The Senate has extended the implementation of the 2021 budget from March 31 to May 31. This followed the consideration of a Bill to Amend the 2021 Appropriation Act.
The Senate before considering the bill suspended Rule 78(1) of the Senate Standing Orders 2022 (as amended), to enable the upper chamber to expeditiously introduce and pass the bill. The bill was read during plenary on Tuesday for the first, second and third time after the suspension of Rule 78(1). The bill was sponsored by Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi. Leading debate on the bill, Abdullahi said that Appropriation Act in the past was passed mid-year, with its implementation usually extended to the following year. “In previous Appropriation Act, these extensions were usually covered by a clause. “The clause is in line with the provisions of Section 318 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the Act runs for a period of 12 months, starting from the date it comes into effect,” he said. He, however, observed on the contrary that Clause 12 of the provisions of Section 318 of the Constitution provided that the 12- month period started from the first day of Jan. to Dec. 31. 2021. He said that the 2022 Appropriation Act was amended to extend the implementation from Dec. 31, 2021, to March 31, 2022.
Abdullahi said that the extension of the budget period became imperative in view of the need to complete ongoing projects nearing completion. “As you are aware, the 2021 virement of the aggregate sum of N276 billion was approved for several MDAs by the National Assembly in December 2021 along with 100 per cent release of the 2021 Capital Budget of the MDAs. “A significant portion of the releases to the MDAs has been utilised following the extension to March 31. “In view of the critical importance of some key projects nearing completion, it is expedient to grant further extension of the expiration clause. “This is to avoid compounding the problem of abandoned projects given that some of the projects were not provided for in the 2022 budget hence the need to extend the implementation year form March 31 to May 31,” he said. Meanwhile, a total of three bills scaled second reading on the floor. The bills included the National Industrial Technology Park; the Federal College of Agriculture Ise-Orin, Ekiti State; and Federal University of Agriculture Ogoja, Cross River bill. The bills were sponsored by Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (APC-Ogun), Sen. Biodun Olujimi (PDP-Ekiti) and Sen. Agom Jarigbe (PDP-Cross River).
The Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria on Monday said that it generated N346.6 million from tickets sold across the country in March. The CEAN’s National President, Patrick Lee, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. Lee said that the figure represented 45 per cent increase compared to 189 million realised in March 2021. He also said that there was a seven per cent improvement in ticket sales in March, as N301.48 million was generated in February.
“For the month of March 2022, we have N346,607,688.00 ticket sales, this is quite encouraging compared to what we had in February, N301,480,148.00.
“Comparatively, 2022 has continued to record higher box office revenue than 2021, March shows a 45 per cent improvement from 2021 performance and a 7 per cent growth from February 2022. “Of the 41 films shown in Nigeria cinemas in the month of March, Hollywood accounted for 75 per cent of revenues despite having only 14 titles,” he said.
Operatives of the Ogun State police command have uncovered a large expanse of land cultivated for the planting of India hemp. The operatives also arrested seven suspects they allegedly met planting the weeds. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday. Oyeyemi confirmed the suspects; Nelson Enu, Patrick Emmanuel, Samuel Paul, Ekioya Joe, Monday Okoro, Endurance Eliobe and Stanley Ogejiagba were all arrested.
The PPRO added that the arrest followed credible intelligence gathered by policemen at the Isara Divisional Headquarters over the activities of the suspects. He said the suspects were arrested for cultivating a large expanse of land for the purpose of planting the Indian hemp at Lokuta village in Remo North Local Government Area of the state. He said “The intelligence further revealed that the suspects were threatening the lives of the villagers, who did not initially know what they wanted to use the cultivated land for, for daring to disturb them while the planting was going on.
“Upon the information, the DPO Isara Division, CSP Shobiyi Oluwatoshin, mobilised his men in conjunction with local vigilante and moved to the scene where the seven suspects were arrested. “Recovered from them are five bags of suspected Indian hemp seeds while two bags had already been planted.” Oyeyemi however, said the Commissioner of police, Lanre Bankole, ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for onward transfer to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for possible prosecution.
The Sea of Galilee on Tuesday neared its upper red line threshold, sitting only 32 centimeters (13 inches) below its maximum capacity — which it has not reached in 30 years.
The water level is now 0.32 meters (13 inches) below the upper red line, or 209.12 meters (686 feet) below sea level. The upper red line is 208.8 meters (685 feet) below sea level. The lake — the Sea of Galilee is actually a lake — is now 3.88 meters above the lower red line, the level at which water quality declines and causes damage to the ecological balance.
The water levels of the Sea of Galilee have seen dramatic highs and perilous lows in recent years. Only six years ago, the situation was extremely bleak.
