Aso Villa Reads for Wed. 1st Sept, 2021
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
The Federal Government is planning to build a national housing bond to help housing developers access financing while tackling housing challenges through public-private partnerships. The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said this during an inspection tour to Cosgrove Estate located at Mabushi and Wuye, developed by the private sector; the Federal Housing Authority Estates at Guzape developed by the public sector alongside ELN Properties; and the one at Zuba developed solely by the public sector through the Federal Housing Authority in Abuja.[Punch]
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says the Federal Government’s plans to increase the nation’s oil and gas reserves, are on course and being boosted by strategic policies and programmes. Mr Paul Osu, Head, Public Affairs, DPR, made this known in a statement. Osu said the national aspiration of Nigeria was to increase its reserves from 36.91 billion barrels to 50 billion barrels, in the short to midterm.He said the government was also targeting increasing Nigeria’s proven gas reserves from 206.53TCF to 250TCF. [Guardian]
The Federal Government has so far disbursed over N56.8 billion to beneficiaries of its Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Survival Fund. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mariam Katagum, disclosed this at the flag-off of Guaranteed Off-Take scheme on Tuesday in Abuja. She said the Guaranteed Off-take Scheme is one of the last tracks of the MSME Survival Fund Scheme under the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP). According to the minister, the implementation of the MSME Survival Fund across the initial four tracks — Payroll Support Scheme, Artisan and Transport Scheme, Formalization Support Scheme and General MSME Grants have all yielded positive results.[Vanguard]
President Muhammadu Buhari has said focus on job creation, consistency in policy and innovation stimulated a five per cent growth of the economy in the second quarter of 2021, which is the highest in six years. He said the Jubilee Fellows Programme will further consolidate on the success recorded. The president spoke yesterday at the launch of the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme. In a statement issued by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, the president listed some of the key drivers of economic growth and diversification in the second quarter to include telecommunications, transportation, electricity, agriculture and manufacturing.[Leadership]
For employees of Treasury-Funded Federal Government Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) retiring this year, there is opportunity to have your verification online ahead of your retirement. The benefit is that you are able to conclude your verification requirements from your comfort zone without having to travel distances to do that , so that your monthly or quarterly pensions can start to come immediately after retirement.[Business Day]
The Federal Government is to establish six technology and innovation hubs across the six geo-political zones of the country to commercialize and convert research findings into Nigerian products that can compete globally. This is contained in statement by Abba Anwar, the Chief Press Secretary to. Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and issued to newsmen in Kano on Tuesday. According to Anwar, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Ogbonnaya Onu disclosed this during a courtesy visit to Ganduje on plans to establish the Northwest hub in the state and sensitization of relevant stakeholders in the zone. [Punch]
The Federal Government has promised to clear the arrears on the consequential adjustment on minimum wage owed to members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), by the end of October. Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige disclosed this at the end of a meeting between the Federal Government and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the SSANU and NASU, convened to examine the level of implementation of the Memorandum of Action (MoA) it signed with the unions in February 2021. Ngige commended the unions for their understanding and maturity in cooperating with the government to resolve their issues, emphasising that the government did not take them for granted.[Tribune]
