Day: June 23, 2023

Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organisation (CSO), has commended President Bola Tinubu for returning the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to the office of the Vice President.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Tinubu gave the approval on Tuesday shortly before traveling to Paris, France, to attend a global financial pact summit.

The National Coordinator of the CSO, Malam Ibrahim Mohammed, made the commendation in a statement on Friday.

He said the decision of President Tinubu was a welcome development, “because it will free the commission from unnecessary bureaucracies and provide efficient time management in the implementation of hajj policies.

“It is our belief that returning NAHCON to the office of the Vice President, which is in line with its establishment act, will afford the commission the opportunity to fast track their operations with little or no delay.”

The coordinator also said it was particularly delightful that the commission was returning under the supervision of the current Vice President, Kashim Shettima, “a man that has a track record of doing well for hajj pilgrims from Borno state where he governed the state for eight years.

“The Vice President had always taken special interest in the Hajj affairs of Borno state and was always personally involved in ensuring that pilgrims from the state performed Hajj in a state of tranquillity.

“He always ensured that everything needed by the pilgrims are provided and on time. It is our belief that the VP will replicate this and do more at the National level, which will in turn see Nigerian pilgrims enjoy the best of services they pay for.”

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State on Wednesday pledged not to interfere with the activities of the State House of Assembly.

Sani, who stated this in Abuja, at a three-day post-inauguration induction programme for members of the 10th Kaduna State House of Assembly, appealed for a strong working synergy with the lawmakers.

The event was organised with technical support from the Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), under the theme, “Understanding the Context, Peculiarities, Practice and Procedure in the House for effective delivery of mandates.”

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, the governor called for a working synergy between the legislature and executive for a stronger relationship.

This, according to him, will enable the executive and legislative arms of government to provide dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

He stressed that a harmonious working relationship between the legislature and executive would benefit the state more and enable both arms if government to succeed in their duties and responsibilities.

“It is for this purpose that I appointed a Deputy Chief of Staff (Legal and Legislative Matters) to act as a link and with a view to strengthening this relationship.

“I want to assure you that on the part of the executive, we shall continue to give you maximum support and co-operation to ensure mutual respect and cordial relationship.

“When you are in your executive sessions, discuss issues on how to improve the State through harmonious relationship with the executive and not how to fight and bring it to a standstill.

“When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Let us not subject the good people of our State to that predicament.

“Posterity will judge us in bad light if we fail to use our mandates to make life better for our people,” he said.

The governor said that the induction marks an important step in the legislative work of the State Assembly.

According to him, the induction will significantly increase the lawmakers’ understanding of their roles and responsibilities in the democratic process.

Earlier, Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr Yusuf Liman (Makera-APC), assured Gov. Sani of a cordial relationship with the executive arm of government for a smooth governance processes.

Liman commended PERL for providing technical support throughout the induction programme, to prepare the State Assembly members for the tasks ahead.

He noted that the lawmakers have a sacred duty to make relevant laws for peace, order, and good governance for the development of the state.

“We also have a responsibility to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of public resources.

“We must work together as a team, irrespective of party affiliations, to deliver on our mandates and meet the expectations of our constituents,” he said.

He assured fellow legislators of his support for a successful tenure of the 10th Assembly in Kaduna State.

Clerk of the House, Hajiya Sakinatu Idris, reminded the lawmakers of the huge responsibility entrusted on them and urged them to discharge their duties with diligence, integrity and patriotism.

Idris, a legal practitioner, urged the lawmakers to uphold the principles of democracy, accountability, and transparency in their legislative activities.

She explained that the objective of the induction programme was to improve the knowledge of returning lawmakers on legislative practices and procedures.

She added that it was also organised for new members of the State Assembly to have a better understanding of the rudiments of legislative practice and procedure.

Earlier, PERL State Lead Facilitator, Mr Abel Adejor, said that the governance programme of UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, supported State Assemblies across the country in the last seven years.

Adejor explained that the support was on the appropriation processes, executive-legislative dialogue, budget scrutiny retreat, public hearings, and citizens’ inputs into Bills.

He added that other areas included strengthening the Public Accounts Committee to scrutinize and audit government accounts for effective service delivery and understanding Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

“Others are induction of new lawmakers and review of the Induction Manual for 36 State Houses of Assembly, among others.

“PERL will continue to provide technical support to the Kaduna State House of Assembly to carry out its activities and oversight functions effectively for the common good of residents of the state,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Director-General of Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Mr Obadiah Nkom, has said the office is committed to bringing more foreign investments into the sector to generate funds in the country.

Nkom said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that the effort to bring more foreign investments would enhance development as well as create job opportunities for youths in the country.

“No matter how the mining cadastre is developed, it must be attractive enough to bring in foreign investors.

“These are aimed at improving the mining sector, the economy and creating job opportunities for the youths and Nigerians at large.

“Therefore, we are not only adopting the system, but also knowing that the system belongs to the public, for it to be beneficial,” he said.

