News

Reps Orders JAMB to Remit N3bn to FG Consolidated Revenue Fund

Published

2 weeks ago

September 10, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…criticize board for ignoring fiscal responsibility letters

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has instructed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to remit the sum of N3,602,605,277 to the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in accordance with demands made by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC).

This directive was issued during the committee’s resumed hearing on Monday, after the FRC brought JAMB before the committee over issues related to its operating surplus.

The Chairman of PAC, Rep. Bamidele Salam, addressed the matter following claims by the FRC that JAMB had failed to respond to correspondence regarding its financial obligations.

According to Mr. Bello Aliyu, representing the FRC, the agency had informed JAMB about its liabilities, which totaled N390,725,324 in 2021. After receiving JAMB’s audited financial statement for 2022, the FRC recalculated the liabilities to be N3,602,605,277 and notified JAMB of this in March 2024, with a reminder sent on 31st August 2024. Aliyu added that JAMB had not **Reps Committee Orders JAMB to Remit N3bn to FG CRF, Criticizes Board for Ignoring Fiscal Responsibility Letters**

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has instructed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to remit N3,602,605,277 to the Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) in accordance with demands made by the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC). This directive was issued during the committee’s opening hearing on Monday, after the FRC brought JAMB before the committee over issues related to its operating surplus.

The PAC, chaired by Rep. Bamidele Salam, addressed the matter following claims by the FRC that JAMB had failed to respond to correspondence regarding its financial obligations.

Aliyu stated that JAMB had not responded to any of these letters.

In response to these allegations, JAMB’s Director of Finance and Administration, Mufutau Bello, explained that the difference in figures stemmed from the FRC’s attempt to increase JAMB’s remittance rate from 25% to 50%.

Bello noted that, since 2019, JAMB had reduced its registration fee from N5,000 to N3,500 to benefit Nigerians. He emphasized that JAMB has consistently adhered to the 25% remittance rate and has not increased any fees in the last eight years.

According to the DFA, the Accountant General had approved this 25% rate, which JAMB has followed, but the FRC now insists on 50%.

In his remarks, the PAC Chairman emphasized that remittance rules are determined by law and not subject to personal interpretation.

He questioned how the discrepancy between the 25% and 50% remittance arose and what the law specifically dictates regarding JAMB’s obligations.

In response, the FRC representative clarified that, under the Fiscal Responsibility Act, all listed agencies are required to remit 80% of their operating surplus. However, the 2021 Finance Act categorized agencies as fully funded, partially funded, or self-funded. JAMB falls under the partially funded category, meaning it can only use 50% of its internally generated revenue (IGR) for its operations and must remit the remaining 50% to the government’s sub-recurrent account.

At the end of the year, a reconciliation determines whether the actual liability should be 80% or 20%, with the higher amount becoming the agency’s final obligation. Based on this rule, the FRC computed JAMB’s liability at 50% of its gross revenue”, he explained.

The committee expressed frustration over JAMB’s failure to respond to the FRC’s letters and unanimously ordered the board to remit the N3,602,605,277 to the CRF within 30 days, providing evidence of the payment.

News

HoR Mediates Peace Among Rival Safety Professional Groups

Published

11 mins ago

September 20, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards have gained success in reconciliation of the three opposing groups within the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON).

In a press briefing in Abuja, Chairman of the Committee on Safety, Standards, and Regulations, Rep. Suleiman Gumi, stressed that the reconciliation was crucial for improving safety conditions across Nigeria.

The Chairman also explained that the committee allowed all parties to present their views, resulting in resolutions aimed at uniting the factions, and that all groups were given equal opportunities to air their grievances, culminating in a final meeting where reconciliation was achieved.

“As a result of this meeting, a Caretaker Committee (CTC) has been set up. The committee is tasked with organizing a conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) to elect new executives for ISPON as one unified body. The national leaders of the institute have happily endorsed this decision, symbolizing a fresh start for ISPON. Present here with me are members of the CTC, including past presidents and notable figures who have contributed to ISPON in various ways”, Gumi said.

The chairman further disclosed that ISPON plans to hold a unification conference in Abuja from October 17th to 19th, 2024.

