Naija News
Senators, Reps Are Genuine Corruption Fighters, Says Lawan
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has described members of the National Assembly as the genuine fighters of corruption in Nigeria.
Lawan, according to a statement from his media office on Tuesday night, made the remark when he inaugurated Nigeria’s chapter of the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption in Abuja.
Lawan’s declaration is coming on the heels of the refusal of the federal parliament to disclose details of its annual budget despite mounting pressure from the media and the civil society groups.
But the Senate President argued that the National Assembly in 1999 created the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He said, “We created the National Financial Intelligence Unit out of the EFCC. What more can one say?
“Is there anyone that is better in fighting corruption than we are? So, we are genuinely fighting corruption and we go all the way,” Lawan said.
The inauguration of GOPAC, he said, had reinforced the government’s anti-corruption campaign, the importance of transparency and accountability to good governance.
He said, “Corruption leads to waste, and the retardation of growth, because the illegal diversion of resources prevents development, as it takes away opportunities for people-oriented projects.
“Realising the negative impact of corruption, the present administration made the fight against corruption one of its cardinal programmes.
“The government has subsequently been forthcoming in its anti-corruption drives, even though a lot more still has to be done, because of its systemic nature.
“Anti-corruption efforts should however permeate the dimensions of our governance sectors, which is why it is a welcome development to have a global outlook of parliamentarians focusing on anti-corruption.”
The Senate President said parliamentarians in Nigeria see GOPAC as a veritable tool to aid the anti-graft war of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)
Lawan said, “As legislators at all levels, we are expected to synergize and strengthen our democracy and to ensure that the rule of law is upheld through this group.
“As a step towards this, we will be presenting the 9th Senate Legislative Anti-Corruption Strategy (LACS 2021) which is a document that outlines stages to success in the anti-corruption fight.”
In his address, the chairman of the Senate Committee on anti-corruption, Senator Suleiman Audu Kwari said GOPAC was formed essentially to ensure the full implementation of the United Nations convention on corruption which Nigeria was a signatory.
Kwari, who is the chairman of the Nigerian chapter of GOPAC, said corruption has become a global problem that must be fought within that context.
“We have developed strategies to combat corruption and set the requisite platforms to implement the various legislative reforms and processes that we consider essential,” he said.
READ ALSO:
ICPC cautions Federal hospitals, finance directors against budget-padding
PANDEF Visits Former President Goodluck Jonathan Seeks Out South-South Security Outfit
Senate President Calls for More Funding for Security Agencies
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
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
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.
Read Also:
Customs Raises Concerns over Finance Act as Senate Sets N3trn Target for Revenue Agencies
Comptroller Ali Ibrahim Assumes Duty as New Customs FOU Zone ‘C’ Boss
Comptroller Chana Re-echoes Commitment to Implementing Government Policies in Kano Free Zone
JBPT Sector 2 Records Seizures Worth N1.6 Billion Within Six Months
Customs Sensitise Retired Senior Officers on Automated Retiree Verification System
-
Revenue Streams2 years agoCommunication Ministry Gives Zero Allocation to Nipost Out of N137.2billion Capital Votes
-
Customs Corner2 years agoCustoms Emerges Champions of 2022, Male, Female National Volleyball Super Cup
-
Newsroom4 years agoNNPC Blames #EndSARS Protests, As Fuel Queues Return
-
ICT5 years agoFinally! Huawei Launched Harmony OS | Let the Rivalry Begins with AndrodOS
-
Naija News6 years agoINEC registers 23 new political parties. YES, RAP, UP, 20 other parties
-
COVID-194 years agoVaccine Trials Starts Round The World: All You Need to Know
-
Customs Corner3 years agoArea Controller, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command Passes On
-
Foreign2 years agoPhilippines’ Duterte Blocks Bill to Register Social Media Users