29092020 - Anger as labour leaders abort strike, mass protest

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Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 — 7 :Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 DEMONSTRATION—From left: INEC's National Commissioners, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, Dr. Mustapha Lecky, and Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, during the demonstration of Electronic Voting Machines, EVMs, at the INEC headquarters, by vendors, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN. Deregulation: NNPC paid itself N1.53trn as subsidy for petrol in 3yrs By Michael Eboh ABUJA — The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, paid itself N1.53 trillion as subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, in three years and six months, from January 2017 to June 2020, according to documents obtained yesterday from the corporation. According to the documents, in 2017, 2018 and 2019, the NNPC paid itself N144.53 billion, N730.86 billion and N551.22 billion respectively, while from January to June 2020, it deducted N106.992 billion from its total remittances as subsidy. In 2016, no amount was spent on subsidy, while in 2015, the government had paid N306.917 billion to oil marketers and the NNPC as subsidy. The NNPC called the payments under recovery, another name for subsidy, and deducted it from the proceeds of its domestic crude oil sales, before making remittances to the Federation Account. To ensure it does not go contrary to the law, the NNPC coined the term ‘under recovery’, because subsidy was not appropriated for in the budgets of the affected years. In addition to the amount it said it incurred as under recovery, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, in a statement by the corporation in Abuja, stated that government spent N2.13 trillion from 2016 to 2019, as subsidy on foreign exchange for marketers. The NNPC became the sole importer of petrol in Nigeria in 2016, after the Federal Government introduced the price modulation mechanism, which saw the pump price of the commodity rise to between N143 and N145 per litre, from N97 per litre. Irrespective of the hike in the pump price of the product a few months after, marketers Osinbajo calls for overhaul of tax system ABUJA — Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for an overhaul of the international tax system to tackle the scourge of illicit financial flow, IFF, and related vices negatively impacting progress in developing countries, especially in Africa. He made the call at the virtual press launch of a publication by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, on the impact of illicit financial flows, IFFs, on African development yesterday. “The enormity of efforts required to tackle illicit financial flows is evident in the many dimensions the scourge presents itself. ‘’It manifests through harmful tax policies and practices, abusive transfer pricing, trade mis-pricing and mis-invoicing illegal exploitation of natural resources as well as official corruption, and organized crimes. We have to pay particular attention to efforts to reform the international tax system,’’ Osinbajo said. On the need for an effective reform of the system, the Vice President said: ‘’The commercial form of illicit financial flows, especially tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance, accounts for up to 65 per cent of illicit financial flows. ‘’This means that we must pay particular attention to these issues which are aided by things such as tax treaties, tax havens, and financial secrecy jurisdictions and, indeed, tax competition which leads to a ‘race to the bottom’ in terms of tax rates among developing countries.” Calling for an urgent global action, Osinbajo said leaders of destination countries of illicit funds and their proceeds must demonstrate the will to tackle the menace. He said: “Another important issue that we must pay attention to is the identification and return of proceeds of illicit financial flows back to countries of origin as an effective deterrent to the scourge of illicit financial flows. ‘’Certainly, exposing those involved in practices that facilitate illicit financial flows, and retrieving proceeds of illicit funds are efficacious in deterring perpetrators, rebuilding the confidence of the citizenry, and compensating for the damage caused by such crimes. “I encourage all leaders, whose countries are considered absolute outliers for illicit financial flows, to join forces and take the responsibility of combating the scourge by insisting on the repatriation of illicit funds and their proceeds. “Let me also avail myself of this opportunity to call on leaders, whose countries are the main destinations for illicit financial flows, to take concrete steps to prevent and stop the receipt of illicit funds into their countries, and to assist in freezing, seizing, and returning such funds and its proceeds already in their countries.” On the way forward, the Vice President called for cooperation and synergy among “the private sector, civil society, trade unions and professional groups to work with governments in tackling illicit financial flows.” His words: “The private sector must support our efforts by adhering to international best practices in their operations and by ensuring that their tax and trade practices comply with local laws while professional bodies, including those for lawyers, accountants, auditors, and bankers must observe ethical professional standards and hold their members to account if they abet tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance.” While appreciating the immediate past President of the United Nations General Assembly, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, and Amb. Mona Jul of the Economic and Social Council, ECOSOC, for taking the initiative to establish the first global Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity Panel (FACTI Panel), Prof. Osinbajo called on the United Nations system to facilitate the establishment of clear rules and enforcement mechanisms on all aspects of illicit financial flows. Making reference to the Mbeki report on Illicit Financial Flows during an interactive session with journalists at the event, the Vice President called for concerted efforts among African leaders and cooperation between Africa and multilateral organizations