, most especially for students whose academic calendar continues to be distorted as a result of the multiple recurring strikes, occasioned by governments non honouring of agreements”.
“We wish to stress unequivocally that we are together with the University lecturers and their students in this struggle. Everything must be done to dispense with this impasse within two weeks, to avoid a situation where the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria will embark on a solidarity strike with the University Teachers and their Students”, the statement added.
The 36 states governors and Minister of Power, Engr Abubakar Aliyu have raised objection against the Draft Electricity Bill 2022 being worked upon by the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
The governors through a statement signed by the Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Ekiti state governor, Kayode Fayemi, said the proposed legislation was unconstitutional in view of the federal status of Nigeria.
This is even as the Minister of Power expressed reservations on the Bill at a Public Hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Powers.
Objecting to the Bill, the governors said: “It would be unconstitutional and an unjustifiable act of overreach for the Senate to consider and pass a Bill that continues to treat the Federation as one single electricity jurisdiction or sector.
According to them, “While a single Electric Power Sector Reform Act may have been useful as a catalyst for the sector in the early years of the Fourth Republic, the States have all come of age, literally and metaphorically, and the arrangements must change in a way that accepts and respects the maturity of the states in electricity matters; a reality that this Senate Electricity Bill does not recognise and take account of but at best only pays the most cursory lip service.
“After 71 years of sole and unchallenged central control of the electricity sector, we live with an electricity sector divided into two parts.
“One part is the FG-controlled and -regulated national electricity market that today is insolvent, bankrupt and delivers no more than approximately 4,000MW/96,000MWh daily to 220 million Nigerians, or an average of 18w/432watt-hours daily, barely enough to power two (2) 10-watt light bulbs a day.
“The other part of Nigeria’s electricity sector is the alternative/back-up market, whose estimated capacity is approximately 40,000MW so much so that Nigerian citizens are their own electricity providers in their homes, factories, schools, hospitals and places of worship.
“Our calculations indicate that if the 40,000MW of electrical back-up capacity owned and operated by Nigerians were to be delivered to them by licensed private IPPs and distribution companies through organised public electricity markets, Nigerian citizens and governments would have saved up to N17 trillion in 2021.
“Instead, this much money was burnt up via diesel and petrol generator operating/maintenance costs, instead of being saved and invested by private citizens and businesses and some of it captured by the States and Federal Government as tax revenues and levies. This has been the norm for decades and has worsened each year even as it seems set to continue in 2022 and beyond.
“It is in these circumstances that the Senate now has before it an Electricity Bill that does not address any of the challenges that threaten the sector and the nation. Rather, its key characteristics are a failure to recognise and provide for the rights of States to have their own electricity markets.
“The re-establishment of the same single national electricity market that has brought neither growth in capacity nor socio-economic development to the nation; and, as stated earlier, the continued absence of a clear path for the market to exit permanently from its long-running insolvent status.”
The Minister, however, observed that some of its provisions are watering down the powers of Power Minister as coordinator and overall supervisory authority over the sector .
He said: “Any such limitation on the power of the Minister has the potential to hinder efficient coordination of the Ministry and its agencies, impede the Minister’s ability for accountability as it hinders seamless reporting to the President.”
Earlier in their separate speeches, the President of the Senate , Ahmad Lawan and Chairman of the Committee, Senator Gabriel Suswam , said since the power sector reform Act 2005 is no longer sufficient for post privatization exigencies, a comprehensive legal instrument as envisioned with Electricity Bill 2022, is very necessary
The Public Account Committee, (PAC), of the House of Representatives has grilled the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo along with Heads of its Parastatals and top officials of the Ministry on several queries from the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation.
The issues ranges from issuance of capital allowances to several companies without proper documentation to back them up, non rendition of audited accounts, S well as expenditure from Service Vide Vote from 2013 to date.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Oluwole Oke (PDP, Osun) explained to the Minister that before the coming of the Finance Act, only Permanent Secretaries were being invited to answer such queries, adding that with the coming into effect of the 2020 Finance Act, invitations are now being extended to Ministers.
He clarified that the mission of the Committee was to bring Heads of agencies under the Ministry that have refused over time to respond to invitations to come and answer queries from the Auditor General, but rather consistently give one excuse or the other for their failure to honour such invitations.
