Federal Govt. Saves N1.45tn From Subsidy Removal

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November 8, 2023

The federal government of has so far saved about N1.45tn from earnings generated from the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol between June and September.

This is according to FAAC allocation documents obtained from the website of Nigeria’s Governors Forum and National Bureau of Statistics.

An analysis showed that the funds remitted monthly to the Non-Oil Revenue (Savings) account of the government received the sum of N696.93bn in June, N389.7bn in July, N71bn in August and N289bn in September.

N1trn Saved Since Subsidy Removal — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy during his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, saying, “Subsidy is gone.”

Before the removal, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited said it spent N1.828tn on subsidy payments between January 2023 to May 2023 — 55 per cent higher than the amount paid in the corresponding period of 2022.

About N1.15tn was spent on subsidy in the first four months of 2023. Breakdown of the figures showed that N274.769bn was expended in January 2023, N477.742bn in February, N415.381bn in March, and N353.130bn in April, respectively.

On August 1, 2023, President Bola Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast, revealed that the Federal Government of Nigeria has saved N1tn in the two months (June and July) since the removal of the petrol subsidy.

Tinubu said these monies that would have been otherwise squandered by those he called “smugglers and fraudsters” will now be channelled into intervention programmes targeting families nationwide.

He stated, “In a little over two months, we have saved over a trillion Naira that would have been squandered on the unproductive fuel subsidy which only benefitted smugglers and fraudsters.”

Trade Union Congress president, Festus Osifo had raised an alarm over monies claimed to have been saved by the government. Osifo asked where the money saved since subsidies were removed was.

Speaking on the matter during an interview on AriseTV, Osifo said since the government announced that N1 trillion has been saved, there is no reason to continue borrowing money, adding that FG should simply deploy part of the funds on Nigerians.

Osifo said, “The president and commander-in-chief on his own came and said the country has saved N1 trillion. The federal government went everywhere to announce that if the subsidy is removed, it’s going to save substantial money,”

“And so, we don’t expect them to go everywhere and start borrowing money. They told us they were going to save money. So where is the money that you have saved and how have they deployed this money?”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that the government has made a lot of savings from the petrol subsidy removal and passed the same to state governments to assist in cushioning the effects of the policy on Nigerians.

He disclosed this at a parley with senior journalists on Monday in Abuja.

The minister who didn’t ascertain the amount saved emphasised that a lot has been passed to state governors, in that regard.

He said, “So much money has been saved since the removal of the subsidy. Some of the money that has been saved has been given to states.

“Mr President believes that state governments are closer to the people than the federal. That is why the administration has been passing funds through the governors to provide palliatives to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal.

“I cannot give the exact figure right now because it is an ongoing exercise.”

El Nino Weather: Australia Records Driest October Since 2002

By

Angel Gimalo

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November 8, 2023

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Australia recorded the driest October in more than 20 years due to an El Nino weather pattern which has seen hot, dry conditions hit crop yields in one of the world’s largest wheat exporters, the national weather bureau said on Wednesday.

In its regular drought report, the Bureau of Meteorology said last month was Australia’s driest October since 2002, with rainfall 65% below the 1961–1990 average.

Also Read: Zelensky: Israel War Taking Attention From Ukraine

It said every part of Australia except the state of Victoria had below-average rainfall and Western Australia state — by far the biggest grain-exporting region — saw its driest October on record.

After three years of plentiful rain, the El Nino weather phenomenon has brought hot and dry weather to Australia, with September the driest since records began in 1900.

Rain in some parts of the country in early October halted a rapid decline in projected crop yields but the country’s wheat harvest is still expected to fall by around 35% this year to some 26 million tons.

Its long range forecast predicts below-median rainfall through to at least January in northern, western and southern Australia.

El Niño Weather

El Niño is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

El Niño is the “warm phase” of a larger phenomenon called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

La Niña, the “cool phase” of ENSO, is a pattern that describes the unusual cooling of the region’s surface waters.

El Niño and La Niña are considered the ocean part of ENSO, while the Southern Oscillation is its atmospheric changes.

