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Ahmed Pledges Support to End Violence Against Women

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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed has pledged the Ministry’s support to the efforts of her Women Affairs and Social Development counterpart to end violence against Women and Girls.

Ahmed pledged at the National Accountability Town Hall Meeting to commemorate the 2020 16 Days of Activism to end Violence against Women and Girls with the theme “Orange the world, Fund, Response, Prevent and Collect” held in Abuja at the weekend.

The Minister who lamented that the COVID -19 pandemic has heightened the gravity of violence and sexual abuse against women and girls, noted that a recent EU report shows that the 30% of women aged 15 – 49 had experienced sexual abuse at one time or the other.

According to her,  another report commissioned by the Ministry of Women Affairs and the United Nations Population Commission in support of Norwegian government also showed that 28% of Nigerian women between the age of 25-29 have experienced some form of violence at one time or the other.

Mrs. Ahmed stated that in response to the rising cases of violence against women, President Buhari inaugurated an Inter-ministerial committee on the eradication of sexual and gender based violence against women, adding that state governors had unanimously declared a State of Emergency on this.

Her words, “The safety and economic empowerment of women and girls is critical to our country’s development. 

“Not only must every woman and girl be safe in their respective homes, communities, and places of work, they must all be given the opportunities and tools with which to be socially, financially, and economically empowered”. 

According to her, women continue to be vulnerable and at risk, and as global and domestic data have shown, women have disproportionately borne the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic – on the frontlines, in their homes, and across various sectors.  

“This is against the backdrop of recent human capital and gender parity indices which provide a sobering reality – that we have a long journey ahead when it comes to achieving gender equality,” she said.

 “It is, therefore, imperative that governments, and particularly those in Africa, prioritise the empowerment and advancement of women in all spheres of society, and specifically in areas relating to their socio-economic wellbeing. 

“This is especially significant given the emerging data demonstrating the impact of representation, and of women being in positions of leadership and being decision-makers”, the she noted.

Continuing, the minister said, “Considering that many countries are facing fiscal constraints and low revenues post COVID-19, it is important for us to develop new and scale existing interventions at the intersection of gender and fiscal policy/public financial management. 

“Such interventions include gender responsive budgeting, and assessments of the gender responsiveness of key fiscal interventions (including fiscal stimulus packages) with specific commitments aimed at improving the safety, livelihoods, and economic status of women and girls. 

“Such a focus ensures sustainable and scalable change. This is an area in which we at the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning will be focusing more deliberately, particularly in the post COVID-19 reality.

According to her, in order to ensure the sustainability of programmes and interventions, “it is critical that we take a long term and strategic approach to establishing gender parity, and ensuring that women are safe and economically empowered, resulting in a stronger economy overall. 

“We are working to ensure that our public financial management processes are more gender-sensitive, and that credible data is made available and is disaggregated along gender lines to ensure that finances are reaching the intended beneficiaries.

“To further address issues of gender responsiveness in our fiscal interventions, I plan to convene a High-Level Policy Dialogue Session with government, development partners and other stakeholders, to harvest inputs and facilitate prioritisation of gender-focused interventions in the fiscal and public financial management space

“Additionally, we will explore how to strengthen gender-responsiveness through the implementation of tools such as gender responsive budgeting and other interventions along the public financial management life cycle. These steps will help us mobilise and be efficient in how we use the funding required to address and prevent gender-based violence”, she added.

In her address, Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline K. Tallen, noted that gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most serious threats to the health and safety of women and girls worldwide. 

According to her, the devastating consequences, are felt at all levels including social, economic and personal because of the grievous harm inflicted on victims. 

“In spite of existing laws and policies on GBV in Nigeria, such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act, 2015 and the Child Rights Act, 2003, these vile acts still persist. 

“Violence against women and girls are widespread as a result of gender inequality due to patriarchy, imbalance in socio-economic opportunities, cultural and religious factors and inadequate enabling legal and policy frameworks, among other factors”. 

Tallen further noted: “There is also a growing evidence to demonstrate that preventing violence can promote economic growth, human dignity, a just and egalitarian society”.

 She said according to the UN report on GBV in Nigeria during the COVID-19 crisis, there is a general increase in GBV across all the six (6) geo-political zones and service providers have reported sharp increases in cases of intimate partner violence and domestic violence.

According to her, in spite of these incidents, “the present administration, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, has truly demonstrated high commitment not only to eliminate harmful practices against women and girls, but also to curb the rampaging impact of COVID-19 pandemic and other GBV, which erupted in the wake of measures put in place to flatten the curve of the pandemic. 

“This has made governments at all levels to respond positively to the national outcry that trailed the unacceptable trends and patterns witnessed in the last few months,” she further said.

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CBN Reduces Banks’ Lending Rate to 50 Percent

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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday announced a review of the loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) for banks from 65 percent to 50 percent to align with the current monetary tightening.