to end the scourge of Illicit Financial Flow from the continent. backed out of its importation, citing difficulties in accessing foreign exchange and government’s interference in fixing the price of the commodity below the actual price determined by the forces of demand and supply. A few months after the hike in May 2016, the value of crude oil in the international market soared, while the value of Nigeria’s currency, the naira, slid to almost N500 to the dollar, from about N197 to the dollar. This affected the landing cost of petrol, which skyrocketed, and in a short while, the country, not wanting to hike the pump price of the commodity again, returned to subsidizing the product. The NNPC, therefore, resorted to deducting the shortfall, that is, the difference between the actual cost of the product and the pump price of the product, from its earnings. In the statement by the NNPC, Kyari stated that concrete steps had been taken to address the main concerns of marketers, especially the issue of availability of foreign exchange, stressing that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had already taken the first step of merging all foreign exchange windows to have a unified exchange rate. He said: “It is really not in our interest to be the sole importer of PMS in the country. We have taken definite steps to exit the situation. This is a definite step taken and the details would be communicated to stakeholders like Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN; Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMAN, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, and others outside this forum.” Kyari added that there are plans by the government to inject about N2.7 trillion into the Nigerian economy to stimulate production, stabilise the exchange rate and cushion the inflationary effect of the pump price increase. He noted that the Federal Government was keen on driving the deregulation programme to create value for the country and ensure that Nigerians enjoy the benefits of the policy. Mali: Jonathan briefs Buhari at Aso Rock •ECOWAS to deliberate again on grey areas By Johnbosco Agbakwuru By Nkiruka Nnorom ACCESS Bank Plc in partnership with Lagos State government, has unveiled the Victoria Island – Lekki traffic circulation project under a Public Infrastructure Improvement Partnership, PIIP, programme. The project, which was flagged off on December 2019, is aimed at addressing the volume of traffic and eliminating perennial flooding issues around the Oniru axis. Speaking at the Commissioning of the project in Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor, Lagos State, said the most critical challenge experienced on daily basis by residents/road users along the Oniru axis was the heavy traffic volume and added that with the delivery of the project, there would be improved traffic flow, reduced travel time, and elimination of perennial flooding issues, which is a boost for health and socio-economic wellbeing of the people. Sanwo-Olu said that despite the difficult health and economic challenges occasioned by the COVID 19 pandemic experienced worldwide in the last few months, his administration remains fully committed to bringing economic prosperity to Lagosians by developing and facilitating delivery of world class infrastructure to serve as the critical development driver of a greater Lagos vision. “Some of the roads delivered under the project are Ligali Ayorinde, Muri Okunola - Aboyade Cole, ABUJA — THE special envoy of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to Mali and former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on the political development in Mali. This is even as the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS at the behest of their Chairman, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, may meet again with President Buhari to to discuss outstanding grey areas in the Mali political situation. Mali has appointed a civilian as Interim President, who will stay in office for 18 months, and lead the country back to constitutional order, after the military had taken over power in the country. That was part of irreducible demands by West African leaders before sanctions imposed on the country could be lifted. However, according to the Special Envoy, the military leaders were yet to satisfy ECOWAS demand of a full civilian as Vice President, and what his roles would be in government. That position is currently being held by a serving military officer, who was also one of the leaders of the takeover. In a statement by the presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, President Buhari counseled the Special Envoy to present a formal report to the new ECOWAS Chairman, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, “who will then write us officially, and we then determine the next steps.” The President said with about two-thirds of Mali currently under occupation by terrorists, “the priority of the military should be to secure their country,” rather than hold on to power. Access Bank unveils upgraded Victoria Island-Lekki traffic circulation project Yesufu Abiodun Oniru, Ligali Ayorinde/Akinbolagbe/ Okene amongst others”, he said. While appreciating the bank for its collaborative efforts in delivering the project, Sanwo-Olu said with the partnership, Access Bank has reinforced the importance of the Public- Private Partnership (PPP) at delivering public infrastructure. He noted that the government is willing to give incentives such as tax holidays, branding and advertisement concession to corporate organisations that are ready to partner with the government. In his address, Herbert Wigwe, Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, while expressing pleasure at the delivery of the project, said the bank is driven by desire to provide quality service, customer relationship and community service. He added that the bank had transformed Oyin Jolayemi, and other roads around Victoria Island, but described the commissioned project as the greatest. He, thereafter, urged other corporate organisations to collaborate with Access Bank to protect the amount of work that the bank has put into delivering the project. Earlier in her welcome address, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye, said Lagos State would continue to partner with the organised private sector for sustainable road infrastructure development.
