Aso Villa Reads for 12/09/18
Every day, we bring you the best stories the media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the immediate deportation of 36 Indians and two Democratic People’s Republic of Korea nationals with immediate effect. The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, who signed the deportation order on Tuesday in his Office in Abuja, said it is in pursuant to section 45(2, 3 and 4) of the Nigeria Immigration Act 2015”. Daily Trust reports that the Minister revealed that “the Indian nationals gained entry into the country with fake visas and counterfeit Immigration stamps, while the Korean nationals failed to regularize their stay upon the expiration of their contract with Zamfara State Government.” The two Korean nationals affected are: Mr. An Chun Sik and Mr. Jon Su Gyong of the Democratic People’s Republic Of Korea.
Premium Times reported that “the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology has released 19 new high yield crop varieties to enhance agricultural production. The National Variety Release Committee (NVRC) approved the release at its 26th meeting held at its secretariat at the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan.” NACGRAB’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Sunday Aladele “said the chicken breed submitted by the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), was a dual purpose (egg and meat) livestock breed called FUNAAB Alpha Chicken.” The 19 crop varieties approved for release included: one soybean, five maize hybrids and two maize varieties, one sweet potato variety, three groundnut varieties and three sorghum varieties, two cowpea varieties, and two transgenic hybrid cotton.
“Deposit Money Banks are beginning to shift interest in real sector financing, taking advantage of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Real Sector Support Fund (RSSF) launched recently. In order to consolidate and sustain economic recovery, the CBN last month established the guidelines for accessing the RSSF through Cash Reserve Requirements (CRR) and Corporate Bond (CBs), which tends to achieve the flow of credit to the real sector of the economy.” (Business Day 12 September, 2018, page 26) reported this.
“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has urged traders, especially market women in Cross River State, to embrace the federal government empowerment initiative of ‘Trader Moni’. He stated this at the most popular and oldest market in Calabar, Watt market when he interacted with traders at the market yesterday. Osinbajo who did not speak with journalists was heard speaking to the women to better their lives by taking advantage of the scheme and draw the much needed cash to boost their trading”. Daily Trust reports that “the VP spent nearly one hour milling through the thick crowd of traders and onlookers that besieged the market despite resolute efforts by security agents to control the crowd. The VP also visited other places of interest where the initiative was launched and received his personal encouragement.”
“The Acting Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Aisha Dahiru-Umar, says its appointed recovery agent recovered N14.76 billion outstanding pension contributions and penalties. Mrs Dahiru-Umar disclosed this at a one-day interactive session with the Organised Private Sector (OPS) on “Challenges and Future Outlook of the Pension Reform Act (PRA 2014)” in Lagos on Tuesday.” Premium Times reported that “the figure comprised N7.53 billion principal contributions and N7.23 billion as penalties respectively. The acting DG also said the entire amounts were credited into the workers’ Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs). According to her, the penalty is meant to compensate the workers for the income that would have been earned, if the principal contributions were remitted as and when due.”
On September 7 2018, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, became the first institution to receive the distinguished Africa Food Prize. The award, consisting of “a $100,000 cash prize and a trophy of recognition” was given to IITA at the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Kigali, Rwanda, for the institution’s innovation in finding solutions to some of the challenges limiting Africa’s agricultural productivity, and leadership. The IITA’s website says that “the Africa Food Prize was established in 2005” to honor “outstanding contributions within every aspect of agriculture and food production that is clearly related to combating hunger and reducing poverty in Africa”.
According to Daily Trust “the Federal Ministry of Finance yesterday gave States conditions on accessing funds from the $2.689 billion Paris Club refund approved for the 36 States of the Federation. The Federal Ministry of Finance said the refund is subject to the States meeting salary obligations and other conditions. A statement by the Director (Information), Hassan Dodo said “the salary and staff related arrears must be paid as a priority,” as well as “commitment to the commencement of the repayment of Budget Support Loans granted in 2016, to be made by all States.” According to the report, “the statement also said the clearing of amounts due to the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, and the “commitment to clear matching grants from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) where some States have available funds which could be used to improve primary education and learning outcomes.” With this directive, the States still having backlog of salaries and pension liabilities might be shut out from the latest round of releases.”
