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Nigeria is About to Collapse -Jega, as NLC Sets Standards for Politicians in 2023.

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0

The former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, says Nigeria at the verge of collapse, as reckless politicians in the helm of governance are obviously running the country aground.
Jega stated this in Abuja at the 2022 Workers’ Political Conference organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
He noted that considering the current situation in the country, 2023 general elections may make or mar the progress of the country.
He therefore, said that all hands of progressive forces must be on deck to prevent Nigeria from imminent collapse.

“The sorry state of the socioeconomic conditions under which the Nigerian working people, indeed the overwhelming majority of all citizens live and work, the reckless misrule and mis-governance by a tiny, rabid and reckless band of elite, and the manner by which these myopic ‘elected’ so-called ‘leaders’ and their collaborators, have devastated the Nigerian economy, heightened insecurity, and virtually destroyed the basis for national cohesion and integration, Nigeria, as a potentially great nation, is crying for a rescue mission, before it is too late.

“Such a rescue mission cannot be serious, positive and successful, without the active engagement and involvement of the Nigerian workers through their genuine representatives in working class organizations and movements, in alliance with other progressive and patriotic Nigerians.

“While Nigeria may not have totally collapsed, it is in the process of collapsing, as reckless elite in control of the governance process are blindly running the country aground. And the 2023 general elections may be the ‘make or break’ epochal moment.

“Given this, all hands of progressive forces must be on deck to prevent our country from imminent collapse, and to turn it around on to a trajectory of good democratic governance for beneficial democratic, socioeconomic development, and human security for Nigerian citizens.

“A broad alliance of progressive forces for national rescue and emancipation is absolutely required to get Nigeria out of the current unwholesome predicament in which it finds itself.

“The deliberations at this conference, guided by the lead paper presentation and panel discussion, should help us chart a course for a reinforced commitment to national emancipation and more active engagement participation of Nigerian workers in our current and future political processes.” Jega said

In his remarks, the President Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, charged INEC and Security Agencies to stamp out the menace of vote-buying and electoral violence during the 2023 polls.

He further stated that, Nigerian workers are ready to engage political parties across the country to ensure that a significant number of candidates who would vie for elective positions in 2023 subscribe to the provisions of our Charter.

Ayuba said that, it was a near absence and acute deficit of serious engagement with the existential political concerns that have provided the context for this Workers’ Political Conference.

“The 2022 NLC Workers’ Political Conference seeks to set the Labour Agenda as a guide to our affiliates and workers and for engagement with Nigeria’s political class at federal, state, local government and ward every level especially as we approach the 2023 general election and beyond. Our priorities are eminently captured in our charter of demands which seeks answers to the questions of development in Nigeria.
To say that Nigeria is at political crossroads would not be a statement of alarm. It would be a factual construction of our reality”.

“With 2023 in view, there is a lot of politicking, intrigues and subterfuge in the political space. Every indication shows that the polity is once again being over-heated. Sadly, as it has become norm with our cycle of broken politics, the polity is not being heated with questions and answers on how the current political mandate has been used by political office holders. The polity is not being over-heated with concerns on how the current ruling elites have honoured the socio-economic rights of Nigerians in Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution. The polity is not being over-heated with new ideas of how politicians can meet the expectations of Nigerians who want constant power to power their potentials, motorable roads, adequate security that will keep us from always looking over our shoulders and living wages that will offer workers a chance at decent living.
The near absence and acute deficit of serious engagement with these existential political concerns have provided the context for this Workers’ Political Conference”.

“We urge INEC and security agencies to stamp out the menace of vote-buying and electoral violence during the 2023 polls. INEC should also perfect the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System to drastically reduce resort to incidence forms and disenfranchisement of eligible voters. In 2023, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that all votes count”, he added.

The Theme for the event is” Commitment to National Emancipation and Development Through Effective Political Engagement by Nigerian Workers”.

Constitution Review: Gbajabiamila Promises To Expose Those Who Voted Against Women’s Bills

By
Mosali Edunosa
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The House of Representatives’ Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila has vowed to expose colleagues who voted against women’s bills during the Clause by Clause consideration of the Constitutional Review.

The Speaker also reminded his colleagues that women play a major role in Nigeria’s democratic process and should be given better opportunities.

The Speaker made this known when the bill seeking additional seats for women in both the National and State Houses of Assembly failed to get 2/3 majority.

During the determination of the clause, 208 members voted against out of 302, with just 81 voting in favour of the bill, while 13 members abstained.

Similarly, 35% Affirmative Action in Political Parties Administration for Women failed in House of Representatives during consideration of the bill as PDP lawmakers Bamidele Salam from Osun PDP and Dachung Bagos PDP (Plateau) suggested 15% respectively.

Earlier, Salam had moved a motion requesting for 35% to be reduced to 15% affirmative action and it was seconded by Bagos.

