FG Releases Names Of Alleged Looters

The Federal Government has released a list of some of those who have allegedly looted the nation’s treasury.

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, released the list during a press conference in Lagos on Friday.

Mohammed said the individuals include officials in the past government.

The names in the list revealed by the Federal Government include PDP chieftains who are currently being tried for corruption and financial crimes.

“The PDP has challenged us to name the looters under their watch. They said they did not loot the treasury. Well, I am sure they know that the treasury was looted dry under their watch. Yet they decided to grandstand. This shows the hollowness of their apology,” Mohammed said as he released the names.

 Find the list below and the allegations against them by the Federal Government…

Governor Wike launches RIVTAMIS and RIVTIN

Watch video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-D75pYQOY0s


In a bid to enhance the ease of doing business and eliminate multiple taxation , Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike had on Monday flagged off the Rivers State Tax Management System (RIVTAMIS).

The Governor also launched the issuance of the Rivers State Tax Identification Number (RIVTIN) and received the first RIVTIN Card from the Executive Chairman of Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Adoage Norteh.

Speaking at the Flag off of RIVTAMIS and RIVTIN, Governor Wike said that the innovations are part of his administration’s commitment to entrenching platforms for the ease of doing business.

Automated machine, robots taking over our jobs, Labour cries out

NATIONAL Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees, NUFBTE, has raised the alarm that automated machines and robots are increasingly taking over the jobs of members across the country, worsening the employment crisis in the country. Machine and robots The union is concerned that if not checked, more Nigerians may be thrown into the unemployment market.

 The union has already petitioned the Federal Government through the Minister of Labour and Employment over the matter. Speaking, President of the union, Lateef Oyelekan, said the present drive by the multinationals operating in Nigeria to use robots instead of human beings, would soon boomerang as it would further increase the unemployment figure in the country. He said: “Nigeria is not mature enough for automated machine or robots to be used in our local industry instead of people.

 Presently, we have the challenge of unemployment in our hands where half of the population of our youths are unemployed. We are insisting that it would further increase the unemployment problem in the country and more Nigerians will lose their jobs. 

Facebook has unveiled an initiative known as”SheMeansBusiness” to train female entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

Facebook has unveiled an initiative known as”SheMeansBusiness” to train female entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Facebook’s Public Policy Director, Africa, Ms Ebele Okobi, said at the launch of the initiative, in Lagos, that it was designed to inspire women to start and grow their own businesses. Okobi noted that a recent study conducted by Development Economics on behalf of Facebook shows that businesses set up by women in 

Nigeria, over the next five years, will bring in N19.7 billion into the Nigerian economy, and create 8.9 million jobs. She stated:”We know that when women do better, economies do better. The study conducted by Development Economics further highlights this, with the research suggesting that an estimated 7 million new businesses could be set up by women in Nigeria by 2021. This places a greater importance on women’s entrepreneurial ambitions for overall economic and social development of the country.” Also speaking, Policy 

RMAFC clarifies Senators’ bogus pay

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) says each senator collects salary and allowances of N1.06 million every month.

Ibrahim Mohammed, head of public relations at RMAFC, said this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

He said the N1.06 million figure consists of: basic-N168,866, fueling and maintenance of vehicles, N126,650; personal assistant N42,216.

Domestic Staff, N126,650; entertainment, N50,660; utilities,newspapers/periodicals, N25,330; wardrobe, N42,216; house maintenance, N8,443 and constituency, N422,166 respectively.

Mohammed said the Remuneration ct only covers salary and allowances but not running cost.

He said only the management of the National Assembly Service Commission could explain the N13.5 million running cost of each senator.

JUST IN: Lagos on total lockdown as Buhari visits, residents groan

Lagos woke up on Thursday to a hectic situation as most part of the metropolis were on total lockdown.

Thousands of Lagos residents of the state are currently stranded and are made to trek several kilometres to various destinations as major roads in the metropolis have been locked down by stern-looking military men and other paramilitary personnel.

President Muhammadu Buhari is billed to visit Lagos on Thursday to commission some projects and also participate in the 66th birthday anniversary of national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Read more at source:

http://sunnewsonline.com/lagos-total-lockdown-residents-buhari/ 

NASS extends 2017 budget to May 31

…As Saraki tasks FG on policy consistency

The National Assembly, yesterday, said it has extended the life of the 2017 budget to May 31, 2018, as it is obvious that the 2018 Appropriation Bill cannot be passed by March  31, when the life of the budget is expected to elapse.

