COVER
PMS: Reps Shun Masses, Back Tinubu on N617 Price Hike
…PMS Price Hike
By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja
The House of Representatives yesterday supported Tuesday’s hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), as it rejected all entreaties to prevent the Federal Government from implementing the new price regime of N617 per litre by voting overwhelmingly in favour of the increase, citing market forces as determinant.
The Green Chamber rejected an amendment motion moved by Rep.
Yampa Zakaria (PDP-Adamawa) asking it to order a suspension of the price increase.Zakaria had argued that the price hike suspension would enable the House to invite the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL), Mr Kyari Mele, to appear before it to explain the said increase.
Rep. Shettima Ali (APC-Yobe) seconded Zakaria’s motion, urging that the price hike be reverted pending the appearance of Kyari before the House, but the amendment was rejected.
The amendment sought was based on a motion moved earlier by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo).
Ugochinyere had noted that Nigerians woke on July 18 to find to their chagrin that petrol price had been increased from N537 a litre to N617 a litre.
He urged the House to constitute an ad-hoc committee to look into the incessant increases in pump prices of petrol by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL).
He noted that the price increases had affected transportation and prices of foodstuffs, leaving many Nigerians helpless.
Contributing to debate on the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, conceded that the motion was prompt.
He, however, defended the move by the NNPCL, arguing that market forces were the factors at play since the removal of fuel subsidy.
Rep. Amobi Ogah (LP-Abia) in his contribution also conceded that market forces determined the price hike.
When the speaker put the amendment motion to a voice vote, members rejected the proposed reversal and ruled in favour of N617 per litre of petrol.
The House also summoned Kyari and his team to explain to the House the rationale behind the increase.
The lawmakers also set up an ad-hoc committee with members drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country to determine the rationale behind the increase.
Probe 13- Year Remittances to NHF
The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to investigate the non–remittance to the National Housing Fund (NHF) and utilization of the fund from 2011 to date.
This followed the adoption of a motion titled ‘Need to Investigate the Non–Remittance to the National Housing Fund and Utilization of the Fund from 2011 to date’ sponsored at the plenary by Hon. Zakaria Dauda Nyampa.
While adopting the motion, the House resolved to set up an ad-hoc to carry out the investigation and report back for further legislative action.
Presenting the motion, the Lawmaker said “The House notes that National Housing Fund (NHF) is a Federal Government scheme, which entitles all Nigerians above the age of 21 years in paid employment to a low-interest, government-funded loan to developers to provide purpose-built homes that fit the incomes of low-and medium-income
“Aware that the Federal Government set up the scheme in 1992, and all Nigerians above 21 years old and working in the economy’s public, private and informal sectors are eligible to register and participate by contributing 2.5 per cent of their monthly incomes;
“Also aware that the National Housing Fund scheme presents a convenient and cost-effective opportunity for Nigerians, especially those within the low-and medium-income segment.
Read Also: Outrage Greets Fresh PMS Pump Price Increase
“Successive governments in Nigeria had introduced various measures and policies in the last four decades to combat the housing problem in Nigeria as it is believed that a well-articulated housing policy could stimulate economic growth, generate employment, redistribute the population and reduce urban degeneration;
Informed that to facilitate the deductions and remittances of contributions, each employer is expected to be registered.
“The self-employed individuals can, however, collect forms from any branch of FMB nationwide.”
He further added, that “concerned that from an assessment of the performance of National Housing Fund (NHF) in Nigeria carried out by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the analysis of survey returns revealed that one in every five disbursed loans went into default despite the slight improvement of 20.9 percent witnessed in 2014 compared with 23.8 per cent in 2012,
“The rate of loan default witnessed a sharp increase to 45.8 per cent in 2015 and further to 59.6 per cent in 2016. Various reasons were provided for the high default rate experienced by the PMBs, demise of the mortgagor, unwillingness of the customers to repay, nonpayment by an employer and lack of constant follow
upon the mortgagor, amongst others.
