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NASS workers threaten to stall 2019 budget presentation over unpaid allowances

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Eniola Olayemi

 

 

There are strong indications that the ongoing crisis trailing the delay in payment of salary increase of National Assembly workers, may stall the presentation of 2019 budget proposal by President Muhammadu Buhari as the workers threatened to embark on indefinite strike action.

Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Friday had given its nod to the President to transmit the 2019 budget proposal to the National Assembly.

Musa Bature, chairman, Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), National Assembly chapter, who issued the threat notice at a press briefing held in Abuja, disclosed that the institution will be shut down by 18th December 2018.

“We hereby reiterate that the proposed indefinite industrial action that will ground all legislative activities of the National Assembly will commence as earlier scheduled if our demands are not met as promised,” he said.

Nature explained that 3-day industrial action was suspended in response to the intervention of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers who gave assurances that the issues will be resolved.

He said the suspension of the picketing is “a mark of respect to President of the Senate, Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Principal Officers of the two chambers for their fatherly intervention and amiable leadership capacity display towards resulting the industrial relationship between the Legislators, Management and Staff Union.

“We hereby reiterate that the proposed indefinite industrial action that will ground all legislative activities of National Assembly will commence as earlier scheduled if the demands are not met as promised.”

Aside from the aforementioned demand, PASAN wants the following: Condition of Service for the staff of National Assembly Service, promotion, conversion, and staff upgrade, training, and consultancy.

Explaining further on the condition of service for the staff among other pressing demands, Nature hinted that: “the outgoing Board of the National Assembly Service Commission led by Dr. Adamu Fika OFR (Chairman) transmitted a review Condition of Service to the National
Assembly for their approval in line with the provision of the National Assembly Service Act, 2014, but the National Assembly (Senate and House of Representatives) has delayed the consideration of the Condition of Service since July 2018.

“The staff of National Assembly overtime has never had any challenges with Promotion, conversion, and upgrading in their progression until recently when career progression of the staff became tied to no vacancy syndrome excuse. Also, there has been a delay in making appropriate appointments into offices such as the Deputy Clerk National Assembly (DCNA) Deputy Clerk House of Representative (Legislative and Admin), Secretaries of Directorates and Directors of Departments, etc.

“Unilaterally the management claims there are no vacancies for staff on Grade Level 7 and above in gross violation of the service rules as they arrogated to itself the power of the National Assembly Service Commission whose duty it is in line with the provision of National Assembly Service Act to Appoint, Promote and Discipline Staff of National Assembly.

“Staff training for legislative staff is pivotal and germane if our democracy must advance. The service rules for effective and efficient services leading to high productivity also point to note.

However, it is highly regrettable to note that only in the National Assembly that staff is deprived and denied of training. Some of our members have not attended any training for over 10 years and neither is there any policy or template in the National Assembly.

“It’s disappointing to inform you that in recent times, the top management who has retired from service whereas not allow proceeding on retirement leave and upon their retirement, they retained the same office spa and handle the schedule that should have been taken over by the next ranking officer.”

While reacting to the position of the House spokesman, Abdulrazak Namdas who described the picketing of National Assembly as illegal, the PASAN chairman said the House spokesman is not in tune with the provisions of the extant Labour Act.

 

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NiMet And FUPRE To Partner On Weather Observation, Research And E-Learning

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NiMet And FUPRE To Partner On Weather Observation, Research And E-Learning

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), is to collaborate with the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE),Delta state, on weather observation, research and e-learning.

Left to Right: Professor Charles Anosike, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, and Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE), Delta state, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between NiMet and the university on Thursday, 16th May 2024.

This was disclosed by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, Professor Charles Anosike, on Thursday, 16th May 2024, at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between NiMet and the university.

Professor Anosike observed that oil companies have weather stations spread across the shores of Nigeria, which are illegal according to the new NiMet Act. He said that these weather stations need to be registered with NiMet in compliance with NiMet Act and solicited the collaboration of the University to achieve this.