This is coming as the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki tasked the executive arm of government on the need to ensure clarity and consistency in its policies, to see how it would add up to its financial projections for 2018.

Saraki stated this while speaking at a joint public hearing on the 2018 Appropriation Bill organised by the Senate and House Committees on Appropriation.

2019: Atiku formally joins presidential race

• Nigerians must sack APC –Wike

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has formally declared  intent  to contest for the presidency in 2019. 

Atiku made his intention known in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday.

This was just as Rivers State Governor, Nyesom  Wike, declared that Nigerians must take up the solemn responsibility of sacking  the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government next year.

MMM founder Mavrodi is dead

According to media reports, founder of the MMM series of financial pyramid schemes, Sergei Mavrodi, has died in Moscow. Mavrodi was taken to a city hospital from a bus stop overnight Monday after he felt weakness and pain in the chest area, reports Moskovsky Komsomolets. 

Governors Back N’Assembly on Electoral Amendment Bill

• Amid allegations of inducement, pro and anti-Buhari legislators intensify lobby
• Senators confident, say two-thirds of the whole not required to pass bill
• Restraining order: Executive, legislature, others know fate April 25

Tobi Soniyi in Lagos, Damilola Oyedele and Alexander Enumah in Abuja

Governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors have quietly thrown their weight behind the move by the National Assembly to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto on the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018, which is proposing, among others, to alter the sequence of elections in the country.

 

A highly placed source in the National Assembly who said he had spoken to many of the governors, especially those seeking a second term in office, have given their tactical support surreptitiously to the amendment of the Electoral Act.

Buhari recently vetoed the Electoral Amendment Bill on the grounds that the section that is proposing to alter the election sequence for the presidential elections to hold last would infringe on the powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise and supervise elections in the country.

Remorseful PDP Asks Nigerians for Forgiveness

With the 2019 general election a year away, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Monday apologised to Nigerians for its past mistakes, even as it urged the people to support its efforts to rescue the country from maladministration.

Under a new campaign slogan, “Rescue Nigeria”, the PDP, which after 16 years in power was ousted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, said it would act as a rallying point in the effort to rescue the country from inept leadership under the APC-led administration.

Speaking at the opening of the public discourse on nation building organised in Abuja Monday, the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus, said that his party would seek the support of Nigerians to retake power so as to rescue the economy and put a stop to the wanton killings of innocent Nigerians.

He promised that the party will come up with an economic blueprint that would highlight interventions in areas such as healthcare and education.

N177bn inflow to moderate cost of funds in interbank

COST of funds is expected to moderate downward this week, in response to inflow of N177 billion from matured Treasury Bills (TBs). 

This expectation is however predicated on reduced or zero liquidity mop-ups by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). 

Last week, the apex bank mopped up N364.2 billion from the interbank money market through issuance of Open Market Operations (OMO) TBs. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, headquaters, Abuja 

This comprised N116.2 billion OMO bills sold on Monday and N248 billion OMO bills sold on Friday. In addition, the apex bank sold primary market TBs worth N54 billion during the week, hence the market experienced N418.2 billion outflow through TBs. 

This, as well as outflow to fund dollar purchases cancelled out the impact of N259 billion inflows through matured TBs.

 As a result, average short term cost of funds rose by 1,250 basis points (bpts) when compared to the level in the previous week.

 Data from the Financial Market Dealers Quote (FMDQ) showed that interest rate on Collateralised (Open Buy Back, OBB) lending rose by 1,103 bpts to 20.83 percent at the close of last week from 9.8 percent the previous week. 

Similarly, interest rate on Overnight lending rose by 1,400 bpts to 23.17 percent last week from 9.17 percent the previous week. Analysts however expect this trend to reverse this week, due to inflow of N177 billion from maturing TBs. “This week, treasury bills worth N177.31 billion will mature via secondary market, hence, we expect moderation in interbank lending rates amidst ease in financial system liquidity”, said analysts at Lagos based investment firm, Cowry Asset Management Limited.

Read more at source:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/n177bn-inflow-moderate-cost-funds-interbank/

Blessing Okagbare breaks 22-year-old record

Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteghonor made a big comeback at the weekend with an impressive 22.04seconds run at the 2018 Wes Kittley Invitational in Texas.

