The United Nations says more Nigerians may face hunger this year , noting that there is an urgent need to support farmers in the country.
Ms . Eve Sabbagh , Head, Public Information Unit, United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Nigeria , made this known while speaking with journalists .
She lamented that the number of people in dire need of life – saving assistance including food , shelter and potable water rose from 7 . 1 m in 2019 to 7 . 8 m in 2020 amid the pandemic .
“ It is extremely important to have funding in time to provide support to farmers during the planting season , as there is a risk to see more people facing hunger this year , ” she noted .
Sabbagh explained , “ Before the COVID- 19 pandemic reached Nigeria , humanitarian needs were already worsening and increased from 7 . 1 million people in need of urgent life -saving assistance in 2019 to 7 . 8 million people in 2020 .
“ UN and NGOs as well as government institutions had planned to step up their assistance in 2020 . UN and partner NGOs needed $ 834 million to provide urgent aid to 5 . 9 million people.
“ We are half – way through the year and so far only 15 % of the funding has been received . Now with the COVID- 19 pandemic and its impacts on the economy and livelihoods , many more people need urgent assistance. ”
The Senate has explained why the Federal Government should subsidise electricity for Nigerians .
The electricity distribution companies of Nigeria had on Monday told the National Assembly leadership that the only condition to halt tariff hike was for the Federal Government to bear the difference between the current tariff and the proposed one .
Addressing journalists on behalf of the red chamber , the Chairman , Senate Committee on Power , Senator Gabriel Suswam , and his counterpart in the Media and Public Affairs , Dr . Ajibola Basiru , said increasing the tariff at the moment would be counterproductive .
The upper chamber said the best thing for the Federal Government to do now was to take the challenge of subsiding power by paying DISCOs the balance of the current tariff and the proposed one .
Suswan specifically said there was nowhere in the world where such gestures were not being extended to the citizenry.
He said , “ Nowhere in the world that power is not subsidised especially in a developing economy because there are genuine people, who , because of their income, are unable to pay what is called a cost- reflective tariff .
“ Nigerians are heavily burdened because of COVID – 19 . The economy has contracted by 3 . 2 % , that ’ s a lot .
“ So it makes you and I to attend to some of our social problems . So , is the government preferring to add a burden or lessen it?
“ The president has been doing well , he has spent so much money , and what we expect is that the spending will gradually reduce or diminish as the power sector becomes more efficient .
“ There are two things , one is to make it more efficient and second , the government will back out just like they have done in the oil sector where subsidy has been completely removed .
“ Even at that , the government is reducing the pump price. So , should they , in the same vein, increase tariff ? It doesn ’ t make sense .
“ I think the executive will agree , even though it’ s going to come at a cost . But what cost is more than lessening the burden on the people?”
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu , has tested positive for coronavirus .
Akeredolu confirmed his status via his
Twitter handle.
He tweeted, “ Today , I tested positive for # COVID 19 . All is well. I ’ m asymptomatic and have been self -isolating . Work continues . Your continued prayers over my well being are most appreciated. ”
In a video attached to the tweet , Akeredolu said he took the COVID- 19 test after being treated for malaria .
The governor explained that he was advised to take the COVID- 19 test by a governor at the All Progressives Congress National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja .
He said , “ My good people of Ondo State . It gives me great pleasure to address you at this moment . I had malaria two days ago and was treated . I did get over it.
“ At the APC NEC meeting, one of my colleagues spoke with me. He advised that malaria should not be just treated as likely. That I should go ahead and have a test for COVID- 19 .
“ The result came out today , June 30 , 2020 , and I tested positive. But I am asymptomatic. I am not feeling sick nor feeling odd in any way .
“ But my doctor has said that I should take the necessary steps and self -isolate. I believe that supervised home management would be ideal for me for now. ”
The National Union of Road Transport Workers has commended the Federal Government for lifting the ban on interstate travel in the country.
Acting General Secretary of the union ,
Kabiru Yau , called on the government to subsidise operation cost for motorists .
