Aso Villa Reads for 12/03/2019
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
According to ThisDay “the Senate on Tuesday approved N30,000 as national minimum wage with its passage of the National Minimum Wage Act (Repeal & Enactment) Bill 2019. This is sequel to the presentation of the report of the ad-hoc committee on the national minimum wage by its acting chairman, Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North). The Senate Committee of the Whole had considered and approved all the 18-clause report of the Alimikhena-led committee after a motion moved to this effect by Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan.The House of Representatives had in January approved N30,000 as new minimum wage after holding a public hearing on the national minimum wage bill presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.”
“In furtherance of its intervention programmes in the agricultural sector of the economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday reeled out measures currently being considered to address the challenges that had stifled the growth of the palm oil industry.” ThisDay “ reported that “the apex bank said the move was aimed at identifying “promising approaches” to revitalise the sector and enable the country regain its position as one of the leading global producers of palm oil. Speaking yesterday during a meeting with the governors of the South-south and South-east states, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, noted that Nigeria still expends close to $500 million on palm oil importation annually. He also said the CBN will in due course address challenges in the cocoa, cassava, beef/cattle ranching, dairy and fish sectors. He said: “We are determined to change this narrative. We intend to support improved production of palm oil to meet not only the domestic needs of the market, but to also increase our exports in order to improve our forex earnings.”
“The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has received the Full Business Certificate Compliance for the concession of 30 Megawatts Gurara Hydropower Dam from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, while receiving the certificate on Monday in Abuja said it was a milestone achievement that had targeted private sector participation in power generation in the country. He said this feat had concluded the procurement exercise for the concession contract, saying it was ready to for approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The minister said that this would lead to awarding and signing of the concession agreement, saying the ministry would continue to open its doors to prospective partners and investors. “With the experiences that have been gained from the concessioning of the Gurara hydropower plant, we are now set to accelerate the pace of engagement with the private partners for other available facilities.’’ This is according to Daily Trust.
Daily Independent reports that “Reckitt Benckiser Nigeria, makers of leading Antiseptic brand, Dettol and Federal Ministry of Water Resources have signed a memorandum of understanding to partner on a national campaign to make the country cleaner and healthier. The MoU for the campaign tagged The ‘Clean Naija Initiative’ was signed in Abuja on Thursday, March 14, 2019”. Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Hussein Adamu, during the occasion “expressed optimism that the campaign will promote awareness of behavioural change among Nigerians on healthy living. “With this partnership between RB Nigeria and the Federal Government, we hope to build a greater level of awareness and achieve behavioural change amongst Nigerians, such that will lead to more hygienic practices and ultimately, a healthier population,” Adamu said. The minister said lack of sanitation facilities caused women and girls especially to settle for open defecation and exposed them to violence, including rape, when they have to go out at night to defecate in the open.”
“In a bid to curtail the rampant cases of fake and adulterated fertilizers in the markets, the Federal Government has put in place stiffer penalties for the suppliers of these unwholesome farm inputs Registrar, Nigerian Institute of Soil Science, Prof. Victor Chude, revealed this on Monday at the opening of the capacity building and training workshop for fertilizer inspectors held in Mararaba, Nasarawa State.” Daily Independent wrote that “Chude pointed that the stiffer sanctions have been provided for in the Nigeria Fertilizer Quality Control Bill 2017, before the National Assembly. He noted that already, the House of Representatives has passed the Bill, adding that the final reading and passage of the Bill would be done by the Senate today (Tuesday). While disclosing the provisions of the Bill, he explained that the Bill has provided a five-year jail term for any supplier or distributor who engages in the sale of fake and adulterated fertilizer to short-change Nigerian farmers.”
“Professor Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health, has restated the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure that Nigeria achieves self-sufficiency in food production. Adewole said this on Monday during a factory visit to Erisco Foods Ltd. in Lagos. He said that President Muhammadu Buhari insisted that the bulk of the 235 million dollars approved for Nutrition projects should be used to finance companies that would boost food production. “We are not going to importation of food for Nigerians because we want Nigerians to feed themselves. A company like Erisco Foods stands to benefit from this project,” he said. The minister commended the company for its ingenuity and passion to deepen employment and patronage of Made-in-Nigeria products. He urged the company to ensure hygiene, standards, quality and safety in its production, saying the government would continue to support its efforts to contribute to economic development. The minister, however, urged the company to seek partnerships with various Nutrition departments of universities to strengthen its innovations.” Daily Independent reported this.
According to BusinessDay (Tuesday March 19 2019, page 25) “The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has launched Reportgov.ng App, an official public service feedback and complaints platform to support business climate reforms implemented by the Council since 2016. The platform, which is also a website, will facilitate the escalation and resolution of issues encountered with Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) towards ensuring a more business-friendly environment. The app was co-launched by the Honourable Minister, Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Okey Enelamah; Chairman, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman, MFR; and SSA to the President on Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole at the Regulatory Conversations (RC3.0). The event which was themed “Improving Transparency and Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria”, was hosted by the Convention on Business Integrity in collaboration with ActionAid, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry, BusinessDay Newspapers and in partnership with the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES) of the Council.”