8 — Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2020 :Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 FG lobbies National Assembly for urgent passage of PIB •We can’t give time for passage — Gbajabiamila By Henry Umoru A BUJA—THE Federal Government, yesterday urged Nigerians to make effective use of oil, saying it would soon become worthless. Speaking in Abuja at an interactive meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly, Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, cautioned that based on a forecast in the global oil industry, oil would be worthless in the next 20 years. The meeting, presided over by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, with the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and other leaders of the National Assembly in attendance was aimed at discussing the details of a draft copy of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). However, Sylva, who sought the cooperation of the National Assembly for speedy passage of the PIB forwarded to both the Senate and the House of Representatives, said the country needed to quickly pass the PIB to make the best of investments from the sector before 2040 , already forecast for 50 percent loss of relevance of crude oil in global market . He said: “It is quite unfortunate that since year 2000 when attempts were made to come up with draft copy of PIB to 2007, 2009 and 2012 when draft bills were submitted to different sessions of the National Assembly by the executive arm of government, we are yet to put on ground the required laws for effective regulation of the oil industry. “20 years have been wasted in putting the laws in place for a sector that has 20 more years of full relevance going by forecasts already made. Forecasts in oil 40 coys demonstrate electronic voting machines as INEC moves towards e-voting By Omeiza Ajayi A Independent BUJA—THE National Electoral Commission, INEC, has again taken steps to ensure full automation of the electoral process, saying the move was to ensure transparency of the process. Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this yesterday when 40 companies in the Information and Communication Technology sector demonstrated the use of their Electronic Voting Machines, EVM, before the commission. The demonstrations were done behind closed doors. Yakubu described the occasion as another giant step in the commission’s continuous effort to deepen electoral integrity in Nigeria through the deployment of technology. He said over the years, the commission had been automating the critical pillars of the process, adding that the biometric register of voters has industry circles indicate that oil will play less and less role in global economy. Specifically, by year 2040, which is 20 years away, relevance of oil in global economy will reduce by 50 per cent.” According to Sylva, the PIB as drafted and passed to both chambers of the National Assembly, if expeditiously considered and passed, will serve as the foundation of investments, adding that one of the central aims of the bill is to make Nigeria an attractive investment destination.” In his opening remarks, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said that though the PIB seemed to be jinxed since 2007, the fresh effort will surely see the light of the day, adding that it is difficult to put a time frame on when the the jinx would be broken through the passage of the bill because details of its contents must be understood and thoroughness applied in its consideration . He said: “The essence of this meeting between the leadership of the National Assembly and officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and NNPC is to discuss the essence and focus of the Petroleum Industry Bill that has been sent to the National Assembly about two weeks ago. ‘’We announce that the Bill is now in the National Assembly, even though it is not before the National Assembly. By tomorrow when the letter of transmission is read on the floor of the Senate and House of Representatives, we will know what is in the Bill. “The essence of this meeting is for us to understand what is in the Bill. That is the essence and purpose of the meeting. This is just for us to interact with you on the content of the Bill so that we have some first hand information, understanding and idea of what is in there. From there the interaction will continue with our committees for the processing of the Bill by the National Assembly leading to its eventual passage.” continuously been updated. “At the moment, the INEC register of voters is the largest data base of citizens in Nigeria. In addition, the combination of biometric voters’ cards commonly known as the Permanent Voter’s Card, PVC, and the Smart Card Reader, SCR, have revolutionised the accreditation of voters during elections. ‘’More recently, the introduction of a number of portals has facilitated the seamless nomination of candidates for elective offices by political parties as well as the accreditation of observers and the media. ‘’Most significantly, the commission now uploads polling unit level results in real-time on election day to a portal for public view. These are significant innovations that have deepened the transparency and credibility of elections and the electoral process in Nigeria,” he said According to him, with the demonstration of the machines, the commission is taking yet another decisive step towards the full automation of the electoral process. FAILED ROAD: Bad portion of Berger Yard along Mile 2 - Apapa expressway causing truck and tanker accidents and endless traffic gridlock.. Photo: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor. Buhari seeks stronger collaboration to end corruption By Johnbosco Agbakwuru A BUJA—PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sought stronger collaboration among the three tiers of government to fight corruption in the country, saying his administration was determined to end the menace of corruption in all sectors. The President stated this in his remark at the 2nd National Summit on Diminishing Corruption, with the theme, ‘’Together against corruption’’ and launch of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja. This is even as Senate president, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, tasked the judiciary to help in the fight against corruption by ensuring that cases that bordered on corrupt practices were dispatched expeditiously. The event was organised by Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, as part of activities to mark Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary and the 20th anniversary of ICPC. In his remark, President Buhari called on all Nigerians to