Her feat has erased the 200m women African record held by Mary Onyali-Omagbemi since August 1996.

Read more at source: 

http://dailypost.ng/2018/03/26/blessing-okagbare-breaks-22-year-old-record/

FG calls for withdrawal of PDP’s certificate of registration

The Federal government, Sunday, called for withdrawal of Peoples’ Democratic Party’s registration as a political party. The minister of Information and Culture, Alh. LA Mohammed made the call on Sunday at a press conference on the release of the abducted Dapchi School Girls held in Lagos. Lai Mohammed The minister, who was reacting to the statement made by what he called Naysayers, the opposition PDP in particular to the release of the Dapchi girls, said, “What called for non-partisan celebrations was rather thoughtlessly turned into politics, bad, despicable politics that has no place in any democracy. “You are not unaware of the reaction of the naysayers – the main opposition PDP in particular – to the release of the Dapchi girls. What called for non-partisan celebrations was rather thoughtlessly turned into politics, bad, despicable politics that has no place in any democracy. At times of national tragedies, countries unite. This is the norm everywhere. “The PDP and its co-travelers do not understand that terrorism is a global problem. A terror attack on any country is an attack on all countries. The UN was among the first international organizations to condemn the abduction of the Dapchi girls and also among the first to welcome their release

Read more at source:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/fg-calls-withdrawal-pdps-certificate-registration/ 

Moses on target as Super Eagles stun hosts Poland

The Super Eagles pipped Poland 1-0 in Wroclaw in Friday’s pre-World Cup friendly.
Victor Moses’ second half penalty after he was fouled was enough to secure the win for the Super Eagles.
The game saw young Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper Francis Uzoho make his first start for the Super Eagles.
It was a game the Super Eagles failed to create clear scoring opportunities and mostly played on the back foot before their goal.

Read more at source:

http://sunnewsonline.com/moses-on-target-as-super-eagles-stun-hosts-poland/ 

Economy: Bill Gates’ comment vindicated us –PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said comments by the founder, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, on the economic policies of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration have vindicated its stance that the government is the worst in the history of the country. The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan said, Gate’s comments on the economic policies of the federal government justifies the resolve by Nigerians to sack the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.

Read more at source:

http://sunnewsonline.com/economy-bill-gates-comment-vindicated-us-pdp/ 

DStv, GOtv To Air All Nigerian Friendlies

DStv and GOtv subscribers will have front row seats to watch the Nigerian friendly matches in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia which kicks off June 14. The Nigerian friendly matches are exclusive to SuperSport, the world of champions.

Starting this evening, the Nigeria versus Poland, friendly match, which will be played at the Municipal Stadium, Wroclaw in Poland, will kick off at 8.45 PM

Starting this evening, the Nigeria versus Poland, friendly match, which will be played at the Municipal Stadium, Wroclaw in Poland, will kick off at 8.45 PM. DStv subscribers will watch the match on SuperSport 9, while the match will be available to GOtv subscribers on SuperSport Select 1.

Read more at: 

http://sunnewsonline.com/dstv-gotv-to-air-all-nigerian-friendlies/

Communications Minister fires aides after memo goes viral

Two aides to Communications Minister Adebayo Shorty were sacked as a result of a memo addressed to him demanding payment of their emoluments.

The memo, since gone viral on social media, also mentioned disclosure of the Minister’s sudden wealth.

Their firings and disclaimer were contained in a statement by Deputy Director of Press in the ministry, Mr. Henshaw Ogubike.

Read more at source: 

http://sunnewsonline.com/communications-minister-fires-aides-after-letter-goes-viral/

Dapchi: We’re proud of our daughter, parents of girl held by Boko Haram

• FG failed for allowing abduction –Lamido

• Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri; Chinelo Obogo

Parents of Liya Sharibu, the schoolgirl still held by Boko Haram, over her refusal to convert to Islam, have said they are proud of their daughter’s courage; even in the face of threat to her life.

“I’m very happy and proud that I am the father.  I’m very happy because she is the only Christian among them. I have no fear, even if she dies because she did not denounce Christ. If she dies today, I’m very happy of her. I don’t have anything to regret about her,” Sharibu Nathan told Daily Sun, yesterday.

Sharibu, 45, however, urged the Federal Government to secure her release, the way it did for the 105 girls returned by Boko Haram on Wednesday morning.

