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C M Y K 12 — Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022 :Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 BRIEFING—From left: Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Olisa Ifeajika; Commissioner for Finance, Fidelis Tilije, with Commissioner for Special Duties, Government House, Henry Sakpra, during the briefing with journalists on the update and activities in Delta State. 2023: Wike proposes N550.6bn budget By Egufe Yafugborhi, Davies Iheamnachor PORT HARCOURT— Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has presented the 2023 Appropriation Bill of N550.6 billion to the state House of Assembly for consideration and approval. The budget, christened ‘Budget of Consolidation and Continuity', has N350,977,495,537 for Capital Expenditure for the 2023 fiscal year, representing about 63.2 per cent of the total budget, and Recurrent Expenditure of N175,249,692,497, representing about 31 per cent of the spending proposal. Obaseki inaugurates 2 new Airbuses for Ibom Air ....Describes A-Ibom as Nigeria's pride By Harris Emanuel & Chioma Onuegbu U YO—GOVERNOR Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has described Akwa Ibom State as a pride to Nigeria, given its exploits in the aviation sector. Obaseki stated this while inaugurating two Airbus A320-200 recently acquired by the state government to increase the number in the fleet of Ibom Air to nine planes. Performing the inauguration at Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, yesterday, Obaseki applauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for the giant strides in the aviation sector. "Even Nigeria as the biggest country in Africa cannot run an aviation sector successfully. Ibom Air is always fully booked. Let me thank you on behalf of Nigerians. Don't be deterred by insult, focus on your goal,” he said. In his welcome remarks, Governor Emmanuel said his administration has committed huge resources to the development of the aviation sector in the state. He said he had committed more funds than received from the Federal Government to the development of the state, even as he is at the verge of commissioning a world class Terminal Building and a Maintenances, Repair and Overhaul facility at the airport. "We did not come to give excuses, we came to do governance. Look at what we have done in the aviation sector, if it is not more than what we have collected, then you can challenge me anywhere. "Our terminal building there is world class in Africa, our MRO is world class. If you find one today in the entire Gulf of Guinea, tell me I will break down this one and construct another. This MRO can take 24/47 800 series, will service eight of the CRJs that we are flying at the same time. This is the only MRO in this part of the world. People are coming, asking us to lease this MRO. "I invest in areas we can have return on our investment. Airbus is on us to come and use our MRO for all their regional flights. We are going to open up this place from January next year for commercial activities and we are going to earn in dollars, not Naira,” he said. Bayelsa utilising derivation funds prudently —Diri Y E By Samuel Oyadongha N A G O A — GOVERNOR Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has said the 13 per cent oil derivation funds accruing to the state were being prudently spent, mostly on infrastructure development. Diri stated this, yesterday, when the Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Maj.-Gen. Barry Ndiomu ....Vows to complete ongoing projects Under capital expenditure, N114,264,480,208 is proposed for infrastructure, N36,999,486,717 for education and N31,500,002,023 for health. Wike, while presenting the spending proposal to the state law makers, said: “The sum of N114,264,480,208 is provided in the 2023 capital budget estimate to fund the completion of all ongoing roads and other physical infrastructural projects awarded by our administration." He explained that his administration proposed a recurrent expenditure of N175,249,692,497, as N73,460,278,307 would be spent on salaries (Ministries/ Departments/Parastatals), N (retd), called on him in Yenagoa. The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, insisted that the administration had nothing to hide and that the state’s monthly allocations from the Federation Account had always been made public through its monthly transparency briefings. He explained that what the state received as 13 per cent derivation refund from the time 7,758,772,851 on new recruitment, N33.6bilion on monthly pensions as well as N12billion on gratuities/ death benefits. Wike said the fiscal year 2023 budget is targeted at delivering economic growth, additional infrastructure and prosperity for citizens. He said: “We have, therefore, resolved to continue with the existing fiscal measures for the year 2023. This means that there would be no increase in tax rates. No new taxes will also be introduced. “However, we will continue to intensify our drive to significantly improve IGR by expanding opportunities for