Speaking further, Professor Anosike noted that the partnership with the petroleum institution will not only help improve data gathering on climate risk in the area, but also strategically make NiMet become the centre of excellence in disseminating the risk to the oil and gas sector.

“I will like the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE), to take advantage of NiMet’s e-learning services that will soon be unveiled. It would actually fast-track introduction of joint courses between FUPRE and NiMet”, Professor Anosike concluded.

On his part, the Vice Chancellor of FUPRE, Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh disclosed that the institution expects support from NiMet in the installation of observatory stations, training personnel on generation of weather data that can support research, journals and academic publications and other good interventions that will impact on the university and its environment.

Amongst other things, the MoU aims to establish a collaborative framework between NiMet and FUPRE for joint efforts in research, training and promotion of activities relating to meteorology/climatology and climate change in Nigeria. Specifically the MoU will have NiMet Install its observatory station known as Resident Observatory Station (ROS) in suitable locations within FUPRE for the purpose of carrying out meteorological activities.

The MoU signing was witnessed by the Director, Legal Services of NiMet, Barr. Shola Gabriel and other staff of the Agency. The Vice Chancellor of FUPRE, Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh signed on behalf of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE) , Delta state, while Professor Anosike signed on behalf of NiMet.

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Tax Conference: Sanwo-Olu, Zulum, Amosun, Other Experts Seek Transparent Tax System to Boost Internally Generated Revenues

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Tax Conference: Sanwo-Olu, Zulum, Amosun, Other Experts Seek Transparent Tax System to Boost Internally Generated Revenues

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his counterparts from Sokoto and Borno States have emphasised the need to make the country’s tax system more transparent and accountable to Nigerians to boost confidence and voluntary compliance.

The governors made the call at the ongoing 26th Annual Tax Conference organized by the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Abuja, with the theme, “Sustainable Tax Culture and Economic Roadmap for Nation Building”.

Speaking at the conference, Governor Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his Special Adviser on Taxation and Revenue, Mr. Abdul-Kabir Opeyemi Ogungbo, said the theme of the Conference was apt and timely given that Nigeria, like many other nations, is currently facing significant economic challenges.

While underscoring the crucial role of a transparent and efficient tax administration in fostering confidence and voluntary compliance among taxpayers, he emphasized the necessity for citizens to witness tangible outcomes from their tax contributions, highlighting the pivotal role taxes play in fueling public services and infrastructural development.

Sanwo-Olu stressed the shift in mindset needed, urging taxpayers to view tax payments not as a burden but as an investment in a better future for Nigeria.

He said building a strong and sustainable future through a robust tax system that fosters economic growth and development had become inevitable.

Sanwo-Olu said, “We must all understand the crucial role taxes play in building a better Nigeria for ourselves and for generations to come.

“The theme also highlights the need for a clear economic roadmap which should take note of the architecture of our developmental ideologies as they are designed to provide the government with the necessary resources to cater for the social needs of its citizens, therefore we need a tax system that incentivizes investment, job creation, and economic diversification.

“We need to explore innovative ways to expand the tax base while fostering a business environment that allows our economy to thrive. The good news is that Nigeria is already taking positive steps in these directions. The recent efforts to streamline state-level taxes and the focus on integrating the growing remote workforce into the tax net are commendable initiatives.”

The governor said, “The CITN plays a vital role in fostering this vital shift. Your commitment to professional excellence and education is instrumental in ensuring a tax system that is fair, efficient, and promotes economic development.”

However, former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who declared the conference open, while stressing the need to prioritize growing Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) over relying solely on borrowing to fund national and sub-national budgets, said borrowing to fund the budgets was not the way to go amid the current national economic challenge when “our nation and its constituent states and local governments are going through very difficult times and finding it hard to provide for its teeming populace, acceptable standards of living, employment with the growing population of youths, infrastructure and basic amenities that will make life more meaningful”.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State criticized inefficiencies and corruption in the current tax administration system.

