Minna , Oct. 26, 2016 ( NAN) The Niger State Board of Internal Revenue on Wednesday appealed to the media to sensitise residents to the importance of paying tax in the state.
Alhaji Hussaini Ahmed, Chairman of the board, made the appeal in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Minna.
He said that proper sensitisation would enable the public to realise the need to pay tax.
According to him, the board has deployed personnel across the state to ensure proper collection of revenue by applying tax laws with integrity and fairness to all.
” We will do everything humanly possible to ensure that all money realised are paid into government treasury to ensure massive construction of infrastructure across the state .” ( NAN)
AAG/YMU/IA
NAN-AE-6
Fertility
By Suleiman Shehu
Ibadan, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) An agriculturalist, Prof. James Alabi, has advised farmers to adopt Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) techniques in order to have maximum farm yield
Alabi, the Executive Director, Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan, gave the advice on Wednesday at a workshop on ISFM held at IAR&T, Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ISFM is a soil fertility management practice that entails the use of fertilisers, organic inputs and improved germplasm to local conditions.
The practice optimises agronomic use for efficiency of the applied nutrients and improved crop productivity.
The IAR&T executive director said that soil was an important factor in crop production which must be accorded adequate attention.
“Decline in soil fertility in South West and Nigeria as a whole has resulted to crop low yields and thus low productivity of farmers.
“The management techniques presently used by farmers have limitation and cannot support sustainable crop production.
“ The Nigeria Health Consortium is set to promote Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) in order to improve farmers livelihood and reduce poverty,’’ Alabi said.
The don said that to stop rural urban migration and diversify Nigeria’s economy, agriculture must be seen as a business and profitable venture.
Alabi said that this was possible if soils are properly managed and the necessary technology made available to farmers to alleviate poverty.
In her contribution, Mrs Doyin Awe, Regional Director, South West, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, urged farmers to get their soil tested in order to know the type of fertiliser to apply.
Awe said that different soil type required different fertilisers; therefore, soil testing was key for improved farm yield.
Dr Olufunmilayo Ande, Project Coordinator, Nigeria Soil Health Consortium (NSHC), urged the farmers not to take the use of ISFM techniques for granted.
Ande said that the essence of the programme was to boost the livelihood of the farmers by boosting agricultural productivity.
NAN reports that the stakeholder at the workshop includes farmers, credit providers, Researchers, agro input dealers, extension agents, policy makers among others. (NAN)
SYS/AOS/AFA
Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Felix Ajide
=========================
Lagos, Oct. 26,2016 (NAN) Aviation experts will on Oct.31 converge in Lagos to discuss the dwindling fortunes of the industry and the myriad of challenges facing both international and domestic operators in Nigeria.
The experts will x-ray the topic, “Aviation in Africa and Why Airlines Fail,” at the 2016 Aviation Day of the Akwaaba African Travel and Tour Market.
”Obviously, these are not the best of times for Nigeria’s aviation sector as foreign and domestic airlines are being affected by the economic situation in the country.
“While some have pulled out their operation from the country, others have scaled down their operation. Some Nigerian airlines have also closed shops owing to the crisis in the sector.
“It is hoped that policy makers in the country will draw from the wealth of experience of experts that are lined up to discuss the issues facing the sector and take appropriate action to get the industry on the right track,” Mr Ikechi Uko said in a statement.
Uko, the promoter of the Akwaaba African Travel and Tour Market, said on Wednesday that the most influential players in aviation between 1999 and 2010 would be sharing their experience at the event.
He listed some speakers as Mr Richard Aisebeogun, a former Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and Mr Harold Demuren, a former Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority.
Others listed are Capt Dapo Olumide, former Managing Director of Virgin Nigeria, Mr Yomi Jones, former Managing Director of Nigeria Airways and Capt Mike Omokore, a Search and Rescue expert. (NAN)
NAN-HE-94
Revenue
Dutse, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Jigawa State Local Government Service Commission, has trained 108 Revenue Officers to boost Internally Generated Revenue and ensure its effective utilisation in Local Government administration.
The commission’s spokesperson, Mallam Najib Umar, made this disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Dutse.
Umar said that participants at the two-day training were drawn from the 27 Local Government Areas, whose beneficiaries included, Treasurers, Deputy Treasurers, Revenue Officers and their Deputies.
The chairman of the commission, Alhaji Kabiru Hassan, who declared the training open, said the exercise was to equip participants the best way to improve revenue generation and its effective utilisation in the councils.
“The workshop is organised in collaboration with the Commission’s Dateline Consultancy Services, as part of the State Government’s efforts to train and retrain all categories of employees, particularly the Local Government staff for maximum productivity.
“It is also to boost the Local Governments’ revenue base to execute projects that will improve the quality of lives of the people of the area,’’ he said.
He urged the participants and trainees to use the skill they acquired during the workshop to discover unexplored sources of revenues, so as to diversify the councils’ revenue base.
Umar lauded the State Government for giving the commission the necessary support that made it possible to organise the workshop and other training programmes for the Local Government staff. (NAN)
NAN-H-84
Sentence
By Chinyere Omeire
Lagos, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) An unemployed man, Temidayo Oduniyi, 26, on Wednesday bagged six months imprisonment for stealing a cell phone valued at N60, 000.
