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CSOs Evolve Strategies to Ensure Improved Performance by NASS

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By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has evolved strategies to ensure improved Performance and productivity by the National Assembly and its lawmakers.

The CSOs, under the auspices if Cohort of Civil Society Organizations on Productive Partnerships with the National Assembly, while briefing House of Representatives correspondents on Monday, in Abuja, said it was time to get the legislative arm of government to work and be accountable to the people, whose mandate they represented.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition comprising 12 CSOs presently, Anthony Ubani, Executive Director, FixPolitic, said  “Arising from the above, the cohort will be advancing on the stewardship appraisals to achieve the following specific goals: cultivating and sustaining a cohort of performance-driven and reform-minded legislators who can partner with civil society on critical governance themes.

“Creating performance thresholds for legislators and the legislature in subsequent assemblies, advancing Legislative Strengthening and Accountability is the way to go.

“With respect to (i) above, the cohort is working with Order Paper to implement the MVP Hall of Fame as a framework designed to applaud and encourage exemplary legislative performances while engendering a community of healthy and productive partnerships between the Legislature, Civil Society and the citizenry in Nigeria.

“Details of this project will be unveiled in due course but suffice to stress that civil society in Nigeria congratulates those legislators who have done their constituents proud in the performance of their duties.

“We also encourage those who have not done so well to brace up and utilize the remaining period of the assembly to measure up.

“Those who have done poorly should also brace up to answer questions if unable to change course in the months ahead”, the CSOs insisted.

Adding, the CSOs said, “We hereby serve notice that this cohort has outlined measures and activities to move our advocacy forward, including engaging with the leadership of the National Assembly on critical governance themes, like electoral reforms, Constitutional amendment, anti-corruption, extractive transparency, and public finance management, among others.

 “The National Assembly and Civil Society need not be cat and mouse or regard each other with suspicion. At best, we can build mutual confidence and work together to achieve a better country.

“That is why it is our well-considered approach to engage the National Assembly on a non-adversarial basis anchored on a double-plank platform of (i) Legislative Accountability and (ii) Recognition and Reward System to incentivize improved performance in the interest of citizens. In other words, while we will be, on behalf of citizens, asking informed questions and demanding answers on the performance of elected representatives. We will also be happy to spotlight and thumbs up impressive service delivery by legislators and the legislature.

“We have chosen this two-pronged approach because we believe that performing and productive legislatures are a critical component in a country’s overall governance framework and are fundamental to promoting effective service delivery to citizens.

“As you already know, the legislature is constitutionally mandated to fulfil three core functions in a democracy: Representation, Law-making, and Oversight. We believe strongly that achieving the governance goals of accountability, transparency, and democratic service delivery are directly related to the performance of these three functions. We are excited to note that citizens have taken notice of the bills, motions and petitions pushed through in the Senate and House of Representatives”, the coalition held.

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We’ll Comply with PenCom’s 3-day Pension Payment Directive- PenOp

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The Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp) has assured the National Pension Commission (PenCom) that its members will comply with the recent directive to settle all pension benefits within three working days.

The Report says that the National Pension Commission has mandated Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and Fund Custodians to approve and pay pension benefits to eligible applicants within three working days of receiving complete applications.
Mr Oguche Agudah, Chief Executive Officer, PenOp, speaking with newsmen in Lagos, said that the directive was positive and capable of fostering accountability.
Agudah said that PenOp members were fully aligned with PenCom’s efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the pension system in Nigeria.
He said, “This is a good development for pensioners, Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), and the entire system.“PFAs are going to comply with this new directive, which is set to begin in June. We will ensure servicelevels are maintained, and we will also ensure people get their money as and when due.“We recognise the importance of timely payment of pension benefits to retirees, and we are committed to working with PenCom to achieve this goal.” (NAN)

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Food Security: Benue Govt. partners FACAN on Pricing of Agric. Commodities

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The Benue State Government is partnering with the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN) on pricing of agricultural commodities in the state.

Mr Donald Akule, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Agricultural Development Company (ADC), who made the disclosure on Monday in Makurdi, said that the partnership would enhance food security.
Akule restated the state government’s willingness to work with FACAN to mediate between the farmers and the government on the prices of commodities.
The MD said that the aim was to ensure that all farmers get value for their produce and also ensure food availability. “We have declared a state of emergency on food insecurity.
We want to make sure that every farmer gets value for what they produce. “In the coming days we are going to roll out a template of how this produce can be bought or mopped by the ADC and to make sure that we fill up our silos and food banks,” he said. Akule advised farmers to form cooperatives or groups for easy transactions, adding that the government would not work with individual farmers. “Agriculture business is a collective business; it is a collaborative business. We are going to liaise with FACAN to make sure that we regulate the prices of grains. “We will not recognise any person that is working in isolation. Any farmer that is not part of an organised working group would not be accepted,” he said. FACAN State Coordinator, Mr Vitalis Tarnongu, said Benue farmers were ready to partner with government in the regulation of prices enable them get value for their produce. Tarnongu said that their mandate was to ensure that the prices of commodities are set in such a way that both farmers and government make gains. The new state coordinator assured government of FACAN’s commitment with ADC to boost agricultural production.“We are ready to work closely with ADC to ensure food sufficiency.“We solicit your support and cooperation for the association to succeed in its assignment,” he added.(NAN)

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Court Orders Man to Pay N140,0000 Feeding Allowance for Child

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A Shari’a Court sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna State on Monday ordered one Bilya Isah to pay the sum of N140,000 as feeding allowance for his child.

The Judge, Malam Kabir Muhammad made the ruling after one Rabi Musa, an ex wife to the defendant prayed the court to grant her custody of her one year and seven months old son.
The Judge granted her custody and ordered Isah to pay N140, 000 as feeding allowance for the seven months he failed to provide and to continue paying N10, 000 monthly.
Earlier the complainant said through her counsel, A. Badamasi that her ex husband had neglected their child for seven months and prayed the court to order him to pay N1 million as compensation for the months he missed.
She also prayed the court to order the defendant to pay N30, 000 monthly feeding allowances.Meanwhile the defendant on his part said he can only afford N3, 000 monthly allowance.(NAN)

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