Nasarawa Assembly committee on non-payment of LG funds begins sitting
By Mohammed Baba Busu
Investigation
Lafia, July 17, 2019 (NAN) The Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) ad hoc committee investigating non-payment of June salary to local government workers and unnecessary deductions of local council funds in the state has called for constructive contributions from the general public.
Mr Mohammed Alkali (APC-Lafia North), the Chairman of the committee, made the appeal at the commencement of sitting on Wednesday in Lafia.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those in attendance during the sitting included the State Accountant General, Mr Zakka Yakubu; Special Adviser to Gov. Abdullahi Sule on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr John Mamman; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Bala Sani, among others.
Alkali said that the investigation was not to witch-hunt anybody but to ensure that right things were done for the benefit of the local government staff, people at the grassroots and for the overall development of the state.
He noted that the state was a civil service state, hence the need to ensure that salaries of workers were paid as at when due.
“Yesterday, July 16, matter of urgent public importance was raised over non-payment of June salary to local government staff and other unnecessary deduction of local government funds in the state.
“And the matter touches the lives of every person in Nasarawa State.
“Local government staff June salary has not been paid, we want to know why they have not been paid, among other issues.
“I don’t want anybody to see the investigation as a witch-hunt but to correct any abnormality if discovered in the interest of our people,’’ he said.
The chairman further assured the people of the state of the assembly’s readiness to pass resolutions that would have direct bearing on their lives.
NAN recalls that the legislature on July 16 set up a six-man committee to investigate the finances of the state ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs to probe the development.
The House gave the committee two weeks to submit its findings. (NAN)
BAB/ECN/MST
Edited by Emmanuel Nwoye/Muhammad Suleiman Tola
Salaries
By Donald Ugwu
Abuja, June 28, 2018 (NAN) The Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, said on Thursday that the stalemate at the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting would delay the payment of workers salaries in the states.
Adeosun gave the indication while briefing state House correspondents on the deliberations at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
The minister said that the council was briefed on the FAAC debacle where states resolved to wait until the poor remittance made into the federation account by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation was reconciled before they would receive their allocations.
Cue in audio
“We operate NNPC as a business, we have invested public capital in that business and we have an expectation of a return. and when that return falls lower than our expectations then the owners of the business, which in this case is the federal government and the states needs to act.
“So that is really what caused the deadlock yesterday (June 27).
“We really felt that the figures that the NNPC was proposing for FAAC was unacceptable; we felt that some of the costs could not be justified.
“And so we have decided rather than approve the accounts we would go back and do further work.’’
“Further negotiation and interaction is going on with NNPC as we speak.
“However, we did brief both Mr President and the Vice President on the deadlock and asked for their support and their forbearance because the consequence of this is that salaries might be well delayed in many states as a result of this.
“But we feel that in order to get to the accurate figures that we need we have asked for forbearance and the governors and indeed the federal government are all in agreement that we need to get to the bottom of those figures.’’
Cue out audio
The minister added that now that the price of oil is around 76 dollars in the spot market and Bonny light selling for about 78 dollars the government wanted to be putting money away in the Excess Crude Account.
The minister stated that FAAC members were very conscious of the fact that “this period of relatively high oil price might not last we would like to be able to save.
“If we cannot get into the federation account the sorts of revenues we are expecting then we will not be able to save.
“So it was a very important point really underscored by all the governors and they really want action to be taken.
“And they are fully in support of the position of the ministry of finance and the commissioners of finance not to approve those accounts until we get further explanations on some of the costs that are being presented.’’
Adeosun also said that the balance in the ECA added an additional credit of $80.6 million in May amounting to $1.92 billion as at June 26, stabilization account balance was N18.89 billion, while the Natural Resources Development Fund had N 133. 72 billion.
She said that NEC also appointed a Committee of four Governors comprising Kaduna, Kogi, Ebonyi and Lagos to review the administration and operation of the Stabilization Fund Account.
Also Delta Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa announced that the Nigeria Soveriegn Investment Authority (NSIA) its account for the year ended 2016 and update in its 2017 activities.
According to him NSIA reported 5th straight year of profitability in all its funds with core profits (excluding foreign transaction gains) of N26.28 billion ($88 million) for the year.
“NSIA also reported that total assets under management was about $1.25 billion for the most part of the year, as the additional contribution of $250 million was not received until the third quarter of 2017.
“It also reported that the return on asset was up to 6.60% in dollar terms,’’ Okowa stated adding that NSIA was shifting focus to infrastructure and direct investments in Nigeria.