join government in fighting corruption to return the country to its good values of honesty and integrity. He said: “As military Head of State, I fought corruption headlong and held public officers who abused their offices or misused public funds to account. Furthermore, I introduced the War Against Indiscipline, WAI, one of which cardinal objectives was promotion of our cherished culture of ethical conduct, integrity and hard work. “I recognised in 1984 as I do even more now that corruption poses a clear danger to Nigeria, so we cannot relent in efforts to eradicate it from our society. As I have often reminded Nigerians, If we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. “In my inaugural speech in 2015, I affirmed the determination of this administration to rebuild and reform the public service to become more effective and serviceable. “I charged public servants to apply themselves with integrity to stabilize the system and solicited the cooperation of the legislative arm to maintain their brief of making laws and carrying out oversight functions. “We must all join hands together to fight corruption and return to our traditional values of honesty and integrity. I hereby use the opportunity of this summit to launch the National Ethics and Integrity Policy as a fresh roadmap to return Nigeria to these critical national values.” The President, who underscored the significance of setting up ICPC, also called for a reform of the s judiciary, to boost the fight against corruption. “This year marks two significant hallmarks in the history of our country. A few days from now, we will, by the grace of God, be celebrating Nigeria’s 60th anniversary as an independent sovereign nation. “This summit also commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC. The commission emerged as part of the measures that successive administrations in Nigeria have put in place over the years to fight corruption. “In my inaugural speech in 2015, I called for the reform of the judicial system and for the judiciary to act with dispatch in cases, especially cases on corruption, serious financial crimes and abuse of office. “I believe that it is when the three arms and the three levels of government work together that government will be enabled to serve the country. We will also see the positive impact of our efforts reaching all and sundry across the country.’’ Meanwhile, in his remarks, the Senate president, Ahmad Lawan, said the judiciary could help in the fight against corruption by ensuring that cases on corrupt practices were dispatched expeditiously. Speaking to State House correspondents after the Summit at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Lawan stressed the need for citizens to join in the fight against corruption. He also harped on the need for all organs of government to work together to facilitate fasttrack treatment of corruption cases to enhance the war on the menace. Lawan, who dismissed the notion that the present administration’s fight against corruption had been selective, said: “The emphasis is to ensure that all hands are on deck. First, without the legislature, there wouldn’t have been the ICPC. ‘’In the fourth session of the National Assembly, the ICPC bill was passed, which was assented to by the then President, that is to tell you the level of the need and imperative for togetherness in the fight against corruption. “When you have a judiciary that works to ensure that cases of corruption are treated with dispatch, you will agree with me that that will help in the fight against corruption. “If a case of corrupt practice or alleged corrupt practice will last up to four, five, six or ten years or so, you’ll know that something is wrong and that is giving some kind of tacit support to corrupt practice. “But if there’s always dispatch in the treatment of such cases, that will expedite action by the Judiciary to give support to the fight against corruption.'' N2.67bn school feeding funds found in private accounts — ICPC By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA—THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, said yesterday it uncovered N2.67 billion in personal accounts, being payment made to some federal colleges for school feeding during lockdown. According to the ICPC, the money was paid when children were not in school. Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, disclosed this in his keynote address at the 2nd National Summit on Diminishing Corruption with the theme: “Together Against Corruption and Launch of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy” at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Prof. Owasanoye said N2.5 billion appropriated by a deceased senior civil servant to himself and his cronies in the Ministry of Agric was also discovered. The anti-graft agency listed other assets recovered in the ministry to include 18 buildings, 12 business premises and 25 plots of land. He said under Open Treasury Portal review carried out between January to August 15, 2020, of 268 Ministries, Departments and Agendas (MDAs), 72 had cumulative infractions of N90 million. He said while 33 MDAs tendered explanations that N4.1 billion was transferred to sub- TSA, N4.2 billion paid to individuals had no satisfactory explanations. “We observed that transfers to sub-TSA was to prevent disbursement from being monitored. Nevertheless, we discovered payments to some federal colleges for school feeding in the sum of N2.67 billion during lockdown when the children were not in school, and some of the money ended up in personal accounts. We have commenced investigations into these findings,’’ Owasanoye said. Tech driven agriculture’ll transform Africa — Ighodalo CHAIRMAN, Board of Directors of Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, has identified technology as one of core areas that should be articulated in the quest to transform the agricultural sector in Nigeria and on the African continent. Ighodalo stated this at the virtual Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) organised by Sterling Bank with the theme: Fast Forward Agriculture: Exploiting the Next Revolution,” held online with synchronized broadcast studios from Lagos and Abuja. According to him, “to be able to effectively transform the agricultural sector, feed the continent’s growing population, boost her economies, create massive employment for millions of its young and not so young people as well as absorb the shocks of the on-going pandemic, the involvement of key stakeholders across public and private sectors in developing the right policies to aid the growth of the agribusiness value chain must increase.”
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