NEWS
Jigawa Gov’t Pays N9.5bn to 13,327 Retirees
The Jigawa State and Local Government Contributory Pension Scheme Board have disbursed N9.547 billion to 13,237 retirees in 2022.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Kamilu Aliyu-Musa confirmed the development in Dutse yesterday.
He said the amount represents comprehensive payment of entitlements such as retirement and death benefits, pension, refund of eight per cent contribution and monthly pension.
According to Aliyu-Musa, the payment covered retirees of state, local governments and Local Education Authorities (LEAs).
He said that 571 pensioners from the state government received retirement benefits amounting N1.4 billion while 371 others from local governments got N444 million while 441 retirees from LEAs received N1.
04 billion.The Secretary said that under death benefit, 107 beneficiaries from the state received N312.38 million, 98 deceased from the local government received N194,641 million and 81 others from LEAs received N244,411 million.
Aliyu-Musa said: “Under death pension balance, 43 beneficiaries from the state received N48,131,401.61; while 41 from local government received N29,885,879.60 and 37 others from LEAs received N29,049,075.85.
“Under refund of eight per cent contribution, three beneficiaries from state received N841, 710.58; one from local government received N149,578.75 and two others from LEAs received N132,541.91.
“Within the period under review, 724 beneficiaries from the state received N4,791,273,954.39 including their monthly pensions while 457 beneficiaries from local government received N1,495,094,504.34 and 561 beneficiaries from LEAs received N3,260,879,135.75”.
He reiterated commitment of the state government towards improving the welfare of workers and retirees to enhance effective service delivery.
The Secretary said the board has begun payment of N1.7 billion terminal benefit to 707 retirees for 2023, adding that amount would cover workers who recently retired from service, at the state, local government and LEAs.
He said the payment would cover payment of retirement benefits, death benefits, death pension balance and a refund of eight per cent contribution.
According to him, 302 of the beneficiaries are from state service, 117 from local governments and 288 from LEAs.
He said that N816 million would be disbursed to 303 beneficiaries from the state service while N200 million to 288 beneficiaries from local government service and 707 beneficiaries of the LEAs to receive N748 million.
“The board is up-to-date in the payment of entitlements to retirees, including those who died in active service,” he said.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday warned producers to strictly follow hygiene standards and digital registration procedures. Mr Kenneth Azikiwe, Director of NAFDAC’s FCT directorate, said the warning followed inspections that revealed expired licences among several producers.
Azikiwe also educated members of the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP), Mararaba-Karu branch, on the importance of compliance. The agency highlighted regulatory timelines and advised on improving water quality across the FCT and parts of Nasarawa State, including Mararaba, Nyanya, and Karu. He noted that producers were careless with water treatment, often misusing sterilisation equipment during production. Azikiwe cited cases where workers unplugged ultraviolet sterilisers to charge phones and turned hygiene areas into kitchens. He reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to public safety and urged compliance for the benefit of all Nigerians. Azikiwe encouraged producers to use the agency’s digital platform, the NAFDAC Automated Products and Nutritional Monitoring System (NAPAMS), for easier access to services. He added that laboratory samples are now processed weekly to speed up approvals and urged strict adherence to procedures. Mrs Gloria Wilberford, Head of the Greater FCT Office in Mararaba, said NAPAMS had greatly improved after its upgrade to version 3. She noted that laboratory submissions now occur every Wednesday, cutting delays that used to last over a month. Wilberford said the agency’s aim was to support compliant businesses, not to penalise them. She added that setting up offices in Mararaba and Suleja was meant to ease administrative hurdles in satellite towns. Mr Michael Ajagbonna, Nasarawa Coordinator for the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, explained SON certifies products while NAFDAC handles their registration. He stressed on mutual respect among regulators and the need to work within legal boundaries, despite overlapping duties. ATWAP National Financial Secretary, Amb. Usman Diggi, said members struggle with digital literacy but promised to help identify non-compliant producers. “As a union, we can’t sanction violators, but we will report them to NAFDAC,” he stated. Mr John Michael, an ATWAP member, found the session informative and called for more stakeholder engagement. He said the workshop clarified registration issues and gave members the tools and contacts needed to resolve them. (NAN)
The Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Maj.-Gen. Abdul Ibrahim, has sought for the royal blessings and support from the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Bamalli.Report says that Ibrahim spoke when he paid a courtesy visit to the emir at his Palace in Zaria on Wednesday.