According to him, “these people are appointees of the President through your office. By the provisions of the constitution, the President has often come to the National Assembly and yet, his appointees refused to come. IF they cannot do the job they are asked to do, they should resign because there are those ready to do the job.”
“We did not want to get to the level of issuing warrant of arrest for the Heads of agencies. We felt that if we invite you and ask you to come with them, they will respect you and come. We were right, today, they are here with you.
“We want them to come and explain to the Nigerian people how they spent public resources at their disposal. Is that too much to ask? If the President will come to the parliament, why wont his appointees? It is for accountability and transparency, the Parliament is not after anyone, even as you are here today physically, the Director General of the Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, is still not here, he has been avoiding the Committee, he has always been seeking for an extension of time for our invitations”,Oke said.
The Minister however appealed to the Committee to give him and his team more time to fine tune their documents and come back to them for proper defence of the audit queries.
He stated that the issues raised in the queries were just being brought to his notice at the hearing, stressing that he would need time to sit with his officials and the Permanent Secretary and prepare a more comprehensive answer to the queries.
The Minister assured that he would personally come back to the Committee with the Permanent secretary for the presentation. The Committee therefore obliged him in the spirit of fair hearing.
In the documents presented before the panel, it revealed that the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment had issued about 4,672 certificate of capital allowance worth about N7,865,186,245,398.81 to 2,203 companies between January 2017 and December 2021.
The documents also revealed that within the same period, the Ministry recorded what they described as disallowance (finding after an audit that a business or individual taxpayer was not entitled to a deduction or other tax benefit claimed on a tax return) of N101.553 billion.
Capital Allowance is the practice of allowing a tax payer to get tax relief on capital expenditure by allowing it to be deducted against their annual taxable income.
It is akin to a tax deductible expenses and are available in respect of qualifying capital expenditure incurred on the provision of certain assets in use for the purposes of a trade or rental services and effectively allow a tax payer to write off the cost of an asset over a period of time.
Constitutional Amendment Bill: Labour calls for Judiciary, LG, Legislature Autonomy
As the two chambers of the National Assembly are set to commence the Constitutional Amendment bill, the Nigeria Labour Congress has called on the Law Makers to vote for the autonomy of the judiciary, that of the local government system and the autonomy of the judiciary to salvage democracy in the country.
NLC said, the law makers should vote with their conscience by giving hundred percent of their votes to the important document, as labour will name and shame any member that votes against the wish of Nigerians.
The President Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba made the call in Abuja, at the mobilization of Nigerian workers for public advocacy. Ayuba who commended the national Assembly for what has been done so far, said their vote will not only strengthen democracy and institutions, but also determines the survival of Nigeria.
He further tasked Nigerian workers to have their voters cards ready as 2023 approaches, as this is the surest way to guarantee good governance. He said with PVC, the fate of any politician can be decided by labor in the forth coming elections.
He said ” we are aware that members of parliament, members of house of Reps and our distinguished senators would be voting tomorrow and next tomorrow on constitutional amendment. For us this is a very important occasion, particularly on three issues that pertains to good governance and developments and transformative move. First is the autonomy for judiciary, autonomy for the local government system and the autonomy for the legislature. Comrades we are aware that the national assembly has done a good job and will be voting on this very important document tomorrow. Workers expect hundred percent vote and this will strengthen democracy and institutions”.
“As they are going to vote, let their conscience prick them, let them realize that, they are voting for the survival of this country. The way Nigeria is gravitating towards the negative means we need to do something progressive. In all facets of developments, we are retriocrating, we must therefore at this point in time know where the rain started beating us. It started beating us when we undermined the autonomy of the judiciary, it started beating us when we undermine the autonomy of the local government, and it started beating us when we undermine the autonomy of the legislature, this is where the rain started beating us. Are we ready to change the narratives?” he added.
“If by now you don’t have voter’s card, then you have not started. Every worker, every member of your family must have voter’s card” he said.
Ayuba added that, any attempt by government or any individual to undermine labor, the services of Nigerian workers will be withdrawn.
The advocacy mobilization of workers continues tomorrow with the intention of presenting a document of demands by labor to the national assembly.
The Director General, Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) Engr. Simon Obadiah Nkom hinted that as at the end of last year, it generated N9.384 billion, which was a recorded within a period of three years.
