Congo Ombudsman Says Millions Lost At State Mining Firm

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June 5, 2022

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Inspectorate General of Finance (IGF), in a report revealed on Saturday, points to numerous irregularities in the management of the state-owned mining company Gécamines, which it says has caused the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars.

The anti-corruption agency launched an audit of the company several months ago for the period 2010-2020 and completed its report on 31 May, said the weekly Jeune Afrique, which first published the findings.

Gécamines (Générale des carrières et des mines) was headed during this period by Albert Yuma, a close associate of former President Joseph Kabila, who was ousted last December as head of the company by the government of Félix Tshisekedi.

A “summary” of this “IGF report on the management of Gécamines”, of which AFP obtained a copy, lists the many problems found: “irregularities” in “the transfer of mining assets through partnership contracts”, “lack of transparency in the signing of contracts”, “prejudices in the transfer of rights”, “failure to pay taxes due to the Treasury”, “presumption of embezzlement of public funds”, “selling off of the real estate of the company”, etc.

In particular, the IGF says it has not been able to trace more than $400 million out of a total of some $600 million in tax advances and loans to the state.

It also points to “undue benefits” paid to executives and the “payment of exorbitant snacks”. “During the period under review, Gécamines generated 2 billion US dollars in own resources,” IGF boss Jules Alingete told AFP. However, he said, “1.5 billion was used to pay management bonuses and snacks”.

The IGF also claims that from 2012 to 2020, “Gécamines’ partners have achieved a global turnover estimated at 35 billion dollars”, while the company “has only received 564 million dollars in royalties from these partnerships, or 1.6%”.

The financial watchdog is also looking into the ‘minerals for infrastructure’ deal signed with China in 2008.

The IGF believes that there has been “no serious monitoring of the investments made by the Chinese partners and the income generated by the Sicomines joint venture”.

In May 2021, Félix Tshisekedi announced his intention to renegotiate the mining contracts, particularly those concluded with China by Joseph Kabila.

The DRC’s subsoil is rich in minerals, and the country is the world’s largest producer of cobalt and Africa’s largest producer of copper.

701 Kaduna Students Denied Sitting For WAEC After Paying N12.61m

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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June 5, 2022

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About 701 students In Kaduna State, were denied sitting for the ongoing 2022 West African Senior School Certificate Examination(WAEC) after paying a total sum of N12.61million WAEC fees.

The students, from nine secondary schools in the state, five government and four private schools, were stopped from writing the exams because the uploading of their Continuous Assessment (CASS) onto the WAEC portal failed and the portal was shut by the examination body at the end of the deadline.

Though WAEC called some of the affected schools’ attention to the failed uploading on April 1, 2022, giving them ample time to rectify the anomaly, all entreaties to the WAEC Zonal Coordinator for North West, Audu Paiku to reopen the portal for them to upload the CASS was rejected.

The affected schools include Government Secondary School, Kuse (all 290 final year students), Government Secondary School Independence Way, Kaduna (all 150 final year students), Government Secondary School, Kagarko (110 students), Government Senior Secondary School, Iddah (100 students).

Others are Al-Bahmeen Academy, Kaduna (all 8 final year students), Kalhyatu AbdulRahman Bin Auf Academy, Jere (15 students), Great Panaf Schools, Kaduna (13 out of 62 students), ECWA Secondary School, Kubacha (10 students) and Government Secondary School, Mato (5 students).

When journalists met the North West WAEC Zonal Coordinator, Audu Paiku to know if he was aware of the challenge, if he did refused to reopen the WAEC portal to allow the 701 students rectify the failed uploading and why he did so, he referred them to the Kaduna state Ministry of Education, noting that all the required information were with the ministry.

Kaduna state Ministry of Education had in a letter written to WAEC National Office through WAEC Zonal office in Kaduna on the issue. The letter dated April 12th, 2022, a copy of which was obtained by Journalists, was signed by the Overseer of the Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority, Aliyu Idris requesting WAEC to reopen it’s portal to allow the 701 students upload their CASS, but the examination body refused.

Government Girls Secondary School Independence Way, Kaduna, Great Panaf Schools, Kaduna and Al-Bahmeen Academy, Kaduna, while confirming the incident said they did everything possible to enable their students join their colleagues in writing their final exams but WAEC Zonal Coordinator did not yield.