Nkom said that there was a mandate in the mining cadastre that enables the agency to issue licences to people.

He said as soon as licences are issued to stakeholders, the licence inspectorate would monitor the activities to ensure efficient productions, royalties, safety of health of people and environment.

He said that the agency is working toward ensuring transparency and integrity, indicating that these are the effective and efficient tools in the sector.

He said that the sector aims to ensure that mineral titles are issued in the most efficient and effective manner.

“The commitment will enhance strong service delivery in the best way for the growth and development of the mining sector at the end of the day,” he said.

Nkom said that the office had opened an online system to ensure that a good number of people submit their applications for mineral titles.

He said that the agency needs to have enough time to process the applications submitted for approval.

He said that the statistics of all the activities are not hidden, adding that investors should adopt and adapt themselves to the system for effective service delivery.

He said that the MCO issues proper notice to people who engage in unauthorised mining activities, adding that the office gives penalties as part of warning to desist from such activity.

According to him, the procedure for issuing penalties is either through registered post which is a 30-day post to the person’s known address by gazette.

“Meanwhile, the victims must be properly notified before slamming penalties on them.

“If the victim refuses to adhere after the 30-day post on three national newspapers, then the victim will be issued with revocation.

“The office is making sure that it continues to encourage people to get licences by making the process easy, less cumbersome as well as achieving better and efficient working relations in the sector.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Debt Management Office (DMO) has commended President Bola Tinubu for his economic focus on improved expenditure as a way of reducing public debt levels.

The Director-General of the DMO, Patience Oniha, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

Oniha cited the removal of petrol subsidy and the unification of rates in the Foreign Exchange (FX) market, as steps capable of boosting revenue and reducing new borrowing.

She called for increased investment in infrastructure as key to economic growth and development, adding that Public-Private Partnership (PPP) was a more viable option for infrastructure development.

NAN reports that the DMO recently released the Market Access Country-Debt Sustainability Analysis (MAC-DSA) for 2022.

MAC-DSA is a template used to analyse debt levels to determine future debt sustainability.

The DMO stated that the analysis of the results of 2022 MAC-DSA showed that the Total Public Debt-to-GDP ratio, was projected to increase to 37.1 percent in 2023 relative to 23.4 percent as at September 2022.

It said that the proposed increment was due to the inclusion of the N8.80 trillion new borrowings for the year 2023, and the Ways and Means Advances at the Central Bank of Nigeria of over N23 trillion.

It also listed estimated Promissory Notes issuance of N2.87 trillion in the debt stock under the baseline scenario.

“The Country’s debt stock remains sustainable under these criteria.

“But the borrowing space has been reduced when compared to the Nigeria’s self-imposed debt limit of 40 per cent set in the Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy (MTDS), 2020-2023.

“On the other hand, Debt Service-to-Revenue ratio at 73.5 percent in 2023 exceeds the recommended threshold of 50 per cent due to low revenue, which means that there is need to significantly increase government revenue.

“Under the alternative scenario, the total public Debt-to-GDP ratio at 45.4 per cent in 2023 exceeds the Nigeria’s self-imposed debt limit of 40 percent ” it said.

It said that the Debt Service-to-Revenue also exceeded the recommended threshold of 50 percent.

As part of its recommendations based on the MAC-DSA, the DMO called for moderation in new borrowings.

“The Baseline analysis projects total public Debt-to-GDP ratio at 37.1 per cent for 2023, indicating a borrowing space of 2.9 per cent (equivalent of about N14.66 trillion) when compared to the self-imposed limit of 40 percent.

“But it is recommended that this should not be used as a basis for higher level of borrowing as was the case in the 2023 Budget.

“This is because the outcome of the Shock Scenario, which is more realistic in the circumstances, exceeded the self-imposed limit,” it said.

It added that the projected Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Debt Service-to-Revenue ratio at 73.5 percent for 2023 is high and a threat to debt sustainability.

According to the DMO, it means that the revenue profile cannot support higher levels of borrowing.

“Attaining a sustainable FGN Debt Service-to-Revenue ratio would require an

increase of FGN revenue from N10.49 trillion projected in 2023 budget to about N15.5 trillion,” it said.

With respect to expansion in fiscal deficit, the DMO said that there was need to strictly adhere to the provision of extant legislations on government borrowing.

It specifically called for adherence to the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 as it relates to Ways and Means Advances, in order to moderate the growth rate of public debt.

It also emphasised the need to prioritise revenue generation.

“There is urgent need to pay more attention to revenue generation by implementing far reaching revenue mobilisation initiatives and reforms including the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiatives and all its pillars.

“This is with a view to raising the country’s tax revenue to GDP ratio from about seven per cent (one of the lowest in the world) to that of its peers.

“Government should encourage the private sector to fund infrastructural projects through the PPP schemes and take out capital projects in the budget that are being funded from borrowing to reduce budget deficit and borrowing.

“Government can also reduce borrowing through privatisation and sale of government assets,” the DMO said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria