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Reps Lash NPC for N1.9bn Event Expenditure

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By Matthew Dadiya, Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on Population has queried the National Population Commission (NPC) over N 1.9 billion spent on the presidential summit in the Villa and conferences organized across the country.

The committee at the budget defense in Abuja yesterday challenged the NPC directors to make an oral presentation of the N1.

9 billion expended for the summit and conferences.

Gboluga Ikengboju (Ondo-APC) moved the motion for the NCP to go back and take a critical look at the discrepancies in the document they presented to the committee.

According to him, in view of the discrepancies that cannot be justified by the commission and the fact that the 2022 format cannot be accepted, we want the commission to go back and provide more detail.

“We cannot be speculating over taxpayers’ money. I hereby move that they should go back and tidy up these documents,” he said.

Rep. Ifeanyi Momah (PDP-Anambra), a member of the committee expressed worry over how N129 million was used for a one-day seminar at the villa.

He further asked if the money spent on the presidential summit held at the villa was meant only for the villa event or stakeholders conferences held in various states.

The lawmaker also asked the commission why the N5 billion budgeted for the mock census did not reach the staff deployed for that purpose in Anambra.

He said this was because some of the staff deployed to Anambra had to reach out to him and other stakeholders for financial support when the money budgeted for that purpose was not forthcoming.

Momah said he along with other stakeholders had to bail the staff out while calling on the commission to throw more light on what they used the money for.

Reps Bamidele Salam (PDP-Osun) also asked why the money used at the villa for the summit was not captured in the 2022 budget.

The committee however asked the commission to furnish the committee with expenditure patterns at the villa summit and the stakeholders’ conferences at the state level.

The committee demanded to know how N5 billion was spent on the mock Census while asking that NCP should provide the utilization of the N1.9 billion spent by the commission.

The committee gave the commission till Nov. 16 to give them feedback and reconvened.

The representative of NCP Chairman, Bala Banye, Chairman of the Finance and General Purpose Committee of the commission, had earlier posited that the money spent covered the summit and state conferences.

He said the commission had documentary evidence of how the money was spent, saying, the understanding is that the summit was also done in all states of the Federation.

Mrs. Arinola Olanipekun, Director of Census, NCP, said the stakeholder’s workshop was to bring to the Nigerian census 2023 instrument to question the nature of data that would be generated.

She said it was also to meet the development of the country in order to seek Nigerians’ opinions on how to meet their needs.

She said the stakeholder’s conference was captured in the capital expenditure, adding that was meant to be a one-day activity, stressing that the stakeholder’s meeting was captured in the 2022 budget.

Fagbemi Benjamin, NPC Director of Finance, who was put on oath by the committee, said the money spent at the villa event was N129 million, adding that the remaining N1.2 billion was for the 36 states and FCT.

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NEWS

FCT HOS: Why President Tinubu Extends Atang’s Tenure By 6 Months

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By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has approved the extension of Atang Udo Samuel, as the the Head of Service, HOS,  for Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, in order to stabilise and consolidate the ongoing process in repositioning, the administrative structure of FCTA.


In a memo that was obtained by Daily Asset, and signed on behalf of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, by the Chief of Staff, to the Minister, Chidi Amadi, in Abuja.

The memo stated that Atang’s  tenure was extended for six months with effect from Wednesday 27th March, 2024.
The memo reads, “I am directed to refer to the above subject matter and to inform you that His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has graciously approved the extension of your service for a period of six months with effects from Wednesday 27th March 2024 when you would have attained the mandatory age of 60 years.

“The extension of your service premised on the need to stabilise and consolidate the ongoing process to reposition the administrative structure of FCT Administration occasioned by the recent inauguration of FCT civil service commission”.
It would be recalled that Forty Seven years after creation, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) finally got a Civil Service Commission, a few days ago .
On that same day, FCT Head of Service, HOS, Udo Samuel Atang, and ten Permanent Secretaries chosen from Directors of the FCT Administration, took their oaths of office.
And on Wednesday 27th of March, the HOS attained the mandatory age of 60 years for retirement in civil service.

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FGGC Benin Emerges Winner of 2023 National Senior Secondary Schools’ Debate

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By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Federal Government Girls College, Benin has emerged overall winner of the 2023 National Senior Secondary Schools’ Debate Competition.
This remarkable achievement came after fierce competition from schools across the six geo-political zones of the country.


The grand finale of the competition was organised by the Senior Secondary Education Department, Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja on Tuesday.

The topic debated on was “Democracy has done more harm than good to the nation.”
The students of FGGB Benin impressed the judges with their outstanding performances, securing the overall first position, while Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba and Federal Government College, Potiskum, secured the second and third position respectively.

The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, said the competition was aimed at igniting the student’s quest of academic excellence and the growth of critical thinking abilities.
Sununu, represented by his Special Adviser on Project, Mr Rufai Adamu, charged the students on their continued contributions to the intellectual enrichment of the society.
“The debate exercise is an effective method for developing students’ critical thinking skills as well as a spirit of inquiry and reasoned conversation.
“The topics discussed throughout this competition have spanned a wide spectrum of issues, reflecting the diversity and complexity of the world we live in.
“From socio-economic challenges to environmental concerns, the students have demonstrated an impressive ability to grapple with multifaceted issues and present well-reasoned arguments.
“As we witness the grand finale, let us remember that education is not merely a means to an end but a lifelong journey of discovery and growth.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the education system continues to foster critical thinking, creativity, and a sense of civic duty,” he said.
In her remarks, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, the event convener, Director, Senior Secondary Education Department in the ministry,  said the competition was designed to promote effective critical thinking and development of excellent oral and written communication skills.
“As we all know that debate promotes critical thinking, boosts confidence and promotes effective communication skills, encourages teamwork, It stimulates independent research, supports democratic values and tolerates opposing views.
“It increases knowledge sharing and professional attributes to mould and bring about a successful career. It equally fosters a sense of unity among students by encouraging open, respectful and constructive debates on a topic of national importance,” she said.
Meanwhile, the President General, Unity School Old Students Association (USOSA), Michael Magaji, appealed to the ministry to go beyond debating but introduced a global initiative just as the UN global club to bring students to the current levels of global thinking.
 Highlights of the competition featured cash awards as FGGC Benin got a cash prize of N150,000 while FSTC Yaba got a cash prize of N100,000.
Other consolation prizes were given to the students by Cisco Network Academy, Skool Media and USOSA and the Ministry of Education.

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We’re Meeting Our Targets on Airport -Kuje Road Construction – Wike

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By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, haom Wednesday,  expressed satisfaction with the quality and speed of the ongoing road constructions in Kuje, Kuje Area Council.
The roads that were inspected by the Minister included, the six-lane dual carriageway from Airport Expressway to Kuje Junction and the five-kilometre dual carriageway from Garage Junction to LEA Secretariat, in Kuje.


The minister explained that the five-kilometre dual carriage way from Garage Junction to LEA Secretariat was nominated by the council’s chairman and stakeholders in the area.

He said that the contractor has done earth work covering 2.
5 kilometres, adding that what would follow was the drainage.
According to the Minister, “The Area Council Chairman and the stakeholders in Kuje were the ones that nominated this road. And the road is 5 kilometers and just like what the contractor said, they started from where they have difficulty so that by the time they get to where there is consent they would have sorted out the issues.
“From what they have said today, they have done the earthwork to 2 kilometers and they said before the end of the year they would have completed this particular road.
“And the one from the airport to Kuje city here, which is being handled by the Arab contractors, you can see that their work is going on very well.
“And with the quality of work we are quite satisfied too. The contractor said before the end of the year they would have completed the earthwork. It gladdens our heart that we are meeting our targets.”
Earlier, Mr Shehu Ahmad, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, said that the road, linking the Airport Expressway to Kuje township would cover 11 kilometres.
Ahmad explained that between the airport expressway to Kuje junction, the road would cross over two rivers and also cross over the Outer Southern Expressway that would link the city centre with Gwagwalada Expressway.
He added that the Airport Expressway to Kuje Junction would cover nine kilometres, while the remaining two kilometres would extend backward towards Kyami District.
He explained that one of the major constraints affecting the delivery of the road was the presence of five towers belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) along the road corridor.
The FCDA boss added that TCN have been contacted and have agreed to relocate the towers, stressing that until the obstructions were removed, work could not take place in the affected areas.

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