Oduniyi, of no fixed address, was sentenced by an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos after pleading guilty to a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The Magistrate, Mrs F. M. Dalley, sentenced Oduniyi without an option of fine and ordered that the sentence would take effect from the day of arraignment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convict had earlier been arraigned and the facts immediately reviewed by the prosecutor, Sgt. Cyriacus Osuji.
Osuji told the court that the facts of the case were as stated in the charge.
He said that Oduniyi and others at large committed the offences on Oct. 22, at 2:35 am, at No. 1665, Oyin Jolayemi St., Victoria Island, Lagos.
The prosecutor said that the accused stole one Infinix 03 phone valued at N60, 000, property of one Sadiq Ojoye of Access Bank Plc.
“Oduniyi entered into the security post of Access Bank Plc., at Oyin Jolayemi Annex, Victoria Island, Lagos, and stole the said phone.
“The security men at the post pursued the accused and others; the accused was apprehended with the said phone while the other people ran away,’’ he said.
Osuji said that the offences contravened Sections 285 (7) and 409 of Criminal Law of Lagos, 2011. (NAN)
OCC/ENN/SOA
============
(Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Oluwole Sogunle)
NAN-H-81
Salaries
By Sunday John
Lafia, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) says it will take over payment of salaries of primary school teachers from local government authorities from October.
The Executive Secretary of the SUBEB, Mr Yakubu Ahmed-Umbagari, made the disclosure in Lafia on Wednesday while receiving executive members of the Correspondents Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Ahmed-Umbagari said the state governor had directed that the responsibility of payment of primary school teachers in the state be returned to the board.
He said that a survey carried out by the board in March 2015 showed that 19,165 teaching and non-teaching staff were working in 1, 347 primary schools.
The executive secretary, however, said the number might have reduced due to retirements, deaths and transfer of service.
He also said that the state government had paid N4. 3 billion counterpart funds to the Universal Basic Education Board.
Ahmed-Umbagari said the board would soon start awarding contracts for construction of classrooms, procurement of school furniture, provision of instructional materials and intensive teachers’ development.
He also assured the people of the board’s readiness to partner with them and urged journalists to be objective in their reports.
Earlier, Sulieman Abubakar, the Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel in the state, said the visit was to familiarise themselves with the activities of the board and seek ways of partnering with it.
Abubakar urged the board to carry the chapel along in its activities in order to get adequate publicity.
SDJ/MNA/TA
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Tajudeen Atitebi
NAN-H-57
Protest
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) Women numbering over 100 on Wednesday stormed the Federal High Court in Lagos, chanting solidarity songs on the freezing order placed on the bank accounts of ex-First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on Sept. 22 ordered the freezing of some bank accounts belonging to Jonathan.
The Commission had said the action was due to the ongoing investigation into the alleged money laundering charge preferred against her.
Meanwhile, Jonathan in a fundamental rights suit instituted against the EFCC, is asking for a court order, directing the unfreezing of her accounts.
She is also claiming the sum of 200 million dollars against the commission as damages for allegedly infringing on her fundamental rights.
On Wednesday, women numbering over 100, who dressed in traditional attire with head gears, stormed the premises of the Federal High Court in Lagos to protest the freezing order.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the placard-carrying women, chanted songs in Ijaw and English Languages.
Some of the inscriptions read: “Ijaw people are in solidarity with Jonathan”, “Unfreeze ex-President Jonathan’s wife’s account”, “We urge EFCC to abide by the rule of law”, “Women must be heard.”
Immediately after the court rose, the women trooped in their numbers toward a vehicle belonging to the EFCC, chanting solidarity songs.
Meanwhile, Justice Babs Kuewumi has fixed Dec. 7 for the hearing of the suit. (NAN)
UNS/DA
======
NAN-H-82
Centres
Dutse, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) Jigawa State Justice Sector and Law Reform Commission said it had established three additional Community Law Centres for the quick dispensation of justice.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Lawan Buba, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Dutse.
Buba said the centres were located in Babura, Miga and Guri Local Government Areas, representing the three senatorial districts of the state.
He explained that the centres were established to provide free legal services and also serve as dispute resolution centres to the people of the state.
According to him, the centres were also established for reconciliation of issues between disputing parties.
Buba added that the centres were equipped with trained personnel who acquired life skills and depth understanding in processes of mediation between disputing parties.
“So people don’t need to go to court, because reconciliation is better as it saves time and it helps in de-congesting courts.
“No one is compelled to accept any judgement in these centres as reconciliation is done only when the two parties involved agreed.
“And after reconciliation, everything is documented and an MoU is signed which will be taken to court for endorsement; once it is endorsed, then it becomes a consent judgement,” Buba explained.
He further told NAN that the gesture was part of the commission’s strategies to achieve its mandate in conflict resolution and peace building in the state.
Buba described dispute as an inevitable event in all facets of life permeating all societies.
“The dynamics of societal relationships which revolve around competition, misunderstandings, breaches of interpersonal agreements and hostility among individuals, have contributed greatly to the endemic nature of disputes in communities.