On the 2017 activities he said that the NSIA implemented the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) in 2017 and began the construction of first three healthcare projects in Lagos, Kano and Umuahia respectively.
He said that the agency also continued work on Second Niger Bridge Projects, invested in and own 13% of Bridge International Academics Ltd – a network of Schools which delivers affordable high-quality Primary education to lower-income families.
He said that NSIA also invested in Babbar-Gona, an agricultural franchise that empowers smallholder farmers.
Okowa hinted that in 2018 NSIA would focus on executing infrastructure investments strategy in its core focus areas of Power, Toll Roads, Agriculture and Healthcare etc., and exploring opportunities in other sectors of investment such as refining, transport infrastructure and industrial real estate.
He stated that NEC resolved that account of NSIA be approved.(NAN)
DCU/YEE
=======
Unpaid salaries: Lawmaker advocates loan restructuring for states
NAN-H-27
Salaries
By Victor Adeoti
Osogbo, Jan. 11, 2017 (NAN) A member of Osun House of Assembly, Mr Babatunde Olatunji, has called for the restructuring of States Government loans with the Federal Government until the country’s economy fully recovers.
Olatunji (APC-Ife North) made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Osogbo.
“In view of the lean federal allocation and the huge impact of federal government monthly loan deductions on the state finances, I will advocate for restructuring of the state government loans with the federal government.
“Such that no state services national debt with more than 15 per cent of its allocation pending when the country’s economy fully recovers”, Olatunji said.
The lawmaker said this would be achievable by reducing interest rate and elongating tenure of existing loans.
According to him, with this sub-national governments can be more liquid, able to pay salaries and meet other statutory obligations.
“This will serve as another form of fiscal stimulus by the federal government to reflate the economy.
“However, our institutions, governance and public management process and structures must be strengthened at all tiers of government so as to ensure value for tax payers’ money,” he said.
Olatunji, who is the House Committee Chairman on Commerce, Cooperatives and Youths Empowerment, said with the early passage of 2018 budget, Nigeria would consolidate on the previous economic growth. (NAN)
VE/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola
NAN-H-1
NLC
By Sunday John
Lafia, April 14, 2017 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has decried the “unnecessary delays” in the payment of salaries to civil servants in the state.
The NLC also expressed disgust that no worker had been promoted “in the last six years”.
Mr Abdullahi Adeka, NLC Chairman in the state, voiced the workers’ concerns at the 4th Quadrennial State Delegates Conference of Nasarawa State Chapter of the Association of Senior Civil Servant of Nigeria (ASCSN), in Lafia.
The NLC Chairman, who was represented by Yusuf Sarki-Iya, the Treasurer, said that such delays had subjected workers to lots of hardship.
“The situation is appalling; government will just deliberately delay salaries for up to four months before they pay for one month.
“Another issue of concern is that no worker in Nasarawa State has been promoted in the last six years.
“Also, no worker has been given annual increment and there has been no attention to staff development in terms of training, in the last six years,” he added.
He said that government was killing the civil service by categorising it into two – senior and junior civil servants – and explained that stagnation had stalled carrier progression, created a vacuum and wiped out the middle cadre.
Adeka regretted that outstanding salaries, pensions and gratuities had not been paid in spite of the Paris Club Refund that came with a categorical instruction that the payments be effected.
“Government recently released N300 million for the payment of gratuity of some retirees, but the money is grossly insufficient and certainly not up to half of the Paris Club Refund,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Gabriel Agbashi of the Trade Union Congress, rejected suggestions that Nasarawa was poor and lacked sufficient money to meet its obligations.
“The only problem in Nasarawa State is that government does not consider workers’ welfare as its priority. We work in this state and have all records on how much is in the coffers of the state,” he said.
He urged government to pay salaries promptly and also promote civil servants to avoid stagnation that had lowered morale.
Responding, Mr Thomas Ogiri, Nasarawa State Head of Service, urged patience from the workers.
“Government is working hard to improve workers’ welfare. The workers should just exercise some patience,” he said.
He said that government had always carried NLC leaders along, saying that all actions were usually based on agreement reached with labour. (NAN)
SDJ/ETS
Lafia, March 8, 2017 (NAN) The Nigeria Postal Services (NIPOST) generates an average of N4 billion annually, but spends double that figure to pay staff salaries, according to Mr Bisi Adegbuyi, the new Post-Master General.
Adegbuyi, while addressing the outfit’s staff on Wednesday in Lafia, declared that the situation was “unacceptable”, and challenged the workers to work harder to improve on revenue generation.