“Concerned that there seems to be a gross default in the utilization and remittance of the National
Housing Fund which constitutes an offence under section 20 of the NHF Act.”
He then urged the House to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the scheme from 2011 to date which was unanimously supported by other members when it was put into voice vote by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Benjamin Kalu who presided over the plenary.
Ask FG to Lift Embargo on Employment
The House of Representatives has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lift the embargo on employment in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), of the Federal Government.
The House also urged the Federal Civil Service Commission and such relevant bodies to immediately act upon the President’s directive in this regard.
These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion calling on the President to Lift the Embargo on Employment moved by Hon. Francis Ejiroghene Waive during plenary on Wednesday.
Waive noted that the immediate past Administration amid the recession that hit the economy in the country due to the huge drop in the international price of crude oil at the time and Covid 19 pandemic placed an embargo on employment in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.
He recalled that the Ninth House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on the then President to lift the embargo on employment and that there are reports in social media that the embargo had been lifted but there is no evidence of any employment taking place whatsoever.
The lawmaker expressed worries that for several years there has not been any employment in the Civil Service of the Federation, thereby creating a shortage of manpower, especially in the junior and middle-level cadre as officers are promoted and some retire and others die.
He further stated that some Ministries Departments and Agencies DAs have resorted to engaging casual staff who are paid from their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and other sources, while it is sad that these casual staffs are non-pensionable, the act of spending government money without appropriation by the legislature for whatever purpose is illegal.
“The withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products has increased the hardship of jobless Nigerian youths and appreciates the measures planned by the President to alleviate the suffering of the masses. Lifting of the embargo on employment and going ahead to employ young qualified Nigerians should be a part of Mr. President’s rescue measures as some of the savings from the removal of the subsidy could be used in this direction.
The House however Mandated the Committees on Public Service Matters, Labour and Employment (when constituted) to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
As part of efforts to reposition the newspaper for optimum corporate performance, the management of Asset Newspapers Limited, Publishers of DAILY ASSET, has announced the appointment of David Torough as the Editor of the Abuja-based national daily.
A statement by the management said the appointments were part of the company’s new strategy to further penetrate the various states in the country and raise its readership and patronage.
“DAILY ASSET is widely acceptable across the country and to maintain our leadership position, we need to increase management presence, hence the need to create new Bureau offices in some locations outside Abuja and Lagos,” the statement quoted the Publisher/ Editor-in-Chief, Dr Cletus Akwaya to have said.
In a statement yesterday, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the fast-growing daily, Dr. Cletus Akwaya said the appointment was part of the new strategy to properly situate the paper for better productivity.
“DAILY ASSET has a commitment with the Nigerian people. We are determined to weather the storm and give Nigerian readers a Newspaper that satisfies their yearnings and reading pleasure and we can only do that with the right set of professionals,” the statement said.
Akwaya, a former Commissioner of Information from Benue State said the difficult times being faced by Nigerians posed a great challenge to the media as the people deserved credible information with which to make choices.
“We have a bond with the people, to offer credible information at all times in the best tradition of the Nigerian Press and on this scale of objectivity, truth and fairness, we pledge to remain steadfast no matter the challenges,” Akwaya was quoted to have said.
He said the newspaper will maiantin its daily print run and circulation to all states of the federation and urged advertisers to take advantage of the deep penetration of the Daily Asset brand to send their messages.
Torough, the new Editor has had a steady rise in the Newspaper in the last five years.
A graduate of Mass communication of the Benue State University, Makurdi, Torough joined the company in 2022 as Benue State Correspondent. He was spotted for his brilliance and redeployed to Abuja the following year and promoted to Deputy News Editor. He was subswuently named Deputy Editor of the paper, a position he held until the recent appointment.
Torough has attended several journalistic workshops and trainings to properly equip himself for the task ahead.
The statement also said the Management named Eze Okechukwu as Deputy Editor.
Before his elevation as Deputy Editor, Eze has been Deputy Politics Editor and DAILY ASSET Newspaper correspondent covering the Senate, having joined the organization in 2021.