Zulum, represented by the Deputy Governor of Borno State, Umar Kadafur, highlighted the shortcomings of the current tax system, including tax evasion, avoidance, and lack of transparency.

He called for critical reforms to address these issues, including tackling corruption in both the oil sector and governance system. He criticized the political protection of tax evaders and emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in tax administration.

While calling for critical reforms, he lamented the manipulation and connivance of multinationals with tax administration to short-change the system, he added that this represented one of the hallmarks of corruption in both the oil and governance system.

In his remarks, the Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, said the conference will greatly assist in exploring innovative ways of improving revenue generation in the country.

He said the economic and revenue challenges had made it difficult for governments at all levels to implement their people-oriented programmes, thus the need for the government to devise a means for more funds to provide the dividends of democracy to the people.

The governor said taxation remained a veritable source of resource mobilization for the government adding that his administration would work with CITN to boost IGR in the state.

The Auditor-General for the Federation (AuGF), Mr. Shaakaa Chira, said the country’s tax system was plagued by instances of tax evasion especially by the upper class, multiple taxation and inability to properly account for taxes collected by administrators.

The Chairman of the conference planning committee, Dr. Adeyemi Sanni, noted that for Nigeria to achieve meaningful fiscal development over the long term, it is imperative to establish a tax culture that can withstand economic fluctuations and challenges.

President and Chairman of the CITN council, Mr. Samuel Agbeluyi, emphasized the importance of investing in technology and people at the subnational level to effectively track revenues in the digital space, including cryptocurrency. This, he believes, will help maximize government revenue flow.

Mr. Agbeluyi stressed the need to provide support to revenue authorities through financial and administrative autonomy, empowering them to effectively administer taxes as he noted it is clear that a strategic approach to revenue management is crucial for the overall financial health of the government.

The CITN boss stated further, “This is a thought-provoking topic that requires all of us to put on our thinking hats. As we deliberate, we must recognize that our nation faces significant challenges. Our current economic realities as a country are multifaceted, despite efforts to improve the narrative by the current government.

He said, “The 2024 budget of “Renewed Hope” as we know relies significantly on non-oil revenue, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Therefore, building a sustainable tax culture capable of significantly improving our tax revenue performance for an effective. economic and capital formation becomes a top priority.”

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Nigeria DigitalSENSE forum @15, gets June date

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Nigeria DigitalSENSE forum @15, gets June date

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The date for the 2024 Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on Internet Governance for Development (IG4D) has been unwrapped for Thursday, June 27, by organisers, ITREALMS Media group.

Disclosing this, the Lead Consulting Strategist, DigitalSENSE Africa and Group Executive Editor, ITREALMS Media, Mr. Remmy Nweke, said that this year’s edition marks the 15th edition of Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum on IG4D series and comes with the theme “IG4D: Innovative Digital Economy & Safer Civic Space in Nigeria” at the prestigious Welcome Center Hotels, International Airport Road, Lagos.

Nweke recalled that in 2009, the Nigeria DigitalSENSE Forum (NDSF) series on Internet Governance for Development made a debut and ever since has been steadfast in rallying stakeholders to take discourse on Internet access, openness, affordability, connectivity and ICT infrastructure among others.

This year, he also said, as NDSF marks 15th years of impacting various Nigeria’s economic sector with yet another series on the theme: IG4D: Innovative Digital Economy and Safer Civic Space in Nigeria.

“It will also be a time for recognition of corporates and individuals for their contributions in deepening Internet penetration, improving access and affordability as well as technological adaptation that begets digital sense in our society,” Nweke said.

NDSF series on IG4D, powered by ITREALMS Media group is hosted by DigitalSENSE Africa, an At-Large Structure (ALS) certified by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), in collaboration with relevant stakeholders including Internet Society (ISOC), Nigeria chapter, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) among others.

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