more investments, industrialization and efficient of the previous administration was being paid in instalments, after it had been discounted. Diri also stated that the amount did not make much impact in terms of development, noting that the income and expenditure of the state were accounted for on a monthly basis through the transparency briefings. He added that the cost of construction in a difficult terrain such as Bayelsa was three or more times than elsewhere, adding that the cost of tax collection," he added. He disclosed that the state remains determined to reduce its dependence on statutory federal allocations to finance its budget and development. To this end, he urged other sister states to join Rivers in the struggle to secure the right to impose and collect VAT at the sub-national level. Wike while reviewing the 2022 budget performance, said N420, 485,053,736 was only approved. He opined that by the end of October 2022, total revenue receipts of the state stood at N321, 250,781,228.91, only about 70 percent performance, while, the total receipts from internally generated revenue (IGR) was N112.099 billion. constructing a road project in the state was more than three or four flyovers in some other states even in the Niger Delta. On PAP, the governor called on the Federal Government not to end it as it contributes significantly to the peace and security of the Niger Delta region. Diri congratulated Ndiomu on his appointment and urged him to write his name in gold as he had the capacity to ensure that Niger Delta youths benefit from the programme. Edo APC challenges Obaseki on 13% derivation, others By Ozioruva Aliu BENIN CITY—EDO State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, came hard on the government of Governor Godwin Obaseki, accusing him of not disclosing how much the state received from the arrears of 13 per cent derivation paid by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, as recently revealed by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. The party also accused the state government of not disclosing the financial position of the state and hoarding the derivation fund to 'buy votes’ during the 2023 election, 'particularly the election into the House of Assembly'. Addressing newsmen at the party’s Secretariat, state chairman of the party, Col David Imuse (retd) claimed that the activities of Obaseki was because there was no properly constituted state House of Assembly. He said: “Obaseki should explain why he has deliberately refused to specify amounts received as 13 percent derivation fund in his 2023 budgets estimates. “Mr. Obaseki has been busy maligning the Federal Government, accusing it of printing paper money to fund statutory allocations and mismanagement of the national economy, whereas as a deliberate policy, he has been pocketing Edo State monies by mismanaging the derivation funds. LP chair urges supporters to vote for Peter Obi By Gabriel Enogholase B ENIN—NATIONAL Chairman of Labour Party, LP, Mr. Julius Abure, has called on supporters of the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, to ensure that their current huge and committed support is translated into vote that would guarantee victory for the party in next year's general elections. Abure also reminded them to bear in mind that there is much work to be done to achieve the party's desires of winning the next year's election by moving from house to house to convince voters on why they should elect Obi as the next president of the country. He made the call, while addressing the party’s support group Coordinators, LGAs, Wards, Units Chairmen and Secretaries at a dinner party in Benin City, organised by him to appreciate them for the successful presidential rally in Edo State a fortnight ago. Expressing gratitude to them and all Peter Obi supporters, who turned out enmasse for the Labour Party rally without inducement or any payment of any kind, Abure said: "The Edo Labour Party rally is the talk of the town despite the state government's refusal to allow us access to public space for the presidential rally." He revealed that Edo State government ensured that they blocked the use of Ogbe Stadium, Uniben Sport arena, UBTH Ground and a host of others but was unable to block the Baptist ground, which was eventually used by the party to flag off its presidential rally in Edo State. 