Nkom gave this hint while having a round table media chat with selected journalists in his office, in Abuja, said revenue generated in 2019, N2.580 billion was generated for the federation account, while for 2020, which was the period of the pandemic, MCO surprised everyone by generating N2.303 billion, despite the lockdown.
He, however, added that barely 13 months to the 2023 general elections and given the continuous zeal by the current administration to diversify the economy through the non-oil sector, the new revenue generation should be encouraged and supported.
Nkom, while giving a breakdown of revenue generated by the office said though the agency has been generating revenue for the government but at a time when everyone was battling the effects of Covid-19 pandemic, the MCO was able to generate the sum of N2.13 billion in 2017, which though dropped sharply to the sum of N1.55 billion in 2018.
According to him, in 2019, the office raised the ante by N2.58 billion which was the second highest since inception of MCO in 2007 and despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
He, however, said in the first quarter of 2021, from January to May, it was able to rake in N2.016 billion while at December 31, 2021, the revenue generated rose to N4.3 billion, which was the highest revenue generated ever by the office.
On mineral titles, Nkom observed that: “Presently, 7018 valued titles are active. If I give you an overview of the entire statistics from inception, I think it will guide us by giving us a picture of what we are talking about because statistically, over 34,000 applications have been received from inception.”
He added that 15,483 applications were rejected, 4,997 revoked while 6,588 active titles are presently in existence. “There is an increase in Mineral Title Application submission, increased revenue generation – N4,301 billion organizational growth – establishment, and operationalisation of MCO offices in the six geo-political zones of the country. The MCO boss also noted: “We currently collaborating more closely with other departments and agencies of the Ministry (MID, MEC, ASM, NGSA etc) specifically Mines Inspectorate Department Job creation. A total of 38 staff were employed in the upgrade of the SIGTIM software to the web-base Online Mineral Title Administration and Management system – eMC+Activation and Integration of e-Recording and Archiving of Mineral Title documents. In the light of this performance, players in the sector have, however, urged the federal government to do a rethink and concentrate on solid minerals to diversify the economy thereby increasing its revenue base as prices of oil dwindle daily.
They stated in particular that for the solid minerals sector of which the country is blessed with about 44 minerals, there is need to invest in accurate data gathering in order to attract the right investors.
Looking forward to the year ahead, Nkom stated that the concern of the MCO is to be able to imbibe transparency, security of tenure and non-subjectivity all towards attracting the needed investments in the sector. He also emphasized the need to generate the needed revenue for the country especially with the support of government and other stakeholders.
He explained that the right to search for or exploit any mineral in Nigeria is governed by different mineral titles.
He listed the titles obtainable in the country to include the Reconnaissance Permit (RP), Exploration Licence (EL), Small Scale Mining Lease (SSML), Mining Lease (ML), Quarry Lease (QL) and the Water Use Permit (WUP).
Nkom further stated that the main agenda of the present administration is to diversify the economy through non-oil sector, majorly, Solid Mineral and Agriculture.
And seven years into the administration, the mining sector in particular has received adequate attention after several years of abandonment.
Though, the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in its effort to put the sector in its rightful place came up with a Road Map, launched by the former minister and incumbent Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
The Road Map has made the sector attractive to investors and has placed the sector on the path of recovery, growth and development.
The mineral sector alongside others has had enough government presence. But concerns have been raised in some quarters about the dwindling revenue generation by these sectors despite attention accorded them. Though, the parent body of the sector, the Ministry of Mines and Steel has recorded some giant strides, unfortunately poor management, double taxations and activities of illegal miners seem to be the source of worries to industry observers.
The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo recently warned that unless the country gets the fundamental of its solid mineral resources right, it will continue to live the paradox of suffering in the midst of plenty.
He added that while the Ministry of Mines and Steel has the legislative mandate to regulate mining, many states and local governments have embarked on the imposition of their own rules and regulations, including issuance of Registration, Permits, Community Development Agreements (CDA) and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on miners.
According to him, some state governments, in a bid to shore up their revenues, impose illegal fees, taxes, and levies on foreign and local licensed mining companies and operators.
He added that enforcement of the taxes often leads to the frequent arrests and harassment of licensed miners and their workers and closures of mining sites.
