News

Reps Issue 10-Day Ultimatum For Federal Polytechnic Idah To Provide Documents On Projects

Published

6 days ago

October 11, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has issues a 10-day ultimatum tothe management of Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi State, to provide detailed documents of ongoing projects in the institution.

Chairman, House Committee on Polytechnics and other Technical Institutions, Rep. Fuad Kayode-Laguda gave the directive when the Rector, Prof Yahaya Usman and other officials appeared before the Committee on Thursday.

The Committee querried the documents presented by the institution’s officials which the lawmakers said was short of what was required by the Committee.

The lawmakers also discovered some infractions on the observance of Federal Character principles in staff composition on the Nominal Role presented to the Committee.

Speaking to journalists after the session, Chairman of the Committee said: “We invited Federal Polytechnic Idah Kogi State and Federal Polytechnic Shendam, Plateau State. But, unfortunately Federal Polytechnic Shendam didn’t come prepared, and we couldn’t host them today.

“But we were able to have a very-very productive interaction with Federal Polytechnic Idah, which they’ve also invited us over to the school to come which ordinarily we would have gone.But, to make things convenient for them we said they should come here. But, they also pleaded with us to come.We had a very-very mutually beneficial discussion.

“Yes, they have not met the standards expected by us in terms of their reportings which we have given them another 10 working days to make available those documents to us.Basically, it’s just explaining their budget line that we asked for. So, it’s not anything out of place”.

Speaking the Federal Character issue, he said they have made their observations and have directed the institution that there was a violation which was need to be addressed urgently.

He added, “Well, after going through their nominal role, we noticed that, a shortfall of indexes of Federal Character. However, they came up with reasons and defence.But, very soon, we are sure there are some employment opportunities that would come up and the corrections will start happening.

The Committee chairman said although some officials of Federal Polytechnic Shendam, Plateau were at the sitting, but the refused to entertain them because the requirement was that, the Rector as the headvof the institution must be before the Committee in person.

He said, “The people that came, the head of the school was not here and he didn’t send in an apology and that’s not satisfactory. So, we told them to please excuse us, till when they have a complete team to meet with us. We will be getting in touch with them by inviting them back.

“We’ve invited them. In North Central we invited four schools.Idah, Kogi State, Shendam Plateau, Bida Minna, the Rector will come back with his team before we go through their reports and of course the one we took now”.

While speaking to journalists, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Idah, Prof Yahaya Usman Usman said that, they were before the Committee made submissions and the Committee has requested additional documents and further clarifications on some issues which he said would be made available on the appointed date for their next appearance.

He said, “The interaction was very smooth. Of course when you face a Committee like this that is carrying out their statutory function, it is more or less interviews,investigations and all these things. But the… other correspondences that were not contained in our submissions, they’ve given us 10 working days within which we submit, and we’ve obliged”.

Speaking on the oversight visit by the Committee to the institution, he said some issues were raised which necessitaed the suspension of the visit until another time.

He added, “The letter written to us before we started coming, the reason given was based on security, why we have to come. If not, ordinarily, of course they are supposed to be in Idah today.But with the reason given we understand that we have to come back”.

Speaking on the alleged violation of Federal Character, the Rector said, “Yes, we argued this out. Federal Character was implemented. It might not be, the profession, you might not expect the proportions of the State’s populations of staff. The staff are from different populations.

“Oh, yes. Of course Idah is a traditional town, you understand. Most people employed from the far north, from the West will not come. They come, see the place and run away. So, indigines have to fill in these gaps. I think we have explained it”.

News

Despite heavy hunger, World Bank Tells Nigerians Not To Oppose, Reverse Tinubu’s Economic Reforms

Published

1 hour ago

October 17, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Despite hunger, World Bank has urged Nigerians to support the ongoing economic reforms, warning that opposing or reversing them could have serious negative consequences for the country.

Speaking at the launch of the Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report in Abuja, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Ndiame Diop, emphasized that while the reforms may be challenging, they are crucial for the nation’s long-term stability.

Dr. Diop cautioned that rolling back these reforms would be detrimental, saying, “Reversing the reforms would spell doom for Nigeria.”