El Niño has an impact on ocean temperatures, the speed and strength of ocean currents, the health of coastal fisheries, and local weather from Australia to South America and beyond.

El Niño events occur irregularly at two- to seven-year intervals. However, El Niño is not a regular cycle, or predictable in the sense that ocean tides are.

El Niño was recognized by fishers off the coast of Peru as the appearance of unusually warm water.

We have no real record of what indigenous Peruvians called the phenomenon, but Spanish immigrants called it El Niño, meaning “the little boy” in Spanish. When capitalized, El Niño means the Christ Child, and was used because the phenomenon often arrived around Christmas.

El Niño soon came to describe irregular and intense climate changes rather than just the warming of coastal surface waters.

Airport Workers Begin Strike in Imo

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 8, 2023

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Travellers and airlines navigating through Imo State might need to explore alternative options, given the aviation unions’ decision to initiate a complete withdrawal of workers at the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Owerri.

This came even as the unions declared the State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, persona non grata at all airports nationwide until further notice.

The unions which include, the National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, NAAPE, and the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, ANAP, actions is coming against the backdrop of brutalisation of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President Joe Ajaero last week.

Strike: NLC, TUC Summon NEC Meeting

Ajaero was reportedly beaten and brutalised by some unidentified persons who claimed to have gotten the directive from the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma.

The NLC leader was beaten up in the state, while operatives of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, allegedly watched, a development that has raised concerns nationwide over the state of the nation.

However, in a statement signed by the unions executive, titled, Special Bulletin To All Aviation Workers Notice Of Strike Action, it reads: “Following the escalation of the imbroglio created by the mayhem unleashed on workers by the Imo State Government of Uzodimma and continued insensitivity of the government over the matter; and in compliance with the directive of the joint NEC session of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, the above named unions, being affiliates of NLC and TUC, hereby direct all aviation workers (both public and private) to withdraw all services to all Owerri flights (inwards and outwards) from any airport in Nigeria with effect from today,

“In addition, the person of Uzodimma, the Governor of Imo State is hereby declared persona non grata at all airports in Nigeria until he purges himself of bestial tendencies.

“Our unions will make further efforts through our international affiliations to blacklist Hope Uzodimma worldwide.

“Furthermore, all aviation workers in Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri are hereby directed to stay at home, also with effect from today as directed by NLC and TUC.

“Based on the above, the State Councils and all branches of the unions will meet today at 5pm in Lagos and Abuja to agree on modalities for carrying out the above directive.

“The meeting in Lagos will hold at NUATE Secretariat, while that of Abuja will be at GAT (pilgrims’ terminal).

“By this notice, the airports’ managements, airlines operating into and out of Owerri, intending airport passengers into and out of Owerri, and the general public are hereby advised about this situation so as to be forewarned.”

Ghana Trains 40 Teachers To Identify Children With Special Needs

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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November 8, 2023

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About 40 teachers in the Accra Metropolis are undergoing a two-day training to identify children with special needs.

The programme is under the newly created Chance for Childhood (CfC) screening application.

The CfC screening application which was designed by a Ghanaian Information Technology firm, ‘Tech Era’, would help teachers to identify seven areas of disability in children such as vision, hearing, communication, learning disability, mobility and self-care.

The programme was organised by CfC, an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) with sponsorship from Entain’s Ennovate Innovation Hub.

The teachers were selected from schools such as Nii Kojo Basic School, Mamprobi, John Westley Basic School, Palladium, Alwaleed Islamic Training Basic School, Kanda, Nima I Basic School, Saint Francis Xavier Roman Catholic School and Ayawaso North Municipal Model School both in Maamobi.

The Global Inclusive Safe Garden Lead of CfC, Richard Opoku, said children with disability were the most at risk of exclusion due to the fact that they were vulnerable.

He said children with disability were abused and stigmatised which did not help in their development.

He stressed the need to protect children to be functional for the society adding that the United Nations Convention on right of children is a legally-binding international agreement setting out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.

Opoku said the CfC application is currently being piloted in Accra and would soon be launched and replicated in other regions.

He said disability could be hereditary or occur during birth.