He added, “I am here to inform you about the upcoming unification conference and AGM. ISPON was established in 2014 by an Act of the National Assembly, but leadership disagreements following the 2016 elections led to a division into three factions, slowing down the institute’s activities. Despite intervention efforts from various bodies like the Inspector General of Police, the American Society of Safety Professionals, and others, the issues persisted.

“To address this, the National Assembly established a Committee on Safety Standards, which prioritized resolving ISPON’s divisions for the good of promoting safety in Nigeria.”

Rep. Gumi urged all employers of labour in Nigeria to note that from October 19th, new ISPON executives will be in charge, and only certifications issued by this new body will be valid.

“From that point onward, all Health and Environmental Safety (HES) practitioners must obtain ISPON’s new certification to practice, as required by the ISPON Act of 2014. A revalidation process will occur, and new certificates will be distributed. We call on all stakeholders to support this unity process,” Gumi stated.

The Committee also advised all safety professionals to obtain the new ISPON certification to continue practicing in the country.

According to him, the establishment of the Caretaker Committee was aimed at ensuring that a unified ISPON executive was in place after the conference.

Gumi therefore emphasized that all parties had embraced the reconciliation in a positive and celebratory spirit. He however, cautioned that anyone attempting to disrupt the process for personal interests would face consequences.

The unification conference is set for October 17th to 19th, 2024, in Abuja, and all relevant practitioners are required to participate in the new certification process.

He concluded by highlighting the importance of cooperation from all stakeholders and assured that ISPON would soon return to its rightful position as a leading safety body in Nigeria.

Former ISPON President, Shaw Fregene, who was instrumental in creating the bill that established the institute, attributed the crisis to personal interests.

He explained that disagreements over leadership arose in 2016, when certain members felt the leadership was no longer adhering to the rules of the institute.

“Once your two-year tenure is over, you should go for re-election. How can someone remain in office for six years without a mandate? That was the issue. Some individuals wanted to turn leadership into a personal property, which is wrong,” Fregene stated.

Similarly, former ISPON Secretary, Iyenoma Osazee, emphasized the benefits of being an ISPON member and noted that the crisis opened the door to unprofessional practices.

“In South Africa, foreign qualifications alone do not permit one to practice. You still need to go through their process. Here, however, the situation deteriorated, and unqualified individuals began to dominate the space. This misinterpretation of the law is what brought us here,” Osazee explained.

In closing, the Institute called on sponsors to support its upcoming conference.

News

Edo guber: LP’s Akpata remains a front runner, set to capture Edo

Published

3 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Less than twenty-four hours to the start of voting in Saturday’s governorship poll in Edo State, a rash of fake news has broken out.

Leading parties in the election have had their fair shares of fake news either indicating the withdrawal of their candidates or disqualification by a Magistrate Court or Supreme Court.

For instance, Olumide Akpata of LP was said to have withdrawn from the race and thrown his support for Asue Ighodalo in a statement that read smoothly and appeared convincing.

THE CONCLAVE sent the statement to Akpata via WhatsApp for confirmed.

He responded by sending the same statement with FAKE NEWS boldly stamped on it.
He said he was set for victory at the poll.

There was also a news flash about the Supreme Court disqualifying Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, with a sign off: More details coming….

A Magistrate Court in Abuja was also reported to have disqualified Monday Okpebholo of the APC from the poll on account of age falsification.

The APC campaign organisation had swiftly put a lie to the report by deploying the court papers in the circumstance.

News

Guber poll :PDP govs storm Edo to support Ighodalo

Published

3 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Barely 24hours to governorship election in Edo State, no fewer than two governors elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday arrived Benin City.

The governors, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa and Kefas Agbu of Taraba, arrived the state to mobilise support for the party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo.

Fintiri made this known in a post on his social media page on Friday evening.

He said : “Just touched down in Edo State alongside my brother, Gov. Agbu Kefas, ahead of the September 21st gubernatorial election. We stand united in support of our Official PDP Nigeria candidate, Asue ighodalo, for a brighter future.”

Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki, who is the PDP leader in the state, had earlier cried out over alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress to rig the election.

As at the time of filling this report, it was unclear if other PDP governors would also hit the state for the election