Month: February 2024

Daily Trust

A 20-year-old admission seeker, Miss Temitope Elemide, has been reportedly raped and killed in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The victim was killed at the family residence at Bosero community, Olodo, in Odeda LGA.

Sources said the incident occurred on Sunday when hoodlums stormed the residence, raped Elemide and smashed her head.

It was gathered that the suspects took advantage of her being the only one at home to carry out the heinous act.

The victim was preparing for the next Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) before the incident.

The police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Wednesday.

Odutola described the incident as a murder case reported to the police on Sunday.

She said one Jamiu Salihu, 29 years, the victim’s boyfriend, had been arrested in connection with the heinous crime.

“There was a suspected murder report on the 25th of February from Odeda. The complainant said he met a lifeless body of his sister-in-law, Temitope Elemide, 20 years, inside the room stabbed with a knife on her head and body.

“There is one Jamiu Salihu, 29 years, the boyfriend who is suspected to have committed the heinous crime. He was seen coming out from the bush on the said day of the crime while finding a clue to the murder,” she said.

Odutola said one knife, two iron rods and a Techno phone were recovered as exhibits.

She added that the body of late Tope Elemide had been deposited in a morgue.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Odeda Local Government, Dr Folashade Adeyemo, has condemned the murder, describing it as tragic and senseless.

He urged the police and other security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book.

“Her untimely demise is not only a loss to her family and Olodo community but to the entire local government.

“In the face of this appalling tragedy, I urge all people of Olodo community to remain vigilant and proactive in ensuring the safety and security of our neighbourhoods.

“We must stand united against the forces of darkness that seek to disrupt our peace and harmony. It is incumbent upon each and every one of us to mind the company we keep, businesses we transact and report any suspicious activities or movements to the relevant authorities promptly.

“Security is everybody’s business. The government cannot do it alone. It is difficult for the government to provide security for all citizens without sharing relevant information.

“I therefore extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Temitope Elemide and the good people of Olodo ward,” Adeyemo said.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its two-day nationwide protest.

The NLC had declared a two-day nationwide mass protest for February 27 and 28, over the economic hardship cobfronting Nigerians since the removal of the petrol subsidy in May 2023.

The NLC and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), had on February 8, given a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government over the rising cost of living in the country.

A late night meeting on Monday between the federal government and NLC was not enough to convince the latter to shelve the nationwide protests.

On Tuesday morning, the protesters began their marches from the Labour House in Abuja and the Ikeja under-bridge in Lagos, while chanting solidarity songs and slogans.

Joe Ajaero, NLC president, and Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, led the Abuja rally.

But in a communique at the end of its national executive council meeting on Tuesday, the NLC said the objectives of the protest were achieved on the first day of the demonstration.

“Consequently, NEC-in-session resolved as follows: to suspend street action for the second day of the Protest having achieved overwhelming success thus attained the key objectives of the 2-day protest on the first day,” the communique reads.

“However, Nationwide action continues tomorrow with simultaneous Press Conferences across all the states of the federation by the state Councils of the Congress including the National Headquarters.”

The NLC NEC also resolved in its meeting, to “reaffirm and extend the 7-days ultimatum by another 7 days which now expires on the 13th day of March, 2024 within which the Government is expected to implement all the earlier agreement of the 2nd day of October, 2023 and other demands presented in our letter during today’s nationwide protest”.

“To meet and decide on further lines of action if on the expiration of the 14days Government refuses to comply with the demands as contained in the ultimatum,” the communique reads.

The Federal Government on Monday said it would extend its social security payments net to graduates with qualifications from NCE and upwards.

Addressing journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun, disclosed that the programme would see unemployed Nigerian youths being paid stipends.

“At this period of heightened food prices, Mr. President has committed to doing all that can be done to assist in giving purchasing power to the poorest and in that line.

“He has committed and instructed that the Social Security unemployment programme be devised, particularly to cater for the youth, for the unemployed graduates, as well as the society as a whole.

“So, we have coming, in the nearest future, an unemployment benefit for the young unemployed, in particular,” the Minister announced.

Similarly, Edun said the FG will urgently establish a consumer credit scheme to alleviate the pains of economic adjustment.

He explained that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, will lead a committee that includes the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, the Attorney-General of the Federation and himself, the Coordinating Minister of the Economy.

“There is coming a social consumer credit programme. By making consumer credit available, goods become more affordable, the economy even gets a chance to revive faster, because people have purchasing power that allows them to order goods, products,” he stated.

Edun also spoke on the review implemented by the Special Presidential panel on the National Social Investment Programme, which has submitted a preliminary report to the president.

He noted that the president gave the highlights to the Council meeting noting that what was done was “a review of the existing mechanisms, a review of the existing programmes, and where there have been successes, such as the 400,000 beneficiaries of the GEEP programme.”