The commandant also solicited the emir’s cooperation in fulfilling the NDA’s primary mandate of training officers for the Armed Forces of Nigeria and allied African nations. During the visit, the commandant formally informed the emir about his new positon, following the recent re-deployment of personnel in the Nigerian Army. Ibrahim highlighted that the NDA was established over six decades ago to cater to the growing demand for officers in post-independence Nigeria.He emphasised the importance of partnerships with traditional rulers and other stakeholders to enhance both economic development and security in the nation.The commandant invited the emir to deliver a keynote address at the upcoming ‘Leadership Seminar’ dedicated to the legacy of the famous Queen Amina of Zazzau.Ibrahim also informed the emir about the Passing Out Parade (POP) for the 72 Regular Course (RC) Cadets, scheduled for September 2025, and extended a formal invitation for him to attend as the Royal Father of the Day.The commandant also wished Bamalli a long reign, stability, and good health while reassuring him of the armed forces’ ongoing support for peace and stability in the Emirate and beyond.In response, the emir reminisced about his school days at the Government College Kaduna, reflecting on the military discipline instilled at the NDA, which also benefited the students in his college. “I recall those days; the standard of discipline in the NDA was being replicated in our college, making us the beneficiaries of good military traditions,” he stated.The emir expressed his best wishes for Ibrahim’s tenure, stating, “judging from your antecedents, the NDA is lucky to have you as Commandant.”Regarding the Leadership Seminar on Queen Amina, the emir revealed ongoing efforts at the palace to harmonise literature with unwritten facts about the legendary warrior queen, aiming to clarify conflicting accounts and present a well-rounded historical perspective.He assured his attendance at the POP of the 73 RC, reiterating his commitment to the NDA.Accompanying the NDA Commandant included Maj.- Gen. AB Mohammed, the Commandant, Depot Nigerian Army; Prof. Isa Garba, Academy’s Provost; Commodore ST Lengaya, Director of Coordination; Air Commodore SA Buhari, Director of Logistics and Col. MS Jafar, Chief Instructor, Army Wing, among othersThe visit was witnessed by the members of the Zazzau Emirate Council, District Heads, and palace staff. (NAN)
By Tony Obiechina Abuja
The Securities and Exchange Commission has warned the public against investing in unregistered investment schemes, including Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society/Silverkuun Limited. In a circular issued in Abuja, Wednesday, the commission said its attention had been drawn to the activities of these entities, which falsely present themselves as investment advisers and fund managers in the Nigerian capital market.
“The attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“the Commission”) has been drawn to the activities of Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society/Silverkuun Limited which holds itself out as an Investment Adviser/Fund Manager. “The Commission hereby informs the public that Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society/Silverkuun Limited is NOT REGISTERED to operate in any capacity in the Nigerian Capital Market. Accordingly, the SEC advised the public to refrain from engaging with Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society/Silverkuun Limited or its representatives in respect of any business in the Nigerian capital market. “The Commission uses this medium to reiterate that transacting in the Nigerian Capital Market with unregistered and unregulated entities exposes investors to financial risk including fraud and potential loss of investment. The investing public is therefore reminded to verify the status of companies and entities offering investment opportunities on the Commission’s dedicated portal – www.sec.gov.ng/cmos, before transacting with them”, the SEC added. Director General of the SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama had recently warned that the Commission would not hesitate to shut down the operations of such unregistered entities while also ensuring that the promoters are made to face the full weight of the law. Agama said, “We will shut down their operations and the promoters will be made to face the full weight of the law,” Agama warned. “In a major reform, ISA 2025 officially brings digital assets under the SEC’s regulatory purview, defining them as securities and mandating registration for all virtual asset service providers (VASPs) and digital asset exchanges. This development aims to close the regulatory vacuum that has allowed many Ponzi-style platforms to thrive under the guise of cryptocurrency and digital finance”.
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