It would be recalled that it was in a bid to regulate all aspects of exploration and exploitation of solid minerals in the country that the Nigerian government in 2007 re-enacted the Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act.
The step was also aimed at fostering the growth and development of the sector. The Act vested the ownership and control of all lands in which minerals are found in commercial quantities in the government of the federation thereby prohibiting unauthorised persons from exploration or exploitation of these mineral resources.
The right to explore or exploit minerals in Nigeria is evidenced by the grant of a mineral title which can be granted to an eligible applicant under the Act in accordance with the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Regulations (NMMR) and after the submission of an irrevocable consent form by land owners or occupiers.
The granting is under the jurisdiction of the MCO, an agency supervised by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, which is responsible for the administration and management of mineral titles and the maintenance of cadastral registers.
MCO, as an agency issues, grants, suspends, and upon written approval of the minister, revokes any mineral title where a titleholder fails to pay a prescribed fee such as the annual fee. It also keeps a chronological record of all applications for mineral titles in a priority register, which ensures the agency treats all applications on a first come first served basis and equally applies the principle of ‘use it or lose it’ to mineral titles.
However, an application for a mineral title may be refused where in the case of an individual is under the age of 18 years or is an undischarged bankrupt or otherwise declared bankrupt under any written law or has been convicted of a criminal offence under the act or regulations.
Also, it is noteworthy to know that no title can be revoked without giving a prior notice of 30 days to any defaulter, sent to a registered address.
In spite of the prevailing pandemic fatigue, COVID-19 is still a global reality with the risk of emergence of dangerous variants, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) has said.
Dr. Ifedayo Morayo Adetifa , DG of NCDC added that, overcoming this pandemic and future disease outbreaks requires national and international collaboration. On a personal level, we can contribute by getting vaccinated and adhering to COVID-19 safety measures.
The NCDC remains committed to working under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health and in close collaboration with the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 to end the pandemic and protect the health of every Nigerian.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja stating that Prior to COVID-19, the world was preparing for a possible influenza pandemic, yet the arrival of SARS-CoV-2 highlighted inadequacies in global pandemic preparedness.
The statement reads: “Given the interconnectedness of the world (now essentially a global village), we are at constant risk of public health emergencies that have the potential to greatly disrupt lives and livelihoods like COVID-19 did.
“This makes it critical to learn from lessons taught by this pandemic to strengthen preparedness and response to other diseases in line with our mandate. We have continued to face outbreaks of cholera and Lassa fever concurrently with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Sunday 27th February marked exactly two years since the first case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first detected in Nigeria.
“This was largely aided by the prompt notification of health authorities by an astute attending physician. Since then, Nigeria has confirmed an excess of 250,000 cases, recorded over 3,000 deaths, and learnt major lessons in its bid to strengthen the country’s health system to cope with other infectious diseases and future health emergencies”.
The statement continued: “COVID-19 pandemic response has recorded the largest political commitment in the history of health system development in Nigeria due to its global relevance and impact on our economy. This has provided opportunities for prioritising health on the political agenda and attracting the required future investment in health security. We all have the responsibility to encourage and continue to hold authorities accountable to sustain interest and investment in healthcare in general and particularly for health security.
“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) as Nigeria’s national public health institute is mandated to lead on the preparedness, detection, and response to disease outbreaks of public health importance and to mitigate the health impact of public health emergencies/disasters. In the last five years, several efforts have been made towards improving our health system, as well as increased investment in response to the COVID19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the NCDC supported the establishment of infectious disease treatment centres, molecular laboratories, and public health emergency operation centres in all States, and provided equipment required for critical care in hospitals e.g., dialysis machines.
“NCDC has also led the training of over 40,000 health workers on infection prevention control, completed the digitalisation of the country’s infectious disease surveillance system, provided support including of vehicles for outbreak investigation across states, and ensured regular supplies of treatment and testing supplies among other activities. Despite this progress, it is essential that these investments in health infrastructure are sustained beyond COVID-19. Our priority remains to work with relevant government institutions and our partners to learn lessons from the pandemic and build back better.
“Although it requires significant financial investments to build infrastructure and procure equipment, investment in the strengthening of the capacity of relevant human resources to drive progress towards national health security is vital. We are grateful to our workforce for their sacrifice and dedication to protecting the health of Nigerians.