He added, “So, the direct payments to 12 million households comprising 60 million Nigerians is to resume immediately with the important proviso that every beneficiary will be identified by their national identity number and the bank verification number.

“Therefore, payments will be made into bank accounts or mobile money wallets. So, that whether it is before or after, there is verification of the identity of beneficiaries.

“Each person that receives 25,000 Naira for a total of three months will be identifiable, even after they have received the money, it will be clear who it went to and when it went to them. And that is the big change that has allowed Mr. president to approve the restart of that direct payments to beneficiaries programme.”

On his part, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijjani, explained that beneficiaries would be vetted through their Bank Verification Number and National Identity Numbers to avoid multiple payouts to one individual.

He said, “One of the initial moves that we’re making is leveraging the existing dataset that we have on our people. As you know, the BVN is well known to be extremely credible. NIN on the other side, which is now the most popular data identity system for Nigeriansm, is also to a largest and credible, and it covers quite a significant number of people as well.

“And what we’re looking to do here is the triangulation of this data set to ensure that not only are we using the register that has been properly populated, but that we also do proper verification of every individual that will benefit from that social investment programme, which means we will get commitment to ensuring that no one is paid twice, because you have to be properly IDed before you can benefit from that programme.”

The Cable News

The naira, on Monday, appreciated further to N1,650 per dollar at the parallel section of the foreign exchange (FX) market.

Naira appreciated by 6.78 percent, representing N120 drop compared to the N1,770/$ traded on February 23, 2024.

Bureau De Change operators (BDCs) in Lagos put the buying price of the dollar at N1,650 and the selling price at N1,600 — resulting in a profit margin of N50.

“The rate is getting better. But the rate might still go higher as there is still scarcity,” a trader identified as Aliyu, told TheCable.

At the official window, the local currency appreciated by 4.96 percent, from N1,665.5/$ on February 23, to close at N1,582.94/$ on Monday.

This is according to data from FMDQ Exchange — a platform that oversees official FX trading in Nigeria.

At the current exchange rate, the disparity between both FX markets amounted to N67.06, dropping from N104.5.

The development comes days after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) released new guidelines for Bureau De Change (BDC) operators.

According to the apex bank, sellers of FX of $10,000 and above to BDC operators must declare the source of the forex.

The bank also placed limits on foreign exchange sales by BDC Operators.

Punch Newspaper

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the full implementation of the Oronsaye report.⁣

As a result, the government announced the merging, subsuming, scrapping, and relocation of several agencies.

In 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan established the Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions, and Agencies, with Mr. Steve Oronsaye as the Chairman.

Coming from a private sector background, Oronsaye transitioned into the civil service at a senior level and ascended to the position of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

Submitted in 2012, the Oronsaye report highlighted the existence of 541 Federal Government parastatals, commissions, and agencies, both statutory and non-statutory.

The 800-page report recommended the reduction of statutory agencies from 263 to 161, scrapping 38 agencies, merging 52, and reverting 14 to departments in different ministries.

A previous investigation by SUNDAY PUNCH found that the Nigerian government has the potential to save more than N241bn if the recommendations are put into action.

Below is a list of some of the agencies that may be scrapped if the report is fully implemented as ordered by President Tinubu:

One of the key suggestions in the report is the consolidation of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission into a single agency.
Additionally, the report recommended the elimination of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission and the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, with their responsibilities being incorporated into the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

The Salaries and Wages Income Commission is likely to face a similar fate..
38 Federal Agencies were recommended for abolition, including the Public Complaints Commission, National Poverty Eradication Programme, Utilities Charges Commission, National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, National Intelligence Committee, and more.

National Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS be merged as a Department under the Centre for Disease Control in the Federal Ministry of Health.
The merger of National Emergency Management and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons.

The Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa be abolished and its functions, along with those of the Technical Aids Corps, transferred to an appropriate Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Infrastructure Concessionary and Regulatory Commission be subsumed in the Bureau of Public Enterprises for greater synergy and their enabling laws amended accordingly.

It was suggested that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, and the Nigerian Metrological Agency should be combined into a new entity called the Federal Civil Aviation Authority, with their laws adjusted to accommodate the merger.

The committee suggested merging the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to enhance resource management and utilisation.

The committee suggested repealing the enabling law of the National Commission for Nomadic Education and transferring the Commission’s activities to the Universal Basic Education Commission.
The National Council of Arts and Culture will combine with the National Theatre and the National Troupe to form a single organisation.

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure be merged with National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization and Project Development Institute.

The committee suggested that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission be abolished, with the government focusing solely on offering consular services and vaccinations to prospective pilgrims.