“I am urging the people, begging the federal government to assist in bringing this girl back, let her, too, be released because this is a nation and everybody has his/her own religion. All of those who were released are all Muslims; she is the only Christian and that was  why they did not release her,” he said.

On her part, Leah’s mother corroborated the freed girls, who revealed that the insurgents refused to release Liya because of her religious belief.

“The released girls told us that the insurgents insist she must denounce her religion but she told them she has no knowledge of Islam. She was, then, left out of the Dapchi trip; on the condition that any day she accepts Islam, she will be released,” she disclosed.

Read more at source:

http://sunnewsonline.com/dapchi-were-proud-of-our-daughter-parents-of-girl-held-by-boko-haram/ 

International/friendly: Nigeria, Poland go to war in Wroclaw

• Monica Iheakam

Super Eagles continue their World Cup preparation today in Wroclaw, when they file out to face Poland as Gernot Rohr looks to add finishing touches to his Russia bound squad.

Poland tutored by Adam Nawalka will ambush the three-time African champions for what looked to be a thoroughly entertaining affair.The two sides heading to this summer’s World Cup would be aiming to boost their morales with a win this evening.

A full house was expected at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw as the 42,000 tickets for the cracker had been sold out.

Poland has one of football’s best attacking threats in Robert Lewandowski with 32 goals in 27 matches to his kitty this season, but Nigeria is capable of pulling off a shock result, as demonstrated by the 4-2 humiliation of Argentina in an international friendly.

The duo of Leon Balogun and William Troost Ekong were expected to continue their partnership in the central defence of the Super Eagles to checkmate the excesses of Lewandowski in front of the goal.

Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi, who had been tremendous throughout the season was poised to do the needful  alongside Chelsea’s Victor Moses and Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi.

Read more at source:

http://sunnewsonline.com/international-friendly-nigeria-poland-go-to-war-in-wroclaw/ 

Obasanjo: I May Write Another Letter to Buhari

• Femi Ogbonnikani Abeokuta with agency report

Two months after he came down hard on President Muhammadu Buhari, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has disclosed that he is considering writing another letter.

The elder statesman said this while speaking at the 14th annual lecture of Women in Management, Business and Public Service in Lagos thursday.

In the letter he wrote in January, Obasanjo asked Buhari to retire from active public service.

He told the president to forget about contesting in 2019, saying doing so would amount to overstretching the tolerance of Nigerians.

But yesterday, according to The Cable, the ex-president said the new letter might not be as tough as that of January.

Read more at source:

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/03/23/obasanjo-i-may-write-another-letter-to-buhari/ 

Bill Gates: FG’s Economic Blueprint Does Not Address Nigerians’ Needs

• El-Rufai disagrees, tackles Microsoft founder, Atiku backs Gates

Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja

Chairman, Bill and Melinda Foundation, Bill Gates, thursday in Abuja criticised the federal government Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), describing it as a document which identifies investment in the people but fails to reflect it in its implementation.

Gates stated this while attending an expanded meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the State House, Abuja, with the theme: ‘Human Capital Investment in Supporting Pro-poor and Economic Growth Agenda.’ At the meeting which was also attended by the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; the business community tacademia, traditional rulers and some multilateral organisations, Gates described Nigeria as one of the most dangerous places in the world for child birth.

Read more at source:

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/03/23/bill-gates-fgs-economic-blueprint-does-not-address-nigerians-needs/ 

FG Blasts PDP For Doubting Abduction, Release Of Dapchi Schoolgirls

The Federal Government delegation meets with the freed Dapchi schoolgirls at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Maiduguri on Wednesday.

The Federal Government has taken a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following the release of the Dapchi schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram terrorists.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, faulted the party’s reaction to the girls’ release on Thursday in a statement by his media aide, Segun Adeyemi.

The abducted girls regained freedom on Wednesday, more than four weeks after the insurgents invaded the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, in Yobe State.

Of the 110 girls snatched by Boko Haram on February 19, the government said 104 were returned by the terrorists with six unaccounted for.

Read more at source:

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/03/22/fg-blasts-pdp-for-doubting-abduction-release-of-dapchi-schoolgirls/

BREAKING: Senate Confirms Ahmad, Adamu As CBN Deputy Governors

The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of Aisha Ahmad and Edward Adamu for appointment as deputy governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The lawmakers also confirmed the nomination of Professor Adeola Adenikinju, Dr Aliyu Sanusi and Dr Robert Asogwa, for appointment as members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the CBN.