2023: Poverty now unbearable in Nigeria —Delta PDP guber candidate By Festus Ahon A S A B A — GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State and Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori, has lamented that poverty in Nigeria has reached unbearable level between 2015 and 2022, under the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government. Oborevwori, who stated this during the continuation of his ward-to-ward campaign in Sapele wards 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 11, 10, 9, 7 Communities laud Kalanama over scholarships for flood victims By Chancel Sunday C chairmen, OMMUNITY under the umbrella of Community Chairmen's Forum, CCF, Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, have lauded the Pere of Akugbene- Mein Kingdom, HRM Pere Luke, Kalanama VIII, for the award of scholarships to students/pupils and empowerment of indigenes in the kingdom. The community leaders, and 1, decried that Nigerians are living in abject poverty, adding that the only option left for Nigerians is to vote for the PDP for a positive change. Insisting that PDP is the only party that has the solution to the problems currently bedeviling the country, he said; "what you have been enjoying in Sapele are done by the PDP". Oborevwori who is also the National Deputy Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, decried the poor state of federal roads in Delta State. He said they were in the wards to solicit for votes and on a need assessment of the area. also lauded the monarch for the cash gift to communities to cushion the effect of the recent flood in the areas. Speaking after an enlarged meeting at Akugbene, chairman of CCF, Theophilus Omoro, noted that Bomadians were ever grateful for his human empowerment initiatives in Bomadi council. "We, community chairmen in Bomadi, hereby thank Pere Kalanama VIII for all his efforts towards human empowerment, peace and security in kingdom."
Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2022 — 13 :Vanguard News Strike: Taraba varsity ASUU alleges victimisation of members •As group says nation's education in disarray over FG/ ASUU face -off By Peter Duru & Femi Bolaji MAKURDI—MEMBERS of the Academic Staff of Universities, ASUU, Taraba State University, TSU, Chapter, yesterday protested perceived victimization of its members by the state government for participating in the just suspended eight months nationwide strike. This came as Campaign for Equal Rights and Opportunities for all Nigerians, CERON, urged the Federal Government to end its lingering face off with ASUU by paying members' withheld salaries, saying the crisis has thrown the nation's education in disarray. TSU's ASUU in a statement by its chairman, Dr. Shikaa Samuel, among others, said "The Governor claims that he has solved all local issues in the Branch; hence, the participation of ASUU-TSU in the strike was purely on "sympathy" grounds, on the basis of which he decides to withhold the salaries of our members to serve as a deterrent in the future. "Our participation in the nationwide strike was not on sympathy grounds. The issues that necessitated the strike such as the renegotiation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement pertaining to the salary structure and welfare of our members, revitalization funds for all public universities, deployment of University Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS, against the obnoxious Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system, IPPIS, to ensure university autonomy among other issues affected us too, hence, the need for us to join in the struggle. "On this basis, our participation in the strike was not on sympathy grounds. As a committed Branch of the Union, we participated in the strike to press home issues that equally affect us for our own good and the benefit of TSU generally, and so did every other state university in the country. The benefits of our participation in national strike so far are everywhere in TSU for everyone to see." The statement added that "the academic staff of the university have not received salaries since February 2022. At the moment, no mention is made as to precisely when the withheld salaries will be paid. It is worth noting that, the salary for October 2022 is also withheld even as the nationwide strike was suspended last month." Stagnated education sector Meanwhile, CERON in a statement accused the Federal Government of being unfair to Nigerian youths who are bearing the brunt of the dispute, stressing that the crisis has stagnated education in the country. The Secretary of CERON, Mr. By Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJA—HOUSE of Representatives yesterday at the plenary, gave nod to President Muhammadu Buhari's N27.8 billion promissory notes' request to pay some outstanding claims and liabilities of the Yobe, Kebbi and Taraba states governments. Recall that President buhari had in September wrote to the House, requesting that the payment be made through Debt Management Office, DMO. These included N6.706 billion for Kebbi State and N2.706 billion for Taraba State arising from reconstruction of some :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 SUMMIT—From left: Head, Regulatory and Procurement, Lekki Port, Daniel Odibe; Chief Commercial Officer, Lekki Freeport Terminal, Kehinde Olubineye; COO, Lekki Port, Laurence Smith, and Key Account Manager, Lekki Freeport Terminal, Essien Nsidibe, during the 2nd edition of the International Maritime Summit, which ended yesterday, in Lagos. Francis Odiir in the statement, among others, said "After the intervention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives that gave all Nigerians hope of a peaceful resolution of the crisis given the promises made on the side of government, we are surprised to see what