Meanwhile, after voting on the affirmative action bill, Gbajabiamila called for repetition of the process appealing to his colleagues to support the bill hence women were the ones that come out enmass to vote during elections.

“Following existing statistics it is women that come out enmass to vote. “It is the same women who come out enmass to vote for us . You are now here voting against their interest? I am going to publish those who voted against this particular bill”, Gbajabiamila stated.

Also coming to clause 68 which called for 20% slots for women in the appointment of federal ministers and state commissioners, the male dominated green chamber once against displayed its aversion for women’s political empowerment by voting against it.

At this point, the speaker emphasised the need to be circumspect in determining the outcome, saying that denying women the opportunity to serve in governance only speaks to how Nigeria as a country views her female population.

Deputy minority leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu at this point moved a point of order saying that “any society which downplays the significance of a group which makes up to 50 percent of its population is not such that would attain its full potentials”.

Okechukwu appealed to his colleagues to vote favorably with a view to passing the amendment.

However, during the vote, members rejected the clause as only 274 voted in favour, with over 60 voted against while others abstained.

The Speaker again called for a retake of the vote stressing that the clause required 4/5 (288) to pass.

When the second round of voting was called, the clause again fell short if the 288 mark by 4 votes as it garnered 284 votes.

The Speaker who is obviously disappointed by the resolve of his colleagues to frustrate the amendment, Gbajabiamila ignored the electronic votes and put the question on the amendment which he ruled as passed via voice votes.

FG Gives COVID-19 Waivers For Ukraine Returnees

By
Grace Itodu
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The Federal Government has given Nigerians returning from the war torn Ukraine waiver on the 48 hours pre-departure Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test requirement and others.

An All Operator Letter (AOL) by Capt. Musa Nuhu, the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) with the reference number: NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/339, dated February 28, 2022 to the Accountable Manager/Country Manager of all airlines operating international flights to Nigeria said that the waivers were necessary in view of the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine.

Also, upon arrival in Nigeria, the government said the passengers would however carry out the Covid-19 PCR test, which must be done within 24 hours of arrival, but without cost to the passengers.

The AOL, which was made available to our correspondent, said that the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on Covid-19 directed that all airlines boarding passengers travelling to Nigeria with proof of having left Ukraine were covered by the new protocol.

Apart from the 48 hours pre-departure, the PSC also granted waiver from the requirement to all pre-departure filing of the Nigerian International Travel Portal (NITP), payment for repeat test in Nigeria and generation of permit to fly code.

It however said passengers would be required to fill the NITP upon their arrival in Nigeria with the assistance of the Port Health Services (PHS).

The AOL added: “Upon arriving in Nigeria, passengers will be directed by the Port Health Services to designated government laboratories for Covid-19 PCR test. The Covid-19 PCR test, which must be done within 24 hours of arrival, will be at no cost to the passengers.”

Constitution Review: Reps Reject Addition Of VAT To Exclusive List

By
Mosali Edunosa
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0

Members of the House of Representatives have just voted 209 against 91 for an attempt to move the collection of value added tax (VAT) from concurrent to the exclusive legislative list.

Clause 34 was on a “Bill for an Act to Alter Part I of the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to include Value Added Tax on the Exclusive Legislative List; and for Related Matters and approve the
recommendations therein.”

The House also rejected clause 35 seeking to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Special Seat for Women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for Related Matters and approve the recommendations therein”

The House voted 208 against while 81 vite in favour of the provision.

Senate Move Prisons, Railway, Power Generation From Exclusive To Concurrent List

By
Mosali Edunosa
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0

…As Senate Fails To Provide Special For Seat For Women Inspite Of Aisha Buhari’s Lobby

The upper chamber of the National Assembly move prisons, Railway and power generation from Exclusive list to Concurrent list.

Just as the review to include Value Added Tax on the Exclusive Legislative List failed to scale through.

Bill on prison was to “delete prisons in the Exclusive Legislative List and Redesignate it as Correctional Service in the Concurrent Legislative List; and for Related Matters.”

The Bill on the Railway was “to move Railway from the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent Legislative List ; and for Related Matters.”

The Bill on power generation was “to allow States Generate, Transmit and Distribute Electricity in Area covered by the National Grid; and for Related Matters.”

Inspite of the the wife of Mr. President, Aisha Buhari lobby the Senate to provide for special seat for women in the National and State House of Assembly fall on deaf ears.

ASUU Strike: TUC Threatens Strike Over Minister’s Walkout on NANS

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0

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.

Governors, Minister Raise Objection Against Electricity Bill

By
Roland Edet
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0

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

Reps Grills Minister, Officials Over Massive Loss Of Revenues

By
Roland Edet
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0

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.

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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0
NLC-President-Comrade-Ayuba-Wabba.
NLC-President-Comrade-Ayuba-Wabba.

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.

COVID-19: MCO Generates N9.384 Billion In 2021, Nkom

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

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.

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