They, however, rejected the nomination of Dr Asheikh Maiduguas a member of the committee.

This followed the consideration of the reports of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions presented by Senator Rafiu Adebayo at the upper chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.

Read more at source: 

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/03/22/breaking-senate-confirms-aisha-ahmad-as-cbn-deputy-governor/ 

Boko Haram Returns 104 Dapchi Schoolgirls, Raising Concerns over Ransom Payment

• Two other children among freed hostages, FG insists no money exchanged hands
• Girls moved to Abuja, UN, APC, others welcome their return
• PDP alleges kidnapping staged

Tobi Soniyi in Lagos, Omololu Ogunmade, Olawale Ajimotokun in Abuja, Michael Olugbode and Senator Iroegbu in Dapchi

Exactly 30 days after 110 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists from Government Girls’ Science and Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi, Yobe State, 104 of the kidnapped girls were returned to the North-eastern town wednesday morning by the Islamist sect, much to the delight and relief of their grieving parents and family members.

But the girls only spent a few hours in Dapchi with their parents before they were moved to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and handed over to a federal government delegation.

Read more at source:

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/03/22/boko-haram-returns-104-dapchi-schoolgirls-raising-concerns-over-ransom-payment/

Teleology Beats Deadline, Pays $50m Non-refundable Deposit for 9mobile

• Adrian Wood: We’ve taken over 9mobile’s loans, will create a Nigeria-centric telco

   Emma Okonji

Teleology Holdings wednesday beat the deadline stipulated under the bid process for the acquisition of 9mobile by paying a $50 million non-refundable deposit for Nigeria’s fourth largest network operator.

Teleology, which emerged the preferred bidder for the 9mobile transaction on February 21, was given till today to pay the non-refundable deposit, failing which Barclays Africa, the transaction adviser, would have invited the reserve bidder, Smile Telecoms Holdings, to takeover 9mobile.

Read more at source:

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/03/22/teleology-beats-deadline-pays-50m-non-refundable-deposit-for-9mobile/

Zuckerberg admits ‘mistakes’ over Facebook data scandal and vows to fix

Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg, breaking his silence over the data scandal roiling the social network, acknowledged Wednesday that the company had made “mistakes” and needed to “step up” to fix the problem. Mark Zuckerberg “We have a responsibility to protect your data, and if we can’t then we don’t deserve to serve you,” Zuckerberg said in his first public comments since the scandal broke last weekend. Writing on his Facebook page, he added: “I’ve been working to understand exactly what happened and how to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

Read more at source:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/zuckerberg-admits-mistakes-facebook-data-scandal-vows-fix/

NO PENSION SCHEME FOR 38 M INFORMAL SECTOR WORKERS YET

No pension scheme for 38m informal sector workers yet ON MARCH 21, 20188:08 AMIN BUSINESS, NEWS0 COMMENTS …As release of guidelines is stalled By Victor Ahiuma-Young FOR about five years now, the National Pension Commission, PenCom’s efforts at introducing the Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS, to the informal sector of the nation’s economy, has not seen the light of the day. It is estimated that there are no fewer than 38 million workers in the informal sector of the Nigerian economy. Sadly, a huge number is currently not covered in the CPS introduced into the Nigerian economy following the Pension Reform Act, PRA, 2004 as amended in 2014. Among these categories of workers are barbers,  hair dressers, cobblers, lawyers, drivers, commercial motorcycle operators, tricycle operators, vulcanizers, mechanics, tailors and market men/women.

Read more at source: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/no-pension-scheme-38m-informal-sector-workers-yet/

ICT EDUCATION: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHES SIX IoT INOVATION CENTRES IN NIGERIA

ICT education: FG establishes six IoT innovation centres in Nigeria ON MARCH 21, 20188:08 AMIN TECHNOLOGY0 COMMENTS …approves Cisco Networking Academy in Unity Colleges By Prince Osuagwu The Federal Government has approved the Cisco Net-working Academy Programme to be run in unity schools just as it also approved the establishment of six Internet of Things (IoT) innovation centres across federal unity colleges in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria. The approval routed through the Federal Ministry of Education, is possibly government’s strong statement towards entrenching sound Information and Communications Technology, ICT learning in primary, secondary and tertiary education in the country.

Read more at source:   https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/03/ict-education-fg-establishes-six-iot-innovation-centres-nigeria/