“We also remain grateful to collaborating government institutions, partners across all sectors, civil society organisations, community and religious leaders, media stakeholders, and all Nigerians for working with us in solidarity to fight COVID-19”, the statement reads.
The Federal Government has charged Mining Companies in Nigeria to be more responsive to their host communities for peaceful coexistence.
Reiterating the need for mining companies operating in different communities in the country to keep to the terms made in the signed Community Development Agreement (CDA).
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc Olamilekan Adegbite gave the charge over the weekend at the Opening Ceremony of Tunde Ramos Coal Mines and Commissioning of Mining Equipment by Mosra Enerji in Odele, Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The Minister added that apart from projects contained in the CDA, the community should prosper as the mining companies prosper.
He said that the Federal Government takes Mining Company relationship with host community serious.
Explaining part of the content of the CDA, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Director of Press, Mrs Etore Thomas, Adegbite stated that, “ it is an agreement with the host community wherein a set of project is agreed upon and everyone is bound to follow it for a period of 5 years”.”
He appreciated the host communities for the cooperation accorded to Mosra Enerji so far as he noted that mining cannot take place without peace and community’s acquiescence. He noted that the mining sector has learnt a lot of lessons from the mistakes of oil and gas sub-sector where the host communities were neglected. He advised Mosra Enerji to “keep on cooperating, keep on working with your host communities”
The Minister implored Mosra Enerji host communities to continue to cooperate with the company as they can only bring good things to them. “It is important to cooperate with them so that the the community prospers as the mining companies prosper and that is the reason for CDA,” he added.
He noted that so many communities are endowed with one or more minerals, but there is need for Mining Companies or investors to bring out the minerals and turn them into wealth. Beyond adherence to CDA, the Minister was of the view that the presence of the mining companies would further expose the communities.
In his words, “ There is what is called ‘know your source’, whatever coming out of here would be stamped as coming from Ankpa and then the whole world knows and put your communities on the world map, that in itself, is a recognition aside from your people that will be employed and engaged in businesses.”
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Mosra Enerji, Mr Olukayode Ramos said the event marked a remarkable milestone for his organization in their bid to contribute effectively to the Federal Government’s “Coal to Power Program”
Ramos disclosed that the coal mine at full operation would create over 10,000 direct employment and 30,000 indirect employment as he also pledged his company’s commitment to maintaining the best practices in responsible mining.
“We believe that the key to bringing the Nigerian economy into the 21st Century level is the diversification of the economy through development of a sustainable, responsible and law-abiding mining industry”, he further explained.
He said that Mosra Enerji is committed to service and partnership with their host communities through open, inclusive and continuing dialogue and that not only has the company ensured adherence to CDA, but has surpassed the promises made therein including social infrastructure.
Ramos said the company has plan to bring massive development to the host communities; Ankpa and Omala LGA with a proposed construction of a Coal-Fired Power Plant as he appealed for their continuous understanding and cooperation.
He said all hands must be on decks to ensure that Nigeria regain its status as an exporter of coal. This, he believes will increase the mining sector’s contribution to the national GDP, foreign exchange reserves.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ankpa Local Government, Ibrahim Abagwu in his closing remarks, assured the mining companies operating in the area of adequate security while appealing to them to keep to the promises made in the CDA signed with their host communities.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commissioned 73 brand new HILUX utility vehicles, saloon cars and staff buses to enhance operational efficiency.
This is in an efforts to rid the nation of falsified and counterfeit medicines, unwholesome food and cosmetic products.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said provision of the vehicles would put a permanent end to the hitherto practice whereby clients would bring their vehicles to ferry agency staff to site for inspection.
According to her, the inspection exercise is already compromised ab initio when staff of a regulatory body would have to depend on their clients to transport them to the factory to be inspected.
Adeyeye, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Resident Media Consultant to NAFDAC, Sayo Akintola on Sunday, explained that 20 Toyota Camry 2021 brand for some directors were commissioned in Abuja, while ten 60- Seater Coaster and Hummer buses were commissioned at the Oshodi office complex of the Agency.
Forty-three (43) Hilux vans were commissioned at the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate in Apapa to enhance the enforcement & inspection and the regulatory activities of the Agency.