He encouraged parents to ensure good maternal health and nutrition before, during, after pregnancy, pre-natal care and pregnancy monitoring, child vaccination to prevent disease, good sanitation and hygiene practice to help in the prevention of disability.

Opoku advised the teachers to use the application to help identify children with disability to provide them with better service for them.

He stated that the CfC, an International NGO operates in five African countries including Ghana.

He said CfC started its operations in Ghana in 1999 as a child center organisation to promote inclusive education.

Some of the teachers who spoke on condition of anonymity to the Ghanaian media commended the CfC for the initiative, stating it would go a long way to help the teachers to assist children with special needs.

They called on CfC to collaborate with the Ghana Education Service to organise more of such programmes to help children with disability identify their potentials in the society.

FG Begins 40% Revenue Deduction From Varsities

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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November 8, 2023

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The Federal Government has commenced the implementation of an automatic 40 per cent deduction of Internally Generated Revenues of Federal Universities and other partially funded institutions across the country.

The auto-deduction policy of gross IGR is in line with the Finance Circular with reference number FMFBNP/OTHERS/IGR/CRF/12/2021 dated December 20, 2021.

The circular limits the annual budgetary expenditure from IGR of the partially funded federal government institutions.

This was contained in a letter dated October 17, 2023, and titled ‘Implementation of 40% automatic deduction from internally generated revenue of partially funded federal government institutions’ by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to the universities and signed by director of Revenue and Investment, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Felix Ore-ofe Ogundairo.

The letter, referred to varsities vice-chancellors, was assented to by the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun.

The letter reads, I am directed to inform you that the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy has approved the implementation of a 40% auto deduction from the Gross Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of all Partially Funded Federal Government Institutions in line with the Provision of Section 62 of Finance Act, 2020 with effect from November 2023.

All statutory revenue lines like Tender Fees, Contractor’s Registration Fees, Disposal of Fixed Assets, Rent on Quarters, etc shall be remitted 100 per cent to the Sub-recurrent Account.

Ogundairo said Consequently, all partially funded Agencies/Parastatals must align their budget requirements and ensure total compliance with the provision of Section 62 of Finance Act, 2020 and Finance Circular, 2021.

Earlier, the federal government through the Minster of Education, Tahir Mamman, said it was giving varsities full autonomy to explore sources of financing their activities.

Gov. Idris Assures Corp Members Of Security, Welfare In Kebbi

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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November 8, 2023

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Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris has assured Corp members of their safety and protection in the course of their national service in the State.

The Governor gave the assurance during Swearing-in-Ceremony of the 2023 Batch “C” Stream 1 Orientation Course of Corp members at the Dakingari Orientation Camp, Suru Local Government.

Idris said that the Land of Equity, Kebbi has been known for its peaceful atmosphere for all categories of people irrespective of their religious or ethnic differences.

He said Kebbi State has been known for peace and safety here is well assured.

He affirmed that the State Government would also do its best to ensure the general welfare of corp members posted to the State throughout their stay.

He congratulated the corp members for successfully scaling through the rigours of academic pursuit and being found worthy in learning and character which qualified them to be mobilized for National Service.

He said NYSC has over the years been able to prepare youth to become successful leaders in various endeavors, especially as they venture into the threshold of carving an important niche for themselves.

Governor Idris called upon the corp members to emulate their predecessors who have contributed immensely to the development of the state in the areas of environmental sanitation, education and other key sectors of the economy.

The Governor was represented by the Secretary to the Kebbi State Government, SSG Yakubu Bala Tafida at the occasion.

Earlier, the Kebbi NYSC State Coordinator, Okolo Agatha Banki, welcomed the Governor and all the corp members to the ceremony which marks the official opening and swearing-in ceremony of the 2023 Batch ‘C’ Stream I Corps Members deployed to serve in Kebbi State.

She congratulated them on behalf of the Director-General of the NYSC Brig General YD Ahmed.

She thanked the governor for supporting the NYSC Governing Board Chairman, Commissioner for Youth Development, Nura Bala Fingila, over the needs of the NYSC in the State.

He appealed to the governor for sustained support to NYSC in Kebbi State.

