News

Reps Probe MOFI For Unauthorised Expenditure

Published

4 months ago

July 31, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has quizzed the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) for using money from the budget for its operation without authorization.

Chairman House Committee on Public Assets, Rep. Ademorin Kuye, expressed displeasure as the Managing Director, Dr Armstrong Takang, failed to appeared before it to give account of their activities.

The Committee was not satisfied on the efforts to shore up the revenue of government as MOFI failed to live up to expectations.

The lawmakers criticized the agency for reckless expenditure without improving government revenue.

Takang had in his presentation told the Committee they took money from the budget.

The Chairman queried, “In your report we would like you to refer us to the section of the law where you are permitted to take money from the budget. How you have been getting funded since you came into office?”

Rep. Kuye said the agency wasted the Commitee’s time as it did not provide any answer to its questions.

In his ruling, he directed that the various documents from the agency on the assets it was managing be submitted within seven days.

His words, “This is an agency we had high hopes of. What we request of you now is this classes of assets, including shares of publicly traded entities, limited liability entities and foreign based and other businesses. A list of these assets home and abroad. Improvements that you have made thereupon and how it has helped the GDP.

“Another class is assets is the financial assets, which includes public and private equities investments, fixed income and hedge funds, the fixed assets includes the real estates. We need you to give us a list of those estates.

“We would like to have the value of each if these real assets, revenue made through them for the past ten years and the contributions they have made to the GDP.

“Another class is the cash flow generating transactions such as the concession agreement and the public private partnerships. We want a list of those concessions under your care and tell us the revenue with evidence from such concessions.

“The last class of assets are the minerals and the intangible assets, which includes the hydrocarbon. We want to know the extent of your investments in them and what has come to Nigeria as a result of those investments.

“According to the record that you furnished us with you said 80 percent of whatever you get are put into new investments fund and then you put them into identified sectors including manufacturing, digital services and agriculture.

“We want you to furnish the committee is real time what the specific amount and where did it go? Whether it was into manufacturing or into digital services or into agriculture.

“According to you, you have a list of of 52 companies in your portfolio, with an estimated 18 trillion naira value. and over 15, 000 employees according to your records which make you a major driver of our economy.

“We want a list of those companies, your employees and how much you have recouped for Nigeria from such investments.

“Since inception and since your appointment, we want to know how many titled documents you have been able to obtain for our assets and how many you have been able to protect from further encroachment.

“You said part of your of your mission is to invest with intent of preserving your socioeconomic value through catalysing growth. In your report we would like you to refer us to the section of the law where you are permitted to take money from the budget. How you have been getting funded since you came into office

“Lastly we would like to know how much has been voted for MOFI in the last five years and for what purpose you spent those money. You wasted the time of Nigerians

“We would give MOFI seven days to furnish the committee with those documents after which we would fix another date for hearing because so far MOFI has just wasted our whole time for today. MOFI has just wasted the time of Nigerians, taxpayers money and time today and we must not allow that to happen again”, the chairman stated.

News

Trump set to sign Executive Order to flush out transgender personnel from US military

Published

18 minutes ago

November 25, 2024

Naijablitznews

President-elect, Donald Trump, is set to sign an executive order that would remove all transgender members from the United States military.

It was learnt that the development has intensified concerns within the LGBTQ+ community.

The report claimed that the state officials had stated that transgender personnel would be discharged on medical grounds, deeming them “unfit” to serve.

Recall that during Trump’s first term as president, he introduced a similar policy that prohibited transgender individuals from joining the armed forces while allowing those already enlisted to remain in their roles.

After Trump left office, President Joe Biden had overturned the military ban in his first week as president in 2021, issuing an executive order to restore transgender individuals’ right to serve openly. However, with Trump’s potential return to the White House, transgender rights in the US may face renewed challenges.

However, the current proposal, as reported, would extend to removing all transgender service members, regardless of their current status. It is anticipated that the executive order will be issued on Trump’s first day in office, January 20 next year.

If signed, Trump’s new directive could be broader and more contentious than the policy he implemented during his first term. What would be its impact on transgender personnel serving in US military.

Reports indicated that approximately 15,000 transgender individuals are actively serving in the US military.

This is coming amid moves by US congress to stop irst transgender lawmaker from using female restrooms and bathrooms in her new workplace.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson had expressed his support for the policy that tends to disregard transgender ideologies in the legislative arm.

“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” the speaker said in a statement last Wednesday.

“It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added.

The move to prevent McBride from using the women’s facilities in the House was first initiated by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who on Monday introduced a resolution to ban trans women from using women’s bathrooms inside the complex.

Mace said the resolution was “absolutely” in response to McBride, a Delaware Democrat, being elected to the House.

She took her anti-trans crusade even further on Wednesday, announcing a bill to ban trans people from using bathrooms that align with their gender in all federal buildings across the country. Neither of the resolutions have been brought to a House vote.

It is important to note that each Member office has its own private restroom, and unisex restrooms are available throughout the Capitol. Women deserve women’s only spaces,” he added.

Mace said the resolution was “absolutely” in response to McBride, a Delaware Democrat, being elected to the House.

News

PHOTO: Courtesy visit to Priesthood Orphanage by Just Friends Club of Nigeria Founder

Published

2 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Naijablitznews

Dr. (Mrs) Blessing Echenwo, left, founder of Priesthood Orphanage, Karamajiji, Abuja and Mrs. Maria Cardillo, a member of Just Friends Club of Nigeria, during the visit of the club to the orphanage in Abuja…recently

News

Just in: NYSC Releases Batch ‘C’ Corps Members Call Up Letters

Published

4 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Naijablitznews

The National Youth Service Corps has announced the release of the 2024 Batch ‘C’ Stream I call-up letters for prospective corps members.

The corps made the announcement in a series of post on its official X (former Twitter) handle on Monday.

It said orientation camp for the stream is expected to start on November 27, 2024 and closes on December 17, 2024.

According to the post, “some prospective corp members posted to Lagos will have orientation in Ogun and Osun.

“While some of those posted to Zamfara will have in Kebbi and Sokoto etc”

The corps, however, advised prospective corps members to print and sign an addendum, which will be submitted during registration at the orientation camp.

Tips to guide Deployed Prospective Corps Members

Do not travel to the Orientation Camps at night. Break your journey when necessary.
Report on your scheduled reporting date.
Apply for spelling error and name rearrangement on your dashboard.
After documentation in the Camp, you cannot change your Date of Birth, Date of Graduation, Course of Study and Passport Photograph.
Do not report to the Camp if there is any discrepancies in your course of study or with the Date of Graduation on your Statement of Result and your Call-up Letter. Contact your Institution to sort it out.
ATTENTION TO ALL 2024 BATCH ”C” STREAM I MARRIED FEMALE PROSPECTIVE CORPS MEMBERS

All married female Prospective Corps members (PCMs) who are deployed to States where their husbands are not domiciled should report to the nearest NYSC Orientation Camp for their State of Deployment to be changed.

They are to report during the period of Registration at the Orientation Camps with the copies of their marital and other relevant documents as evidence. Once the change is made it will reflect on theirM dashboard for reprinting.