On April 4, 2016, the lake level was 3.29 meters (11 feet) lower than today. The level measured at that time was 212.41 meters (697 feet) below sea level, or 3.61 meters (12 feet) below the upper red line.
The Sea of Galilee is Israel’s largest freshwater lake, and while it is no longer used as the main source of drinking water, it is still seen as a significant gauge of seasonal rainfall.
Even though the Sea of Galilee is nearing its maximum capacity, there are failsafes to prevent flooding. If the water level exceeds the upper red line, the Israel Water Authority opens the Deganya dam, located at the southern end of the lake.
Nigerian authorities are shutting down illegal online lending firms that use deceptive schemes to hook consumers.
Many Nigerians have had to take loans from unscrupulous online lenders during the pandemic period. Those with no means to earn a living had no option but to accept exorbitant interest rates. The online lenders they turned to were mostly Chinese-owned.
The simplicity of the online applications for those seeking loans has hooked many Nigerians.
On Google, the policy rules for lending apps require companies to leave a 60-day period between the approval of a loan and the repayment date. The loan providers that target Nigerians display those rules, but in practice their repayment periods are shorter.
It is also only once the loans are disbursed by these companies that consumers become aware of the outrageous interest rates. Loans are disbursed quickly and consumers are often slow to notice the harvest of their personal details and contacts.
Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), National Information and Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) stepped in last month.
Authorities raided the offices of digital lenders suspected of operating illegally in Ikeja, Lagos. Digital lending platforms like GoCash, Okash, EasyCredit, Easi Moni, KashKash, and Speedy Choice were ordered by the authorities to close down.
The FCCPC said the loan companies were not Nigerian-owned and were not registered or licensed to operate in the country..
Unethical recovery methods
Nigerian authorities said complaints about the violation of private data and loan recovery methods prompted an investigation into the online lenders in 2020.
The head of the FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, told reporters recently that it was unethical to violate the privacy of customers to abuse and shame them and their acquaintances.
The recovery of debts owed to these companies is a lucrative business for debt collectors, according to the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR). Collection agents are reportedly paid a weekly bonus of three percent of the debt sums recovered.
Nigeria’s financial sector regulators are working to identify more illegal loan providers in order to close them down.
The federal government has already frozen the bank accounts of over 30 illegal loan providers. It has also ordered Google LLC (Play Store) and Apple Inc. (App Store) to withdraw certain applications held by illegal online lending firms. The Android and iPhone apps they use to lure consumers are also being deactivated.
Nigeria’s central bank governor Godwin Emefiele says that despite the recent success in shutting down “loan sharks”, identifying these companies remains a challenge because of the underground nature of the business.
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has launched a mobile application technology for Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency, GoHealth, in his determination to revolutionize the health services in the state.
The launch of the GoHealth Mobile App is in collaboration with the German International Corporation GIZ, Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development and Saif Advocacy Foundation.
Launching the mobile app during a stakeholders engagement meeting on Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, Governor Yahaya said the mobile application was in line with his administration’s aspiration in providing quality and affordable healthcare services for the people.
He observed that with the demonstration of the GoHealth mobile App, it was clear that the App was user-friendly, safe and secure, to enable individuals and groups to enrol on the scheme, book appointments with their care providers, make enquiries as well as provide feedback to enable the government take necessary measures to improve the quality of service.
Governor Yahaya said that in order to accelerate the drive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in the state, his administration had adopted the innovative use of ICT for health, in order to improve service delivery, ensure responsiveness, increase access, expand coverage and offer financial risk protection to the people.
The Governor explained that the engagement was aimed at sensitizing all relevant stakeholders and the general public on the recently introduced contributory health care scheme and its various programmes targeting all categories of residents in the state.
He said the GoHealth beneficiaries will enjoy effective medical consultations, admissions, provision of regular medications and surgical operations all at no cost to them, while the healthcare providers also receive regular funding to enable them maintain their facilities, ensure the availability of drugs and other medical consumables and improve human resource capacity.
The Gombe State Governor urged all stakeholders to mobilize the poor and vulnerable in the various communities to enrol in GoHealth insurance, so that they would meet their healthcare needs. He said the target of his administration was to enrol a minimum of 40,000 poor and vulnerable people into the programme, which had so far enrolled about 60 thousand civil servants and their dependants, who have started accessing care since 1st October, 2021.
The GoHealth health insurance programme is providing Gombe State civil servants with subsidized healthcare services, which subsequently enhances workers’ welfare and improves their productivity.
Governor Yahaya said the Informal sector programme had also commenced, thereby urging all residents to take advantage of the programme to register themselves and their loved ones, so as to prevent rising healthcare costs and its devastating social and economic consequences.
