Aso Villa Reads for 20/5/2019

Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria

Vanguard reports that “the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, has said that National Youth Service Corps NYSC members will now receive the new minimum wage as allowance. Zainab Ahmed, speaking on Thursday, said “We have looked at the report and what we are working on now is how we can finance it. “Apart from the increase of the minimum wage from N18,000 to N30,000, there is also a consequential adjustment that we have to negotiate with the labour unions,” she said. “The total implication of that would be worked out only after the negotiations and that would involve determining how much increase every other employee above the minimum wage would get. It could be a flat amount or a proportion, but the other aspect that is clear is that there would be an increase for the National Youth Service Corps as well because, by the Act, they should earn at least the minimum wage and the NYSC also has to increase to that N30, 000. So, because we have not done the negotiation with labour, I cannot give you the details of what we are projecting because it is simply on projections.”

“The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited is investing about N36m ($100, 000) to help in finding solutions to erosion, droughts and desertification plaguing different parts of the country as a result of climate change. The investment will be in form of a cash prize for the winner of the Nigeria Prize for Science sponsored by NLNG. The Nigeria Prize for Science, which is in its 15th year, is focused on addressing various issues that affect the country, and will this year; take on challenges of climate change, where 29 scientists will vie to find long-lasting solutions to environmental problems. At the handover of the 2019 entries to the advisory board of the prize in Lagos, Prof Alfred Susu, who chairs the board, said there had been serious challenges with the effects of climate change in Nigeria. The NLNG’s Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Mr Andy Odeh, stated that the business of scientific innovation and research was not an easy task, especially in Nigeria, with paucity of research funds and the resulting increase in lack of interest. According to him, the NLNG will continue through the Nigeria Prize for Science to find excellence even if it is to be found in the darkest corner as the company remains committed to changing the narrative of the nation through scientific prowess, through which many nations have excelled. He explained that although climate change remained a myth to so many people, its impact could be seen on the environment and agriculture.” Punch reported this.

“The Federal Government, in partnership with Edo State Government, has inaugurated some night landing equipment at the Benin Airport. According to a statement issued on Sunday, the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika, commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for facilitating the commencement of night operations at the airport. He said, “The operational capacity of the Benin Airport has tremendously improved, as we can now guarantee safe landing in reduced visibility and in bad weather condition. Aircrafts can now land in the airport at night and there will be more closure of the airport by 6pm. “We have put in place both ground and satellite-based equipment at the airport, in such a way that if the ground base equipment fails, the satellite base equipment will work to ensure safe landing either in the day or at night.” According to Punch https://punchng.com/obaseki-fg-inaugurate-night-landing-facilities-at-benin-airport/, “the minister noted that the Federal Ministry of Transportation, through the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, has constructed and donated a meteorological station at the University of Benin. “The opening of the office is part of the effort of the Federal Government to boost transport in Edo State, especially in terms of aviation and weather forecasting. The weather forecasting can also be used by farmers to provide information on when it is a suitable time for planting,” he added.”

According to Punch “the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, says the Federal Government is working on restructuring the financing arrangement for the national carrier as proposed by the Federal Executive Council. Sirika said FEC had studied the Outline Business Case report of the project and directed that the financing arrangement should be restructured. According to the minister, the cost profile for the project as outlined in the OBC report is an estimated funding requirement of $300m with initial start-up capital of $55m as working capital for aircraft leases and deposit for new aircraft; an estimated $100m and $145m working capital for 2019 and 2020 respectively, to be provided by the strategic equity partners who are expected to manage the project. “The consortium comprising Airline Management Group Limited, Avia Solutions Limited and Tianaero FZE had completed the Outline Business Case Report and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission reviewed the report and issued OBC Certificate of Compliance. The report had been considered by the Federal Executive Council and the financing arrangement is being restructured in line with FEC’s directive,” the minister said. He explained that the ministry would restructure the financing arrangements in a manner acceptable to both the government and prospective investors for the take-off of the airline.”