He said the guidelines outlined by the government for the resumption of operations amid the coronavirus pandemic require operators to carry fewer passengers on each trip , thereby reducing their income .
Yau said , “ We thank the Federal Government for lifting the ban ; it is a welcome development because it is over three months that our members have been out of jobs and without income .
“ At least , our people will now start working and get something to feed their families .
“ But at the same time, due to the spacing in the vehicles which will require the drivers to carry only nine or ten instead of the usual 18 passengers , the income of the drivers will be reduced .
“ So we want the government to help subsidise the cost of those passengers that we will not be carrying or we will have to increase our transport fares.
“ This is because the money that will be generated from the reduced number of passengers will barely cover the cost of fuel for the journey .
“ So , what is the gain ? What will you give to the owner of the vehicle? So , the government should please help us look into this matter . ”
On maintaining the COVID- 19 protocols, he said the union would ensure its passengers obey the use of face masks, sanitisers , amongst others.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan ; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives , Femi Gbajabiamila , visited the Presidential Villa , Abuja as part of efforts to resolve issues surrounding planned hike in electricity tariff in the country.
The two National Assembly leaders first met separately with the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd . ) , on the issue before meeting again with Vice -President Yemi Osinbajo.
At the end of the meeting with Osinbajo, they told State House correspondents that the earlier plan by the distribution companies to hike tariff from July 1 was untimely.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the two National Assembly leaders in a meeting on Monday succeeded in prevailing on the distribution companies to shelve the hike till the first quarter of next year.
The Minister of State for Labour , Employment and Productivity , Mr Festus Keyamo , traded words with members of the National Assembly over the National Directorate of Employment recruitment exercise .
Trouble started when the Director -General of the NDE , Mr . Nasiru Ladan , could not defend the N52 billion budgeted for the recruitment of 774 , 000 Nigerians under the NDE .
The minister said his ministry was asked to supervise the recruitments by the President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd ). But the federal lawmakers disagreed with Keyamo .
Keyamo was asked by the lawmakers to explain the modalities he had adopted to carry out the recruitment process and why he was not carrying the NDE along .
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Labour , Employment and Productivity , Mr . Godiya Akwashiki , asked why Keyamo was not being carried along in the process .
Keyamo said the Director – General of the NDE , Mr . Nasiru Ladan , is a member of the committee but when asked to defend himself , the NDE boss , said the Minister was in a better position to answer all questions relating to the N 52 billion budgeted for the recruitment of 774 , 000 Nigerians .
The lawmakers called for a closed session to resolve their differences but Keyamo insisted that journalists must witness the proceeding .
The legislators accused Kayamo of trying to dictate proceedings to them and demanded an apology .
The refusal by Keyamo to apologise forced the lawmakers to walk him out after another round of shouting match that lasted 30 minutes.
Keyamo left the investigative hearing and told journalists that the grouse of the lawmakers was because he didn ’ t allow them to own the process .
But in a swift reaction , Akwashiki , who presided over the joint National Assembly panel, denied the two allegations levelled against them by Keyamo
Rather , he accused Keyamo of allegedly trying to build a political structure of 1 , 000 youths in each of the 774 Local Government Areas across the country with the 774 , 000 jobs.
The President , Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd . ), has inaugurated the $ 2 . 592 bn Ajaokuta- Kaduna – Kano Gas pipeline project , admitting that the COVID- 19 pandemic has thought his regime invaluable lessons .
He said the government also learnt from some oil- rich countries that have utilised their crude to achieve economic and industrial diversification .
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity , Femi Adesina , the President spoke while inaugurating the pipeline project virtually from the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa , Abuja .
Kogi State Governor , Yahaya Bello; and Kaduna State Governor , Nasir El -Rufai , were, however , present physically at the Ajaokuta and Rigachikun sites respectively for the inauguration .
Buhari was quoted as saying that the pandemic had further underscored his regime ’ s desire for projects that promote local manufacturing .