Speaking on the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, the Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Insurance Scheme, Professor Mohammed Nasiru Sambo, said the Federal Government deemed it necessary to establish the fund, so as to create an avenue where Nigeria could successfully attain Universal health coverage.
The Professor commended the Gombe State Government for launching the mobile app to enhance the services of GoHealth, saying it is unthinkable to operate a functional healthcare system without the introduction of Information Communication.
The Country Lead of the German International Corporation, GIZ Fatima Zannah, said Gombe State had been a pacesetter in the provision of quality healthcare services across the State, saying the launch of the GoHealth App in Gombe State is a quantum leap in the delivery of real-time health services.
She gave the Government and people of the State assurance that GIZ would continue to support the efforts of the Gombe State government towards revitalizing the health sector.
The chairman governing board of the Gombe State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency GoHealth Dr. Mohammed Isa Umar said the GoHealth mobile app was a technological innovation aimed at registering beneficiaries from the comfort of their homes to begin enjoying seamless health care services.
The Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) on Monday said that it generated N346.6 million from tickets sold across the country in the month of March; representing a 45 per cent increase compared to 189 million realised in March 2021.
Patrick Lee, CEAN’s National President, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Lee said that there was a seven per cent improvement in ticket sales in March, against N301.48 million generated in February.
He listed the highest-grossing films in Nigeria in the month of March as “The Batman,” “Uncharted,” “The Contractor,” “A Simple Lie” and “Turning Red”.
“For the month of March 2022, we have N346,607,688.00 ticket sales, this is quite encouraging compared to what we had in February, N301,480,148.00.
“The Batman sold the highest number of tickets accounting for 39 per cent of box office revenue for the month of March.
“Comparatively, 2022 has continued to record higher box office revenue than 2021, March shows a 45 per cent improvement from 2021 performance and a 7 per cent growth from February 2022.
“Of the 41 films shown in Nigeria cinemas in the month of March, Hollywood accounted for 75 per cent of revenues despite having only 14 titles,” he said.
Lee noted that the films to be out for the month of April were: I’m Nazzy, Sonic The Hedgehog, Saint Mark, Morbius, Bad Guys, King of Thieves and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.
The Founder of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, a Non-Governmental Organisation has stressed the need for governments and spirited Nigerians to focus on targeted investments in nursing and midwifery.
Mrs. Saraki, the wife of the former President of the Senate, made the call at a workshop organised for nurses and midwives on Monday, in Abuja.
According to reports that the theme of the workshop is; “Understanding the Challenges and Gaps in Oncology Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and Midwifery Education in Nigeria”.
She said reductions in neonatal mortality had lagged behind those of maternal, infant and child mortality, due to less attention and investment.
“We are gathered here today with a new and special focus, to highlight and advocate for targeted investments in nursing and midwifery and create a roadmap to close the gap in cancer care.
“For every two seconds, a new case of cancer is diagnosed. This means in every second, that nearly 100 people have already been diagnosed with a disease that is absolutely life-changing.
“The highest incidence of maternal and perinatal mortality occurs around the time of birth with the majority of deaths occurring within the first 24 hours after birth.
“We don’t need to be reminded that Nigeria’s revolutionary Midwives Services Scheme (MSS) which commenced in 2009, was the key factor that helped to make some achievements in the country.
“The scheme was to meet gaps in skilled birth attendants and help to reduce maternal mortality ratio by as much as 40 per cent.
“Though with regional variations across the country, according to the World Bank, the World Health Organization, UNFPA and UNICEF, “she said.
Saraki said that the country had the knowledge and tools to prevent at least two-thirds of the deaths.
She said the country must advocate strengthening and investing in professional care during labour, birth, and the first day and week of life.
She said further that governments needed to invest in frontline staff, and must invest in midwives.
According to her, her foundation is with a clear mission for structured philanthropy, full of optimism to collaborate with strategic partners.
Saraki said that the primary aim of the foundation was to find the best practical solutions to reach a national scale.
She said that Kwara had done a lot in the area of maternal health and midwifery health.
According to her, the state is uniquely innovated towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
She said that the World Health Organisation has recognised the state as a routine community of practice – a perinatal births and deaths audit.
The Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Dr. Morenike Afex-Okoh, in her remark said that mental health was an integral part of health and wellbeing, as reflected in the definition of health.
Afex-Okoh sad that mental health included emotional psychological and social wellbeing.
According to her, it affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts, it also helps to determine how one handles issues related to others and makes choices.
She said that in Nigeria, there were about 250 psychiatrists available for a population of over 200 million people.
Afex-Okoh said that in Nigeria one in every four persons would suffer from one sort of mental illness in their life.
She said that the treatment gap in mental health in Nigeria was as high as 90 per cent and there were many reasons for it.
Afex-Okoh said that the country also needed to do a lot in the area of mental health.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