Born on March 10, 1975, Eze holds a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Eze began his journalism career with Daily Star, Enugu and later worked with Daily Trust Newspaper, Abuja as sports reporter.
Aside from his journalistic excellence, he has a great deal of passion for sports.
From Ngutor Dekera, Kaduna and Aliyu Askira, Kano
Northern governors and traditional rulers yesterday called for the suspension of mining activities across the region for six months, blaming illegal mining for worsening insecurity in many states.The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Northern Traditional Rulers’ Council held at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The meeting, chaired by the Gombe State Governor and NSGF Chairman, Muhammadu Yahaya, had in attendance the 19 northern governors and chairmen of the 19 states’ traditional councils. The Forum expressed concern over the escalating violence in parts of the North, including the killings and abductions recently recorded in Kebbi, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Sokoto, Jigawa and Kano states, as well as renewed Boko Haram attacks in Borno and Yobe.“The Forum extends its deepest condolences and solidarity to the governments and good people of the affected states,” the communiqué said, noting that the attacks on schoolchildren and other citizens had become “unacceptable tragedies” that required urgent collective action.It commended President Bola Tinubu for what it described as the Federal Government’s “firm response” to recent abductions and insurgency threats, especially the rescue of some abducted pupils.The governors also saluted security agencies for their sacrifices on the frontlines.“We resolved to renew our support for every step taken by the President and Commander-in-Chief to take the fight to insurgents’ enclaves in order to end the criminality,” the Forum stated.A major highlight of the meeting was the North’s renewed push for the establishment of state police, with governors and traditional rulers insisting that decentralised policing had become inevitable.“The Forum reaffirms its wholehearted support and commitment to the establishment of state police,” the communiqué added, urging federal and state lawmakers from the region to “expedite action for its actualisation.”On illegal mining, the governors said criminal mining networks were fuelling violence and providing resources for armed groups.As a corrective measure, they asked Tinubu to direct the Minister of Solid Minerals to impose a six-month suspension of mining activities in order to allow for a full audit and revalidation of licences.“The Forum observed that illegal mining has become a major contributory factor to the security crises in Northern Nigeria. “We strongly recommend a suspension of mining exploration for six months to allow proper audit and to arrest the menace of artisanal illegal mining,” it said.To strengthen the fight against insecurity, the governors also announced the creation of a regional Security Trust Fund.Under the proposed arrangement, each state and its local governments will contribute ₦1bn monthly, to be deducted at source under an agreed framework.They said the fund would help provide sustainable financing for joint operations, intelligence-driven interventions and coordinated security responses across the region.At the end of the meeting, the Forum reaffirmed its commitment to unity and collective responsibility.“Only through unity, peer review and cooperation can we overcome the pressing challenges before us,” it declared.The Forum agreed to reconvene on a date to be announced.Meanwhile, Nigeria’s worsening security crisis took a grim turn on Monday as bandits launched fresh attacks in Kano State, abducting 25 villagers, even as the Federal Government raced to secure the release of more than 300 Catholic school children kidnapped in Niger State.In the early hours of Monday, armed bandits invaded Unguwar Tsamiya—popularly called Dabawa—in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State, whisking away nine men and two women after shooting into the air and assaulting residents. The attackers also rustled two cows.A resident lamented the community’s helplessness: “We cannot do otherwise; most of us cannot leave because we have nowhere to go. This is our place, our land and everything is here.”The assault came less than 24 hours after a similar attack on Yan Kamaye in Tsanyawa LGA, a community along the volatile Katsina border.In Niger State, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has assured distraught families of St. Mary’s Co-Education School, Kontagora that the more than 300 students and staff abducted on November 21 will return home “soon.” Ribadu, who led a high-level federal delegation to the school on Monday, said the abductees are safe, though he offered no specifics on their location or the status of rescue operations.According to Daniel Atori, spokesman for the Catholic bishop overseeing the school, the NSA reassured officials: “The children are where they are and will come back safely.”The St. Mary’s attack is part of a worrying resurgence of mass kidnappings reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. Security analysts warn that banditry has evolved into a “structured, profit-seeking industry,” with hundreds of Nigerians abducted in November alone.The Kontagora school abduction occurred the same week 25 girls were kidnapped in Kebbi State—victims who authorities say have since been rescued through “non-kinetic” means. About 50 of the St. Mary’s hostages have also managed to escape.Ribadu’s delegation, which included the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the freedom of all abducted citizens.As communities from Kano to Niger continue to bear the brunt of these violent incursions, the escalating spate of kidnappings underscores the urgent national demand for a more decisive and coordinated security response.
By David Torough, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, will face a team of interrogators at its office daily throughout December.A credible source in the EFCC said on Monday that the daily appearance was part of an ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of an alleged 490 million dollars Abacha loot secured through a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLAT) request.
The source said that Malami, who was summoned for interrogation by the EFCC on Saturday, was barred from leaving Nigeria for the next one month.According to the source, one of the conditions for his release on Saturday was that he should report daily to the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja for further interrogation.The source said Malami would have to appear daily at the anti-graft office due to the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him.”We seized his passport, it is the normal routine during investigation, but he has to report at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja every day for the next month.”He will be reporting for further investigation throughout December.”He will be reporting every day, starting from Dec. 1st to Dec. 31st.He will appear before the team of investigators for the entire month of December.”He will be reporting to EFCC for investigation for the period because of the volume of the investigation and the seriousness of the charges against him,” the source added.According to the source, a fact sheet on the former minister revealed that Malami had several issues to clarify with the EFCC within the coming weeks.“We have asked him to explain the whereabouts of the $490 million Abacha loot secured through MLAT.“We didn’t say he stole money, but he should account for the loot. This is one of the issues he will clarify to our investigators.”The commission cited the large volume of documents he must review and the need for extensive interviews as reasons for seizing his passport.The source said EFCC would not engage in a war of words but would release its findings after a thorough investigation.Malami, in a statement by his media aide, Mohammed Doka, on Monday in Abuja, however, described the EFCC investigation as a political witch‑hunt.He confirmed he honored an EFCC invitation on Nov. 28, describing the engagement as fruitful and expressing confidence that the probe would vindicate him.Malami described the EFCC’s allegations as baseless, illogical and devoid of substance, insisting they collapse under factual scrutiny.
COAS Urges NMS Students to Uphold Discipline, Excellence, Promises Better Learning Environment
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has charged students of the Nigerian...
Gov Adeleke Didn’t Join APC Because Osun People Already Hated the Party – Jackson Ojo
Share…Says Defectors to Ruling Party Will Regret By Mike Odiakose, Abuja A former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC),...
COAS Charges 3,439 New Army Recruits on Loyalty, Discipline
ShareBy David Torough, Abuja The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu (NAM), has charged 3,439 newly trained...
CBN Revamps Agric Guarantee Scheme, Targets Smallholder Farmers
Share The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has launched a major overhaul of the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF),...
Okonjo-Iweala, Others Urge Youths to Drive Reforms, Strengthen Civic Action
ShareNational leaders have challenged youths to lead Nigeria’s renewal, warning that meaningful change now depends on young citizens organizing, demanding...
Eight Students Die, Three Injure in Jos Road Crash
ShareFrom Jude Dangwam, Jos The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Ishaya Tanko has confirmed the sad death...
ShareUNICEF Hails Bayelsa as Champion of Primary Healthcare Devt in Nigeria From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa The United Nations Children’s Fund...
EFCC Seeks Stronger Alliance with CSOs, Media in Anti-corruption Fight
ShareThe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has called for deeper collaboration with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media...
ShareMutfwang Pledges Support for Minister of Defence in Fight against Insecurity From Jude Dangwam, Jos Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang,...
FRSC Deploys New Sector Commander to Benue
ShareThe Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday, announced the deployment of Corps Commander (CC) Kehinde Dahunsi as new commander...
Pingback: NUJ Demands Immediate Reversal of Latest PMS Pump Price Daily Asset Online