“Therefore, alternative dispute resolution method employed by the commission has been very useful in resolving disputes at a reasonable time to parties involved in disputes,” he added.
The executive secretary further described the ADR method as a time-saving one that did not require the ultimate decision to be made formally by a court.
According to him, services rendered by the centres are free of charge, adding that “no one will charge you kobo for any service in these centres.”
Buba further explained that the centres also provided free legal services to individuals.
“But we do that only to indigent people, that is people with no income, and we provide the lawyers for free in both civil and criminal cases,” the executive secretary said.
According to him, the commission has a total of nine community law centres across the state, adding that the centres would be established in all the 27 local government areas of the state.
He therefore urged the people to patronize the centres in order to save time, money and settle their differences out courts. (NAN)
MNB/EAL/WOJ
(Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi / Wale Ojetimi)
Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Niger-Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) says National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs) in the country receive government funding promptly.
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Chiedu Ugbo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that funds have already been made available for the implementation of ongoing projects.
Cue in audio 1 (Ugbo)
“All our generation plants are on course; the government did not stop any funding.
“As a matter of fact, the funding had been previously provided under the Power Emergency Fund and the funding has been utilised to build these power plants.
“We have a lot of interventions in transmission projects; many of them have been completed in terms of transmission lines, transmission sub-stations.
“Transmission 330 KV, 132 KV; substations, 330 to 132 to 33; we have a number of these completed and working now; they have been turned over to the transmission company.’’
Cue out audio 1
He said although a number of power plants are experiencing insufficient gas supply, NDPHC would remain committed to the completion of all NIPP projects in the country.
Ugbo added that the company is doing its best to ensure adequate supply of gas to the thermal plants in the country.
Cue in audio 2 (Ugbo)
“We met a number of power plants with insufficient gas, but we are also working to ensure adequate supply of gas.
“When you talk about gas, you are talking of the gas infrastructure; you are also talking about the gas molecule.
“For those plants without infrastructure like Calabar, we have been working hard with the company that we signed the gas supply agreement with and that is Aku Gas.
“And Aku Gas has just completed the pipeline route from their gas processing facility to Calabar; it’s awaiting commissioning right now.
“We have gas supply agreement with them for the supply of molecule; so Calabar is almost done in terms of gas supply.’’
Cue out audio2
Ugbo said the company was also concluding arrangement with Giga Gas company for the supply of gas to Omotosho power plant, adding that the problem of pipeline infrastructure has been resolved.
On Olorunsogo power plant, the managing director said gas supply to the plant had been disrupted by vandals.
He, however, said that the establishment of two gas supply facilities by NDPHC had improved gas supply.
He attributed the improvement in gas supply to the completion of various plants in the country including the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project.
“There is some improvement; presently we have LNG supplying Geregu; we have LNG supplying our power plants in Benin and Sapele.
“The supply at different levels is not adequate.”
Ugbo stated that many private investors are collaborating with the company to develop more gas facilities in the country to accelerate supply of gas to various power plants.
NDPHC is as a limited liability company fully subscribed to by federal, state and local governments.
It has the mandate to manage the NIPPs, an emergency intervention scheme to tackle the nation’s power problem. (NAN)
Bauchi, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) Bauchi lawmaker, Mrs Maryam Begel, said on Wednesday that investigations conducted revealed that the HIV virus is spreading faster in matrimonial homes in most Northern states of the country than outside the home.
Begel, representing Dass constituency in the Bauchi House of Assembly, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi that it appeared precautionary measures were taken by partners only when meeting outside matrimonial homes, than when at home.
“We did an investigation and discovered that HIV virus is spreading faster in matrimonial homes than outside.
“This is because most males take precautionary measures when they sleep with outsiders but hardly take such measures when they meet with their wives.
“This is especially the case in settings where polygamy is allowed and you find a husband infecting some or all of his wives with the deadly virus,” she said.
Begel, who is also the chairperson, Committee on Women Affairs, Bauchi House of Assembly, described the development as worrisome.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker said she would work towards reviving the bill on “Compulsory HIV Test before Marriage”, initiated by a former member of the 7th Bauchi House of Assembly, but was scuttled due to outside pressure.
Begel who once served as the ‘Child Protection Officer’ with an international non-governmental organization, ‘Save The Children’ (UK), said passing the Bill into law was long over-due to safeguard the health of people, especially women and children.
NAN recalls that the Bill, sponsored in 2012 by Hon. Ilyasu Zwall, had sought to make the screening of HIV by partners, compulsory, before marriage.
It recommended that any person that contravened the provision of the law be liable, upon conviction, to a fine of N160, 000, or punishment for not less than five years, or both.
In case of corporate organisations, it recommended a fine of N500, 000 or the sealing of the hospital or diagnostic centre for a specified period, or both.
NAN however recalled that when the bill was referred to the then House Committee on Health, nothing was heard about it again.
The sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Zwall, then Chairman, House Committee on Security, had told NAN that pressure from people scared of the law that would make it compulsory to go for the test before marriage, made the committee to frustrate the bill. (NAN)