The Nigerian Communications Commission, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission and the regulatory functions of the Nigerian Postal Services were recommended by the committee to be merged.

The National Information Technology Development Agency to be fused into the Ministry of Communication Technology
Nigerian Television Authority, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria & Voice of Nigeria into the Federal Broadcasting Corporation of Nigeria.

The Nigerian Army University to be merged with the Nigerian Defence Academy; to function as a faculty with the the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Air Force institute of Technology also to function as faculty within Nigerian Defence Academy.

Debt Management Office to become an extra-ministerial department in the Federal Ministry of Finance
Public Health Department to return to the Federal Ministry of Health
The Nigerian Investment Promotion Council was recommended to merge with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to enhance resource management and utilisation.

One important recommendation from the committee was to stop providing government funding to professional bodies and councils. Therefore, it is necessary to revise the Professional Bodies (Special Provisions) Act of 1972, which requires the government to offer financial assistance to these organisations.

The list comprises various professional councils and boards in Nigeria, such as the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Computer Professionals Council of Nigeria, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, Nigeria Press Council, Architects Registration Council, Council for Registered Engineers of Nigeria, Estate Surveyors’ Registration Board, Town Planners Council, Nigerian Builders Council, Quantity Surveyors’ Registration Board of Nigeria, and Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists.

Punch Newspaper

President Bola Tinubu has ordered the full implementation of the Oronsaye report.⁣
⁣
Consequently, it announced the merging, subsuming, scraping and relocation of several agencies of government. ⁣
⁣
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this to State House Correspondents after Monday’s Federal Executive Council meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. ⁣
⁣
“So in a very bold move today, this administration, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, consistent again with his courage to take very far-reaching decisions in the interest of Nigeria, has taken a decision to implement the so-called Oronsaye Report.⁣
⁣
“Now, what that means is that a number of agencies, commissions, and some departments have actually been scrapped. Some have been modified, and marked while others have been subsumed. Others, of course, have also been moved from some ministries to others where the government feels they will operate better,” said Idris. ⁣
⁣
Consequently, the President constituted a committee to implement the mergers, scrapping and relocations within 12 weeks, said Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Policy Coordination, Mrs Hadiza Bala-Usman. ⁣
⁣
Submitted in 2012, the Oronsaye report on public sector reforms revealed that there are 541 — statutory and non-statutory —Federal Government parastatals, commissions, and agencies.⁣
⁣
A year earlier, the then President Goodluck Jonathan had set up the Presidential Committee on Restructuring and Rationalisation of Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies, under the leadership of former Head of Civil Service, Stephen Oronsaye.⁣
⁣
The 800-page report recommended that 263 of the statutory agencies be slashed to 161; 38 agencies be scrapped; 52 be merged and 14 be reverted to departments in various ministries.⁣
⁣
The report also recommends that the law establishing the National Salaries and Wages Commission be repealed and its functions taken over by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Responsibility Commission.⁣
⁣
It advised the FG to merge the nation’s top three anti-corruption agencies—the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission and the Code of Conduct Bureau.

An earlier analysis by SUNDAY PUNCH revealed that the Nigerian Government could save over N241bn if the report is duly implemented. ⁣

The Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier General Yusha’u Ahmed, has warned corps members against sharing camp activities on social media.

Ahmed said moments captured during the three weeks of exercise must only be for their consumption.

The DG, according to a statement on Sunday, handed down the warning while addressing the 2024 Batch A Stream 1 corps members at the NYSC Ogun State Permanent Orientation Camp, Sagamu.

He also warned the corps members against unnecessary journeys, particularly, unauthorised journeys, urging them to take their safety more seriously than anything else.

While urging the corps members to make the best of their service year, Ahmed said, “Don’t allow your service year to go idle without utilising it. No single hour should go unproductive. You must continue to do something in line with your goals.

“You are not expected to post camp activities on social media, whatever is recorded should be for your personal consumption.

“You must also be wary of embarking on unnecessary and unauthorised journeys, take personal security seriously.”

Ahmed also advised the corps members to key into the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Programme to be wealth creators.

He said the scheme is collaborating with several financial institutions such as Bank of Industry, Access Bank, Wema Bank, NNPC Foundation and others, to give Corps Members interest-free loans and grants.

Earlier in her welcome address, the State Coordinator, Olayinka Nasamu, reported that the participants have exhibited good behaviour and adapted to the regimented life on camp.

The NYSC DG donated four cows and cash gifts to several categories of corps members.

In the DG’s entourage were the Director, Special Duties, Mrs. Bona Fasakin, the Director, Press and Public Relations Unit, Mr. Edwin Megwa among others.

NYSC is a year programme that starts with a three-week orientation course and it is compulsory for all Nigerian graduates mobilised for national service