Naija News
FG inaugurates 774,000 jobs, Senate may debate scheme
The Federal Government, on Tuesday, inaugurated the Special Public Works Programme meant for the employment of 774,000 itinerant workers nationwide for three months.
The government said the initiative, through which the beneficiaries will be paid N20,000 each, was conceived to shield vulnerable Nigerians from poverty, hunger and joblessness.
Speaking at the ceremony, which held at the old Parade Ground, Abuja, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, SAN, explained that the initiative was meant to protect the most vulnerable Nigerians from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He noted that the applicants would execute carefully selected projects, including repair and rehabilitation of public infrastructure in their areas, adding that the workers were not engaged to only clean drainages.
According to him, each of the participating 774 local government areas has identified its preferred projects and will be responsible for ensuring that they are executed as planned.
The minister said the pilot programme was implemented in eight states to gauge its impact on addressing the rising population of unemployed Nigerians, adding that the strategy was adopted to fast-track the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017-2020.
Keyamo stated, “Under the National Economic Sustainability Plan, the Ministry of Labour and Employment decided to adopt a proactive approach by engaging the nation’s youths in some important sectors of the economy. This strategy is intended to facilitate the creation of productive and inclusive societies in our nation.
“It is also aimed at shielding the most vulnerable from the ravaging effects of COVID-19 pandemic, which include but are not limited to pervasive hunger, poverty, environmental degradation and joblessness.”
In his address, the acting Director-General, National Directorate of Employment, Mallam Abubakar Fikpo, said the local communities would receive a facelift through the programme, adding that the participants would be involved in drainage clearing and maintenance, vegetation control, irrigation and orchard maintenance.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has advised beneficiaries of the 774,000 of the SPW to see the opportunity as their own way of little beginning that will lead to positive testimonies in the near future.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Okowa, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Charles Aniagwu, during the inauguration of the scheme in Asaba on Tuesday, expressed delight with it, saying the programme was in line with his administration’s policy on job creation.
In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde said the programme was a step in the right direction to address the unemployment challenge and to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
The governor maintained that the programme would complement the efforts of the state government to tackle unemployment in the state.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Makinde, who was represented by his deputy, Rauf Olaniyan, inaugurated the programme on the premises of the Akinyele Local Government Secretariat, Moniya, Ibadan.
However, the Senate may debate the programme when it resumes plenary on January 26.
The spokesperson for the upper chamber, Senator Ajibola Basiru, dropped the hint in a telephone interview in Abuja on Tuesday.
The National Assembly had last year approved N52bn for the NDE to implement the programme that was supposed to have taken off since last October but for some major challenges.
The red chamber had on December 10, 2020 asked the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to rescind his decision to sack the Director-General of the NDE, Dr Ladan Argungu, to enable him to supervise the programme’s implementation.
Speaking on the development, Basiru said the Senate had yet to take any position on the issue but might likely debate it on January 26.
“The Senate will discuss the issue when we resume if there is any need to do so. The Senate hasn’t taken any position on it yet,” he stated.
He, however, feigned ignorance on the motion taken by the Senate on the issue.
Basiru said, “I don’t know about the motion. I can’t remember all motions passed by the Senate. I don’t have records of all the motions in my brain.
“If you want me to respond to the question, you will wait till I resume on January 26, then I will check my records.
“I cannot remember any motion passed by the Senate on the sacking of the NDE DG. That does not mean that it doesn’t exist or it exists.”
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Labour Force
Kogi Governor Approves Implementation of N30,000 Minimum Wage for workers
Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello, has approved the implementation of N30,000 as minimum wage for the workers in the state.
The secretary to the state government, Folashade Ayoade disclosed this on Tuesday after an extensive meeting with the organized labour in Lokoja
She blamed the delay in the implementation on the inability for the committee to meet regularly due to the covid-19 pandemic which has been overcome.
The SSG equally commended the organised labour for their understanding and patience, which she said has resulted into the signing of the implementation of the new minimum wage.
Read Also: FCTA Set to Implement Minimum Wage for FCT Workers
Finance
CBN to End Forex Sales to Commercial Banks in 2022
Author: Eunice Johnson, Abuja
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has put Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) on notice that it will stop selling forex to them by the end of 2022. CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele made this known in Abuja on Thursday at the end of the Bankers’ Committee Meeting where he also introduced the RT200 Programme.
Emefiele said the time had come for the banks to go out there and source for forex by funding entrepreneurs with ideas. The CBN, Emefiele said, will support the banks by granting rebates and other support until the banks find their feet in sourcing their forex by themselves.
He also disclosed that the apex bank’s policies and measures have led to a significant improvement in diaspora inflow from an average of US$6 million per week in December 2020 to an average of over US$100 million per week by January 2022. He added that the CBN would be reviewing these intervention programmes going forward to ensure that they continue to achieve the desired results.
He said international bodies, including some embassies and donor agencies, have been complicit in illegal forex transactions that have hindered the flow of foreign exchange into the country.
Read Also: CBN Encourages Nigerians to Accept E-Naira
Customs Corner
Customs CG Deploys 37 Comptrollers as Comptroller Attah Heads Kebbi Command
Author: Gift Wada, Abuja
The Comptroller General of Customs Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) has approved the deployment of 37 Comptrollers to various Units, Departments and Commands across the country.
This was disclosed in a release signed on Tuesday by the Customs Deputy National, DC Timi Bomodi for the Comptroller General of Customs.
Among those deployed are the present National PRO of Customs Comptroller Joseph Attah who will assume the office of Area Controller of Kebbi Command, Comptroller AAS Oloyede who shall be moving from ICT/MOD to Tin Can Island Port Command, while Comptroller SI Bomoi to FCT Command. Other postings are Comptroller BA Jaiyeoba to Oyo/Osun Command, Comptroller A Dappa-Williams to Eastern Marine Command, Compt. MA Umar Kano/Jigawa, Compt. KC Egwuh ICT/MOD, Compt. LM Mark Enugu/Anambra/Ebonyi, Compt. T Tachio CTC Kano, Compt. AA Umar Western Marine, Compt. M Dansakwa North Eastern Marine, Compt. AC Ayalogu T & T and Compt. KD Ilesanmi will assume duty as Comptroller Board among others.
Ali in postings released on 7th of February, charged the newly posted Comptrollers to justify the confidence reposed in them by NCS Management by bringing to bear their years of experience and training in trade facilitation and anti-smuggling activities on their new assignment.
Given the enormous expectations of government regarding revenue generation in the current year, the Comptroller General reiterated the need for all Area Controllers and Unit heads to take full charge of the affairs of their Commands by ensuring absolute compliance with extant fiscal policies while leveraging on the efficient management of data to optimize trade facilitation and revenue collection.
Furthermore, the CGC directed all officers to be extremely vigilant in protecting the lives and wellbeing of Nigerians by ensuring the full fortification of our borders against the incursion of smugglers and other cross border criminals.
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