A total number of 1,572 Corp members deployed to Kebbi State were sworn in while 247 Corp members from Zamfara State were also sworn in at the Orientation camp due to security concern in Zamfara.

Germany To Deport 14,000 Nigerians, FG Gives Condition

By

faith Jegede

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November 8, 2023

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said the country is set to deport about 14, 000 Nigerians who have been residing in the country for some time.

This move according to him has seen a significant number of initial asylum applications from Nigerians in 2023, with a comparatively low recognition rate

Approximately 12,500 Nigerians are in a condition of tolerance in Germany as a result of the Nigerian government’s reluctance to admit people without the necessary identity documents.

Nigeria had long been one of the top 10 countries of origin for German asylum applicants, but recently, the proportion has begun to decline.

Read Also : Nigeria, UK Sign Migration Deal To Deport Illegal Immigrants

But the current spike in Nigerians filing initial asylum claims in 2023 has sparked worries. Nearly 14,000 Nigerians might be deported, and the great majority of them do not have the necessary identification cards.
Nigeria is prepared to welcome them back “as long as they have behaved well,” but only if they stand to gain something from it. Rather, we ought to cease providing the 640 million euros in development funding.
In talks with Nigerian officials, Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the importance of working together to resolve the deportation situation.

“We are prepared to collaborate in order to enhance migration,” the statement stated, adding that Germany would be happy to send back any Nigerian nationals who have behaved well.

Even though Tinubu made a few evasive remarks, he alluded to the potential for cooperation in order to resolve the matter.

He underlined that the Nigerian government is ready to allow people to return, especially those who are recognised as fellow citizens and as well-behaved.

Germany-issued replacement documents will not be accepted by Nigerian authorities

Naira Slides Further to N1,080

By

Rhoda Onuzulike

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November 8, 2023

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The Naira continued its free fall against the dollar on Tuesday, depreciating to N1,080/$ in the parallel market.

This is 4.85 per cent decline when compared to the N1, 030/$ it traded on Monday.

It is also day two of the naira losing momentum after going on a bull run towards the end of last week after news broke that the Central Bank of Nigeria had begun to clear some of its FX backlogs.

Since closing trading at N950/$ on Friday, the naira has depreciated by 13.68 per cent, losing N130 of its value against the dollar. According to Bureaux De Change operators, it traded between N1,060/$ and N1,095/$ on Tuesday.

Naira Falls to N1,049 After CBN Restores 43 Items

On the official market, the naira depreciated by 7.53 per cent to N869.91/$ on Tuesday from N809.02/$ on Monday according to details on FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange.

On Monday, the President of the Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria, Aminu Gwadabe, blamed the fall on the activities of speculators.

“Speculators are always looking at elements of sustainability. Once they sense that it (the injection) is not continuous, they begin to react. They begin to react. It is the reaction of the market we are witnessing. Also, there is resistance. Some people bought at a higher price that this does not favour. People are not willing to take further losses.”

Meanwhile, the presidency has cautioned Nigerians hoarding foreign currencies to stop, warning new government policies may shock them. A Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr Tope Fasua, disclosed this at the “Cowries to Cash” lecture and lunch on Tuesday in Abuja.

He disclosed that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration is working on policies to strengthen the Naira. According to Fasua, recent movements by the government towards the FX market are expected to continue.

Fasua, representing the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, at the event, said: “For those who are speculating and praying and wishing that the currency would become nonsense, I believe that the central bank is rolling out the policies and the government that I serve, led by the President, will shock some of them.”

Shakhtar Stun Barca With Deserved Triumph

By

Emenike Agu

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November 7, 2023

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Shakhtar Donetsk’s Georgian defender #13 Giorgi Gocholeishvili (2R) and Barcelona’s Portuguese forward #14 Joao Felix (R) vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League Group H football match between FC Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Barcelona in Hamburg, northern Germany on November 7, 2023.

Barcelona slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, spurning the chance to seal early qualification to the Champions League knock-out stages.

Danylo Sikan’s dipping header in the 40th minute secured Shakhtar a famous victory as Xavi Hernandez’s flat Spanish champions failed to trouble their Ukrainian opponents.

