Why PDP Can't Complete National Secretariat - Metuh

Barely six months after losing power at the center, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP no longer has the resources to complete its National Secretariat located at the Central Business District, Abuja.

PUNCH which earlier observed that contractors had reduced activities to a skeletal level reports that as at last Wednesday, all works had stopped at the 11.5 billion naira twelve story building.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh explained to PUNCH correspondent, why the party is unable to complete the project.

“During our sales of forms, we had planned to use substantial part of the money to complete the secretariat.

“We also had a fund-raising dinner where money was raised and we were told that about N21bn was raised and that some of it would be given to us for the completion of the secretariat but we didn’t see the money,” he said.

Metuh also said that the fund earlier set aside for the project was diverted to finance the campaigns of the party's governorship candidates after the PDP lost the presidential election to the APC.

“The one (money) we kept for the completion of the secretariat, after we lost the presidential election. We were directed to divert the funds to the campaign organisation (of our governorship candidates).

“So, we channelled it directly to our governorship candidates across the country in over 30 states and other candidates in the House of Assemblies.

“That really depleted the funds of the party and almost brought it to ground zero.

“As we speak, we don’t have funds for the completion of the new secretariat. The acting chairman of the NWC would take the issue to the national caucus to know how we can engage the services of developers on some arrangements," he said.

Source : PUNCH

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30 Million Pupils To Get Free Milk In 2016

As part of its free school meal program, , the Federal Government has concluded plans to provide free daily milk to 30 million pupils in primary and secondary schools across the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari had promised free meals for school children during the 2015 elections.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, disclosed the plan during a meeting with the West African Milk Company, WAMCO in Abuja.

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FG Approves 407 Billion Naira Subsidy Payment To Oil Marketers

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun on Wednesday confirmed the approval of payment of N407.07bn as fuel subsidy to oil marketers.

A statement issued by the Director, Press in the Ministryof Finance, Mr. Marshal Gundu, said that the payment covers arrears of 2014 and the current year.

“The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has confirmed payment of N407,076,805,386.30 for subsidy claims to oil marketers so as to end the lingering fuel situation.

“The Minister stated that the President has directed that payments be made immediately in order to bring to a quick end the lingering fuel crisis which has caused great suffering to Nigerian families and businesses.

“The payments include arrears from the 2014 financial year as well as payments for the current year. It is expected that the recipients would ensure adequate supply of fuel to end the persistent fuel shortage in the nation.

“With this action which shows that government is fully committed to meeting its financial obligations in respect of fuel subsidy, the Minister further implored the major oil marketers to reciprocate the action by doing all they can to bring the fuel scarcity to an end,” the statement said.

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N2.1b fraud: Dokpesi pleads not guilty.

Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party and founding Chairman of Daar Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi was on Wednesday arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on charges bordering on money laundering.

He is alleged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to have fraudulently obtained N2.1b from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Also arraigned with Chief Dokpesi before Justice Gabriel Kolawole is his company, Daar Investment and Holdings Ltd.

The media magnate is alleged by the EFCC to have received N2.1 billion from the office of the National Security Adviser between October 2014 and March 19, 2015, specifically for PDP’s presidential media campaign and contrary to the
provisions of the Public Procurement Act, Money laundering Act and the EFCC Act.

Dokpesi pleaded not guilty to the six count charge, while
Justice Kolawole fixed February 17, 18 and March 2 and 3, 2016 to commence full hearing on the matter.

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Civil Service Promotion Exams For Dec 17

The office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation has approved Dec 17, 2015 for promotion exams for civil servants on grade levels 06 -13.

According to a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by Alhaji Mohammed Manga, Assistant Director of Media Relations in the office of the Head of Service, the examination will hold at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, PSIN.

A circular signed by the Permanent Secretary, Career Management in the office of the HoS, Mr Innocent Ogbonnaya, and issued to all government Ministries, Departments and Agencies said that eligible officers must have spent a minimum of two or three years on their present grade by Jan. 1, 2015.

The circular advised eligible candidates to attend the screening and accreditation exercise beginning from Dec. 14, at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria PSIN, from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Eligible officers are were to come with one passport size photograph, the original and one photocopy each of staff identity card and letter of first appointment, evidence of confirmation of appointment, birth certificate or declaration of age, letter of transfer, conversion, absorption or regularisation, if applicable,  letters of last two promotions and academic credentials.

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Masquerade In Police Net For Murder

The Kogi State Police Command on Tuesday paraded a masquerade in Lokoja for harassing the public and committing murder.

The Obiedu masquerade while celebrating the Ekhechi masquerade festival was said to have stabbed one Ishak Yusuf to death during a scuffle.

Eight persons who accompanied the masquerade during the festival are said to be at large.

However, the man behind the masquerade, Shuaibu Musa denied taking part in the fight in which Ishak Yusuf was killed, but admitted that on the said date, he and his colleagues attended the Obiedu masquerade festival at 11p.m.

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$35b in 5 years : How fuel subsidy is killing Nigeria - World Bank

According to the World Bank, Nigeria spent about $35b (N6.9 trillion) in the last five years subsidizing petroleum products.
World Bank's ‘Nigeria Economic Report No. 3’, released in Abuja on Tuesday said that fuel subsidy crippled the country’s capacity to save for the rainy day occasioned by falling crude oil prices in the international market.

The report presented by World Bank's Lead Economist in Nigeria, Mr. John Litwack highlighted the high fiscal cost of fuel subsidy on the country. 

“The fiscal cost of the fuel subsidy is very high, reaching an estimated $35bn during 2010–2014. Moreover, annual costs are increasing over time due to rising fuel demand and the depreciation of the naira.

“In recent years, numerous audits and reports have identified widespread corruption and fraud in the administration of the fuel subsidy, and official petrol imports have substantially exceeded actual consumption. Attempts by the government to crack down on fraud and delay payment of the subsidy have commonly met with severe fuel shortages in the country that also impose high economic and welfare costs on Nigerians.

“The $35bn cost of the fuel subsidy during 2010–2014 was a primary reason why Nigeria was unable to accumulate a fiscal reserve in the Excess Crude Account that could have protected the country from the recent oil price shock. Fuel subsidy obligations are expected to reach 18 per cent of all government oil revenues in 2015, and, if the current regulated prices are maintained, this is projected to increase to more than 30 per cent by 2018.”

The report also said that  the entire executed federal capital budget as well as the combined spending on education and public health care is significantly less than the budgetary spending on fuel subsidy which takes a quarter of the total budget.

“The weak enforcement of administrative prices further reduces the benefits of fuel subsidies to Nigerian households. There are other important costs as well. Uncertainty about the fuel subsidy has strongly discouraged investment in domestic refining.

“Moreover, artificially low fuel prices distort incentives and encourage excessive consumption of energy. Allegations of corruption and fraud surrounding the implementation of the fuel subsidy are costly to the reputation of government.

“Finally, subsidy-related fuel shortages have repeatedly disrupted economic activity and imposed serious welfare costs on Nigerian households. In addition, every time the naira depreciates, the cost of subsidising a nominal fixed price increases,” it said.

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