is going on now. "We all had expected that the government would pay the lecturers as agreed so that our public universities can fully come alive again with students and their lecturers going about their academic work with all seriousness given the lost time. "It is therefore shocking to see that the government has resorted to frustrating all efforts at getting ASUU members back to work so that students can fully return to classes. The Federal government by its actions seems not to be disposed to having its issues with ASUU resolved to enable students go back to school. "The fact of the matter is that the education sector is currently in disarray because of this crisis. That is why we are appealing to the Federal Government to save the sector by paying ASUU members their accumulated salaries so that we can have peace and also have the universities up and running again. Debt: Reps approve Buhari's N27.8bn promissory notes' request for Yobe, others By Victor Ahiuma- Young THE ASSOCIATION of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, ASCSN, has accused some former officials of the union of wanton destruction and looting of the national secretariat, threatening to press criminal charges against them alongside others who recently invaded national secretariat. This is as the Association suspended and set up a five-man committee to investigate its National Treasurer, Rahab Maigari, for alleged anti-union activities. Vanguard gathered that not less than N24.2 million cash including cooperative dividends of members and staff of the Association, Cheque books of different banks, Computer items, laptops, stationeries and other valuable documents were carted away federal roads in both states. Similarly, the President also asked for the approval of N18.623 billion for Yobe State. The House gave the approval after the consideration and adoption of the report presented by the Chairman House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debts Management, Ahmed Safana Dayyabu at the plenary. Dayyabu while presenting the report said, "That the House do consider the Report of the Committee on Aids, Loans and Debts Management on the Issuance of a Promissory Note to Yobe, Kebbi and Taraba state governments for road projects executed on behalf of the federal government and approve the recommendations therein. "Approve the issuance of a Promissory Note to settle outstanding claims and liabilities of the three State Governments in the sum of Twenty-Seven Billion, Eight Hundred and Forty-Two Million, Three Hundred and Four Thousand, Three Hundred and Forty-Four Naira, Five Kobo only (N27,842,304,344.05) as approved by the Federal Executive Council for each State as follows: Yobe State N18,663,943,119.39, Kebbi State N6,707,835,495.12 and Taraba State N2,470,525,729.54." ASCSN accuses ex-officials, others of looting, destruction of secretariat when some former officials of the Association among others invaded and occupied the Association's national secretariat last month. They were eventually flushed out by operatives of Nigeria Police and the bailiff from Federal High Court, Lagos on Wednesday 16th November 2022. Briefing journalists after the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Lagos, President of the Association, Dr Tommy Okon, lamented that those that invaded the secretariat inflicted wanton destruction on the union's headquarters, insisting they would be prosecuted for the massive destruction and looting. Okon also informed that a new substantive Secretary- General, in the person of Joshua Apebo, has been appointed effective, January 2023, explaining that the tenure of the incumbent Secretary-General, Alade Bashir -Lawal, would end on December 31, 2022, ending the one-year •Suspends national treasurer contract given to him to stabilize the Association after retirement. Among others, he said "The NEC looked at the issues surrounding the association and the truth is there is no crisis in the association because those who run the affairs of the association originally have taken over their duties and the secretariat has been opened. We have also discovered items that were looted by the impostors. NEC has also decided to press criminal charges against them and to access the role played by the national treasurer which is inimical to the development of the association. "NEC has decided to suspend her and set up a five-man committee that will look at the action taken by those people and report back. We are grateful to the IGP for his intervention and the media for being factual in their report. We have taken over the secretariat." Masari weeps as he presents final budget By Ogalah Ibrahim K ATSINA—GOVERNOR Aminu Masari of Katsina State , yesterday wept while presenting the final budget N288.63 billion of his administration to the state House Assembly for approval. The proposal tagged, 'Budget of Transition', earmarked 63.77 percent as capital expenditure and 36.23 percent for recurrent services. Presenting the budget before the lawmakers, Masari said, "In aggregate terms, the 2023 budget is lower than that of the 2022 revised