‘’Our staff deserve the best. And the welfare of our staff is our priority’’, she said, adding that the four (4) Coaster buses and the six (6) Toyota Hiace buses commissioned in Oshodi would serve as staff buses to make life more comfortable for the workers in their day-to-day commuting to and from the office.
Adeyeye recalled that she met a total debt of N3.2 billion when she resumed as DG about four years ago, said the debt was paid back barely a year after she took over.
She said she took some excruciating cost-saving measures which earned her a lot of funny appellations by the staff such as ‘’ we can save N1m from this N5m request to buy a vehicle’’ amongst others.
‘’The money we saved is the money we use for what we need and not what we want’’, she said, adding that ‘’when we spend money for wants the nation suffers the consequences. Not just the nation now our staff will suffer the consequences.’’
‘’That’s why we started saving money despite the fact that I met N3.2 billion debt. And within one year we paid N3.01billion.
Adeyeye said that the Agency is going through its World Health Organization WHO audit now, and it’s being judged on seven regulatory functions or a group of activities.
‘’There is one big area called regulatory inspection. This includes visiting companies to see whether they are compliant with their Good Manufacturing Practices’’, she said, stressing that ‘’ It’s vehicles that will take our staff there’’.
According to her, regulatory inspection includes good distribution practice, meaning all the distributors that handle NAFDAC regulated products have to be visited to see where those products are being kept whether they are going to break down before they get to the retailer.
She recalled how the Agency was able to burst a syndicate that brought 30 containers of Tramadol to the country about three years ago through a tip off by the Presidency.
She said the Ports Inspection officers of the Agency kept vigil for days at the ports before the consignments worth over N2 trillion were apprehended and contents destroyed. ‘’The containers were labelled for bonded terminals. We wouldn’t have been able to do it. It is vehicles that officers of Inspection Directorate used to keep vigil at these ports’’ The DG further explained that the officials of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate would make use of the utility vehicles to pursue peddlers of contraband, counterfeited products across the nooks and crannies of the country. ‘’It is not a luxury for us. This is not the end of it. Each state should have at least three Hilux vehicles’’.
Adeyeye also noted that the new vehicles would be useful for the officials of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Directorate saddled with the responsibility of inspecting food, water and related products to ascertain their wholesomeness for human consumption with clients scattered all over the country.
‘’About 70 percent of our activities are field work. It is vehicles that they need. Before I came, companies were sending vehicles to come and inspect them. Who doesn’t know that that is the end of that inspection in terms of integrity?’, she asked rhetorically.
Top management hierarchy of the Agency took turn to eulogize the DG for taking the bull by the horn to tackle the perennial problem of lack of utility vehicles to do the regulatory job. “I have spent over two decades in NAFDAC, and I’ve never seen a thing like this before’’, said the highly elated Mr Emmanuel Nwogu who represented the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Mr Joseph Aina.
He said with the provision of four Coaster buses and six Toyota Hiace buses for the staff, no member of the staff has any reason to report late to work without appropriate sanctions.
‘’We have been buying vehicles. But I’ve never seen this kind of thing in my over two decades in NAFDAC where 43 Hilux, 20 Camry Cars and ten buses would be bought in a day’’, he said.
Both the directors of Port Inspection and Investigation and Enforcement directorates, Prof Samson Adebayo and Barrister Kingsley Ejiofor described Prof Adeyeye as a blessing not only to NAFDAC but Nigeria as a whole. They both disclosed that she has brought an uncommon transformation to the Agency which they said was nosediving at the time she joined NAFDAC.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have indicated strong interest to work together on improving hygiene and meat handling practices, using advanced technologies.
This is part of measures to standardise abattoir operations in nation’s capital.
This was made known on Thursday when a team from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) paid a visit to the FCT Agriculture And Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), in Abuja.
The ARDS Mandate Secretary, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, expressed hope that JICA’s interest in the abattoir sector will compliment FCTA’s efforts toward meeting the desired standards in meat handling practices across the Territory.
Ibrahim said that the visit is no doubt significant in so many ways, considering the renewed interest of the Secretariat to standardize abattoir operations, by addressing the important issues of infrastructural decay, meat inspecting, pollution, sanitation as well as stamping out the use of tyres to process cow skin.