LDR is used to assess a bank’s liquidity by comparing its total loans to its total deposits.

An increase in the loan-to-deposit ratio allows banks to expand their credits to businesses and individuals, however, a decline in LDR reduces their ability to loan customers from depositors’ funds.

CBN disclosed the increase in a circular titled “Re: Regulatory Measures to Improve Lending to the Sector of the Nigerian Economy”, signed by Adetona Adedeji, CBN Acting Director, Banking Supervision Department.

“Following a shift in the b  ank’s policy stance towards a more contractionary approach, it is imperative to review the loan-to-deposit ratio (LDR) policy to align with the current monetary tightening by the CBN,” the apex bank said.

“Accordingly, the CBN has decided to reduce the LDR by 15 percentage points to 50%, in a similar proportion to the increase in the CRR rate for banks.

“All DMBs are required to maintain this level and are further advised that average daily figures shall continue to be applied to assess compliance.”At the last monetary policy committee (MPC) meeting on March 26, the CBN retained the CRR at 45 percent and the liquidity rate at 30 percent.

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EFCC, Police, Guards in Battle of Supremacy over Yahaya Bello

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By David Torough, Abuja

Gunshots rented the air as officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday invaded the Abuja residence of the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello in a bid to arrest him.

The plot is at 9 Bengazi Street, Zone 4, Wuse District, Abuja.

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force and armed men dressed in black with the inscription “Special Forces” prevented operatives of EFCC from picking up the former governor of Kogi State, saying he had secured a court injunction against arrest by EFCC.

EFCC arrived Bello’s home at about 9:30am.

After hours of failed attempt to arrest Bello, the security operatives reinforced with backup support from the police and Department of State Services (DSS).

They were about seizing Bello when the governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo arrived the premises.

Ododo spent few minutes and was zooming out when it was reported that he was driving out with Bello in his (Ododo’s) car.  

Quickly, operatives opened fire causing protesters, journalists, onlookers and passers-by to scamper for safety.

Ododo and some security personnel as well as supporters showed up at Bello’s house around 2:30pm to voice their opposition to the invasion of Bello’s house.

Operatives blocked the roads leading in and out of the street causing traffic jam around the area.

Ododo arrived at Bello’s residence at about 2:30pm alongside several security operatives and youth supporters protesting against the siege to the ex-governor’s place.

EFCC has always had it rough while on mission to prosecute highly placed individuals especially formers governors.

While some of them resist arrest, some run to court to secure perpetual injunction against arrest.

Former Governor Peter Odili got a perpetual injunction against arrest.Rabi’u Kwankwaso, Abdul’aziz Yari, Bello Matawalle and others got restraining orders against EFCC.

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Ayu Withdraws Suit against Removal as PDP Chairman

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The National Executive Council (NEC) meetng, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has passed a vote of confidence on its Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

The party’s spokesman, Debo Ologunagba announced in a statement that the NWC took the decision at the end of its 584th meeting on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the decision was reached in commendation of the efforts and commitment of Damagum’s ability to stabilize and reposition the PDP as the main opposition party in the country.

The party’s national executive meeting was slated for Thursday and the purpose of the meeting was to either affirm or replace Damagun.

 “The Deputy National Chairman (South), Amb. Taofeek Arapaja presided over the motion for the Vote of Confidence on the Acting National Chairman, which was moved by the National Vice Chairman (South East) Chief Ali Odefa and seconded by the National Treasurer, Hon. Yayari Mohammed,” Ologunagba said.

Earlier, attempt to pass a vote of confidence on Damagun during the party’s caucus meeting in the House of Representatives on Tuesday met stiff resistance.

Lawmakers loyal to the party’s Acting National Chairman and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike attempted to pass a vote of confidence on Damagun but were blocked.

The meeting convened by the Leader of the Caucus and House Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda was held for about two hours at the National Assembly, Abuja ahead of today’s NEC meeting.

Last week, a group of 60 PDP federal lawmakers threatened to quit the party if the doctored list of Caretaker Committees in Rivers and 10 other states which was filled with members and loyalist of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is not nullified.

The group under the aegis of Opposition Lawmakers Coalition also demanded the resignation of the Acting National Chairman to pave way for a north-central person to emerge as Acting National Chairman of the party pending the conduct of convention as required by the party’s constitution.

Damagum was appointed the Acting National Chairman in 2023 following the suspension of the former chairman Iyorchia Ayu.

Ayu yesterday withdrew his appeal suit against the PDP and Terhide Utaan who took Ayu to court restraining him from parading himself as the National Chairman following his suspension by his ward.

The Withdrawal of Appeal was contained in Appeal No: CA/MK/88/2024 before the Court of Appeal in Makurdi dated April 15, 2024.“Take notice that the appellant in pursuant herein intends and does hereby wholly withdraws his appeal against all the respondents filed on 27th day of June 2023 vide notice of appeal dated the 26th day of June 2023,” the document reads.

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