budget by N34, 662, 962, 998.00. The 2023 budget is structured with a total recurrent expenditure of N104, 580,485,996.28, which is equivalent to 36.23 per cent of the total budget. And capital expenditure of N184,052,771,966.72, which is 63.77 per cent of the total budget." He said the budget would be financed from the Opening Balance of N12.06 billion, N62.59 billion Internally Generated Unemployment: ITF seeks harmonization of certificates to remove dichotomy By Marie-Therese Nanlong JOS —To tackle the rising level of unemployment in the country, the Director-General of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, Joseph Ari, has called for the harmonization of certificates to remove the dichotomy between general education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training, TVET. While delivering a paper titled, "Technical Education and National Development in Nigeria: Leveraging Human Capital Development for Technological Resilience," at the National War College Abuja, Ari insisted that there was an urgent need to strengthen collaboration between technical institutions and industries, to ensure the skills acquired meet labour market demand. In a statement issued in Jos by the ITF's Director of Public By Henry Umoru ABUJA—MOVES by the Senate to establish the Nigerian Police Special Forces, its training school and Governing Council at Gwoza, Borno State, got a boost yesterday as it passed second reading. A bill for an Act to establish the school was sponsored by former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, APC, Borno South. The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo- Agege, who presided over yesterday's plenary, thereafter, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs, led by Senator Dauda Jika, Bauchi, to report back in four weeks. In his lead debate on the general principles of the bill, Ndume, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, noted that the bill was read the first time on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. Ndume said: "It also seeks to train the required manpower for the Special Forces in order to enhance effective national security through provision of professionalised training and Revenue, and over N119 billion expected from the Federation Account. According to him, "It is important to note that the 2023 recurrent revenue has increased by 7.33 percent over that of the 2022 revised budget. And the capital expenditure in the 2023 budget has decreased by 20.92 percent due to a drop in capital receipts." He explained that N138.163 billion of the capital estimates would finance projects under the government restoration plan. The governor said that the plan was in the area of Education, Health, Water Resources, Agriculture, Environment, Works, Housing and Transport sectors. "As a result, therefore, the 2023 budget has provided adequate allocation of funds to the priority sectors of the state government (Capital) as follows: " E n v i r o n m e n t N31,748,186,500.00, Water Resources N29,207,394,335.00, Health N23,974,614,962.00, Works N20,995,858,882.00, Education N18,632,987,897.00, and Agriculture N13,604,292,049.00." Affairs, Suleyol Chagu, Ari among others, "It is pertinent for all stakeholders in the TVET ecosystem to understand their roles. Indeed, across the globe, countries that successfully deployed TVET for job creation and technological resilience did so on account of the synergy among its various institutions. "However, in our dear country, rather than collaboration and cooperation, turf protection and the tendency to indulge in the blame game have firmly taken hold in most institutions that have bearing on the capacity building of Nigerians. "I say this taking in cognizance of recent declarations by persons that ordinarily should be familiar with the respective mandates of individual organisations involved in the manpower development in Nigeria but chose conveniently to display appalling ignorance. Senate moves to establish Nigerian Police Special Forces, training school at Gwoza knowledge. "It will also award certificates to deserving and qualified officers on successful completion of training. Engage in information and intelligence gathering activities, provide advanced training in anti-terrorism, drills, counter-insurgency, espionage and disorder management for serving police officers and other security agents from in and outside Nigeria,'' the lawmaker added. In his contribution, Senate Minority Whip, Chukwuka Utazi ,who opposed the bill, said "it doesn't connect." Utazi, who noted that there were police institutions already in the country, said: "I don't see any reason we will be bringing up this bill which is already taken care of." On his part, Senator Smart Adeyemi, said "We must move with the trend of development globally. Nigeria Police deserve all the support that is needed. Not just in the area of establishing more institutions for them to be able to compete with other police forces across the globe but indeed even in their pay package,'' he said.
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