According to him: “Let me use this opportunity to intimate you that my boss, the Honourable Minister of State, FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu has been a strong advocate of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative as an effective strategy in addressing our country’s developmental challenges.
“JICA has no doubt proven to be worthy partners in progress, which is why I assure you of our readiness to work with you towards repositioning the Agricultural sector.
” As you undertake a visit to our abattoirs with members of my management team, I urge you to feel free to bare your minds on any issue that may require our clarifications.
” I have already directed the Director Veterinary Services to furnish me with a report on the visit to guide us on the our next line of action”.
Earlier, the Country Representative of JICA, Sasaike Jako said hygiene is the critical problem, and the organisation is looking out for how to bring in Japanese technologies into Nigerian Abattiors.
Sasaike, stated that the initiative was a product of a collaboration between the government and JICA, targeted at improving meat handling practices using advanced technologies.
Similarly, Dr. Umar Haliru, a representative of JICA, commended FCTA for making JICA relevant in the development of the FCT, which paved way the longtime relationship between both parties.
Meanwhile, the Director Veterinary Services, ARDS, Dr. Mrs Regina Adulugba said the partnership would set a standard for what a modern abattoir should be.
She explained that the structure and areas to be considered for upgrade comprised veterinary slaughter points, carcasses processing tables with running water and animal skin gas burning points, among others.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Education Secretariat through Department of Mass Education Committee on the out of School Children and Internally Displaced Children has step up its intervention mandate to the various lDP camps in the nation’s capital.
The Chairman and Director, Department of Mass Education, Hajia Titilayo Alayande while speaking during the donations of food items, provision and learning materials to the three centres spread across AMAC in the FCT said, the intervention is just one part of the Department mandates which is very key in sustaining the learner’s interest in the provision of affordable and accessible Education for all.
She explained that, the Committee’s task among others is to ensure the out of School Children and Internally Displaced Children have Education and Skill development, livelihood counselling and Gender based issues .
She stated that, fulfilling these mandates, the Commitee commenced their task without delay.
She noted that the FCT Administration is greatly concern and have taken practical measures to intervene by putting in place the Committee to seek ways of catering for these categories of people while motivating them towards achieving holistic Education for all.
According to her, the Life Builders Education Initiative, a Non Governmental Organization was discovered when she assumed office and they have visited,monitor and involved them in their various activities such as International Literacy Day and Children’s Day Celebration among other activities.
She said, the NGO story is becoming a success stories and commended the NGO for their humanity efforts adding that they still need support from other organisations on feeding and start off fund after acquiring skills,so we are ready for collaborations for robust success.
Alayande further stated that the NGO is complementing Government efforts and assuring them of FCT Administration concern in this regards appreciating the Honourable Minister, Minister of State and Permanent Secretary for their commitment to make Education affordable and accessible.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive of the NGO, Life Builders Education lnitiative ,Dr Sanwoola David said,it is heartwarming for them to received this enormous intervention from the Department of Mass Education Committee on out of School Children and Internally Displaced Children of the Education Secretariat.
He explained that they have high expectations from the Government in their various Centres across the FCT and Nasarrawa adding that,the efforts of DME will significantly get children and Youth off the streets noting that the ones in all these centres are eager to learn while calling on well meaning individuals for support in the areas of Scholarship, Home-grown School feeding and Skill Acquisition training among their needs because the Displaced Children are Nigerians who should be able to benefit from their fatherland.
He expressed his delight for the intervention adding that, the Centre engaged in Basic education, skill acquisition,fish farming and have Clinic where their parents come for medical needs.
David said, the population is growing each day and the Children’s ability to learn is encouraging urging all well meaningful individuals to come to their aids to give these children Education so that,together, we can ameliorate their sufferings and traumatic experiences due to insurgents.
In her remark, the Deputy Director and DME Zonal Coordinator of AMAC, Mrs Victoria Nwaorgu said,the intervention by the DME is a great relief to ease their burden because they have been coming to the various centres to engaged and assist them .She added that,there is need for the establishment of Literacy and skill acquisition centres in the five centres to be manned by our facilitators.
The highlight of the intervention activities is the donations of the food items,provision and learning materials to the centres visited which are karu,Dagba,New kuchingoro,karomajiji and wassa centres respectively .