“ President Buhari announced that Nigeria had learnt invaluable lessons from the global COVID- 19 pandemic and some oil- rich countries that have used their crude as a pathway to economic and industrial diversification .
“ On COVID- 19 , the President said the pandemic had further underscored the drive of his administration for export substitution initiatives and projects that promote local manufacturing , ” the statement read .
On diversification , the President was quoted as noting that Gulf countries that have similar levels of gas reserves as Nigeria have a strategy centred around gas industrialisation as their foundation towards export diversification .
“ This has to be our guiding principle as we seek to attract investment and create opportunities for our people, ” he said .
Buhari challenged the private sector to lead the charge in maximising the nation’ s gas resources .
According to him , the private sector can create a petrochemical hub that will resurrect the manufacturing industry and put the nation on the path to increased self – sufficiency .
He added , “ As the world evolves , we owe our people the responsibility to prepare them for what the future holds. We , therefore , must be bold and fearless and can no longer be incremental in our approach.
“ Time is short, and our people’ s zeal is strong and palpable . Infrastructure development although long, tedious , and complex remains a cardinal objective of our administration ’ s drive towards ensuring a stable , sustainable, and more prosperous future for our citizenry.
‘‘ Today marks an important chapter in the history of our great nation. It marks the day when our domestic natural gas pipeline networks ; from Obiafu in Rivers State , Escravos in Delta State , and Lekki in Lagos State , are being connected through Kaduna to Kano States thereby enhancing national energy security , creating balanced development, and further integrating our nation. ”
Buhari affirmed the government ’ s commitment to ensure timely delivery of the project within budgetary allocation and specifications .
He , therefore , directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and partners to remain focused, noting that the AKK project is part of the delivery of the present administration ’ s “ Next Level Agenda ” for sustainable development , enhancement of economic prosperity and increase of the country’ s infrastructure assets .
THE National Youth Service Corps said it had not postponed the monthly payment of allowance ( popularly called allowee ) , for the month of June , describing contrary reports as fake news.
The NYSC Director (Press and Public Relations) , Adenike Adeyemi , in a statement , said the reports were the handiwork of mischief makers .
She said , “ Management hereby states that the release did not emanate from the NYSC. It is the handiwork of mischief makers bent on deceiving corps members and should be disregarded in its entirety.
“ For the avoidance of doubt, all qualified corps members shall be paid allowance for the month of June , while in addition , those passing out from service in July shall receive July stipend , as well as transport allowance . ”
The Federal Government has approved the reduction of marriage licence fees in the country.
Director Press and Public Relations , Ministry of Interior, Mr Mohammed Manga , made this known in a statement .
Manga quoted the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola , as making the disclosure in a Public Notice signed by the Permanent Secretary and Principal Registrar of Marriages in Nigeria , Georgina Ehuriah .
The minister approved that the reduction of fees chargeable for services related to the Statutory Marriage under the Marriage Act CAP M 6 LFN 2004 to commence from Wednesday , July 1 .
He appealed to stakeholders to take advantage of the reduction in fees to licence their Places of Public Worship .
According to him , the fees chargeable for the Issuance of Fresh Marriage Licence to a place of Public Worship has been reduced from N 30 , 000 for two years to N6 , 000 yearly , payable for five years in the first instance .
He said further that “ for the Renewal of Marriage Licence by a Place of Public Worship , the sum of N5 , 000 has been approved per year , payable for three years at each instance , as against the N30 , 000 earlier charged annually ” .
The minister added that “ the fees chargeable for Statutory Ordinary Marriage has also been cut down from N21 , 000 to N15 , 000 while that of Statutory Special Licence has been slashed from N35 , 000 to N 25 , 000 ” .
THE Presidency has announced that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Aliyu Abubakar Musa, as his Chief Personal Security Officer (CPSO).
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu said that DCP Musa, who hails from Niger State, served at the Nigerian Police Force Zone 5, Benin City, before his appointment.
According to the statement, “Musa’s appointment follows the redeployment of his predecessor, Commissioner of Police (CP) Abdulkarim Dauda.”
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