“Microsoft has opened its first Africa Development Centre (ADC) in Lagos, Nigeria. Speaking at the opening event on Friday in Lagos, the executive sponsor of the ADC and executive Vice President at Microsoft, Phil Spencer, said: “The ADC will be unlike any other existing investment on the continent. “It will help us better listen to our customers, develop locally and scale for global impact. “Beyond that, it’s an opportunity to engage more with local partners, academia, governments and developers — driving impact and innovation in sectors important to Africa.” According to Daily Trust, “the centre, which is Microsoft’s 7th globally, would also be recruiting world-class African engineering talents to develop innovative solutions that span the Artificial Intelligence cloud amidst other cutting-edge technologies. The ADC is a single development centre with initial sites in Lagos, Nigeria and Nairobi, Kenya. The ADC will initially be housed within existing Microsoft offices in both Lagos and Nairobi but expand to new purpose-built facilities soon, the leading global tech firm stated. “Increased Microsoft’s presence in Africa will empower partners and customers as they use Microsoft solutions in fields important to the continent like FinTech, AgriTech and OffGrid energy.”

“The whistle blower policy and the Presidential initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) activities has raked in NN603.78bn for the federal government. The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Usman stated this in Abuja during a press briefing. The minister said: “The Presidential initiative on Continuous Audit (PICA) has saved the Federation N603.78 billion from its inception in 2016 to date.” Among this figure, she said is the savings of N8.30 billion during Q1 2019. She would later explain that the N603.78bn figure compromised recoveries from the whistle blowing policy as well. She didn’t say exactly the whistle blower component of the recoveries. However, recall the whistle blower policy on its own has led to over N9.12bn recoveries as March 2018. The break down then showed that the recoveries comprised N7.8bn, $378 million and 27,800 pounds. No mew break down has been given. She also noted that as part of this administration’s zero tolerance on corruption, PICA’s findings on ghost workers has been acted on by convicting some civil servants and also there are some that are undergoing trial in the court while others are undergoing investigation by the EFCC. Speaking on the external reserve she said that Nigeria’s external reserve now stands at $44.69 billion as at May 13, 2019, which grew from $28.3 billion in 2015. This is according to Daily Trust.

According to Sun News, “the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday approved N1.8 billion for the reconstruction and rehabilitation Railway Village in Agbo, Delta. This is even as the last council meeting of the Muhammadu Buhari’s first term is expected to hold on Monday, May 20, before the valedictory session on May 22. Minister of State for Aviation, Hadi Sirika, who briefed reporters alongside his colleagues, Ministers of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammed Bello, said the council also approved the sum of N743 million for the procurement of security and safety deficiencies as well as incidence laboratory for Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The total sum for the procurement, he said, included taxes with a completion period of 12 months. Sirika added that the council also approved the contract for the procurement of pavement marking machines at the cost of N391.8 million.”

“Former Area Manager, Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Warri office, Tammy Fiberesima, on Friday said the agency is creating employment people and making money for the federal Government. Fiberesima who spoke to Business Day in Warri said when he came on board on March 2, 2018, he embarked on massive infrastructural drive in the office including the resuscitation of the workshop, record keeping using the ICT and salvaging of two American wrecked Tugboats among others.” Business Day reports that the outgone Area Manager said they have engaged people that can build boats, but lamented that though they have the facilities to work, the market is not there. “Two of our American Tugboats were inside the water for a long time, we salvaged and make it float and get private person to come in. Right now, one has gone for sea trial, the first voyage to Lagos. Each of the Tugboat will have 10 crew, so 20 persons will be employed as crew, therefore, we are creating business and making money for the government,” Fiberesima said. On security matters, the outgone Area Manager said that effective collaboration with stakeholders was critical in tackling insecurity challenges in the waterways”.

“As preparation for the 2019 Maternal, New Born Child Health, MNCH’s week is on the top gear, the National Agency for Control of AIDS (NACA) has disclosed its intention to cover 8000 pregnant women and females of reproductive age in Kaduna State. The five-day event is expected to start on May 20, covering three local government areas of the state, which include Kaduna South, Jaba and Makarfi. Briefing newsmen shortly after the high-level meeting with the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Paul Dogo, in Kaduna on Wednesday, the leader of the NACA delegation, Dr. Eno Effiong said the aim of the meeting was to collaborate with the state government on MNCH and issues relating to maternal mortality in the state. Effiong, a Deputy Director at NACA also explained that one of the objectives of meeting was to seek a way forward to ensure the inclusion and implementation of prevention of mother to child transmission”. This is according to Business Day (Monday May 20, 2019, page 37).