Economy
Bayelsa Rakes in N1.2bn IGR in March
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State government said it received N1.2billion as Internally Generated Revenue for the month of March 2020.
The figure is the highest accrual to the state in the last 12 months.
The Technical Assistant to the Governor on Treasury, Account and Revenue, Mr.
Timipre Seipulou, disclosed this over the weekend during the transparency briefing for the months of March and April 2020.Presenting the income and expenditure profile for March, Mr. Seipulou explained that the gross inflow was N12.8 billion while total deductions from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) stood at about N1.5 billion leaving a net balance of N11.
3 billion.He said the internally generated revenue for February was N848.9 million, funds from other sources came up to N1.5 billion, local government refunds from bailout N16.3 million, total of other receipts N2.4 billion in addition to net FAAC and other receipts amounted to N13.7 billion.
The governor’s aide noted that the state government made a total payment of N4.8 billion for both capital and recurrent expenditures.
For the month of April, Seipulou announced a gross inflow of N14.3 billion comprising statutory allocation of N2.5 billion, derivation N6.3 billion, extra savings from the Excess Crude Account N2.7 billion, Value Added Tax N1 billion and exchange differential of N1.5 billion.
He also said total deductions from FAAC gulped N1.47 billion, which include refund for budget support N152 million, refund on overpayment of derivation indices N128.3 million, Commercial Agricultural Credit (Scheme 2) N266.6 million among other components.
He declared N8.1 billion as total outflows, consisting bank loans and contractual guarantees of N2.1 billion, civil servants salary N3.9 billion, part of arrears for payment of January salaries N409 million, salaries for political appointees and members of boards N119 million, gratuity payments N100 million among other items.
According to the governor’s aide, a balance of N5.86 billion was left in the state’s coffers excluding capital and recurrent payments of N4.3 billion leaving a balance of N1.58 billion.
He noted that the balance brought forward from the month of March was N573.5 million in addition to the balance of April (N1.583billion) stood at N2.111 billion at the end of April 2020.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Orientation, Chief Freston Akpor, said the transparency and accountability posture of the Senator Douye Diri administration would no doubt build trust and promote good governance.
Chief Akpor lauded members of the finance team for their painstaking efforts at rendering the income and expenditure of the state government in compliance with the Transparency Law 2012
Economy
Value Addition is new Standard in Mining Operations – Alake
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake has declared value addition as the new indispensable standard for mining operations in the country.
Alake made the declaration in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Segun Tomori, on Tuesday in Abuja.
The minister had earlier said that the federal government had resolved to ensure compliance to value addition before permitting investors to operate.
He said that his seven-point agenda for the ministry had placed the mining sector on the global front burner since assuming office, which had generated renewed interest from the international community in Nigeria`s mineral resources.
According to the statement, the minister lauded a mining company, African Natural Resources and Mines Ltd.
(ANRML), during an inspection tour in Kaduna State, for its 600 million dollar facility dedicated to the mining and processing of magnetite iron-ore.He described the move as in line with the government`s resolve for value addition, which is especially apt given President Bola Tinubu`s quest to develop the solid minerals, to boost Nigeria`s economic profile and to meet the global upsurge in energy transition.
“The company aligns with our vision of value addition and beneficiation through its processing of iron-ore, and I urge other mining companies to take a cue from them, “ he said.
He reiterated the government`s commitment to abstain from granting mining licenses to companies that lack the necessary plans for value addition.
The minister acknowledged that resilience, courage and laying a solid foundation were critical in contributing to the company success.
He added that such factors also serve as guidelines for President Tinubu`s administration in its efforts for economic transformation.
“ We have set our minds in this administration and invariably in Nigeria to achieve success, that is why Mr President is restructuring the economy.
“When this company (ANRML) started seven years ago, we saw one of the foundations through the video documentary, the amount of concrete that went in to erect a foundation, just to carry a giant edifice.
“That is what we are going through. When we get through the gestation period, the results will manifest, and it will herald prosperity, “he said.
The minister had stated that no license would be granted to companies wishing to enter the mineral sector without presenting a plan for value addition, such as processing and refining which has multiplier effect on the economy. (NAN)
Economy
Life Insurance Records 95% Net Claims in Q4 2023-NAICOM
The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) says Life insurance business recorded about 95 per cent net claims of the total claims in the fourth quarter of 2023.
A report by NAICOM in Abuja on Tuesday hinted that the record was due to the direct reflection of the ongoing regulatory measures by the Commission regarding claims settlements.
NAICOM said the insurance market average stood at about 71.
4 per cent of the N536. 5 billion gross claims reported at the close of the fourth quarter.The Commission said the market also recorded retention of about 87.7 per cent for the life business, 54 per cent for non-life while the aggregate market average retention stood at 66.
7 per cent for the period.It showed that the insurance industry sustained its progressive trend of positive market performance at the close of 2023 fourth quarter.
According to NAICOM, the insurance market recorded a milestone growth to close at N1.003 trillion, representing about 27 per cent growth compared to the N790 billion recorded in 2022.
”Major growth drivers in the non-life segment of the market were oil and gas and fire Insurances contributing 27.3 per cent and 24.1 per cent respectively.
”In a direct reflection to the “no-premium no-cover” policy of the Commission, the outstanding premium continues to decline.
”The premium posted 1.6 per cent as outstanding of all the premiums generated in the market during the period.
”Statistics also shows that the market recorded total assets of about N2.67trillion and capitalisation of N851billion in 2023,” NAICOM said. (NAN)
Economy
No Mining License without Mineral Value Addition Plans-Alake Warns
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake has warned that no mining license would be issued to prospective investors without requisite plans for value addition on minerals.
Alake gave the warning in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori on Tuesday.
He said the Federal Government had resolved to ensure compliance before permitting investors to operate.
He said that his Seven -Point Agenda for the ministry had placed the mining sector on global front burner since assuming office, which had generated renewed interest from the international community in Nigeria’s mineral resources.
He said the support of the executive and the legislature had enabled the ministry to showcase the solid minerals sector globally, resulting in his election as the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to him, with the pact that led to the formation of the AMSG, there is now unity of purpose on the African continent regarding the issue of local value addition.
“We are no longer going to allow anybody or license any company that wants to go into the mineral sector without giving us a plan for local value addition, like processing, refining and this has a multiplier effect on the economy.
“It instantly generates employment rather than a few people carting away lithium, gold, and the likes to other countries to sell.
“These minerals must now be processed in Nigeria, creating more value and beneficiation for local communities where they are sourced, ” he said.
Reports says that the minister had earlier received members of the House Committee on Solid Minerals who were on oversight visit to his office.
The minister commended the lawmakers for their support in repositioning the mining sector, stressing that boosting the economic profile of Nigeria required joint task by both the executive and legislature.
He acknowledged the significant contribution of sub-nationals to mining development, emphasising that state chairmen of Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) and five committee members were nominated by state governments. (NAN)