In the same vein, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, reiterated the importance of staying committed to the reforms. He stated, “Any effort that is not sustained will be a waste. Together with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, we’ve been discussing how to stay on course.”

Edun further explained that the government’s focus is on reducing inflation while ensuring investments flow into critical sectors such as industry, where jobs can be created. “We are prioritizing market pricing and sat down with labor unions to explain why we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip.”

On the removal of subsidies, Edun noted, “Every day without subsidies means more funds available for education, healthcare, and other essential expenditures.”

Also speaking, Central Bank Governor Mr. Olayemi Cardoso highlighted the importance of promoting exports in light of the exchange rate adjustments. “The moderation in the FX rate should make our goods more competitive for export and discourage the importation of unnecessary goods,” he said

News

Delta Police PRO Warns POS Operators, says transactions above N500k can put you in trouble

Published

1 hour ago

October 17, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, has warned Point of Sale (POS) operators to desist from receiving large sums of money on behalf of anyone as they run the risk of being held as accomplices to kidnappers.

The PPRO gave the warning in a post on Thursday, October 17, 2024, when he paraded a female POS operator who allegedly received N4m ransom for kidnappers.

“My message to POS operators, transactions above 500k can get you into trouble. Don’t be a tool for kidnappers to collect ransom. It must be traced to you. She received #4,000,000 ransom from kidnappers and her profit was just #40,000. Can you imagine? Be wise, you may argue that you are doing business, but before your lawyer will get you out, you may spend some time cooling off in prison,” he wrote.

News

NNPC Still Only Dangote Petrol Buyer – Marketers Allege

Published

1 hour ago

October 17, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is still the sole off-taker of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery despite the recent directive of the Federal Government that other oil marketers were free to start loading PMS from the plant.

Oil marketers revealed on Wednesday that NNPC would continue to be sole off-taker of the product from the $20bn Lekki-based plant until its agreement with the Dangote refinery as regards the lifting of PMS terminates, Glitters report.

They, however, did not tell when the agreement between both organisations would end. Officials of NNPC and the Dangote refinery also did not respond to enquiries on when the agreement would end.

On October 11, 2024, the Federal Government in a statement from the finance ministry, announced that oil marketers were now free to negotiate purchase of petrol directly from the Dangote refinery without recourse to NNPC.

“Moving forward, petroleum product marketers are now able to purchase PMS directly from local refineries without the intermediary role of NNPC. Marketers are encouraged to initiate direct purchases from refineries on mutually negotiated commercial terms, which will promote competition and improve market efficiency,” it stated in the statement.

But after meeting with officials of the Dangote refinery on Tuesday, members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria revealed that NNPC was still the sole off-taker of Dangote petrol pending the termination of an agreement between Dangote and NNPC.

In a notice to IPMAN members in the Western Zone, issued by the Zonal Chairman, South-West, Dele Tajudeen, the association said, “The IPMAN National Vice President, Zonal Chairman of Western Zone, IPMAN members, and PTD Zonal Chairman met with the Vice President of Dangote Group and many other notable staff members of the Dangote refinery yesterday, October 15, 2024.

“We had a very useful and fruitful discussion on the direct purchase of products from the Dangote refinery. The Vice President of Dangote confirmed that the Minister of Finance/ Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and the Minister of Petroleum Resources have directed them to commence sales of products to marketers who have duly registered with the refinery, but they are still having a pending agreement with NNPC Ltd which still subsist.

“Until and when the agreement is terminated by either party, the direct sales will still be on hold.”

The notice stated that the IPMAN National Executive Council would hold a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday “in that respect.”

It added, “In view of this, marketers who are yet to officially register as IPMAN members should do so without wasting time as such marketers will not benefit from this opportunity when we eventually commence lifting from the Dangote refinery.”

Both the Dangote refinery and NNPC did not respond when contacted to react to the development.

However, major oil marketers told our correspondent that they were still lifting products from the Dangote refinery through the deal between NNPC and the Lagos-based refinery.

“There is a subsisting deal between NNPC and Dangote refinery and it is based on that deal that we major marketers are lifting PMS from the refinery using PFI (proformer invoice),” a major dealer who spoke in confidence due to lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, stated.
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