French Open: Rafael Nadal Bids For 14th Roland Garros Title Against Casper Ruud

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Koko Lawrence

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June 5, 2022

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Rafael Nadal will bid for a record-extending 14th French Open title when he meets Casper Ruud on Sunday, in a meeting between master and student.

The Spaniard, who turned 36 on Friday, recorded a 111th win on the Paris clay to reach a 14th final at Roland Garros.

Norwegian eighth seed Ruud, 23, has trained at 21-time Grand Slam champion Nadal’s academy in Mallorca since 2018.

“He’s playing a student from his academy so it’s going to be fun. It’s something I’ve dreamed of,” Ruud said.

First-time finalist Ruud, the first player from his country to reach a singles final at a Slam, added: “Nadal is the last of the very top players in the world I have never played against.

“I guess this is perfect timing and worth the wait. To finally play him in a Grand Slam final will be a special moment for me.”

Fifth seed Nadal was leading 7-6 (10-8) 6-6 when semi-final opponent Alexander Zverev was forced to retire because of injury on Friday.

That result meant he became the second oldest men’s singles finalist in French Open history, behind American Bill Tilden, 37 when runner-up in 1930.

The Spaniard said he has “huge respect” for first-time major finalist Ruud, with whom he has often hit at the Rafa Nadal Academy, although they are yet to meet on the tour.

“Casper is a professional,” Nadal said. “He has a very good character for tennis. He’s very relaxed, humble. He’s always in a positive mood about learning.

“I think in the academy we were able to help him a little bit during this period of time but, more than anything, I like to see good people achieving their dreams.

“I’m happy for him, I’m happy for his mum and dad, who I know very well. For me it is not a big surprise. He did a lot of great things the last couple of years.”

Victory on Sunday would take Nadal a second title clear of 20-time major winners Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the race to finish on top among the ‘big three’.

He had feared his career was over last year when a chronic foot problem restricted him to one tournament in the final seven months of 2021.

But he won the Australian Open in January to complete an incredible comeback and, after missing six weeks because of a rib stress fracture sustained in March, now stands on the verge of back-to-back major triumphs for the first time since 2010.

Sensitive Electoral Materials No Longer To Be Kept With CBN-INEC

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Koko Lawrence

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June 5, 2022

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that election materials will no longer be lodged with the Central Bank of Nigeria as the 18th of June governorship election in Ekiti State approaches.

Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu explained that going forward the Commission will devise means of lodging its materials without having to make use of the apex bank.

This decision, he said is to ensure that the electoral materials for the upcoming elections are not tampered with.

This was stated by INEC Chairman while responding to questions in an ongoing dialogue in Elections in Abuja after stories about the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, indicating interest in running for the country’s presidential seat hit the airwaves in recent months, several individuals and groups expressed grave concern about the sanctity of Elections materials kept with the CBN.

How Govt. Can Make Tech Education Attractive – FCET Provost

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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June 5, 2022

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Provost of Federal College of Education Technical (FCET), Akoka, Lagos, Dr. Wahab Azeez.

He also said members of the public should be sensitised on the importance of technical education.

Wahab stated that funding of technical education was huge, adding that government lacks the financial power to fund it alone, therefore, it is imperative for government to collaborate with private individuals to make technical education attractive.

Speaking at a news conference last week on campus, the provost noted that for technical education to be effective, modern equipment were required for training students.

He said: “Education is a social service all over the world. Thus, we need public institutions so that everyone can have access to qualitative education. Public institutions are essential, likewise private. It should be a mix of public and private.

The provost urged government to increase funding for technical education, adding that it was collaborating with foreign companies to train its students.

“Members of the public should know about technical education. We are discussing with companies in China for training for our students. We also intentionally established the Centre for Technical Education (CEFTED) so that anywhere in the world, people will know about the college programmes.

“We also invite experts to train our students. Recently, we invited a Professor from Texas to give a lecture on technical education. Fortunately, our students are also taking CEFTED courses seriously and they make extra money on their own,” he said.

The provost, who noted that the institution had experienced infrastructural upgrade, complained of being understaffed. According to him, Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System, IPPIS, was making it difficult to independently employ staff unless the Head of Service gives approval.

He, however, urged government to grant autonomy to institutions and let them develop their own payment platform.

Wahab said with the rich and robust curriculum being utilised by the college, more facilities were required to train staff for excellent service delivery.