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Automate revenue collection, Reps tell Nigerian embassies
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has given a 60-day ultimatum to the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, and the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to automate the collection of foreign currency in Nigeria’s foreign missions.
The Chairman of the Committee, Bamidele Salam, gave the charge on Tuesday in Abuja at the public hearing on the status of automation of foreign currency collection in Nigeria’s foreign missions.
Addressing the committee at the hearing, the accountant general said Files Solutions Limited was awarded a contract for the automation of foreign currency collection in Nigeria’s foreign missions across the globe.
She added that the contract awarded on April 28, 2021, was worth a total sum of N83.6m, apart from a commission of one to five per cent, depending on the amount the company can collect.
She added that 90 per cent of the contract sum, amounting to N75.2m, had been paid to the contractor.
Madein noted that the terms of the contract were to ensure that the collection of revenue from all Nigerian foreign missions was online in real time.
She said, “The automation of the foreign currency collection portal was launched on May 25, 2023, by the immediate past Minister of Finance but was never put into use as of June 5, 2024.
“Our office is in the process of obtaining approval from the Ministry of Finance to deploy the software which has been tested.
“Discussion is ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide a list of foreign missions for pilot purposes.”
On his part, the Managing Director of File Solutions Limited, Nekan Olateru, said the company concluded all the processes on the technology in the last three years
In his contribution, a member of the committee, Timehin Adelegbe, lamented what he called the lack of transparency in foreign revenue collection, stating that automation would address the challenge.
A member of the committee, Sunday Umeha, moved a motion for compliance with automation within 60 days.
Following the adoption of the motion, the panel ordered the commencement of automation of foreign currency collection in Nigerian missions within 60 days, without an option for extension.
The committee further mandated the accountant general to submit records of the gross revenue generated for all foreign missions in the past five years.
News
Lagos seals church, fuel station over environmental violations
The contractors handling various housing projects on behalf of the Lagos State Government have been warned to deliver all aspects of the projects as scheduled in all contract agreements or have contracts terminated and re-awarded to those who will deliver on time.
The Commissioner for Housing in Lagos State, Moruf Akinderu-Fatai, who had earlier expressed his displeasure and dissatisfaction with the level of work done during a routine inspection of Sangotedo Housing Estate Eti Osa phase 2, lamented that the project was yet to get to the expected level despite Lagos State Government commitment and support to the contractors.
The commissioner reiterated his dissatisfaction after an evaluation of the projects, formal briefs from project supervisors, and a follow-up meeting between the Ministry’s technical team and the project contractors at the ministry’s conference room at the secretariat in Ikeja.
He frowned at the slow pace of work witnessed at some of the project sites visited and directed the affected contractors to increase the speed of work or be excused from the sites.
Akinderu-Fatai said, “Shifting of completion period by contractors will no longer be tolerated because we will not allow you to slow us down, as there is pressure on the government to deliver on all its promises, especially in the housing sector.”
He further expressed the dissatisfaction of the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on the inability of most of the contractors to adhere to the agreed time of delivery on various aspects of the projects.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Abdulhafis Toriola, enjoined the contractors to ensure they deliver every facet of the project as scheduled without compromising quality.
The project review meeting was attended by heads of technical departments and supervising officials.
The Sangotedo Housing Estates phase 2 after completion will comprise about 43 blocks and is expected to add over 500 housing units to the existing stock.
The first phase of the project consisting of 744 home units was delivered and inaugurated by Sanwo-Olu in December.
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Former House of Representatives Member Arrested Over Alleged WAEC Certificate Forgery
Hon. Rita Odichi Orijifor, who represented the Ajeromi Ifelodun Federal Constituency between 2015 and 2019, has been arrested by the Nigerian Police over allegations of using a fake WAEC certificate during her tenure in the House of Representatives.
According to sources, Orijifor was apprehended earlier today at her residence in Wonderland Estate, Abuja, after police officers had waited for over five hours for her to come out. She reportedly locked herself in her bedroom and made calls to influential political figures in a bid to avoid arrest. However, none of the figures offered assistance in this high-profile scandal, and despite some attempts to intervene with the police, Orijifor eventually emerged from her hiding place and was taken into custody.
Before her arrest, Orijifor had reportedly been hiding in Akure to evade law enforcement, only returning to Abuja after believing the situation had cooled. However, unknown to her, the police were already on her trail.
Her legal troubles began when a judge in the Federal Capital Territory dismissed her application to stop the ongoing police investigation. The judge ruled that Orijifor failed to demonstrate that her rights had been violated by the authorities.
Orijifor is currently being detained at the Force Headquarters in Abuja as investigations continue. The case is expected to be a significant development in Nigerian politics, given her previous role as a federal lawmaker.
This is a developing story, and more details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
News
I Looked At Myself In The Mirror And I Asked “Who Are You?” – Gov Adeleke
Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke on Sunday, November 24, 2024 held his Thanksgiving Service at the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Oke-Gada, Ede, Osun State to celebrate his Second Year in Office as the Governor.
The officiating Pastor directed all guests and members of the church for a-minute-silence for three elders in the Adeleke dynasty who have passed away; Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, his mother, Mrs Nnena Esther Adeleke and her husband, Senator Ayoola Adeleke.
The officiating Pastor took his message from Psalm 23. He admonished the Governor to always put God first in everything he is doing and strike a balance between public and private interest.
The Priest said the Thanksgiving Service celebrant should be careful of sycophants and praise singers and he should let people see him as a man of God and be accessible.
In his testimony, Governor Adeleke said, he still cannot believe what God is doing through him in Osun State, how God is able to turn things around for good for him in the State.
He remembered when his mother was on sickbed asked him to always sing three praise songs through which God will always answer his prayers.
One of the songs include a Yoruba song, “Ogo yi Oluwa ye Ogo yi, mase JE ko baje mase JE ko Daru…” and two other Igbo praise songs.
The governor who was filled with excitement said he woke up one day and went to the mirror and asked himself “who are you?”. The answer, the Governor of Osun State. He was surprised at how God works in the affairs of men
The elder sister of Mr. Governor, Yeyeluwa, Modupe Adeleke-Sani admonished the awesomeness of God presence in Adeleke’s family.
She said it wasn’t time of Senator Ademola Adeleke to be the Governor in 2018 because God knows there was going to #ENDSARS and COVID-19 during the period, God made his governance possible at the appropriate time in 2022. “Adeleke’s family is God’s family, we will continue to serve and worship him for his goodness and mercies that endure forever.”
She donated the sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira Only) on behalf of Adeleke’s family.
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