“We spend about N8 billion annually on salaries and generate only N4 billion annually; we cannot survive if we continue this way.
“Everyone must double up so as to add value to the system, widen our reach and promote a digital economy,” he said.
He said that the service must create jobs and improve its contributions to the country’s GDP, while also abiding by global standards.
Adegbuyi specifically declared his intention to deploy technology to block leakage and increase NIPOST’s revenue bases, and cautioned the workers against negative and corrupt tendencies.
He told the staff that plans to sabotage the system and blow holes for financial leakages had been identified and effectively handled, and warned them against laziness and the hatching of evil plans.
The NIPOST boss, who is the first to be appointed from the private sector, assured the workers that no one would be sacked, adding that more workers would be recruited to strengthen the service.
Earlier, Mr Alex Bature, Area Postal Manager, Nasarawa territory, had enumerated the challenges faced by the office to include a dearth of vehicles and the lack of land for the construction of territorial headquarters.
Other challenges, he said, included the worsening state of the Lafia Post Office, installation of internet facility and the expiration of the office rent. (NAN)
Lafia, March 7, 2017 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Government says that local government workers will henceforth receive full salaries.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the workers had received only a fraction of their payments over time, with government attributing the situation to dwindling resources, especially from the federation account.
But Mr Sani Bawa, Chairman, Nasarawa State Local Government Service Commission, told NAN on Tuesday in Lafia, that full salaries would be paid so as to motivate workers toward quality service delivery.
“Government is anxious to improve the living standards of local government workers; the first step toward that is paying them what they are entitled to, in full.
“Currently, we are taking a census of the local government staff; we have also embarked on a screening exercise to enable us know our actual staff strength.
“We want to see a situation where the local government workers are paid 100 per cent of their salaries,” he said.
The chairman challenged the workers to reciprocate government’s gesture by improving on service delivery to enable the people feel the full impact of governance. (NAN)
Lafia, Feb. 13, 2017 (NAN) The Nasarawa State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), has protested against “illegal deductions” from teachers’ salaries, and declared that the union would no longer tolerate that.
“Local Government Education Secretaries have been tampering with the salaries of teachers over time.
“Three per cent deductions were effected on January salaries. All the 13 Local Governments and 18 Development Areas were involved in this illegality.
“We want to warn that we shall no longer accept it,” Mr Tete Jatau, the NUT Chairman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday in Lafia.
He said that the union would be forced to take drastic action if the situation persisted.
Jatau said that some Education Secretaries had claimed that the deducted monies were for the payment of union’s check-up dues.
“The union’s check-up dues are usually deducted from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs before salaries are sent to the local governments. So, we do not know of any other deduction,” he said.
The official explained that the only legitimate deductions from member’s salaries were union dues, and declared that no one had the right to effect further deductions.
Jatau advised education secretaries to always confide in the union before making deductions so as to avoid “hard consequences”.
The NUT official enjoined primary school teachers to be dedicated to their duties and assured them of the union’s determination to protect their interests. (NAN)
Adamawa Govt to take over payment of state varsity staff salaries NAN-H-53 Salary Yola, Feb. 1, 2017 (NAN) The Adamawa Government says it will take over the payment of salaries of staff of the State University (ADSU), Mubi.
Mr Silas Sanga, the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing newsmen after the State Executive Council meeting in Yola.
Sanga assured that the government would pay all arrears owed to workers in the university soon.
He said that the state government would continue with the payment of the university salaries pending when the modalities on the proper funding were put in place by the state government.
According to him, the five per cent proceeds from the Local Government/State joint account were not remitted.
He said that the discussion which was adopted by the council was sequel to the recommendation by the visitation panel on the university.
He regretted why the local ASUU reneged on its earlier agreement to suspend their strike after its earlier agreement.
The commissioner said that the committee, while on its assignment, held discussions with various stakeholders in the university and got their views over the problems facing the institution.
NAN recalls that the ADSU ASUU branch in Mubi had embark on indefinite strike due to non-payment of salaries and disciplinary action by the university authorities against its members, among others.
NAN also recalls that the state government had constituted a visitation panel to wade into crisis rocking the institution with the view to finding lasting solution to the problems.
Dr Umar Bindir, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), had earlier said that the council adopted a memo by the Ministry of Finance on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) enhancement.
Bindir said that the mechanism would improve the IGR from its monthly N250 million to N800 million in the 2017 budget.
He stressed the need to improve the IGR in order to supplement the shortfall from the federal allocation to the state. (NAN) MK/MST