Barcelona still lead Group H ahead of Porto, second, hosting Royal Antwerp later on, with the Portuguese side able to pull alongside the Catalans on nine points with victory.

“It’s a tough defeat, we wanted to seal qualification, but it couldn’t be,” Barca midfielder Oriol Romeu told Movistar.

“We have to improve and give up fewer chances to our opponents, we have to look for solutions, because this is tricky for us.”

Romeu said his team had to look in the mirror after their disappointing display.

“Every defeat is a warning,” he added. “We have to be self-critical and see what we did wrong, to correct it quickly.”

After failing to progress from the group stage for two seasons running, Barcelona saw this clash as an opportunity to get the job done with two games to spare.

However Shakhtar, playing their home games in Hamburg because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, held their own from the start.

Barcelona missed big chances in the first match in October but this time Marino Pusic’s team shut down their uninspired visitors, who produced just one shot on target.

Xavi insisted his team’s performance in the narrow 1-0 league win over Real Sociedad on Saturday was unacceptable, despite the good result, but his team did not heed the coach’s words.

Shakhtar forced Marc-Andre ter Stegen into the first save of the game, with the German goalkeeper denying Mykola Matviienko at the near post after he got in behind Joao Cancelo.

Ilkay Gundogan and Raphinha lashed over from distance as Barca created no danger, with veteran striker Robert Lewandowski woefully disconnected on his return to Germany.

The former Bayern Munich forward has not scored in any of his last six appearances for Barca, amounting to his worst run of goalscoring form for over a decade.
– Sliced open –

The hosts took the lead a few minutes before half-time, easily slicing the visitors open when Giorgi Gocholeishvili took advantage of Barcelona left-back Marcos Alonso being a long way out of position.

The full-back crossed for Sikan, who beat Andreas Christensen in the air and headed beyond the reach of Ter Stegen.

Ter Stegen saved from Gocholeishvili early in the second half as Shakhtar continued as they left off.

Just before the hour Xavi took action, sending on speedsters Alejandro Balde and Lamine Yamal, as well as Pedri, looking to shake up his team’s lifeless display.

Barcelona were better but not bright enough, as Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk enjoyed a quiet night.

Shakhtar’s latest young Brazilian winger, Newerton, scored a stunning second in the final stages but it was chalked off for offside — it would have been a superb way to crown a glorious night for Pusic’s team.

Barcelona had seven minutes of added time to work with but could not find a breakthrough, with Felix unsuccessfully appealing for a penalty after he was clipped on the edge of the box.

The Ukrainian champions, third, celebrated joyously at full-time and now sit only three points behind Barcelona, who host Porto in their next Champions League match on November 28.

Championship: Leicester Struggling To Keep Ndidi, Iheanacho

By

Emenike Agu

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November 7, 2023

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Leicester City have been struggling to retain the services of Nigerian duo Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, with several clubs looking to land them in January.

Both Foxes stars will be out of contract at the end of the season and with several clubs considering a move for Ndidi and Iheanacho in January, Leicester could be forced into letting them go if they cannot tie them down to fresh terms before then.

The Foxes have enjoyed an excellent start to the 2023/24 season as they eye a return to the Premier League winning 13 of their 15 Championship matches so far, losing two, and currently sit four points clear at the top of the table.

Ndidi has been key to Leicester’s early success and is undoubtedly one of their best players. The midfielder has made 15 appearances in all competitions this term, scoring three goals and making four assists.

As for Iheanacho, he has featured 17 times for the Foxes this season finding the back of the net six times and making two assists.

According to TEAMtalk, Leicester have been working hard to tie both Ndidi and Iheanacho down to new contracts but there has been no breakthrough.

Ndidi has been with Leicester since 2017 and has become a hugely popular figure. Still, the 26-year-old is now garnering interest from across Europe with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid inquiring about the midfielder, while Lyon and Monaco are also keen.

However, there is also interest from within the Premier League with Tottenham, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Brentford amongst those considering a January approach for Ndidi.

Brentford who could replace Ivan Toney in January are one of the teams showing a keen interest in Iheanacho. There is also interest from Crystal Palace and West Ham in the striker.